No parking along portion of South Main in Penticton for a week - Penticton News (2024)

Council eyes hotel tax

Keith Lacey - Local Journalism Initiative/Penticton Herald - Aug 17, 2024 / 12:00 pm | Story: 501901

Summerland council has approved asking the province to impose a three per cent tax on hotel, motel and short-term rental businesses in the district, which is expected to generate as much as $180,000 per year that will go right back towards promoting the community as a tourism hot spot.

Council was asked Tuesday to support a staff recommendation to approve a Municipal and Regional District Tax, which is more commonly known as a hotel tax.

Tourist towns like Osoyoos, Tofino and Nelson have been implementing a hotel tax to promote tourism for more than a decade.

Chief administrative officer Graham Statt said it has been a council priority for some time to collect the MRDT in Summerland.

It is up to council to approve a two or three per cent tax on every hotel, motel or short-term rental stay, which the business owner is compelled to turn over to the province, which then reimburses the respective communities across the province, said Statt.

Council then has the option to spend the money they received from the hotel tax on promoting tourism or to go towards approved affordable housing projects, he said.

Staff recommends a starting period of Jan. 1, 2026 to start collecting the hotel tax to coincide with the fiscal calendar, said Statt.

“We expect the program to generate $140,000 to $180,000 a year,” said Statt.

Assuming a six-month time period to prepare, staff suggests forwarding its paperwork to the provincial government in the first two months of 2025, said Statt.

As part of the application process, tourism industry stakeholders need to be engaged and informed about the intent of the program, he said.

“We’d likely be able to do that by having an information session with notice being provided to those stakeholders,” he said. “Because the collection of the tax is done by the accommodation sector, the criteria for them is more specific.

Summerland will need a minimum of 51 per cent approval from all business owners in the accommodation sector for this application to move forward, Statt said.

If supported, the tax would be collected from traditional accommodation providers, including hotel, motel and short-term rental property owners, he said.

In Summerland, that means staff would need the Summerland Waterfront Resort on side “because they themselves represent more than 50 per cent of formal accommodation rooms in the community.”

It’s important to note that funds generated by the hotel tax can not be set aside for destination tourism marketing.

The provincial government holds the final decision on whether to allow Summerland to move forward with its hotel tax program, said Statt.

District council would eventually have to introduce a bylaw allowing the provincial government to levy the hotel tax on the district’s behalf, he said.

Destination Summerland currently provides destination tourism marketing on behalf of council and the community.

The current two-year deal expires soon. It costs local taxpayers $123,000 per year to fund Destination Summerland, said Statt.

‘It is staff’s recommendation that council direct us to proceed with the application in the amount of three per cent MRDT, with the focus of the funds going to tourism-related purposes,” he said. “Since the funding agreement with Destination Summerland is technically ending this year, we believe we should be able to renew the agreement using a portion of these funds and have Destination Summerland continue to do this work for us.”

Any new deal with Destination Summerland would stipulate their staff would have to perform data gathering annually relating to the hotel tax and number of tourists who visit, said Statt.

If the application is successful, the three per cent levy would remain in place for five years and a new application would have to be filed within six months of that term ending, he said.

Almost all tourism communities who charge the hotel tax have settled on the three per cent figure rather than two per cent, said Statt.

Coun. Janet Peake said she strongly supports this initiative.

“I’ve tried to get it going when I was on council last time,” Peake said. I know it takes time to make it happen. This MRDT is happening across Canada, not just B.C. I think it’s a very sensible approach and I think we’ve missed out on money in the past that would have helped promote our tourism and accommodation.”

Coun. Richard Barkwill said he would like to see some of the money used on providing affordable housing.

Council voted unanimously in favour of moving forward with an application to the province asking to implement a three per cent hotel tax starting Jan. 1, 2026.

Staff will soon begin engagement of tourism industry stakeholders to inform them of the district’s intentions to apply for the tax.

This story originally appeared in the Penticton Herald and is shared via the Local Journalism Initiative.

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Vinyl drive underway

The annual vinyl record and audio equipment donation drive for Penticton's Peach City Radio, 92.9 FM CFUZ, is underway on Saturday.

CFUZ, is gearing up for their 11th annual Okanagan Vinyl Festival.

The donation drive runs on Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon at the Cannery Trade Centre parking lot, on the corner of Fairview Road and Duncan Avenue.

All collected items will be tested by CFUZ volunteers prior to being sold at Okanagan Vinyl Fest, which will take place on Sunday, Sept. 22, at the Penticton campus of Okanagan College.

The station alsp reached a major milestone alert on Saturday.

Left Off the Dial will be live at 7 p.m. for a special two hour episode celebrating the 500th program.

"Congratulations Dave Del Rizzo & Ian Mackinder for dedicating 500 Wednesdays to sharing music not often heard on the airwaves," The Cannery Trade Centre said in their post.

For more information about the vinyl and audio equipment drive email [emailprotected] or call 236-422-0929.

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Plea to help 'forgotten cats'

A Penticton-based cat rescue dedicated to providing rehabilitation, medical care and adoption to feral and orphaned cats and kittens throughout the Okanagan Valley is asking the community for help.

AlleyCats Alliance said they have their hands full caring for lots of kittens at the moment.

"We have 11 in adoption centres right now and 16 upcoming (and one batch still baking in the oven!). The cost of their vet care is really adding up and we're putting out another plea for donations," the rescue said in their post.

"We're struggling to save the forgotten cats of the Okanagan and need your help."

AlleyCats has only volunteers employees, which means all donations go towards the care of the cats, whether that is vet costs, the day-to-day items like food and litter, and everything else it takes to rescue the felines.

Recently the rescue also took in a five week old cat with a serious issue with his eye, after being found alone in a yard.

"He has seen the eye specialist and is eating well! He is very active and vocal! Our job now is to get him healthy and to grow so that he can undergo surgery if that is what will be required," the rescue added.

To donate towards the work AlleyCats Alliance does in the Okanagan, head to their website to give using PayPal www.alleycatsalliance.org, e-transfer to [emailprotected] or by mail at 332, 113-437 Martin Street, Penticton, B.C. V2A 5L1

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Hair cut to make kid's wigs

Wanting to give back to the hospital community that's been by her side for years, a Penticton teenager is donating a huge amount of her hair to help other kids feel confident.

Madi Cruickshank, who is 17 years old, has been growing her hair out for three years so she can donate it to Wigs For Kids B.C., a program out of Vancouver’s British Columbia Children’s Hospital.

“I've always wanted to do this since I was a little kid. Just seemed kind of cool. And wherever I've gone, people [have said], Oh, you have such pretty hair. It's nice and thick,” she said.

Hair has to be 10 inches or longer and cannot be bleached, coloured, or permed to be donated to help make a wig.

The organization said approximately 10 to 12 ponytails are needed to make one wig and hair donors are encouraged to raise pledges before their haircut, as donations help to reduce the cost of making wigs.

Cruickshank said that she’s had her fair share of visits to BC Children’s Hospital for mental health.

“I go there all the time for appointments and stuff. So it's the perfect thing. It's connected,” she added.

“I chose this non-profit organization because their number one goal is to make children more comfortable and confident, not only do they do that, but the wigs are free of charge so families that don’t have enough money to splurge on a new expensive wig can have a chance of being comfortable in their own skin.”

Since the wigs can cost around $1000 to make, which is 100 per cent donation funded, the teen said she also hoped by sharing her story, others would donate to the cause.

“I was hoping to get at least $1000 and then donate my hair as well. So it could actually be in progress and actually become something for someone. And so I did a $2000 [goal], and we're almost at $2500 right now."

Cruickshank is also involved in the leadership team at Penticton Secondary School, which she said has been a big part of helping create awareness for giving back.

She plans to cut her hair off to shoulder length in the next week before returning to school.

To donate to Cruickshank’s fundraising page for the BC’s Children’s Hospital Foundation, click here.

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Talent passed down

Keith Lacey - Penticton Herald/Local Journalism Initiative - Aug 16, 2024 / 7:00 pm | Story: 501793

Musical and artistic talent run deep in Isabella Cucnik’s family.

The talented 13-year-old Penticton girl’s grandmother is Lynne Leydier, the founder and owner of Sound Stage Productions, Studio and Theatre Company, which has been producing top-notch musical theatre in Penticton for more than 25 years. She has also given singing lessons to hundreds of students over the same period of time.

Her mother Elizabeth also enjoyed success in musical theatre.

Isabella showcased her outstanding vocal skills recently by claiming top spot in her age division in the musical theatre category at the Canada West Performing Arts Festival.

The festival was held at the University of Victoria.

This event has only been around for three years and is organized in partnership with the provincial performing arts associations in Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C. The festival is held in rotation with Saskatchewan having hosted in 2022, Alberta in 2023 and this year in Victoria.

It features the top amateur music and speech arts competitors from each province.

Cucnik has been taking singing lessons from her grandmother since age five.

She entered and won first place in the Penticton Kiwanis Music Festival last winter, which qualified her to compete at the provincial Kiwanis competition, which was held recently in Fort St. John.

She captured first place at the provincials, which qualified her to compete in the Canada West competition. She and two other young girls from B.C. qualified for that event.

“I kind of just grew up around it, I guess,” said Cucnik. “I like classical and musical theatre. Those are my favourites right now, but I like all kinds of music.”

Competitors got to choose three songs to perform in front of musical theatre adjudicators, said Cucnik.

At the Western Canada competition, she had to not only sing three songs, but also put them together into a musical theatre production.

“She had to fill 15 minutes with introductions to each song,” said Leydier. “The judging is very strict as you are disqualified if you go over the 15 minutes, so she had to prepare the three songs as part of a performance, sort of like a mini concert.”

Cucnik said she was confident she had sang well, but said you’re never sure what judges you’ve never met before are going to think.

“I was hoping I did well, but I wasn’t 100 per cent sure what the judges would think,” she said. “When I found out I had won, I was obviously pretty happy.”

Cucnik took home some cash and nice prizes for winning her division.

While she loves singing, dancing and performing, Cucnik said she’s still too young to know if she’ll pursue any of them in post-secondary studies or perhaps even professionally.

“I’m not sure,” she said. “I have a lot of time to think about it.”

Leydier said she couldn’t be prouder of her granddaughter.

“She sings very well, but she’s also a really good dancer,” she said. “She really excels at all the arts. She’s a young lady of many talents.”

Teaching your granddaughter presents its own challenges, but Isabella is always striving to improve and has a great attitude and that makes teaching her a pleasure, said Leydier.

“I try and treat her like I do all my other students, but obviously I’m partial to her development,” she said. “It’s a little different having your granddaughter as a student, but she works very hard and is very open and receptive to learning and improving. She handles things very well.”

Cucnik says she plans on continuing with her voice and dance training and looks forward to competing in future Kiwanis competitions and hopefully qualifying for the Western Canada Performing Arts Festival next year.

This originally appeared in the Penticton Herald and is shared via the Local Journalism Initiative

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Missing man found safe

UPDATE: 6:35 p.m.

The Penticton RCMP said that the local man reported missing earlier this week has been located safe on Friday.

Police thanked the media and the public for their assistance.

ORIGINAL: Aug. 14

The Penticton RCMP is seeking public assistance in locating a man who was reported missing and last seen on Monday.

Police said they are very concerned for man’s health and well-being.

Friends and family told RCMP that it is out of character for him to be out of contact for this long.

Editor's Note: Castanet has removed the missing man's name, photo and any identifiers now that they have been located.

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South Main parking change

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Pop-up live music cancelled

The "Music in the Park" event at the Community Pop-Up Project in Penticton has been cancelled this evening.

Dixie Fried Hep Katz were due to perform at the pop-up outdoor area in the 500 block of Main Street, which has been hosting food trucks and live music this summer.

However, due to weather, they will not be performing, according to a Downtown Penticton Business Association post on social media.

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Flaws in Fryer murder report

Jeremy Hainsworth / Glacier Media - Aug 16, 2024 / 2:16 pm | Story: 501798

An RCMP officer testified at the double-murder trial of Wade William Cudmore Aug. 16 that his initial report had multiple inaccuracies.

The 35-year-old’s trial on two counts of first-degree murder is being heard by B.C. Supreme Court Justice Brenda Brown with a jury in Vancouver.

The accused sat at the back of the secure courtroom in the prisoner’s dock with three sheriffs in the room, and more outside.

Also charged in the killings is Anthony Graham. He remains at large, with a warrant outstanding for his arrest.
Crown prosecutor Alex Willms told Brown in his case opening that brothers Carlo and Erick Fryer died as a result of blunt force injuries, stabbings and shotgun wounds.

Near their bodies, on the other side of Naramata Forest Service Road on May 10, 2021, investigators found a shotgun, a knife and a roofing hammer, that Willms said DNA experts can link to Cudmore.

Willms also said GPS data from a Ford F-350, which ICBC records show belonged to Graham, had been in the exact area of the Fryers’ bodies for approximately 15 minutes early in the morning of May 10.

They later left, and further footage played in court showed the F-350 and a grey Cobalt driving together up a different nearby forest service road, leading to where Erick Fryer’s Cobalt car was found ditched.

RCMP Sgt. Kyle McStravick told the court he had compiled a report on the F-350’s movements as it travelled from Kelowna to Naramata via Penticton. The initial report indicated the vehicle had not stopped; the officer agreed.

However, under questioning by defence lawyers, McStravick agreed the report had been corrected to show there had been two stops on remote parts of the highway. And, he agreed doors of the vehicle had opened during those stops.

“I was unaware of the inaccuracies,” McStravick said.

The sergeant told the court that such reports are peer-reviewed by other force members for inaccuracies or other mistakes, including spelling and grammar.

Defence pressed McStravick on his past claims in court that the report was accurate and asked if the report is now accurate.

“Yes,’ he said.

Suspicious vehicles

A contractor previously told the jury, as the vehicle footage was shown, that he called police after seeing two suspicious vehicles on a forest road outside Naramata.

The road was in the area where two hikers found the Fryers' bodies in May of 2021.
Witness William Miller, the contractor, had crews clearing land in the area for a development, he told the court July 23.

He said he saw an F-350 and a smaller, light-coloured car moving fast on the Arawana Forest Service Road not far from Naramata. He said the vehicles were being driven erratically, and that something was not right about the situation.

He said he followed the vehicles to a gated area where he saw them stopped. The cars moved on as he approached.

He said he thought they were trying to dump the truck.

An F-350 was later found burned.

A month after the Fryer brothers were killed, Cudmore's mother, Kathy Richardson, was found dead in her Naramata home. That led to the April 2023 arrest and charging of Ekene Dillichuwu Anigbo and Jalen Falk, both alleged to be Lower Mainland gang members.

They remain behind bars as they await trial.

Cudmore sought but was refused bail and has been in custody since his arrest. The case is on day 51 of an estimated 58 days of trial.

Hearings resume Aug. 19.

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Candidate talking crime

Penticton-Summerland Conservative Party candidate in the upcoming provincial election, Amelia Boultbee, will be holding a town hall meeting on the topic of public safety.

She will be joined by Conservative MLA from Surrey South Elenore Sturko.

The event is free and registration is available here.

Boultbee is currently a sitting Penticton city council member. This is event is not related to official city council duties.

British Columbians will take to the polls to choose their local MLAs on Oct. 19. In Penticton-Summerland, Boultbee is currently running against Tina Lee with the BC NDP, Tracy St. Claire with BC United, and independent candidate Roger Harringon.

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