Regional District of North Okanagan, British Columbia

David Sewell, Chief Administrative Officer of the RDNO, “dusted off some of the projects that were ready to go.” So, if there was a change in the economy due to COVID-19, then the RD would be able to support the local economy as “a pretty big organization.” A request for proposal (RFP) closed recently for a new building for the Vernon Search and Rescue – a group of local volunteers involved in ground and water searches, RCMP evidence searches, and fire evacuations. There is also a provincial grant application underway to fund a new community amenity, the Greater Vernon Cultural Centre. One recently completed project was The Pat Duke Memorial Arena retrofit, enabled in part when the village of Lumby won the 2016 Kraft Hockeyville competition and was awarded $100,000. Along with additional savings and further government funding, lots of local companies worked on the successful upgrade project. All of these exciting initiatives highlight how community partnerships strengthen the entire region. For instance, the Regional District of North Okanagan has a great working relationship with the Splatsin First Nation and the Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB). One such collaboration is The Monashee Community Forest LLP (MCF) that Lumby shares equally with the Splatsin First Nation through their organization Yucwmenlucwu or Caretakers of the Land. The forest covers a gross area of 18,313 acres and has an annual allowable cut of 21, 595 cubic meters. Another successful partnership involves the RDNO and Electoral Areas B and C. Acton explains, “Amanda Shatzko, the Director for Electoral Area C, and Bob Fleming, the Director for Electoral Area B, pushed pretty hard to get the BX Ranchlands – a district-owned undeveloped piece of green space. Electoral areas B and C now own the 137 acres of agricultural land reserve. They’re in discussions Ashley Gregerson, Communications Officer