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The award goes to… Tourism Vernon. The tourism crew picked up the Chamber Champion honour at the 41st Greater Vernon Business Excellence Awards, hosted Thursday, Oct. 23, at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre. The awards were hosted by the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce. “This award recognizes businesses that demonstrate outstanding commitment to supporting the local community and its ongoing efforts to promote and enhance Greater Vernon as a vibrant destination,” said the city in a release. Building permit numbers down, values increase New city manager of financial planning Mack Kanigan delivered his first financial report to Vernon council Oct. 27. Kanigan said the construction value of building permits issued in the first three quarters of 2025 were worth $168 million. “This is slightly lower than the $203 million recorded during the same period in 2024,” said Kanigan. “However, the Active Living Centre was permitted in 2024 for $121 million, which supports the higher values in building permits in the 2024 time frame. This would normalize the 2024 permitting value to be approximately $82 million, which is lower than the $168 million currently issued up to Quarter 3 for 2025.” The total construction/building permit value is projected to exceed $200 million by year’s end. Construction permit value in Quarter 2, ending June 30, was $105 million, and there is a $63 million increase to Sept. 30, 2025, with the values being attributed to the commercial, single-family and multi family dwellings construction sectors. The number of building permits issued in Quarter 3 in 2025 is 184, including 126 for multi-family dwellings, and 58 for single-family. Golf course swings for temporary permit Council has given unanimous support to The Rise Golf Course’s application for a temporary use area endorsement (TUA). A TUA allows golf courses or ski hills to extend their liquor licenced areas outdoors for up to 26 times per year. At The Rise, the proposed TUA is for an outdoor ceremony and event site south of The Edge Restaurant and Bar, capacity for 450 people. There are no residential units within close vicinity. One person did comment, noting concerns about the potential for increased traffic along Okanagan Hills Boulevard. The proposed TUA is not expected to negatively impact the surrounding community with noise. Curling Club sweeps to expanded bar hours Council also unanimously supported the Vernon Curling Club’s application to start liquor service one hour earlier (from 11 a.m. to 10 a.m.) and Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and to end liquor service an hour later on Sundays from 12 a.m. to 1 p.m. No comments have been received regarding the application, and the proposed hour changes are not expected to generate additional noise or negatively impact the surrounding community. City acts fast on emergency treatment funding Talk about working quickly. The city received word Friday, Oct. 24, that grant funding from Health Canada’s Emergency Treatment Fund, based on application(s) recommended by the Social Planning Council for the North Okanagan is available. The deadline to apply? Friday, Nov. 4. Health Canada’s Emergency Treatment Fund provides time-limited contribution funding to municipalities and Indigenous communities across Canada. This grant can fund projects that address urgent and immediate needs related to substance use and overdose, as defined by the communities, to support local capacity and provide access to culturally relevant, trauma-informed and evidence-based programs and services. The ETF will prioritize urgent, financially feasible and project ready proposals that address the overdose crisis in communities across Canada. Multiple applications can be submitted and may be considered for multiple projects. Capital expenditures are limited to purchase/retrofit of vehicles; building renos; and semi-permanent structure and equipment. “The Social Planning Council for the North Okanagan is assisting staff with its expertise to identify organizations that may be eligible and ready to submit an application(s) that meet the criteria and within these tight timelines,” said Sue Wood, city director of Corporate Services. If successful with its application, the city will be the grant administrator, responsible for providing the initial funds to the Social Planning Council.
