I recently spent the holidays with my family in Vernon, a place I used to call home. As always, I was excited to visit and enjoy some quality time with my dad.
This time, we wanted to take a swim at the Rec Centre, something we have done many times before. However, we were surprised when staff asked us where we lived. Under a new city policy, anyone from outside Vernon now has to pay a fee of $16 just to use the pool.
This policy puzzled me. Recreational centres should be about bringing people together, not dividing them by where they live. It’s great to have residents invite friends and family to enjoy community facilities. But this fee discourages exactly that.
Moreover, it could create hard feelings with neighbors from nearby towns like Coldstream, Lumby, Armstrong, and Enderby. Many of them rely on Vernon for access to these facilities. A policy like this can strain those relationships, which goes against the spirit of community.
On top of that, Vernon benefits significantly from tourism. Charging visitors hefty fees to use recreational amenities sends a negative message. In the long run, this could hurt the local economy, as fewer people may choose to visit or stay.
Communities thrive when they welcome everyone. It’s essential that policies reflect that spirit of inclusion rather than division.
— Armin Harkan
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Source linkLetter to the Editor|Vernon
