A delegation of citizens appeared before Keremeos Village Council to speak out against the recent relocation of the community's visitor centre and request things go back to the way they were before Canada Day.
Bob McAtamney told municipal politicians on Monday, June 2, that 280 people have signed his petition requesting that Keremeos' visitor information centre move back to its original location at Memorial Park at 417 7th St.
A lease agreement between the Village of Keremeos and Similkameen County Development Association (SCDA) was not renewed at the building in 2024, forcing the community's visitor centre to move inside the Similkameen Recreation Centre earlier this year.
McAtamney claimed there will be a "sharp decline" in Keremeos tourism if the community's visitor hub stays at the local rec centre, located at 311 9th St.
"It can be difficult for tourists to find and access, and was never designed to operate as a visitor information centre," McAtamney said of the new location. "This will have an economic impact on the well-being of the businesses and tourists, who will simply drive to the next welcoming community."
McAtamney, who was joined by fellow resident Lee McFadyen, spoke during the village's most recent regular council meeting.
Mayor Jason Wiebe said the village has received a letter from the SCDA asking to have a new meeting, which would commence at an unknown time with Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen officials.
"I'm simply waiting for a meeting date," Wiebe said, who called the process of reaching a deal "disturbingly long."
Along with its lease officially coming to an end on Dec. 31, 2024, the centre's service agreement is also currently under review by the RDOS.
"There's a service bylaw, service agreement and a lease for a building," Wiebe began. "They're all separate, and we've been trying to untangle those. We've been on this process since August of last year."
Wiebe also said despite his efforts to ask for a mediator to assist in negotiations, none has been provided.
The SCDA ran the information centre at Memorial Park for close to two decades, before its relocation this past spring.
"This council is as concerned in making sure that an info centre is functional in this town as any of our residents, but we're trying to make sure it's done in a good way," Wiebe said. "The only condition was that there would be a sign of good faith (when negotiating)."
In conversation with Black Press after village council's meeting on June 2, the first-term mayor said he hasn't ruled out agreeing to a month-to-month lease at the Memorial Park building.
"We've also proposed that the information service can be run by many different contractors," Wiebe shared. "But we're currently tied, because the current lease wasn't renewed and the service agreement has been asked for a review, so because of those things, we also actually can't proceed with anyone else until these matters are resolved."
McAtamney presented a copy of his petition to each member of council after his plea for "these issues to be resolved" and information services relocated back to the Memorial Park building. He called the old location, which was built in 2007 thanks to a provincial grant and several community contributions, a "welcoming, attractive and functional site" for tourists.
At the time, local businesses and residents raised $100,000 to help make the centre a reality on Seventh Street.
"We believe this has to happen very soon and preferably before July 1," McAtamney said.
Wiebe later shed some light on why the lease with the SCDA wasn't renewed, saying there had been a "deterioration" in the relationship between the contractor, SCDA and Village of Keremeos.
"We agree that the purposeful building should be information services, but who the contractor is, should be something the village has a say in," the mayor said.
Wiebe said he was told a meeting between the RDOS, SCDA and village was supposed to happen in early June, although that has yet to come to fruition.
"I can't call the meeting by myself and the service agreement is no longer under the authority of this (council) table."
In an emailed statement to Black Press, the SCDA said it has also, like the village, offered to engage a mediator "to help find a constructive path forward."
It added that no formal explanation was shared on why the lease wasn't renewed and concerns referenced by the village today were not raised before the lease expired.
"We've taken proactive steps to re-open dialogue," the SDCA added.
"Our focus is on delivering the best possible service under our renewed service agreement. At this point, we recognize the importance of moving forward and making the most of the resources available to us."
