Congrats to the Hockeyville committee for the untold thousands of hours getting the DWK and our local hockey front and centre with the nation. And to all that supported their efforts, and Council for standing by them, good show.
Now, how about everyone tossing their two bits here just relax, instead of
Think maybe those good people who served and continue to serve on the Hockeyville committee might know a thing or two about what the rinks need, or for that matter the whole community centre. Last I heard, it was their recommendation to Council, not Council deciding about a sign. And folks, we have no sign yet, all we have is a partial payment, $$$ put into a reserve, until such time as the community budget allows us to have the rest of needed funds, whatever they may be, to pay for the project - at which time Council will have to approve as it will be a DWK asset.
As for the validity of a free standing marque sign, bet more than a few of the critics in this post have not spend untold hours at the Mt. Boo Centre, have not heard for decades untold complaints of how difficult it is to find the darn thing, as signage on the highway "sucks" - not my words, just dozens of parents I have heard, and agreed with over almost 30 years. Personally don't like having to resort to telling people just aim for the big scar on Mt. Boo and you will find the rinks/school/DWK offices right below.
And if you've been keeping up with DWK and Council, you may have heard, JLA is about to get a major - $1.4 million - upgrade, about a decade past due, with new floor, boards, glass and several aesthetic improvements that will extend its lifespan several more decades and only add to the greatest asset on our books, the Mount Boucherie Community Centre. JLA facility does not need another $25,000 at this time, its in good hands with the upcoming upgrades.
Now just so you all know this is no talking head, I spent a thousand+ hours in the rinks with the kids, and working for improvements at JLA, the latter through the whole long, arduous process with RDCO Parks trying to get a new rink built, that we all now know loving as RLP. A marque sign for the Community Centre was in many of the early plans, and we all - comittee members, RDCO Parks staff, our then elected officials, all agreed, signage to the Centre was severely lacking, a nice marque sign directing visitors (and untold hundreds of new citizen arrivals each month), how to find the rink(s), the high school, the community centre - was needed. Alas it could not be done then, but it would be needed some day, and sooner the better.
Marque signs done properly are great landmarks/reference points in a community. Heard nothing but positives for the new DWK signs announcing the community, letting visitors, passers by, friends from Kelowna
know where they are, in "beautiful West Kelowna". Done right, fitting the lay of the land, they look great, and for such a busy place as Mt. Boucherie Community Centre, where traffic each day is in the thousands, they are a great way to keep the traffic flowing smoothly, helping to make sure are guests and newcomer community members find the busiest spot in the City. A scrolling message board, much like that found at the Lions Centre in Westbank would serve us even more. And those groups that want to use it can help pay for it, nothing wrong with that concept at all. Marque signs are a revenue source. If we do go ahead with the project, the corner at Boundary/Highway 97 - PetroCan/Bylands - on the parcel of land TD Canada Trust helped fund with a makeover, would be perfect. Now that we have safe, dedicated left hand turn lights at the intersection, its perfect.
Don't expect this will change the minds of those who see fit to jump to conclusions, but before you do, maybe wait to hear the whole story, see what it is we may get, if and when we can afford to pay for it. Again Hockeyville Committee members, job well done, and Council, thank for supporting and continuing to see forward for Mount Boucherie Community Centre.
Now if we only would start planning on getting the City offices out of Mt. Boucherie Community Centre, getting our Community Hall, meeting rooms back for much needed community groups, weddings, community event use, etc.
And would we all not like to know when DWK and SD23 will put together an energy deal and take advantage of the Geo-thermal heat wells put into place at under RLP, designed to be tied in, and help reduce Mt. Boucherie Secondary heating budget, which all taxpayers pay for. The heat dumped into the RLP wells were designed to supply enough heat for not only RLP, but JLA, future expansions at Mt. Boucherie Community Centre, and Mt. Boucherie Secondary right next door. Enough energy savings here for the school, and revenue for DWK I would bet, to maybe even pay for an marque sign.
Go Warriors, little guys and gals in minor hockey and our boys of the BCHL.