The Similkameen Valley Planning Society held their annual general meeting on May 7 at the Grist Mill.
Re-elected the the chair’s position this year was Keremeos Mayor Manfred Bauer. Regional District Okanagan Similkameen Director for Cawston George Bush will serve as vice-chair.
The SVPS is working on a communications plan for both the regional tourism strategy and the watershed study. The society hopes to increase public awareness regarding the newly revamped Similkameen tourism website and encourage further community buy-in.
A plan is currently being formulated by former Communications Director for the RDOS, Andrew Stuckey, to better communicate the watershed study initiative to the public. It is expected he will present his plan at the next meeting.
Plans for a multi-cultural event at the Grist Mill on Canada Day afternoon have been shelved after the society learned University of BC principal investigator Susana Caxaj is developing a project called “Building a Sense of Belonging in the Similkameen.” Part of her project will involve a multi-cultural event at the Grist Mill in October.
The society heard of two funding requests during the meeting, agreeing to provide $100 from each jurisdiction - Area “G”, B”, and Keremeos - to the Keremeos Legion to assist in funding a First Responder appreciation dinner on June 25.