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North Okanagan municipalities team up for recreation

Interim service model established as Armstrong and Spallumcheen contract with provider expires Dec. 31
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The City of Armstrong and Township of Spallumcheen have teamed up to take over administratiing parks and recreation services to the municipalities. The one-year trial is slated to start in early 2025.

Working together for the betterment of their communities.

With longtime service provider Canlan Ice Sports Corporation putting its services on ice when its current contract runs out Dec. 31, the Township of Spallumcheen and City of Armstrong are joining forces to identify and develop a new, sustainable joint service model.

The new model is to be implemented at the end of 2025 or shortly thereafter.

The city and township provide a shared Parks and Recreation service through the Armstrong-Spallumcheen Parks and Recreation Commission.

"Ensuring uninterrupted access to our parks and recreational services, with the support of our incredible parks and recreation staff, remains a top priority," said Joe Cramer, Armstrong mayor.

The municipalities have put in place a one-year interim service model to ensure continued service delivery beginning Jan. 1, 2025.

At the joint council meeting Oct. 7,  the two councils appointed the Township of Spallumcheen to act as the manager of the Parks and Recreation service for the duration of the interim service model.

As manager, Spallumcheen will hold and provide administrative support to the service while work continues on the long-term joint service options. A Joint Staff Steering Committee will be formed to guide and oversee operations during the transition.

What to Expect:

• Parks and Facilities: All recreational facilities, rentals and offerings will remain consistent

• Programs and Classes: Scheduled classes, sports leagues, and community programs will proceed as planned. There will be no changes to any registered or ongoing programs.

• Customer Support: Our customer service team remains available to assist residents with any inquiries regarding facility use, program registrations, or rentals.

“We understand how much our community depends on these spaces and programs for well-being, and we’re committed to keeping them running as smoothly as possible during the transition," said Spallumcheen mayor Christine Fraser.

"The city and the township are fortunate to have a long-standing recreation staff who are committed members of our community and work hard to make our service such a success. Both communities would like to thank them for their continued passion and commitment to their jobs."

Any future information related to the transition will be posted on the City of Armstrong and Township of Spallumcheen websites.

You can also contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 250-546-9456 extension 200.



Roger Knox

About the Author: Roger Knox

I am a journalist with more than 30 years of experience in the industry. I started my career in radio and have spent the last 21 years working with Black Press Media.
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