Adopt-a-Seat project done

With the opening ceremony for SOSS and the new Frank Venables Theatre February 6, the Adopt-a-Seat campaign has drawn to a close.

The Adopt-a-Seat committee is proud to announce that the campaign has raised $134,764, far exceeding our goal of $100,000.

We would like to thank all of our donors for their generosity and commitment to the Venables Theatre. We also offer a special thank you to Cindy Gilbert and Mitch Van Aller of SD53 for all of their hard work and assistance to the committee.

The Adopt-a-Seat campaign was initiated in 2008 when Superintendent of Schools Juleen McElgunn created an opportunity and a challenge. The opportunity was created when SD53 purchased seats from Penticton Secondary School that allowed for plaques to be attached to the back of the seats.

The challenge was to solicit donations by selling seat plagues. The funds would be used to purchase theatre equipment critical to a modern multi-purpose theatre but not included in the theatre refurbishment due to budget constraints.

Several individuals volunteered to take up the challenge and formed the Adopt-a-Seat committee. The committee members were Martin Cattermole, Ernie Dumais, John Echlin, Catherine Hahn, Tara Hovanes, Yvonne Moore, Sue Morhun, and Brita Park. Joy Venables joined the group later.

The Adopt-a-Seat campaign was launched and for the next three years donations mounted as the Venables Auditorium refurbishment progressed. In September of 2011 all of our plans changed with the fire that razed the school and Venables Auditorium. At that point it was uncertain whether a new theatre would be built.

With tremendous cooperation between our BC government, SD53, the Town of Oliver, and Area C it was agreed that a new theatre would be built. We believe the community involvement, through the Adopt-a-Seat campaign, helped in the decision that was made.

With the new theatre assured the committee re-launched the Adopt-a-Seat campaign trying to stay as true as possible to the campaign’s original intent.

In the end your donations contributed to upgrading the theatre in the following ways:

– A state of the art projection system which was purchased prior to the fire. It was the system that was used to host the 2010 Vancouver Olympics opening ceremonies. Although lost in the fire it was included in the funds to rebuild the theatre.

– Working with the South Okanagan Concert Society a concert grand piano was purchased and held in storage awaiting the new theatre’s completion.

– The remainder of funds were used for upgrades to lighting and sound systems. Although not overtly visible the upgrades will enhance performances held in the theatre.

As much as we desired to stick with the original plan to mount plaques on seats, the committee was advised that it was not possible with the new seating. Working with architect Robert Cesnik of CEI Architecture it was decided that a donor wall would be the best alternative. The wall is a series of five panels. The first panel has a brief biography of Frank Venables and stylized artwork by Bill Ross showing the school and the Venables Auditorium. The remaining four panels show our donors with the inscriptions that would have appeared on the individual plaques. There is also room for more panels to recognize future fundraising events.

Those of you that have seen the new Venables Theatre realize how fortunate our community is. It is a theatre to be envied by all. It may not have the historical significance of the old Venables Auditorium but it provides us the opportunity to build a new history and the same cherished memories.

Again thank you to all who participated in the Adopt-a-Seat campaign and to all those who made the new Venables Theatre possible.

Martin Cattermole and Ernie Dumais, Adopt-a-Seat committee

 

Businesses need to get real in this economic age

Capitalism is an interesting word, meaning, the system of individual ownership of wealth. So, a capitalist is a person who has money invested in business for profit.

We know it better as owning your own business, working for yourself, and was brought about by a governing genius to legally tax under-the-table bartering.

Each generation of small business owner has dreamt of the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Unfortunately, when one realizes owning a small business is not a get-rich-quick scheme, that it’s hard work, long hours and thus becomes very stressful knowing: “Every business is always 28 days away from bankruptcy.”

It was just a few decades ago when we thought that being the Wine Capital of Canada would solve all of our problems, only to find out that tourists are fickle, especially when the economy takes a turn for the worst.

The new saviour has become the prison, or correctional facility, which some like to refer to it, although I do not believe that anyone has left prison corrected. Yes, we can hope, but let’s stop deluding ourselves; a business is only successful under a few conditions. And of those conditions all are self-generated.

Lack of proper capital is the number one reason for small business failure. Everyone seems to think one can start a business on a shoe-string. One not only needs a start-up fund, but also an operating fund. Most businesses do not start to make money until their fifth year. The concept here, being, a business must be able to support itself from its profit margin after all expenditures are paid.

For every one good year of business it may be followed by four years of bad business. This is not something that the government tells you in their seminar during Small Business Week, because all the government is interested in is to get the taxes from your “under-the-table” bartering. What better way to get you to claim your extra income than to encourage us to start our own business. Appeal to the ego.

The bottom line: No business is oblivious to a poor economy. In any case, there are some definite no-no’s. Do not cut corners on product or service. Those left with money to spend will shop around. It has nothing to do with loyalty; it has to do with stretching the low dollar. And, really, do I have to say this?  Do not raise your prices to cover your losses. What was I thinking?

My eight-year-old son once said, “Mom, get a job, work hard, and save your money.” I wish I had listened.

 

Cherlynne J. Sweet, Oliver

 

Northern Gateway Pipeline project will affect all of BC

Before the citizens of Kitimat vote on whether or not to approve the Northern Gateway Pipeline (NGP), consider this: The revenue from the pipeline over 30 years would not be enough to fund health care and education in BC for one hour a year. That’s right; one hour.

Health care and education in BC costs $22 billion a year. With increases over 30 years, costs will rise to approximately $675 billion.

According to Enbridge’s own figures, the province’s tax revenue generated from the NGP over 30 years will total $1.2 billion. Sounds like a lot of money? It isn’t.

Contrast our health care and education costs over 30 years – $675 billion – with the total tax revenue from the Northern Gateway Pipeline over 30 years – $1.2 billion – and we begin to realize the risks just aren’t worth the monetary gain. Are we being sold a bill of goods? As usual, corporations stand to make billions but BC would only get the crumbs from the table.

Currently, much of the crude oil shipped to the US is discounted $10-$40 a barrel.

At some point, will the projected 525,000 barrels of oil flowing through the NGP for export overseas be discounted, and will BC refineries get that discount?

The pipeline will affect all of BC but the impact will be greatest in Kitimat. Yes, the project will create jobs – a projected $4.3 billion in labour-related income over 30 years, or $143 million per year. This meagre amount of revenue still does not justify the risks of pipeline leaks or tanker accidents fouling the shores.

One accident and the pipeline could end up costing us more than we would ever collect. Enbridge’s track record is not stellar; some 600 leaks and breaks of various sizes over 10 years gives one pause to think what could happen over 30 years.

In addition to environmental risks, there are social risks to consider. Will tanker traffic disrupt other industries in BC, such as fishing or tourism? Will the cost of living increase in Kitimat? Will taxes rise? Will real estate prices go beyond the reach of minimum wage earners and families hoping to move into the area?

We can’t be afraid of progress, but is the Northern Gateway Pipeline project really progress?

Ultimately, we need to wake up to the fact that natural gas will soon be overtaking oil as the world’s dominant energy source, so will there be a future demand for our oil beyond 2020?

 

Paul McCavour, Osoyoos