-Mandziuk says DO has worked 'very hard' to fulfil Town's economic development needs-

OSOYOOS TIMES-April 1, 2009

By Paul EverestrnOsoyoos Times

The public will have a chance to take part in a review of how the Town spends money on economic development services through its contract with Destination Osoyoos (DO).
Osoyoos mayor Stu Wells said the review, which was announced on March 27, will be conducted by town council and is being launched because of public input and because the Town's contract with DO expires in December.
There's enough questions out there, on the street and in the public, and (we're) coming to an end of a five-year contract, Wells said. I think everybody thought that we should be having some input and finding out what the town's perception of economic development is.
Whether that's status quo or some changes, that's what we want to find out.rnThe timing of the review, Wells added, doesn't have anything to do with the recent announcement that Glenn Mandziuk, DO's chief executive officer (CEO), will be leaving to work as CEO of the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA).
Wells said the review will focus on how the roughly $235,000 which the Town gives to DO each year, along with the two per cent hotel room tax and matching municipal resort funding, are used for economic development in Osoyoos.
People are wanting to have a look at how that money is spent, he said, adding that one person's idea of valuable economic development in the area could mean more fireworks displays while another person might see downtown revitalization as the best way to spend economic development dollars.
We would like to hear what the people think (economic development) is and once we get that, how that happens and the deliverance of that is a whole different question.rnPart of the review will include a full-day workshop hosted by council on April 24 where people will be able to offer their opinions on topics including the definition of economic development in Osoyoos, what indicators of successful economic development are and possible strategies and priorities for local economic development.
Wells said that although everyone is welcome to attend the workshop, the review won't be targeting single-interest or affiliated individuals and he used the South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce as an example.
We'd like people from the chamber there but we're not inviting them as chamber folks. We're inviting them as business people in the community.rnThe location of the workshop and information on how to register for the event will be made public in the next few weeks, Wells added.
The contract between the Town and DO, which was last renewed in December of 2004, outlines that DO would provide economic and community development for the town as well as visitor information and tourism services.
In an interview with the Osoyoos Times the day before council announced the review, Mandziuk said that DO has always worked hard to fulfil the mandates which the Town has put to it.
The organization has offered training programs to help local entrepreneurs successfully develop and market themselves while giving businesses a chance to show themselves off through events such as Showcase Osoyoos, Mandziuk said.
He also mentioned DO's one-stop business registration service at the Osoyoos Visitor's Centre as a way in which the organization has helped make it easier for businesses to set up shop in Osoyoos.
We worked very hard to bring these services here.rnAnd DO listened to concerns that there's a lack of things to do in the community for visitors, so amenities such as trail networks were established to encourage people to stay, Mandziuk added.
In response to some of the concerns or negative attitudes expressed towards DO at public gatherings such as municipal all-candidates forums last fall or through the media, Mandziuk said his organization has offered the community the best service possible.rnEverybody's entitled to their opinions, he said. I'm proud of the record.rnDO's direction, Mandziuk said, has been based on what was being fed back to this organization from consultants, surveys and visits to see economic development efforts in other communities.
He added, however, that hearing or reading occasional negative feedback is challenging and is often hard on DO staff, especially since no one comes to the organization to express their concerns directly.
No one comes in to say 'Why was it done this way?' Mandziuk said.
Some concerns that have arisen during the past year have focused on the number of staff who have left DO in a short time period and the use of an out-of-town publisher for DO's annual visitor guide.
As for the perception of a high staff turn-around rate, Mandziuk said it's normal that some staff have moved on to other projects after a short period of time.
DO, he said, is not an organization that has a big revolving door.rnChange will happen. It just happens in any organization. Sometimes it happens all at once and sometimes it doesn't.rnWith respect to working with MJO Communications of Vernon on several projects, including the visitor guide, Mandziuk said the company responded to a tender that was put out to any and all interested publishers which no local publishers bid on.
We're very grateful that it's an Okanagan-based company.rnHe also said the company put together a visitor guide package that, up until this year, DO spent no money on.
This year, 100,000 copies of the guide will be printed as compared to 65,000 in previous years, an increase that will be paid for through the two per cent hotel room tax.
Mandziuk, who will continue to serve as interim CEO for DO for six months after he leaves to helm TOTA on April 1, said the best way to alleviate some of these concerns about the organization's efforts would be to continue sharing as much information with the community as possible.
I guess we just have to keep telling the public what's going on.rn[email protected]rn