By Dan Walton, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
John Vassilaki feels like Penticton’s best days had passed long before he became mayor.
“Compared to the ‘50s, ‘60s and early ‘70s, it’s completely changed and not for the better,” he said.
“Penticton really prospered, all the businesses prospered. The people were different, they were happy.”
People were neighbourly.
“Some neighbourhoods, people have lived next door to each other for 10, 15 years and they haven’t spoken more than 10 words to each other. It never used to be like that.”
And friendship actually meant something back then.
“Your friends were really your friends and they weren’t your friends because they wanted to gain something from you. A friend was a real friend where today it’s all self interest.”
Vassilaki remembers Penticton as the place to be in the Okanagan.
“Kelowna was nothing back in the 1950s and 1960s.”
And Cherry Lane Shopping Centre is nothing compared to what downtown used to be, he said.
“It all changed when they built the (Okanagan Lake) Bridge in Kelowna. Because you could only cross with the ferries back then. Then the Okanagan Connector (Highway 97C) came in and that really ruined us.”
The Okanagan Lake Bridge opened in 1958 and closed in 2008 upon the completion of the William R. Bennett Bridge.
Highway 97C opened in 1990, making it much more convenient for traffic from the Lower Mainland to reach the Central Okanagan. The new fork in the road diverted many travellers away from the southern portion of the valley.
Vassilaki feels like there was a chance to have the Connector intersect with Highway 97 further south than West Kelowna, but the political landscape was not tilted in the South Okanagan’s favour.
“Unfortunately the politicians that made the decision, Premier Bennett and all those other big wigs, lived in Kelowna,” he said. “South Okanagan politicians, the will wasn’t there to fight to bring the entry of the Connector down further south rather than where it came out. That hurt the South Okanagan immensely.”
It wasn’t just the highway – Main and Martin Streets also had their driving patterns changed several decades ago, going from two-way traffic down to one-way, and Vassilaki says that hurt downtown businesses.
“Now it’s harder to get to your place if you miss it. Now they come all the way down, they miss the place, they go up Martin and they go straight to the mall.”
Shoppers may also avoid downtown Penticton because it’s free to park at Cherry Lane compared to Main Street. But when the cost of parking isn’t getting subsidized by drivers, it has to get paid for in other ways, so Vassilaki argues it’s a better deal to shop downtown.
“People don’t understand, if they go and buy a glass at the mall, it might cost them $5 for that particular glass. Downtown it’s only going to cost them $2. They have no concept of how economics work. You go inside that mall, whatever you buy, it costs 25 to 30% higher than the same item downtown.”
As mayor from 2018 to 2022, Vassilaki led the council that embarked upon the controversial Lake-to-Lake Cycling Route. Despite his admiration for the way things used to be, he doesn’t regret the bike lanes. But he said he never supported the section that runs along Martin Street, and hopes to see it rerouted down Winnipeg Street.
To help everything run smoothly in Penticton, local businesses should be paying a minimum of $25 per hour, the federal government will show more leniency towards businesses that are indebted through the Canada Emergency Business Account, and it should be easier for skilled workers to immigrate from other countries, the former mayor said.
“In the 1950s and 1960s so many European tradesmen came over. Look at the doctors, we’re short thousands in B.C. Cut all the red tape for them to come into our country and practice the profession. I think now they’re allowing a few people to come in from English-speaking countries, but what’s wrong with bringing in a doctor from India or Africa or somewhere in Europe?”
Vassilaki feels like some people didn’t like him because he wasn’t afraid of controversy. When then-Attorney General David Eby (now premier) tried to prevent a homeless shelter from closing at Victory Church, the two politicians found themselves in conflict.
“(Eby) didn’t give me much of a chance to talk, and at one point I had to tell him, ‘Sorry Mr. Minister but you got to give me a chance to talk or I’m going to hang up’, and I did. I hung up on him. And I’m not sorry for doing it, because it had to be done.”
The shelter at Victory Church eventually closed after a new one was opened in the middle of the city. Vassilaki says the Victory Church would still be a homeless shelter had it not been for the stance of council. He feels grateful to have had the support of his fellow councillors and his wife during that feud.
“My wife really supported me all the way through the whole process. If your wife doesn’t support what you’re doing and she doesn’t feel what you feel, you’re going to get bogged down and give up. She was right there fighting along with me.”
Dealing with the city’s growing homeless population also got Penticton in the news when Vassilaki and council voted to prohibit sitting and laying down on sidewalks in the downtown during summer months.
“It came to a point where all those people were going to stores and threatening the owners — if they don’t get $10 they’re going to tear the place apart, or they’re going to hurt their staff.”
Things quieted down after the bylaw was passed, he said.
“Mind you they went elsewhere but at least they weren’t in the area where the public was, they were hidden, in hidden areas where people couldn’t see them.”
Vassilaki said he made the business community a priority, but feels like two years of his term as mayor were hindered by the pandemic.
Development can also be impeded by NIMBYs, so he’s happy to see the new provincial regulation that overrides municipalities to allow up to six units to get built per lot.
“I’d like to congratulate Premier Eby for coming up with that, he’s not all bad. I know the development community likes it. The public won’t like it as much but you know the public sometimes, they speak out of turn.”
While the challenges with government can get complex, Vassilaki says the best solutions are found by listening to the public.
“The reason the community respected the City Council that I was head of, was because we listened to them. That was my priority. We are here to listen to what you have to say so that we can govern practically.”
Vassilaki served several terms as city councillor before getting elected mayor in 2018.
This story first appeared in the Penticton Herald.
