Fundraising push begins
Darren Handschuh - Jan 15, 2019 - Biz Releases

File photo

Officials are working behind the scenes on the new Greater Vernon’s cultural centre.

But Vernon Mayor and RDNO director Victor Cumming said it will take time to get the “massive project” off the ground.

Voters approved the borrowing of $25 million for the facility in October 2018, with the remainder of the required $40 million coming from senior government grants and fundraising.

“Those discussions are starting, and it’s a massive project,” Cumming said of planning and pursuing other funding sources.

The cultural centre could be the largest project ever constructed in the region, and Cumming said the process will take time.

“We’re stepping into a new realm because of the magnitude of it,” he said.

Dauna Kennedy, with the Vernon Public Art Centre, said they are applying for numerous grants and the more money they can gather the less they will have to borrow.

“We have identified a lot of the grants we will be applying for,” said Kennedy, adding the framework for a fundraiser is also being put in place.

Kennedy said the regional district will be applying for a multi-million dollar grant next week.

“If we manage to get our full ask, that means we borrow less,” she said.

Kennedy said part of the capital campaign will include expanding the centre’s endowment funds which will “guarantee us some operational dollars coming in which will help offset any increases we have to do in terms of additional staff for the new facility.”

Kennedy said if the grant application being submitted next week by the RDNO is successful, the project will go to tender, but it will be several months before it is known if the grant was approved.

In the meantime, officials will continue to develop the capital campaign which Kennedy hopes will come forward in the spring.


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