BRIGADE DAYS GROWING
Lori Isbister, representing Brigade Days, asked for the District of Hope to partner with the event to make it even more of a success than it has been in previous years.
“Hope Brigade Days started as a celebration for the local people, to celebrate a successful tourist season. It’s evolved over the fifty years,” she said.
Isbister said Brigade Days, the longest running event in Hope, has seen a large growth in attendance over the past four years. Between 5,000 and 6,000 people attend over the weekend.
She asked council for their support in bringing special components to the parade, such as the Kamloops Rube Band, the Vancouver Traveling Band and pipe bands, as well as clowns, stilt walkers, stilt bikes and other entertainment.
The request to council totalling $8,500, also included the Seattle Cossacks. Previously the Shriners motorcycle stunt group came to Brigade Days, but as the group has disbanded, the U.S.-based motorcycle stunt and drill team was an option.
“We also would like to bring back the keystone cops, because that’s kind of a nostalgia,” she said. “People used to dress up in old time police costumes and they would arrest people that didn’t have briggie buttons. And they would have to pay five or ten dollars to get out of jail.”
The Chamber of Commerce is also looking into how to better involve local merchants, perhaps encouraging special window displays during the event. Isbister added the board is talking about how to include the museum in the festivities.
Donna Kropp wondered whether the Brigade Days committee had tried to apply for grants.
Isbister said the group wasn’t able to get grants in the past few years, instead succeeding in running the event on sponsorships and attendance revenue.
“It’s hard to get grants for fairs, because it’s not an arts-specific event, it’s not a music-specific event,” she said, adding the board is looking into grants, if possible.
If people are interested in volunteering for the September event, they can sign up at brigadedays.com
PARK STREET REZONING GOES TO PUBLIC HEARING
Mayor and council pushed a new high-density development proposal for 548 Park Street to the next stage. The proposal will now go to public hearing on April 9.
The developer, Lordlet Investments, is asking the district to change the zoning of 548 Park Street from single-family residential (RS1) to comprehensive development (CD5), in order to demolish the existing house at the address and build an eight-unit townhouse complex.
“The developer would like to market these units to people looking to downsize or as a starter unit for young families,” said Jas Gill, director of community development. The developer is also planning to provide three units to the district for a five-year term, as market rentals.
The zone itself, CD5, does not yet exist as a zone in the district’s official community plan. “It’s a site-specific zone, the setbacks, the provisions found in this zone would be tailored to this development,” Gill said.
UPCOMING FALL ELECTIONS
Mayor Wilfried Vicktor reminded residents who are interested in running as a councillor for the District or as a Fraser-Cascade School District trustee to start getting a sense of what is involved in these roles.
“If anyone of you or anyone that you know would like to run, I think it’s important to explore at the early stages,” he said. “It’s just important to go in with eyes open, if anyone out there is looking at running, that they attend a few meetings.”
Vicktor said he is looking forward to having some competition for the Mayor’s race. “The more choices the better, in my opinion.”
He added it is important, for those who are looking to run, to make sure their families are on board as the commitment involves evening events and meetings.
