I recently visited my family in Vernon over the holidays.
Having lived in Vernon in the past, I always look forward to visiting.
My father and I decided to visit the Rec Centre for a swim, as we often do.
This time, we were greeted with a question about our place of residence.
As per the city's new policy, anyone living outside of Vernon will be charged a fee of $16 to use the pool.
I find this policy difficult to understand.
Rec centres and community centres are about building community.
Residents should be encouraged to bring friends and family to spend time together.
This policy also creates resentment in neighbouring towns.
Residents of Coldstream, Lumby, Armstrong, and Enderby have limited access to recreational facilities and rely on Vernon.
Creating a discriminatory pricing policy will erode good will and undermine relationships with neighbouring communities.
Once again, this is the opposite of community building.
Lastly, Vernon relies on tourism as a major contributor to the economy.
Charging visitors an unreasonable fee to use recreational facilities sends the wrong message and will hurt the economy in the long run.
Armin Harkan
