Community members are concerned over the potential demolition of the Okanagan Mission Activity Centre (OMAC) on 4398 Hobson Road in Kelowna.
The Okanagan Mission Activity Centre is a small multi-use facility near Sarsons Beach in the Lower Mission. The facility is owned by the city and is operated in collaboration with the Okanagan Mission Seniors Centre Society. It is a community hub for over 300 senior members and a much-beloved site for many others, according to Seniors Centre Society member Carol Millar.
But the fate of the facility has always been uncertain: talks about the centre㽶Ƶֱs demolition have been happening since 2019.
㽶ƵֱA couple of years ago, we invited the manager of the parks and recreation department to come and speak with us. At the time, he told us that the city wanted to put in this new building between the Capital News Centre and the H2O Adventure and Fitness Centre. I think their vision is for it to be like Parkinson Recreation Centre,㽶Ƶֱ said Millar.
Millar and other society members have been canvassing the community to gather comments and feedback from residents. Many of the people they talked to did not know about the city㽶Ƶֱs plan to demolish OMAC, she said.
㽶ƵֱThey didn㽶Ƶֱt know about it, and that㽶Ƶֱs why we are canvassing. This past weekend we attended the Pandosy Art Festive to let people know that this is the city㽶Ƶֱs intention for OMAC and if they are aware of it,㽶Ƶֱ said Millar. 㽶ƵֱWe want to gather information and gather support as well.㽶Ƶֱ
Millar said she has been in touch with the city ever since she started canvassing the community about this issue. However, the plans for the activity centre still remain unclear.
㽶ƵֱThe city said they will consult the community about this, so now we㽶Ƶֱre getting our ducks in a row because the consultation process can often be very quick or they㽶Ƶֱve already made up their minds,㽶Ƶֱ said Millar. 㽶ƵֱRight now we are trying to get support from the community and trying to figure out how to support the building financially and what the Society can do to support it.㽶Ƶֱ
The city, however, said there is no imminent plan to demolish OMAC. Plans to redesign the centre are in the city㽶Ƶֱs 10-year Capital Plan, but nothing concrete has been decided.
㽶ƵֱIt㽶Ƶֱs only a plan at this point, and the final decision on budget approval for that will be made by the council of the day,㽶Ƶֱ said City of Kelowna media relations manager Tom Wilson. 㽶ƵֱOMAC Seniors Centre Society has been aware of the above plans for several years, and staff have been in contact with the board periodically to answer questions and consult on any needed upgrades to the building.
㽶ƵֱUntil there㽶Ƶֱs a decision by city council in a few years, there is nothing new,㽶Ƶֱ he added.
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paula.tran@kelownacapnews.com
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