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Vernon News

Vernon lowers ice rental rates, raises swimming fees

Swimmers will see a 2.6 per cent rise in admission costs come September.

VERNON - Depending on the sport they partake in, some individuals will notice an increase in recreation fees this fall.

Most fees are going up by 2.6 per cent at Greater Vernon recreation facilities to offset rising operational costs, but to stay competitive with neighbouring communities, the city is lowering the price for some services.

Manager of recreation services Doug Ross says ice rental fees will be reduced at Kal Tire Place, and the Civic and Priest Valley arenas.

"We've been seeing for a while now that our arena rates are quite a bit higher than in other communities," Ross says.

With new arenas in nearby communities such as Armstrong, and smoother highways to get them there, Ross says many groups are choosing to commute to more affordable venues.

"We believed it was important for us to be competitive with our rates, we're not the only good arena anymore," Ross says. "Hopefully it will stimulate an increase in ice rentals, especially in the off-season."

Despite the reduction, Vernon ice rental rates are still higher than those in surrounding communities, Ross says.

Public skating and public swimming fees will be included in the 2.6 per cent price increase, and children will now have to pay a toonie for the formerly loonie swim.

"The loonie doesn't have the value it had at one time. We decided it had come time to increase children to a toonie, which is still substantially less than the regular rate," Ross says.

The affordability access program will continue to admit individuals from financially disadvantaged backgrounds at a 75 per cent discount.

"Certainly people are never happy to see an increase in fees, but we didn't make this decision overnight," Ross says. "We have certain costs that have to be met."

The new rates will come into effect September 1.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca, call (250)309-5230 or tweet @charhelston

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