New home for rowing club
Photo: City of West Kelowna
Kelowna Rowing Club has a new home
The Kelowna Rowing Club has found a new home and, with it, possibly a new name.
The City of West Kelowna is providing the rowing club a place to set up shop across from Gellatly Bay.
Council this week authorized the mayor and corporate officer to sign a Licence of Occupation for the use of a portion of Rotary Trails Park.
The agreement is for three years with an option to extend the lease for an additional two years.
The rowing club, established in 1913, has been utilizing space at the West Kelowna Yacht Club for nearly a decade, but were informed earlier this year the yacht club now requires that space.
As part of the agreement, the city will cover costs of preparing the site, including moving of a bench, temporarily moving some barriers from the parking lot and adjusting the irrigation.
The club will also pay a yearly fee based on membership which currently stands at about 40 members.
With the move, Coun. Garrett Millsap has asked whether the club is willing to change its name.
“We have received numerous emails from people saying if they are going to use West Kelowna space and West Kelowna parkland, it should be called the West Kelowna Rowing Club,” said Millsap.
“We are giving them park space and paying for them to move their stuff.”
Staff indicated the request has been brought to the club.
“It is something they are willing to discuss further with their board members,” parks planner Jamie England told council.
“There are some complexities to changing the name of a non-profit organization, so it is something they will need to consider before agreeing to it.”
