Vivian ChuiOmineca Express
New CAO
Tom Clement, formerly Vanderhoof’s Director of Community Development, is now the new Chief Administrative Officer.
“I have great staff here, who will make my job as CAO a whole lot easier,” Clement said. “The public works and recreation employees are the best around, I expect great things from them all.”
The previous CAO Evan Parliament, from Summerland, had left on Aug.12 after his two years of tenure at the district council.
“Mr. Parliament has left Vanderhoof and I wish him all the best in the future,” Clement said.
Renewing arena concession
The District is calling for volunteer or private groups to operate the concession in Vanderhoof’s arena.
With new management, the concession could open for more hours and have better food choices, as well as eliminate past concerns regarding volunteer shortage and food safety, stated Clement in a council document.
The concession was previously managed by the Nechako Figure Skating Club, where registrants were asked to help run the food outlet by volunteering or paying an additional cheque for food staff.
“[Not operating the concession any more] is the best way to ask less from the parents of the figure skaters, as well as having a comparable cost to other sports clubs in the district,” said the club’s president Jeannie Garrett.
“We were having to ask for registration fee, and then concession postdated cheques, and ask people to volunteer to fundraise as well,” she added. “It turned away some people.”