Greyhound Gone in October

The corporate decision of Greyhound to discontinue its passenger service in Western Canada will present a transportation challenge for many in our community. Perhaps the BC transit service between Vernon and Kelowna could be enhanced. It should be noted that the increasing use of these publicly funded systems were cited by Greyhound executives as one of the factors contributing to their falling ridership woes. There may need to be increased frequency added to the existing service.
Please vote for Shawn Lee for Vernon City Council

Seeking Solutions for the Homeless in Vernon

The current council  has attempted to a dress some of the issues attendant with the city's homeless. This was commendable. I believe that a continuing effort focusing on harm reduction and preserving public safety will be necessary for the foreseeable future. There are no quick fixes for this very complicated issue and it should involve cooperation between government and private agencies. All residents of our little city deserve to feel safe and secure. I will support initiatives that are aimed achieving this goal. A detailed look at past measures taken may also prove helpful.
Please vote for Shawn Lee for Vernon City Council

Vernon Civic Election 2018

As the current election season approached many of my acquaintance asked if I was considering letting my name stand for election. I wasn't. I have been down that road before and  recall the emotional trauma that running for public office often brings. However there was and still is a strong desire in me to serve my community as a Councillor for the City of Vernon. A sense of unfinished business a clock that is still not working.
And so today I filed the necessary documents and the race is on. I am grateful to those who so willing signed my nomination papers and to my wife Jocelyn for her abiding support of her would be politician husband.
My hope is to blog daily as well as manage my face book page and maybe tweet a little. I get the sense this election may well be won online. Stay tuned . Cheers Shawn Lee Vernon Taxpayer

Jurassic World:Vernon Style

Jocelyn my wife and I took in the latest edition in the Jurassic Park franchise at the Galaxy Cinema. There was the expected fright and gore generated by the CGI wizards. The trembling earth and the sudden bone crunching pounces. There were scenes that paid homage to the original film and yet again the film makers almost convince you that dinosaurs walk the earth.
As I was walking to my dental practice this morning I felt the ground tremble and heard a loud roaring. I glanced up 30th and for a moment there appeared to be several large Jurassic beasts hunched hungrily  over some fallen prey, but wait, no it was only the latest stage of the rehabilitation of the street and intersection in front of our building.
As anyone knows who has tried to walk or drive anywhere in the east part of Vernon's downtown has encountered an unprecedented amount of renewal that going on and on and on. There has been a lot of digging and covering and redigging . We are grateful to our patients who brave the lack of convenient parking,the dust, the noise and the sheer obstacle course to attend our office. We have been assured that the end is sight and soon our little portion of the Polson Park Greenway will be complete.
In the meantime with all the trembling and roaring  it is good to know that we do not need to flee for our lives.

On the Passing of Bob Spears

It was with great sadness that I learned of the sudden passing of Councillor Bob Spears. I was fortunate enough to be elected to Vernon City Council the same year as Bob. Councillor Spears in my estimation hit the ground running. He seemed to have all the numbers at his fingertips. This was not by accident as he had attended many council meetings as an interested private citizen. When he spoke we all would listen. I did not always agree but never doubted Councillor"s Spears determination to see tax dollars spent wisely. He gave freely of his time and we all have benefited. He will be missed greatly.
Shawn Lee a Vernon Taxpayer

What a Treasure !

For both the residents and visitors to our fair corner of the North Okanagan the Rail trail is proving to be a treasure. Having walked and ridden the Kalamalka Lake portion of the trail I have nothing but praise for those who had the vision to preserve this right of way.
Really it is a world class asset and it is not yet as good as it is going to get when completed. Though presently portions of our end of the trail are closed for rock scaling(yes there are cliffs) I highly recommend a leisurely stroll or a railway grade bike ride on the finely crushed gravel path. Bring water and your camera for vistas of the Lake of Many Colors that you may not have seen before. What a treat! What a treasure! See you there.
Cheers Shawn  

Tempus Fugit but not quite accurately

The wind was pretty brisk on a noon walkabout the other day and I was a little pressed as I was returning to the office. Glancing up at the tower clock in front of the museum to check the time I noted a lack of synchronicity between the four faces. The North face displayed a different time than the other three which were correct. This is distressing to me as one of the last initiatives that I was involved in as a member of Vernon City Council was the approval of the installation of a new clock mechanism in the old tower. The old mechanism now safely functions inside the museum.
If my memory serves me $50,000 was spent 2011 on the new faces and a mechanism that would automatically reset the time if for some reason something went awry. Apparently this is not the case. The historical significance of the tower and its new timepiece seems not to carry much weight with those in trusted with the clock's care and maintenance.
 I hope that this not the case and that a remedy will soon be found in a timely fashion.. As a taxpayer looking at a city clock that does not tell the correct time I begin to suspect there may be other things awry in the City of Vernon that are not quite as in your face as a tower clock that shows the incorrect time.
Cheers Shawn Lee a Vernon Taxpayer