Penticton is a city in which volunteers often play a very significant, and more often, a much-appreciated role.
Many events could not proceed without them. Very recently the South Okanagan Events (Ejection) Centre fired some 40 volunteers. How do you fire a volunteer?
To this writer this step makes little sense. As a spectator at many of the games and the odd concert, no evidence of abusive, violent or antagonistic behaviour has ever been noticed. Nothing at least that would not be properly handled by those working the event.
If management had done its due diligence earlier, any perceived problems could have been addressed. Those who will apparently take their place will not, again in this writers’ opinion, do any better a job and could possibly because of their more authoritative appearance and approach, reading virtually something into nothing, could possibly provoke more abrasive behaviour.
On top of all this they will be paid. Another bill for local taxpayers and will all ticket prices go up?
Where’s the sense? What’s to be gained? Politics has to be involved in this one.
Hopefully such a dopey event (no pun intended) will not discourage the many volunteers who, in their enthusiasm, strive to keep many of the city’s worthwhile events operational.
Chuck Waddington
Penticton