Nicol Wants Vipers Recognized:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Nicol wants team recognized

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star

Published: May 27, 2010

A veteran politician doesn’t believe Canada’s six-time junior A hockey champions get the respect they deserve.

Coun. Patrick Nicol insists the Vernon Vipers are never fully acknowledged for contributing to tourism or the economy.

“They generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in meals and hotels and they are under-recognized in tourism,” he said.

“They have a long schedule and there’s the publicity they bring to the community. They never get the recognition about what they bring to economic development over the winter. It’s a significant business.”

As part of that, Nicol wants Vernon to bid for a future RBC Royal Bank Cup, the national championship. He has support from Coun. Jack Gilroy.

“It’s a great economic development thing with people coming to the city,” said Gilroy.

However, Gilroy admits there are challenges with hosting such a large event, including the up-front costs.

He would like city staff to contact Dauphin, Man., which hosted this year’s Royal Bank Cup.

“We should find out how they did,” he said.

In July 2009, Vernon council voted not to bid for the 2011 RBC Royal Bank Cup because hosting rights had just become available and the deadline for submissions was just two weeks away.

At the time, council was told that about $350,000 would be required for hosting such an event.

Michelle Jefferson, the city’s tourism manager, says generating revenue for such an event could be difficult because of exclusive sponsorship deals Hockey Canada has signed with national corporations.

“So many of our locals (businesses) would not be able to provide sponsorships,” she said.

Coun. Mary-Jo O’Keefe believes sports tournaments are just one aspect of tourism that Vernon needs to consider.

“Sports tourism needs some focus. It’s been largely ignored but it’s a matter of finding the funds and the focus,” she said.