The District of Sicamous is moving towards taking ownership of the community cenotaph.
Mayor Terry Rysz confirms the district is in negotiation with the Sicamous Legion to purchase property on which the cenotaph is located, at the corner of Main Street and Shuswap Avenue.
The purchase price for the approximately 50- by 100-foot piece of property is estimated to be around $70,000, plus another $3,000 to $4,000 in related costs. The expense is to be included in the district’s 2017 budget.
“We do have money in our parks reserves… I think we have about $120,000 in there, but in order for us to budget it properly, it will be in the 2017 budget,” said Rysz. “So at this stage, we’re basically telling the legion yes, we’re going to move forward with that purchase, but there will be a timeline. And they’re good with that.”
Sicamous Branch #99 is in the process of seeking support and approval for the sale from Legion B.C./Yukon Command.
Rysz notes most communities own their own cenotaphs and that Sicamous is an anomaly.
Upon completing the land acquisition, Rysz says the district may reposition the cenotaph.
“Where it is right now, our intentions are to move it more towards the back part of the property,” said Rysz. “So yes, it’s a work in progress, so we’ll move forward with this in 2017.”