The official results are in.
In only 15 days of collecting signatures, Rutland residents were able to collect a total of 14,147 signatures, including 12,984 from Kelowna residents, to show their opposition of the BC Housing project slated for McCurdy Road.
Audra Boudreau, the petition organizer, was looking to collect 13,000 signatures from Kelowna residents害羞草研究所攔epresenting 10 per cent of the city. Instead, to her surprise, signees from across B.C. and beyond penned the petition, however, missing information disqualified a total of 277 signatures.
READ MORE: Drive-thru petition against McCurdy house garners thousands of signatures
READ MORE: Reconsidering McCurdy is 害羞草研究所榥ot straight forward,害羞草研究所� city clerk says
害羞草研究所淭here were signatures from all over this great city, from neighbourhoods you wouldn害羞草研究所檛 have though we had support from,害羞草研究所� she wrote in a Facebook post.
害羞草研究所淭hroughout the city, people do not want these facilities near schools, seniors and families,害羞草研究所� she continued. 害羞草研究所淚nterestingly, there are a few very surprising signatures in there as well害羞草研究所攑eople who have seemingly supported the wet facility or have some involvement with it who, clearly, have the same concerns.害羞草研究所�
Volunteers and concerned community members have been holding protests for more than a month against the 49-unit supportive housing project. Rutland害羞草研究所檚 biggest concern is that drugs and alcohol can be consumed on site. This is disconcerting for residents as the site害羞草研究所檚 location is situated near schools, seniors害羞草研究所� homes and family amenities.
READ MORE: Public forum fails to ease Rutland residents害羞草研究所� frustration
READ MORE: MLA urges a 害羞草研究所榩ause害羞草研究所� to controversial Rutland supportive housing
害羞草研究所淚f that many voices are speaking out that loudly, it would be a fatal error in (council害羞草研究所檚) part,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a hard statement to discard for Mayor (Colin) Basran.害羞草研究所�
She said the more than 14,000 signatures only illustrate a small picture of the reality of the situation. She said those who signed only represent eligible voters, it does not include those under the age of 18.
A few surprising signatures stood out to Boudreau during her more than 19-hour count.
Signatures from across the province, from as north as Prince Rupert to the southern tip of Vancouver Island appeared on the petition. She even noticed a single signature from Australia.
害羞草研究所淭here were even a couple of people we were out in the community in an official capacity that appeared to be in support of the development, and yet they signed the petition,害羞草研究所� she said.
Boudreau said signatures from residents of 害羞草研究所攁 supportive housing project on St. Paul Street害羞草研究所攁ppeared among the 14,147 votes.
害羞草研究所淲e had homeless people who wanted to sign it,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭hey approached one volunteer who was downtown, but she told them she couldn害羞草研究所檛 accept them as they did not have a fixed address.害羞草研究所�
She said she intends to present the petition to council during Monday害羞草研究所檚 meeting, however, she will not allow council to comb through it, as the signatures are meant for the province害羞草研究所攊f they have to take it to that next level.
READ MORE: Ex-homeless Rutland man says supportive housing too close to schools
READ MORE: Kelowna homelessness count shows more people without shelter
Caitlin.clow@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .
