Kelowna

Roadside memorials to be discussed

Kelowna City Council is being asked to do something about roadside memorials which, according to a Kelowna woman, can be distracting to drivers.



Suzanne St. Germain recently wrote council asking that something be done about a particular roadside memorial on Longhill Road in Glenmore.



"This memorial is particularly disgraceful and not in any way honouring the young man who lost his life there," says St. Germain in her letter.



"It has been there since December 2004/January 2005 and is covered with dirty, decaying remnants of clothing items, sun-bleached plastic flowers and more seem to litter the ground as well."



St. Germain says the man who died at that spot and his family are from Vernon.



"It seems unlikely that anyone has visited it in years."



In her letter, St. Germain says she believes a bylaw should be in place that would help respect the families grief while at the same time "seeing they are removed after a certain designated time period by city workers."



St. Germain point to a new program in Calgary where roadside memorials are allowed to stay for one year after which time they are replaced by a metal band called a 'Halo' (Honouring A Loved One).



"I am sending this to you in hopes Kelowna will start a similar program. I am hoping the Longhill memorial can at least be cleaned up and dignified somewhat."



Mayor Sharon Shepherd is bringing up the matter at Monday morning's City Council meeting.