Let's create a Legacy!
We can't imagine our children riding their bikes by Centre Beach 5 years from now saying, "Do you remember when there was a beach there and we would jump off the dock?"
For over 70 years, the Naramata Centre Beach has been the place to jump off the dock, play in the sand and rest in the shade under the beautiful trees. Friends and family have gathered around the fire pit or rested their backs against the giant trees.
This can be our generation's Manitou Park, a legacy of space and place to be enjoyed by generations to come.
Background
As part of a larger redevelopment effort, the Naramata Centre needs to sell a portion of their beach for private development. Our group (Naramata Citta Slow) approached the Centre to find if there was a way to preserve this beach and park to ensure we can forever enjoy it as a publicly owned asset.
With over 320 ft of lakefront, this 1 acre parkland site is bordered on the north by Naramata Creek which is once again a salmon spawning stream due to community efforts.
How will it work
Pending the success of this campaign, the Naramata Centre Society and the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) have entered into a sales agreement for the northern portion of the site (.95 acre). Additionally, the Centre and the RDOS would enter into a joint use agreement covering the entire park (northern and southern portions) so that the public will enjoy the entire park in perpetuity.
Our Fundraising Goal
The full price to buy the northern portion is $1.7 million and the RDOS has mechanisms to fund the balance of this purchase. Our fundraising goal is $850,000 and we know we can make this happen! Indeed, we have already received some very generous pledges, but we need your help to reach our goal and to spread the word. Once we have reached our goal, the funds we have raised will be provided to the RDOS and they will issue tax receipts for all donations greater than $20.
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Goal
An opportunity like this is once in a lifetime. Will you help us keep this green jewel as a place where children can continue to play and community can continue to gather and celebrate?
As a way to show our appreciation and collective commitment, every donor will receive a green ribbon to tie on your front door or around a tree in your yard.
Join us in keeping our village as green as we can!
Running out of superlatives
Today, Wednesday November 4th marks the official end of this campaign.
Not the movement, but this Campaign. The movement that celebrated the power of together, of community, and of preserving important outdoor green space and lake and creek access is alive.
We are humbled to report that as of the reconciliation today, including all cheque’s that have now been received at RDOS offices, the final amount of funds raised in support of the preservation of Centre Beach is $1,001, 475 from 1,079 individuals and organizations.
This remarkable adventure, the unfurling of green ribbon across our little village is something we are working to record. To support this:
We would like to recognize our supporters from far and wide with images of your doors, gates or special places with the Beach Green Ribbon. We invite you to send us your pictures (email to naramataslow@gmail.com) and through the magic of technology, we will add a green ribbon and record your image on our digital history of this significant moment in Naramata history.
Ribbon repatriation! Over the next little bit feel free to bring your green ribbon back to Centre Beach and tie it to any surface that speaks to you ... the fence, a bench, a tree, the dock. Covered in over 1,000 green ribbons the amazing power of community can be celebrated.
Watch for the donation to be posted to your credit card beginning tomorrow. Tax receipts for all donations over $20 will be issued by the RDOS and mailed out during January 2021.
And finally accept our great big hug (virtually - at a safe distance) and massive high five. Sweet home Naramata!
Team NaramataSlow
The little village that DID!
Today marks the official close of the online donor campaign portion of the Centre Beach fundraising effort. Due to some ongoing fundraising events this weekend, we have extended the window for donations to be accepted through the site to Wednesday, November 4th. This will also allow us to reconcile the donations that have been submitted to the RDOS.
It is truly amazing that this morning the donation total reached $937,464. Every dollar donated reduces the amount of borrowing required by Area E taxpayers to finance the balance of the $1.7M purchase price.
Next steps:
(1) On Wednesday, when the minimum donation threshold was achieved the RDOS moved ahead to begin finalizing the purchase agreement and get the administrative pieces in place to conclude the sale which is expected to be in January 2021.
(2) On Thursday, November 5th you will your see any donations made via credit card on the Wayblaze site processed on your credit card.
(2) Save your green ribbons! - Beginning on Thursday, November 5th we invite you to begin the repatriation of the green ribbons to Centre Beach. Tie your ribbon to the fence, to a tree, to the dock, or to whatever surface speaks to you. Returning the green ribbons to the Beach over the next month the collective power of the “Little Village That Did”, will be on full display. And stay tuned ... some larger plans are in the works to provide a little light in what may be a long dark winter.
(3) Begin to enjoy the beach! If you are the picture taking social media kinda type please tag @NaramataSlow #ittakesavillagetosaveabeach #naramatalove ... we’d love to have a photo album after all of this.
Thank you all again for your support!
We are in the process of updating the site to reflect donations that have gone directly to the RDOS. As I write this, we have an amazing 1,051 backers who have committed $937,444! A truly amazing outpouring of support from our community far and wide.
As we know there are several challenges and fundraising events wrapping up this weekend, we have extended the campaign on this crowdfunding site until Wednesday November 4th to allow those donations to be made on line. All additional funds raised will mean the RDOS will be required to borrow less funds to complete the purchase.
All commitments will then be processed on Thursday November 5th. Thank you again for your dedication and support of maintaining this beach and parkland for generations to come.
Crossing the line (The Little Village That Does) !
We are beyond delighted to let you know we have now met our (minimum) target of raising $850,000 towards the purchase to preserve Centre Beach! (All funds raised from this point forward will reduce the amount of municipal borrowing required to finance the balance of the $1.7m purchase price).
Thank you are two small words but come with big gratitude and huge impact for generations to come.
Over the next few days, we will be reconciling the donations made directly to the RDOS and fundraisers are still happening. Please watch out and support these amazing efforts.
Hold on to your green ribbon as we have ideas for how we can celebrate this important milestone for our village and the enormous village in spirit that was so key in creating this important legacy for future generations. Truly - our generations Manitou Beach!
Please stay tuned for this. Further updates are in the pipe but for now, thank you - thank you - thank you
This month has been an amazing rush of emotion and gratitude for the support shown to this initiative. When we launched this site, we had 20 backers and today as I type this update we have 710 backers who have brought us to 90% of our goal!
This weekend brought more outpouring of support and community initiatives:
- Wineries over in Summerland have taken up the cause and our joining with Naramata Bench wineries and dedicating their October tasting fees to our campaign.
- Yvonne Hayden ran up Gulch Road Twelve times! Many of us are happy if we walk up it...once. You can see her achievements and hear why Centre Beach is important to her on the MyNaramata Facebook page. Thank you Yvonne for your care and commitment to our community.
There is now only 5 days left to our campaign. Will you continue to share information about this campaign far and wide to help us reach our goal? Could you consider one more donation to help take us to success?
With Gratitude
Naramata Slow Community Group
Four days ago we passed $600,000 and as I type this update we are at $726,000!
We continue to be astounded and so grateful for the outpouring of care and support of this initiative. Support has come in from throughout the Pacific Northwest and Yukon, the Prairie Provinces, Eastern Canada and all the way to Turkey! The depth and breadth of the impact of experiences gained here is profound and is showing in everyone’s commitment to this project.
526 people and organizations have made pledges so far and each one is as important as the next one – we would only be where we are at because of each one of you.
Some more great stories we have heard - Giulia Flaherty a 7 year old Naramatian has pledged $10 and challenged other Naramata kids to follow her lead. Yvonne Hayden aged 10 will be running up Gulch Road 10 times this Sunday. You can read more about Yvonne on MyNaramata and the positive impact she is making in her community.
So will you help us move from 84% of target to 100%? Please share this website throughout your community or create a challenge in your area. $139,000 is what is remaining to preserve this beach for many generations to come. Help us get there and feel a part of making this happen!
Wow – yesterday we crossed the $600,000 and we start to write the update and now we are $625,000. We are so incredibly grateful to all of you!
We are also heartened by some of the stories -
Graycie Goodjohn & Minton Doull, former Naramata May Queens who have donated and are challenging the 95 past Naramata May Day Queens and Royalty to do the same.
Wineries challenging other wineries to donate their tasting fees and so many local business and community groups all creating excitement and a call to action.
Former Centre summer staff, Program Leaders and participants are all demonstrating how their times at the Centre Beach were a key part of their Naramata experience.
So far 420 people and organizations have shown their commitment and support for keeping Centre Beach as a place where jumping off the dock and gathering around the campfire will be part of a Naramata experience for generations to come.
Will you join us in this commitment? During this harvest season where we give thanks for the beauty and abundance of this land, this is how we can say thank you for the years we have enjoyed Centre Beach and for the promise of many experiences still to come. Please share this message with your circle of friends and organizations and help make this wish become a reality.
A huge shout out to Naramata and all of its supporters far and wide. Thank you so much for the incredible response to the fundraising efforts to preserve Centre Beach.
The NaramataSlow Community Group is beyond pleased to report that we have finally been able to verify all of the pledges made prior to launching this site, as well as donations that have been made directly to the RDOS.
We can now confirm the total dollars raised from all sources, towards the preservation of Centre Beach is $537,996 (and climbing). Note - our crowd funding site does not include a verbal commitment of $100,000 which is currently being finalized. We are humbled by the level of generosity and dedication to our community that we are being shown through this initiative.
Although the $312,000 remaining still seems large with 17 days left to go we know this number can be easily and quickly achieved when broken down … 31 donations at $10,000 … 62 at $5,000 and before you know it the little village that thinks it can has become the little village that did.
And Naramata is slowly turning green! The green ribbon campaign has got people talking and donating. Doors, gates and entryways throughout Naramata are turning green. Along with a tax deductible receipt, every donor gets a length of green ribbon to decorate their door or gate with. If you have donated and have not yet received your ribbon, please email us at naramataslow@gmail.com with delivery instructions in the event you aren’t home and we will deliver. We’d also love to see your green ribbon on social media. If you use Facebook or Instagram, please consider posting:
“The little village that CAN – we support the preservation of Centre Beach in Naramata. To get your green ribbon and support, donate online at www.wayblaze.com/centrebeach or mail a chq to the RDOS – Area E Centre Beach Acquisition Fund, 101 Martin St, Penticton BC V2A 5J9
#ittakesavillagetosaveabeach #ourgenerationsmanitou #naramatalove #naramatacentrebeach #parklandlegacybegins”
Finally, we are now reaching out to businesses that are either based in Naramata or do business in Naramata. If you have a contractor, realtor or any deal with any other business who you think might be have the capacity and the will to assist, please forward on the attached information.
Every little bit helps … it takes a Village to save a beach and Naramata is the little village that can!
The evening sunlight coming through the beach this weekend was magical. How can we risk losing this beautiful space? On Thanksgiving Day weekend, we are reminded of the many gifts we have each been given. While 2020 has brought its challenges, we are grateful that we can still see in the sparkle of the lake and the crispness of the fall air - the gifts that are all around us.
As of last counting 145 people have stepped up to show how much the Centre Beach means to them and this village. All donations large and small will make our goal achievable. Share this website with all your friends and share your stories of what Centre Beach has meant to you.
Also if you have been in the village lately, you will be seeing that while the trees may be turning red and yellow, our doors & signs are turning green. Please join us in showing our love of this place by adding a green ribbon to your home. You can email us at naramataslow@gmail.com and we can arrange to get you some green ribbon. If you are supporting this campaign from far and wide, please add some green ribbon to your door to show your support of Centre Beach. Take a photo and share on Instagram, tagging @naramataslow on your own feed, use it as your Facebook profile and post it to NaramataSlow's Facebook page. Also please forward to any of your local business contacts and make this a whole village success.
Help us reach our goal and preserve this space and place for generations to come. Our generations Manitou Beach!
In just the first few days of our platform being on line, we have received over $20,000 in new commitments to our campaign. The support from our community is gratifying to us all.
Some people have asked why the total on the website is below the $400,000 amount that was highlighted in our launch. Some of the larger donations have been made directly to the Regional District and we are working with them to get the breakdown so we can add them in to our platform totals. Stay tuned!
We also wanted to let you know that it was four years ago this Friday October 9th that we held our very first Harvest Supper and we held it right here on Centre Beach! That was a magical evening and proved what our community can do and marked the beginning of our now annual celebration of the bounty of this place.
How fitting that four years later, we are taking this major step to invest in ensuring this beach remain as a place for children to play and community to gather for generations to come. Where the Naramata Centre and the community will form a solid partnership of providing the place and space where we can laugh by the water and rest under the trees. Here are some photos from that first harvest supper in 2016 to remind you of the magic. Remember share the word for our campaign to ensure we meet our goal!
3 comments
Wow, you made it!! What an amazing community!!
Congrats to everyone for reaching $800,000 with an inspiring campaign.
Yeah! We are getting closer.