The deadline for when fire protection and medical response services will be cancelled at Parker Cove has once again been extended, this time by three months.
And as the Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB) and Parker Cove Properties Limited Partnership (PCPLP) continue to negotiate an agreement that would see the services maintained to the community on the west side of Okanagan Lake off Westside Road, the two parties are now heading to mediation.
PCPLP issued a letter to Parker Cove residents on Aug. 22 evening, which was the previous deadline for when fire protection would be pulled from the residential community of about 375 properties if an agreement wasn't reached.
It appears the two parties have managed to agree on an extended deadline, but not yet on a long-term arrangement for fire protection services at Parker Cove.
"We are happy to inform you that our discussions pertaining to fire protection and emergency services are on a positive path, and we have met requirements set out by the OKIB, and we continue pursuit of an amicable agreement with them at this time," the letter from PCPLP vice president Jimmy Bonneau states.
It says PCPLP has agreed to OKIB's recent terms, and another extension has been granted and a mediator has been chosen.
A follow-up email to residents on Tuesday, Aug. 26, says the extension of the OKIB's current fire protection services runs until Nov. 22, "while arbitration continues." That gives residents a few months of reprieve from worrying about their homes in the event of a fire, and gives the OKIB and PCPLP time to come to an agreement.
"Parker Cove has always been more than a development 鈥� it is a community built on trust, shared responsibility, and the commitment of families who call it home. We encourage everyone to continue fostering a spirit of mutual respect with neighbours and our staff alike, as this spirit is what strengthens our community most," the Aug. 22 letter states.
The breakdown in negotiations between OKIB and Parker Cove Properties has persisted for months, raising the possibility that residents in the Parker Cove community 鈥� some of whom were evacuated by the 2021 White Rock Lake wildfire 鈥� will soon be without fire protection, which could threaten their ability to obtain a mortgage.
Insurance premiums are in the community.
But the new Nov. 22 deadline may bring some degree of comfort to residents as it ensures fire protection will be provided for the rest of the 2025 wildfire season.
The Morning Star has reached out to PCPLP and the OKIB for more information.
