Breaking News for a Boundless World
Kelowna, B.C., city councillor Ron Cannan is accusing Mayor Tom Dyas of bullying. The public accusation was made at Monday’s council meeting. “To me it felt like you’re bullying me, telling me that I don’t understand the policy,” Cannan said. The policy Cannan is referring to relates to procurement and prioritizing buying Canadian products and…
Residents in the Central Okanagan are about to see a change in the weather forecast, as the outlook for the coming days calls for plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures, up to 19 C by the weekend. “Break out the shorts and sweatpants,” said Kelowna resident Tony Tingley. “That sounds all good to me.” The…
As remediation work continued at Kelowna, B.C.’s, homeless encampment along the Okanagan Rail Trail for the second day, the city announced more sweeping changes for the tent city and the roughly 90 people sheltering there. “It’s at a point where we believe it’s time for a change to try and do better with what we…
Remnants of egg yolk and broken shells cling to the windows of the Royal Canadian Legion in Peachland, B.C., following a disturbing act of vandalism. The legion’s president, Jean Saul, expressed his dismay, saying, “It really hurts.” Surveillance footage captured a vehicle passing by the building around midnight on Sunday, with passengers hurling eggs at…
Descrease article font size Increase article font size Families in West Kelowna, B.C., are facing uncertainty as BrightPath Childcare Centre on Brown Road announced its closure this June, leaving 64 families scrambling to find alternative care options. “I spent all day yesterday calling around to other facilities, and the phone lines were busy the whole…
Kelowna, B.C.’s waterfront is still on the quieter side, but it won’t be long before tourists start arriving. This year the Okanagan could be in for an especially busy tourism season and the valley’ s many attractions aren’t the only reasons. “There’s also that sense of Canadian, Canadianism right now,” said Ellen Walker-Matthews, CEO of…
Construction projects are underway all over Kelowna, B.C., but there’s one type of construction not happening and it is raising concerns at city hall. “We are looking at having discussions with the school district, having discussions with the ministry, all of those individuals to see what planning we can do to look at developing schools,”…
Descrease article font size Increase article font size West Kelowna is set to add nearly 3,000 new homes over the next five years to meet growing demand. But with only six months into the first year of the plan, the city is falling behind. “We need to work with our partners, including the federal and…
Concerns are growing about the potential impact on the riding of Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream after MLA Tara Armstrong’s surprise defection from the BC Conservative Party. “This is a distraction from the things we are trying to do day-to-day,” said Lake Country Mayor Blair Ireland. Ireland said Lake Country is a growing community with many issues that…
A proteston Friday culminated with heated words inside a Kelowna, B.C., city bylaw office. A group of about 10 people, including residents of tent city and concerned community members, walked from the outdoor sheltering site to the bylaw office several blocks away. As they marched, the group grew as other unhoused individuals joined along the…
Construction on a new affordable housing complex in Summerland, B.C., is expected to begin this summer, but hopes of the ground floor of the newly-built Dickson Place becoming a primary health centre have been squashed after the province denied the district’s funding request. “We’re super disappointed,” said Erin Trainer, Summerland’s deputy mayor. “This is a…
Bryan Garson moved into Kelowna, B.C.’s, first tiny home community last March, shortly after it opened. Step Place is a 60-unit transitional housing development that supports people experiencing homelessness. “I don’t feel homeless now because I have a key to my door,” Garson said. “It makes you feel human again.” The 47-year-old man said he…
Downtown Kelowna, B.C., had an energetic vibe on Friday. The streets and waterfront promenade were extra busy as thousands of visitors descended on the city from all over Canada, some even from abroad. “I’m from Switzerland, Bern, Switzerland,” said Richard Stern. Stern, like thousands of others, travelled to Kelowna for the 2025 Montana’s Brier, a…
A new-to-Penticton winter shelter model is so far proving successful. “This is our first year operating the temporary model instead of the emergency response, which was temperature threshold, and it’s been such a vast change in being able to stabilize people,” said Desiree Surowski, executive director of the Penticton Overdose Prevention Society, which operates the…
A Vernon, B.C., woman is sharing her heart health story in hopes of it serving as a reminder to always listen to your body. “If it doesn’t feel right and something is telling you that something is off, pay attention to that,” said Carla Buchanan. Last June, Buchanan, who is a trail and ultra runner,…
A large, indoor lettuce-growing operation in the South Okanagan has experienced a sudden boom in business. “Our sales have doubled and tripled in the past two weeks,” said Rachelle Peters, general manager at Avery Family Farms. Avery Family Farms began operating in September 2023 after two years of construction. The concept for the business was…
Snowblowers and shovels were being dusted off Monday morning in Kelowna, B.C. Many of them were put to use for the first time this winter. “Nothing, hardly any,” said Kelowna resident Leith Handley when asked how much snow shovelling he’s done this season. The lack of snow accumulation in the Okanagan’s valley bottom this winter…
