Okanagan

breaking down barriers
Students spend weekend at 'Cop Camp'
Two dozen Okanagan students will be spending the weekend at Cop Camp.The annual event put on by the West Kelowna RCMP Indigenous Policing Services in partnership with Mount Boucherie Secondary School and Westbank First Nation, opened on Friday.The camp is held at the school with 24 students from grades 10-12 participat...
17h ago
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Lake Country
Search continues for missing senior in rural area
Police are seeking information on a missing senior as the search for the man continues.RCMP said Allan Allan Francescutti, a 79-year-old Kelowna man, went missing on April 16.Police said Francescutti was considered "high-risk" and asked the public for assistance in locating him on April 23.That same day, his ...
19h ago
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overnight fire
Mobile home damaged in fire, occupant requires treatment
One person was taken to hospital after an overnight mobile home fire in Kelowna.Firefighters responded to a structure fire in the 1800 block of Watson Road around 1:30 a.m. Friday, and found a mobile home fully involved."Fire crews were able to bring the blaze under control quickly and confine it to the original s...
20h ago
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Takes effect May 3
Open burning ban in place until October
Large fires won't be permitted for the next several months.Effective at noon today (Friday, May 3), Category 3 open burnings will be prohibited throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre, including in Vernon, Kelowna, and the entire Okanagan."This prohibition is being enacted to help prevent human-caused wildfires and pr...
May 03, 2024
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Junior hockey
Life-saving Rockets forward thanks teammates after winning WHL humanitarian award
The Western Hockey League has named Kelowna Rockets forward Ty Hurley as the winner of the Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy as WHL Humanitarian of the Year for the 2023-24 season.Hurley, a 19-year-old product of Sherwood Park, Alta., showed quick thinking that proved to be lifesaving in December. While on a Rockets ro...
May 02, 2024
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Supporting Local Charities
Charities sought for Co-op Fuel Good Day
The Armstrong Regional Co-Op is looking for charities to support with its annual fundraiser.As part of its Fuel Good Day initiative, 10 cents of every litre of fuel sold at the Armstrong Regional Co-op (ARC) gas bars on Sept. 17, 2024, will be donated to a local registered non-profit or charity within its market.ARC ha...
May 02, 2024
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year-end honours
BCHL announces award winners for 2023-24 season
The BC Hockey league has unveiled the winners of its year-end awards for the 2023-24 season.The winners were decided by a vote between the 17 B.C. head coaches and general managers.Vern Dye Memorial Trophy (Most Valuable Player)Caden Cranston (F) - Surrey EaglesCranston finished as the BCHL's leading scorer in 2023-24,...
May 02, 2024
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Homicide
Kelowna-area homicide victim was missing Kamloops man
RCMP say they believe a Kamloops man who went missing last month was the victim of a homicide. In a news release issued Wednesday (May 1), Cpl. Crystal Evelyn said a man's body was discovered near Big White Resort and reported to Kelowna RCMP on April 20. Evelyn says Kamloops Mounties were informed Tuesday that the bod...
May 01, 2024
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RCMP
Police probe culminates with seizure of stolen property and drugs
RCMP seized drugs, weapons and more than $200,000 in stolen property after executing two search warrants in West Kelowna.The operation conducted in March by the Kelowna RCMP's Proactive Enforcement Unit, West Kelowna RCMP and the Southeast District Emergency Response Team, was the culmination of a lengthy investigation...
May 01, 2024
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Charity Auction
Rockets auctioning off helmets for charity
Fans of local hockey are able to get their hands on some memorabilia.The Kelowna Rockets are auctioning off game-worn white helmets from this past season, with all proceeds going to local charities.The Rockets have partnered with RE/MAX Kelowna to auction off 20 signed helmets, each of which comes with a certificate of...
May 01, 2024
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Public Input
New tool gives residents more input on major projects
British Columbians are able to have more say in environmental assessments for major projects in the province.The new EPIC.engage platform allows residents to provide feedback during the public comment periods of an environmental assessment for industrial and infrastructure projects such as mines, pipelines, bridges and...
May 01, 2024
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Hedge fire
Vehicles, structures damaged in fire
Several structures, vehicles and boats were damaged in a hedge fire that spread in Kelowna.The fire broke out around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the 400 block of Barkley Road.Crews found a large hedge on fire at the rear of a residence with multiple exposures to vehicles and structures.The incident was upgraded to a structure...
May 01, 2024
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play ball
'New chapter of baseball': ball field gets upgrade funding
Kelowna has received a grant of $72,500 from the Jays Care Foundation to upgrade the baseball fields at Edith Gay Park. The city, in partnership with the Central Okanagan Minor Baseball Association, will provide an equal amount.The upgrades are expected to begin in May and be completed by next April."Demand for ou...
May 01, 2024
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25 Overnight Beds
Homeless shelter lease extended
People experiencing homelessness in Kamloops will be able to access temporary shelter spaces for the time being.The lease for the shelter at the former Stuart Wood School has been extended until April 30, 2025.The shelter contains 25 overnight beds and also provides people with daily meals, access to laundry and shower...
Apr 30, 2024
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Slope Stabilization Work
Highway 97 rock slide blasting planned through May, road won't fully reopen for several months
Work is ongoing to ensure the slope along Highway 97 where a major rockslide occurred last summer is safe.Blasting at the site of the August 28 rockslide north of Summerland has been ongoing periodically since the debris came down on the highway, though the final phases of that work is scheduled to be completed soon.&q...
Apr 30, 2024
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Road Safety
Road users advised to be cautious as motorcycle season begins
Spring is here, which means more motorcyclists on the road, and the need for everyone to be cautious of other road users.The Insurance Corporation of B.C. (ICBC) says motorcycle crashes significantly increase between May and September, with an average of 212 people injured in collisions each month, or 1,060 injuries du...
Apr 30, 2024
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Leak Detection Work
Work planned for Mabel Lake Water Utility
Mabel Lake Water Utility customers may have some service disruptions due to planned work on the system.The Regional District of North Okanagan will be conducting leak detection work on the system starting Tuesday, Apr. 30, and continuing through the week between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.The RDNO said the work may ...
Apr 30, 2024
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Work on System Complete
Precautionary water notice rescinded
People in Grindrod no longer need to be concerned with the quality of their water.The Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO), in partnership with Interior Health, rescinded a precautionary boil water notice for Grindrod Water Monday, April 29.The RDNO said planned construction work did not cause a loss of pressure ...
Apr 29, 2024
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Middle-Income Housing
Bids sought to develop housing on public land in Kelowna
The province is freeing up local public land to provide more space for housing projects.The B.C. government is seeking proposals for pre-zoned housing sites on public lands in Kelowna and several other municipalities.The sites, including property at 1428 St. Paul St. in Kelowna, have been added to the B.C. Builds prope...
Apr 29, 2024
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structure fire
Abandoned home torn down after fire
Smoke from a structure fire in West Kelowna on Sunday night was highly visible from Highway 97.Fire Rescue crews were dispatched to the blaze at an abandoned house in the 1800 block of Ross Road around 6:30 p.m.Deputy fire chief Chad Gartrell said firefighters were able to keep it from spreading to neighbouring propert...
Apr 29, 2024
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Region-Wide Alert
Multiple overdoses lead to drug poisoning alert
Interior Health is advising people be cautious when using substances.The health authority said there have been multiple non-fatal drug poisonings in the South Okanagan recently, and has issued a Toxic Drug Poisonings Alert for the entire region.IH advises people to have their drugs checked, use at a safe consumption si...
Apr 27, 2024
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new approach needed
Increasing police powers not the answer to drug crisis: BC Greens
The B.C. Green Party is suggesting the NDP's partial walk-back on decriminalization will have negative consequences.RELATED NEWS: B.C. asks Health Canada to make drug use in public illegal againIn a release, the Greens said that while there are concerns about drug use in public spaces and a need to keep communities saf...
Apr 26, 2024
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B.C. politics
Poll suggests B.C. Conservatives move past NDP in voter support
The Conservative Party of B.C. is calling the latest poll on the provincial election "great news," but adds it's just a snapshot in time, and they "can't take their foot off the gas.""British Columbians are fed up. They want change. NDP policies aren't working. It's time to try something new,&q...
Apr 26, 2024
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B.C. asks Health Canada to make drug use in public illegal again
The British Columbia government is asking Health Canada to ``urgently change'' the province's decriminalization policy to stop drug use in public. Premier David Eby says in a statement the change would make illicit drug use illegal in all public spaces, including inside hospitals, on transit and in parks. The U-turn by...
Apr 26, 2024
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annual awards
Outstanding volunteers honoured by Chamber
The Kelowna Chamber has recognized several people for their community service over the past year.The business organization held its annual Presidents Dinner at the Coast Capri Hotel on Thursday, April 25.Former Chamber chair Pamela Pearson received the newly named Marion Bremner Memorial Award for her contributions to ...
Apr 26, 2024
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adopt a pet
SPCA reduces adoption fees as part of celebration
If you've ever thought of adopting a pet, this would be a good time to do it.The BC SPCA is offering 50 per cent off its adoption fees from now until May 5th at all its locations. April 30 is Adopt-a-Shelter-Pet-Day, and the agency's animal centres will also be hosting open houses Saturday, April 27.While Vernon doesn'...
Apr 25, 2024
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multi-use
New pathway opens for pedestrians & cyclists
Phases 1 and 2 of a new multi-use pathway on Boucherie Road in West Kelowna are now complete.The city said the new infrastructure will provide safe off-street travel for pedestrians, cyclists, and other non-motorized uses.With emergency watermain repairs and roadwork now completed, West Kelowna council is encouraging r...
Apr 25, 2024
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South Canoe
B.C. Trails Day to be celebrated in Shuswap
The Shuswap Trail Alliance will host a celebration to mark the fourth annual B.C. Trails Day.The alliance will hold a family friendly Spring Trails Celebration, featuring a performance by Shred Kelly, at the South Canoe (east of Salmon Arm) trailhead on June 1."The trails within the Shuswap are a success, in large...
Apr 25, 2024
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