Early warning to Penticton boaters: obey rules or air show will be cancelled

PENTICTON – As preparations get underway for the return of Canada’s premier aerial aerobatic team to Penticton, boaters are being warned to obey the rules or lose the show.

The committee overseeing the performance of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds team, which will be in Penticton Aug. 5, is advising boaters wishing to view the show from the lake that more work is being done to ensure water space at the south end of Okanagan Lake will be marshalled off to spectators and watercraft this year.

Belligerent boaters who refused to move almost resulted in the cancellation of the 2013 performance, and this year’s committee is sending an early warning to boaters to stay out of the designated areas, or the show will be cancelled this time around.

The last time the team performed in Penticton was 2013.  A scheduled performance in 2011 was cancelled, and prior to that the team last performed over the city in 2008.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

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4 responses

  1. Instead of cancelling the show because of a few ignorant dumbasses, why not bring the fancy police boat from Kelowna down for the day and hand out hefty fines to all who refuse to observe the area restrictions. Punish the offenders, reward those who follow the rules.

  2. A few selfish boaters can ruin it for everyone.Please prople, don’t be selfish and obey the rules.

  3. Hey Nancy& Curt, you can join us for the BEST VIEW for this event……….

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    And so they should issue this warning!I was in Toronto when the Snowbirds tragically crashed over lake Ontario with hundreds of boaters floating in Lake Ontario.Please spread the word!

Steve Arstad


I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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