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John McDonald
John began life as a journalist through the Other Press, the independent student newspaper for Douglas College in New Westminster. The fluid nature of student journalism meant he was soon running the place, learning on the fly how to publish a newspaper.
It wasn’t until he moved to Kelowna he broke into the mainstream media, working for Okanagan Sunday, then the Kelowna Daily Courier and Okanagan Saturday doing news graphics and page layout. He carried on with the Kelowna Capital News, covering health and education while also working on special projects, including the design and launch of a mass market daily newspaper. After 12 years there, John rejoined the Kelowna Daily Courier as editor of the Westside Weekly, directing news coverage as the Westside became West Kelowna.
But digital media beckoned and John joined Kelowna.com as assistant editor and reporter, riding the start-up as it at first soared then went down in flames. Now John is turning dirt as city hall reporter for iNFOnews.ca where he brings his long experience to bear on the civic issues of the day.
If you have a story you think people should know about, email John at jmcdonald@infonews.ca
Thieves break into Westbank First Nation office
WEST KELOWNA - Someone has broken into the Westbank First Nation main office and stolen a computer. Kelowna RCMP spokesman Const. Jesse O’Donaghey says police received a call at 11:21 a.m., Jan. 1, from a passerby who noticed a broken window on the ground floor of the band’s office at 515 Highway 97 South. Investigators...
MAP: Kelowna dominates list of most valuable properties in the Thompson-Okanagan
CENTRAL OKANAGAN - When it comes to property values, Kelowna is the clear leader among communities in the Thompson-Okanagan region, dominating the top 100 most valuable properties list. B.C. Assessment’s annual property valuations show a waterfront home 4358 Hobson Rd. in Kelowna was assessed at $9.51 million, the clear leader in the top 100 residential...
B.C. Assessment out with Kelowna home values next week
KELOWNA - Thousands of local homeowners will find out tomorrow, Jan. 4, just how much the B.C. Assessment Authority thinks their house is worth. That’s when the authority’s 2016 assessment rolls are made public and official assessments begin landing in some two million mailboxes across the province, spokesman Tim Morrison says. Assessments are used by...
2015 TOP STORIES: Politics divided our ridings like never before as Liberals take office
THOMSON-OKANAGAN - Big changes in the political map across Canada translated this year into upheaval for local politicians. Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper, seeking a fourth term after nearly ten years in power, dropped the writ on the longest federal election campaign in history, an eleven week marathon largely seen to benefit the incumbents. It...
Kelowna will spend millions on new vehicles in 2016
KELOWNA - Kelowna will be dropping lots of money on new wheels this year as it prepares to replace an assortment of vehicles. The city will spend almost $2 million in 2016 replacing 25 vehicles or pieces of equipment of various types that are at the end of their service life cycles. That includes 15...
2015 TOP STORIES: Marijuana goes mainstream as legalization looms
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Marijuana made the news so much in 2015 you could almost smell it wafting across Canada. Supporters could definitely smell change in the air as outright legalization of the drug became part of Justin Trudeau's winning campaign in the 2015 federal election. No sooner was he elected that unions started proposing responsible ways...
Debt reduction tops list of financial priorities for 6th straight year: poll
TORONTO – Paying down debt remains the top financial priority of Canadians, but it's a goal many appear to be having difficulty meeting, according to a new poll conducted for CIBC.
2015 TOP STORIES: Big bridges, little players and water wasters hot topics in the Central Okanagan
KELOWNA - Transportation and water were prominent in local news in 2015 and transportation over water — in this case, a second bridge over Okanagan Lake — generated lots of interest. Even though it’s at least 25 years away and may never be built, the province began consultations on a possible second crossing of Okanagan...
Functional training, high-intensity interval training top fitness trends for ’16
TORONTO – For a second year in a row, Canadian fitness experts are touting functional fitness and high-intensity interval training as top workout trends.
Online animals of the year got attention with cuteness, causes, big eyes — and a rat’s resolve
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Animals can melt the human heart, tickle the funny bone or bring us to tears. And thanks to Instagram, YouTube and other online options, you can enjoy their antics simply by following, liking or pinning them.
Channel your inner polar bear during icy plunge in Okanagan Lake
KELOWNA - Polar bear swims have become a traditional way to welcome the new year for many people and residents of the Central Okanagan are no exception. There will be two to choose from the region, one in Kelowna and another in Peachland, and those willing to go a bit further also have the option...
Think you got a lot of snow? You must have a short memory
KELOWNA - This weekend’s two-day snow dump didn’t even come close to the storm that started 2015, according to the people tasked with clearing much of it out of the way. “We didn’t activate the snow routes,” says public works manager Darryl Astofooroff, in charge of the city’s snow removal service. “We didn’t consider it...
Kelowna frozen yogurt store target of armed robbery
KELOWNA - An employee of a frozen yogurt store was forced to turn over an unknown amount of money to an armed robber last night in Kelowna. A lone masked male entered the store in the 2400 block of Highway 97 North and showed the handle of a gun before demanding money around 8:30 p.m.,...
Highway rollover sends man to Kelowna General Hospital
KELOWNA - A rollover on Highway 97 early this morning has sent a 20-year-old man to hospital with serious injuries. The man was driving a white Chevrolet Blazer northbound on the highway when it hit snow at the intersection with Leckie Road around 6:50 a.m., Kelowna RCMP says in a press release. The vehicle slid...
Cold, snow force Kelowna’s Gospel Mission to throw open the doors
KELOWNA - Last week’s cold coupled with this weekend’s snow has pushed the Kelowna’s primary homeless shelter to capacity. “We dont turn people away, we are open 24/7 and have been since the cold and snow hit last week,” Kelowna's Gospel Mission's Michael Morrison says. Morrison says the Mission’s 82 mens' beds, 12 step up...
Crash closes Connector between Merritt and Highway 5A
MERRITT - The Okanagan Connector was closed between Merritt and Highway 5A after a car crash this afternoon. Details are limited but multiple emergency vehicles responded to the vehicle incident, Dec. 28, including a B.C. Ambulance helicopter. Some reports on social media said the crash was a rollover. Drive B.C. says Highway 97C, east of...
Kelowna hopes to end year without ‘significant snow event’
CENTRAL OKANAGAN - About half of Kelowna’s civic workers will be off the job over the holidays but snow removal crews won’t be amongst them. “Yes, it’s all hands on deck if needed,” public works manager Darryl Astofooroff says. “It’s looking good though, nothing much in the forecast." The city has gotten off lightly so...
Garbage and recycling pick-up changes over the holidays
CENTRAL OKANAGAN - Along with the holidays comes celebrations and gifts, which means more garbage and recycling. But the pick-up people get some days off too which means some slight adjustments to the schedule. Curbside pick-up ervice is largely unaffected by the holidays with Christmas and New Years the only days with service changes throughout...
Some quirks of the calendar will bring you a lot more fun next year
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Before you book your vacation next year, you might find some surprises you haven’t seen on the calendar — like an extra four long weekends next year. Thanks to a few quirks of the calendar, all four date-based holidays fall on or near weekends this year. Canada Day, Remembrance Day and New Years...
A look at what the City of Kelowna accomplished in 2015
KELOWNA - The city claims its goal is building the best mid-sized city in North America and progress toward that goal is outlined in the 2015 Year in Review, released by the city this week. Perhaps the biggest accomplishment the city made this year actually involved other communities. This past year the abandoned CN Rail...
Spirit of Kelowna volunteers drives the the holiday season
KELOWNA - The giving nature of the holiday season has inspired many people to volunteer their time and money to help those less fortunate, but many organizations rely on volunteers year round and hope those they can recruit at Christmas will keep helping out the rest of the year. The Kelowna Gospel Mission describes volunteers...
Snow removal frustrations? YouTube shaming your neighbours probably isn’t the best approach
DO YOU KNOW YOUR OBLIGATIONS FOR SNOW REMOVAL? KELOWNA - Dealing with snow can be kind of frustrating but this probably isn't the best way to deal with it. We discovered this YouTube video from user 'imabushwacker' publicly shaming his neighbour on his Kelowna street. He heads down the street, camera rolling, to confront her...
Sample local authors for last minute gifts
KELOWNA - Books make a great last minute gift and the latest from a local author is the perfect touch. Here’s the latest from some local talent. All True Not A Lie In It This novel by Okanagan College professor Alix Hawley made the Giller long list and won amazon.ca First Novel Award in 2015. All-day...
Red Deer man missing more than a month may be in Kelowna
KELOWNA - A Red Deer man missing for more than a month may be in the Kelowna area and RCMP need your help finding him. James Currie, 22, of Red Deer last had contact with his family Nov. 4. They reported him missing Nov. 25 after concern arose for his well-being. Currie is described as...