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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
Kelowna scraps policy of paying for political forums
KELOWNA - A long-standing policy of providing a free venue for an all-candidates forum during municipal elections has been dropped by city council. Deputy city clerk Karen Needham told council today, Nov. 23, at their regular weekly morning meeting, the policy stems from 1976 when council granted a request for a grant-in-aid by the Kelowna...
Makeover in the works for downtown Kelowna alley
KELOWNA - A stretch of downtown Kelowna alleyway could soon get a permanent, big city make-over. Real estate services manager John Saufferer, in a report to Kelowna city council, is recommending the city turn the stretch of alley near The Sails off Bernard Avenue, into what amounts to an urban park. “The Bernard Avenue laneway...
Can you help this Kelowna teenager get his sentimental birthday present back?
KELOWNA - A Kelowna teen is hoping social media can help him recover a pile of car stereo equipment stolen from a car parked outside his house, some of it a gift from his father for his 17th birthday. “It was an early birthday present,” Kristian Magee says. “He just gave it to me last...
Kelowna moves to shut down abusers of agricultural land
KELOWNA – Misuse of agricultural land could soon see a few local businesses in front…
Okanagan growers debate marketing future of Ambrosia apple
OKANAGAN - Producers of the Ambrosia apple are considering whether to extend a levy used to market the new varietal. Ambrosia producers have paid a $.25 per lb. levy since 2001, shortly after the new apple was introduced, used to promote the fruit to consumers and further its research. The levy was renewed in 2006...
UPDATE: Weapons threat reported at West Kelowna high school a hoax
WEST KELOWNA - A threat to bring a weapon to Mount Boucherie Secondary School in West Kelowna made by a student lead RCMP to investigate, but there was nothing to it, says superintendent of schools Hugh Gloster. “It was basically a hoax. A youth in the community sent a message (using social media) through to...
Creatique offers incubator to Kelowna artists
KELOWNA - A Kelowna artist is trying to establish a drop-in place for those with a creative flair to have a monthly meeting of minds. Liam Danger Park says he was inspired to start Creatique as an outlet and incubator for local artists. "It's a social gathering for all kinds of creatives to come together...
Student apartment proposed for Rutland raises concerns about parking, not parties
KELOWNA - Concerns from city councillors about a student housing complex proposed for the Rutland town centre are focused not on the party potential of the 72 college students who might live there, but on potential parking problems. The 4.5-storey 23-unit apartment building proposed for Dundas Road and Highway 33 would provide students housing in...
City announces new beachfront park for Kelowna
KELOWNA - The City of Kelowna has announced the purchase of a piece of lakeshore property that will allow for the creation of a new beachfront park. Mayor Colin Basran says the city has spent $12 million acquiring the property located on Lakeshore Drive near Lexington Road. "This will create a legacy for our community...
Crews begin lifting rails off CN Okanagan corridor
CENTRAL OKANAGAN – Crews have begun lifting the rails from the former CN railway corridor,…
Discover Wines stores set to shut down in Kelowna and Kamloops after company sells licenses to Overwaitea
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Two VQA wine stores in Kelowna and another in Kamloops have agreed to sell their wine licenses to the Overwaitea Food Group, paving the way for wine sales in local grocery stores. Tracy Gray, owner of Discover Wines in Kelowna and Kamloops, confirms the sale and pending closure of her stores, saying the...
Future of Kelowna farm divides city council
KELOWNA - The owners of a former strawberry patch looking for support in removing their property from the Agricultural Land Reserve saw the request die on the vine Monday with council split down the middle. The trigger for the lengthy debate was application to the Agricultural Land Commission by Gabriel and Linda Coupal to pull...
CARMA Project provides wheels for those in need
CENTRAL OKANAGAN - Life just got a little easier for a pair of single moms in Kelowna who each picked up the keys to new car. Lena Jung and Kalista Copes where chosen by the CARMA Project, as the recipients of two refurbished vehicles, a 1999 Toyrotal RAV4 and a 1996 Chevy Lumina. Jung and...
Parking to get pricier in Kelowna
KELOWNA - Parking your car in Kelowna may get more expensive, and the penalties for those who violate the parking rules might go up as well. City parking manager Dave Duncan, in a report to council, says the recommendation for rate increases comes as a result of an rise in transit fares this September, which...
West Kelowna firefighters serve as ‘sherpas’ for disabled man’s breathtaking wilderness trip
WEST KELOWNA - Local firefighters have again made possible the annual Fire in the Mountains, a dream trip to the wilderness for a disabled person. This fall, Logan Miller, 20, with the help of the firefighters, completed the alpine circuit at Cathedral Provincial Park, near the U.S. border. Logan had an active youth but has...
Increasing conflicts convince West Kelowna to get bear help
WEST KELOWNA - Increasing bear conflicts on the fringes of West Kelowna has convinced the city to sign on with WildSafe B.C. to provide a seasonal bear awareness worker. The city will pay as much as $8,350 next year - depending if other partners sign on - for a medium level service contract with the...
Okanagan theft ring targeting Ford trucks broken up
THOMSON-OKANAGAN - An Okanagan-based theft ring with a taste for Ford F-350 pickup trucks has been busted by police. Seven people have been charged with multiple offences after a seven-week investigation by the Kelowna RCMP street enforcement unit, RCMP spokesman Const. Jesse O’Donaghey said during a press conference today, Nov. 13. An upswing in Ford...
Elderly woman fends off violent home invader in West Kelowna
WEST KELOWNA - An 85-year-old woman is doing okay after struggling with an attacker for 20 minutes during a violent home invasion in the early hours, Sunday, Oct. 25. West Kelowna RCMP aren’t naming the woman, who managed to escape and call 911 at her neighbour’s house in the 2300-block of Butt Road. The suspect...
Medical marijuana pain clinic eyes Kelowna expansion
CENTRAL OKANAGAN - A new clinic focusing on treating patients for pain management and prescribing medical marijuana as the treatment is looking to open in Kelowna. Medical Cannabis Resource Centre Inc. is already operating a clinic in Vancouver, just recently bought an existing clinic in Kamloops, and is now eyeing the Kelowna market for possible...
UPDATE: Missing Kelowna woman located
UPDATE: 2:18 P.M., NOV. 12, 2015 RCMP says Crystal Schmid has been located and is safe and sound. 10:05 A.M., NOV. 12, 2015 KELOWNA - RCMP need your help locating a Kelowna woman who was last seen five days ago. Crystal Schmid was last seen Saturday, Nov. 7. She is a 32-year-old Caucasian female, 5‘7”...
Keeping memories of sacrifice alive during Veteran’s Week
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - "As the hind of the company reached the street corner about a hundred feet away a shell landed in their midst. About six men went down… The Company Commander lay on his face with the back of his head sheared off… Three other men were killed and lay beside him. The Company Sergeant...
Okanagan musician honours uncle with Remembrance Day song
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - A local musician thinks the Remembrance Day song he recorded 10 years ago about his uncle's wartime experience should underscore the futility of war for a new generation. “I’m a pacifist myself,” Barry Mathers says. "But as I always say, we didn’t start it but we had to finish it. We couldn’t let...
City of Kelowna take lead on homelessness file
KELOWNA - One of the front-line agencies dealing with the homeless in Kelowna is thrilled to see the city step up and provide leadership with plans to hire a full-time homeless coordinator. Local John Howard Society executive director Gaelene Askeland also says the city is on the right track embracing the low-barrier housing first philosophy...
Big storm to hit Southern Interior Thursday
THOMSON-OKANAGAN - A series of powerful storms are set to move through the B.C. Interior beginning tonight and lasting through the end of the week. The first storm will begin tonight and a second storm, more powerful than the first, will hit the Interior on Thursday and Friday, producing strong winds and heavy rain, according...