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
Heritage buildings to get some love in Kelowna
CENTRAL OKANAGAN - It’s a pretty big to-do list but city planners have come up with priorities for some of Kelowna’s main heritage buildings. Topping the list is remedial work for the former Glen Avenue school, the Water Street firehall and Cameron House, planning specialist Pat McCormick says in a report to city council. The...
Some Kelowna infrastructure grants could be in limbo after Liberal election win
KELOWNA - Despite election promises about investment in infrastructure, the advent of a new Liberal government will likely delay some Kelowna projects already in the works. “We do have various applications out there, but with the election, it’s been very quiet,” infrastructure director Alan Newcombe says. While he expects the Liberal government will honour applications...
Embarrassed by your own bad behaviour during election campaign? It’s time to make amends
OR NOT THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - You likely had one or two of them among their Facebook friends — someone highly partisan, emotionally charged and willing to to go to the wall defending their particular political brand. Taking on all commenters, some of these people have left scorched earth in their wakes, fighting out the election in...
Mediator to intervene in dispute between irrigation districts and City of Kelowna over drinking water plan
CENTRAL OKANAGAN - The provincial government is stepping into the dispute between city council and the four irrigation districts that supply domestic water in Kelowna. Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran confirms the province, through the Ministry of Communities, has provided a mediator to help get a mandatory review of the Kelowna integrated water supply plan back...
ELECTION 2015: We could do way more to help youth vote, says UBCO professor
CENTRAL OKANAGAN - A local professor who conducted his own youth voting campaign thinks we could do a lot more to get young people into a voting booth. “I had students on the last day asking about how they can vote back home. A lot of students don’t live here, their home address is somewhere...
West Kelowna eyesore up for redevelopment
WEST KELOWNA - One of Westbank’s biggest eyesores, and A source of many complaints, has been sold with plans to develop the site. The old Cattle Country restaurant strip mall and gas bar has been sold to an eastern developer and plans include reopening the gas station and retail stores on Highway 97 at Elliot...
ELECTION 2015: Fuhr ousts Conservatives as Kelowna-Lake Country goes Liberal
"AN HONOUR AND A PRIVILEGE:" CANNAN KELOWNA - In a surpise upset Liberal Stephen Fuhr has won Kelowna-Lake Country, ousting three term Conservative Ron Cannan. The riding has been a bastion for the Conservatives but the surging Liberals managed to tap into a desire for change that washed across Canada in recent weeks under leader...
Kelowna tackles need for second dog beach
KELOWNA - There isn't a lot to building a dog park — but figuring out where to put it can take years. With that in mind, the city’s urban planning manager Terry Barton is proposing the city start a public engagement process to figure out what is needed and, most importantly, where people will tolerate another...
Referendum likely for Kelowna recreation centre replacement
CENTRAL OKANAGAN - No matter what shape or form Parkinson Recreation Centre takes in future redevelopment, planners think it’s going take another city-wide referendum to get funding approval. There are four different directions the city can take, from ongoing redevelopment to full replacement of the aging recreation centre and pool, the only multi-purpose recreation facility...
Petition calls for new Kelowna dog beach but city says its not easy to find right location
KELOWNA - An online petition is calling for a second dog beach in a North End Kelowna park but the city says its not as simple as just putting up a fence and few signs. The petition on Change.org has over 600 signatures of people who think at least a portion of Sutherland Park on Ellis...
Kelowna General Hospital could face fines for laundry room crushing accident
KELOWNA - A workplace accident that saw a laundry worker crushed by automated equipment at Kelowna General Hospital resulted in a number of work orders from WorkSafe B.C. And Alan Davies, regional director of support services, says the Interior Health Authority could eventually face some fines over the infractions that saw the young laundry worker...
Third sexual assault reported in Kelowna involving half naked hoodie wearing man
KELOWNA - A third sexual assault involving a man wearing only a hoodie is under investigation by Kelowna RCMP. Spokesman Cpl. Joe Duncan says in a media release a man dressed the same way as in two previous assaults, exposed himself to a women walking to work about 6:19 a.m., Oct. 16, on the Mission...
Mission Creek restoration project begins Monday in Kelowna
KELOWNA - Regular users of the popular Mission Creek Greenway will lose access to part of the creekside trail for almost six months, starting on Monday. But in exchange, the whole of Kelowna will eventually be gaining a revitalized and restored waterway that will look a lot like the lower part of the creek did...
ELECTION 2015: West Kelowna mayor says endorsing federal election candidates is bad politics
CENTRAL OKANAGAN - Firmly on the fence is where West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater is sitting as far as publicly endorsing a candidate in the Oct. 19 federal election. “I have to work with whoever is elected, although I can say we worked well with Dan Albas (incumbent MP for Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola.) He helped us...
Okanagan man with terminal brain tumour fights for time
KELOWNA - They say time flies when you’re having fun. The same is apparently true when you’re fighting for your life because of a brain tumour. “It just seems like yesterday,” Sean Connor says of the four years that have passed since he was diagnosed with chordoma, a rare form of bone cancer that can...