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Jennifer Stahn
How the ‘spirit of the lake’ evolved into the smiling Ogopogo mascot
KELOWNA - As part of a Cultural Studies course, UBC Okanagan students Lauren Richardson (Cultural Studies) and Samantha Steenwyk (History) researched how the creation of the Ogopogo as a mascot for the community appropriated and displaced N’ha-a-itk, the spirit of the lake. The students’ research is now on display at the Okanagan Heritage Museum. It...
Tribute to dead Toronto raccoon goes viral; spurs donations to wildlife centre
TORONTO – This was a raccoon to remember.
Winnipeg lawyer who lost hand in bombing describes frantic moments after blast
WINNIPEG – Maria Mitousis clearly remembers the explosion that almost killed her as she worked in her small family law practice — a blast from a seemingly harmless mail package that police allege was sent by an ex-husband of one of her clients.
Suspicious salesman going door to door in Kelowna
KELOWNA - A man going door to door on MacKenzie Road has raised suspicions in the neighbourhood. Const. Steve Holmes says a man claiming to be selling furnaces and hot water tanks was going door to door but had no company identification and refused to leave a business card or brochure. It seems he is...
Call for members for West Kelowna’s new economic development committee
WEST KELOWNA - The City of West Kelowna is seeking applications from people interested in participating as a member of the inaugural Economic Development Committee anticipated to begin this fall. This new committee will provide advice and support on local and national economic trends as well as participate in annual economic development planning activities. Members...
Customers claim Minions are cursing but McDonald’s swears the toys are not
NEW YORK, N.Y. – McDonald's swears up and down that the little yellow "Minions" Happy Meal toy is speaking only nonsense words and not something a little more adult.
B.C. rivers heating up, causing concern for fish
KAMLOOPS – The heat wave across British Columbia has pushed temperatures in some waterways to 19 degrees, just one degree below the point where the Department of Fisheries and Oceans predicts there could be damaging effects on fish.
UPDATE: False call brings swarms of police to downtown Kelowna
KELOWNA - A downtown street was blocked off and under heavy police presence Thursday evening, but RCMP Cst. Steve Holmes says it was all because of a false call. "Investigators are relieved that no one was injured in the incident but are disturbed at the complete disregard for public safety," he says in a release....
Reprieve following record day for Okanagan
OKANAGAN – After another record-setting day the Okanagan we may finally see a break in…
Tobacco companies fight ruling forcing them to make initial $1-billion payout
MONTREAL – The country's largest tobacco firms say they don't have the necessary cash to make a $1-billion payment by the end of the month to Quebec smokers who won a landmark class-action suit.
Mount Polley get restricted approval to reopen after tailings spill disaster
VICTORIA – The British Columbia government has issued a conditional permit allowing the Mount Polley mine to reopen, but with restrictions.
B.C. teenager convicted of cyber ‘swatting’ sentenced for criminal harassment
PORT COQUITLAM – A British Columbia teenager has been sentenced to 16 months in jail for online pranks and threats that caused mayhem in communities as far away as Ontario, California and Florida.
Police watchdog called in to probe RCMP shooting on Vancouver Island
PORT HARDY – Mounties on northern Vancouver Island say the province's police watchdog is now investigating the shooting death of a man by officers.
A new low in theatre etiquette? A Broadway theatregoer tries to recharge phone in onstage plug
NEW YORK, N.Y. – There's loud talking, snoring and, of course, phones ringing. But theatre etiquette might have taken a turn for the bizarre on Broadway last week with a dead cellphone.
New records and another hot day for Okanagan
OKANAGAN - It was another record-breaking day in the Okanagan Wednesday and today will be much of the same. Environment Canada shows 17 B.C. communities setting new records Wednesday, July 8, and many were in the Interior. One of the oldest records to fall was in Kamloops, where a temperature of 38.3 Celsius was enough...
B.C. Coroners Service denies deleting fired health worker’s suicide note
VICTORIA – The B.C. Coroners Service denies it deleted the suicide note of a man who remains part of a long-running controversy surrounding the firing of eight government health workers.
Error turns into $1.1 million win for nine online BC Lottery Corp. players
KAMLOOPS – The BC Lottery Corp. says it is paying nine gamblers nearly $1.1 million because of a software error in one of its online video games.
UPDATE: New weather records for Okanagan
OKANAGAN - The day isn’t even over but new high temperature records were set in Kelowna and Vernon by 4 p.m. and Penticton was just behind with a record set by 5 p.m. As of 4 p.m. Environment Canada was showing the temperature in Vernon as 35.6 Celsius, just enough to beat the 35.5 C...
Unique pontoon boat stolen during Kelowna robbery
KELOWNA – Employees of a Kelowna boat dealership are in shock after the brazen theft of their most expensive boat on Sunday.
Lotto Max jackpot cap to be hiked to $60 million
KAMLOOPS – The B.C. Lottery Corporation says the cap on the top prize for the Lotto Max jackpot will climb, if the cash is not won in the upcoming draw.
Weather records could fall in Okanagan
OKANAGAN - As temperatures in the Okanagan keep reaching well above 30 Celsius the possibility of new records being set throughout the region is very real today and tomorrow. Temperatures climbed above 30 C nearly every day in the last two weeks and we can expect the same for the rest of this week. While...
B.C. conservation officer suspended after refusing to kill bear cubs
PORT HARDY – A B.C. Conservation officer has been suspended without pay after he reportedly refused an order to put down two bear cubs last weekend.
When is a taxi not a taxi? A drunk B.C. driver learns the hard way
ABBOTSFORD – A drunk driver in Abbotsford, B.C., is getting no sympathy for a belated decision to pocket his car keys and grab a cab.
B.C. to legislate $36-billion agreement with Pacific NorthWest LNG
VICTORIA – Finance Minister Mike de Jong says the potential economic returns from British Columbia's first liquefied-natural-gas deal will outweigh any targeted-tax tradeoffs included in a 25-year deal he expects to table in the legislature next week.