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.
Steve Arstad's Stories
City of Penticton purchases $1.5M parcel of land
PENTICTON - The City of Penticton has acquired a piece of real estate adjacent to the South Okanagan Events Centre property on Power Street. The announcement was made during Monday night’s council meeting, Oct. 5, and came following an in camera discussion following from a previous meeting. The 1.495 acre parcel is located at 903...
Penticton waterslide protesters create human chain around Skaha parkland
PENTICTON - The turnout at a protest to bring attention to trees in Skaha Park which might be lost to development exceeded organizers’ expectations Sunday afternoon, Sept. 28. Save Skaha Park society spokesperson Lisa Martin says the event, which was the fourth protest organized by the group to bring attention to the City of Penticton's...
City of Penticton continues to seek a solution to leaking leisure pool
PENTICTON - City staff and professional engineers continue to seek a solution to the Penticton Community Centre leisure pools leaky drains. The pool was scheduled to reopen following a summer closure to replace slippery deck tiles around the leisure and main pools on Sept. 14, but as staff was refilling the leisure pool, a leak...
Naramata Centre suggested for Syrian refugee housing
PENTICTON - As Naramata Centre’s new board of directors try to plot a course for the future, one suggested use appears to be gaining favour: Supporting Syrian refugees. Directors of the former retreat have sought input from the community of Naramata about how best to use the facility, which is owned by the United Church...
City of Penticton calling all artists
PENTICTON - Penticton artists are being offered an opportunity to grace the city’s Christmas cards with their work. The city is calling on the region’s artists to submit their renditions depicting the theme of vibrant winter to reflect the community’s vision to be a “vibrant, innovative, adventurous waterfront city that focuses on sustainability, community and...
Iconic Penticton sign vandalized
PENTICTON - The city’s famous Penticton sign on Munson Mountain was vandalized recently. City of Penticton communications manager Simone Blais says city crews noticed the defacement a few weeks ago. Someone had spray painted a large band across the lower section of the “i” in Penticton, turning it into an exclamation point. City crews will...
Not all wineries sold on idea of selling wine in grocery stores
PENTICTON - British Columbia’s small and medium sized wineries are asking the province to put the brakes on their wine and liquor modernization initiative. Approximately 100 winemakers, local politicians and stakeholders gathered at Poplar Grove Winery this week for a town hall meeting hosted by the B.C. Alliance for Smart Liquor Retail Choices. The meeting...
National recognition for Penticton based youth leadership program
PENTICTON - A Penticton leadership program has been recognized nationally as the best in Canada. Junior Chamber International Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 program, held in 2013 and 2014 in partnership with the Penticton and Wine Country Chamber of Commerce was given the nod as best local community empowerment program in Canada from JCI Canada...
Skaha Marina agreement given extension
PENTICTON - A lack of time to review an impending agreement between the City of Penticton and Trio Marine Group has resulted in a one year extension to the proposed agreement for Skaha Marina development. Penticton City Council authorized execution of the agreement on June 29 of this year, and since then city staff and...
Vacant Penticton lot will become a car dealership
PENTICTON - A large, empty lot on Westminster Avenue in Penticton will be enhanced and put to use as a car dealership. Penticton city council has approved a temporary use permit for the former Fraserview RV site at 249 Westminster Avenue West. Fraserview RV ceased operations in 2014 and prior to that the lot had been...
Two Canadians, two Americans appointed to Osoyoos Lake Board
PENTICTON - Four new members have been appointed to the International Osoyoos Lake Board of Control. The appointments - two American and two Canadians from the Osoyoos Lake region - were announced yesterday, Oct. 1, by the International Joint Commission. The Commission was established in 1909 by the Canadian and US governments to help prevent...
Fire ban remains in place in Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen
PENTICTON - The B.C. Wildfire Service may have rescinded the campfire ban on lands within provincial jurisdiction, but Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen residents shouldn’t get the marshmallows out just yet. The regional district’s open fire ban remains in place for all lands which are contained within the regional district fire protection areas, including Anarchist...
Disc golf tournament to take place on traditional golf course in Penticton
PENTICTON - A Penticton golf course is breaking with tradition this weekend. Skaha Meadows Golf Course will be teaming up with the Penticton Disc Golf Club to host “Mayhem at the Meadows” Disc Golf tournament on Saturday, Oct. 3. The nine hole course will become an 18 hole disc golf course with the addition of...
Summer wrap-up meeting for the European Fire Ant
Where: OAP Hall (adjacent to library on Richie and Third) When: 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 05, 2015 Purpose: to update residents and property managers on the work this past summer and demonstrate the treatment process For more information please contact Dr. Rob Higgins (rhiggins@tru.ca) 250-828-5452.
Naramata Bench winery seeks lounge license
PENTICTON - The new owners of a Naramata Bench winery would like Penticton city council's blessing for the addition of a lounge with an outdoor patio. Quidni Estate Winery, formerly Three Mile Winter, is seeking a winery lounge endorsement from council. The winery at 1465 Naramata Road needs the licence to create an interior lounge with...