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
Revenue Canada scam making the rounds in Penticton
PENTICTON - Scammers posing as Canada Revenue Agency employees are plaguing Penticton residents. The RCMP are receiving up to 40 reports daily from residents advising police they have received threatening and harassing phone calls from people posing as employees of Canada Revenue Agency and demanding money, Penticton RCMP media spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says. The...
Penticton 9/11 anniversary ceremony a first responders’ Remembrance Day
PENTICTON - The bagpipes began playing this morning as those gathering in Veterans Park prepared to pay homage to fallen emergency service workers during the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre buildings. Penticton Auxiliary firefighter Carsten Von Dein says today's ceremony, Sept. 11, is meant to remember all emergency service workers who have...
ELECTION 2015: Stephen Harper tentatively scheduled to visit Penticton
PENTICTON - Conservative leader Stephen Harper could be making a stop in Penticton this weekend. There are tentative plans for Harper to arrive Sunday, Sept. 13, for a 5:45 p.m. rally at a location still to be disclosed, according to an invitation sent out to party faithful. Plans are also in the works for Harper...
Penticton plays host to hockey, jazz and dragon boats this weekend
PENTICTON - The Penticton entertainment scene is ramping up for the coming weekend, filling the city with a mix of music, dragon boats and National Hockey League prospects. “There is not a room to be had,” Penticton Hospitality Association President Robert Appelman says. “I know the various organizations have been trying to get rooms, but...
Osoyoos business conference bringing native and private sector entrepreneurs together
PENTICTON - Native business leaders and private sector business groups are getting together in the South Okanagan to discuss potential joint business opportunities this month. The sixth annual Native Aboriginal Business Opportunities Conference takes place at the NK'MIP Resort in Osoyoos from Sept. 15 to 17. The event, which brings private sector professionals and business...
Man wanted on Canada-wide warrant picked up in Oliver
PENTICTON - A man wanted on a Canada-wide warrant is now in police custody following an arrest by Penticton RCMP Drug Task Force and Oliver RCMP members this week. Marcus Wilfred Sheena was apprehended on Sept. 9 for breaching conditions of a two-year sentence for a violent assault four years ago. Sheena and a female...
Concern over density of Wilson Street development
PENTICTON - It's just too much for the small residential area, neighbours of a proposed Wilson Street development told council this week. A zoning amendment is required to rezone the property from duplex housing to low density multiple housing, in addition to a site specific amendment to increase the maximum density. Variances will also be...
Racing bathtubs raise more than $18K for Penticton hospital
PENTICTON - A fledgling fundraiser featuring bathtubs did better than expected for the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation last month. The Aug. 22 running of the inaugural Great Ogopogo Bathtub Race raised more than $18,000 for the foundation, money that will go towards providing medical equipment for the proposed Patient Care Tower at Penticton Regional...
Injured man found at downtown Penticton intersection
PENTICTON - An injured man found in the downtown core area this weekend has police asking for the public's help in determining exactly what happened. Police responded to a call of an injured man found at the intersection of Nanaimo Avenue and Main Street on Saturday, Sept. 5 at approximately 4:30 a.m., Penticton RCMP media...
Overdone dinner results in fire call in Penticton
PENTICTON - A dinner a little too overcooked prompted a response from Penticton firefighters yesterday afternoon, Sept. 9. Penticton firefighters responded to a call for a structure fire on Barton Court at approximately 2:30 p.m. yesterday afternoon. Two trucks and six crew members arrived at the scene to find a smoke-filled kitchen. Upon entering the...
Much of Penticton’s aging water infrastructure facing corrosive buildup
PENTICTON - Penticton’s aging water delivery infrastructure has forced city staff to rethink a recently introduced maintenance program for its cast iron water pipes. Public Works Manager Len Robson asked council to reallocate the remaining 2015 budget for the city’s cast iron water main cleaning and inspection program in order to implement a water utility...
RDOS board scuttles economic development bylaw
PENTICTON - Plans for a regional economic development fund came to a sudden end at last week’s regional district board meeting. Directors at the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen voted to rescind and abandon a new economic development bylaw at last Thursday’s regular board meeting. West Bench Director Michael Brydon spearheaded the effort to create a...
Penticton looks at automated garbage collection system
PENTICTON - Automated garbage pickup could be coming to the curbs of Penticton as the city contemplates the idea of moving to a more modern system. Penticton City Council heard about a mechanized garbage collection system at a Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday, Sept.8. Penticton Public Works Manager Len Robson says the cart program,...
ELECTION 2015: Defence minister discusses foreign policy on Penticton street
PENTICTON - Signs of an upcoming federal election were apparent in Penticton today as the Conservative candidate for South Okanagan-West Kootenay Marshall Neufeld was seen stumping with Federal Minister of Defence Jason Kenney. The two stopped their door to door campaign on Douglas Avenue for a brief word with the media, May 22. Kenney answered...
ELECTION 2015: New federal electoral boundaries in place
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Boundary changes for ridings in the Thompson, Okanagan and Similkameen regions are in place for the upcoming federal election. The redistribution process of the most recent review, which is required every 10 years, began in 2012 and new federal electoral districts were approved for the first general election to be called after May...