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Shelley Jordan
Urging moderate Muslims to speak out, Obama says US at war with those who pervert Islam
WASHINGTON – Muslims in the U.S. and around the world have a responsibility to fight a misconception that terrorist groups like the Islamic State speak for them, President Barack Obama said Wednesday in his most direct remarks yet about any link between Islam and terrorism.
Budget cuts leave volunteers keeping winter activities alive in national parks
OTTAWA – When Stephen Harper drove a snowmobile last week near Quebec City to highlight millions in equipment grants given to private clubs, a different scene was unfolding in national parks across Canada.
Alleged B.C. terrorists described themselves as ‘al-Qaida Canada’: trial
VANCOUVER – A British Columbia man on trial for plotting to bomb the province's legislature told his wife they should call themselves "al-Qaida Canada."
Union defends cop’s handling of violent struggle with teen girls caught on video
BRAMPTON, Ont. – A female police officer involved in a violent confrontation with two teenaged girls outside a Toronto-area school "did what she had to do" to deal with the threat, the police union said Wednesday as video of the incident went viral.
Eighteen Kelowna organizations receive grants
KELOWNA – Eighteen local organizations have received more than $576,000 in funding from the provincial government through the Community Gaming Grant program. Organizations Receiving Grants: Reach Out Youth Counselling & Family Services Society - $80,000 Braintrust Canada Association - $63,000 Kelowna & District Society for People in Motion - $57,000 Seniors Outreach Services Society -...
New Construction Craft Worker program coming to the College
The people who do the work of a Construction Craft Worker are a vital part of every construction site and team. They install utility piping, place concrete, construct roads, assist skilled tradespersons such as carpenters and bricklayers, and they set-up and break down a job site among other skills. Now, British Columbia and Okanagan College...
Carter family donation to enhance study space for trades students at Okanagan College
A generous gift by a local family will help support the creation of two new study spaces at Okanagan College, as part of the $33-million project to renovate and expand the institution’s trades training complex. Al Carter, a well-known auto industry pioneer in Kelowna, has donated $50,000 to support the construction of two group study...
UBC Okanagan animal therapy program launches BARK2GO
Students are lining up at UBC Okanagan’s campus—and it’s not for Tim Hortons. Each semester more than 1,000 students attend Building Academic Retention through K9s (BARK) to spend time with registered therapy dogs. Due to increasing demand, the program is expanding and starting this week, UBC Okanagan students will have increased access to BARK, with...
Okanagan College’s Dr. Barry McGillivray has decided to reinvest in the economy of the region that has treated him well
McGillivray, Associate Dean of the College’s School of Business, is donating $100,000 to develop a research centre at the College that will be focused on small business and entrepreneurship in the Southern Interior. “I’m giving back to a region that has been very good to me,” says McGillivray. “Supporting research to benefit small businesses and...
Westbank Centre DCCs reduction considered: let council know what you think
In an effort to encourage revitalization in Westbank Centre, West Kelowna Council is considering a reduction in Development Cost Charges (DCCs) for the area. Council wants to know what the public thinks about this initiative. Council gave first, second and third reading of the Westbank Centre Development Cost Charges Reduction Bylaw on January 13 and...
Dog License Renewal Deadline February 28
Central Okanagan dog owners shouldn’t leave renewing their pet license to the last day as local government offices will be closed on Saturday, February 28th. The end of February is the deadline for dog owners to renew their license for 2015 without a late fee. As of March 1st, all license renewals are subject to...
Ellis Street utilities upgrades coming soon
KELOWNA - Great cities have great downtowns and Kelowna continues to experience significant investment in its downtown core. Those improvements also come with some temporary disruption to pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Upgrades to the Library Parkade utilities, including water main and water services on Ellis Street, will begin in preparation for the parkade expansion to...
17 B.C. police officers investigated for dozens of misconduct allegations
ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – Seventeen police officers from a small city in British Columbia are being investigated for alleged misconduct amid concerns that criminal cases may have been compromised.
Canadian Cattlemen’s Association says latest BSE cow was born on Alberta farm
EDMONTON – The Canadian Cattlemen's Association says a beef breeding cow found with mad cow disease on an Alberta farm was born in the province at a different farm.
B.C. Fruit Growers Association to choose a president this weekend
PENTICTON - Kelowna's Fred Steele, president of the B.C. Fruit Growers' Association, will find out if he'll remain at the helm for a second term when he goes head-to-head with Vernon's Jeet Dukhia at the annual convention in Penticton this weekend. Dukhia was the association president in 2013, prior to Steele's term, so each candidate...
Luka Rocco Magnotta to withdraw appeal of murder conviction: reports
MONTREAL – Several published reports say Luka Rocco Magnotta will withdraw his appeal of a conviction in the first-degree murder of Jun Lin.
Canadians drinking more imported wines and tequila: study
TORONTO – Canadians are saying "ole" when it comes to tequila, with more people expected to knock back shots of the spirit in the next few years, a new study suggests.
Interior Health Board welcomes two new directors
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Interior Health has two new directors on their board. The appointment of Diane Jules and Deborah Cannon was announced Tuesday, Feb. 17. Jules hails from Chase and was president of Sexqeltkemc Ltd. Partnership starting in 2010. Before that she served four terms as an elected band councillor for the Adams Lake Indian Band...
Highlights from B.C.’s 2015-2016 provincial budget
VICTORIA – Highlights from the British Columbia budget tabled Tuesday:
Cost of Canada’s war against ISIL estimated at $122 million and counting
OTTAWA – Canada's combat mission against the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant is expected to cost about $122 million in the current budget year.
Cluster of Ontario measles cases linked to Toronto youth event: health officials
TORONTO – A cluster of measles cases in Ontario has been linked to a Christian youth gathering in Toronto, health officials said Monday in warning roughly 1,000 people who attended the event that they may have been exposed to the virus.
B.C. finance minister readies shiny old shoes for Tuesday’s balanced budget
VICTORIA – Finance Minister Mike de Jong has had an old pair of black leather shoes shined and repaired before wearing them Tuesday to introduce what he says will be the third consecutive balanced budget.
Mars One project says 6 Canadians including 2 from B.C. among final 100 up for trip to Red Planet
A half-dozen Canadians remain in the running for a controversial plan by a Dutch-based organization to establish a colony on Mars by 2025. Mars One, the non-profit organization spearheading the project, says the six Canadians include four people from Ontario and two from British Columbia. A seventh Canadian, a 29-year-old man from the Yukon, who...
South Pandosy Transit Exchange information session
KELOWNA - The public is invited to an information session about the final design plans for the South Pandosy Transit Exchange construction project, Thursday, February 19, from 4 to 7 p.m. in the restaurant area of Urban Fare in the Mission Park Shopping Centre. According to a media release from the city, the project team...