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
Oliver police seek identity of man suspected of cannabis store theft
Oliver RCMP are turning to the public for help in identifying a robbery suspect. The man is alleged to have assaulted staff at an Oliver cannabis store prior to stealing cannabis products. Police were called to the B.C. Cannabis store…
Princeton cannabis facility hit with $1.4 million lawsuit
Owners of a cannabis cultivation facility under construction near Princeton are facing legal action after allegedly falling behind in contract payments to the facility’s contractor. Ketza Pacific Construction Ltd, launched a civil suit against Castle Rock Farms and B.C. Green…
Penticton retail cannabis shops stuck with 8 p.m. closings
Penticton retail cannabis shops will have to wait to see if the city will extend their hours of operation beyond 8 p.m. Penticton City Council received a petition of 300 signatures, requesting a change in retail operating hours to allow…
Opening of BC Cannabis Store in Penticton delayed until new year
It’s taking a little longer for Penticton’s BC Cannabis store to open than originally hoped. The BC Liquor Distribution Branch held a job fair in anticipation of the Penticton store’s opening in early July, which saw more than 75 prospective…
Brisk turnout for B.C. Cannabis Store job fair in Penticton
PENTICTON – Penticton will see a B.C. Cannabis Store opening in Penticton later this year, and representatives from the B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch were on hand at the Penticton Lakeside Resort yesterday hosting a job fair. Director of retail operations…
Penticton council comes to grips with restriction on pot shops
PENTICTON – All municipalities have been contemplating policy and laws for legal cannabis sales, but Penticton took a fairly unique approach in trying to keep them out of prime retail areas, at least until a public hearing on the question…
Main Street restriction holds up in Penticton cannabis legislation
PENTICTON – Penticton’s new retail cannabis policy moved a step closer to reality this week as council gave its approval to a number of recommendations related to the policy and associated bylaws. Council also reluctantly agreed to let a restriction…
Okanagan Falls cannabis facility to phase in production
OKANAGAN FALLS – Sunniva Canada's construction of a medical marijuana facility in Okanagan Falls is continuing, but on a scaled back basis. Sunniva spokesperson Rob Knowles says the Okanagan Falls operation has been modified in that it has been downsized…
City of Penticton attempts to shut down pot shop
PENTICTON – The City of Penticton continues to enforce its present cannabis bylaws as it prepares new ones for the sale of retail cannabis in the city. The city conducted enforcement action at a cannabis dispensary on Front Street last week…
Construction stalls at Okanagan Falls medical cannabis facility
OKANAGAN FALLS – A recent halt in construction activity at the Sunniva Canada medical cannabis facility in Okanagan Falls is due to a corporate realignment, the company says. Construction activity recently came to a stop following several weeks of activity…
Penticton won’t see retail cannabis outlets until March 2019
PENTICTON – The City of Penticton has been working for the better part of this year to develop bylaws and policy for the retail sale of cannabis in the city in the hope of being as ready as possible for…
Cannabis facility sign of changing agricultural land use in South Okanagan
PENTICTON – Agricultural use of land isn’t what it used to be. That from Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen West Bench director Michael Brydon during board discussions involving a variance on a Secrest Hill Road property for a medical marjiuana grow…
Cannabis questionnaire proves popular with Pentictonites
PENTICTON – The first step in the Penticton’s engagement program for input into municipal cannabis laws has caught the public’s attention, according to city officials. The “Weed like to hear from you” survey looking for input on the rules for…
Cannabis growing facility could provide a big boost to South Okanagan economy
PENTICTON – A proposed large-scale, state of the art medical cannabis growing facility could provide a huge economic injection to the South Okanagan economy. Sunniva, Inc. chief executive officer Dr. Tony Holler says the company is proposing to build a…