Christmas
Shuswap firefighters miss Christmas dinner to fight fire
SHUSWAP - While most were sitting down to dinner on Christmas Day, 29 firefighters left their loved ones to battle a devastating house fire in the Shuswap. The call came in just after 6 p.m. Dec. 25, and saw firefighters from four different departments rush to the scene, regional fire chief Kenn Mount says. On...
Theft highlights true meaning of Christmas for Kamloops business-owner
KAMLOOPS - A local business-owner whose store was broken into and her Christmas presents stolen is happy to report her family managed to have one of their best holidays yet despite the setback. Diane Stetar, who owns the Aberdeen store A Favor to Remember had several items along with her four children’s Christmas presents lifted...
A cool, white Christmas for the Okanagan
OKANAGAN - You’re in luck if you dreamed of a white Christmas, but expect slightly cooler temperatures to go along with it. Enough snow has fallen this month to give much of the Okanagan a white Christmas, something that has only a 50 per cent chance of happening in Kelowna and only a 20 per...
Holiday closures to make note of in Vernon
VERNON - There are a few closures and changes in regular hours to be aware of over the Christmas break in Vernon. City Hall will be closed at 2 p.m. on Dec. 24 and all day Dec. 25 and Dec. 28. It will return to regular open hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for City...
Former Vernon mall Santa will keep going because it ‘feeds the spirit’
VERNON - David Robertson inquired about becoming a mall Santa on a whim. That was about 20 years ago, he says in his lilting Scottish accent. Born in Edinburgh, Robertson moved to Canada in 1958, and to Vernon in the 1970s to teach high school drama. “Just out of sheer, puckish humour I thought I’d...
Eight books by Vernon and area authors to put under the tree this year
VERNON - For die-hard book worms, there’s no greater Christmas gift than a good read. A book, especially one with a personal inscription, makes a thoughtful gift for the book lover in your life. If you’re on the hunt for local titles, we’ve got a few suggestions. For the fiction lover %%Image1%% Turtle Valley by...
Extra special Christmas gift for Vernon’s Upper Room Mission
VERNON - Christmas came early to Vernon’s local soup kitchen. Thanks to two local businesses, the Upper Room Mission’s regular volunteers will get Christmas Eve off. Rob and Lisa Ellis, owners of Rellish Transport Services, along with Jim Tennant of Save-On-Foods, stepped up to the plate and are sponsoring the Mission’s annual Christmas Eve dinner,...
Now that’s service: Vernon mayor offers rides to holiday party-goers
VERNON - It’s not every day your designated driver is also your mayor. But that was the case in Vernon Saturday night after Mayor Akbal Mund posted an offer on his Facebook page inviting anyone who needed a safe, sober ride home to give him a call. %%Image2%% The generous offer has earned the mayor...
Things to do in Vernon over the Christmas break
VERNON - If you’re looking for things to do as a family over the holidays, or ways to keep sugar-charged children occupied over the break, we’ve put together some ideas. Whether you’re looking to spend some Christmas cash on an experience for the family, or hoping to save a few bucks with a free activity,...
Vernon city councillor shares favourite Christmas traditions
VERNON - We reached out to Vernon’s politicians to share their Christmas traditions and what they remember most fondly about Christmas with their families. It’s a busy time of year for everyone, but one Vernon councillor took the time to reply to our questionnaire and give residents a bit of insight into her Christmas traditions....
IN PHOTOS: It’s not Christmas in Kamloops until you see these things
KAMLOOPS - Christmas is many things to many people but there are a few sights that almost everyone will recognize as symbolic of the holidays. For three weeks every year the B.C. Wildlife Park opens the doors in the evenings so families can take in the tens of thousands of little sparkling lights that make...
Here are some family fun activities to enjoy in Kamloops over your holiday break
KAMLOOPS - If you’re basking in an extra long-holiday vacation or are looking to keep the kids entertained during winter break, there are activities to enjoy beyond snacking in front of the TV or last-minute Christmas shopping. From Christmas Eve to New Years’ Eve, the Sagebrush Theatre will host Beauty and the Beast, the Panto...
Handmade in the Thompson-Okanagan
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - If you’re hoping to go a less commercial route this holiday season, look no further than the Thompson-Okanagan, a region that boasts numerous handcrafted gifts. From ceramics to sweet treats, there’s surely a gift to be found for every boy and girl — one that keeps you out of box-store lineups to boot....
Okanagan to enjoy warm and white Christmas
OKANAGAN - It will be a pretty typical week when it comes to weather in the Okanagan, with temperatures expected to stay near seasonal normals for much of the Christmas week. Environment Canada is calling for highs ranging from 0 Celsius to -3 Celsius most days this week, though Kelowna is expected to hit a...
Local gifts and food to get you through the holidays
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - With fresh foods and resources available on our doorstep, giving local is easy in our region. Many natural resources help create the gifts we put under our Christmas trees — from wood products and minerals, to cider and wine. And of course if you have a natural tree or a wood fire you...