Kelowna news
How local Mamas helped a new Kelowna family overcome misfortune
KELOWNA – When Nelly Barclay talks about her family’s first week in Kelowna, she starts to cry. A new, non-profit group called Mamas for Mamas came to their aid when an accident left the family with little else but the clothes they were wearing. “I can’t even put it into words,” she says. “I can...
Kelowna is the fastest growing city in B.C.
KELOWNA – For the third year in a row Kelowna has grown faster than any other city in the province, according to Statistics Canada. Based on population estimates from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014, Kelowna, with a growth rate of 1.8 per cent, was one of only six cities that outpaced the national...
Coastal ski resort closures bad news for local hills
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – With warm weather shutting down ski hills in the Lower Mainland and Washington state, hills in the Thompson-Okanagan are busier than they’ve been in ten years. But it’s not all good news. Spokespeople for all three major ski destinations in Kelowna, Vernon and Kamloops said that although business is up in the short...
VIDEO: Power of love shines in spoken word Valentine
KELOWNA – A Kelowna poet, filmmaker, cinematographer and beatboxer got together to make a Valentine for the city… and the world. Called “You Are Love” the short film finished production Friday, Feb. 13 and was posted to YouTube, director Chelsea McEvoy says in an email. “It is a film and spoken word combo about the...
Couple of clowns bringing back comedy of the absurd
KELOWNA - A new stage show presented by UBC Okanagan and Theatre26 explores the madness and isolation, joy and elation experienced by professional Cirque du Soleil clowns on the road. Marooned debuts Thursday, Feb. 19, bringing a slice of surreal life from UBCO artists-in-residence Aron De Casmaker and Jesse Buck, who spent five years on...
Aging waterworks the target of proposed rate increase
KELOWNA - About half of Kelowna can expect a minor water rate increase sometime soon if Kelowna city council agrees to a recommendation by staff. John Vos, the city’s director of corporate business ventures, is recommending a two percent increase for those homes and businesses serviced by the city water utility. The rest of Kelowna...
Danger in the backcountry; avalanche warning issued
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – The unseasonably warm weather this week has the experts at Avalanche Canada warning backcountry enthusiasts about the risk of snow slides. There have been a number of recent reports of large avalanches in the mountains across the Southern Interior, including the South Columbia, Kootenay-Boundary, Purcells, South Rockies, Lizard Range and Flathead regions, avalanche...
Local support group for mamas growing fast
KELOWNA – Shannon Christensen’s house isn’t cluttered with old baby things. She’s given them all away. She’s the founder of a relatively new non-profit organization that started in Kelowna last April. Mamas for Mamas is a network of caring mothers who look out for each other and give support whenever it’s needed. Since starting in...
Big improvements coming for Rutland Centennial Park
KELOWNA - Rutland Centennial Park was officially aquired by the City of Kelowna recently as part of the memorandum of agreement with Rutland Park Society. The purchase price of the park, and right-of-way through the existing parking lot beside Centennial Hall, rang in at $800,000, according to a City of Kelowna media release. The City...
Apartment fire puts occupants in the care of Emergency Social Services
KELOWNA - The occupants of an apartment on Glenview Avenue are in the care of Emergency Social Services today after fire early yesterday evening left their unit uninhabitable. Steve Wallick, a platoon captain with the Kelowna Fire Department, said firefighters responded in force to what turned out to be a grease fire in the kitchen...
Why the City of Kelowna wants your dog on a leash
KELOWNA - The warm weather means more residents and their dogs are out enjoying the outdoors, and in some cases, that's leading to conflicts with wildlife. The City of Kelowna issued a press release Thursday afternoon asking dog walkers to help ensure wildlife can enjoy the nice weather too. Park Services was recently notified of...
Shaw shuttering Kelowna call centre
KELOWNA - Shaw Communications announced today it will be closing down contact centres in three Canadian cities starting this summer, including Kelowna. The customer care operations in Calgary, Edmonton and Kelowna will be relocated to Victoria, Vancouver, Winnipeg and Montreal, where the contact centres will expand. A total of about 1,600 employees in the three...
Police issue warning after woman attacked on Harvey Avenue
KELOWNA - Mounties are looking for a man who assaulted a woman on Harvey Avenue in the early morning hours of Saturday, February 7. The incident happened at 5:12 a.m. while the 21-year-old woman was walking in the area of Burtch Road, according to an RCMP media release. Mounties were told the woman was walking...
West Kelowna council highlights: February 10, 2015
Strategic Priorities 2014 Final Update Council was provided a final update on its 2014 Strategic Priorities and activities undertaken in the fourth quarter (October to December). Highlights of this quarter include: · Westlake Road grand re-opening · 2014 Local Government Election administration · New Council orientation and inaugural meeting · Westlake/Hudson RapidBus transit stations constructed...
West Kelowna firefighters have a new head honcho
WEST KELOWNA - The District of West Kelowna announced their new fire chief today. Jason Brolund takes the place of retiring West Kelowna Fire Rescue chief Wayne Schnitzler who leaves his position March 27, 2015. “I am extremely pleased to join West Kelowna Fire Rescue as their Chief," Brolund said in a media release. "I...