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Kelowna news
Theft allegation behind Vernon dog rescue closure
VERNON - A controversial dog rescue in Vernon shut down its operations last week largely because of a specific allegation of theft involving the rescue's president caught on video, sources tell infoNEWS.ca. According to a volunteer, who has not yet agreed to be quoted for this story, she found her wallet missing following a Nov....
Warm weather leaving puddles on Stuart Park rink
KELOWNA - The unseasonably warm weather of the last few days has resulted in pools of water developing on the outdoor rink at Stuart Park, threatening the popular facility with daytime closure. “That’s been the pattern that we’ve seen over the last few years, especially in the early or late season,” arenas supervisor Steve Fagan...
Boundaries and stigmas tested at Kelowna’s first cuddle party
'IT'S LIKE CONSENT TRAINING MADE FUN' KELOWNA - There’s a new kind of party which on the surface is nothing more than a chance to grope some strangers, but the organizer of Kelowna’s first 'cuddle party' says that has nothing to do with it. “It’s a workshop and a party all in one,” Erica Scott...
Salmon Arm teacher finds thief, demands her possessions back and gives him a hug
"I WAS SO HAPPY. HE WASN'T RUNNING AWAY, SO I JUST SAID 'I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A HUG.'" SALMON ARM - An elementary school teacher hugged the man who stole her wallet and cellphone because she was so happy he didn’t run away when she caught him herself and demanded her items back. Rebekah...
Kelowna Mounties make arrests, take drugs and guns
KELOWNA - Police hauled small amounts of several different drugs, along with guns and ammunition, from a bust on a rented suite in the 200 block of McCurdy Road last week, police said today. Spokesperson Cpl. Joe Duncan said a 'short-term investigation' led to a search warrant where they found: Investigators executed the warrant, located...
West Kelowna couple seriously injured in weekend home invasion
WEST KELOWNA - A violent home invasion this weekend has left a West Kelowna couple in serious condition in hospital. Police responded to a report of a break and enter in the 1100 block of Peak Point Drive in West Kelowna just before 2 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6, Kelowna RCMP spokesman Cpl. Joe Duncan...
Vibrant town centres critical to Kelowna’s future
KELOWNA - Town centres are the jewels of a city, where population and employment are dense and amenities and services make the area liveable. Kelowna has five town centres and the city is counting on them to both help counter the urban sprawl that characterized earlier development and to anchor future growth. This week city...
How you can get rid of that unpaid parking ticket for the price of a toy
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - For a donated toy you can get your Impark parking ticket waived and brighten a kid's Christmas at the same time. The annual Toys of Tickets event will be held for four hours on Thursday in Kamloops and Kelowna, according to a media release. Just bring a new, unused and unwrapped toy to Salvation...
Kelowna city council leans toward $50 million replacement of Parkinson Recreation Centre
KELOWNA - It’s a ways off — probably 10 years — but the city wants to see Parkinson Recreation Centre completely rebuilt and will spend at about $50 million to do it. And with its premier location, the new facility will become a central gathering place for much of the city and pay off in...
Former Mandy and Me owner says goodbye to her ranch
"TONIGHT I'LL BE SOMEWHERE ELSE, I'M NOT SURE WHERE." KELOWNA – Sunday evening was the last time Silverado Socrates would go to sleep at the 5-acre ranch where she’s lived more than 30 years. The owner of Mandy and Me Trailriding lost the property to foreclosure after a bad investment put her $500,000 in debt....
Grammy winner Harry Connick Jr. sends gift to Kelowna performing arts students
KELOWNA – A group of young actors received a special gift from actor, writer, producer and Grammy Award-winning musician Harry Connick Jr. last week. The actors, who range in age from eight to 11, got a huge balloon bouquet and a note from Connick after they took their bows onstage during their final performance of...
Distraught man blocks morning bridge traffic in Kelowna
KELOWNA – RCMP had to remove a distraught man from the W.R. Bennett Bridge after he brought morning bridge traffic to a standstill at the start of rush hour today. Cpl. Joe Duncan says police received reports that a “distraught” man was running in traffic just before 8 a.m., Dec. 7. The 48-year-old Kelowna man...
CANCELLED: Dancing in the Streets no longer coming to Kelowna
KELOWNA - Direct from London’s West End, the hit musical Dancing in the Streets was planning on stopping in Kelowna this spring, but has since cancelled. "The show has decided to pull out for the time being," Sean Bianchini with Prospera Place says. It is unknown if a new date will be scheduled. (function(d, s,...
Warm but wet week ahead in the Okanagan
OKANAGAN - With at least a chance of showers every day this week we could be in for a wet week, though the above normal temperatures should make it a lot more bearable. Environment Canada is calling for highs in the 4 Celsius to 7 C range most days this week, though the Penticton area...
Snowmobiler rescued after machine breaks down near Big White
KELOWNA - A snowmobile operator became disoriented and lost after walking away from his machine when it broke down Sunday night. The man was riding alone in the area south of the Big White village when the machine broke down. He attempted to walk out but ended up spending several hours walking in the wrong...
Quadriplegic man fighting Kelowna city hall for right to park in his own yard
KELOWNA – A Kelowna family wants to be able to park their wheel chair accessible van in their front yard but the City of Kelowna insists they need to apply for a costly bylaw variance to do so. A petition has been started in an effort to “eliminate” the need for a variance to allow...
Cooper’s converting to Save-On-Foods in Kamloops and Okanagan
KAMLOOPS – A grocery chain founded in the B.C. Interior will be changing it's name in the New Year. The four Cooper’s Foods locations in Kamloops are scheduled to be converted to Save-On-Foods by mid-February 2016, according to Julie Dickson Olmsteadc with Overwaitea Food Group. The Cooper's grocery store in Vernon and the two in...
Westbank First Nation sculpture unveiled at Big White
KELOWNA – A statue donated to Big White Ski Resort by the Westbank First Nation has been unveiled today, Dec. 5. The statue was created by artist Smoker Marchand and is based on the First Nation’s logo, according to a media release. It features a grizzly bear, coyote and Ogopogo. The base of the statue...
Glenmore could finally get long-awaited recreation park
KELOWNA - It was first recommended almost 30 years ago but only now could Glenmore get a new park. City of Kelowna planning staff want council to spend $5 million to build the first phase of a recreation park — think playing fields and ball diamonds, not flowers and rock gardens — on city-owned land...
Why this Vernon dog rescue wasn’t the saving grace it claimed to be
"I THINK SHE IS A DOG FLIPPER AND NOT SOMEBODY WHO REALLY CARES ABOUT DOGS" VERNON - After 16 years working in animal welfare, Patricia Zerr was never asked to steal a dog — until the winter of 2014 after she got involved with a Vernon-based dog rescue. She remembers driving to a home on...
Big, bright Christmas events happening in Kelowna this weekend
KELOWNA – The official launch of the Christmas season starts the first weekend of December, and Kelowna has a sleigh-full of fun activities to help get you in the spirit. The biggest event this weekend is the downtown Kelowna Light Up Saturday, Dec. 5, with live music, crafts, shopping, food, ice skating and Santa, followed...
Kelowna mayors praise former premier Bill Bennett
KELOWNA - Kelowna’s current mayor Colin Basran and former mayor Walter Gray joined many others in praising former premier Bill Bennett, who died in Kelowna from complications of Alzheimers disease. Bennett had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease for several years and died Thursday, Dec. 3. “I knew him all my life. He was absolutely my...
Kelowna councillor frustrated with RCMP communication
SUPERINTENDENT HASN'T TAKEN QUESTIONS AT A COUNCIL MEETING IN OVER A YEAR KELOWNA - A city councillor says he’s surprised and a little disappointed the Kelowna RCMP have not appeared at a public council meeting to take questions since the new council was sworn in over a year ago. City councillor Ryan Donn says RCMP...
Kelowna start-up has social conscience built right in
KELOWNA - Local non-profits are jumping on a new interactive web platform called Volinspire, the product of a new local start-up created as one of the province’s first community contribution companies. Volinspire unveiled their new interactive web platform in Kelowna yesterday, Dec. 4. “The idea began with wanting to help young people find volunteer opportunities...