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Kelowna news
Parkinson recreation centre replacement could cost $50 million
KELOWNA - City staff are recommending the deluxe version for a replacement of Parkinson Recreation Centre with a $50-million price tag. However, staff also say the city should explore with the Central Okanagan school district the possibility of developing a facility integrated with the new high school the district is proposing across the field from...
Local author teaches how to make money as a backyard farmer
KELOWNA – A Kelowna man has just published a book that teaches everything you need to know about starting your own commercially successful farm in your backyard — or frontyard. The Urban Farmer is Curtis Stone's first book and is based on a the concept you don't require a large amount on land to be a...
Warm and wet weekend ahead for the Okanagan
OKANAGAN - While high winds, heavy rain and record temperatures are battering coastal cities, the Okanagan can expect temperatures just above normal and rain during at least part of this weekend. Environment Canada is calling for temperatures to hit between 3 Celsius and 6 C this weekend before climbing to a high of 8 C...
This local charity is less than a year old but is already gathering hundreds of new members each week
KELOWNA – A locally founded charity that is exploding in popularity raised thousands of dollars for struggling mothers over the weekend. Mamas for Mamas was founded by Kelowna resident Shannon Christensen earlier this year. In less than 12 months their membership has grown to over 5,000 and they continue to expand at a rate of...
UBC Okanagan students arrange free tuition for two refugees from Syria
KELOWNA – The UBC Okanagan Student Union are finalizing a deal with the administration to provide free education for two young refugees who came to Kelowna from Syria. Student Union vice president of finance Ryan Kaila says the deal is still being finalized with administration, but he hopes to see it happen soon. "We met...
Bag the lineups, Superstore tests new online grocery pick up service in Kelowna
KELOWNA – A Kelowna grocery store is the first in B.C. outside the Lower Mainland to offer a new aisle to a trunk delivery service that could cut grocery shopping time down to less than 15 minutes — and you never have to leave your car. The service, called Click & Collect, was launched at...
Kelowna man to jump into Okanagan Lake in support of refugees
KELOWNA - “What’s a little bit of icy water compared to some of the things they’ve been through,” Alan Monk says. On Saturday morning, Monk will join at least 80 other Canadians in the Polar Swim for Refugees, an ad hoc fundraiser that started in Victoria and has caught on with swimmers in other parts of...
Changing speed limit signs on the way for B.C. highways
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Highway drivers will start seeing variable speed signs later this winter as the Ministry of Transportation begins installing them this week, though they won't be functioning until early in the new year. The pilot project, which is currently in its testing phase, will include signs on sections of the Trans-Canada, Sea to Sky...
Calgary police think this missing woman might be in the Okanagan
KELOWNA - Police are asking people in the Kelowna area to keep an eye out for a woman reported missing from Calgary last week. Calgary Police Service is looking for 51-year-old Penny Firth. She was last seen at her home on Thursday, Nov. 19, in the 2400 block of 17 Ave S.W. in the Alberta...
City of Kelowna won’t reveal names of agricultural land abusers
KELOWNA – Companies and property owners found misusing agricultural land in East Kelowna will be…
Vacancy rate eases as Kelowna pushes rental housing construction
KELOWNA - The city has done a lot to encourge development of rental housing and there’s not too much more that can be done, except to let the incentives do their work and keep on pushing for more. That’s the opinion of Luke Stack, a city councillor and also executive director of the Society of...
Crews keep Kelowna storage shed fire from spreading
KELOWNA - A fire in a Kelowna industrial area was quickly knocked down before it could spread last night. Crews were called out to a structure fire in the 1000 block of Ethel Street near Weddell Place around 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, according to Platoon Capt. Eric Simpson. When they arrived they found a...
Vernon marijuana dispensaries warned by police to shut down
VERNON - Medical marijuana dispensaries in Vernon have been warned to close their doors. Hasia Glaim co-owns MMJ Total Health Care on 31 Avenue downtown Vernon and was surprised to get a visit from the Vernon RCMP Nov. 24. “We were given a verbal warning to shut down as we are operating illegally and we...
Downtown Kelowna Light Up to be a little less bright
KELOWNA - The 27th Annual Downtown Kelowna Light Up, happening this weekend, is going to have a lot fewer lights this year, but there are still plenty of holiday events over the next few weeks to brighten up your Christmas spirit. The Rotary Club of Kelowna announced Monday, Nov. 30, their application for an electrical...
UPDATE: Power resumes at Orchard Park Mall
KELOWNA - A power outage in Kelowna that shut down Orchard Park Shopping Centre this afternoon has been restored at 5:40 p.m. Earlier this afternoon, shoppers already at the mall were being allowed to stay indoors while new shoppers were turned away shortly after noon today, Dec. 1. A store manager at the mall said...
East Kelowna farm earns council support for distillery and weddings
KELOWNA - An agri-tourism operation on a small plot of farm land in East Kelowna got a rare endorsement from city council this week, despite plans to include weddings and a distillery. Kristi and James Caldwell requested council support for their application to the Agriculatural Land Commision to allow a portion of their land to...
Christmas giving tree warming Kelowna one decoration at a time
KELOWNA - There are no lights or ornaments and it’s not very pretty, but Downtown Kelowna has a new Christmas tree which could make cold nights warmer for the people who need it most. Traci Savel and Sherri Baker started hanging cold weather items on a downtown tree over the weekend. The tree is located...
Former RCMP officer makes largest single donation to Cops for Kids charity
KELOWNA – The Cops for Kids charity have received their largest single donation from a local businessman. Al Hildebrandt announced today, Nov. 30, he would donate $100,000 to the Southern Interior charity that helps parent of kids requiring medical treatment. Hildebrandt is the recently retired CEO of a Kelowna tech company that supplies medical record...
Information services seeks budget increase from city
KELOWNA - Information technology is no longer a support service but a full-fledged business unit at City Hall and needs a budget increase to accommodate both current demand and future needs. That’s the message information services manager Rob Entwistle brought to Kelowna city council during an overview of the city’s digital strategy. “We are known as...
Makeshift homeless shelter in Kelowna catches fire, scorches building
KELOWNA – A candle in a makeshift homeless shelter is the likely cause of a fire that damaged a commercial building early this morning. At around 6:50 a.m., Nov. 30, as the temperature in Kelowna dropped below -6 Celsius, local firefighters were called to the temporary structure in an alley behind a commercial building on...
Big names to headline first ever Rock the Lake Festival in Kelowna
KELOWNA – Some of the biggest Canadian rock bands from the 1980s are coming to the Okanagan this summer to play the first annual Rock the Lake Festival. The line-up for the three-day festival in the parking lot at Prospera Place in Kelowna on Friday, Aug. 12, Saturday, Aug. 13 and Sunday, Aug. 14 features...
Cell phone saves lost, lightly-dressed cross country skiers
KELOWNA – A pair of lightly-dressed cross country skiers had to be rescued in the Kelowna area Sunday night. RCMP called Central Okanagan Search and Rescue for help when they heard from the pair by cell phone. According to a release from COSAR, before the eight-person rescue team even had a chance to deploy by...
Kelowna business bucks Black Friday retail trend with Green Friday
KELOWNA – A Kelowna business owner closed his store on Black Friday going against the retail trend from the U.S., which has stores cutting prices to drive up Christmas sales. Kelowna Cycle owner Patrick Rosen closed the doors at his two retail outlets and gave the employees the day off on Friday, Nov. 27, calling...
Over-heating pumps threaten water service in the Mission
KELOWNA - A faulty pump motor is forcing the City of Kelowna to spend $300,000 on an additional pump for the Cedar Creek lake intake. Failure to do so, could leave parts of the Mission and the South Slopes without drinking water and fire protection service, utility planning manager Andrew Reeder says, in a report...