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Kelowna news
Lake Country referendum mail ballot options
LAKE COUNTRY – If you won’t be in town for the referendum on April 25, 2015 or during any of the advance polls on April 15, 16, 17, 20 and 21, you may still be able to vote by mail. Lake Country is seeking elector assent through a referendum to approve the borrowing of up...
Negotiations to continue despite Okanagan Indian Band lawsuit aimed at CN Rail corridor purchase
KELOWNA - The acquisition team responsible for the $50-million group purchase of the abandoned CN Rail corridor will be meeting right away to discuss the latest threat to the already-beleagured CN Rail corridor purchase — an injunction to stop the sale by the Okanagan Indian Band. “This would potentially halt the transaction if an injunction...
Interior Target stores will be closed before Easter
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - By April 2 a total of 62 Target stores will be shut down, including those in Vernon, Kelowna and Kamloops. Target Canada opened doors in Western Canada in May 2013. In January 2015 it was announced the company would be shutting down all 133 stores and liquidation sales began immediately. Last week the...
Valoroso Foods faces second verification inspection later this week
KELOWNA - Valoroso Foods was open for business today even as officials from the health protection branch of the Interior Health Authority say they will be conducting a second inspection to ensure the company has taken action on violations it found during an inspection last Friday. “We will be going back at the end of...
Breast-feeding supporters crowd West Kelowna council
MAYOR ASKS FOR PROTOCOL TO DEAL WITH FUTURE DELEGATION REQUESTS KELOWNA - Crying and cooing babies provided the soundtrack as proponents of breast-feeding crowded West Kelowna council chambers tonight to show their displeasure at what they said was a lack of support for their cause. Breast-feeding mothers nursed their babies inside and outside of council...
Another reason traffic cops set up traps along roadways
KELOWNA - With 50 violation tickets handed out for traffic violations last weekend, the Central Okanagan Traffic Services has a message for drivers. Slow down and move over when emergency services are trying to do their job. Central Okanagan and Kelowna Municipal Traffic Services set up an enforcement operation on Highway 97 near Old Vernon...
Women struck by plywood while out for a walk in Lake Country
LAKE COUNTRY - Two women out for a stroll in Lake Country were struck by a leather covered, wooden pick-up box cover which apparently flew off a passing truck last week. The pair were out walking their dogs at around 4:30 p.m., Saturday, March 14, in the 3500-block of Woodsdale Road when the incident occurred,...
West Kelowna breast-feeding protest to go ahead as planned
WEST KELOWNA - The West Kelowna Feed-In is going ahead as scheduled despite a bit of damage control by the district. The group declared they would protest at the March 24 council meeting after a delegation from the Interior Health Authority and UBC Okanagan asking council to help them promote breast-feeding were turned away at...
Four local pharmacies to participate in ground-breaking genomics project
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The concept of tailored medical care based on individual DNA was once the stuff of science fiction novels but now the possibility is ever closer with four pharmacies in the Thompson-Okanagan signed on to take part in a first-of-its-kind genomics project. The 'Genomics for Precision Drug Therapy in the Community Pharmacy' project is...
Highlights of the Regional Board Meeting – March 23, 2015
Westside Regional Wastewater Plant Budget The Regional Board has approved additional budgetary expenses for 2015 associated with the temporary transport of biosolids for approved disposal. As a result of an ongoing protest in the Merritt-area where an approved composting facility is located, the Regional District has been prevented from delivering biosolids to the contractor’s site...
Find out how YLW plans to spend $55.6M
KELOWNA - Kelowna International Airport is inviting the general public to an open house so they can see for themselves how construction projects costing $55.6 million will change the landscape at YLW in the year ahead. The open house takes place from 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday, March 31 on the Messanine level at...
Carriage house survey shows support for secondary dwellings in West Kelowna
WEST KELOWNA - Westside residents could soon see a sight their Kelowna counterparts have seen for quite a few years — carriage houses popping up on lots where one house already exists. The latest results are in from the district’s extensive public consultation on the subject and three-quarters of West Kelowna people feel carriage houses...
Inspection found no reason to shut down Valoroso Foods: IHA
KELOWNA - An inspection of Valoroso Foods conducted Friday by the Interior Health Authority did not find any reason to shut the specialty foods store down, despite allegations of product label tampering. “This past Friday... Interior Health conducted an investigation at Valoroso Foods in Kelowna regarding food safety concerns,” IHA communications officer Patrick Gall said...
Video surveillance policy under scrutiny in West Kelowna
WEST KELOWNA - The district is updating its video surveillance policy to ensure compliance with the provincial Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. “With video surveillance cameras, obviously there are concerns with privacy,” says Erin Goodwin, facilities manager for West Kelowna. “There are standards that we have to follow.” The district does not...
Kelowna Rockets hand out the annual hardware
KELOWNA – Rourke Chartier took the big win at the Kelowna Rockets’ awards banquet Sunday afternoon, March 22, grabbing the MVP trophy for his outstanding season. Chartier, 18, had 48 goals and 82 points in 58 games. “It’s a huge honour and I owe a lot to my teammates,” Chartier told Rockets’ TV at the...
Apology from Valoroso Foods over expired food controversy
KELOWNA – The president of Valoroso Foods in Kelowna has posted a letter of apology to his customers on line as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency investigates allegations of selling expired food. Joe Valoroso says a full inventory of all products in the company’s retail outlets and warehouse is being done Sunday, March 22. “All...
Semi hits fire hydrant flooding Kelowna streets
KELOWNA – The driver of a tractor-trailer took out a fire hydrant in north Kelowna this morning flooding the streets in the area. Fire fighters were called to the intersection of Ethel Street and Vaughen Avenue at about 11:18 a.m., Saturday, March 21, to find water spewing from the broken hydrant and the storm drains...
What do drones, e-cigarettes and geocaches have in common?
KELOWNA - Flying drones, e-cigarettes and geocaches are all soon to be targetted in Kelowna’s updated parks bylaw. “Things change, new issues emerge,” says parks supervisor Ian Wilson, who will present the proposed changes to city council on Monday, March 23. E-cigarettes will be banned in all public parks under the revamped bylaw. Wilson says...
Surge in Kelowna rental housing construction
KELOWNA - Rental housing construction is undergoing a renaissance of sorts with the City of Kelowna reporting a surge of construction activity in the last 18 months. Recent focus has been on so-called micro-suites — units with a floor area under 29 square metres — but Doug Gilchrist, director of community planning for the city,...
Kelowna tech company RackForce bought for $33M
KELOWNA - A Kelowna-based technology and communications infrastructure company has been sold to an Ontario-based company for $33 million. RackForce Networks, the largest Canadian company specializing in enterprise cloud services, was aquired by TeraGo Inc., a national provider of complete end-to-end data services. The deal was announced by Thornhill, Ontario-based TeraGo in a media release Thursday, March...
Two dogs declared aggressive reported stolen from Kelowna dog pound
KELOWNA - A pair of dogs seized after two goats were killed in Joe Rich Wednesday, were reported stolen from the Central Okanagan Regional District dog pound Thursday morning. The break and enter and theft at the dog pound, located at 890 Weddell Pl. in Kelowna, was reported at about 7:05 a.m., Thursday, March 19....
Former employees accuse Kelowna food company of tampering with best-before labels: Global Okanagan
KELOWNA - An Italian food importer based in Kelowna is facing allegations by former employees of tampering with best-before and expiry dates on some of the food products it sells. According to Global Okanagan, more than one person has come forward alleging misconduct. Valoroso Foods has operated in Kelowna for 18 years and specializes in...
Is Kelowna hostile to medical marijuana?
KELOWNA – The police raid of a marijuana dispensary in downtown Kelowna last week appears to be an extension of a Kelowna bias against medical marijuana facilities, sources say. Police said they raided Kaya Clinic on Lawrence Ave. Jan. 15 based on complaints from the public, including complaints forwarded by the City of Kelowna. Inside, police...
Open access media policy pays off for city
KELOWNA - The 2015 citizens survey is due out in a couple of weeks and the city is expecting to do as good or better in most categories. But city officials might be surprised to find they’re doing great in a category they don’t even measure — communications with the media. While journalists love to...