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Kelowna
Kelowna philanthropist looking for 100 women who care
KELOWNA – The woman behind Rose’s pub, Hanna’s restaurant and the Wild Woman Wise Woman Foundation, has started another organization with plans to raise at least $20,000 a year for local charities. “We’ve put on a fundraiser every year in support of women and children and it was a lot of work,” Rose Sexsmith says. “I kept...
Meteors, supermoons and northern lights
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Skywatchers and photographers can rejoice as they have their pick of fascinating subjects this weekend with the start of a meteor shower, the supermoon making an appearance and a chance of a northern lights show. Saturday night the full moon will be one of three supermoons in a row this summer. The bigger...
Record heat on the way
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Records could fall this weekend as the hot, dry weather trend continues. The expected heat wave will last for at least the next 7 days. In Kamloops temperatures are expected to reach 37 Celsius on Saturday and then around 38 C for the next three days. Record high temperatures are currently 38.6 C...
Smoke in sky from fires in northern B.C.
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Several large fires in the northeastern part of the province are causing a haze across much of the Southern Interior today. B.C. Wildfire Provincial Fire Information Officer Erin Catherall says most of what we can see is likely from the Prince George Fire Zone where two large fires and several smaller ones are...
Adventure Park opening cut down by vandals
KELOWNA – A vandal with a chainsaw has forced the operator of Myra Canyon Adventure Park to delay their grand opening by at least three weeks. The tree-top rope and challenge course on June Springs Rd. was set to open to the public this weekend, but park employee Rusty Gahr says staff arriving for work...
Farriers not a dying breed, just a hidden one
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - During the horse and buggy age, farriers were as common as mechanics ensuring travellers had four on the floor to get from point A to point B but today, they're an elusive service provider. Anyone with a horse likely uses the service of someone specializing in horse feet. One local farrier says while...
Krafty Kitchen kicks hard for final opening push
KELOWNA – Masterchef Canada finalist Kaila Klassen’s new restaurant in downtown Kelowna is in the final stages of preparation for a grand opening at the end of the month. Klassen, a realtor from West Kelowna finished Masterchef Canada in third place, announcing in April her plan to open a restaurant called Krafty Kitchen + Bar. “The...
Tropical Tuesday comes close to records
VERNON TOPS PREVIOUS HIGH THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - With temperatures soaring into the mid-30s yesterday, it was a close call for many communities but Vernon was alone in setting a new record. With temperatures reaching a high of 34.8 Celsius, Vernon beat the previous record of 34.4 C, set in 1920. Vernon will be a bit cooler...
UPDATE: Work camps evacuated due to fast moving fire
PRINCE GEORGE - High winds and hot, dry weather have fuelled a fire southeast of Tumbler Ridge, fanning it to more than 3,000 hectares and forcing evacuations of two oil and gas work camps in the area. The fire, which was started by lightning this weekend, is 61 kilometres southeast of Tumbler Ridge and was...
Keloha music festival takes the stage this weekend
KELOWNA – The annual Keloha music festival is back for the third year in a row, and organizers have managed once again to secure some of the top up-and-coming names in indy, alternative and rock music today. The three day festival features more than 70 live acts, but Wet Ape entertainment director Kelly Shepherd says...
Diner en Blanc Okanagan is back for the second year
KELOWNA – The second annual pop-up picnic known as Diner en Blanc is back in the Okanagan and bigger than ever. Diner en Blanc is a worldwide event where guests dressed all in white gather to be whisked off to a secret location where they dine, drink and socialize. Event organizer Alison Love says 850...
Cause of Tolko mill fire likely accidental
KELOWNA – A fire that started at Tolko mill Monday evening was likely set accidentally by transients camping in the area. The fire was contained to a pile of sawdust and bark mulch between the mill and Manhattan St., an area Kelowna Fire Capt. Tim Light says is frequented by transients. “We found some home-made...
Investigation into cause of rockslide continues
SUMMERLAND – The section of Highway 97 that was hit by a rockslide between Peachland and Summerland Sunday will remain partially closed until at least Tuesday. Murray Tekano of the Ministry of Transportation says until the 500 cubic metres of debris is cleared, highway traffic will be down to one lane in each direction. “Right now...
Lions Hall arsonist tells court to hurry up and sentence him
"IT'S RIDICULOUS. I PLED GUILTY." KELOWNA – The man who pleaded guilty to burning the Westbank Lions Hall last September has opted to represent himself in court in an apparent effort to speed sentencing. Kerry Robert Cooper, 30, appeared before a Justice of the Peace via video Thursday morning, saying he didn’t care what the...
Bike camp gives new lease on life
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - A young man says a mountain bike camp aimed at helping those affected by substance abuse came at just the right time to save him from himself. “The past two years have been really hard for me, I got suicidal…. I was on lots of pills,” Cameron Model, 25, says. “This camp is...
Changes coming to 911 service
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Starting this fall, the first person you talk to when you dial 911 will not be in your city. Emergency calls placed from the Regional Districts of Central Okanagan, North Okanagan, Okanagan-Similkameen, Thompson-Nicola, Columbia-Shuswap, Squamish-Lillooet (North), Central Kootenay, East Kootenay and Kootenay-Boundary Regional Districts will be answered through E-Comm, the emergency communication centre...
Meet Ballet Kelowna’s new artistic director and CEO
KELOWNA – Ballet Kelowna has a new artistic director. Simone Orlando has danced professionally with the National Ballet of Canada and Desrosiers Dance Theatre. She worked as principal artist for Ballet British Columbia and has created several commissions for Ballet Kelowna. Orlando will take over for retiring artistic director David LaHay at the start of the...
Higher speeds coming to a highway near you
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Three highways will see speed limits increase to 120 km/h today and another 1,300 km of highways will see the increase later this summer. Over 9,100 km of highways were surveyed during a Rural Highway Safety and Speed Review and Minister Todd Stone says several key points are now being addressed — speed...
IN PHOTOS: Baby farm animals that will make you go ‘awww’
KELOWNA - As the weather warms up new crops appear and baby animals take their first, uncertain steps. Here are a few photos of baby animals starting their lives at some of the many farms around Kelowna. Send your best seasonal photos to news@infonews.ca. %%Embed1%% To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw...
How to celebrate Canada Day
KELOWNA - Canada Day in Kelowna has plenty of free, family fun with everything from an apple bin painting to live music, and multicultural food to fireworks. The annual festivities held in Waterfront, Jim Stuart and Kerry Parks along with Prospera Place attract some 60,000 celebrants of all ages. The event is put together by...
Inflatable downtown water park opens to public
KELOWNA – Just in time for Canada Day weekend, Kelowna’s newest water attraction is open to the public. Consisting of interlocking inflatable modules with a maximum capacity of 60 at a time, Wibit Water Park is anchored approximately 20 metres off the shores of City Park. City councillors approved the attraction earlier this month, granting...
Expect a hot Canada Day
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - After a mix of rain and cloud much of the weekend Mother Nature has decided to smile down on Canada Day with a lot of sun and heat. The entire Interior will be drenched in temperatures between 32-35 C on July 1 and then Wednesday will also be around 34 C but neither...
House party killer appeal shot down
KELOWNA - A 29-year-old Kelowna man convicted of shooting and killing a high school student at a house party in 2007 will not be granted appeal, according to a hearing summary released Thursday. Trevor Shannon, who was 22 at the time, was sentenced to life in prison in 2012. He maintains he was trying to...
VIDEO: ‘Our Voice Our Teachers’
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Two independent film makers under the name TNT Creation have joined the political battle in support of teachers this week with a video showcasing why and how Kamloops residents support B.C. teachers. The video, shot over two days, features Timo Sargent in front of the camera and Tim Unaegbu behind it. In a...