Kelowna

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...

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,...

Former Dragon to speak at Chamber AGM

KELOWNA – You won’t want to pass on this deal. Okanagan business tycoon and philanthropist W. Brett Wilson who gained fame during his stint on The Dragon’s Den will be speaking at the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting in Kelowna this April. Wilson, who owns several businesses in the valley, will share stories...

Why a drone is following skiers around Big White

KELOWNA - Looking the part is half the battle when you're on the ski hill, but now you can tuck away your GoPro camera and awkward pole accessories during your next Big White ski adventure because the mountain resort offers a drone filming service to capture your feats of athleticism. It's as simple as signing...

This thief rips the rings right off your fingers

KELOWNA - RCMP believe there are more victims out there of a thief who poses as a jewellry buyer, then rips off the would-be seller. Several distraught victims have called 911 in recent days after man stole rings right off their fingers, Sgt. Brad Swecera says in a media release. The victims were asked to meet...

Pole athletes blur the line between strength and sensuality

KELOWNA - If you have any illusions or misconceptions about what exactly pole dancing is or isn't, Erin Smith is gonna calmly bust 'em up for ya and right away. Number one on the list is that pole dancing is not particularly athletic, more akin to erotic dancing than, say, Crossfit or TRX. “Ninety-nine per...

Downtown Kelowna to get cleaner, safer

KELOWNA - Visitors to downtown should soon notice the place is a fair bit tidier and safer with a significant boost to the Downtown Kelowna Association’s cleaning and security budgets. Kelowna city council approved this week an increase in the association’s annual levy to $804,000 from $781,000 last year. The levy is applied to all...

Fortis customers claim routine over-billing

KELOWNA – Days after angry Kelowna residents gathered outside Premier Christy Clarks riding office to protest unfair power bills, many people are coming forward with stories about being massively over billed. Katie Krebs lives in Kelowna with her husband and two kids. She says last December and January, Fortis B.C. sent them a bill for...

New garden space for care home on Bernard Ave

KELOWNA – David Lloyd Jones Home, located at 934 Bernard Ave, has begun planning a new outdoor garden space for its residents. Jonathan Clare, Residential Manager at David Lloyd Jones Home explains, “We are truly blessed to live in an area where we can enjoy the outdoors virtually year round.  Those who call David Lloyd...

Continuous pour means dust, noise and traffic tie-ups for downtown

KELOWNA - A big, loud mess: There’s no other way to describe the choked traffic and construction noise locals will experience downtown around Ellis Street and Doyle Avenue starting Tuesday morning and lasting all this week and into the next. City council has waived its own noise bylaw at the request of developer Graham Construction...

School suspension rates dropping like a stone

KELOWNA - Suspension rates at Central Okanagan schools have been dropping steadily in the last five years, mirroring in part the decline in crime rates in communities across Canada. But the superintendent of schools for the Central Okanagan says the district can claim part of the credit for helping push down the suspension rates with...

Aerosmith ‘Back in the Saddle’ in Kelowna

KELOWNA - Show your Valentine you have What it Takes and give them a gift sure to make they go Crazy, tickets to see one of the most-loved classic rock bands live in Kelowna. The multi-platinum band Aerosmith is set to hit the stage at Prospera Place July 13 and tickets will go on sale this...

Breast-feeding supporters plan West Kelowna ‘feed-in’

WEST KELOWNA - A group of breast-feeding supporters are planning a mass 'feed-in' at the next West Kelowna council meeting, dissatisfied with the reception given by councillors to a delegation promoting breast-feeding at the last council meeting. Last week, as part of a class project, a delegation of UBC Okanagan nursing students and a public...

Councillor Hodge bounces back, shrugs off lung infection

KELOWNA – Coun. Charlie Hodge was back in his chair at Kelowna city council Monday afternoon after being hospitalized for pneumonia last week. “Once you get here it’s like sitting at your kitchen table,” said Hodge, who added he was just glad to be back. “It knocked the wind out of me that’s for sure."...