Lake

Submerged, frozen and, yes, probably covered by insurance

VERNON - It’s been cool and snowy in the Okanagan lately, but not cold enough to stop a truck from plunging through the ice on Swan Lake in Vernon. The lake is a popular ice-fishing destination, and it’s not uncommon to see vehicles out on the ice during the winter. But as one driver found...

Extreme drought results in fishing bans for Nicola rivers

SALMON RUN AT RISK THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - An extreme drought rating has been issued for the Nicola region, resulting in fishing restrictions and a request for residents to conserve water. Staff from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources say extreme dry conditions and warming water temperatures calls for a fishing suspension on the Nicola...

Okanagan Across the Lake Swim will be bigger than ever this year

KELOWNA – For the 67th year in a row, swimmers from across the province will plunge into Okanagan Lake for the Across the Lake Swim this weekend. And this year will be bigger than ever. Last year, 900 participants showed up but this year event organizers have increased capacity significantly. A record 1,200 swimmers of all ages...

Okanagan-bound boat caught and decontaminated for possible invasive mussel threat

KELOWNA – Conservation officers in Kelowna decontaminated a boat today which came to the Okanagan from an Ontario lake known to be infested with invasive mussels. The boat was purchased by someone in the Okanagan city and transported from Lake Eerie in Windsor, Ont. It was shipped along with another boat bound for Fort McMurray....

Rare ‘frost flowers’ bloom in the Shuswap

SALMON ARM - Mother Nature sprouted some special flowers last week in Salmon Arm. It’s a rare phenomenon, but when air is colder than ice on a lake, ‘frost flowers’ can grow. Those blossoms were captured by local resident D’Arcy McLeod. “It was like a magic garden of flowers growing on the frozen lake,” McLeod...

This ‘Floating island’ on Okanagan Lake could be yours

OKANAGAN – It’s the size of a small island, has multiple bedrooms and bathrooms like a cottage, but it can take you across the lake at 65 km/h. A luxury sport yacht owned by Penticton resident George Speirs was listed for sale on Kijiji this past weekend. The price tag for the 63’ Sea Ray...

Body of drowned Coldstream man found

REVELSTOKE - Searchers have found the body of a Coldstream man who went missing after jumping into Revelstoke Lake July 30. Authorities were notified at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday that the 28-year-old had jumped from the Laforme Creek bridge and never resurfaced. The Laforme Creek Bridge, 20 km north of the Revelstoke Dam on Highway 23...

A new chapter begins in the storied life of the Hotel El

KELOWNA – After more than a year of aggressive interest and offers from Kelowna real estate development company Argus Properties, Hotel Eldorado owner Jim Nixon decided the time was finally right to sell after 25 years. “They wanted what I wanted,” Nixon says on Argus’ plans for the hotel, marina and restaurant. “It’s a local...