Elevate your local knowledge
Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!
politics
ELECTION 2015: Voting basics in the North Okanagan-Shuswap
VERNON - Before you head to the polls this October, you’re going to want to know who your candidates are, where to vote, and what you need to bring with you. We’ve got you covered. Consider this your North Okanagan-Shuswap voter’s kit. We’ll introduce you to your candidates, fill you in on advance polling, and...
ELECTION 2015: What you didn’t know about North Okanagan-Shuswap Green Party candidate Chris George
VERNON - This might come as a surprise, but North Okanagan-Shuswap Green Party candidate Chris George used to vote right wing. But the longtime businessman always felt like something was missing from that end of the political spectrum. When he started learning more about the Green Party platform he realized it was fiscally responsible, while...
ELECTION 2015: Mulcair plans Vernon visit
VERNON - The leader of the NDP will stop in Vernon next week. Tom Mulcair is visiting Tuesday, Sept. 1, to help launch local candidate Jacqui Gingras’ campaign in the North Okanagan-Shuswap riding. The public event is happening at Gingras’ office at 3023 30 Avenue starting at noon. Other party leaders Justin Trudeau, Stephen Harper...
ELECTION 2015: Getting to know Jacqui Gingras, North Okanagan-Shuswap NDP candidate
VERNON - For North Okanagan-Shuswap NDP candidate Jacqui Gingras, running in the 2015 federal election has been four years in the making. The longtime Okanagan resident committed herself to the task shortly after NDP leader Jack Layton died in 2011. Inspired by his call for all Canadians to consider serving their communities, Gingras stepped up....
ELECTION 2015: Why North Okanagan-Shuswap candidate Cindy Derkaz wants to earn your vote
VERNON - You might know her from her days working at Derkaz Shoes, her parent’s shop, or from her involvement in organizations like the Shuswap Community Foundation or Shuswap Trail Alliance. And now, Cindy Derkaz is introducing herself in a new capacity, as the Liberal party candidate for the North-Okanagan Shuswap riding. Derkaz grew up...
Here’s what the Osoyoos Indian Band chief and council are paid
OSOYOOS - Newly released Osoyoos Indian Band financial statements show a huge gap between First Nations and local governement when it comes to salaries and expenses. The 2014 financial documents, submitted as required by the new First Nations Financial Transparency Act, outline the earnings and expenses of Chief Clarence Louie and the band's five councillors....
Why First Nations chiefs and councillors can’t be compared to city councils
PENTICTON - The Chief of a local First Nations band says he wants to see more respect throughout the province and the country for the roles band chiefs and councillors play. New federal laws requiring First Nations to release audited financial statements publicly has brought numerous comparisons between First Nations chiefs and councillors to city...
One important issue behind Vernon’s insistence downed trees weren’t used by herons
"WE ALL HAVE PHONES, I'M SURE IF THERE WERE ANY NESTS COMING DOWN PEOPLE WOULD BE TAKING PICTURES OF IT AND RAISING MORE COMPLAINTS": MAYOR VERNON - The City of Vernon insists an at-risk bird won’t be impacted by recent tree removal work in Vernon because they have no record of them being observed there....
Log Barn signage gets the boot
SPALLUMCHEEN - A roadside attraction known for its wild and wacky signs has been told to tone it down. The Log Barn, located off Highway 97A just north of Armstrong, was ordered by the Township of Spallumcheen to remove close to 20 property signs in May 2015, and recently lost a bid to reinstall a...
Vernon council decides town hall meetings aren’t needed
VERNON - Elected representatives believe Vernon residents have all the opportunities they need to raise issues with the city. That’s why council has opted against hosting periodic town hall meetings in which citizens can bring up any topic they wish to discuss. Councillors voted 5-2 at a meeting Monday, Aug. 10, to keep things status...
Staff against moving downtown casino to Aberdeen
KAMLOOPS - Relocating the Lake City Casino out of downtown will potentially weaken the core area and require ‘significant’ improvements to traffic and transportation in the Aberdeen and Pineview areas. “The loss of the casino in the City Centre may have an impact on downtown's social and economic fabric,” Development Director Marvin Kwiatkowski said in...
Council goes against staff on casino move
KAMLOOPS - The public will get to voice input on the proposed move of the downtown casino to the former Rona location in Aberdeen after a staff recommendation to deny the application was overturned by council Tuesday. “We need the opportunity to hear from the community, and casino people,” Coun. Tina Lange said. “(We have)...
Mixed feelings about casino relocation
KAMLOOPS - While Gateway Casinos representatives say the people coming out to the information sessions have been mostly supportive of the plan to move the Lake City Casino from downtown to Aberdeen, the opinions in the feedback the city has received so far has been mixed. In advance of the Tuesday night public hearing on...
Removing land from Kal Park in Vernon continues to worry local officials
VERNON - Additional concerns are arising around a controversial plan to remove land from Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park in Vernon. The Regional District of the North Okanagan board of directors finally heard from B.C. Parks this week about a Ministry of Transportation proposal to remove a 20 metre right-of-way, down from an originally requested 30...
The cost of free parking in Vernon
VERNON - Easing up on paid parking downtown Vernon is leaving the city with a gap in revenue. In the past year, city council approved a number of initiatives aimed at making the downtown area more customer friendly, and while it’s too early to see if they’re working, the changes are already revealing financial side-effects....