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politics
Okanagan municipalities ink rail corridor deal, now what will they do with it?
VERNON - A team of local governments has reached a multi-million deal with CN Rail to purchase nearly 50 km of discontinued track between Vernon and Kelowna, but just how the land will be used remains unknown. Doug Gilchrist, the City of Kelowna’s community planning and real estate director, says the group of municipalities are...
Okanagan rail trail dream on track
"I THINK WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, THERE WILL BE A COMMUNITY PATHWAY" VERNON - Brad Clements remembers sitting around his kitchen table over a year ago, discussing the odds of a rail trail on the decommissioned track between Vernon and Kelowna becoming a reality. “We thought it was only a 20...
New Vernon mayor and council sworn into office
VERNON - Vernon’s new council members officially took their seats for the next four years Monday evening. Mayor Akbal Mund, incumbents Bob Spiers, Juliette Cunningham, Catherine Lord, and Brian Quiring, along with new councillors Scott Anderson and Dalvir Nahal were sworn into office by Justice Mayland McKimm to a packed room at City Hall. “Collectively,...
Native court workers protest for equal pay
OKANAGAN - Native court workers are standing up against the government asking for equal pay after being cut out of a deal five years ago that increased the wages of others but not court workers. Jack Kruger, a veteran native court worker and counsellor, has spent the past two days outside the Penticton and Kelowna...
This is why Penticton needs a detox centre
"THEY'RE NOT THROWAWAY PEOPLE." PENTICTON - A young man leaves a detox centre in Kelowna and heads home to Penticton—a taxi ride, a bus ride and walk away. His body is rid of the alcohol it was so dependent on only a week ago; now’s an opportunity for him to start fresh, get a job...
Local rep says Greater Vernon Water referendum failed for all the wrong reasons
'I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK THIS WAS A POLITICAL POSITION TO TAKE WITH THE ELECTION COMING UP' VERNON - A local politician is speaking out against the results of the failed Greater Vernon Water referendum. Electoral Area C director Mike Macnabb believes it failed for all the wrong reasons. “I think the $70 million was...
Outgoing council has tearful goodbye at last council meeting
PENTICTON - There were tears around the council table during the meeting Monday night as goodbye speeches were made by three outgoing members, all of whom have served Penticton for nearly a decade. Coun. John Vassilaki, who has been a councillor for twelve consecutive years, went first, listing council’s accomplishments over the years and giving...
ELECTION 2014: Vote recount not necessary, according to city
PENTICTON - Members of the community are asking for a recount after voter turnout was lower than anticipated, however the city is not planning a recount request. Only 8,424 of the 26,806 eligible voters submitted their ballots for the 2014 election— almost two per cent fewer voters than in 2011. The community had high expectations...
Penticton council would be completely different if students voted
PENTICTON - Penticton students took part in a province-wide program to choose who they thought should be on city council and the results are very different than the results of last week's civic election in Penticton. The vote was part of Student Vote Day 2014, a program offering students a chance to learn about the...
ELECTION 2014: Who won in the South Okanagan
SOUTH OKANAGAN - You voted and the results are in for the mayors and councils of the South Okanagan who will start their four-year terms in December. Summerland welcomes new mayor Peter Waterman, who won with 1,197 votes. Joining him on council is Toni Boot with 2,819 votes; Erin Trainer with 2,214 votes; Erin Carlson...
ELECTION 2014: Jakubeit new mayor of Penticton
PENTICTON - The votes are in and Andrew Jakubeit is the new mayor of Penticton, beating out former councillor and colleague John Vassilaki and local businessman Jukka Laurio. Jakubeit won by more than 2,000 votes with a total of 5,126 votes. “I just want to say thank you,” he said after the win. “The whole...
ELECTIONS 2014: Vernon voters have their say
VERNON - Local residents are having their say on who they want as city mayors, councillors, school trustees and regional district representatives. Many voters have already cast their ballots. Over the three days of advance voting, a total of 1,957 people cast their votes, up several hundred from the 2011 election. Those numbers suggest Vernon...
Cyberlove campaign back for anti-bullying week
PENTICTON - Summerland teens are challenging people all over the world to spread positive messages on social media during anti-bullying week. Caitie Shaw and Dan Nixon, two high school students from Summerland and founders of the Youth Empowerment Project, started the #cyberlove campaign, which kickstarted earlier this fall. The goal of the campaign was to...
Faux campaign signs spark a laugh during tense election time
PENTICTON - There's a local man known by friends for his random acts of kindness, whether it’s sticking a ten dollar bill in a library book, or making fake election signs to get a laugh from his friends. Rylan Hernberg’s signs are mixed in with the other hundreds of election candidate signs around town, but...
Free bus rides on election day
PENTICTON - The City and Transit B.C. are offering free bus rides on voting day to encourage Penticton residents to come out and vote, free of charge. All regular route buses and HandyDart rides will be free for passengers heading to the polls on Saturday, Nov. 15. The General Election will be held at the...