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politics
Penticton rapper gets on board with voting campaign
PENTICTON - A social media campaign to encourage Penticton residents to vote in the municipal election this weekend is using locally made music videos to reach the younger voters. The Get Out and Vote Penticton campaign raised over $300 at a pub night fundraiser last week, with proceeds going to online marketing to encourage people...
Centre at Naramata risks being shut down
PENTICTON - The Centre at Naramata risks a chance of shutting down unless the organization can raise $500,000 by the end of the month. The Centre has had financial difficulties, which became known to the public this past spring when 30 CUPE workers, employed by the Centre went on strike. A statement released earlier this...
Votes cast at advance polls break records
PENTICTON - Attendance numbers from the advance polls earlier this week have broken records for number of ballots cast. On the first day of advance polls, 746 ballots were cast, and 1,147 ballots were cast on the second day, for a two-day total of 1,893—1,103 more votes cast than in 2011. The Local Government now...
Penticton is invited to Rock the Vote
PENTICTON - One election candidate is taking the issue of voter turnout into his own hands by organizing a Rock the Vote event to spread the word about the importance of voting. Mayoral candidate Andrew Jakubeit arranged an event for Thursday Nov. 6 at the Barking Parrot Bar and Grill that includes live music and...
Remember to vote, local marketing agency uses social media campaign to spread the word
PENTICTON - A local marketing company is lending its services and expertise to the Rock the Vote campaign encouraging Penticton residents to get out and vote next weekend during the general election. Dave MacCoubrey, owner of SIRF Marketing and Spotted in Penticton has been collecting video footage, photos and comments from election candidates over the...
Churchill development gets go ahead from council
PENTICTON - An unwanted double duplex development on Churchill Avenue will move forward despite disapproval from neighbours. Residents of Churchill Avenue erected signs in protest of the development that was the subject of a public hearing Monday night. Residents raised concerns of traffic, parking and the style of housing. Coun. Helena Konanz asked staff to...
Former Coun. Hopkin endorses Jakubeit for mayor
PENTICTON - Former Coun. Wes Hopkin has officially endorsed his colleague and mayoral candidate Coun. Andrew Jakubeit for the hot seat. In a letter, Hopkin said his experience working alongside Jakubeit as councillor for three years showed him that Jakubeit has the leadership skills to successfully run the city as mayor. Hopkin said he has...
If you missed the candidate forums last week, we got ya covered
PENTICTON - Council and mayoral candidates gathered at the Lakeside Resort last week in front of two rather large crowds to talk politics, strategy and their plans for Penticton’s future. The council candidate forum was held first, on Tuesday, Oct. 28 and 22 of the 25 candidates represented themselves in the question-answer style presentation. The...
MP’s remarks were ‘uninformed and disappointing’: Vernon homeless shelter
‘I WISH I HAD CONFIDENCE THAT I HAVE SUPPORT FROM MY MP’ VERNON - The executive director of a local organization committed to getting Vernon’s homeless people off the streets says recent comments made by the region’s MP are misinformed, especially considering the high number of deaths on its streets the past two years. Barbara...
City questions regional district over unpaid fire bill
VERNON - There’s some financial confusion between local governments about an unpaid firefighting bill. The City of Vernon invoiced the Regional District of North Okanagan for $78,777 in relation to fire protection services at a devastating landfill fire in August 2013. “The bills are still not paid,” Vernon mayor Rob Sawatzky says. “I’m a bit...
Residents protest duplex development with signs
PENTICTON - Residents of Churchill Avenue have erected signs in protest of the development of a double-duplex on their street — an issue that will be discussed during a public hearing and Penticton city council meeting next week. The property at 701 Churchill Ave. is being developed by local developer Schoenne Homes. The development requires...
Vandalized cafe may be linked to municipal election
OLIVER - An Oliver cafe owner says he won’t take election signs down, even after his business was vandalized in what appears to be anti-election behaviour. John Micka, owner of Sunshine Cafe in Oliver has to replace his cafe-front window after it was shot at by a pellet gun. The shot left several small holes...
Vote Elephant Storage signs mock actions at Vernon City Hall
VERNON - When he heard his city councillors were openly breaking one of their own bylaws, Vernon resident Wade Cantalope decided to have some fun. You may have noticed a slightly unusual political sign along the roadways: Vote Elephant Storage Centre. Cantalope, who owns the storage company, isn’t actually running in the election. His campaign...
ELECTION 2014: Advance polling stations open next week in Penticton
PENTICTON - Advance polling stations will be open for two days next week for any Penticton residents needing or wishing to cast their votes a little early. The City is opening two polling stations on Wednesday, Nov. 5 at City Hall from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Thursday, Nov. 6 at Cherry Lane...
Complementary enterprise pitched for Vernon visitor centre
VERNON - A local politician wants to bring Vernon’s arts and culture to a main pit stop on any tourist’s jaunt through town. Expressions of interest are being accepted for a vacant section of the new visitor centre on 39 Avenue, and City of Vernon councillor Mary-Jo O’Keefe sees it as an opportunity. “I would...