West Kelowna News

West Kelowna steps up water use regulations

WEST KELOWNA - Due to continuing hot, dry weather, the City of West Kelowna has moved to stage two watering regulations. Residents are advised that, effective immediately, outdoor watering is prohibited between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. and is only permitted two days per week, as follows: - Even numbered addresses water on Tuesdays and...

Drones flying over Westside Road wildfire halt air operations

WEST KELOWNA – Several people have been flying drones over the Westside Road wildfire today, forcing B.C. Wildfire to stop flying helicopters, which are supporting firefighters on the ground. The RCMP have been called in to investigate. Fire information officer Melissa Klassen says the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles have been flying in the Flight Restricted area...

West Kelowna wastewater station to be replaced

WEST KELOWNA – The lift station that collects and stores wastewater in West Kelowna is getting a $1.3 million upgrade to improve reliability in the event of an emergency or extended power outage. The Horizon Village Lift Station will be replaced and upgraded, giving residents of West Kelowna some peace of mind. The upgrade also...

Crash slows highway traffic in West Kelowna

KELOWNA – A serious crash shut down a portion of Highway 97 near Daimler Road in West Kelowna Friday afternoon. It’s not yet clear what happened but an SUV is in the ditch and westbound lanes are closed for the time being. InfoNews.ca reader Sindy Vaughn says a lamppost was struck and emergency crews are on...

Heat wave could force water restrictions in Summerland

SUMMERLAND – If the heat wave resumes the Summerland Treatment Plant could be forced to issue measures to reduce water use in the area. Due to increased demands the Summerland Water Treatment Plant has been operating at maximum capacity the last week, according to a media release issued today, June 29. If the demand rises...

Valley mayors push for early start to water conservation

OKANAGAN - Mindful of the dry winter the Okanagan has just experienced, valley mayors and councillors joined the Okanagan Basin Water Board for an early launch of the Make Water Work conservation campaign today. Mayor Doug Findlater, who chairs the water board, used his own community of West Kelowna as an example of why the...

UPDATE: Suspicious item that caused Pick n’ Pull evacuation was “magic crystals”

KELOWNA – The small device found in a car which caused the evacuation of a West Kelowna auto wrecker this afternoon was a personal health care product filled with crystals some claim have healing powers. Emergency crews, including police, fire rescue and ambulance, were called to Pick n' Pull on Stevens Rd. just after 1...

Retirement building evacuated because of toaster

WEST KELOWNA – A smoking toaster forced residents of a multi-unit retirement building out of their homes early Wednesday morning. West Kelowna Fire Rescue were called to the building on Brown Road just after 5 a.m. According to a release, fire crews located a toaster in a suite on the second floor that was the...

UPDATE: Westside Road fire evacuation order downgraded to alert

WEST KELOWNA - Lots of good news today from the 560 hectare Westside Road fire as evacuated residents are allowed to return home and the blaze is 25 per cent contained. The Emergency Operation Centre advises that effective at 11:00 a.m. today, July 24, the Evacuation Order for the Shelter Cove/Westside Road Fire is downgraded...

UPDATE: Evacuation alerts ended for Bear Creek fire

WEST KELOWNA – The evacuation alert for the Bear Creek Interface Fire is rescinded as of 2 p.m. today. 10:16 a.m. July 22 update. Submitted by CORD Emergency  The Emergency Operation Centre advises that the Evacuation Alert for the Bear Creek fire remains in effect. The area burned by the fire remains at 1.8 hectares and...

Crews battling wildfire in Bear Creek Park

WEST KELOWNA – Firefighters are responding to a grass fire in Bear Creek Provincial Park on Westside Road. The fire was first reported as small in size but has grown to 50-by-50 metres in size and is burning Rank 2 or 3 uphill, according to unconfirmed reports. The trail has the blaze guarded on three...

Aboriginal forestry business gets boost from federal funding

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Aboriginal-owned forest sector companies in B.C. and Alberta will soon enjoy technical support and business advice from Western Economic Diversification Canada. Western diversification minister Michelle Rempel announced during a press conference at the Westbank First Nation corporate offices in West Kelowna that private company FP Innovations would receive $1.8 million to deliver educational...

West Kelowna considering lifeguards in Gellatly Bay

WEST KELOWNA - Lifeguards could soon be watching over swimmers at the CNR wharf in Gellatly Bay. West Kelowna staff have outlined in an information report possible options and the cost of hiring lifeguards to watch over the popular swimming spot during the busy summer months. The wharf was reconstructed in 2014, adding in jumping...

Kelowna and Westside food banks announce merger

CENTRAL OKANAGAN - Citing cost and operational efficiencies, the Kelowna and Westside community food banks have announced they are merging to form the Central Okanagan Community Foodbank. Lenetta Parry, already the executive director of both organizations, says the move was prompted by usage rates that remain stubbornly high. “Locally foodbank usage is up 20 per...