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Adam Proskiw
Adam has lived in B.C. most of his life. He was born in the Caribou, grew up in the Okanagan, went to university on Vancouver Island and worked as a news photographer in Vancouver. His favourite stories incorporate meaningful photography and feature interesting, passionate locals. He studied writing at UVic and photojournalism in California. He loves talking tractors, dogs and cameras and is always looking for a good story.
Adam Proskiw's Stories
B.C. Hydro to conduct study on secondary power line to West Kelowna
WEST KELOWNA – District of West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater says last night’s line failure that cut power to thousands of homes for nine hours would have been very serious if it happened just one month from now. The failure was caused by a fire that started atop one of hundreds of poles supporting West...
Former NDP candidate running for council
KELOWNA – A controversial former NDP provincial candidate announced her return to Kelowna politics Tuesday. Dayleen Van Ryswyk says she will run for a seat on Kelowna Council in the upcoming November municipal election. Van Ryswyk, a former NDP candidate for the Kelowna-Mission riding, was forced out of the race after comments about First Nations...
Tourist busted going 90 km/h in a school zone
KELOWNA – A hefty fine and a vehicle impound were issued to a tourist Tuesday morning for going triple the speed limit through a Lake Country school zone. According to RCMP, the 23-year-old man from Terrace was stopped on Oyama Road when police using stationary radar clocked him going 90 km/h. RCMP spokesperson Const. Kris...
City approves lease of waterfront lots to Paddle Club
KELOWNA – Calling them a “movement that can’t be stopped,” Mayor Walter Gray and the rest of council approved leasing four city-owned, waterfront properties in the Pandosy neighbourhood to the Kelowna Paddle Club Monday. “I see this as planting a seed that is going to grow,” Gray says. “The Paddle Centre is a great fit...
West Kelowna mayor seeking third term
WEST KELOWNA – Doug Findlater has announced he will seek his third term as mayor of West Kelowna in the upcoming election. First elected six years ago, Findlater has been on the West Kelowna District Council since incorporation. According to a press release sent Monday morning, “Doug is seeking re-election because he believes that the...
Local indy record shops make buying music social again
KELOWNA – Two local record shops in downtown Kelowna are part of a growing trend…
Wine Authority president to run for council
KELOWNA – Okanagan College’s chair of business administration and director of the B.C. Wine Authority Laura Thurnheer announced Friday she will run for council. Thurnheer grew up in Kelowna and is a former president of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, current director and secretary of the B.C. Wine Authority and director of the Central and...
PROSKIW: We are not the worst animal
The shockingly brutal attack on three sleeping dogs by a coward with a machete last week has truly shown the best and worse in us all. I admit to wishing very bad things for whoever did this; a swift, violent payback from some anonymous hero. But the better part of me says be patient and...
Tearful testimony from cops who thought they were going to die
KELOWNA – Two RCMP constables, testifying in the Kelowna Supreme Court trial of accused Westside Road shooter Michael Ellis Thursday afternoon, relived a day they will never forget. Const. Tara Schneider was working general duty in Vernon the afternoon of July 31, 2012 when a call that police were in pursuit of a suspect who...
Three years in prison for Halloween home invasion
KELOWNA - When Amelie Normandeau managed to escape the two armed men who burst through her door Halloween night 2012, the first thing she did was start pounding on neighbours’ doors, screaming for help. According to a decision recently posted online, it started during the early morning hours of Nov. 1, 2012, when Normandeau left...
Local musician and Festivals Kelowna coordinator to run for council
KELOWNA – A well-known local musician and programmer of marquee events like Parks Alive, Arts Alive and the Canada Day Festival will run for city council this November. Ryan Donn, 37, will make the official announcement Friday, but has confirmed he plans to file his nomination papers before the October 10 deadline. Best known for...
Walk to fight Ebola at Mission Creek this weekend
KELOWNA – A local non-profit is on the front lines battling a microscopic foe that threatens tens of thousands of West Africans. Hope for the Nations is a Kelowna-based charity that focuses on empowering at-risk children around the world. They are currently in 20 countries, including Liberia, the country hit hardest by the Ebola virus....
Stack to seek third term on council
KELOWNA – Luke Stack announced Tuesday he will seek a third term on council this November. If elected, Stack says his priorities will be to increase affordable housing for lower income families, expand police services, encourage pedestrian priority over vehicles within town centres, expand the number of bicycle lanes throughout the city and create more integrated...
Alcohol involved in Glenmore crash
KELOWNA – A crash between a 26-year-old driver and a 17-year-old driver in Glenmore Monday night resulted in extensive damage to both vehicles and impaired driving charges for one of the drivers. According to Const. Kris Clark, RCMP were called to a two vehicle collision at Glenmore Road and Kane Road shortly after 7:40 p.m....
Dogs recovering thanks to ‘hero’ veterinarian
WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT KELOWNA – In his 17 years in veterinary medicine, Dr. Jatinder Mundi has seen his share of traumatic injuries to dogs—mostly from traffic accidents or fights. But what came through his door at Burtch Animal Hospital the morning of Sept. 16 was something else entirely:Three large rottweilers in various states of responsiveness,...
Attacked dogs recovering as donations pour in
KELOWNA - Since news of the horrific attack that killed one dog and severely injured two others reached the public, the outpouring of support from communities as far away as Calgary has touched everyone involved. “It’s been really incredible,” Burtch Animal Hospital office administrator Kelsey Hall said Friday. “We’ve been getting calls all day from people...
A Hollywood superhero just tweeted about this UBCO fundraiser
KELOWNA – The Incredible Hulk himself, Mark Ruffalo, sent out a tweet Tuesday asking his one million followers to support a UBCO nursing fundraiser. The Global Nursing Initiative is a six-year-old program that gives students the opportunity to do practicums in Ghana, Zambia and India. All of the $2,000 they hope to raise will go...
Three dogs attacked, one killed in overnight attack
KELOWNA – A brutal attack on a Kelowna family's three dogs came just days after he was assaulted by someone he knew. Lyall Grexton awoke Tuesday morning to find his three Rottweilers were attacked overnight with a sharp weapon. All three suffered severe injuries and one of the dogs could not be saved. Const. Kris Clark...
UPDATE: Cache of guns, Hell’s Angels paraphernalia found on traffic stop: Crown
KELOWNA – Whether or not Hell’s Angel Joseph Bruce Skreptak knew he was in a vehicle full of guns when he was arrested Nov. 25, 2010 was the focus of the opening day of his Supreme Court trial Wednesday morning. Skreptak, who was arrested shortly after 10 that night along with three other men, is...
Unprecedented interest in Mayor’s chair
KELOWNA – It’s looking like voters will have an unprecedented number of choices for mayor this November. With the opportunity to file still a month away, the numbers are far from final, however outgoing Mayor Walter Gray says there does seem to be more interest this year than at any other time he can remember....
Young musician chosen to perform live with a famous band he’s never heard of
KELOWNA – A 14-year-old from Kelowna has been selected to perform onstage with a band he’s never heard of next month, but don't worry Glass Tiger—his mom didn't forget you when you were gone. Harrison de Haas was chosen out of 50 music students by Wentworth Music to play keyboards with Glass Tiger October 8...
Tough as nails councillor announces his retirement
KELOWNA – After three years on council and 15 as fire chief, Coun. Gerry Zimmermann is stepping down from public office. Zimmermann was first elected to council in 2011, was Fire Chief from 1990 to 2005 and also served one term on the Agricultural Land Commision. “I had a hard time making this decision but...
Witness shot at three times, continues following
KELOWNA – A witness who took the stand in the attempted murder trial of accused Westside Road shooter Michael Ellis was shot at three separate times, but still refused to stop following him. Michael James Scott is an onsite construction supervisor with the Ministry of Transportation. He was in his work truck on Westside Road...
Masterchef responds to claim she stole thousands from restaurant
KELOWNA – A dispute between a local reality show chef and her former business partner at Krafty Kitchen may be headed to Supreme Court. Kaila Klassen, a semi-finalist in the TV show Masterchef Canada, says she was removed from the company, Krafty Kitchen and Bar Ltd., after she broke off a personal relationship with owner...