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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
Dry conditions close upper Knox Mountain Drive
KELOWNA – Extremely dry conditions have closed parts of Knox Mountain Park Drive to vehicle traffic. Effective immediately, only pedestrians and cyclists will be allowed beyond the first lookout, Urban Forestry Supervisor Blair Stewart says in a media release. “We’ve had hot weather the past few days which has resulted in our parks becoming extremely...
Angelina Jolie’s badass stunt double is from Kelowna
KELOWNA – A stuntwoman from Kelowna whose work appears in the recently released Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, was featured in an article on Cosmo.com earlier this week. Janene Carleton, 36, is considered by many international studios to be one of Hollywood’s top female stunt doubles. Over her 10 year career she has been...
Gellatly Road to reopen on weekend
WEST KELOWNA – Gellatly Road, closed since May by bank erosion, will reopen to vehicle and pedestrian traffic Saturday. Mayor Doug Findlater declared a local State of Emergency May 12 and the stretch between Witt and Carrall Roads was closed while damage was assessed. Work on the roadway began May 20 but due to the...
Kelowna philanthropist looking for 100 women who care
KELOWNA – The woman behind Rose’s pub, Hanna’s restaurant and the Wild Woman Wise Woman Foundation, has started another organization with plans to raise at least $20,000 a year for local charities. “We’ve put on a fundraiser every year in support of women and children and it was a lot of work,” Rose Sexsmith says. “I kept...
Kelowna gets new domestic violence unit
KELOWNA – Victims of domestic abuse have a new resource in Kelowna. The creation of a new Domestic Violence Unit, a first for the Okanagan, was announced by Attorney General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton. “The team will provide an urgent, coordinated response to protect families in this community who are at risk or...
PROSKIW: The perks of crime on parade
The Southeast Division of the RCMP unveiled for the press Thursday their latest salvo in the neverending war against gangs in our valley. The confiscated Nissan, complete with performance parts and eye-catching wheels, is being touted as a crime fighting tool, and was revealed to the crowd with a dramatic polish that made me feel I...
Confiscated car highlights dangers of gang life
KELOWNA – The RCMP have a new rolling billboard designed to highlight the dangers of gang life. The 2004 Nissan 350Z sports car was confiscated as a proceed of crime and has been donated by the province to the Kelowna RCMP. The modified car, complete with graphics and warnings, was unveiled at an RCMP press...
Adventure Park opening cut down by vandals
KELOWNA – A vandal with a chainsaw has forced the operator of Myra Canyon Adventure Park to delay their grand opening by at least three weeks. The tree-top rope and challenge course on June Springs Rd. was set to open to the public this weekend, but park employee Rusty Gahr says staff arriving for work...
Krafty Kitchen kicks hard for final opening push
KELOWNA – Masterchef Canada finalist Kaila Klassen’s new restaurant in downtown Kelowna is in the final stages of preparation for a grand opening at the end of the month. Klassen, a realtor from West Kelowna finished Masterchef Canada in third place, announcing in April her plan to open a restaurant called Krafty Kitchen + Bar. “The...
Highway to remain partially closed all week as rockslide investigation continues
SUMMERLAND – With the Summerland rockslide cleanup ongoing, the Ministry of Transportation says one southbound lane will remain closed until at least next week. MOT spokesperson Robert Adam says rock fall cleanup concluded last night and three of four lanes are now open. A single southbound lane will remain closed through the weekend as crews...
Keloha music festival takes the stage this weekend
KELOWNA – The annual Keloha music festival is back for the third year in a row, and organizers have managed once again to secure some of the top up-and-coming names in indy, alternative and rock music today. The three day festival features more than 70 live acts, but Wet Ape entertainment director Kelly Shepherd says...
Diner en Blanc Okanagan is back for the second year
KELOWNA – The second annual pop-up picnic known as Diner en Blanc is back in the Okanagan and bigger than ever. Diner en Blanc is a worldwide event where guests dressed all in white gather to be whisked off to a secret location where they dine, drink and socialize. Event organizer Alison Love says 850...
Cause of Tolko mill fire likely accidental
KELOWNA – A fire that started at Tolko mill Monday evening was likely set accidentally by transients camping in the area. The fire was contained to a pile of sawdust and bark mulch between the mill and Manhattan St., an area Kelowna Fire Capt. Tim Light says is frequented by transients. “We found some home-made...
Investigation into cause of rockslide continues
SUMMERLAND – The section of Highway 97 that was hit by a rockslide between Peachland and Summerland Sunday will remain partially closed until at least Tuesday. Murray Tekano of the Ministry of Transportation says until the 500 cubic metres of debris is cleared, highway traffic will be down to one lane in each direction. “Right now...
New Museum showcases WFN’s living culture
WEST KELOWNA – The Westbank First Nation’s extensive collection of heritage items has been unboxed and is now on public display in West Kelowna. The new Sncewips (sen-ch-wee-ps) Heritage Museum is at Estates Square in West Kelowna and Curatorial researcher Jordan Coble says the display is as much an art gallery it is a museum. “In...
PROSKIW: Nature should inspire curiosity, not fear
Have you ever been baited into an animal story, something you thought could be interesting or fascinating or even cute and cuddly only to find the creature paid the ultimate price for our ignorance? I hate those stories. I concede the cougar found inside a woman’s home chewing on a dog toy had to be killed. The...
Lions Hall arsonist tells court to hurry up and sentence him
"IT'S RIDICULOUS. I PLED GUILTY." KELOWNA – The man who pleaded guilty to burning the Westbank Lions Hall last September has opted to represent himself in court in an apparent effort to speed sentencing. Kerry Robert Cooper, 30, appeared before a Justice of the Peace via video Thursday morning, saying he didn’t care what the...
Changes coming to 911 service
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Starting this fall, the first person you talk to when you dial 911 will not be in your city. Emergency calls placed from the Regional Districts of Central Okanagan, North Okanagan, Okanagan-Similkameen, Thompson-Nicola, Columbia-Shuswap, Squamish-Lillooet (North), Central Kootenay, East Kootenay and Kootenay-Boundary Regional Districts will be answered through E-Comm, the emergency communication centre...
Meet Ballet Kelowna’s new artistic director and CEO
KELOWNA – Ballet Kelowna has a new artistic director. Simone Orlando has danced professionally with the National Ballet of Canada and Desrosiers Dance Theatre. She worked as principal artist for Ballet British Columbia and has created several commissions for Ballet Kelowna. Orlando will take over for retiring artistic director David LaHay at the start of the...
IN PHOTOS: Baby farm animals that will make you go ‘awww’
KELOWNA - As the weather warms up new crops appear and baby animals take their first, uncertain steps. Here are a few photos of baby animals starting their lives at some of the many farms around Kelowna. Send your best seasonal photos to news@infonews.ca. %%Embed1%% To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw...
Another late night fire in Vernon
VERNON – Another fire had to be put out by Vernon Fire and Rescue overnight. Police didn't say if the pile of tires found burning on 34 St. Tuesday at around 12:45 a.m.is the latest in a string of 20 suspicious fires in the Vernon area. Items torched included vehicles, a boat, wooden pallets, a dumpster...
Canada Day road closures planned for downtown
KELOWNA – With hundreds of pedestrians expected downtown for Canada Day, several roads and parking lots will be closed to vehicles. Vehicle traffic on Water St. from Cawston Ave. to Sunset Dr. will be restricted from 6:00 am to 11:00 p.m. Access to the Delta hotel and Prospera parking lots will however, be permitted. The Knox Mountain...
Inflatable downtown water park opens to public
KELOWNA – Just in time for Canada Day weekend, Kelowna’s newest water attraction is open to the public. Consisting of interlocking inflatable modules with a maximum capacity of 60 at a time, Wibit Water Park is anchored approximately 20 metres off the shores of City Park. City councillors approved the attraction earlier this month, granting...
Don’t bee afraid of prime swarms
WEST KELOWNA – It came over the horizon like a cloud of black smoke. Fast moving and unified, the swarm of around 40,000 honey bees crossed the Snyastan mall parking lot and settled in a tree only metres from the main entrance of Bosley’s Pet Food. Bosley’s manager Michelle Bell says she saw the swarm...