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John McDonald
John began life as a journalist through the Other Press, the independent student newspaper for Douglas College in New Westminster. The fluid nature of student journalism meant he was soon running the place, learning on the fly how to publish a newspaper.
It wasn’t until he moved to Kelowna he broke into the mainstream media, working for Okanagan Sunday, then the Kelowna Daily Courier and Okanagan Saturday doing news graphics and page layout. He carried on with the Kelowna Capital News, covering health and education while also working on special projects, including the design and launch of a mass market daily newspaper. After 12 years there, John rejoined the Kelowna Daily Courier as editor of the Westside Weekly, directing news coverage as the Westside became West Kelowna.
But digital media beckoned and John joined Kelowna.com as assistant editor and reporter, riding the start-up as it at first soared then went down in flames. Now John is turning dirt as city hall reporter for iNFOnews.ca where he brings his long experience to bear on the civic issues of the day.
If you have a story you think people should know about, email John at jmcdonald@infonews.ca
Big fires down but not out in Kamloops Fire Centre
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The only two wildfires of note in the Kamloops Fire Centre have been downgraded to patrol status. Shelter Cove fire off Westside Road near Kelowna and Bolean Lake fire near Falkland were downgraded August 5 and will now be monitored by crews of five firefighters. “Patrol status means they are done active fire...
Kelowna seeks to fix flawed heritage conservation model
KELOWNA - In a bid to coordinate its heritage conservation efforts, Kelowna is looking to Edmonton for direction. The first phase of the heritiage review identified the governance model the city now uses, involving a loose collaboration of heritage groups, to be the source of overlapping mandates and confusion, according to a report from city planner...
Water meters help keep lid on consumption in Kelowna
KELOWNA - As the province deals with the one of the most widespread droughts on record, municipalities and other water providers are increasingly looking for ways to alter consumption patterns amongst their users. While staged watering restrictions can force short term changes in use, the gold standard for long term change is the water meter,...
Whooping cough on the rise across Interior Health region
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - An increase in cases of whooping cough across the Interior Health Authority, but primarily in the Central Okanagan, has prompted a warning from public health officials. Medical health officer Dr. Kamran Golmohammadi says in 2015 there has already been 58 confirmed cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, with 36 of them...
Block Party turns Bernard Avenue into backyard festival
KELOWNA - Thousands of people are expected to take part in what has become a tradition in downtown Kelowna over the last 26 years. “Well the name has changed a couple of times but it’s been around for 26 years. Downtown Kelowna Association is the oldest business improvement area and we are 25 years old,...
Province treads lightly enforcing drought rules
OKANAGAN – The province has added to the regions under a level four drought advisory,…
Cougar put down after stalking Black Mountain neighbourhood
KELOWNA - A cougar spotted in a residential neighbourhood near Black Mountain Elementary was tranquilized and then euthanized yesterday afternoon. Conservation officer Ken Owens says the animal was captured near Lynrick Road Tuesday, Aug. 4, after reports of it going from backyard to backyard, behavior he describes as opportunistic. “First our officers tranquilized the cougar...
Drought levels worsen in Okanagan and North Thompson
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Drought conditions are worsening in the region, enough according to the government to increase the drought rating for both the Okanagan and North Thompson regions by one level. The Okanagan Region is now enduring level four drought conditions while the North Thompson is facing level three, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources....
Lots on the table for Central Okanagan school trustees this fall
CENTRAL OKANAGAN - It may be the middle of summer but a new school year is fast approaching for the Central Okanagan School District. School board chair Moyra Baxter says school trustees face a number of pressing issues for the 2015-16 school year, including another probable budget deficit, the transition to a new superintendent of...
UPDATE: Auto recycling shop burns in East Kelowna
KELOWNA - A fire at Apple Valley Auto Recycling and Service in East Kelowna sent billowing smoke into the already hazy sky this morning. According to platoon captain Kelly Stephens three workers were removing a gas tank from a vehicle when the fire started at around 10 a.m. on Aug. 5. A neighbour reported hearing an...
Student highrise numbers too much for Kelowna city staff
KELOWNA - Design deficiencies in a high-rise intended for student housing is threatening the project’s viability. City of Kelowna planning staff are recommending city council not support an application for a development permit and a development variance permit for Cambridge House, a 70-unit six-storey high-rise planned for the corner of Ethel Street and Harvey Avenue....
Westbank First Nation’s $7.9 million debt: Following the money trail
WESTBANK – The company that partnered with Westbank First Nation on its first failed attempt…
No opposition to demise of little-used West Kelowna park
WEST KELOWNA - You don’t often see playgrounds close but West Kelowna is doing just that with the removal of Horizon Park. And the city says there has been little opposition to the removal of a slide, swingset and some spring rides for little kids. “We haven’t had any calls,” city spokesperson Jason Luciw says....
Urgent dredging at busy boat launch put off until fall
KELOWNA - A mechanical failure in specialized equipment has forced the City of Kelowna to reschedule urgent dredging at the Cook Road boat launch. The city announced just two days ago it’s largest boat launch would close for a week at the height of the boating season, but now says the work will have to...
Province pulls plug on Coldwater River water use
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - In a bid to help struggling salmon populations, water use reduction measures have been imposed on the Coldwater River. The province issued the restriction today, July 31, banning all water use or diversion from the Coldwater River and its tributaries from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. effective immediately. The restriction escalates to a...
Hot dog reports surging this year, says SPCA
KELOWNA - Even as they staged a demonstration, the B.C. SPCA received a real hot dog call about an animal left for 45 minutes in vehicle in downtown Kelowna. “This one’s for real,” Kelowna SPCA branch manager Suzanne Pugh said. Pugh was demonstrating an infrared thermometer which allows accurate readings of the inside termperatures of...
Kelowna water utility finally adopts watering restrictions
KELOWNA - There is still no compelling reason to introduce watering restrictions but the City of Kelowna water utility is doing it anyway. “It’s based on supporting the provincial drought response, it's political, there is no technical reason,” Adrian Weaden says. The water quality supervisor says the decision was made this week to heed the...
Lock it or lose it police say after spike in Okanagan bike thefts
38 BICYCLES RECOVERED KELOWNA - More than 230 bicycles have already been reported stolen in Kelowna this year and yours could be next if you aren't careful. Bike thefts are up 58 per cent over last year so far, and that’s just the thefts that have been reported, Kelowna RCMP Const. Steve Holmes says in a...
Winter storms close Kelowna’s busiest boat launch at the height of summer
KELOWNA - Stormy weather last winter has left behind a sandbar in Okanagan Lake big enough to shut down the city’s busiest boat launch. Located near the mouth of Mission Creek, the Cook Road boat launch will be closed for a week at the height of the summer boating season for dredging, park planning manager...
Brent’s Grist Mill heritage site deteriorating quickly
KELOWNA - What do you do when your heritage is crumbling faster than than you can review it? Brent's Grist Mill, one of the city’s premier heritage sites, is rapidly crumbling and cannot wait for council’s heritage review to be fixed, according to a consultant’s report. “So it’s a catch-22 scenario. If we don’t spend the...
Westjet adds extra non-stop flight between Kelowna and Edmonton
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - People in the Southern Interior will soon have another option when it comes to choosing a flight to Edmonton. Calling it a vote of confidence in the Edmonton metro region, Westjet has announced increased non-stop service to the Prairie city from B.C. and Saskatchewan. Starting Dec. 15 Kelowna will see one extra flight...
Water back to normal following Westside Road fire
OKANAGAN - A water advisory for two community water systems on Westside Road has been lifted. Central Okanagan Regional District officials say the Killiney Beach and Westshore water systems are back to normal after consultations with the Interior Health Authority. The advisory covered more than 530 properties off Westside Road and was issued after power...
High-risk water pipe on Dilworth fast-tracked for replacement
KELOWNA - A dodgy water main, the only water link for dozens of homes on top of Dilworth Mountain in Kelowna, is being replaced before something more serious happens than a burst pipe. “We had a complete failure a couple of months ago and when we looked at the pipe, pulled it out of the...
Kelowna city councillors to decide on name for new police station
KELOWNA - The proposed name for the new City of Kelowna police services building is just that, City of Kelowna Police Services. Kelowna city council are being asked to approve the name for the new police station on Clement Avenue, or come up with an alternative. The city is seeking a higher profile on the new...