Julie Whittet

KELOWNA – A tiny family of potent molecules might just be the reason to uncork a new bottle of wine tonight – for your health. New research conducted by UBC Okanagan chemists has uncovered a variety of previously undetected molecules in wine believed to have life prolonging effects on its drinkers. Associate Professor Cedric Saucier...

KELOWNA – Ten years ago, in the thick of B.C.'s worst firestorm, a large family gathering evacuated from Eight Mile Ranch and a group of complete strangers came together to celebrate a wedding. Nothing was going to stop Adrianne and John Roberts from tying the knot on Aug. 23, 2003. Despite the Okanagan Mountain Park...

KELOWNA - By late September residents and visitors will have a brand new pier to dock their boats on the downtown waterfront. The developer responsible for the project, Westcorp Properties Inc., is getting ready to float the 300 foot stretch of pier into downtown from the Westside of the lake, where it was constructed. It...

KELOWNA - In the midst of Pride Week the idea of bringing a bit more colour to our city streets is getting some attention. Spearheaded by SunFM DJ Ian MacKinnon, Okanagan Pride has launched a petition to bring a permanent rainbow coloured crosswalk to the streets of Kelowna. With over 500 signatures already, they're halfway...

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW KELOWNA -A young girl and a few pets have already come painfully close to the Okanagan's most common snake this summer—the northern Pacific rattlesnake. Interior Health confirmed that a young girl was rushed to Kelowna General Hospital last Friday evening after getting bit by the highly venomous snake. The girl...

KELOWNA - As part of their summer training in the Okanagan, the Junior Canadian Rangers will take to the clouds above Okanagan Lake this week. In the coming days expect to see military helicopters in the sky, to train young cadets in the air. "The helicopters are out today, tomorrow and the next day," says...

KELOWNA – As more details come forward about B.C.'s next big luxury hospital, there's more to the picture than just destination healthcare. The $138-million, 100-bed, entirely private funded facility would not only be the first of its kind in Canada, but will also deliver the specific health care needs of a new First Nations Health...

KELOWNA - Ensuring downtown business is hopping and streets are clean and safe comes at a cost. For the fifth time since 1989, city councillors today approved yearly funding for the Downtown Kelowna Association. With updated boundaries for its business improvement area, the association projects $780,850 from the City come 2014 and by 2018 that...

KELOWNA - It's been 21 years since Kevin Kane, Tom and Chris Hooper have played in Kelowna. But with a brand new album produced by Toronto's Aporia Records, The Grapes of Wrath are trekking their way back to their hometown. The folk-rock trio will be giving a free concert in Waterfront Park across from Skyreach...

KELOWNA - There won't be too much time to savour your wine on an upcoming festival tour. America's Wine Country Half Marathon is coming to Kelowna this September inviting runners to complete a 13 mile circuit through orchards and vineyards with a rest stop opportunely stationed at a winery. Those tagging off with relay parters...

KELOWNA - Slurpees, lollipops, a stilt-walking balloon artist and monster truck gave the young at heart plenty to see and do Saturday on Bernard Avenue. The city's main street was closed to traffic for the 24th annual block party celebration. While live music, dog shows and outdoor fitness classes kept the grown-up crowd busy, it...

KELOWNA - The recent passing of 17-year-old Marissa Ginter has prompted a strong reaction from the Kelowna community. Those who knew Ginter and those who did not are coming together to commemorate the young girl's life by raising money for a downtown youth group. Ginter was found lifeless in her bed on the morning of...

KELOWNA - Barry Planedin is a pretty relaxed guy for running one of the busiest shops in the city. As the owner of Okanagan Beach Rentals at Rotary Park, Planedin is in his element working in Kelowna's mecca for watersports. “We're so laid back in how we conduct everything. We're not too particular about keeping...

KELOWNA - It only comes once a year: a day to roam free along downtown's main street without a car in sight. This Saturday, Bernard Avenue is open to pedestrians only for the city's annual Mardi Gras style block party. It's the 24th year the festivities take over downtown Kelowna but this weekend's celebration is...

KELOWNA - It's a sure fire sign that when celebrities like Hilary Duff are out wakeboarding on Okanagan Lake, Kelowna is the place to be this August. And with the new school year just around the corner and the Okanagan weather at its peak, this weekend is the perfect time to squeeze out a few...

KELOWNA - The days of jaywalking across Dilworth Drive to shop at the farmers' market are coming to a close.  After ten years of discussion, Kelowna will finally be getting a permanent, year-round, Granville Island-style public market. And for a city with some of the best growing conditions in the world, the time is ripe....

KELOWNA - Dawna Davies was out walking with her two daughters when she smelled smoke coming from Lester Road. Concerned the smoke wasn't coming from a barbeque, Davies followed the smell to the scene of Tuesday's condo fire at 500 Lester Place. At 7:20 p.m. Davies, who lives on Sylvania Crescent, says she was the...

WEST KELOWNA - A Supreme Court justice has decided the District of West Kelowna had the legal right to remove houseboats moored in Gellatly Bay. Back in July of 2010 the district decided a number of houseboats were breaching the recreational zoning of Gellatly Bay, giving houseboat owners notice to move elsewhere. The issue came...

KELOWNA - A West Kelowna man is now is police custody for scamming two downtown shops with a fradulent credit card scheme. On Monday the man managed to purchase $565 in clothing from Mac D's Lakeside on Bernard Avenue without using any cash, card or ID. Telling the store clerk he was robbed of all...

KELOWNA – An influx of tourist dollars is not the only thing Center of Gravity brought to the city this past weekend. A strong gang presence, drug deals and public drunkenness kept police and special enforcement teams extra busy during the three-day electro-dance festival that drew a crowd of 30,000. Kelowna RCMP received a total...

TOXICOLOGY AND AUTOPSY WILL TELL THE REAL STORY KELOWNA - Kelowna RCMP say they need more information before they can confirm speculation that a seventeen-year-old Kelowna girl found dead in her bed last Friday morning died of a street drug police warned the public about last week. The B.C. Coroner's service is investigating the sudden death...

KELOWNA - This weekend saw some of the biggest names in electro-dance music fed crowd goers just what they wanted: a steady rise and fall of body moving beats. Around 6 p.m., the first headliners hit the stage at City Park for the Centre of Gravity music festival.  A founding member of metal band Motley...