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Steve Arstad
I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.
Steve Arstad's Stories
Where to find Penticton’s own coffee shop troubadour
PENTICTON - There’s a little extra ambience for patrons of Blendz Coffee Shop in downtown Penticton, thanks to one of its regular customers. Colin Scott frequents the popular coffee stop on an almost daily basis, guitar in hand. After picking up his daily caffeine dose, Scott picks a perch and strums away on his guitar,...
Regional directors ponder prospect of establishing an economic development service
PENTICTON - A perennial request for grant money has one regional director advocating a policy change. West Bench director Michael Brydon introduced a director’s motion to reactivate a regional economic development service at the regional district board meeting last week. The motion came about following a meeting in which Okanagan Film Commission Commissioner Jon Summerland...
School board seeking partner input over busing, school calendar
PENTICTON - School District 67 is seeking partner input over the dual issues of too many “courtesy" riders on the bus, and how to manage class time next year. A review of bus routes in School District 67 appears imminent after the school board recently found evidence that one third of the district’s school bus...
More work needed to repair downtown water main
PENTICTON - City of Penticton public works crews will be returning to the site of one of two water main breaks that occurred last week. A water main break on Sunday, Feb. 1 at the corner of Main Street and Wade Avenue sparked a boil water advisory and resulted in thousands of gallons of water...
More to Three Blind Mice than biking, but that’s important, too
PENTICTON - The city and region have 20/20 vision when it comes to seeing recreation opportunities in the Three Blind Mice area. City of Penticton Communications Officer Simone Blais said the city has identified the area, located at 1400 Riddle Road, as an area of potential for sport and recreational use. The Penticton and Area...
Four wheeling death ruled accidental
PENTICTON - There were no lessons to be learned as a result of a young man’s death from an ATV incident last August. Kyle Richard Hardisty, 32, was injured when the all-terrain vehicle he was riding flipped onto its passenger side at the 18 kilometre mark of 201 Forest Service Road, August 23, 2014. Prior...
Motorists urged to slow down
PENTICTON - Penticton police, council and the Downtown Penticton Association got a little wet this morning, Feb. 10, getting the message out to slow down, downtown. Three groups were part of an education campaign to remind Penticton drivers of the speed limit changes to the city’s downtown core. Penticton council members, Penticton RCMP personnel and...
Airport discussions continue with Transport Canada
PENTICTON - Transport Canada wants out of the airport management business in Penticton. The federal department notified the regional district last October of a new review of airport policy. After an initial review in 1992, Transport Canada divested itself of 128 airport properties across the country. Eighteen other airport properties reviewed at that time were...
Valley-long trail envisioned by regional district
PENTICTON - The Okanagan's three regional districts like the idea of a continuous trail running from Osoyoos to Vernon. The Regional District Okanagan Similkameen’s board chair and Chief Administrative Officer met recently with Central Okanagan and North Okanagan counterparts to discuss the possibility of a trail running the length of the valley. “We meet with...
The what and the where of Valentine’s Day
PENTICTON - Looking for a way to celebrate Valentine’s Day? There are a few ways to enjoy Cupid’s day. With Valentine’s Day taking place on Saturday this year, it’s the perfect opportunity for the Rotary Club to host a dance on the S.S. Sicamous. And that’s just what they are doing. Tickets are only $10...
This great Canadian rock band to make second appearance at Peachfest
PENTICTON - Penticton will get another opportunity to rock to one of Canada’s best known bands this summer. The Penticton Peach Festival welcomes 54-40 as the band returns to Peach City again in 2015. Peachfest Entertainment Director Bill Kolter said people have been asking for a return engagement by the group since their appearance in...
Regional district directors talk local issues with two B.C. cabinet ministers
PENTICTON - Two B.C. cabinet ministers have met directly with regional district board directors on their home turf for the first time. Agriculture minister Norm Letnick and Tourism and Skills Training minister Shirley Bond met with members of the Regional District Okanagan Similkameen board of directors on Thursday, Feb. 5 for a general discussion of...
Okanagan hot bed of local film industry last year
PENTICTON - Film producers continue to find the Okanagan an attractive place to shoot major films - and investment in the industry is good business for the regional district, says Okanagan Film Commissioner Jon Summerland. He made his annual presentation to the Regional District Okanagan Similkameen board of directors at the Feb. 5 regular board...
Penticton Lakeside to add skating to list of resort activities
PENTICTON - It looks like there will be an ice surface in the downtown area by next winter after all, according to an announcement by Penticton Lakeside Resort, Convention Centre and Casino earlier this week. The idea of an ice rink in Gyro Park was floated during city council budget discussions earlier this year. The resort...
Boil water advisory lifted
PENTICTON - Penticton residents and business owners affected by the city’s boil water advisory can quench their thirst straight from the tap again. The boil water notice was rescinded on Feb. 5 at 2:20 p.m., following several days of daily testing and monitoring of the system that began last Sunday, when a large water main on...
Major sports event in Penticton a boon for businesses and spectators
PENTICTON - Residents of Penticton, get ready for some great hockey. The Canadian Sport School Hockey Championships will take place in Penticton this year, from March 12-15 at the South Okanagan Events Centre. Canadian Sport School and Okanagan Hockey president Andy Oakes made the announcement during a media conference held this morning. The four-day hockey...
Departing city manager talks about her legacy
PENTICTON - Penticton's departing city manager has nothing but praise for the people she’s worked with and will always see Penticton as home. The city announced Antoniak's imminent departure yesterday to a private sector position to be announced at a later date. Annette Antoniak recently spoke about the changes that have taken place in the city’s...
Downtown restaurants learning to cope with boil order
PENTICTON - As day four of a boil water advisory continues for portions of Penticton, affected downtown businesses are slowly returning to a normal routine. “We have been having daily conversations with the business community,” City of Penticton communications officer Simone Blais said. “The boil advisory is still on, Interior Health continues to sample, and...
City takes a stand in graffiti war
PENTICTON - Penticton council is joining the war against graffiti in the city. The Penticton Graffiti Task Force made a presentation to Penticton council’s Committee of the Whole on Monday, Feb. 2, urging the city to join in a campaign to clean up graffiti in the downtown core. The task force asked the city for...
Smoke break proves costly for Summerland man
PENTICTON - A stop for a quick smoke—of illicit materials—cost a Summerland man his freedom earlier this week. On February 2, Penticton RCMP were notified of a male smoking drugs in a vehicle parked in the Lakeside Resort parking lot. Police attended the scene, but the driver had departed. Police had a description of the...
City manager leaving Penticton
PENTICTON - Penticton is losing its controversial city manager. Annette Antoniak announced today she will be leaving the City of Penticton later this month. Antoniak has been with the city since 2010, joining the city in time for implementation of the core review. She was also instrumental moving the city forward with the first downtown...
Signs point to more debate at city hall over nude beach
PENTICTON - The dispute between nude sunbathers and residents of Three Mile Beach could be solved for $75 - the price of a sign according to Locals Supporting Locals founder Kevin Proteau who made the proclamation on the steps of city hall prior to the regular council meeting February 2. But the answer won't be...
Boil water advisory remains for affected Penticton residents
PENTICTON - A boil water advisory remains in place for areas of the city affected by Sunday’s water main break on Main Street. Crews continue to sample water in areas affected by the boil water notice. No data has been received from samples collected and tested to date. Several samples collected over a given period...
Veteran Penticton reporter leaving the Herald
PENTICTON - Veteran Penticton reporter John Moorhouse is preparing to say goodbye to the Penticton Herald, where he has been a staff reporter for 26 years. Moorhouse recently took on a new position with the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation as its Development and Communications Officer. He’ll be working with Janice Perrino and the rest...