Sean Mott
After spending most of his life on the East Coast and earning a Bachelor of Journalism (Honours) degree from the University of King's in Halifax, Sean Mott decided to strike out west to start his reporting career in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. He recently moved to Lake Country and he covers everything from crime to local art to everyday absurdities in Kelowna.
Starbuds in Lake Country becomes first provincially-approved pot shop in Central Okanagan
LAKE COUNTRY – It's taken far longer than anyone expected, but the first provincially-approved cannabis retail outlet in the Central Okanagan is setting up shop in Lake Country this month. Starbuds, a cannabis retail chain with locations across western Canada,…
Comedians go green in Kelowna
KELOWNA – The classic image of the haggard stand-up comic is so well-worn it's morphed into cliche: A beleaguered comedian with a cigarette in one hand and a drink, preferably whiskey, in another. Big names such as Dave Chappelle, Bill…
First provincially-approved Okanagan cannabis shop set for Canada Day opening
VERNON – The first provincially-approved cannabis retail store in the Okanagan is opening even sooner than anticipated. In a press release, store owners Sarah and Carson Ballantyne announced they're opening the Vernon-based Spiritleaf cannabis shop on Canada Day, July 1.…
Vernon cannabis store gets provincial stamp of approval
VERNON – The Okanagan is about to get a lot greener. Spiritleaf is set to open a cannabis retail store in Vernon, making it the first provincially approved marijuana retail spot in the Okanagan. The Spiritleaf website is skimpy on…
Indigenous Bloom opens cannabis store in Lake Country
LAKE COUNTRY – A cannabis retailer has been up and running in the Central Okanagan for just over a week now in a region that has yet to see a legal pot shop open its doors. Indigenous Bloom opened its…
Developers eyeing old Vernon Legion as potential pot shop
VERNON – The former Vernon Legion building downtown could be a going green. An administrative update for the Jan. 21 regular council meeting noted a numbered company from Coquitlam now owns the building on 3300 31 Avenue. The report stated…
Cannabis courses flying high in the Okanagan
OKANAGAN – There's a high demand for cannabis education courses in the valley and Okanagan College is happy to provide. Okanagan College is bringing back courses on cannabis for the winter semester after their successful debut last fall. The courses…
GOING GREEN: Lake Country council approves cannabis shop
LAKE COUNTRY – Rumours of Lake Country's first cannabis retail store's demise were greatly exaggerated. Weeks after rejecting Compass Cannabis' bid to open the first cannabis retail shop in the Okanagan, the District of Lake Country Council changed its mind…
Regional district board defers Lumby cannabis facility application amid environmental concerns
LUMBY – The regional district board wants more details on the impact of a potential cannabis facility in Lumby before it votes on the company's application. At the Regional District of North Okanagan board of directors meeting last night, Dec.…
Vernon council approves cannabis sales and cultivation in certain zones
VERNON – The production and sale of cannabis in Vernon has received a huge boost from Vernon city council at its meeting yesterday. Council approved of changes to a zoning bylaw yesterday, Dec. 10, allowing for recreational cannabis sales, along…
Proposed Lake Country cannabis store gets second chance
LAKE COUNTRY – A cannabis retail store in Lake Country is getting a second shot at approval after being rejected by council last week. District of Lake Country council voted down a bylaw variance at their meeting last week with…