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
How some people are getting their vaccinations early
A little-known vaccination policy in British Columbia is allowing some seniors an opportunity to jump…
Tight entry-level supply driving up housing prices in Summerland
Real estate markets are heating up in the South Okanagan, but perhaps for different reasons…
UPDATE: RCMP bomb squad detonates possible explosives found in Penticton
Penticton residents may have heard a couple explosions last evening as members of the RCMP…
Another mysterious explosion site in Penticton, this time near an elementary school
Police in Penticton have found another blast site linked to a series of mysterious explosions…
RCMP bomb squad called to investigate mysterious Penticton explosions
Penticton RCMP have called in the RCMP Explosive Disposal Unit to help investigate a serious…
Penticton council not backing down against province on emergency shelter
Penticton City Council continued to stand their ground in its dispute with the province over…
Seeds selling fast as COVID-19 era gardeners keep up planting trend
The weather is warming up and backyard gardeners are beginning to move outdoors with this…
Penticton to spend 250K for ‘end of pandemic’ big show at SOEC
Penticton city council wasn’t that interested in allocating additional funds to jump start the South…
Okanagan prices ‘stable’ as B.C. led the country in farmland price increases
British Columbia led the way nationally in cultivated farmland value last year with the Kootenay…
Long road to recovery for Penticton accommodation industry
Penticton's accommodation industry has a ways to go to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, but…
B.C.’s police watchdog called to investigate Princeton RCMP
The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. has been called in to investigate whether or not…
Kamloops records warmest day in more than a century
It was a beautiful spring day across the Thompson-Okanagan yesterday, but perhaps more so in…
National park reservation system launches in April
Parks Canada is urging campers to be ready for this year’s reservation service as they…
‘Very, very disappointed:’ Mayor reacts to province’s decision to override Penticton on shelter closure
The rhetoric continues in the fight between the province and Penticton city council over the…
Next phase of large prescribed burn planned for Similkameen valley
If you're travelling along Highway 3 in the Similkameen valley over the next few weeks…