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Christmas 2015
Kelowna leisure takes a breather with holiday schedule
KELOWNA - The winter break is a great time to swim, workout or visit the library as a family, but before you head out the door make sure you know what the holiday hours are. Parkinson Recrecation Centre runs altered hours from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 21 to 23, closing early at 4...
Now that’s service: Vernon mayor offers rides to holiday party-goers
VERNON - It’s not every day your designated driver is also your mayor. But that was the case in Vernon Saturday night after Mayor Akbal Mund posted an offer on his Facebook page inviting anyone who needed a safe, sober ride home to give him a call. %%Image2%% The generous offer has earned the mayor...
Kamloops party store crushed by Christmas thieves
KAMLOOPS - At a time when the holidays are about gifting, a local business-owner was targeted by thieves who stole multiple items from her store, along with her four children’s Christmas gifts. Diane Stetar says thieves robbed her Aberdeen store, A Favor To Remember, the evening of Dec. 15 by entering through a construction site....
Kelowna Waterfront light display not getting support it needs
KELOWNA - The organizer of the first ever large scale Christmas light display in Kelowna says the numbers are so low he doesn’t see how they will ever be able to do it again. Brad Pattison started Lights of Christmas Paws as a way to give families something special to do over the holidays as...
What’s open when during the holidays in Kamloops
KAMLOOPS - If you don’t want to show up with your skates to a closed arena, make sure you know the holiday hours of various facilities in Kamloops. City Hall and public works Both City Hall and the public works buildings will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. In addition to these...
Free hugs in downtown Kelowna on Boxing Day
KELOWNA - If the stress of the holidays is getting you down here's something that might lift your spirits — a group of kind-hearted people will be downtown on Boxing Day giving out free hugs. The tradition started six years ago when friends of Wayne Cobb decided to honour his memory. Cobb died in 2010 when he hit...
The best drunken drive-home stories from Kamloops’ Operation Red Nose team this year
KAMLOOPS - It’s been a busy driving season for the 220 volunteers at Operation Red Nose in Kamloops, but as the group winds down their nineteenth year, there’s plenty to reflect on. Katie Klassen leads the local initiative and says the group’s close to its fundraising goal of $32,000 by New Year’s Eve — their...
Things to do in Vernon over the Christmas break
VERNON - If you’re looking for things to do as a family over the holidays, or ways to keep sugar-charged children occupied over the break, we’ve put together some ideas. Whether you’re looking to spend some Christmas cash on an experience for the family, or hoping to save a few bucks with a free activity,...
How to help give the less fortunate a Christmas meal in Kamloops
KAMLOOPS - While you busily prepare your Christmas baking, make last-minute shopping trips, and hastily wrap all your presents, Kamloops charitable organizations want to remind you of those less fortunate this holiday season. These five organizations in Kamloops will be hosting Christmas meals and need your help. JUMP program and St. Vincent de Paul Society...
Why pets don’t make the best presents
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - While it might seem like the perfect present on Christmas morning, the B.C. SPCA would rather you didn’t give pets as gifts. People put a lot of value in their gifts but the society generally discourages the giving of animals, Valerie Wilson of the Kamloops SPCA says. “Do your research. Know that that...
Handmade in the Thompson-Okanagan
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - If you’re hoping to go a less commercial route this holiday season, look no further than the Thompson-Okanagan, a region that boasts numerous handcrafted gifts. From ceramics to sweet treats, there’s surely a gift to be found for every boy and girl — one that keeps you out of box-store lineups to boot....
HOMETOWN TOURIST: The Kettle Valley Steam Railway Christmas Express
SUMMERLAND - For most of us, Summerland is little more than a few orchards along Highway 97, unremarkable except for the beauty it shares with the rest of the Okanagan. If that’s all you know of it, you are missing out on something special. Push your way through the residential areas into Prairie Valley and...
New year’s Eve party places in Vernon
VERNON - If you’ve been so focused on Christmas that you forgot to make plans for New Year’s Eve, we’ve got you covered. There are plenty of events to choose from for every preference and every price range. Pull out your dancing shoes and check out a Newfoundland New Year's Eve with local band Cod...
IN PHOTOS: It’s not Christmas in Kamloops until you see these things
KAMLOOPS - Christmas is many things to many people but there are a few sights that almost everyone will recognize as symbolic of the holidays. For three weeks every year the B.C. Wildlife Park opens the doors in the evenings so families can take in the tens of thousands of little sparkling lights that make...
It’s not Christmas in Penticton until…
PENTICTON - There are several signs the Christmas season is upon us in Penticton. 1. It’s a sign of Christmas in Penticton when you see emergency vehicles, buses, taxis and personal vehicles adorned with antlers. What other time of the year does anyone attach fake antlers to their vehicles? It's a trend that seems to be on the rise...
22 books from local authors to gift for Christmas
KAMLOOPS - Trends may come and go, but you can almost never go wrong when you give someone special a book for Christmas. Choosing the right book for the right person can be a challenge. But if you'd like to make your gift unique, consider choosing a local author. Whether the person you're shopping for...
What to remember when flying this holiday season
KAMLOOPS – The holidays are a busy time of year for travellers and the Kamloops Airport would like passengers to keep a few things in mind. Things have been going well so far this year but they expect things to get busier and lines to get longer in the next few days, airport managing director Fred...
Regional District and City of Penticton operating hours over the holidays
PENTICTON - The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen and the City of Penticton will be open during the holiday season, taking three days off through Christmas. The main office at 101 Martin St. will close Friday, Dec. 25, Monday, Dec. 28 and Friday, Jan. 1, but will be open regular hours the remaining days, from...
Christmas tree recycling in the South Okanagan
PENTICTON - It's easy to recycle your Christmas tree in the South Okanagan. Penticton firefighters will pick up Christmas trees from Dec. 27 to Jan. 18 for a donation which will go the the B.C. Professional Firefighters Burn Fund and Muscular Dystrophy charities. You can call 250-490-2315 to arrange for collection. Trees can also be dropped off at...
Local gifts and food to get you through the holidays
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - With fresh foods and resources available on our doorstep, giving local is easy in our region. Many natural resources help create the gifts we put under our Christmas trees — from wood products and minerals, to cider and wine. And of course if you have a natural tree or a wood fire you...
Christmas hamper deliveries set for this weekend in Penticton
PENTICTON - The Society of St. Vincent De Paul Christmas Hamper drive is coming to a conclusion with final preparations being made for delivery of Christmas hampers this weekend. St. Ann’s Parish Office Manager Melinda Edis says volunteers are busy packing hampers today, Dec. 17, for delivery tomorrow. More than 400 hampers are being prepared....
Kamloops woman aims to brighten Christmas for seniors
KAMLOOPS – A Kamloops woman was inspired to help seniors at Christmas when her own mother moved into a seniors complex. Jacki Andersen has been organizing a Secret Santa on Christmas Eve for the past three years at the Greenfield Seniors Apartments. This year she will be teaming with the Centre for Seniors Information at...
Rutland couple doing their part to help Salvation Army reach goal
KELOWNA – A couple who just moved to Kelowna is using their talent for Christmas decorating to help a local charity that is well short of its goal for the season. Ken and Julia Berry live at 875 Theodora Rd. in Rutland. Although new to the Okanagan they are already planning to make a big...
CP Holiday Train stops in Kamloops today
KAMLOOPS - To some it is the moment that defines the Christmas countdown — just over a week to the big day — and to others it is simply a wonderful way to celebrate the season. Either way, today you can see the CP Holiday Train roll through the region, listen to some live music,...