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Council candidate wants to make Penticton a role model for Canada
PENTICTON - Tarik Sayeed can often be found in the gallery during city council meetings, but now he’s looking for a new spot—around the table. Sayeed, 36, is a local entrepreneur and community activist. He founded the Zero Plastic Bags initiative, was listed on the Chamber’s Top 40 Under 40 list, and has most recently...
Community gives Kingfisher Interpretive Centre a leg up
KINGFISHER - Good things are hatching at the Kingfisher Interpretive Centre. The salmon hatchery and educational centre located 25 kilometers east of Enderby was hit hard by a massive flood and debris flow in May. The deluge brought logs, mud and silt surging into the centre’s buildings and trails, damaging the hatchery and causing the loss...
Grab your cameras and binoculars; Marina Way Lookout is open
PENTICTON - The Marina Way Lookout officially opens Thursday evening, revealing the newest view of Okanagan Lake with a celebration and historical tour. The reconstruction project was part of the city’s waterfront enhancement strategy. The vision was to transform the abandoned peninsula — formally used as a Canadian National Railway loading dock — into a...
Community Centre offers Day Camp for kids if strike continues
PENTICTON - The Community Centre has organized day camps for school kids ages 6 to 12 starting Sept 2. if teachers remain on strike. Camps are offered Sept. 2 to 5 and Sept. 8 to 12, with additional weeks added as needed. Kids will participate in activities, including swimming, games, crafts and sports from 9...
Loud Challenge fireworks a ‘first world problem’
PENTICTON - There has been buzz around town that some people are less than thrilled about the midnight fireworks that followed the Challenge Penticton triathlon Sunday. Several Facebook posts suggest the loud fireworks woke them from their slumbers Sunday night, while others barely noticed.. “I am that ‘younger generation’ and midnight on a Sunday was...
Challenge Penticton lines up weekend full of events
PENTICTON - The second Challenge triathlon is this Sunday and there are lots of all-ages events lined up in the days before the race. Events start Thursday, Aug. 21 and run for four days. There will be fun runs, a junior triathlon race, party in the park, free yoga and a charity swim. The whole...
TimeForChange members to speak out at council
PENTICTON - Members of the “TimeForChange” Facebook group are taking the conversation offline and onto the streets this evening. They have organized to meet in front of City Hall at 5:30 p.m. Monday before the city council meeting. The goal of the congregation is to make sure city council knows the group is serious about...
Teens finalists in World Summit Youth Award for epilepsy support
SUMMERLAND - A group of young activists are finalists for the World Summit Youth Award for their work in epilepsy awareness. The Epilepsy Awareness Squad, created by high school students Caitie Shaw and Dan Nixon in June 2013, was among 1896 applicants from 138 UN countries for the award. The group uses its website and...
A quick recap of PeachFest 2014
PENTICTON - The city was buzzing with excitment this weekend over the 67th annual Peach Festival, a longstanding Penticton tradition. Canadian rock legends The Stampeders and Trooper both took to the stage and played two great shows to huge crowds. Okanagan Lake beach was full of people during the day, enjoying the hot Okanagan weather,...
ARCHER: This one goes out to all the young people
Looking around the city council table, there are a lot of, how do I put this gently, wise faces, especially now that the youngest member, Wes Hopkin left for law school in Toronto. The 25-year-old councillor, who 22 when elected, brought a youthful spirit and fresh outlook to city governance. At his last council meeting...
Challenge home-stay program a rewarding experience
PENTICTON - Chris Hawkins is no stranger to triathlon races — being a four-time Ironman participant he knows the importance of pre-race preparation, such as rest, good diet and peace and quiet. That’s why last year, Hawkins, his wife (also a triathlete) and their two young daughters hosted professional athlete Chris Bagg and his wife...
What you need to know about Peach Fest
PENTICTON - The 67th annual Peach Festival starts Wednesday and runs all weekend, so here are a few tips, reminders and schedules to make sure you get the most out of the event. ENTERTAINMENT Emerson Drive kicks things off Wednesday night, followed by Trooper on Thursday, and The Stampeders on Saturday. A full list of...
Band chief works to bridge gaps in community
PENTICTON - Penticton Indian Band chief Jonathan Kruger hopes to involve locatees and the band community in development projects, including the new bridge that will be built over the Okanagan River channel. The project is part of Kruger’s big plans to improve the band’s economy and community. The bridge is just a gateway for some...
ARCHER: Shoutout to all the fire crews
Last week the Thompson-Okanagan was literally on fire, as I’m sure most of you know—it’s hard not to ignore large puffs of smoke coming from mountain tops, hazy skies that make it hard to breathe and endless news articles on fire updates and evacuation notices. Most of us watch these fires spread from a distance,...
Tourism marketing succeeds in Penticton despite funding setback
PENTICTON - Tourism officials say tourism is not in danger this season despite a pending court decision for the lawsuit between the City and the Penticton Hospitality Association regarding provincial funds. Earlier in the season, provincial hotel tax funds were frozen because of an ongoing dispute with the city and the hospitality association about how...
Test your skills at the fifth annual Cherry Pit Spit contest
PENTICTON - It’s pit spitting time in the Okanagan again with the fifth annual Cherry Pit Spit contest at the Naramata Farmers’ Market. The competition will be held Wednesday, July 23 at 4 p.m. at Wharf Park in Naramata. It is open to all ages and is free of cost. Naramata-fresh cherries are being provided...
Young, well-loved girl loses battle with cancer
Chloe Kroeger, 4, recently lost her ongoing battle with a rare form of cancer, called rhabdomyosarcoma. She was very young but inspired and touched a lot of people around her community and beyond. A notice of her death was posted on a Facebook support group page called "Miracle for Chloe" where hundreds, possibly thousands, of...
Volunteers still needed for Boonstock
PENTICTON - Boonstock is still looking for volunteers to help out during the four-day festival coming to Penticton in just a few weeks. Organizers hope to add another 150 names to their list of almost 500 volunteers already registered to lend to hand, including nurses, doctors, teachers and students. Anyone is welcome to sign up,...
Have a question about Boonstock? Here’s your chance to ask it
PENTICTON - If you have questions about Boonstock, you’ll have a chance to speak with organizers directly at a public forum Tuesday night. Boonstock organizers will hold a panel discussion at the Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce, Tuesday July 7 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The public can ask organizers questions about...
Centre’s strike take toll on community and local businesses
PENTICTON — Naramata’s local economy will take a hit this summer while the community’s largest organization is on strike. Last week, the administration of the Centre at Naramata decided to pull the plug in summer programming, in order to prove their striking efforts were serious. Employees have been standing on the picket line since May,...
Now’s your chance to learn about Boonstock
PENTICTON - Boonstock is less than two months away and if you still have unanswered questions about the festival, here is your chance to talk face-to-face with organizers. A public information session will take place July 8, 2014 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Wine Country visitor’s centre. Organizers, including Barb Haynes, will...
Community asked to lend a hand for Taylor Van Diest trail
ARMSTRONG - Murdered Armstrong teen Taylor Van Diest’s family is looking to the community to help keep her memory alive. Taylor’s mother Marie pleaded with the City of Armstrong for assistance weeding and watering along the Taylor Jade Van Diest Memorial Trail, which has become overrun with weeds, but the city will only agree to...
Valley First named title sponsor for Penmar Community Arts Centre
PENTICTON - Valley First was announced as title sponsor for the Penmar Community Theatre this morning during a groundbreaking ceremony, marking the start of construction for the theatre’s additions. The Penmar Community Arts Society has named the new theatre Valley First Community Arts Centre after the title sponsor. This is the second major sponsorship in...