Environment
Environmental response on Ajax ‘not good enough for the city of Kamloops’
KAMLOOPS — Council united in frustration Tuesday afternoon as they approved two separate motions asking for the Environmental Assessment Office to step up and help the residents of Kamloops better understand the proposed Ajax mine. Back in May, city councillors asked the office to host a public session to provide clarity on the process for Ajax...
Lavington’s ongoing battle against a proposed pellet plant
CONCERNED CITIZENS TO REQUEST ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND JUDICIAL REVIEW VERNON - When Lavington resident Geoffrey Nielsen attended a town hall meeting about a proposed pellet plant in the small North Okanagan community, he brought an open mind. The mechanical engineer and father says he was even leaning in favour of it. Then he read the...
UPDATE: Wildfire burning north of Princeton 90 per cent contained
PRINCETON - A wildfire north of Princeton is 90 per cent contained, as of Tuesday morning. The wildfire has grown to 182 hectares from the 110 ha estimated Monday morning. It is believed to be human caused, said Kayla Pepper, fire information officer with B.C. Wildfire. The fire was first reported Sunday at around 5...
Community packs open house for future of Kal Park
VERNON - A Ministry of Transportation open house about removing land from Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park drew supporters and opposers, though no one seemed to be changing their mind on the project. The open house was designed to provide more information about the Ministry’s proposal to exclude a 30-meter right-of-way from the park to allow...
School district calls special meeting on proposed pellet plant
VERNON - The Vernon School District wants assurances a proposed pellet plant won’t be harmful to student health. Superintendent Joe Rogers says the school board will hear from Pinnacle Renewable Energy and Tolko Wednesday night at a special meeting. The companies want to build the pellet plant near Lavington Elementary, next to Tolko’s existing mill...
City encourages residents to take WaterWise pledge
PENTICTON - Residents and visitors will get a chance to learn how they can make water work at next week’s farmers’ market. City officials and regional partners will be at the market on Saturday, August 17 encouraging residents to take a pledge to conserve their water use. There are six different types of pledges residents...
Your help is needed to identify bullfrogs
PENTICTON - The Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship in partnership with the provincial government are looking for help locating bullfrog sites in the South Okanagan. The organization needs volunteer citizen scientists to help monitor bullfrogs over the next two weeks. Pond searches take place in July and a free Bullfrog Identification and Inventory Workshop will be held...
Local governments team up to save water this summer
OKANAGAN - Okanagan mayors are challenging residents to conserve water this summer as part of the Okanagan WaterWise program. The program is an effort by the Okanagan Basin Water Board, local government and utility partners to encourage outdoor water conservation during the hot and dry summer months. Several mayors and councillors throughout the valley took...
Gellatly erosion will turn fish-bearing Smith Creek into a culvert
WEST KELOWNA – A state of emergency has been declared for the slope failure along Gellatly Road, and the District of West Kelowna says their best course of action is to cover and reroute the fish-bearing Smith Creek through a culvert. The 160 metres of Gellatly Road between Witt and Angus Road was closed to...