Kal Tire Place
Piece by piece, Vernon’s Civic Arena is literally falling apart: City
VERNON - Cracked walls, crumbling concrete and a heaving floor are among a long list of problems plaguing the Civic Arena in Vernon. Bit by bit, the 77-year-old arena is falling apart, says Vernon recreation services manager Doug Ross. “Just as you repair one thing, something else crops up,” Ross says. Cracks in the floor...
Questions arise over new Vernon arena cost, location
VERNON - Building a new arena in Vernon hasn’t even gone to referendum yet and is already generating concerns. Local officials are currently waiting for the province to sign off on a borrowing referendum to decommission the Civic Arena and add a second ice sheet at Kal Tire Place — a process that has been...

Vernon MLA disappointed by arena ‘hiccup’, says minister is on it personally
VERNON - Vernon’s MLA isn’t happy about ongoing delays surrounding a referendum for a new ice sheet. The provincial government rejected, for a second time, a referendum proposal from the City of Vernon and the North Okanagan Regional District, putting the initiative even further behind schedule. Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster says he’s ‘disappointed with how...

Ongoing delays for new Vernon ice sheet costing taxpayers: Mayor
VERNON - Red tape continues to delay a borrowing referendum for a new ice rink in Vernon. The North Okanagan Regional District still doesn’t have authorization from the provincial government to hold a referendum asking voters to borrow up to $13 million to decommission the aging Civic Arena and build a second ice sheet at...
Future of Civic Arena unclear if Vernon’s ice sheet referendum succeeds
VERNON - As the conversation around a new ice rink in Vernon continues to move ahead, some are wondering what that means for the historic arena it would be replacing. When the Civic Arena was constructed in 1938, it was the first indoor ice rink in the Okanagan Valley. In April of that year, the...
Clock ticking on Vernon ice sheet referendum
VERNON - It’s crunch time for local government officials looking to hold a November borrowing referendum for a new Vernon ice sheet. The City of Vernon wants to decommission the aging Civic Arena and add a second ice sheet to Kal Tire Place — but has had to jump through some hoops just to bring...

Vernon Vipers come up short; Vees force game seven
VERNON – Netminder Hunter Miska stopped 36 of 37 shots as the Penticton Vees downed the Vernon Vipers 5-1 at Kal Tire place last night, March 21, The Vees’ win sends the teams back to Penticton for Game 7 of the BCHL Interior Division final tonight, March 22. Vernon’s T.J. Dumonceaux scored the lone goal...

BCHL PLAYOFFS: Penticton Vees host Vipers in Game 5
PENTICTON – The Penticton Vees are looking to extend this year's B.C. Hockey League Interior Division final tradition of winning on home ice. With the best-of-seven series tied at two wins each, the Vees will play host to the Vernon Vipers tonight, March 20, at the South Okanagan Events Centre. The Vipers got past the...

Ringette players from around B.C. converge in Vernon
VERNON - Thirty seven ringette teams from around the province will gather in Vernon this weekend. The occasion is the provincial A and B Championships featuring divisions from under 14 to under 18. Games began at 7:15 a.m. Friday and continue all weekend with the gold medal games set for Sunday afternoon. An opening ceremony...

Blackjack Billy and Doc Walker coming to country rock Vernon
VERNON – The promoter is promising a '70s concert feel for the Bands on the Run tour coming to Kal Tire Place in Vernon next month. The concert features country rockers Blackjack Billy and Canadian country artists Doc Walker and the Road Hammers. David Hesketh says the December 13 concert will feature affordable ticket prices...
Greater Vernon may appeal arena referendum veto
VERNON - Greater Vernon officials may appeal a ruling from the province forbidding a referendum on borrowing money to replace the Civic Arena. The question was set to be on the November municipal election ballot, but the Inspector of Municipalities refused to approve the referendum due to concerns about the North Okanagan Regional District borrowing...

Vipers season comes to a sudden stop
VERNON – The Vernon Vipers came oh-so-close to a seventh National Junior A Hockey Championship at Kal Tire Place Saturday afternoon. The Snakes lost 6-3 to the Yorkton Terriers in the RBC Cup semifinals. Yorkton will face the Carleton Place Canadians in Sunday’s final at 4:30 p.m. The game will be on TSN. The Canadians...