Kelowna

Opinions wanted on local election spending

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Fresh off the heels of the fall municipal election a special committee is now looking at whether spending limits should be put in place for candidates and third party advertisers. The provincial government committee will speak with stakeholders and the public over the coming weeks to discuss whether a limit should be put...

Techno-geek dream job up for grabs in Central Okanagan

KELOWNA - For some people, mainly techno-geeks, it would be a dream job — driving around the Central Okanagan in a computer-equipped car or truck tricked out with commercial grade still and video cameras plus an array of eye-safe lasers. It doesn’t say Google on it, but the job-hunting website Adecco is advertising for “streetview...

Rockets players grab four WHL all-star team spots

KELOWNA - It’s the end of the regular season in the Western Hockey League and with the Kelowna Rockets sitting in first place in the Western Conference, several players made the all-star team while a few more were named finalists for 2015 awards. The all-star teams along with the 2015 WHL Awards finalists were named...

Lake Country referendum mail ballot options

LAKE COUNTRY – If you won’t be in town for the referendum on April 25, 2015 or during any of the advance polls on April 15, 16, 17, 20 and 21, you may still be able to vote by mail. Lake Country is seeking elector assent through a referendum to approve the borrowing of up...

Interior Target stores will be closed before Easter

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - By April 2 a total of 62 Target stores will be shut down, including those in Vernon, Kelowna and Kamloops. Target Canada opened doors in Western Canada in May 2013. In January 2015 it was announced the company would be shutting down all 133 stores and liquidation sales began immediately. Last week the...

Valoroso Foods faces second verification inspection later this week

KELOWNA - Valoroso Foods was open for business today even as officials from the health protection branch of the Interior Health Authority say they will be conducting a second inspection to ensure the company has taken action on violations it found during an inspection last Friday. “We will be going back at the end of...

Breast-feeding supporters crowd West Kelowna council

MAYOR ASKS FOR PROTOCOL TO DEAL WITH FUTURE DELEGATION REQUESTS KELOWNA - Crying and cooing babies provided the soundtrack as proponents of breast-feeding crowded West Kelowna council chambers tonight to show their displeasure at what they said was a lack of support for their cause. Breast-feeding mothers nursed their babies inside and outside of council...

Women struck by plywood while out for a walk in Lake Country

LAKE COUNTRY - Two women out for a stroll in Lake Country were struck by a leather covered, wooden pick-up box cover which apparently flew off a passing truck last week. The pair were out walking their dogs at around 4:30 p.m., Saturday, March 14, in the 3500-block of Woodsdale Road when the incident occurred,...

West Kelowna breast-feeding protest to go ahead as planned

WEST KELOWNA - The West Kelowna Feed-In is going ahead as scheduled despite a bit of damage control by the district. The group declared they would protest at the March 24 council meeting after a delegation from the Interior Health Authority and UBC Okanagan asking council to help them promote breast-feeding were turned away at...

Four local pharmacies to participate in ground-breaking genomics project

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The concept of tailored medical care based on individual DNA was once the stuff of science fiction novels but now the possibility is ever closer with four pharmacies in the Thompson-Okanagan signed on to take part in a first-of-its-kind genomics project. The 'Genomics for Precision Drug Therapy in the Community Pharmacy' project is...

Carriage house survey shows support for secondary dwellings in West Kelowna

WEST KELOWNA - Westside residents could soon see a sight their Kelowna counterparts have seen for quite a few years — carriage houses popping up on lots where one house already exists. The latest results are in from the district’s extensive public consultation on the subject and three-quarters of West Kelowna people feel carriage houses...

Inspection found no reason to shut down Valoroso Foods: IHA

KELOWNA - An inspection of Valoroso Foods conducted Friday by the Interior Health Authority did not find any reason to shut the specialty foods store down, despite allegations of product label tampering. “This past Friday... Interior Health conducted an investigation at Valoroso Foods in Kelowna regarding food safety concerns,” IHA communications officer Patrick Gall said...

Video surveillance policy under scrutiny in West Kelowna

WEST KELOWNA - The district is updating its video surveillance policy to ensure compliance with the provincial Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. “With video surveillance cameras, obviously there are concerns with privacy,” says Erin Goodwin, facilities manager for West Kelowna. “There are standards that we have to follow.” The district does not...

Ringo Starr to play in Penticton

PENTICTON - If you are on tour celebrating the release of an album named Postcards From Paradise, it only makes sense Penticton would be one of your stops. Former Beatle Ringo Starr is touring with his All-Starr Band and is making Penticton just one of three B.C. stops, and one of only eight Canadian tour...

What do drones, e-cigarettes and geocaches have in common?

KELOWNA - Flying drones, e-cigarettes and geocaches are all soon to be targetted in Kelowna’s updated parks bylaw. “Things change, new issues emerge,” says parks supervisor Ian Wilson, who will present the proposed changes to city council on Monday, March 23. E-cigarettes will be banned in all public parks under the revamped bylaw. Wilson says...

Surge in Kelowna rental housing construction

KELOWNA - Rental housing construction is undergoing a renaissance of sorts with the City of Kelowna reporting a surge of construction activity in the last 18 months. Recent focus has been on so-called micro-suites — units with a floor area under 29 square metres — but Doug Gilchrist, director of community planning for the city,...

Two dogs declared aggressive reported stolen from Kelowna dog pound

KELOWNA - A pair of dogs seized after two goats were killed in Joe Rich Wednesday, were reported stolen from the Central Okanagan Regional District dog pound Thursday morning. The break and enter and theft at the dog pound, located at 890 Weddell Pl. in Kelowna, was reported at about 7:05 a.m., Thursday, March 19....

Wet start to spring in Southern Interior

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Spring has officially sprung and based on the forecast, you should have your umbrella and rain boots handy. Some in the region woke to rain Friday, March 20, and Environment Canada is calling for more over the next few days. A chance of rain begins today throughout the region and Saturday will bring...

Open access media policy pays off for city

KELOWNA - The 2015 citizens survey is due out in a couple of weeks and the city is expecting to do as good or better in most categories. But city officials might be surprised to find they’re doing great in a category they don’t even measure — communications with the media. While journalists love to...

That’s the spirit – Okanagan distiller wins international awards

OKANAGAN - Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery is celebrating a repeat win after being named distillery of the year for the second time at the 2015 World Spirits Awards in Dennmark. The distillery’s black currant liqueur beat out competition from 25 countries and 65 distilleries to take Spirit of the Year. Its Danish-style Aquavitus and Haskap...

This thief rips the rings right off your fingers

KELOWNA - RCMP believe there are more victims out there of a thief who poses as a jewellry buyer, then rips off the would-be seller. Several distraught victims have called 911 in recent days after man stole rings right off their fingers, Sgt. Brad Swecera says in a media release. The victims were asked to meet...

Former Dragon to speak at Chamber AGM

KELOWNA – You won’t want to pass on this deal. Okanagan business tycoon and philanthropist W. Brett Wilson who gained fame during his stint on The Dragon’s Den will be speaking at the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting in Kelowna this April. Wilson, who owns several businesses in the valley, will share stories...