Local
PROSKIW: The lesson of the day: It’s okay to fight dirty
At a recent B.C. Teachers Federation anti-government rally, one of the speakers brought someone with her to the microphone. Her five-year-old son was suddenly before 300 cheering people on the side of a busy highway. The boy tries to hide in her arms a few times but after some gentle prodding he eventually parrots “I want school.”...
This ‘Floating island’ on Okanagan Lake could be yours
OKANAGAN – It’s the size of a small island, has multiple bedrooms and bathrooms like a cottage, but it can take you across the lake at 65 km/h. A luxury sport yacht owned by Penticton resident George Speirs was listed for sale on Kijiji this past weekend. The price tag for the 63’ Sea Ray...
TEACHERS’ STRIKE: Huge rally planned Wednesday; Soccer fields closing?
WEST KELOWNA – Christy Clark's constituency office better get used to company. More than 200 people gathered out front of the Premier's West Kelowna constituency office on Dobbin Road today—what should have been the first day of school—to add pressure in her dispute with the province's teachers and a whole lot more may be coming...
Electronic music festival showcases female talent
KELOWNA – A two-day music and arts festival featuring an all-female lineup is coming back to Kelowna for the second year in a row. The Female Arts and Music Exhibition (FAME) is a collection of female promoters, DJ’s, artists, musicians, technicians and engineers who share a passion for electronic music and art. It takes place...
Contaminated soil found under Lakeshore Road
KELOWNA – Crews upgrading the stretch of Lakeshore Road south of Mission Creek Bridge dug something up three weeks ago that wasn’t supposed to be there. “We had an area contaminated by gas,” says project manager Purvez Irani. “We are going through the environmental (clean-up) process now. At this stage it’s looking like (it came...
City running low on large garbage carts
KELOWNA – A combination of more customers and higher demand has the City of Kelowna’s supply of oversize wheeled garbage bins running low and staff has asked for more funds to keep up with demand. The city was alerted to the impending shortage by Okanagan Environmental Waste Systems, the company contracted to collect garbage curbside....
Local mountie takes a plunge for ALS research
KELOWNA – Const. Kris Clark of the Kelowna RCMP made a splash Friday afternoon, in support of ALS research. Clark was nominated by a host of a local radio station earlier this week to take the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, a viral sensation that is raising money and awareness for ALS research. Clark says he...
UBCO student union removes The Phoenix from campus
KELOWNA – The Phoenix, UBCO’s 25 year-old campus newspaper, is being removed from campus. The move is part of the UBCO student union's (UBCSUO) re-allocation of space in the UNC, which will see Resource Centers merged and new businesses added. “It just comes down to the utilization of space,” UBCSUO President Rocky Kim said, “we have...
Vandalism likely caused 1000 litre oil spill at district office
KELOWNA – An apparent act of vandalism at a Regional District office has caused a massive amount of used motor oil, diesel and transmission fluid to spill onto a parking lot Friday morning. Andy Brennan of the Regional District says operation crews arriving at 6 a.m. found the spill. “It seems like somebody overnight put...
Dancing in the Park final party set to swing
KELOWNA – With the third season of Dancing in the Park coming to an end this month, organizers say interest in the free outdoor dance event continues to grow. The program is intended to promote active living in the community and has taken place every Wednesday evening since July 2. With professional instructors and an...
Athletes race in 32nd Apple Triathlon
KELOWNA – One of the Okanagan’s most historic and recognized sporting events is back this weekend for the 32nd year in a row. The Kelowna Apple Triathlon is a 10 km run, 40 km bike and 1.5 km swim event that takes athletes along Lake Okanagan, up Knox Mountain and back down through Glenmore. The...
Fast charge stations for electric cars proposed for West Kelowna
WEST KELOWNA – Fast charging stations for electric cars could be coming soon to West Kelowna. The new stations, part of a province-wide initiative put forward by B.C. Hydro, will recharge a vehicle in approximately 30 minutes using direct current (DC) instead of the several hours needed at a regular AC household outlet. Facilities manager...
Elliott Road reopens to public after seven month closure
WEST KELOWNA – The section of Elliott Road between Main Street and Dobbin will reopen to vehicle and pedestrian traffic Monday after being closed for more than seven months for construction of a new transit exchange. Construction of the Westbank RapidBus transit exchange won't be completed until the end of the month and motorists are...
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,...
Suncor gets official green light to fly employees out of YLW
KELOWNA – Suncor Energy received permission Monday to continue to run their own airline for their employees out of Kelowna International Airport. The energy company has previously been using the airport on an ad-hoc basis however the new agreement will allow the city to collect airport improvement fees at a rate of $15 per passenger....