Penticton news
Want quick attention to Fortis over-billing? Go to the media
WORKED FOR THIS GUY KELOWNA – Media attention got an almost immediate result for a local celebrity who went to the news with a $4,500 power bill for a cabin that wasn’t even there. Gary Fong, a world-famous photographer and inventor made headlines last week when he went public with a massive bill for his...
Construction timing proving costly in creek restoration project
PENTICTON - Timing of restoration work planned for Penticton Creek is proving to be bad news for city taxpayers. Council dealt with cost overruns of $108,171 on the Penticton Creek restoration project at a special meeting of council held this week. Mayor Andrew Jakubeit says the meeting was called in order to allow contractors to...
City of Penticton assesses SOEC hotel proposals
PENTICTON - The City of Penticton has had some interest expressed in building a hotel on the South Okanagan Events Centre property. Penticton Mayor Andrew Jakubeit says the city received two written responses to an Expression of Interest soliciting proposals for a hotel to be built on the Events Centre property prior to deadline. “I’m...
Province pulls plug on Coldwater River water use
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - In a bid to help struggling salmon populations, water use reduction measures have been imposed on the Coldwater River. The province issued the restriction today, July 31, banning all water use or diversion from the Coldwater River and its tributaries from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. effective immediately. The restriction escalates to a...
South Okanagan governments make a plea for voluntary cuts in water consumption
PENTICTON - There are concerns about water supply as the summer’s hot weather combines with minimal rainfall in the South Okanagan. The Okanagan Similkameen Regional District recently followed the City of Penticton’s move, made last week, to ask residents to voluntarily reduce water consumption by 30 per cent. The regional district was responding to the...
Valley mayors push for early start to water conservation
OKANAGAN - Mindful of the dry winter the Okanagan has just experienced, valley mayors and councillors joined the Okanagan Basin Water Board for an early launch of the Make Water Work conservation campaign today. Mayor Doug Findlater, who chairs the water board, used his own community of West Kelowna as an example of why the...
If floating the river in Enderby is on your summer bucket list, do it sooner than later
ENDERBY - Extremely low water levels could cut the summer tubing season short on the Shuswap River in Enderby. Madison Giesbrecht, program manager for the Shuswap River Ambassadors program, which monitors river conditions and provides information to user groups, says river levels are about a month ahead of schedule, and particularly low at that. “We...
Quick action prevents structure fire from spreading
PENTICTON - Penticton residents woke to an ominous cloud of smoke emanating a house fire in the upper Carmi area this morning. Penticton Deputy Fire Chief Dave Spalding says they responded to a structure fire at 6:24 a.m., July 31, on Joy Road. B.C. Wildfire crews also responded to the fire, which was located outside...
Snowbird pilots to hold a meet and greet session in Penticton
PENTICTON - Snowbirds crew members will be getting up close and personable with Penticton residents while they aren't in the air next week. The Royal Canadian Air Force's Snowbirds will be performing their airborne acrobatics on Wednesday, August 5 in a 40 minute show which begins at 6 p.m., but crew members will be in the...
Lots going on during hot August long weekend in Penticton
PENTICTON - The weather forecast is calling for a scorching hot weekend for the August long weekend in the Peach City and there are no shortage of things to do. The Sunshine Cabaret returns to Gyro Park today, July 31, from 5 to 10 p.m., with free music in the park. Saturday morning the weekly...
Residents displaced after Summerland kitchen fire
PENTICTON - Residents of a Summerland home have found alternate accommodation following a kitchen fire yesterday. Summerland Assistant Fire Chief George Pugh says firefighters responded to a fire at home on Nixon Road around 3:30 p.m., July 29. Firefighters arrived on scene to find flames "centred around a dishwasher" in the kitchen of the residence....
War canoe races added to Peachfest activities
PENTICTON - Thanks to the restorative efforts of the Penticton Museum and Archives, volunteers and school groups, an Okanagan tradition is being revived for the second year in a row. The Ogopogo War Canoe Regatta will be taking place during the Penticton Peach Festival this year, the city announced in a press release. The second...
Kelowna to retain control over YLW until 2054
KELOWNA – The City of Kelowna will remain in charge of the Kelowna International Airport until 2054 thanks to a 20-year lease extension by the federal government. Until that time, Kelowna will remain responsible for management, operation and development of the largest airport in the B.C. Interior. Kelowna mayor Colin Basran says the extension is...
Fishing suspended along Middle Shuswap River
VERNON - Another body of water has been closed to fishing due to ongoing drought conditions in Southern B.C. Warm water temperatures and a low flow rate are two reasons why the provincial and federal governments decided to suspend angling in Middle Shuswap River from Mabel Lake to Shuswap Falls. The suspension will last from...
No last minute change of heart for Penticton council
PENTICTON - Penticton city council continues to stand firm in its decision not to revisit the Skaha waterpark issue and plans to allow the development to move forward. Council met before the public at noon today, July 29, to deliver the verdict on their decision whether or not to revisit the issue following a strong negative...