Penticton
Open burning goes ahead, smoke visible
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Cooler temperatures and lighter winds mean conditions are safe for open burning in most areas, and that means we can expect to start seeing more smoke in the air. B.C. Wildfire officials sayprivate landowners, Wildfire Management Branch personnel and industry partners are burning piles of wood debris to reduce wildfire risks. The provincial...
ELECTION 2014: A night out with the candidates
PENTICTON - Election candidates and Chamber members have a chance to get to know each other better at a members-only speed campaigning event. It's a chance for Chamber members to have one-on-one conversations with the candidates and ask any questions they like during the five-minute period. Each member will have a chance to meet each...
Citizens organize forum to educate community on Penticton election issues
PENTICTON - Local citizens are taking the election campaign into their own hands and educating themselves about the candidates and the issues in the upcoming civic vote. Members the community Facebook group Educate Encourage Empower Penticton have organized two candidate forums; one for the candidates for council and one for mayoral candidates. Candidates must RSVP...
Get your skis shined up
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Two of the three big ski hills in the region are starting to see snow accumulate and that means one thing, ski season is just around the corner. The first runs are set to open Nov. 22 at Sun Peaks Resort near Kamloops, though preseason race training will start as soon as there...
Why wildland firefighters keep coming back
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - It can feel like warfare; heading into a fire, in the middle of nowhere for days on end at the mercy of Mother Nature. Yet something about being on the battle lines draws in wildland firefighters season after season. For Jarvis Manuel, a 14-year veteran with B.C. Wildfire, it’s the people. For Thomas...
Penticton artist debuts opera about bullying
VANCOUVER – Penticton spoken word artist Shane Koyczan will be sitting nervously in the audience at the Vancouver Playhouse Thursday night for the world premiere of the opera “Stickboy." The Vancouver Opera production is based on Koyczan’s poem of the same name. The words are by Koyczan and composer Neil Weisensel wrote music. It’s his autobiographical...
Get ready for the snow
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - There have been small amounts of snow on mountain passes already this fall, but it hasn’t lasted long or accumulated enough for many people to really take note. Thursday morning Highway 97C saw warnings of slushy and slippery sections near the Pennask Summit and Environment Canada issued a special weather statement warning of...
Penguins fans sing Canadian anthem
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - National Hockey League fans showed their love and support for Canada Wednesday night at a game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers. The team flooded the arena with red light, images of the Canada flag and maple leafs while the words to the anthem were posted on the large screens so...
Constituency offices shut down following Ottawa shooting
PENTICTON - It appears the constituency offices of Members of Parliament across the country are on shut down following events in Ottawa this morning, including those of local MP Dan Albas. In Penticton and Westbank, the offices of Okanagan-Coquihalla MP Dan Albas, was closed and locked today after Members of Parliament were locked down in...
Don’t forget, it’s flu season
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - While the public's attention has been on Ebola and enterovirus D68 recently, Interior Health is preparing for flu season, rolling out influenza vaccines to clinics and phamacies around the region. Dr. Robert Parker says they start getting calls in September but early November is when they typically start offering vaccinations to the general...
Just call it Autummer as high temperatures approach records
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - People in the Shuswap enjoyed a record breaking day Sunday and for much of the Thompson-Okanagan region it was a warm day, just not quite hot enough to break records. In Salmon Arm, a temperature of 20.8 Celsius was enough to break a 40-year-old record and was well past the seasonal normal of...
Mobile learning centre offers support to First Nations families
OKANAGAN - A strategy to offer First Nations families convenient access to early learning materials will soon hit the road in a mobile unit, travelling to Indian bands in the Southern Interior. The B.C. Early Years Centre will offer access to a range of early learning and health and family services to support families with...
Vernon couple starts #redbagchallenge to help raise blood donations
VERNON – Following on the worldwide success of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, a local couple from Vernon have come up with an imaginative way to encourage blood donations. Glenn and Lisa Gallie came up with the idea to donate blood on camera and then nominate three people who would then have to make a...
Local history comes to life in bigger, better book
OKANAGAN-SIMILKAMEEN – One of the regions longest running traditions is back, bigger and better than ever before. The Okanagan Historical Society Annual Report is a collection of essays that explores the varied and rich history of the valley. David Gregory is the editor of the publication and he says the 78th issue is one of...
Mayoral candidate says his crimes are in his past
PENTICTON - Mayoral candidate Jukka Laurio says his time spent in jail for sexual offence is in the past and people should focus on what he’s doing now to improve the community. Laurio, who announced he was running for mayor of Penticton last week, has a serious criminal record including drug trafficking and possession conviction...