province
Disclosed Hullcar aquifer documents reignite concerns among North Okanagan residents
VERNON – After combing through a series of documents released as part of an extensive…
HELSTON: Province left school trustees to play bad cop before saving the day
'HOW ABOUT JUST REGULAR FUNDING ALL YEAR, EVERY YEAR?' OPINION It’s kind of how things…
North Okanagan-Shuswap trustee says fired school board was given ‘impossible task’
NORTH OKANAGAN – Trustees in the North Okanagan-Shuswap School District are speaking out after getting…
Historic release of sockeye salmon fry in Okanagan Lake symbolizes a long journey
OKANAGAN – A ceremonial release of thousands of sockeye salmon fry at Six Mile Creek…
Kamloops area food banks receive record donation; labour council says more help still needed
KAMLOOPS - Generous donations and deliveries have helped local food banks this year, but according to the president of the Kamloops District Labour Council there needs to be a shift in government to meet the increasing needs of British Columbians accessing the food bank. The council participated in the Protein for People program, a non-profit...
Province to fund new complex care facility for youth in Vernon
VERNON - The province has picked Vernon as one of the early implementation sites for a new residential service for youth with complex care needs. The Ministry of Children recently signed off on a five-bed complex care facility for youth aged seven to 18 in Vernon. The province isn’t saying much about the facility because...
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...
Here’s how many people it took to sway a controversial riding adjustment in the North Okanagan
VERNON - Controversial boundary changes are no longer being considered for the North Okanagan's provincial electoral ridings, and you might be surprised at how few people it took to sway the proposal. The B.C. Electoral Boundaries Commission, which reviews riding boundaries after every two provincial elections, had proposed removing a section of the Vernon-Monashee riding...
Province to review bus industry after two Coquihalla crashes
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Two major bus crashes in the last year resulted in serious injuries and now the provincial government is moving forward with a safety review on the motor coach industry. Minister of Transportation Todd Stone says the review will include examining safety statistics, analyzing vehicle inspections and vehicle licensing. It will also compare the...
Here’s what a Vernon man said to Christy Clark about invasive mussels
“IS B.C. NOT WORTH IT TO YOU?” THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - A frustrated Vernon man has sent an open letter to Premier Christy Clark about invasive mussels, and he didn’t hold back. Brynne Morrice, a filmmaker who recently debuted a short documentary about the imminent threat of zebra and quagga mussels, is calling on the province to...
Vernon council not happy with provincial government over Stickle Road plan
VERNON - Elected representatives refuse to keep quiet about their concerns around a Ministry of Transportation initiative to modify the Stickle Road intersection at Highway 97 in Vernon. Not only does local government disagree with the plan, which would see the intersection changed to right in, right out only (municipalities want a traffic light instead)...
Retired conservation officer speaks out about the realities of a service stretched too thin
“YOU CAME TO WORK EVERY DAY KNOWING YOU COULD NOT FULFILL EVERY PHONE CALL AND REPORTED COMPLAINT” KELOWNA - Retired B.C. conservation officer Greg Hoyer went into the field to protect fisheries and wildlife; by the time he left in 2009 that was only a fraction of his job. “Over the years, the government just...
Provincial support for Okanagan rail trail may sway voters, but not Okanagan Indian Band
VERNON - While a recent funding announcement from the provincial government may entice some Lake Country voters towards a yes vote in an upcoming borrowing referendum, the Okanagan Indian Band is warning governments not to celebrate just yet. Premier Christy Clark announced a $7.2 million pledge for the acquisition of the Okanagan Rail corridor the...
Appeal court sinks houseboater’s legal challenge
WEST KELOWNA — Mayor Doug Findlater is savouring the latest B.C. Court of Appeal ruling that again backs the district’s right to govern live-aboard houseboats moored off its shores. “It’s been a long, long, battle, over seven years,” he said of the precedent-setting case that pitted local government against houseboat-owners intent on mooring long-term in...
Digital eyes spark assessment spikes
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN — If your 2015 property assessment is up drastically, blame it on slightly creepy technology. B.C Assessment says Interior real estate has jumped in value by almost $2 billion and some of those price hikes are the fruit of last summer’s push into the Interior using digital photo vans and enhanced aerial photography to update assessments...