Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

West Kelowna

Search for missing Kelowna man ends tragically

WEST KELOWNA - The search for a local man who was missing for over a month ended with a tragic result today, Jan. 5 after RCMP confirmed he was located deceased in a shed. Police positively identified the remains as Peter Schouten, a Kelowna man who was reported missing Dec. 8. The body was found...

Kelowna truck fire sparks suspicion

KELOWNA - A pair of vehicle fires in the Rutland area, one of them suspicious, has sparked the interest of Kelowna RCMP. Police are considering a fire in a white Chevorlet pickup found in the 500 block of Hollydell Road around 10:30 p.m. yesterday, Jan. 4, suspicious, RCMP spokesman Const. Jesse O’Donaghey says. A passing...

Kelowna sees nearly 10 per cent jump in property values

KELOWNA - Homeowners in the Central Okanagan can expect some of the biggest increases in property assessments in the Okanagan region when official notices hit mailboxes this week. B.C. Assessment says the average single-family home in Kelowna went up 9.63 per cent to $567,600, with Lake Country close behind at 9.16 per cent and an...

City of Kelowna clearing main routes during latest snowfall

KELOWNA - City crews are asking for patience and cooperation as they deal with the latest snow fall in Kelowna. City and contract snow removal crews are working non-stop concentrating on priority one and two roads — high traffic main roads and secondary collector roads, according to a media release issued this afternoon, Jan. 4....

Thieves break into Westbank First Nation office

WEST KELOWNA - Someone has broken into the Westbank First Nation main office and stolen a computer. Kelowna RCMP spokesman Const. Jesse O’Donaghey says police received a call at 11:21 a.m., Jan. 1, from a passerby who noticed a broken window on the ground floor of the band’s office at 515 Highway 97 South. Investigators...

MAP: Kelowna dominates list of most valuable properties in the Thompson-Okanagan

CENTRAL OKANAGAN - When it comes to property values, Kelowna is the clear leader among communities in the Thompson-Okanagan region, dominating the top 100 most valuable properties list. B.C. Assessment’s annual property valuations show a waterfront home 4358 Hobson Rd. in Kelowna was assessed at $9.51 million, the clear leader in the top 100 residential...

B.C. Assessment out with Kelowna home values next week

KELOWNA - Thousands of local homeowners will find out tomorrow, Jan. 4, just how much the B.C. Assessment Authority thinks their house is worth. That’s when the authority’s 2016 assessment rolls are made public and official assessments begin landing in some two million mailboxes across the province, spokesman Tim Morrison says. Assessments are used by...

Think you got a lot of snow? You must have a short memory

KELOWNA - This weekend’s two-day snow dump didn’t even come close to the storm that started 2015, according to the people tasked with clearing much of it out of the way. “We didn’t activate the snow routes,” says public works manager Darryl Astofooroff, in charge of the city’s snow removal service. “We didn’t consider it...

Cold, snow force Kelowna’s Gospel Mission to throw open the doors

KELOWNA - Last week’s cold coupled with this weekend’s snow has pushed the Kelowna’s primary homeless shelter to capacity. “We dont turn people away, we are open 24/7 and have been since the cold and snow hit last week,” Kelowna's Gospel Mission's Michael Morrison says. Morrison says the Mission’s 82 mens' beds, 12 step up...

Garbage and recycling pick-up changes over the holidays

CENTRAL OKANAGAN - Along with the holidays comes celebrations and gifts, which means more garbage and recycling. But the pick-up people get some days off too which means some slight adjustments to the schedule. Curbside pick-up ervice is largely unaffected by the holidays with Christmas and New Years the only days with service changes throughout...

Spirit of Kelowna volunteers drives the the holiday season

KELOWNA - The giving nature of the holiday season has inspired many people to volunteer their time and money to help those less fortunate, but many organizations rely on volunteers year round and hope those they can recruit at Christmas will keep helping out the rest of the year. The Kelowna Gospel Mission describes volunteers...

Kelowna leisure takes a breather with holiday schedule

KELOWNA - The winter break is a great time to swim, workout or visit the library as a family, but before you head out the door make sure you know what the holiday hours are. Parkinson Recrecation Centre runs altered hours from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 21 to 23, closing early at 4...

Emergency response team used to arrest prohibited driver in West Kelowna

WEST KELOWNA - RCMP had to use the emergency response team to arrest a prohibited driver in West Kelowna this afternoon. The 37-year-old man was arrested after he fled from police in his vehicle, Kelowna RCMP say in a press release. Officers tried to stop the man a number of times. West Kelowna RCMP then...

Why workers at some City Halls must take holidays in December

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Civic governments in Kamloops, Vernon and Penticton keep their main offices open over the holidays but they do it a little differently in the Central Okanagan. City Halls in both West Kelowna and Kelowna will be closed for the week between Christmas and New Years along with the offices of the Central Okanagan...

Alberta’s oil patch woes hit home at Central Okanagan food banks

KELOWNA - Plunging oil prices and substantial layoffs in Alberta’s oil patch are making their mark here in the Central Okanagan through a surge in food bank use. Public relations director Ami Catriona says the Central Okanagan Community Food Bank, which has branches in Kelowna and West Kelowna, noticed an unusual uptick in requests around...

Sensitive Santa brings Christmas closer to children with autism

KELOWNA - A visit to see Santa in the mall, along with the obligatory photo, is a rite of passage in Canada for most kids. But if your child isn’t fascinated by the flashing lights, ringing bells and ornate costumes or together it creates a kind of sensory overload that leads to anxiety and even...

West Kelowna couple seriously injured in weekend home invasion

WEST KELOWNA - A violent home invasion this weekend has left a West Kelowna couple in serious condition in hospital. Police responded to a report of a break and enter in the 1100 block of Peak Point Drive in West Kelowna just before 2 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6, Kelowna RCMP spokesman Cpl. Joe Duncan...

Attic electrical fire in West Kelowna

WEST KELOWNA – A West Kelowna family spent the night out of their home after an electrical fire in the attack of their house last night. West Kelowna Fire Rescue was called to the home on Butt Road at around 9 p.m., Nov. 20 and arrived to find heavy smoke in the attic, according to...

Increasing conflicts convince West Kelowna to get bear help

WEST KELOWNA - Increasing bear conflicts on the fringes of West Kelowna has convinced the city to sign on with WildSafe B.C. to provide a seasonal bear awareness worker. The city will pay as much as $8,350 next year - depending if other partners sign on - for a medium level service contract with the...

Elderly woman fends off violent home invader in West Kelowna

WEST KELOWNA - An 85-year-old woman is doing okay after struggling with an attacker for 20 minutes during a violent home invasion in the early hours, Sunday, Oct. 25. West Kelowna RCMP aren’t naming the woman, who managed to escape and call 911 at her neighbour’s house in the 2300-block of Butt Road. The suspect...