West Kelowna
West Kelowna considering lifeguards in Gellatly Bay
WEST KELOWNA - Lifeguards could soon be watching over swimmers at the CNR wharf in Gellatly Bay. West Kelowna staff have outlined in an information report possible options and the cost of hiring lifeguards to watch over the popular swimming spot during the busy summer months. The wharf was reconstructed in 2014, adding in jumping...
Intense 2014 fire season changes mindset in West Kelowna
WEST KELOWNA - Most municipal mayors, when given the chance, will trumpet the achievements of council and staff, but in the preface to its 2014 annual report, West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater talks mainly about one thing — how last year’s fire season affected the outlook of city council and staff. “We had two major...
Motorcycle crash kills West Kelowna man
WEST KELOWNA - A man is dead after losing control of his motorcycle on Boucherie Road Sunday afternoon. A 30-year-old man from West Kelowna was seen 'passing unsafely and exceeding the speed limit' on his blue Harley Davidson around 1:15 p.m., July 5, according to an RCMP release. He was driving his motorcycle southbound on...
West Kelowna boy run over by work van released from hospital
KELOWNA – The eight-year-old West Kelowna boy who was run over and seriously injured by a work van in his neighbourhood on June 22 has been released from hospital. Candice Loring, the mother of the boy, says in a Facebook post the family will return home Tuesday. “Doctors said it was a miracle that he...
Dancing and playing highly encouraged in local parks this summer
KELOWNA - With summer full on, expect a lot more activity in urban parks around the Central Okanagan. The City of Kelowna wants locals to bust a move with the Dancing in the Park program, now in its fifth year and held each Wednesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Stuart Park. All ages and...
Cracks were showing in Westbank First Nation’s private hospital plan last year
WESTBANK FIRST NATION - Despite assertions from the partners behind Canada’s first for-profit private hospital that it is proceeding as planned, documents show the deal to develop the Lake Okanagan Wellness Centre was in disarray last year. When it became clear in October 2014 that Ad Vitam Health Care was out of money and unable...
West Kelowna becomes province’s 51st city
WEST KELOWNA - Premier Christy Clark recognized the former District of West Kelowna at a brief ceremony this afternoon as the province’s 51st city. “I think most of you would agree this has been a city for some time in all but name,” Clark says. “There is 30,000 residents and 1,400 businesses. It’s time to...
Beading a path through the Okanagan
PENTICTON - An Okanagan artist and entrepreneur turned a daydream into a unique business opportunity which continues to grow with each new tourist season. Karen Griggs was looking for a way to make a living while following her passion when she came up with the idea of the Bead Trail. According to her blog, a...
Two arrested following Kelowna crime spree
KELOWNA - A day-long crime spree in Kelowna and West Kelowna ended after two men were arrested in a stolen pickup truck earlier this month. Several people and businesses were hit during the one day crime spree on June 3, Cpl. Joe Duncan says in a media release. The spree started with the theft of...
UPDATE: Crews hit brush fire in West Kelowna hard
WEST KELOWNA – Firefighters have knocked down a brush fire in West Kelowna off Westside Road this afternoon. Calls came into 911 at around 3:45 p.m. about several trees burning in a ravine at the edge of Bear Creek Road near Scott Crescent. West Kelowna fire chief Jason Brolund says his crews were taking no...
UPDATE: Two men stabbed in West Kelowna
WEST KELOWNA – Two men were taken to hospital and a suspect is still at large after a stabbing in West Kelowna Sunday morning. RCMP say two men with stab wounds were taken to a walk-in clinic at around 10:50 a.m., June 7. Both men went from the clinic to Kelowna General Hospital with serious...
First Nations hotel and conference centre in the works for West Kelowna
WEST KELOWNA – If Grand Chief Ron Derrickson gets his way, West Kelowna could become a major destination for First Nations business people across North America. He is in the early planning stages of a luxury hotel and conference centre on his 5.5-acre property next to Two Eagles Golf Course off Carrington Road in West...
Young hockey player’s sad story may have a happy ending
KELOWNA - It appears the story of the nine-year-old boy who quit his hockey team in tears after being repeatedly benched, may have a happy ending after all. Our story about Sam Lescarbeau has gone truly viral with people from all over Canada writing to encourage him, share similar stories from all manner of sports teams...
West Kelowna faces signifcant water and sewer rate hikes
WEST KELOWNA - It’s going to cost more for water and sewer service on the Westside after a decision this week to increase utility rates. Citing significant cost pressures, West Kelowna council gave first and second readings to its fees bylaw, which will see an increase of 20 per cent to district sanitary sewer user...
Solar Road stabbing victim identified, murder charges laid
WEST KELOWNA – The man who died after being stabbed in the chest during a fight in West Kelowna April 29 has been identified and charges against the suspect upgraded to second-degree murder. Jose Amestica, 50, will appear in court June 2. He was originally charged with aggravated assault until the victim, Kevin McNally, 44,...