Westbank Lions Community Centre Arson
Community centre set to reopen nearly 18 months after arson
WEST KELOWNA - The Westbank Lions Community Centre, the unofficial meeting place for the West Kelowna community, has officially recovered after being destroyed by fire nearly 18 months ago. The hall was set on fire in September 2013 and while it was initially thought it would need to be torn down the structure was able...
Lions Hall arsonist sentenced to prison
KELOWNA - The man who burned down the Westbank Lions Hall was sentenced to federal prison today. Kerry Cooper, 30, will serve three and a half years behind bars for setting the fire. He did it to get revenge on the woman who was getting married there the next morning, Sept. 1, 2013. Amanda Nevdoff had...
Arsonist admits to burning down West Kelowna Lion’s Hall
KELOWNA – Kerry Robert Cooper pleaded guilty Thursday morning to burning down the West Kelowna Lion’s Hall. Cooper, 30, entered the plea from North Fraser Pre-Trial, declining legal representation. Crown prosecutor Dave Grabavac says Cooper admitted to the Sept. 1 arson after seeing video footage of him buying gas, walking in the direction of the...
Man charged with arson for West Kelowna Lions Hall fire
WEST KELOWNA - A man will answer to the charge of arson for the fire that severely damaged the Westbank Lions Hall Sept. 1, 2013. Kerry Robert Cooper, 30, of Kelowna appeared in Kelowna Provincial Court May 12. He was remanded in custody to appear again May 13. The building, located at 2466 Main St....
Lions Hall likely torched for revenge against bride
'HE IS CAPABLE OF ANYTHING.' WEST KELOWNA - The Westbank Lions Hall may have been burned down simply out of revenge against the bride set to be married there that morning. Kerry Cooper, 30, is now in custody and charged with arson in the Sept. 1, 2013 blaze. His former girlfriend was a bridesmaid in...
Community Hall won’t be torn down after all
WEST KELOWNA - The Westbank Lions’ Hall that was thought destroyed by a suspicious fire two months ago may not be torn down after all. According to Westbank Lions club president Wayne Atkinson, the heritage building, which was built in the 1930’s, will be completely repaired and continue to serve residents of West Kelowna for...
Arson investigation underway for Lions Community Hall fire
WEST KELOWNA - The fire that defaced West Kelowna's community hall Monday morning is now believed to be arson. The two storey 80-year-old building on Main Street caught fire just after 8:30 a.m. Monday, with 20 firefighters on scene to fight the flames. Police announced yesterday the incident was suspicious in nature, but now have...
Club, District evaluate options in wake of Westbank Lion’s Hall fire
“IT’S WHERE OUR COMMUNITY MEETS.” WEST KELOWNA - Still no word on the cause of the fire that destroyed the Westbank Lion’s Community Centre in downtown West Kelowna. Investigators have been on the scene of Sunday morning’s devastating fire. The historic landmark went up in flames as members of the community looked on in disbelief....
Cause of West Kelowna community centre fire ‘suspicious’
INVESTIGATION TURNED OVER TO RCMP UPDATE: 10 a.m. Sept. 3, 2013 WEST KELOWNA - Evidence collected at the scene of the fire at the Westbank Lion's Community Centre indicates the cause is suspicious and the matter is now in the hands of the West Kelowna RCMP. The investigation will continue. Firefighters responded to a report...