Get the Top, Local stories delivered to your inbox! Click here to join the daily Vernon Matters newsletter.
By Corey Fischer

Rainbow Crosswalk Added To Downtown

May 18, 2017 | 9:00 PM

Vernon’s first Rainbow Crosswalk has being installed in the downtown.

The eight colour symbol is on 30th Avenue between 33rd and 34th Streets in front of the former Liquidation World building.

Tim Rayner, an owner of Calibre Sport, agreed to cover the costs after hearing about proponent Travis Irmen’s idea.

“I was automatically empathetic of this young guy who stood up in front of council and plead his case, and that the only thing that would hold it up would be the cost. So I called my business partners, and said ‘What do you guys think? And they said ‘Let’s do it.'”

Rayner says the thermo-plastic tiles should last many years.

Road Safety At Work
Drivers urged to be cautious around road workers with summer travel
4h ago
Assault of A Horse
Bestiality case to be tried by Supreme Court judge
10h ago
Due July 2
Less than a week to file property taxes
23h ago

“They tell us 7 to 10 years. This location is good because it’s not at an intersection so we won’t get any turning or accelerating which you get at a regular crosswalk,” Rayner tells Kiss FM.

Irmen says each colour in the crosswalk has meaning, and it’s not just for the LGBTQ community.

Pink: sexuality
Red: respect for all life
Orange: healing journeys within all walks of life
Yellow: sunshine and air quality
Green: environment and nature
Turquoise: arts
Blue: peace/harmony
Violet: spirituality

The City will hold an official opening later this year.

Bottom photo: Tim Rayner of Calibre Sport (at right) oversees the installation of a rainbow crosswalk in downtown Vernon.

by Corey Fischer

Other Matters

Paws welcome
Coldstream makes Pumphouse Beach permanent off-leash dog area
A pilot project in the North Okanagan has led to a permanent change at the waterfront, with the District of Coldstream officially designating Pumphouse Beach as an off-leash dog beach.The site will allow dogs to run, swim and play alongside their owners after the district determined the pilot program was successful.Dur...
1h ago
Read More
Road Safety At Work
Drivers urged to be cautious around road workers with summer travel
With summer weather here, a road safety advocate group is urging people to be safe and cautious of workers when travelling through the Okanagan.The group Road Safety at Work said the hustle and bustle of summer vacation often means travellers have to juggle schedules, ferry reservations, campsite check-ins and fuel sto...
4h ago
Read More
New Sign
Kelowna unveils new waterfront Signature Sign in Stuart Park
Kelowna officially unveiled its new waterfront Signature Sign Friday morning in Stuart Park, marking the launch of a new landmark designed to celebrate the city's identity and bring people together along the shoreline.The unveiling, led by Mayor and council, took place from 10 to 11 a.m. near the Kelowna Yacht Club, wh...
4h ago
Read More
Festival Returns
Denim on the Diamond returns to Kelowna with strongest lineup yet
Denim on the Diamond is set to return to City Park this September with its strongest lineup yet, marking a comeback year for the three-day festival after a one-year hiatus.The Kelowna-based event runs Sept. 11 to 13 and will feature headliners Portugal. The Man, Nate Smith and Ian Asher, alongside artists including Gol...
4h ago
Read More
Ex-husband guilty of murdering Tatjana Stefanski in B.C.
The ex-husband of Tatjana Stefanski has been found guilty of her murder, in a killing that left a rural British Columbia village in a state of fear when he was initially arrested then released on conditions. Vitali Stefanski, who was convicted of secon...
4h ago
Read More
High Fire Danger Rating
Reminder: Fireworks not allowed in Vernon
The City of Vernon reminds residents that fireworks and sky lanterns are not permitted within the municipal boundary.The reminder came ahead of Canada Day and as Vernon's fire danger rating was increased earlier in the week."With the current high fire danger rating in the city, it's critical that everyone takes ex...
5h ago
Read More
Assault of A Horse
Bestiality case to be tried by Supreme Court judge
A local bestiality case will be tried by a Supreme Court judge.Seth Christian faces the charge in relation of an alleged assault of a horse at a local equestrian centre in January.Christian appeared in Vernon court Thursday, June 25, where he elected for the trial mode, instead of being tried by a judge and jury, or in...
10h ago
Read More
Municipal election
School trustee enters Kelowna council race
A local school board trustee has announced she's running for Kelowna City Council in the October election.Lee-Ann Tiede said she brings more than two decades of public service experience to her candidacy.She served three terms as a Central Okanagan School Board Trustee and, before that, three terms as a Trustee with th...
22h ago
Read More
Due July 2
Less than a week to file property taxes
Vernon property owners have less than a week to fully pay their taxes.Property taxes are due Thursday, July 2, and anyone who does not pay their dues in full could face a 10 per cent penalty.Additionally, people have until July 2 to submit documents confirming they have successfully applied for the provincial Home Owne...
23h ago
Read More

What Matters

Road Safety At Work
Drivers urged to be cautious around road workers with summer travel
4h ago
Assault of A Horse
Bestiality case to be tried by Supreme Court judge
10h ago
Due July 2
Less than a week to file property taxes
23h ago
Offsetting Infrastructure Costs
Coldstream considers joining call for agricultural cost supports
Jun 25, 2026
Level 4
Drought level still elevated
Jun 25, 2026