Get the Top, Local stories delivered to your inbox! Click here to join the daily Vernon Matters newsletter.
R.J. Bennett (submitted photo)
By Pete McIntyre
business leader

Council expresses condolences to family of RJ Bennett

Jul 10, 2024 | 3:15 PM

West Kelowna council has passed on its condolences after the death of West Kelowna business leader and community builder Russell James (RJ) Bennett.

Bennett passed away July 4 at age 94.

Bennett owned Victor Projects, a local development company, was an avid, award-winning equestrian, a Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee, and brother and son of B.C. Premiers William R. and W.A.C. Bennett.

Click here to read Mr. Bennett’s obituary.

View Comments

Other Matters

major response
Park arrest prompts major emergency response in West K
West Kelowna RCMP are sharing information after a major operation by the Emergency Response Team on Thursday. The drug section, with support from various other units made an initial arrest at City Park in Kelowna. That prompted them to execute a search warrant at a residence on Scott Crescent in West Kelowna and that i...
Dec 13, 2025
Read More
Possible firearm involved
One person apprehended in connection with suspicious activity in Coldstream
One person was arrested but later released in connection to what police say was suspicious activity in Coldstream.Vernon North Okanagan RCMP received a report of a suspicious individual outside a residence on Tamarack Drive shortly after midnight Thursday, Dec. 11.It was believed the person could potentially be in poss...
Dec 13, 2025
Read More
Fatal Collision, Highway Closed
One person dead in crash near Revelstoke
A fatal crash occurred on Highway 1 east of Revelstoke Friday morning.RCMP responded to a report of two semis that collided head-on on the highway at approximately 9:20 a.m., Dec. 12.First responders attended and one of the drivers was declared deceased at the scene, while the other was taken to hospital in critical co...
Dec 13, 2025
Read More
Salaries
Vernon Council to discuss lesser pay increases
Vernon's Mayor and Councillors will have their remuneration going up next year, but not by as much as previously expected.At the request of Councillor Kari Gares, city staff have developed a plan to maintain the remuneration rates at the 2025 level for 2026.This would see the mayor's remuneration increase by $4,638 to ...
Dec 12, 2025
Read More
Police Watchdog Investigation
Nakusp RCMP member not facing charges relating to fatal crash
Charges are not being pursued against an officer involved in a fatal crash in Nakusp.The B.C. Prosecution Service (BCPS) says an investigation was launched into an incident that occurred on November 25, 2024, when a member of the Nakusp RCMP spotted an alleged stolen vehicle.The member followed the vehicle and activate...
Dec 12, 2025
Read More
Taekwon-Do Tournament
Sundance Martial Arts finishes first overall at Western Canadian Championships
The local martial arts school proved its mettle at a major tournament.Sundance Martial Arts placed first overall at the 2025 Western Canadian ITF Taekwon-Do Championships.The Vernon-based dojo secured the title after its athletes took home 20 gold, 17 silver, and 32 bronze medals across nearly all age categories."...
Dec 12, 2025
Read More
Economic Trouble
Central Okanagan tops Canada in apartment vacancy rates
Kelowna and the surrounding Central Okanagan region are now facing the highest apartment vacancy rate of any major city in Canada.That is according to the latest data from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.The area-which includes Peachland, West Kelowna, Kelowna, and Lake Country-saw its rental vacancy climb ...
Dec 12, 2025
Read More
Off-Season Freestyle Training
Silver Star Freestyle Club raising money for a new air-bag training site
The local freestyle ski group is raising money for a brand new, off-season training equipment.Silver Star Freestyle Club wants to establish an Air-Bag Training Site, where the athletes can practice their skiing and snowboarding skills when the snow is not flying."This facility will allow our athletes to have acces...
Dec 12, 2025
Read More
flooding...again
Why is B.C. facing the prospect of a flood disaster again?
British Columbia's Lower Mainland is facing flooding, severed highways and evacuations due to the double impact of an atmospheric river and cross-border water flows. Here's an explainer of why the area has been repeatedly hit by similar disasters.WHAT IS AN ATMOSPHERIC RIVER?A long, thin, horizontal "corridor"...
Dec 11, 2025
Read More

What Matters

Possible firearm involved
One person apprehended in connection with suspicious activity in Coldstream
Dec 13, 2025
Fatal Collision, Highway Closed
One person dead in crash near Revelstoke
Dec 13, 2025
Salaries
Vernon Council to discuss lesser pay increases
Dec 12, 2025
Police Watchdog Investigation
Nakusp RCMP member not facing charges relating to fatal crash
Dec 12, 2025
Highway Closures
Highway 1 closed near Golden due to vehicle incident, avalanche control work
Dec 10, 2025