Vehicle owners in British Columbia are getting some money back.Premier David Eby announced Wednesday, May 8, that the Insurance Corporation of B.C. (ICBC) is "back in the black" and profitable, with some of that money able to be put back into the pockets of British Columbians."Thanks to prudent managemen...

Fire crews in Lake Country were on the scene of a structure fire Tuesday night.It broke out around 7 p.m. in the OKGN Market building in the 9900-block of Highway 97."Upon attendance, officers found the building full of smoke and fire inside. Fortunately no one was injured as the building was closed and unoccupied...

The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League is mourning the loss of Castlegar Rebels forward Nathan (Nate) Jackman, who passed away in a car accident early Sunday just north of Nelson.Jackman, who recently completed his rookie season with the Rebels, was set to celebrate his high school graduation later this month....

People are reminded to think about their pets -- in addition to family members -- when making plans for emergencies.The BC SPCA says pets are often forgotten when these plans are being put together.Bill Penhallurick, the BC SPCA's manager of emergency response, said making a plan for your pet not only ensures their saf...

Bars and restaurants in Vernon are benefiting from the Vancouver Canucks making it into the NHL playoffs for the first time in four yearsHussein Hollands, one of the owners of The Rosters Sports Club, told Vernon Matters the food and beverage industry in Vancouver definitely benefits when the Canucks make the playoffs,...

Intact Financial Corp. has launched a pilot program to reduce wildfire damage to customers' homes in Western Canada as another season of elevated fire risk approaches.The insurer says it has contracted Wildfire Defense Systems to provide prevention services when a wildfire is less than five kilometres away from the hom...

People's cellphones will be buzzing across most of Canada on Wednesday for the latest test of the emergency alert system.The test in British Columbia will be conducted at 10:55 a.m. PST, and will also interrupt scheduled programs on television and radio stations.Testing of the system by Alert Ready is intended to:Incre...

Police say the discovery of a dead person in Vernon is being treated as suspicious. A body was found in a parked vehicle on Eastside Road near Ellison Provincial Park Sunday evening (May 5). Mounties say it's too soon to say if foul play was involved."Although a full determination has not yet been made in relation...

Public drug use is once again illegal in British Columbia. Health Canada approved the B.C. government's request to once again make it illegal to use illicit substances in public spaces "Addiction is a health matter, not a criminal justice one, but that doesn't mean that anything goes. Parks and beaches have to be ...

The RCMP is investigating a mischief case that occurred at the Vernon Regional Airport and resulted in a plane being damaged.Vernon North Okanagan RCMP say three individuals climbed the perimeter fence at the airport and got onto the airfield at approximately 11 p.m. on April 20.Once on the property, the suspects acces...

March saw the number of local lives lost to illicit toxic substances decline, but that wasn't the case for all of the Okanagan or the province.The B.C. Coroner's Service reported a total of three suspected toxic drug deaths in Vernon in March, which was down from the five the month prior. March's figures brought Vernon...

A portion of a road in rural Spallumcheen will be closed for a few hours Tuesday, May 14.The Township of Spallumcheen said a portion of Back Enderby Rd. between Highway 97A and Mountain View Rd. will be closed from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. for pulverization. Traffic will be detoured via Mountainview Rd.Signage of the work and...

RCMP hope the public can help identify a suspect in a Vernon theft investigation.Police say on Monday, April 29, 2024 around 4 p.m., a man entered a business in the 5500-block of Anderson Way (believed to be The Home Depot) and proceeded to steal over $400 in cash and merchandise from the store. Police are releasing im...

School District 22 says it has received a big early response to a survey on the future of a former elementary school site in Lumby.The Vernon District issued a survey on May 2 asking 'Do you support the School District listing the site of the former Whitevale Elementary School for sale?' The survey also asked, 'Do you ...

Mental Health Week is being celebrated in Vernon with a block party and a showcase of local services.The Vernon and District branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA Vernon) is marking Mental Health Week, which runs May 6 - 12, by holding a block party at Polson Park that will showcase how compassion help...

The provincial and local governments are working to reduce the risk of wildfires and protect the primary water supply in Greater Vernon.The Ministry of Forests, in collaboration with the Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO), District of Lake Country, and Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB) have partnered on a fire-mitiga...

Some area highways may see some light snowfall on Monday.Environment Canada issued special weather statements for the Coquihalla and Highway 3 on May 6, stating there was a potential for flurries over high elevation mountain passes."A Pacific frontal system will move across B.C. today (Monday)," the weather a...

RCMP say a man from Kamloops, who was riding a motorcycle, died after a collision on Highway 97 in Westwold on Sunday.Police say the 66-year-old victim was travelling southbound around 10 a.m. on May 5 when his bike rear-ended a pickup truck that was stopped waiting to make a turn off the highway."Sadly, despite t...

The City of Vernon is getting prepared for the start of new provincial housing legislation that will streamline the process for development applications.Starting June 30, 2024, the city will be transitioning Zoning Bylaw 5000 (ZBL 5000) to Zoning Bylaw 6000 (ZBL 6000), which will align with the province's Bill 44 and B...

The City of Vernon is advising residents to take steps to protect and prepare themselves for emergency situations.May 5 -11 is Emergency Preparedness Week, and this year's theme is Be Prepared. Know your Risks. "In times of crisis, being prepared determines our resiliency," Mayor Victor Cumming said."By ...

The Vernon North Okanagan RCMP are seeking the owner of a small urn that was found in a Vernon park. The urn was turned into police in April by a member of the public who found it in Linear Park along 25th Avenue. If you believe it is yours and can prove ownership, please contact the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP at (250)...

Update May 6, 2024 RCMP say a 65-year-old Enderby man reported missing on May 2, 2024 has been located safe and well. The Vernon North Okanagan RCMP is thanking the public and media for their assistance. Missing man may be on foot or hitchhiking: RCMP May 3, 2024 The Vernon North Okanagan RCMP is asking the public to h...

An idea for a wood chipping program in Coldstream will be discussed by members of the district's council.Unlike Vernon, Coldstream does not have a residential chipping program that's funded by tax dollars, and instead residents have to take their prunings to the landfill themselves, or pay for a company to pick them up...

Horse Drawn Okanagan will run a special event to mark Mother's Day on May 12.The organization will bring out Clydesdale horses for a tea party at the stables in Armstrong. The event will see guests seated between row of tabled horses as they enjoy tea and fresh baked cupcakes, and listen to live music performed by viol...

The plan to add shade trees at a Coldstream park may have to wait another year as there may be more urgent needs for the funding.District staff are recommending council reallocate funding of up to $25,000 from the design of a new irrigation system at Sovereign Park, to the design of an irrigation system for the Coldstr...

London Drugs is gradually re-opening core services in stores across Western Canada, as it recovers from a cybersecurity incident one week ago.The B.C.-based company has reopened 25 of its stores in British Columbia including in Vernon and Kelowna."We are pleased to announce that we are gradually re-opening stores ...

If you have old or unused tires around your yard, here is the chance to dispose of them responsibly.Tire Stewardship BC (TSBC) is hosting tire collection events in Kelowna and Vernon in the coming weeks.Tires, on or off rims, can be dropped off free of charge.The Kelowna event is from 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, May 25...

The BC Highway Patrol will be stepping up enforcement around the province with its Drive to Arrive campaign.Throughout the month of May, Highway Patrol officers will be conducting operations with ICBC to target high-risk drivers: impaired drivers, excessive speeders, street racers and distracted drivers."Enforceme...