Get the Top, Local stories delivered to your inbox! Click here to join the daily Vernon Matters newsletter.
(Image Credit: Okanagan Mission Secondary)
By Vernon Matters staff
Local sports excellence

Central Okanagan coach earns provincial recognition

May 14, 2026 | 11:00 AM

BC School Sports honoured its 2026 award winners this past weekend in Whistler, recognizing excellence across eight categories.

Okanagan Mission Secondary coach and teacher Rob Steciuk received the Citation of Excellence for Coaching.

The award recognizes coaches who demonstrate long-term success, fair play, and a strong commitment to student-athletes.Steciuk has spent more than 25 years building school sport programs across the Central Okanagan, including serving as athletic director since 2019.

He is best known for leading OKM’s senior girls volleyball program to multiple provincial championships while emphasizing character, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

View Comments

Other Matters

Littering and Illegal Dumping Prevention
Student-led project aims to promote protection of Kalamalka Lake
A group of local high schoolers are going to be promoting actions to protect Kalamalka Lake.The Vernon Secondary students have proposed installing educational signage around the lake to raise awareness of the harms littering and illegal dumping have on the region's key recreating site and water source.The project, bein...
14m ago
Read More
Rising creek, caution needed
Mission Creek levels close Greenway underpass
Rising water levels in Mission Creek have closed the Greenway underpass at Casorso Road.The City of Kelowna has set up a temporary crossing so pedestrians can still get across safely.The underpass will reopen only when creek levels drop and conditions are safe.Officials are reminding people to watch for fast-changing w...
44m ago
Read More
Construction Update
ALC pool filled, being tested
A major milestone has been hit in the Active Living Centre project.The City of Vernon said the 50-metre pool at the ALC had been filled with water, and the pool tank is being tested.The city noted the installation of the waterslide was well underway, and once those pieces have been completed, crews would be starting th...
50m ago
Read More
Local sports excellence
Central Okanagan coach earns provincial recognition
BC School Sports honoured its 2026 award winners this past weekend in Whistler, recognizing excellence across eight categories.Okanagan Mission Secondary coach and teacher Rob Steciuk received the Citation of Excellence for Coaching.The award recognizes coaches who demonstrate long-term success, fair play, and a strong...
53m ago
Read More
Self-protection
Special self defense classes for seniors in Vernon
A local agency and a martial arts academy will be putting on special self defense classes to mark B.C. Seniors Week.On June 3, NexusBC Community Resource Centre and Sifu Rob of Breakthrough Martial Arts will host two Self-Defense for Seniors classes.The courses will be held at the Schubert Centre, with one open to mobi...
5h ago
Read More
visitor expansion
Kelowna gets direct air link to Ottawa
Kelowna's status as an important national visitor hub has grown further with the start of a direct air link to the capital.Porter Airlines landed at YLW Wednesday- the only airline offering non-stop flights between Kelowna and Ottawa.There are five weekly roundtrip flights, increasing to six weekly flights in June.Mayo...
18h ago
Read More
growth
Six-storey residential building in West Kelowna approved
West Kelowna council has approved a development permit for a six-storey, 74-unit rental residential building at 3720 Old Okanagan Highway.Some variances were issued regarding parking spaces. The rental units will be on four storeys with ground floor commercial and outdoor amenity space provided on the sixth storey.Thir...
18h ago
Read More
Four Deaths in Three Months
Vernon saw one fatal overdose death in March
Vernon saw four suspected illicit toxic drug deaths in the first three months of 2026.That's according to preliminary figures from the B.C. Coroners Service, which reported one death linked to unregulated drug deaths in the North Okanagan city in March.That built on the three deaths in January, as there were no deaths ...
20h ago
Read More
Wetsch is a San Jose Shark
Rockets captain inks NHL deal
The Kelowna Rockets have signed Carson Wetsch to a three-year NHL entry-level contract with the San Jose Sharks.Wetsch, 20, captained the Rockets in 2025-26, finishing with 72 points in 65 regular-season games.He spent four WHL seasons, including time with Calgary before joining Kelowna in 2025."Carson is a player...
20h ago
Read More

What Matters

Littering and Illegal Dumping Prevention
Student-led project aims to promote protection of Kalamalka Lake
10m ago
Construction Update
ALC pool filled, being tested
46m ago
Four Deaths in Three Months
Vernon saw one fatal overdose death in March
20h ago
11 Affected Customers
Blown transformer caused downtown power outage
21h ago
Rising Water Levels
High Streamflow Advisory issued for the Okanagan
23h ago