Interior Health is advising people be cautious when using substances.The health authority said there have been multiple non-fatal drug poisonings in the South Okanagan recently, and has issued a Toxic Drug Poisonings Alert for the entire region.IH advises people to have their drugs checked, use at a safe consumption si...

The B.C. Green Party is suggesting the NDP's partial walk-back on decriminalization will have negative consequences.RELATED NEWS: B.C. asks Health Canada to make drug use in public illegal againIn a release, the Greens said that while there are concerns about drug use in public spaces and a need to keep communities saf...

The Conservative Party of B.C. is calling the latest poll on the provincial election "great news," but adds it's just a snapshot in time, and they "can't take their foot off the gas.""British Columbians are fed up. They want change. NDP policies aren't working. It's time to try something new,&q...

The Kelowna Chamber has recognized several people for their community service over the past year.The business organization held its annual Presidents Dinner at the Coast Capri Hotel on Thursday, April 25.Former Chamber chair Pamela Pearson received the newly named Marion Bremner Memorial Award for her contributions to ...

If you've ever thought of adopting a pet, this would be a good time to do it.The BC SPCA is offering 50 per cent off its adoption fees from now until May 5th at all its locations. April 30 is Adopt-a-Shelter-Pet-Day, and the agency's animal centres will also be hosting open houses Saturday, April 27.While Vernon doesn'...

Phases 1 and 2 of a new multi-use pathway on Boucherie Road in West Kelowna are now complete.The city said the new infrastructure will provide safe off-street travel for pedestrians, cyclists, and other non-motorized uses.With emergency watermain repairs and roadwork now completed, West Kelowna council is encouraging r...

The Shuswap Trail Alliance will host a celebration to mark the fourth annual B.C. Trails Day.The alliance will hold a family friendly Spring Trails Celebration, featuring a performance by Shred Kelly, at the South Canoe (east of Salmon Arm) trailhead on June 1."The trails within the Shuswap are a success, in large...

Mounties in Salmon Arm have recovered multiple stolen dirt bikes over the past several days.Police say three bikes were believed to have been stolen, but were not reported prior to being located in nearby wooded areas.The first bike was discovered on a trail near the end of 9th Ave NE on April 21. Two more dirt bikes w...

Okanagan College students put their skills on display at the Skills Canada Provincials competition.Seven students took home hardware after participating in the competition held in Abbotsford on April 17.Gold medals were won by Olivia Tinling in the IT Office Software competition, Hunter Campbell in Refrigeration, and J...

People living in the majority of communities within the Kamloops Fire Centre, including Vernon and Kelowna, will be restricted as to what kind of fires they can light for the next several months. The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) said Category 3 open fires will be prohibited starting at noon, May 3, and will remain in p...

West Kelowna residents must watch their water consumption.On Wednesday, April 24, the city implemented Stage 2 water restrictions, effective immediately and until further notice.Under the restrictions, outdoor irrigation of lawns and landscapes are only permitted for even-numbered addresses on Saturdays and Tuesdays, a...

Local elementary school students filled the stands at Kal Tire Place in Vernon to cheer on the Thompson-Okanagan Lakers.Hockey Canada extended an invite to local schools, providing free tickets and transit to the arena, allowing hundreds of students to attend the game between the Lakers and the Regina Rebels on Wednesd...

Kelowna council has implemented Stage 1 water use restrictions for all customers on the Kelowna Water Utility. That means odd numbered addresses can water on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, while even numbers are limited to Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. In-ground irrigation can run between midnight and 6 a.m., while ma...

A new collective agreement has been ratified by the City of West Kelowna and close to 200 of its staff.The four year deal was reached by the city and the Association of Local Government Employees Union (ALGEU) following three days of bargaining from April 10 to 12.The agreement, which the ALGEU ratified on April 17 and...

UPDATE: 2:30 p.m. RCMP say a vehicle belonging to a high risk missing 79-year old man reported earlier has been located near Beaver Lake Road and Dee Lake Road in the Lake Country area. Alan Francescutti of Kelowna has not been seen since April 16. He was last seen leaving Kelowna's Lower Mission area in his truck, a b...

Two Okanagan municipalities will need to meet provincial housing targets to accomodate growth in the community.Kelowna and West Kelowna were among 20 B.C. municipalities identified as priority communities due to high-growth and high-needs, and will be tasked with hitting housing targets over the next five years."W...

A Kelowna resident is making plans for the future after winning the top prize in BC Lotteries' Set for Life game.Maureen Lee couldn't believe it when she found out she won $675,000."You're kidding me, this can't be real," Lee recalled of the moment she realized she won. "I was speechless!"Lee was at...

Maureen Gordon has weathered hard times before. She and her husband began running ecotourism outfit Maple Leaf Adventures out of Vancouver about a month before the 9/11 terrorist attacks devastated international travel in 2001. The rebound was relatively quick. Fallout from COVID-19 has proven much more prolonged. &quo...

Some residents of the South BX in the Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) are on a precautionary water quality advisory.The RDNO said the customers supplied by Greater Vernon Water (GVW) in the area along De Roo, Briggs, and Dixon Dam Roads (click here to see the maps) in the South BX are on the advisory (WQA) u...

A high-profile offender in the North Okanagan is facing new charges. Curtis Sagmoen is facing two criminal charges in Kamloops provincial court for possession of a firearm contrary to an order, and will appear in court again May 9. The court said the date of the alleged offences was April 18, 2024.Sagmoen is not being ...

Police have launched a homicide investigation after a deceased person was discovered in a rural area outside Kelowna.The Southeast District RCMP's Major Crime Unit said the body was found in a creek off the 201 Forest Service Road near Big White on the afternoon of Saturday, April 20."We can confirm it is being in...

It's not even May, but the 2024 B.C. wildfire season is well underway.The first major, out-of-control wildfire of the season has now grown to 1,600 hectares, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS).The Burgess Creek wildfire was discovered Saturday (Apr. 20). It is located about 45 kilometres south of Quesnel, no...

Music in the Park will be returning to Armstrong this summer.The popular event was held on Friday evenings last year in Memorial Park."Music in the Park promises an exciting lineup of performances spanning various genres, guaranteeing something for every musical taste. From cover bands to legendary jazz ensembles,...

The Independent Investigation Office has found that a Kelowna RCMP officer that abandoned a wellness check in January was not responsible for the person's death. The man had died the previous day. The officer had been dispatched to the man's apartment building, but due to the configuration of the entry system, could no...

Afie Jurvanen, also known as Bahamas, is leaning into country music with his recently released album Bootcut - a fresh collection of songs on an upcoming tour through Canada, starting in the West. Rolling Stone magazine recently hailed Nova Scotia-based Jurvanen for creating one of Nashville's most authentic country re...

Some local municipalities and First Nations, including some in the Okanagan, are benefiting from an investment in local-disaster response.The province is providing approximately $2.7-million for emergency-preparedness initiatives for roughly 100 communities throughout B.C.Included in that investment is $30,000 for a mo...

A motorcycle crash in Kelowna earlier this week is under investigation by B.C.'s police watchdog.The Independent Investigations Office is reviewing police actions in an incident where a man suffered serious injuries on Monday, April 15.At around 5:30 p.m. that day, RCMP say a motorcycle passed an unmarked police vehicl...

With the new regulations to limit short-term rentals in B.C. coming online next month, the province has released further details.The Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act takes effect May 1, for communities across the province, including Vernon and Kelowna.The new rules are as follows:The Principal Resident Requirement:...