John Rustad has resigned as leader of the Conservative Party of B.C., saying he quit to avert a "civil war" in the Opposition ranks.His departure came one day after he refused to resign in the face of a caucus revolt in which 20 MLAs representing a caucus majority said they had lost confidence in his leadersh...

Kelowna residents can expect some festive fun and traffic delays this weekend as the 6th annual Parade with a Purpose takes over downtown. The parade, which supports youth mental health through the KGH Foundation, will start at City Park at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, and travel down Bernard Avenue to Bertram Street be...

More families in Kelowna will soon have access to affordable child care, with 182 new spaces coming to activity centres in Glenmore and Mission. The provincial and federal governments are investing more than $16 million to help lower costs and reduce waitlists. The new centres will serve children from infants to school...

Okanagan College is launching two new programs aimed at filling the thousands of specialist construction jobs expected in B.C. over the next decade.The one-year Sustainable Construction Management certificate and two-year Sustainable Design and Construction Management diploma are designed to train people to build safer...

Kelowna city council will review the draft 2026 budget on Thursday, with a final decision expected next week.The $1.051-billion plan keeps the proposed tax increase below five per cent, while focusing spending on roads, parks and housing to support the city's rapid growth. Also, a one-per-cent levy worth about $10 mill...

Another text scam is doing the rounds.Kelowna RCMP say people have reported being texted about an outstanding speeding ticket and must provide personal information or payment to resolve the issue.Police says these messages are not real as agencies do not issue tickets via text message.The best advice is to delete the m...

Kelowna city council has received an overview of the 2026 preliminary budget, providing a framework for next year's financial planning. The budget is designed to support essential services, maintain city growth, and prioritize investments in community safety, infrastructure, operational efficiencies, and council priori...

Big White Resort is preparing to welcome skiers and snowboarders this week.The popular resort will officially open Thursday, December 4, after eight centimetres of fresh snow fell overnight in the lower slopes. The resort will open with limited runs, including Ridge Rocket, Bullet, Plaza chairlifts, and the gondola, an...

Kelowna RCMP need help from the public finding a missing 45-year-old man, Keith Joseph Campbell.He was last seen six weeks ago, in the 400-block of St. Paul Street. Police have concern for his health and well-being.There is indication that Mr. Campbell went to Alberta, but he has not been heard from sinceKeith Campbell...

Kelowna-Mission MLA, Conservative Gavin Dew, is calling on the provincial government to stop stalling, as he put it, and immediately grant Kelowna the ability to implement its own short-term rental rules before the 2026 tourism season. However, while rules do allow for some short-term rental flexibility, the government...

Curbside garbage, recycling and yard waste pickup across the Central Okanagan may be delayed as early December snow begins to build. The Regional District of Central Okanagan says sudden or heavy snowfall can make neighbourhood roads unsafe for large collection trucks."If your garbage, recycling or yard waste is m...

The thrift shop that has supported local health care initiatives over the past six decades is closing its doors for good.Rutland Thrift, which was opened in 1964 by the Rutland Auxiliary, said it will close down permanently on December 12."It was an incredibly difficult decision to close Rutland Thrift," Kelo...

The City of West Kelowna has over-delivered in terms of its order to provide more homes for people.In August of 2024, the B.C. Government issued a housing target for the Central Okanagan city, asking that it deliver 289 net-new units.The province says West Kelowna has met and surpassed that figure, having delivered 331...

Kelowna residents can now review the city's draft 2026 budget a week before council begins formal deliberations on Dec. 4. The spending plan outlines how the city intends to fund services, infrastructure and major priorities in the year ahead.City officials say the plan maintains ongoing investment in public safety, tr...

The Downtown Kelowna Winter Street Market and Light Up returns this Saturday, bringing festive activities to the heart of the city. The event runs from 12 to 6 p.m., with the annual tree lighting scheduled for 5 p.m.But it does mean closures.To accommodate the celebration, Water Street between Queensway and Doyle Avenu...

Kelowna city council is expected to approve a pilot project aimed at speeding up housing development along major transit corridors. The Transit Supportive Corridor Pilot Project would pre-zone select areas to allow residential and mixed-use development without the need for individual rezoning applications.The initiativ...

With snow and icy conditions expected, City of West Kelowna crews and contractor AEL are ready to hit the streets.City crews will apply brine to designated roads before snowfall and maintain streets according to the Roads Priority System, which focuses on keeping the busiest routes passable for emergency services, BC T...

Kelowna RCMP are asking the public for help locating Howard Hugh Mackenzie, 87, who was reported missing on the morning of Nov. 24.Mackenzie was last seen at his home in the 300 block of McIntosh Road by his roommate at approximately 3 a.m. Police say it is unusual for him to be away for this long and expressed concern...

The search for a missing West Kelowna senior has ended tragically.Renee Leclerc, 65, who was reported missing on Nov. 1, was found deceased on Mount Boucherie on Nov. 23. Search and rescue crews, along with volunteers from across the region, had assisted police in the weeks-long search. Central Okanagan Search and Resc...

A case of an infectious and fatal disease in the local deer population, in what would be the first of its kind in the region, may have been found in the North Okanagan.The province said a potential case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) was reported in a male white-tailed deer harvested east of Enderby.A hunter submitte...

There's a delay to ski operations at Big White Resort due to a lack of snow.It was hoped to open Thursday this week but the resort has announced early-season snowfall has not reached the level needed to prepare terrain or operate lifts safely.Based on the current forecast, the resort anticipates making its next meaning...

An innovative fund raiser is being offered by The Bridge Youth and Family Services.Creatives for Care, an online charity auction, will feature 34 local creatives who have collectively donated nearly $20,000 in art, photography, music, design, wellness services, and handcrafted goods.The aim is to raise funds for Beyond...

Travellers moving through Kelowna International Airport (YLW) faced delays and cancellations Monday as a winter storm in Calgary created widespread travel disruptions across Western Canada.By mid-morning, more than a dozen departures from Kelowna were either delayed or cancelled, with several inbound flights also affec...

Wildfire mitigation work is underway on Dilworth Mountain Park as Kelowna Urban Forestry crews continue fuel reduction efforts that began last spring.Daytime trail closures are possible and the city is urging people to obey posted signs and steer clear of active work zones.Most debris will be chipped, but crews will bu...

Big White Ski Resort has been named Business of the Year at the Canadian Tourism Awards, a national honour presented by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada.The award was handed out Thursday night at the Hilton Lac-Leamy in Gatineau, Que., where tourism leaders from across the country gathered to recognize achiev...

The 2025 Canadian Country Music Week delivered a major boost to Kelowna's economy, according to city staff. The event, held from Sept.10 to 13, generated nearly $12 million in direct economic impact and supported more than 3,800 local jobs.Hotels and businesses saw a surge in activity, with nearly half of the 27,500 at...

Just hours before making her professional debut on a Saskatchewan stage, a massive smile fills McKeely Borger's face as she talks about living her dream. The 32-year-old, who grew up in Regina, was among the featured dancers in Wednesday night's Ballet Kelowna performance at the EA Rawlinson Centre in Prince Albert. Th...

Holiday spirit is getting a local twist this year as the Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) Foundation and JoeAnnas House roll out the Winter Wonderland Wish List - a festive month-long campaign that turns everyday outings into acts of generosity. Running from Nov. 20 to Dec. 20, the initiative invites residents to shop, s...