The group that promotes water conservation and protection in the region is supporting a local project.The Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) has committed grant funding to the Regional District of North Okanagan for restoration work at Hog's Gulch in the sncematqtn Agricultural Park.The OBWB said the money, provided thr...

Kelowna's Rock The Lake Music Festival has added its second wave of artists for 2026.Canadian alt-rock band Alexisonfire are set to headline the July 10-12 event in downtown Kelowna around Prospera Place.The latest announcement also includes April Wine, Glass Tiger and tribute act The Hip Replacements, joining previous...

The City of Kelowna is asking residents for feedback on a potential future growth area as part of its long-term planning work.A short online survey is now open for land north of Glenmore Road, between the Glenmore landfill and Lake Country, which has been identified for further study as a possible expansion area. The r...

The City of West Kelowna is celebrating the province's decision to allocate six new RCMP officers and a civilian support person.It follows recent meetings between Mayor Gord Milsom with the government in Victoria."West Kelowna Council and our neighbours have been asking the Province to step up since 2018. Now they...

Cycling is ramping up again across the Okanagan as warmer weather follows one of the driest winters on record.With more riders returning to the roads and trails, the Kelowna RCMP is reminding cyclists to take precautions against theft, warning that bikes are often targeted in public spaces during daylight hours. Police...

Researchers at the University of British Columbia Okanagan say Canada's bridges and highways are facing growing strain from a combination of extreme weather and aging infrastructure.A new study from UBC Okanagan warns many transportation structures are approaching or have exceeded their intended lifespan, while also be...

Kelowna RCMP and the City of Kelowna have launched a new voluntary CCTV registry aimed at helping police more quickly locate security camera footage following incidents near local businesses.The Business CCTV Registry allows businesses to register the location of their surveillance cameras so investigators can more eff...

Do you think you can help make a difference with safety on our roads?The Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) is seeking volunteers to support Community Policing programs in Lake Country, Peachland and West Kelowna. Volunteers work alongside the RCMP to support crime prevention and public safety education.These...

Kelowna Rockets forward Ty Halaburda will be out for the rest of the season after his head injury in Game 2 in the playoffs at Everett.The Rockets medical staff will oversee his care moving forward, and he is expected to rejoin the team later this month.The Rockets organization thanked Providence Regional Medical Cente...

A local runner will take her sneakers off and attempt to set a new world record in Vernon.Savannah Wild of Kelowna will be trying to break the world record when she runs 50 kilometres barefoot at the Vernon Athletic Park on May 18.Speaking with Vernon Matters, Wild said she had previously done a 500 kilometre run baref...

Kelowna City council is being asked to advance a plan to make public transit more affordable for low-income residents across the Central Okanagan.The proposal would launch in 2027 and create an Affordable Transit Program offering a 50 per cent discount on select passes for eligible adults, youth and seniors. Eligibilit...

City council is set to consider a six-storey rental housing development that would add 71 units to Glenmore Drive under the city's Middle Income Housing Partnership program.The proposed project, located at 1232 to 1250 Glenmore Drive, would deliver studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments along with rooftop amen...

A Kelowna man is celebrating a life-changing lottery win after scratching a Set for Life ticket.Clifford F. won the game's top prize, choosing a lump sum payout of $675,000 after initially being confused by the word "annuity" when checking his ticket on the BCLC Lotto! App."I knew what the word meant, bu...

The water protection advocacy agency is wanting to see more consistency in how local municipalities put out messaging about drought conditions.With the River Forecast Centre reporting that the Okanagan's snowpack was 58 per cent of normal as of April 1, the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) said the region should be pr...

The Kelowna Rockets open their second-round WHL playoff series tonight against the Everett Silvertips.Game 1 goes at 7:05 p.m. PST in Everett, as Kelowna takes on the league-leading Silvertips after sweeping the Kamloops Blazers in Round 1.Everett also advanced via a first-round sweep of Portland and finished the regul...

The economic region that includes Vernon saw a large jump in the unemployment rate last month.Statistics Canada said the Thompson-Okanagan had an unadjusted unemployment rate of 7.8 per cent in March.That was more than a point from February's rate of 6.5 per cent, and up almost two points from the rate of 6.1 per cent ...

Kelowna RCMP are asking for the public's help in locating a missing 41-year-old woman.Aleisha Pinch was reported missing April 5 and was last seen in downtown Kelowna in late March. Police say she is believed to be unhoused and has not recently been in contact with outreach services, raising concerns for her health and...

A precautionary boil water notice has been issued for a portion of West Kelowna's Smith Creek area, effective immediately and until further notice.The City of West Kelowna, in consultation with Interior Health, says the advisory applies to part of the Powers Creek Water Service Area after post-treatment turbidity and e...

A collaboration between two local community groups has helped get 2,000 pairs of new shoes to kids in need.East Meets West Children's Foundation secured a donation of the footwear, and they reached out to Kelowna Community Resources (KCR) who had the ability to distribute directly to families."This was a natural f...

Nicer weather may prompt some off-road motorbike riders to travel on public streets and spaces, so Kelowna RCMP are out with a reminder that E-dirt bikes, although they are battery powered, are for off-road use only.They are not permitted on roads, sidewalks, bike lanes, or any other public space, and anyone in violati...

The area that includes the Okanagan has seen a slight decline in unsafe and distracted driving violations.B.C. Highway Patrol said officers issued 1,008 tickets for using an electronic device while driving in the Central B.C. region in March of 2026. That area includes Vernon and Kelowna.Comparatively, the same area sa...

Kelowna is gearing up for a full on summer takeover, and tickets are already moving. Tickets are now on sale for some of the biggest events tied to Touchdown Kelowna, the city's week long football and festival takeover this summer. The lineup includes a kickoff concert with Alan Doyle on June 26, the Flip Flop Gala on ...

The Okanagan Valley Goose Management Program has launched its annual egg addling initiative, aimed at controlling the region's population of non-migratory Canada geese. The program, which runs through mid-May, targets introduced goose populations that have grown beyond sustainable levels and are linked to water contami...

Okanagan's snow pack saw another significant decline heading into the warmer spring months.The B.C. River Forecast Centre said the regional snowpack was 58 per cent of normal as of April 1.The agency said this low level led to four snow stations in the Okanagan measuring all-time low snow water equivalent (SWE) levelsI...

RCMP are warning the public about a convicted sex offender who has now been released and is living in Kelowna.Police said based on his criminal history, pattern of re-offending and risk assessment, 38 year old Graham Daniel Dodge poses a significant risk to adolescent males.The Kelowna RCMP, in partnership with Probati...

Four more southern Interior manufacturing businesses are receiving almost $7 million in government funding to expand their production of made-in-B.C. products.It will create 100 more jobs as the companies expand.A Surrey-based furniture producer will build a new facility in Merritt. Meanwhile a prefab home builder in M...

Nearly a decade after B.C. declared a public health emergency over the province's toxic drug crisis, communities across the Okanagan continue to grapple with its impact. More than 18,000 people have died from illicit, unregulated drug toxicity in the province since the emergency was declared in 2016.In Vernon, more tha...

Salmon Arm ROOTSandBLUES will have some big acts hit the stage for the 34th annual summer music festival.Organizers said Of Monsters and Men would headline the Friday night show, Blue Rodeo would perform Saturday, and the Sheepdogs would take the stage Sunday evening."Bringing back Blue Rodeo for a full performanc...