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...

A National Day of Mourning event was held in Vernon to recognize those who lost their lives or suffered illness or injuries due to workplace incidents.The event, held in the Council Chambers Friday, April 26, saw about 80 people attend, including 24 B.C. Wildfire Service members.A wreath on display at the Day of Mourni...

The Crown is no longer pursuing charges against a suspect in a Vernon crash two years ago that killed two people.The BC Prosecution Service tells Vernon Matters charges against 37-year-old Micheal Jordan Rodine were abated this week after they received confirmation that he died.Rodine was facing six charges, including ...

A vigil will be held in Lumby Friday night (April 26) to remember Tatjana Stefanski.Stefanski's body was found on the Mabel Lake Forest Service Road April 14, one day after she was allegedly abducted by her ex-husband near Lavington.The RCMP say criminality was suspected in the 44-year-old's death and the Southeast Dis...

The Thompson-Okanagan Lakers will play in the semi-finals Friday at the Esso Cup in Vernon, but their head coach admits they were fortunate to get there.The host team finished third after the five game preliminary round at the Canadian women's under 18 club hockey championship after a 2-1 shootout win over L'Intr&eacut...

Vernon's mayor says the current site of a more than 100-year old military facility would be an excellent location for future housing in the city.Victor Cumming spoke to Vernon Matters about the federal government's announcement last week that they intend to use surplus Canada Post and Department of National Defence sit...

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'...

B.C.'s public utility provider is giving away portable air conditioner units ahead of the summer heat.Low income and vulnerable people can apply to B.C. Hydro for a free AC unit, funded through a three-year, $10-million provincial program intended to provide 8,000 free portable AC units to people who need them the most...

The City of Vernon is reviewing two major planning documents, and the public has a chance to have its say as part of the process.The joint review of the Official Community Plan (OCP) and Transportation Plan (TP) began Wednesday, and the public is invited to provide input into the plans.The OCP lays out strategies for c...

Projects that have a focus on preventing drought or water shortages have been given priority in this year's grants from the Okanagan Basin Water Board.The grants are available to local governments and First Nations, irrigation districts and non-profit organizations. The board received 23 applications worth a combined a...

The school district that serves Greater Vernon and Lumby is facing a financial crunch.School District 22's Board of Education gave first and second reading to its draft budget for 2024-25 at the public board meeting Wednesday, which totaled $141,929,695.That marked an increased from the 2024 amended budget of $139,394,...

An upgrade to Husband Road in Coldstream will go ahead this spring.District council has awarded the contract to Nixon Earthworks for $769, 548, the lowest of two bids that were submitted.In addition to addressing the condition of the road, the design also includes drainage improvements and widening the north side of th...

The Vernon Vipers kept their playoff hopes alive with a dramatic come from behind 3-2 win in overtime over the Penticton Vees on Wednesday night in Vernon.Vipers captain, and hometown product, Connor Elliott, scored 5:12 into the first OT for the win to cut the Vees series lead to 3 games to one.Winning goal in OT in g...

There were smiles -- and wide eyes of excitement -- as 11 female students from the Vernon School District got to try their hand at being a firefighter for a day.It was part of the third annual event put on by the City of Vernon and Vernon Fire Rescue Services where the grade 10 students got to use fire equipment and go...

The fight to make the final four will go down to the final day of the round robin at the Esso Cup in Vernon.All six teams still have a shot at making Friday's semi finals at the Canadian Women's Under 18 club hockey championships at Kal Tire Place.Here are the standings as of the end of play Wednesday:Hockey Canada ima...

People in the North Okanagan will see helicopters flying at low elevations for a few months.FortisBC will be conducting aerial inspections of its high-pressure natural gas transmission lines in the area, using Talon Helicopters performing low-level flyovers.People can expect to see the helicopters flying overhead betwe...

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...

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...

The City of Vernon will be observing the National Day of Mourning with a ceremony in front of City Hall this Friday (April 26.)The event honours workers who have been killed, injured, or suffered illness as a result of work-related incidents.Date:Friday, April 26, 2024Time:10:30 AMLocation:City Hall, 3400 30th Avenue, ...

A long-time Vernon Search and Rescue team member has been honoured for her decades of community service.Coralie Nairn is a recipient of a Community Award by the BC Achievement Foundation which celebrates British Columbians who go above and beyond in their dedication and service to others. Nairn has been with search and...

The North Okanagan Hospice Society and Vernon Pickleball Association are two of the local non-profit groups benefiting from community gaming grants from the B.C. government.The Hospice Society received $250,000 to renovate the nursing station and staff service areas at its hospice facility on 27th Avenue in Vernon, and...

The Silver Star Road multi-use path project in Vernon is nearly complete.City crews will be on site as early as Monday, April 29, to wrap-up the project with the final touches, including raising manholes in preparation for the top surface paving between East Dedecker Road and L&A Road.The final paving will then be ...

A proposed property tax hike will be discussed by Vernon city council next month.After finding an error in the background report calculations, the proposed tax hike that was first presented in early April was brought forward at council's meeting Monday, April 22, where it was rescinded.Council then approved moving ahea...

The Vernon Vipers are down to their last playoff life.The Penticton Vees shut out the Vipers 4-0 Tuesday night at Kal Tire Place to take a commanding 3-0 lead in their second round BC Hockey League series.Callum Arnott and Simon Meier each had a goal and one assist for the Vees while Will Ingemann had to make just 14 s...

The federal government says it won't pursue any further action into concerns raised about irregularities in the Okanagan Indian Band's election last year.Byron Louis won re-election as band chief on March 30, 2023 by four votes over Dan Wilson (290 to 286), while after a recount, Louis' margin of victory was 13 votes (...

The host team suffered their first loss at the Esso Cup on Tuesday.The North York Storm from Ontario had 52 shots on net in a 5-0 victory over the Thompson-Okanagan Lakers at Kal Tire Place in Vernon.The Storm got two goals from Olivia VanSickle to get their second win of the tournament after an overtime loss on Monday...

A celebration will be held to mark the work to establish a new multi-use trail through the region.The Columbia Shuswap Regional District will have a grand opening event to celebrate the completion of the Enderby-Splatsin pilot section of the Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail.This two-kilometre section marks the first f...