A fundraiser has been launched to bring an essential piece of equipment to the local hospital.The Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation (VJHF) kicked off its Spring Campaign Wednesday, April 15.The organization is raising money to purchase a new Giraffe, an essential piece of neonatal equipment that mimics the womb and he...

Criminality has not been ruled out in a local death, and police are asking the public for help with the investigation.At approximately 8:45 p.m. Thursday, April 9, police responded to a report of a deceased person found inside the Vernon Winter Carnival office."A determination of criminality has not been made at t...

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...

B.C. Highway Patrol is reminding people to drive to the speed limit after catching a Coldstream man going almost twice the highway speed.Police said a 29-year-old man from Coldstream was clocked going 207 km/h in a 110 km/h zone on Highway 97C near Elkhart on April 1."That's obviously a dangerous speed, and nowher...

The City of Vernon is joining a call opposing a PST extension onto essential professional services.The provincial government has plans within Budget 2026 to expand the Provincial Sales Tax to essential professional services. Those include engineering and geoscience, architectural services, accounting and auditing, stra...

A symbol of Canadian heritage and pride in support of a good cause will come to Armstrong this summer.The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride will hold three performances at the Armstrong Fair Grounds.The Musical Ride showcases Canada's national police force through a choreographed display of horsemanship perfor...

People looking to get outdoors to walk, run or ride have portions of a new trail to explore.The Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO), Splatsin Development Corporation (SDC) and Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) said in a joint release that construction of the 50 kilometre Splatsin te Secwépemc / No...

An alternative burial option could be coming to Vernon's graveyard in the coming year.At the regular meeting Monday, April 13, Vernon City Council was presented with a proposal to allow green burials at the city's cemetery.Green burials involves the interment of a body that was not embalmed; was clothed or wrapped in b...

Vernon is moving ahead with a residential tax rate that is still over nine per cent, but down from previous estimates. At the regular meeting Monday, April 13, Vernon City Council endorsed a residential property tax rate increase of 9.33 per cent for 2026.That hike would lead to a tax increase of $207 for the average h...

The crew that is tasked with keeping Vernon beautiful will have some extra work this year.The Downtown Clean Team pilot program sees a pair of city workers tasked with addressing issues raised from the public, such as graffiti and vandalism cleaning, picking up litter, collecting abandoned shopping carts, and handling ...

The people overseeing the municipal election in Vernon this year have been decided.A report from the City of Vernon said Sue Wood would be appointed as Chief Election Officer, while Cathy Isles would be Deputy Chief Election Officer for the 2026 general local election.Woods is the Director of Corporate Administration f...

A subsurface investigation and monitoring project will disrupt traffic through Enderby.The city stated the work would be done between April 20 and May 1, excluding weekends, and would cause the parking lot north of city hall to be closed. The smaller lot to the east would remain open during the work.The project would a...

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...

The park at Okanagan Lake will be getting some new foliage.The City of Vernon was successful in obtaining a grant from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Government of Canada to be used to plant new trees at Kin Beach Park.In the spring of 2025 the city removed 22 mature poplar trees from Kin Beach Park ...

People will no longer be able to sleep overnight at a small park just outside Vernon's downtown core.At the regular City Council meeting Monday, April 13, Drake Mason, who lives next to Hidden Park on 35th Avenue, presented a petition signed by over 100 area residents asking that the park in question receive a No Shelt...

Coldstream is holding a special meeting to inform the public about newly-proposed regulations around septic tanks.The municipality had proposed extending the setback for large septic facilities located near watercourses to a distance of 70 metres.However, Greater Vernon Water reviewed the proposed change, and had inste...

Nicer weather may prompt some off-road motorbike riders to travel on public streets and spaces, so Vernon North Okanagan 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 any...

A new maternity care option has opened in Vernon.Interior Health partnered with organizations in the area to open the Orchard Maternity Vernon clinic at the Vernon Health Unit, located at 1440 14th Ave.The new clinic provides prenatal care to low-risk pregnancies through the first six to eight weeks following a birth.&...

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 ...

Members of the RCMP are investigating a death at a local business.Police say a deceased person was found inside the Vernon Winter Carnival office on 35th Street at around 8:45 p.m. Thursday.RCMP told Vernon Matters the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the person's death was ongoing as of Friday morning....

The biannual Art After Dark returns this month.The Vernon Public Art Gallery will host the event April 17, allowing people to take part in art activities inspired by current exhibitions, from linocut print making to creating artist trading cards to soundscape pieces.The 19+ event will also see attendees enjoy live musi...

Local police have asked the public to do their part to reduce crimes of opportunity in Vernon.April is Auto Crime Prevention Month, and Vernon North Okanagan RCMP have urged people to take steps to ensure their property is not stolen from vehicles.Ensure vehicles are locked and not running when parked or left unattende...

The group that promotes the local mountain resort has received a prestigious award.Destination Silver Star was recognized with a Biosphere Certification from the Responsible Tourism Institute.The certification was awarded following an independent, comprehensive review of how the organization operates in alignment with ...

Mounties say a man who was reported missing on April 6 had been located and was safe and unharmed

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...

Organizers are looking for people interested in putting up goods or services for the Lumby Days Silent Auction.The auction is organized by the JW Inglis Elementary Parent Advisory Committee, with all proceeds going to support the local school children."Past proceeds have been used toward projects such as multimedi...

The Shops at Polson Place was the target of an aparant vandal.Vernon North Okanagan RCMP said it was notified of a person throwing rocks at the shopping centre at around 10:45 p.m. Monday, April 6.Officers arrived on the scene and found that three windows on different parts of the building had been damaged."Securi...

Vernon has seen another price jump at the pump.With the Straight of Hormuz still closed despite a two week ceasefire in place, GasBuddy said Vernon's average price for a litre of regular gasoline rose to $1.92.9 Wednesday, April 8.That was up 20 cents overnight, after prices saw some declines from hitting the $1.91.9 m...