A Kelowna man charged after the 2024 breakup of what was described at the time as a "fentanyl superlab" found in the Valleyview area has been given a 12-year jail sentence. Both Alberta Justice and the Crown prosecutor from Edmonton say Stephen Mogg was given the sentence on May 21 in Valleyview court after ...

People in the Okanagan and beyond are being asked to help shape the future of B.C.'s child care services.The province launched a B.C.-wide survey to gather input, feedback and ideas on how to deliver child care from families, child care operators and early childhood educators.The survey can be found online here.In 2018...

A burst of early-season heat pushed temperatures into record territory in parts of British Columbia on Thursday, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.In the Okanagan, Vernon set a new daily mark, climbing to 33.5 C at the Auto station, edging past its former record of 33.2 C from 2005. Kelowna meanwhile, ...

The Vancouver Bandits have signed Kelowna native Grant Shephard for the remainder of the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League season.The six-foot-10 forward returns to the Bandits for a fourth stint with the club after previous appearances in 2019, 2023 and 2025.Shephard most recently played in Romania with CSB Corona...

West Kelowna RCMP is renewing its appeal for information in a historical aggravated sexual assault investigation linked to Big White Ski Resort dating back to 2002.The incident occurred on Dec. 27, 2002, when police were called to an assault involving a 19-year-old woman from Australia who was working in the area at th...

The Okanagan starting the season off with the highest drought rating possible has a water conservation advocate urging people do their part.The B.C. River Forecast Centre issued a Level 5 drought rating for the Okanagan Thursday, May 28. That was the highest rating possible, and the Okanagan was the only basin in B.C. ...

Agencies that support people in Vernon and the surrounding area are getting a boost.The province is distributing money through its Civil Forfeiture Grant program, which redirects proceeds of crime into communities by funding service and program providers.The province is distributing a total of nearly $8-million to agen...

The Okanagan opened the drought reporting season with the highest rating possible.The B.C. River Forecast Centre released its first report on drought conditions in the province Thursday, May 28, in which the Okanagan was given a rating of Level 5.The local basin was the only one in B.C. to receive the highest drought l...

Kelowna RCMP are asking for the public's help in locating a 40-year-old man who was reported missing by his family earlier this week.Police say Ghassan Al Haji Al Abdullah was reported missing on May 25. He was last in contact with his family by phone on May 21.Investigators believe he may have travelled to the Lower M...

Youth Climate Corps BC is launching its second Kelowna season in partnership with the City of Kelowna, expanding paid, youth-led climate action work across the community.The program builds on its first local cohort, completed in 2025-26, which delivered more than 403 "climate action days" working with city de...

A structure fire in Penticton has destroyed a building, forced evacuations and shut down a section of Highway 97 , while investigators work to determine what sparked the Wednesday night blaze.City officials said there were no reported injuries, but roughly a dozen homes were evacuated as a precaution. Emergency support...

The City of West Kelowna wants public input on refreshing the current Westbank Centre Revitalization Plan.It's 15 years old and there's been growth, investment, and improvements since then including a new City Hall, upgrades to parks and transit.Since the 2011 plan, the City has made significant investments to support ...

The B.C. Urban Mayors' Caucus is at the Legislature Wednesday to call on the provincial government to take what they label "immediate and meaningful action on the critical issues facing communities across British Columbia."The group of mayors warn that continued delays are placing increasing pressure on citie...

The Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies at UBC Okanagan is on somewhat of an awards roll.Visual arts professor Samuel Roy-Bois has been shortlisted for this year's Sobey Art Award, one of the most prestigious honours in Canadian contemporary art.Last year UBCO artist Tania Willard won the award that comes with a $...

Local police have removed e-dirt bikes from the roads following an incident in Kelowna.RCMP said officers were out doing routine traffic safety patrols during the week of May 18 when they came across three underage riders operating e-dirt bikes dangerously in traffic.The riders then fled from police, but were later tra...

A four-year saga involving a residential property continues, this time with Kelowna Council denying the owners a short-term rental license.That's in keeping with a previous decision by the License Inspector.The home was identified as having seven separate living units back in 2022 -without the required building permits...

A less salubrious part of Harvey Avenue appears set for a clean-up and some new buildings.Seven residential properties near the major intersection of Harvey and Richter Street are set to make way for two six-storey buildings for a hotel and apartment housing.City council has supported the rezoning application.The exist...

The Barn Owls 17U Boys Volleyball Club is Canada's top youth boys team.The Kelowna-based squad earned the title by winning Volleyball Youth Nationals in Calgary.The Barn Owls took silver in the B.C. Provincials, earning their spot in the Nationals. During the championship, the local team secured its spot among the top ...

Police have seized multiple firearms from a Lake Country residence.Lake Country RCMP and the Southeast District Emergency Response Team executed a search warrant at a property in the 12000 block of Shoreline Drive Monday, May 25.During the search, police discovered and seized eight firearms, including prohibited and re...

Housing construction in Greater Vernon is trailing a bit compared to last year.Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation said there were 10 housing projects started locally in April, bringing the year to date total to 56 projects.Comparatively, April 2025 saw eight projects started locally, though there were 64 started d...

The agency that advocates for the protection of local water sources has a new plan to follow over the coming years.The Okanagan Basin Water Board has developed its 2026-2030 Strategic Plan.The plan has three core focus points, and those each have a number of key priorities:Advancing Science, Environmental Monitoring, a...

Okanagan College is expanding access to post-secondary education with the launch of a new Open Studies program.The program allows students to take individual credit courses without enrolling in a full diploma or degree. The initiative, which begins with Fall 2026 course offerings, it is also is designed to give learner...

Kelowna council will review a new financial update Monday showing the city's first-quarter 2026 results remain in line with expectations.A report to council said the city recorded approximately $62 million in revenue between January and March, or about 12 per cent of the annual budget. Fees and charges made up the larg...

The Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission (COEDC) has launched a refreshed online Business Resource Hub aimed at making it easier for local entrepreneurs and companies to access support services in one centralized location.The platform brings together business programs, services and organizations from across...

The margin was razor-thin.For the second straight game at the Memorial Cup, the host Kelowna Rockets were within reach of a victory. But for the second straight game, they came away empty-handed.A 3-2 overtime loss to the Chicoutimi Saguenéens on Sunday night dropped the Rockets to 0-and-2 at the tournament and ...

Construction is entering the final phase on the Don Folk and Family Recreation and Wellness Centre at Okanagan College as fundraising efforts continue to build around the project.The facility, scheduled to open in fall 2026 on the college's Kelowna campus, will include a competition-size gymnasium, fitness and weight-t...

A new resource has come online to assist police in the Southern Interior when dealing with complex cases.The province has rolled out the HealthIM app in the Okanagan and surrounding regions, which is a screening tool loaded onto officer-issued phones to be accessed when responding to calls relating to mental health or ...

Drivers in West Kelowna should expect delays later this month as asphalt remediation gets underway on a stretch of Old Okanagan Highway.From May 25 to 29, crews will be working between Chieftain Road and Reece Road, with single-lane alternating traffic in place from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Two-way traff...