The District of Lake Country is urging residents to get prepared now as warmer, drier conditions increase the risk of wildfire and other seasonal emergencies across the Central Okanagan.Fire Chief Darren Lee says preparedness begins at home, encouraging residents to develop emergency plans, build grab-and-go kits, and ...

The City of Vernon is moving ahead with its annual road rehabilitation program, aimed at improving safety and driving conditions across several key corridors this construction season.The city says it will invest $1.8 million in 2026 to rehabilitate about 4.4 lane kilometres of roadway as part of ongoing infrastructure ...

Dry conditions continue to intensify across the Okanagan, with prolonged heat placing growing pressure on local water systems and keeping Greater Vernon under Stage 3 water restrictions as reservoirs and streams continue to drop.Officials say the ongoing dry spell is also starting to weigh on agriculture, with orchards...

A full day's worth of celebrations will go in the North Okanagan to celebrate the nation's birthday.The City of Enderby will host Canada Day celebrations at Riverside Park July 1.The day will kick off with the Enderby Lions Pancake Breakfast and Classic Car Show registration at 8 a.m.; followed by the Canada Day Parade...

Police have put out a call for assistance in locating a missing youth.Vernon North Okanagan RCMP said 14-year-old Zaharah Walker was last seen at her residence on Bryden Road in Vernon on June 16.Police believed the girl left her home on foot and was possibly attempting to hitchhike to Lilooet.Zaharah was described as ...

The annual fundraiser for the Vernon Public Art Gallery hits a major milestone year this summer.The 40th annual Midsummer's Eve of the Arts will go at the Coldstream Community Hall on July 15.The event sees people bid in live and silent auctions featuring works donated by local artists, as well as luxury and experience...

A new fundraising record was reached at the annual RF Brett Memorial Golf Tournament.Put on by Vernon Firefighters Local 1517, the tournament at Spallumcheen Golf and Country Club raised $18,452.30.A social media post from the group said the event "surpassed our record proceeds (by a wide margin)" raised by p...

Vernon North Okanagan RCMP are calling on the public for assistance locating a woman who hasn't been seen for two weeks.Eileen Krumrei was last seen at her residence in Vernon on June 3rd, and police are concerned for her well-being.Krumei was described as a 45-year-old Indigenous woman, standing 5'7" tall and wit...

The MP for Vernon-Lake Country-Monashee has called for the local cadet camp to be used for military growth.Scott Anderson said the Vernon Army Cadet Summer Training Centre could be used as a permanent installation for Canadian Armed Forces growth and expansion as it presents a strategic opportunity with its existing mi...

People are being sought to help raise funds for affordable housing at Vernon's summer kick-off event.Habitat for Humanity is looking for volunteers to help out and sell raffle tickets at the Sunshine Festival Saturday, June 20.All proceeds from the raffle will go towards building affordable housing projects in the Okan...

The province is gearing up for what it calls a "challenging wildfire season ahead."The B.C. Government gave a seasonal drought and wildfire update Tuesday, June 16, during which there were warnings that conditions could lead to incidents across the province over the summer."Summer temperatures are being ...

A local school is getting a boost to help stock its library thanks to a grant program.The Indigo Love of Reading Foundation is gifting Mission Hill Elementary with $25,000 in funding to purchase new books and resources."Watching students read and listen to texts that represent pieces of themselves - their curiosit...

The Vernon Okanagan Inspired Community Events Society (VOICE Society) is inviting residents and visitors to celebrate the nation's birthday.The group will host its Canada Day celebration at Polson Park July 1.The free celebrations will begin at 11 a.m. with a free bouncy caste and family-fun activities in the park. Fro...

A young man is dead and two people are injured after a serious crash on Westside Road that occurred Monday afternoon.Vernon North Okanagan RCMP, along with Emergency Health Services and the Okanagan Indian Band Fire Department, were called out for a report of a fatal crash on the road near the intersection with Lawrenc...

Maple leaf wearing football fans will gather in Lumby for some special watch party events these coming weeks.The White Valley Community Centre will see football fans convene to catch the action as they screen the Canada versus Qatar game Thursday, June 18.The match goes at 3 p.m., and people can register to view or vol...

A local organization that supports school children is celebrating its ninth year of operations.In the 2025-26 school year, the Okanagan Learning Foundation:Provided 90 students with weekly meals to ensure they were well fed over weekends through their six Food for Thought pantriesProvided grants to students and educato...

Greater Vernon continued to see declines in the housing construction sector in the fifth month of 2026.Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) said there were 19 housing starts locally in May of 2026, which was down from 21 starts recorded in the same month the year before.The projects started this past May incl...

B.C. The Highway Patrol (BCHP) is running a shorter impaired-driving campaign this summer. The crackdown on drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol began Monday, June 15 and will run to July 31, instead of going to Aug. 31 as it has in past years.BCHP said the change aligns with data that shows when people are ...

The city of Vernon is taking out its last big chunk of funding for the Active Living Centre.Vernon City Council approved borrowing the final $44.5 million from the Municipal Finance Authority (MFA) of British Columbia to fund the construction of the new recreation hub.The city had previously borrowed $31.5 million in 2...

A local writer has put pen to paper and published a children's book with a focus on neurodivergence.Christian Armstrong, who was born and raised in Vernon, has published his book, "YES I CAN, my own way."The book tells the story of Eli, an autistic boy, who feels overwhelmed by the anxiety of school, friendsh...

A new book has been penned that tells the tale of Vernon's pioneer history.The Vernon and District Family History Society partnered with local authors to write and self-publish a new book, Echoes Beneath the Earth: The Forgotten Souls of Vernon's Pioneers."When we started our investigation, we found records pertai...

Davison Orchards is celebrating the grad class of 2026.In a release, the local orchard said it was taking time to recognize and celebrate local students from elementary school, high school and college who reached the milestone and were graduating."We love seeing graduates and their families celebrating this time o...

Greater Vernon Water (GVW) has taken steps to preserve the local water supply while supporting area agricultural properties.GVW said Friday, June 12, that it was temporarily switching the water source for Lavington area properties from the Duteau water source to the Antwerp Deep Well. The properties moved from the Dute...

Vernon bars and restaurants saw a good turnout of fans cheering on Team Canada in their debut at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.The national team hit the pitch in Toronto at noon local time to take on Bosnia and Herzegovina in their opener of the international soccer tournament, and many fans were out cheering on the players ...

The Okanagan Basin Water Board is urging people to not let recent rainfall dissuade them from conserving water.The water protection advocates said the rain in May and early June was welcome, but also said it wasn't enough to replenish the local reservoirs or offset the slowing of stream flows.The OBWB pointed out that ...

People looking to cool off in the North Okanagan will need to wait for a new amenity to open.The Enderby Outdoor Pool at Barnes Park was expected to have a soft open Friday, June 12, but the city said it had to delay the opening due to essential work that still needed to be done on the pool and building."Once we h...

The Rail Trail along Kalamalka Lake has reopened to the public a week earlier than expected.The trail was closed between Kick Willie Road and Kekuli Bay Provincial Park June 1 for erosion prevention work in a section spanning from the 4.5 km to the 5.6 km mark of the trail.The work was expected to be done by June 19, b...

Vernon residents are being asked to share their ideas and input on recreation programming offered at the new Active Living Centre (ALC).The new recreation facility is slated to open in the fall, and the city wants to gather community feedback that would help guide programs and services to ensure they reflect the intere...