The City of Vernon has millions of dollars worth of infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects carrying over from last year, but there was also a lot of savings found in the work done in that time.A report to Vernon city council said over $13.65 million dollars in infrastructure projects was being carried over from...

Police were able to track down suspects in a rural break and enter.At around 7:45 a.m. Tuesday, March 24, police received a report of a break and enter in progress at a residence on Douglas Lake Road.The property owner reportedly received an alert from their security system, then checked video surveillance which showed...

UpdateThe residents of the apartment building that was the scene of a fire Wednesday morning have not been able to return home.The City of Vernon, on behalf of Vernon Fire Rescue Services, said that out of an abundance of caution utilities to the building where the blaze sparked around 6 a.m. March 25 were turned off a...

A first degree murder trial in Vernon wraps up Wednesday.The B.C. Prosecution Service said closing submissions would be submitted in the trial of Peter Visintainer at the Vernon courthouse March 25.Visintainer faces a charge of first degree murder in the death of Wolf Ingo Beyer, who's body was found in the Six Mile Cr...

A new initiative has been launched to promote sustainability .The Regional District of North Okanagan said the water resources and landfill space are limited, and has started a new Too Good to Waste campaign to promote water conservation and waste reduction."If the over 98,000 people in the North Okanagan took jus...

The City of Vernon had a lot of savings in 2025.The city's financial report stated the revenue and the expenditure budgets were forecasted at over $119-million for the fiscal year.The report said unaudited revenues were down slightly at $118.7-million as of December 31, 2025, though that was made up from expenditures w...

A special ceremony will be held in Vernon to celebrate a local Paralympian.Ina Forrest of Spallumcheen won gold in Wheelchair Curling at the 2026 Paralympic Games.Forrest now has medaled in five Paralympics, taking three golds and two bronzes over those competitions.In the most recent games Forrest and Team Canada also...

The City of Vernon has once again been recognized for the work done by its finance department.At the regular council meeting Monday, March 23, Vernon's Director of Financial Services, Elma Hamming, was presented with the Canadian Award for Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association."This ...

Local athletes got to showcase their skills as the freestyle ski Timber Tour #3 BC Championships was held at the local ski hill.The third and final stop of the Timber Tour and Shred Series season was held at SilverStar Mountain Resort over the weekend of March 12-15.The Timber Tour competitions involved moguls, slopest...

The agency that helps people in need of rescue in the backcountry is getting some financial aid.Air Rescue One Heli Winch Society, which is based out of Vernon and directly supports Vernon and other nearby Search and Rescue groups, was awarded $17,000 through the provincial Community Gaming Grants program.The Heli Winc...

A proposed major development in Vernon's Commonage area has gotten its initial go ahead, but it is far from being ready to have shovels in the ground.Kerkhoff Develop-Build has proposed building a neighbourhood located at 580 Commonage Road that would include 3,571 housing units, with 40 per cent of them to be set at a...

The group that cares for the local agricultural park will hold a public information session.Friends of the sncəcmałqtn Agricultural Park (FoSNAP) oversee the care of the park, formerly known as BX Ranch, and have a number of plans for the site.Those include implementing regenerative agriculture through permaculture ...

Police had to force their way into a house following a shooting incident in a Vernon park Friday evening.Vernon North Okanagan RCMP said they received a report of a potential shooting at Civic Memorial Park at around 5:45 p.m. March 20.Two men who knew each other met at the park before a fight broke out. The suspect al...

A significant wildfire mitigation project will be see smoke rising in the Monte Lake area.The B.C. Wildfire Service said it will be collecting and burning roughly 100 piles of fire fuels from the area.This work will allow for the disposal of fire fuels, including burnt, damaged and felled trees, as well as provide trai...

A local organization that helps people in need is raising money for a new vehicle.Packman Open Hearts is a Vernon-based organization that provides warm meals, clothing, hygiene supplies and connections to people experiencing homelessness.However, their vehicle, which the group uses to reach those in need, is no longer ...

The Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre is lending its support to local youths looking to explore studies in the arts. The Performing Arts Centre (VDPAC) opened applications for its Performing Arts Bursary Program, with a total of $3,000 on offer to help high schoolers and those already enrolled in post-secondar...

A small aircraft had to make an emergency landing at the Vernon Regional Airport Saturday.According to the City of Vernon, a privately registered twin-engine plane experienced mechanical issues with its nose landing gear.Emergency teams were dispatched to the airport and awaited the plane's arrival, which landed safely...

The re-written plan for a multi-thousand housing unit development in the Commonage area is coming back before Vernon City Council.The developer, Kerkhoff Develop-Build, was originally proposing a development consisting of 4,000 housing units, 1,800 of which would be attainably prices.After receiving feedback from the p...

The final touches of the Vernon Creek Naturalization project is getting done.City staff were reportedly tasked with completing the project in Polson Park, weather and conditions permitting, through late-March.The work involves spreading and leveling topsoil to prepare surfaces for final restoration; continuing granular...

The first provincial housing target for Vernon has almost been reached. The provincial government ordered the City to deliver a total of 277 new homes between September 2025 and September 2026 under the housing target program.However, with just six months past the start date of the program, a city staff report said a t...

The Member of Parliament for Vernon-Lake Country-Monashee said that the government's gun buyback program has been a failure.Quoting Daniel Fritter, a contributor to Calibre Magazine, Scott Anderson said on a social media post that the federal firearm buyback program had crested the $1-billion mark after six years."...

B.C. Transit will be reviewing fares for the Vernon Regional Transit system this year.A report from Coldstream staff said the review process would begin in April with local priorities being identified and timelines and engagement processes being set.A kick-off meeting involving B.C. Transit and area municipalities will...

The local organization that supports people with end of life care has received a prestigious award.North Okanagan Hospice Society (NOHS) was recognized for its Hospice at Home program with a B.C. Quality Award from Health Quality B.C.The award was presented to NOHS at a celebration at its Hospice House in Vernon Thursd...

The annual softball tournament and outdoor concert series turns 40 this summer.Funtastic will celebrate its 40th year with the slo pitch and music festival at the DND Grounds and Grahame Park ball diamonds June 26 through 29.Organizers said team registration had been strong so far and that several divisions were alread...

The Regional District of North Okanagan has adopted its 2026 Financial Plan.The plan calls for a property tax increase of 1.4 per cent, which will have a range of impacts on property owners depending on a various factors such as:The municipality or electoral area in which the property is located, in combination with th...

Progress is being made on the construction of the Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail.Construction of the Rosemond Bridge has been completed, which the Splatsin Development Corporation (SDC) said was a milestone."This portion of the work was a true team effort, with collaboration between our Yucwmenlúcwu Civi...

A major project to reduce the risk of wildfires will be done near Lake Country this year.The B.C. Wildfire Service said it planned to do fire fuel reduction treatments on a 256 hectare parcel of land in the Spion Cop area above Lake Country over the coming years.That project will begin Friday, March 20, depending on we...

Housing construction slowed locally in February.Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation said there were just six housing projects started in Vernon in the latest reporting month.That was down from the 20 starts in January, and from the 36 starts in February of 2025.To date a total of 26 housing projects had started in ...