KELOWNA
Starting on February 12th, all Harbord Insurance branches will be operating under the Waypoint name as a result of the merger between Waypoint and Harbord Insurance. This will create a stronger and more comprehensive insurance provider.
Patrick Bobyn
Kelowna Chamber of Commerce board of directors, who will serve on the board along with the elected officers: chairperson Maryse Harvey of MH2 Advisory Services, vice-chairman Derek Gratz of UBCO, and secretary Patrick Bobyn, a partner at Pushor Mitchell.
Jeremy Wright has returned to Avant Brands, a Kelowna cannabis company, as its interim chief financial officer. He will be taking over from Miguel Martinez, who has recently resigned.
A group of Okanagan College Bachelor of Business Administration students assisted the Kelowna Gospel Mission thrift store in establishing an online marketplace for rare, vintage and collectible items.
The Serwa family is fully supporting the $14 million fitness and wellness centre that Okanagan College is building in Kelowna, up to a maximum of $1 million. In addition to their initial $500,000 donation, the college’s honorary chairs are matching every dollar donated by the general public up to a maximum of $500,000 as part of the Thrive Here campaign.
More zoning changes are being proposed by Kelowna in accordance to new housing legislation. These changes include allowing up to four units in suburban residential zones, secondary suites and carriage homes in agricultural and rural zones on lots larger than 10,000 square meters, and up to six units on urban area lots.
Applications are now being accepted for the sixth annual Okanagan Angel Summit, which takes place from April 2 to May 23, with a grand finale held at Kelowna’s Innovation Centre. The eight-week pitch program mentors Okanagan-based investors and Western Canadian startups.
Kristi Reich’s Lake Country & Entire Okanagan Speed Dating business has expanded to include a variety of events catering to different age groups. These events now take place in Lake Country, Penticton, and in Kelowna.
The Local Immigration Partnership of the Central Okanagan is organizing Ignite Okanagan 2024, which will take place at Accelerate Okanagan on March 13 and provide employers with a wealth of information about attracting and keeping immigrant talent. Additional sponsors include CANDO Immigration Services, Kelowna WorkBC Centre, KCR Community Resources, Accelerate Okanagan, Interior Health, and Kelowna Chamber of Commerce.
Over $485,00 has been raised for the KGH Foundation’s 2023 Celebrate the Miracles campaign. A portion of the proceeds will go toward purchasing equipment for Interior Health’s High Acuity Response Team (HART), which consists of respiratory therapists and critical care nurses who transport high-acuity patients from other parts of the region to KGH.
The City of Kelowna has announced plans to clean up Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery in the coming month, which will take place from March 1 to 14.
The Rooms + Spaces store owned by DKB Capital in the Orchard Plaza mall in Kelowna has now closed.
As of April 28, WestJet will begin operating more frequently and with more capacity, increasing the number of flights to daily direct flights between Kelowna and Toronto during the summer of 2024.
Tourism Nicola Valley is pleased to announce that the Merritt Snowmobile Club now has brand-new snowmobile groomers, expanding winter tourism options in the Nicola Valley area. A $513,798 grant from the Government of BC’s Destination Development Fund allowed for this major upgrade.
KAMLOOPS
Henry Braun, a former mayor of Abbotsford, has been chosen to serve as Kamloops council’s new municipal advisor. His job will be to support and advise the elected officials of the city as they address matters related to governance.
The Big Little Science Centre and Monte Creek Winery are teaming up to present the seasonal Adult Big Night Out event on March 14 at 458 Seymour St., with a wine science theme.
The second-annual RIH Foundation Texas hold ’em poker tournament is being organized by Signature Signs & Printing to benefit the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation.
The $359 million Kamloops cancer centre at Royal Inland Hospital is expected to be constructed by the spring of next year, according to Adrian Dix, BC health minister.
The newly reconstructed Parkcrest Elementary will reopen in time for the fall semester, despite construction-related delays.
Taco Time will reopen in Kamloops at 3200 Valleyview Dr., in the Orchards Walk strip mall, near to the newly opened Tim Hortons and Angry Otter locations.
PENTICTON/OLIVER/OSOYOOS
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen introduces a new e-vehicle featuring locally-designed decals, showcasing their dedication to promoting greener energy sources and educating the public about electronic vehicle options.
Chili cook-off at the Penticton Art Gallery ends with Cannery Brewing taking first place, Stillfood Bistro in second, and Match Eatery in third. Among the other winners are Highway 97 Brewing‘s Climate Changer (the beaniest), Dream Cafe is the most unique restaurant, Slackwater Brewing has the spicier menu, Chef Kristine Lee makes the best sides, and Stillfood Bistro is the best vegan/vegetarian restaurant.
Dr. Michelle Teo
The City of Penticton is hoping to assist a small number of strata-managed multi-family buildings in their search for environmentally friendly solutions by providing free energy assessments and solar generation studies. Fill out the online application at penticton.ca/help to see if your strata qualifies. On a first-come, first-served basis, Penticton staff will contact eligible buildings after receiving the request.
A new initiative called Better Care for BC, spearheaded by Dr. Michelle Teo, aims to persuade the provincial government to back the broad implementation of Specialists Team Care. This model, which is used in ten different specialties, improves patients’ access to outpatient care, and has increased patient capacity on average by 100 per cent.
Penticton’s snpa?x?t?ntn [sin-pow_h-tan-tn], literally meaning “a healing place,” has officially opened its doors on Skaha Lake Road. The recovery centre is run by Ask Wellness and the Ooknakane Friendship Centre and received funding from the BC Housing.
The launch of the Top 40 over/under 40 initiative, which aims to recognize and reward exceptional ‘Pentictonites’, has been announced jointly by Kettle Valley Memorial and the Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce. The deadline to submit a nomination is March 3.
The federal government is being urged by South-Okanagan West Kootenay MP Richard Cannings to assist Southern Interior grape and fruit growers who have suffered catastrophic losses due to extreme weather conditions.
Move 97.1 and Bounce Radio will host the second annual Have a Heart Radiothon live from Penticton’s Cherry Lane Mall on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2024. The goal is to raise $25,000 for SOWINS.
SALMON ARM
A planning committee in the City of Salmon Arm has recommended reissuing a development permit to West Urban Developments. The permit is for a 140-unit mixed use building located on 10th Avenue SW, right across from the Mall at Picadilly.
Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo and Skeena MLA Ellis Ross are teaming up to host a town hall meeting at the Prestige Harbourfront Resort in Salmon Arm on Feb. 16. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the proposed changes to the Land Act by the NDP government.
Lewiston Ultra Events has made changes to the location of the BC Backyard Ultra., which will now take place at Sicamous Public Beach Park instead of Little Mountain Park in Salmon Arm. The event is set to take place on April 26.
From February 22 to 23, the Canadian Institute of Actuaries will host a virtual event as part of the North Okanagan-Shuswap School District No. 83 Career Development program, to introduce students to actuarial mathematics and career opportunities.
A rezoning application from Franklin Engineering for a 420-unit multifamily development at the intersection of Okanagan Avenue and 11th Street has been approved by the Salmon Arm Development and Services committee and forwarded to the council for final decision.
VERNON
Vernon residents Randi and Jason Buerfeind has been granted $10,000 to produce a documentary series about diabetes called Life is Sweet, Living Well with Diabetes. The series will air in September on Telus Optik TV.
Station BBQ was the big winner at the 15th Annual Downtown Vernon Chili Cook Off, taking home the Judges’ Award, People’s Choice Award and Spirit Award.
Lozza Mozza, a pizza restaurant in Vernon, closed its doors permanently on February 13th.
In April, Vernon’s Gallery Vertigo will relocate to 2901 30 Avenue, the former location of the Expressions of Time bookstore, across downtown. The gallery requests an increase in its operating funding from $20,000 to $30,000 from the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee.
The Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce has presented North Okanagan Community Chaplaincy with the People’s Choice award for nonprofit Excellence in recognition of its provision of such physical and spiritual care for the city’s most vulnerable.
Dolly Reno, owner of Noble Yoga, is bringing Aerial Yoga to her studio in Vernon.
The Centennial Outdoor Rink has been closed for the season by the City of Vernon in preparation for winter maintenance on the refrigeration system and rink.
SUMMERLAND
At a recent Council meeting representatives from the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen (RDOS) presented the proposed requisition for Summerland. Overall, The District of Summerland will collect $1,082,818 in taxes for the RDOS, which is an increase of $138,112 over 2023 for a 14.62% increase over last year’s requisition.
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