Community

First Community MC Laurie Page and Malaika Asiedu look over one of the auction items, a big box of organic veggies, on Saturday night, May 27, at the Ghana Girls Gala to raise funds for educating girls in Ghana. (Martha Wickett-Salmon Arm Observer)

Ghana Girls Gala marks another successful year of support from Salmon Arm

Project that funds education for girls continues to see benefits spread after 20 years

First Community MC Laurie Page and Malaika Asiedu look over one of the auction items, a big box of organic veggies, on Saturday night, May 27, at the Ghana Girls Gala to raise funds for educating girls in Ghana. (Martha Wickett-Salmon Arm Observer)
A Diamond Dance at Vernon’s Best Western Premier hotel on Anderson Way will raise money for the Animal Auxiliary Thrift Store June 3, 2023. (Submitted photo)
A Diamond Dance at Vernon’s Best Western Premier hotel on Anderson Way will raise money for the Animal Auxiliary Thrift Store June 3, 2023. (Submitted photo)
The Community Dental Access Centre in Vernon celebrated its 10th year of serving the North Okanagan in September 2022. (Morning Star file photo)

‘Create a smile, change a life’: Vernon non-profit dental clinic making a difference

For more than a decade, the Community Dental Access Centre has created smiles for people, no matter their income

The Community Dental Access Centre in Vernon celebrated its 10th year of serving the North Okanagan in September 2022. (Morning Star file photo)
Vernon Snowflakes pilots fly in formation as they approach the Shuswap Regional Airport in Salmon Arm. The Snowflakes will be appearing at the Shuswap Regional Airport Open House and Emergency Preparedness Expo on Sunday, June 25. (Contributed)

Celebration of airplanes and emergency responders returning to Salmon Arm airport

Shuswap Regional Airport Open House and Emergency Preparedness Expo to take place June 25

Vernon Snowflakes pilots fly in formation as they approach the Shuswap Regional Airport in Salmon Arm. The Snowflakes will be appearing at the Shuswap Regional Airport Open House and Emergency Preparedness Expo on Sunday, June 25. (Contributed)
Kaleena Hammond (with Shay, from left), and Ashley Curwen, with Jovie, are grateful to the B.C. and Alberta Guide Dogs and Vernon Lions Club for the four-legged additions to their families. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

Vernon families guide dogs into their lives

Parents with special needs children given autism service dogs by Lions Club, provincial body

Kaleena Hammond (with Shay, from left), and Ashley Curwen, with Jovie, are grateful to the B.C. and Alberta Guide Dogs and Vernon Lions Club for the four-legged additions to their families. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)
Vernon celebrates Seniors’ Week June 5-9. (Contributed)
Vernon celebrates Seniors’ Week June 5-9. (Contributed)
The 29th annual Downtown Vernon Association Sunshine Festival goes from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 17, on 30th Avenue. (DVA photo)

Vernon sunshine festival set to shine

29th annual Downtown Sunshine Festival goes Saturday, June 17, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., on 30th Avenue

The 29th annual Downtown Vernon Association Sunshine Festival goes from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 17, on 30th Avenue. (DVA photo)
Sylvia Showers, owner of Soft Spot Alpaca Products, will be just one of the hundreds of vendors at the annual Creative Chaos Craft Show this weekend in Vernon, June 2-4. (Contributed)

Vernon’s Soft Spot Alpacas just one of many vendors at Creative Chaos

Western Canada’s largest annual summer craft show begins Friday, June 2

Sylvia Showers, owner of Soft Spot Alpaca Products, will be just one of the hundreds of vendors at the annual Creative Chaos Craft Show this weekend in Vernon, June 2-4. (Contributed)
Revelstoke Girl Guides and Brownies at CPR Station, circa 1960. (Revelstoke Museum and Archives)

Girl Guides turns 100 in Revelstoke

May 2, 2023, marked the 100th anniversary of Girls Guides in the community

  • May 30, 2023
Revelstoke Girl Guides and Brownies at CPR Station, circa 1960. (Revelstoke Museum and Archives)
Grade 10 student Delaney Neukomm (far right) with fellow classmates selling t-shirts at the first MBSS Walk for Mental Health. (Brittany Webster/West K News)

High school students in West Kelowna put books down for mental health day

The inititative was led by grade 10 student Delaney Neukomm

  • May 30, 2023
Grade 10 student Delaney Neukomm (far right) with fellow classmates selling t-shirts at the first MBSS Walk for Mental Health. (Brittany Webster/West K News)
Online or in-store donations at Vernon’s Home Depot to the Orange Door Project campaign will raise funds for North Okanagan Youth and Family Services Society programs. (Home Depot photo)

Door opens on Vernon Home Depot fundraiser

Donations through to June 25 for the Orange Door Project will benefit NOYFSS programs

Online or in-store donations at Vernon’s Home Depot to the Orange Door Project campaign will raise funds for North Okanagan Youth and Family Services Society programs. (Home Depot photo)
Boys and Girls Club Day, to raise awareness of the life-changing impact the clubs have on young kids and families, is set for Friday, June 2, with special events in Vernon and Penticton. (BGC Okanagan Photo)

BGC Okanagan celebrates awareness day June 2

The former Boys and Girls Club Okanagan will hold events in Vernon, Penticton to celebrate national day

Boys and Girls Club Day, to raise awareness of the life-changing impact the clubs have on young kids and families, is set for Friday, June 2, with special events in Vernon and Penticton. (BGC Okanagan Photo)
Janine Carscadden from Armstrong Pride hopes the community will come to a fun, family friendly event Saturday, June 3, as her group hosts the second annual Pride in the Park fun day at Armstrong’s Memorial Park from 1-5 p.m. (Morning Star - file photo)

Armstrong Pride hosts fun, family friendly park event

Second annual Pride in the Park runs Saturday, June 3, 1-5 p.m., Memorial Park; art show on all week

Janine Carscadden from Armstrong Pride hopes the community will come to a fun, family friendly event Saturday, June 3, as her group hosts the second annual Pride in the Park fun day at Armstrong’s Memorial Park from 1-5 p.m. (Morning Star - file photo)
Penticton veterans were given Quilts of Valour on Thursday at the Legion. (Penticton Legion Facebook)

Quilts of Valour given to Penticton veterans

A total of 14 hand-stitched quilts were handed out

Penticton veterans were given Quilts of Valour on Thursday at the Legion. (Penticton Legion Facebook)
Big Apple Productions Cabaret will be at the Powerhouse Theatre from June 7-17. (Contributed)

Surge in hate reflected in Vernon Cabaret performance

Big Apple Productions show will be at the Powerhouse Theatre from June 7-17

Big Apple Productions Cabaret will be at the Powerhouse Theatre from June 7-17. (Contributed)
Jessie Simpson blowing kisses to the camera. (Sue Simpson/Facebook)

Call for cards as Kamloops attack victim turns 26

Sue Simpson requests cards every Christmas and every July for Jessie’s birthday

  • May 29, 2023
Jessie Simpson blowing kisses to the camera. (Sue Simpson/Facebook)
Vesak Day was celebrated at the Okanagan Buddhist Cultural Centre last Sunday, May 28. Read story on page 13. (Brittany Webster/Black Press Media)

Buddhists gather in Kelowna to celebrate Vesak

A ceremony was held at the cultural centre in Rutland

  • May 29, 2023
Vesak Day was celebrated at the Okanagan Buddhist Cultural Centre last Sunday, May 28. Read story on page 13. (Brittany Webster/Black Press Media)
The partnership between the Caravan Farm Theatre and the Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship Society will help the Theatre continue its environmental activism of protecting pollinators and indigenous plant species. (Contributed)

Caravan Farm Theatre’s care for North Okanagan environment awarded

Theatre is the recipient of the Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship’s 125th Wildlife Habitat Award

The partnership between the Caravan Farm Theatre and the Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship Society will help the Theatre continue its environmental activism of protecting pollinators and indigenous plant species. (Contributed)
Penticton Paddle Sports volunteered to help collect the 2,000 rubber ducks that escaped into Skaha Lake on Saturday morning. Almost all have been collected but Graphically Hip is offering a reward for any found. (Penticton Paddle Sports Facebook)

‘Rubber ducky you’re the one’ of 2K that escaped into Penticton’s Skaha Lake

Operation Duck Drop was a fundraiser for Penticton Indian Band and the Brain Injury Society

Penticton Paddle Sports volunteered to help collect the 2,000 rubber ducks that escaped into Skaha Lake on Saturday morning. Almost all have been collected but Graphically Hip is offering a reward for any found. (Penticton Paddle Sports Facebook)
Belinda Beneteau has her Sweet Bees stand at the Local Food Initiative’s Farmers’ Market. (Zachary Delaney/Revelstoke Review)
Belinda Beneteau has her Sweet Bees stand at the Local Food Initiative’s Farmers’ Market. (Zachary Delaney/Revelstoke Review)