Community

Amelia Sirianni is the new executive director of Vernon and District Immigrant and Community Services Society. (Contributed)

Vernon immigrant society names new executive director

Amelia Sirianni promoted from director of operations

  • Mar 23, 2023

 

The Alzheimer Society of B.C. is hosting a webinar for North Okanagan residents who can get useful information on how sensory changes affect a person’s ability to interact with the surrounding environment and perform routine tasks. The webinar takes place Wednesday, March 29, at 2 p.m. (Contributed)

Alzheimer Society of B.C. hosts webinar for North Okanagan residents

The 60-minute web presentation is slated for Wednesday, March 29, at 2 p.m.

 

The Victoria petting zoo welcomes its first two baby goats of the season – Jupiter and Solaris. (Beacon Hill Children’s Farm/Facebook)

Tragic birth in Victoria petting zoo leads to happy beginnings for 2 mama goats

Goat run returns to Beacon Hill Park as children’s farm welcomes spring babies

 

Share your opinion about living in the North Okanagan in a short survey and pass the link along to your neighbours and networks! Courtesy CFNO

Seeking Community Input: What do you think about life in the North Okanagan?

Your input is needed to help measure the vitality of our communities

  • Mar 20, 2023
Share your opinion about living in the North Okanagan in a short survey and pass the link along to your neighbours and networks! Courtesy CFNO
The LMEC Siding and Community Roofing crew are hard at work replacing the old roof at the North Okanagan Hospice House. (Contributed)

North Okanagan Hospice House gets helping hand

4 businesses chipping in to provide new roof

The LMEC Siding and Community Roofing crew are hard at work replacing the old roof at the North Okanagan Hospice House. (Contributed)
Kelowna skyline. (Photo/Darren Kilby via Wikimedia Commons)

Kelowna’s population growing quickly and getting younger: Report

The city’s median age (42.4) is slightly below the provincial median (42.8)

Kelowna skyline. (Photo/Darren Kilby via Wikimedia Commons)
This Penticton art duo were one of two winners to win a $100 prize at Okanagan Lake Park on Saturday, April 1, 2022, at the first-ever Ignite the Arts’ Sculpture Contest. (Logan Lockhart -Western News)

Popular festival returns to make Penticton ‘cultural capital of B.C.’ again

The second annual Ignite the Arts Festival runs from March 24 to April 2

This Penticton art duo were one of two winners to win a $100 prize at Okanagan Lake Park on Saturday, April 1, 2022, at the first-ever Ignite the Arts’ Sculpture Contest. (Logan Lockhart -Western News)
Apex Mountain Resort has finished in the top 10 of this year’s Mackenzie TopPeak competition. (Apex Mountain Resort)

National TV broadcast recognizing Apex Mountain Resort; hill wins $2k in competition

Online voters had their say and selected Apex as one of the best ski communities in Canada

Apex Mountain Resort has finished in the top 10 of this year’s Mackenzie TopPeak competition. (Apex Mountain Resort)
Skaha Meadows Golf Course in Penticton opened for the season on Feb. 8, 2023. Snowfall shortly after put a halt on consistent operations until early March. As of March 8, they are open for the season. (Photo- Skaha Meadows Golf Course/Facebook)

Golf in February: Penticton course the first in Okanagan to open for season

Skaha Meadows opened Feb. 8; Penticton Golf and Country tees off March 9

Skaha Meadows Golf Course in Penticton opened for the season on Feb. 8, 2023. Snowfall shortly after put a halt on consistent operations until early March. As of March 8, they are open for the season. (Photo- Skaha Meadows Golf Course/Facebook)
Hungry Bear Power Bites Café is opening on April 1, inside the Penticton airport. (Photo- Penticton Regional Airport)

New café opening inside Penticton Regional Airport

Hungry Bear Power Bites Café opens on April 1

Hungry Bear Power Bites Café is opening on April 1, inside the Penticton airport. (Photo- Penticton Regional Airport)
Kevin Smith is calling attention to a significant theft at his Highway Antique Barn business on the Trans-Canada Highway. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Thieves pillage B.C. business of $100,000 worth of gold and silver

Owner calls for more awareness, security measures to combat crime in Chemainus area

Kevin Smith is calling attention to a significant theft at his Highway Antique Barn business on the Trans-Canada Highway. (Photo by Don Bodger)
The 27th annual Penticton Home and Reno Show welcomed thousands of people to the city’s trade and convention centre on Saturday, March 4. (Logan Lockhart- Western News)

PHOTOS: Thousands enjoy the signs of spring at Penticton Home and Reno Show

Within two hours, more than 2,500 people walked through the show’s doors

The 27th annual Penticton Home and Reno Show welcomed thousands of people to the city’s trade and convention centre on Saturday, March 4. (Logan Lockhart- Western News)
The Sicamous Community Banner Project’s 2023 creations so far are united by the theme ‘bees and butterflies.’ Only 20 of the hand-painted banners will be hung this year in Sicamous, and none on Main Street, as per a council decision which banner organizers say they weren’t consulted on. (Rebecca Willson- Eagle Valley News)

Sicamous banner project participants upset after council opts for branding on Main Street

Organizer unhappy with lack of communication from district for project in its 23rd year

The Sicamous Community Banner Project’s 2023 creations so far are united by the theme ‘bees and butterflies.’ Only 20 of the hand-painted banners will be hung this year in Sicamous, and none on Main Street, as per a council decision which banner organizers say they weren’t consulted on. (Rebecca Willson- Eagle Valley News)
CFNO's Annual Community Grants program awarded BC Small Wetlands Association a grant to deliver a Cultural ecological tree planting program for schools & communities. Photo courtesy CFNO

Collaborating for Impact, Empowering Community

As time passes communities grow and change, and Community Foundation North Okanagan…

  • Feb 20, 2023
CFNO's Annual Community Grants program awarded BC Small Wetlands Association a grant to deliver a Cultural ecological tree planting program for schools & communities. Photo courtesy CFNO
One of the grant recipients, the Air Rescue One Heli Winch Society, is a charity that provides life saving helicopter rescue training. (Air Rescue One).

2 Vernon organizations recipients of BC Gaming Grants

The grants program distributes $140 million to non-profit organizations across the province

One of the grant recipients, the Air Rescue One Heli Winch Society, is a charity that provides life saving helicopter rescue training. (Air Rescue One).
Penticton swimmer Hannah Rutten after qualifying for the 2023 Junior Nationals in Toronto. (Submitted)

Penticton swimming star collecting cans to help pay for Toronto-bound travel expenses

14-year-old Hannah Rutten is listed as one of Swim BC’s brightest prospects

Penticton swimmer Hannah Rutten after qualifying for the 2023 Junior Nationals in Toronto. (Submitted)
The South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation celebrated a $100,000 donation with a ribbon cutting on Feb. 13, 2023. (Photo- SOS Medical Foundation/Instagram, from left to right: Lissette Little – Director of Development SOSMF, Sally Ginter- CEO SOSMF, Heather Pahlberg – Board Director, SOSMF, Pat & Herb Wycherley, Ramesh Rikhi – Board Director SOSMF, Ilene Steele, Teresa Fortune – Manager Clinical Operations SOGH, Carole Bird – Board Director, SOSMF, Peter Steele, SOSMF Chair)

Oliver hospital’s trauma room gets upgrade after $100k donation

Herb and Pat Wycherley’s donation capped off the room’s final renovations

The South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation celebrated a $100,000 donation with a ribbon cutting on Feb. 13, 2023. (Photo- SOS Medical Foundation/Instagram, from left to right: Lissette Little – Director of Development SOSMF, Sally Ginter- CEO SOSMF, Heather Pahlberg – Board Director, SOSMF, Pat & Herb Wycherley, Ramesh Rikhi – Board Director SOSMF, Ilene Steele, Teresa Fortune – Manager Clinical Operations SOGH, Carole Bird – Board Director, SOSMF, Peter Steele, SOSMF Chair)
Students from KVR Middle School pictured with Penticton mayor and council, following the declaration of Real Acts of Caring week. (Photo- City of Penticton)

Grade 7 students share ‘acts of caring’ with Penticton city council

Mayor Julius Bloomfield declared Feb. 12 to 18, Real Acts of Kindness week in Penticton

Students from KVR Middle School pictured with Penticton mayor and council, following the declaration of Real Acts of Caring week. (Photo- City of Penticton)
The volunteers who maintain Penticton’s outdoor rink on 107 Martin Street. Front row from left to right: Frank Gair, Mark Hammerquist, Cathy Terris, Chris Terris, John Buckley, Lance Zablotney, Patrick Meyer, Chris Araki. Back row from left to right: Gord Barnes, Dave Burgoyne. Missing from picture: Ralph Consolo, Kent Fiske, Lloyd Lindsay, and crew chief Cam Gunning. (Contributed)

Meet the volunteers who make the Okanagan’s newest outdoor rink a reality 7 days a week

‘All of them just want to do something that makes our community better to live in,’ said Gord Barnes

The volunteers who maintain Penticton’s outdoor rink on 107 Martin Street. Front row from left to right: Frank Gair, Mark Hammerquist, Cathy Terris, Chris Terris, John Buckley, Lance Zablotney, Patrick Meyer, Chris Araki. Back row from left to right: Gord Barnes, Dave Burgoyne. Missing from picture: Ralph Consolo, Kent Fiske, Lloyd Lindsay, and crew chief Cam Gunning. (Contributed)
The Tryzub dance group and Ukrainian merited artist Ihor Bohdan will be performing in two fundraiser concerts in the South Okanagan, including one at Venables Theatre in Oliver. (Venables Theatre)
The Tryzub dance group and Ukrainian merited artist Ihor Bohdan will be performing in two fundraiser concerts in the South Okanagan, including one at Venables Theatre in Oliver. (Venables Theatre)