Sign In Subscribe Now A fundraiser has been set up after the sudden death of a 17-year-old Summerland Secondary School student was a member of the high school’s Rockets basketball team “His dedication to the game and ability to lift the spirits of his teammates made him an invaluable part of our team,” said one of the school’s coaches Campbell is also described as a cheerful person who brightened the lives of those around him “He was a remarkable individual who positively influenced everyone he encountered,” a statement on the GoFundMe fundraising page reads had raised more than $20,000 as of noon on May 5 a memorial service and tribute by the Summerland Rockets will be held in Campbell’s memory The fundraiser can be found online at gofundme.com/f/ssfc3-do-it-for-jack Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines Penticton Search and Rescue helped transport an injured climber after they fell at Skaha Bluffs on May 2.  The team was called to assist the Penticton Fire Department and BC Emergency Health Services after the climber fell about three to four metres onto their head.  PENSAR's task was to assist in getting them from where they had fallen to the waiting ambulance.  Travellers on Highway 97 will notice night work being conducted for the next six weeks Crews have been mobilizing near Sun Oka Provincial Park for a Ministry of Transportation and Transit project to pave the highway from Trout Creek Bridge to Bentley Road According to information from the ministry's 2025-26 Preservation Program Projects approximately eight kilometres of paving will be completed on Hwy 97 between Trout Creek and Summerland and approximately 24 kilometres of paving on Summerland area side roads A construction speed zone has been put in place for evening hours until early morning Drivers are reminded to slow down and watch for workers Following a recent judicial review petition filed by a Summerland resident the approval of long-term borrowing for two infrastructure projects has been delayed and is expected to put a higher cost on taxpayers.  The long-term borrowing for the Wharton Street Revitalization Project and the Victoria Road Project are the subjects to the review in the petition before their funding was even secured.  The two projects received public assent through the Alternative Approval Process which followed the requirements set out in the Community Charter and wrapped up on Feb Summerland council has said the two projects are council priorities and need to continue and delaying the work would result in an increase in the total costs the district's staff have proposed using internal borrowing to keep the projects going forward which will come at an increased cost to residents.  said the municipality must spend money as a result of this legal action “Taxpayer funds are now being use to defend this litigation which is believed to be without merit,” he said in the report An item on the May 6 Summerland council agenda calls for using revised funding strategies to continue with the two projects An internal borrowing process has been recommended until the legal case has run its course.  could take between eight months and one year. He added that delaying the two projects for this period would become costly “If we do not do the internal borrowing and have to put the work on hold The increases could be between $250,000 and $620,000 The Wharton Street project has a total cost of $8,557,800 while the Victoria Road project is estimated to cost $3,850,000 The external borrowing for the Wharton Street project is for up to $3,365,080 while the Victoria Road project includes borrowing of $1,850,000 for water work and $843,470 for general work While restructured finances and internal borrowing do not change the total costs of either project internal borrowing would increase how much taxpayers will pay the external borrowing was estimated to result in a 2.15 per cent tax increase costing the average homeowner $39.39 a year the expected tax increase would be 3.77 per cent and the cost to the average homeowner would be $69.21 a year the proposed tax increase was 0.57 per cent The project was also partially funded through the water utility which expected a 1.06 per cent rate increase or $10.33 a year the tax increase for the Victoria Road project would come to 1.71 per cent with a cost of $31.30 for the average homeowner The water rate increase would be 1.97 per cent The costs for the legal battle over the borrowing for the two projects is separate and was not shared.  Surveillance cameras and the RCMP are now active in keeping people out of the slide area near Summerland after multiple trespassing and vandalism issues A press release issued by the snpink’tn (Penticton) Indian Band in partnership with the District of Summerland and the City of Penticton on May 2 is warning people once again to stay out of the slide area adjacent to Trout Creek near the Summerland Golf and Country Club The slide occurred on April 11 and despite warnings from the band as well as safety efforts such as newly installed fences and warning signs people have continued to trespass into the unsafe area and reserve land.  “Our community is deeply angered by the ongoing illegal trespassing and vandalism of protective measures in this landslide zone,” said snpink’tn Chief Greg Gabriel “This is not just a matter of jurisdiction — it’s a matter of safety and respect We are doing everything in our power to prevent injury or loss of life We ask the public to honour our land and our warnings This is not a place for recreation or sightseeing geotechnical assessments determined that there was a high risk of additional landslides and potential for downstream flooding.  the PIB has now installed surveillance cameras to monitor the area and engaged the RCMP to respond to further trespassing and vandalism “Public safety is a shared responsibility,” said Summerland mayor Doug Holmes “We stand with the snpink’tn condemning the destruction of safety infrastructure We urge everyone to respect posted boundaries and understand that entering this site is not only dangerous Individuals found trespassing or vandalizing fences or other safety infrastructure may face fines including under the PIB's zero tolerance Trespass Bylaw  “The City of Penticton fully supports our neighbours at snpink’tn and the District of Summerland in protecting the public and upholding the law,” said Mayor Julius Bloomfield of Penticton We urge people to think not just about themselves and the broader public when they ignore safety signs We are asking — and expecting — full cooperation.” The press release ends by stating that it is a formal notice that entry onto the reserve land is trespassing Sign In Register Looking to keep your spring and summer travel plans a little more local It’s home to a resort that makes this easy getaway feel like a full-blown vacation Tucked right on the edge of Okanagan Lake, Summerland Waterfront Resort & Spa is the only all-suite cozy fireplaces and private balconies are standard here the resort also offers a heated outdoor pool gym and spa access – all the makings of a restorative retreat—minus the jet lag Summerland Waterfront Resort makes it easy to lean into the lakeside lifestyle, from paddleboarding and kayaking to sunning on the private beach. If you want to experience the lake by boat or SUP, the resort’s on-site rental service makes getting out on the water easy No problem — just grab a lounger and let the Okanagan sunshine do the heavy lifting One of the best aspects of Summerland is its proximity to the great outdoors You can hike up Giant’s Head Mountain near the resort or hop aboard the historic Kettle Valley Steam Railway Adventure can also be found off the trails—Summerland and the South Okanagan offer some of Canada's most exciting wines and wine tour experiences A local wine-lovers' paradise can be found within minutes of the Resort on Summerland's Bottleneck Drive After a day of exploring, there’s nothing better than coming “home” to a suite that feels like it was designed just for you. Summerland Waterfront Resort & Spa is the only lakefront resort in Summerland offering an all-suite experience with kitchens fireplaces and private balconies — providing both comfort and flexibility for short or extended stays Whether you're sipping local wine by the fire or watching the sunset from your balcony it’s the kind of cozy comfort we could all use more these days.  The resort’s Summer Experiences Program offers scavenger hunts craft workshops and sandcastle competitions Summerland Waterfront Resort & Spa is a proud member of Wellness Travel BC supporting mindful travel and enriching experiences across British Columbia The municipality of Summerland has completed its 2024 audited financial statements reflecting the municipality’s financial position as of Dec said the community's financial position was comparable to the previous year Summerland’s net financial assets at the end of 2024 were $7.9 million a decrease of $341,148 from the same time in 2023 The net assets come despite the municipality borrowing $3.7 million for the Prairie Valley Road and primary clarifier upgrades for the municipalities The reserve funds in 2024 included $30.2 million in reserve accounts $7 million from development charges and $11.3 million in statutory reserves The statutory reserves can only be used for the purposes specified in the bylaw Summerland also held $48.5 million in reserves compared to $45.1 million a year earlier.  the municipality recorded a surplus of $10.9 million the 2024 budget included $27.9 million in capital acquisitions with $16 million to be transferred from reserves with $7.5 million transferred from reserves The financial statements also show Summerland’s tangible capital assets had a net book value of $160.1 million.  Capital asset acquisitions were $13.8 million in 2024 These included developer-contributed assets of $130,100 in 2024 compared with developer-contributed assets of $2.1 million in 2023 The Penticton Provincial Court issued its latest warrants to bring in a prolific offender with a history of skipping out on court dates.  Afshin Maleki Ighani had warrants issued on May 2 for two different criminal cases proceeding against him dating back to an incident allegedly taking place in Okanagan Falls on Nov has Ighani facing charges of wilfully resisting or obstructing an officer and driving while prohibited.  The second is for charges of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm and possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose dating to an incident on Sept An additional charge of breaching his release order was added to the second case in February.  Warrants for Ighani on the two cases were issued in December January and now most recently May 2.  A trial is currently scheduled in June for the threat and weapon-possessing case.  Family Court in March of 2024 after he failed to show up for a scheduled appearance regarding thousands of dollars in unpaid child and spousal support over the last 20 years.  Ighani had been before the courts in 2020 for sentencing of time served for five assault charges relating to two separate assaults at Okanagan Correctional Centre (OCC) for which he had earlier pleaded guilty The 52-year-old had been in jail since April 22 Ighani stabbed fellow inmate Peter Beckett who is serving time for the 2010 first-degree murder of his wife and convicted child molester David McHale The other charge related to the 2018 assault of a female OCC officer who received “severe bruising” while attempting to return him to his cell Ighani got his notoriety in 2017 when he was arrested following a Canada-wide man-hunt on kidnapping charges He was charged with 10 kidnapping and weapons offences in relation to an incident that took place in Okanagan Falls and Princeton where he was eventually caught it’s alleged that Ighani shot Thomas Szajko leading to a major police presence on a quiet residential street in the town of Oliver where Ighani was believed to have been staying in a camper trailer who were later identified as key witnesses and who had agreed to drive him from Okanagan Falls to the Lower Mainland for $400 he took control of the vehicle and forced them to turn off on a logging road between Princeton and Manning Park The vehicle stopped about six kilometres along the road where one of them was forced to get out and start digging Police at the time said all three were people who were known to each other He was acquitted of all of those charges after defence lawyer Paul McMurray convinced the presiding judge there was sufficient doubt relating to the testimony of the two key crown witnesses one of who fled to the United States after testifying Attempted murder and weapons charges against Ighani relating to the shooting of Szajko were stayed after Szajko Long before she dedicated her time to preserving local history the Summerland Museum & Archives Society said Doreen Tait was a young girl enjoying a quiet moment on a wagon with her kittens Doreen became an active member of Summerland’s arts and culture scene joining the Summerland Singers & Players and becoming a member of the Summerland Echoes Choir in 1971 "Doreen’s passion for preserving local history and the arts led her to build a remarkable collection of over 100 works all created by local artists" the museum shared in their post "Doreen started working with the Summerland Museum when it was housed in the old West Summerland train station She went on to serve on the board of directors of our museum when it opened in its current purpose-built facility in 1983." Doreen got recognition for donating much of her time to the community once being named Summerland’s Citizen of the Year she donated her art collection to the museum ensuring the local artistic heritage would be safeguarded for generations." visit the museum and explore the Tait room which was dedicated to Doreen in January of 2006 It currently holds exhibits featuring artifacts and stories from World War I and World War II The Summerland Museum & Archives Society shares photos and information from their archives every week for Throwback Thursday on their social media, which can be found online here. The museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday The Summerland Rotary Sunday Market will return to the community for its 10th year will be held each Sunday from June 22 to Oct will bring more than 4,000 people into the downtown area for each of the 17 markets All proceeds from vendor stall fees will go to Summerland projects Because of the Wharton Street construction project this summer The vendors will be set up on Main Street from Henry Avenue to the parking lot at Lordco Music and entertainment will be at the north side of Kelly Avenue and receive top headlines in your inbox Monday to Saturday A business has reported losing $162,000 in a digital SIM card swap fraud as scams continue to impact the Parksville Qualicum Beach area was reported on March 31 and appears to be a sophisticated account hacking where the victim did not engage or initiate in any activity with any fraudsters "The good news is the victim’s bank is involved and there may be some possibility of funds being recovered," Worth said in a statement to the PQB News a resident reported losing $130,000 in a cryptocurrency scam after investing online with a firm with an alleged celebrity endorsement RCMP said this case involved a person initially investing a small amount of money in cryptocurrency based on an advertisement the returns were good and they invested more money "When the person attempted to withdraw funds there were demands for fees commissions and taxes and it was then that they realized they were being scammed and their account was no longer visible," Worth said a resident reported losing $40,000 over three years after responding to a phone call to participate in a cryptocurrency investment This person told police they were contacted by telephone by an unknown male who told them they had a large amount of unclaimed cryptocurrency and offered to help the resident followed all of the instructions provided by the man who guided them in sending various amounts of money through different online banking institutions The resident’s banks recognized they were being scammed and locked their accounts and this is when the resident reported the fraud to police.  "If anyone ever receives an unsolicited phone call or email offering an investment opportunity immediately hang up or delete the email. It is a scam," Worth said.  RCMP warn residents to not engage with the caller or the person sending the email and do not click on any link received in an email that originates from an unknown sender "These links are often sent under a ruse that there is an issue with your computer and clicking on the link can provide the scammer remote access "These scams and frauds are very complex to investigate and it is next to impossible to recover any of the victims’ lost money ask friends and family for advice or recommendations and always use a reputable financial advisor About the Author: Parksville Qualicum Beach News Staff A coroner's inquest has begun into the death of Sidney McIntyre-Starko an 18-year-old who died of fentanyl poisoning in a UVic dorm room in January 2024, A jury will hear from witnesses to determine the facts surrounding her death and make recommendations to prevent similar deaths in the future Records published by UVic revealed that on Jan McIntyre-Starko and another student collapsed onto their dorm floor after they were exposed to fentanyl A third student who was also impaired managed to call 911 and tell an operator they needed emergency help It took more than seven minutes to dispatch paramedics The first day of the inquest heard testimony from Dr the jury heard a recording of the 911 call one of the students made including Kyra Herriott, who was present at the scene whose name is protected by a publication ban that two of her friends were having seizures "They walked in and then they started just ... to pass out on the floor and I think they started seizing," the caller said Alfano asked the caller to do a breath diagnostic exercise to determine if there were any irregularities in their breathing before the phone was passed to a security guard who had just arrived at the scene almost 10 minutes after Alfano received the call The security guard told Alfano that he did not know if they had taken any drugs he was instructed to provide naloxone to the patients just before one of them who was named by the security guard as Sidney About one minute after they realized McIntyre-Starko stopped breathing and lost her pulse firefighters arrived on scene and the call was disconnected In her testimony, Herriott described eating dinner with other students in a dorm room a few doors down when they heard commotion in the hallway "When we started to hear laboured breathing, I went out into the hallway because I was closest to the door," she said "I went into the hallway and [a student] was holding [another student who had overdosed], by the arms and looked up at me That's where the laboured breathing was coming from and she was sort of shaking a little bit." After bringing the student to the dorm room where McIntyre-Starko was already lying on the ground other students called campus security and 911 "They had both started to turn blue before campus security got there "[The unnamed student] was sort of foaming at the mouth and [another student] had brought a pillow to put under her head at that point Her eyes were rolled back. I did check her pulse on her wrist at one point and didn't feel [it], and that was before campus security got there," she said She witnessed the unnamed student eventually regain consciousness and speak with paramedics after receiving a dose of Naloxone paramedics continued to do CPR on McIntyre-Starko before she was taken to hospital McIntyre-Starko was a first-year general sciences student who loved to play board games with family according to a website set up by her family Her loved ones say her death was a preventable incident while calling for a coroner's inquest saying their daughter died after a delay in administering naloxone and starting CPR The inquest is expected to come to an end in mid-May Sign up for free account today and start receiving our exclusive newsletters The start of the month brings the next set of snow survey data from the Summerland's major reservoir and dam which are both showing low numbers for May The District of Summerland shares the data collected which helps forecast what the spring freshet could bring Data was published May 1 from Isintok Lake and the Summerland Headwaters Reservoir at the lower and upper end of the Trout Creek system with depth measured at ten locations for each "Snow course readings are taken prior to the first of the month from January to May and mid-monthly for May and June or until there is no snow remaining," the district stated "The snow depth is measured at ten locations for each of the two snow courses." The reservoir data was looking consistent with historical averages The Summerland Reservoir recorded 54 per cent of historical average and Isintok Lake recorded zero per cent of historical average Both Isintok Lake's current snow depth and water equivalent are measuring at zero where the historical average water equivalent measured over the last 61 years Widespread provincial snowpack data will be released next week A new art exhibit is opening at the Summerland Art Gallery opens May 1 and continues until June 20.  She said her art reflects her interest in birds later left the community to pursue a career in nursing She believes society lacks value in nature and its gifts “I hope in some way my artwork can stimulate our residents to stop staring at their cell phones and engage with this incredible valley we live in,” she said While the Critteraid Animal Sanctuary in Summerland often has a special group of cats that remain in their care for the very first time ever they are going to formally adopt their very first cat President Lori Huot-Stewart said it isn't unusual for a cat to spend a few months that stretch into a year at their sanctuary "That calculates into 13 and a half years Has accumulated hundreds of hours of love from volunteers that seriously have doted on her every need she was always overlooked and never picked," Huot-Stewart said and the rescue feels it's time to give her some peace and we are going to be your extra large family with hundreds of aunties and uncles Donations towards the rescue help feed the cats in their care along with giving them the necessary care and medical attention they may need For information on donation options and helping out the cats cared for by Critteraid, check out their website or email Critteraid at [email protected] Trexo Robotics made a visit to Kelowna on May 4 to allow kids with mobility challenges a chance to run around.  Sales Specialist Marc Robert and others from Trexo spent the day at Kids Physio Group with one of their exoskeletons for families to try at no cost.  The exoskeleton robot is adapted to the individual needs of each child based on their size Robert explained the motor of the device can also be adjusted based on how much assistance the user needs.  "It tracks how much effort the child is doing over time and we use that to change the parameters of the device as the child gets older and stronger with the goal of turning everything down and off," said Robert.   Four-year-old Prescott had a chance to walk with the machine during Trexo's visit to Kelowna.  Prescott's mom Lindsey Roche said it's her second time getting to walk with the robot The first time Prescott tried the machine was at age two and were her daughter's first steps.  "It's cool to know that there are these kinds of options for us to try," Roche said The mom added it's great to see her daughter standing as Prescott spends most of her time sitting or lying down and be able to play and interact with her peers that way Prescott was one of six kids to try the device on May 4.  Learn more about the device at trexorobotics.com A Summerland man previously found guilty of assaulting a man is back in court over new charges Garret Cole Sedawie was charged on April 9 with assault uttering threats and theft under $5,000 related to an incident in Summerland on Nov It is the latest case filed against Sedawie as other charges against him make their way through the system A warrant had been issued for his arrest in March of 2025 after he failed to show up for sentencing for assaulting a man in Summerland 2021 His lawyer is set to appear in June to find out if the pre-sentencing report for an unrelated 2021 assault with a weapon and mischief case is ready ahead of sentencing to fix a date for his next appearance for multiple charges of mischief under $5,000 flight from police and uttering threats to kill an animal related to an incident on Oct The two cases he is currently awaiting sentencing for had seen him go on rants while on the stand about conspiracies between his victim That led to a review of his fitness to stand trial in one case of which he was found fit to stand and was later also found guilty and in the second the judge ordering a psychiatric report on top of the standard pre-sentencing report.  One of the paintings in Summerland artist Jane Blagborne’s exhibit addresses the tariff war involving the United States and Canada preparing to defend itself against an orange eagle Blagborne said the image was inspired by the tariff war with the United States and the ongoing 51st State comments made by the U.S The image is one of many paintings in Blagborne’s exhibit which opened May 1 at the Summerland Art Gallery Blagborne said her art reflects her interest in birds She said she believes society lacks value in nature and its gifts Blagborne grew up in Summerland but later left the community to pursue a career in nursing She returned to the community 20 years ago The District of Summerland is holding the parcel tax roll review panel next week the panel will go over parcel tax levied on all properties within the service areas for water and sewer The water parcel tax is $285 and sewer parcel tax is $200 "The parcel taxes are collected to pay for debt servicing costs for the water treatment plant and the supply and collection networks for both utilities These amounts will be charged on the 2025 Property Tax notice," the district shared The parcel tax roll is available for review at Municipal Hall during regular business hours which are 8:30 a.m The Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel will meet on Tuesday May 6 at 5:45 p.m in council chambers to hear complaints from any property owner regarding: Those wishing to have a complaint heard by the panel need to supply written notice of the complaint to the district at least 48 hours before the time of the meeting residents can use the drop box located to the left of the front entrance doors For any questions or additional information, reach out to Emma Hartwick at 250-404-4055 or email [email protected] The snow pack has melted from one measurement site west of Summerland and is well below normal levels at another showed the snow pack at Summerland Reservoir measured 140 millimetres or the equivalent of 58 millimetres of water.  This is 54 per cent of the historical average water equivalent for the date The historical average water equivalent for that site Summerland conducts snow pack measurements at the beginning of the month from Jan and then twice a month until the snow pack has melted the Summerland Reservoir measurements have been close to normal levels in March it was 101 per cent of normal and in April it was 99 per cent of normal the snow pack has been significantly lower than normal throughout the winter.  1 measurement was 69 per cent of normal levels and the February and March measurements were lower than that number the snow pack was 44 per cent of its historical average for that date The Summerland measurements are taken by municipal staff each month The figures also reflect a regional and province-wide trend.  the April 1 snow pack was 82 per cent of its normal levels while the nearby Similkameen region was at 63 per cent of its historical averages The provincial average showed British Columbia’s snow pack was at 79 per cent of normal levels.  Provincial statistics for the May 1 measurements are not yet available there is the possibility for increased drought hazards in some areas National Volunteer Week is April 27 to May 3 The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) Protective Services department extends immense gratitude to the Emergency Support Services and FireSmart volunteers for their dedication evacuees and animals are at the heart of the response Your compassion and commitment make a world of difference when it matters most For further information, visit volunteer.ca. The Summerland Waterfront Resort recently received awards from multiple sources for its staff and the business overall the resort received the Travelers’ Choice Award and Best of the Best Award The Travelers’ Choice Award is given to the top 10 per cent of hotels worldwide while the Best of the Best Award is given to the top one per cent of hotels worldwide The resort was also named among the Top 25 Hotels in Canada “We are beyond honoured to be recognized with these three prestigious Tripadvisor awards,” said Lisa Jaager “To be named among the top hotels in the country — and in the world — means that our guests see and appreciate the care our team puts into every stay.” Jaager received the Community Contribution Award through the British Columbia Hospitality Association The award is given to an individual who has made an impact through charitable work or social contributions and who has positively influenced the province’s accommodation industry or their community Jaager has worked with initiatives that have benefitted the BC SPCA Canadian Mental Health Association and Wellspring Foundation She said she has worked to create a strong workplace culture at the resort.  “We’ve learned years ago that the team is our most important asset,” she said earlier What started out appearing to be a tight race in the riding of Okanagan Lake West-South Kelowna became a decisive win for incumbent Conservative MP Dan Albas Early in the evening on April 28, Liberal candidate Juliette Sicotte was ahead in the count "I just want to say thank you to the voters," Albas told Black Press Media when it became clear he would win "I also want to say thank you to my competitors because we live in a democracy and it wouldn't be democracy without a choice and I believe that every single one of the other candidates felt that they were putting themselves forward for the right reasons." who is returning to Parliament for a fifth term singled out the hard work of his campaign team "(Knocking) on tens of thousands of doors and handing out signs working hard at this election being a member of Parliament's an honour. I'll try to represent everyone as best I can." The remaining four candidates had significantly lower levels of support New Democrat Harpreet Badohal had 2,195 votes or 3.4 per cent support Green candidate Louise Lecouffe had 660 votes or 1.0 per cent support People’s Party of Canada candidate had 306 votes or 0.5 per cent support and Gary Suddard with the Canadian Future Party had 93 votes A total of 65,252 of 89,399 ballots had been counted This represented 72.99 per cent of eligible electors Boundaries for the riding were re-drawn out of the former Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola and Kelowna-Lake Country ridings.  The redistributed results from the 2021 federal election had 48.35 per cent support for the Conservatives 18.89 per cent support for the New Democrats 6.79 per cent supporting the People’s Party of Canada and 2.75 per cent supporting the Green Party of Canada communities in the area have tended to elect right-of-centre candidates to represent them in the House of Commons The most recent example was in the 1988 federal election when Jack Whittaker of the New Democratic Party was elected to represent the former riding of Okanagan-Similkameen-Merritt Canadians elected 343 Members of Parliament in the federal election.  The Liberal Party of Canada has formed the government since 2015 first with a majority and then with two minority governments.  the Conservatives received a greater share of the popular vote across Canada but the Liberals won more seats in the House of Commons.  A Summerland doctor has been recognized for his contributions to family medicine and addiction medicine in British Columbia Kyle Stevens received the My Family Doctor Award for 2025 from the BC College of Family Physicians for his work The South Okanagan Similkameen Division of Family Practice said Stevens has demonstrated unwavering commitment to patient-centred care throughout his career he has worked with individuals experiencing substance use disorders including providing methadone treatment and leading initiatives that support patients with complex needs.  Stevens divides his time between a family practice in Summerland and the Martin Street Outreach Clinic in Penticton which supports patients living with severe and persistent mental health or addiction challenges.  He has served as the South Okanagan “GP Champion” for the Family Practice Services Committee’s Practice Support Programs in adult and child and youth mental health He is also a clinical associate professor in the Okanagan South UBC Family Practice Residency Program in Penticton and is committed to teaching and mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals providing hands-on learning to Family Practice Residents and training practitioners in Opiate Agonist Therapy It has been a privilege to work alongside so many dedicated colleagues and skilled allied health professionals whose commitment to patient care continues to inspire me,” Stevens said.  “I am profoundly grateful for the trust my patients have placed in me; walking with them through their health journeys has been one of the greatest honours of my career and strength are a constant source of inspiration This recognition reflects not only individual effort but the shared spirit of collaboration and compassion that defines our work.” Colleagues and members of the community have also recognized Stevens’ work “Our community is incredibly proud to celebrate Dr Kyle Stevens and his remarkable contributions to family medicine,” said Dr Jennifer Begin board chair of the South Okanagan Similkameen Division of Family Practice.  and leadership in mental health and addiction care embody the very best of our profession.” Access PentictonNow using your Facebook account Privacy Policy A local baseball field has received a large gift from the charitable arm of the Toronto Blue Jays Canada's only Major League Baseball (MLB) team the Summerland Minor Baseball Association has been chosen as one of the recipients of the Jays Care Foundation Field of Dreams grant to enhance Living Memorial Park the Jays Care Foundation is committing more than $1.5 million to build and refurbish ball diamonds across the country “Jays Care is thrilled to partner with these 15 outstanding organizations all committed to bringing the game of baseball to more children and youth across the country,” said Peter King “These new diamonds will be more than just places to play; they’ll be hubs for community connection where young people can get active learn and grow a love for the game of baseball Since the Field of Dreams program began, more than $20 million has been donated to 232 projects across the country, including a project in Kelowna in 2024 and a project in Peachland in 2023 “TD is proud to again support the Field Of Dreams program with Jays Care Foundation – helping build inclusive spaces where families gather kids play and communities thrive,” said Michael Armstrong North American brand and corporate sponsorship “These diamonds are more than just fields – it's about breaking down barriers and investing in spaces where communities can connect ▲ Back to Top ▲ The Central Okanagan Food Bank has been proudly supporting Kelowna and West Kelowna families for 40 years COFB serves more than 10,400 individuals with essential Your support assists these clients- 44 per cent of whom are children and 35 per cent are working families struggling amidst the rising cost of living had a different take on the April 28 federal election and high school students participated in Student Vote Canada a parallel election timed with the 2025 federal vote Students elected a Conservative minority government with the Liberal Party forming the official opposition and Pierre Poilievre won in the riding of Carleton and Yves-François Blanchet held his seat in Beloeil—Chambly but leader Jagmeet Singh lost in Burnaby South and Elizabeth May retained Saanich—Gulf Islands students sent Conservative Tracy Gray back to Ottawa with 322 more votes than Liberal Stephen Fuhr in Kelowna Conservative Dan Albas held off Liberal Juliette Sicotte by 508 votes in Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna having previously served from 2015 to 2019 voters elected a Liberal minority government with 168 seats The Conservative Party became the Official Opposition with 144 seats Both Singh and Pedneault lost their ridings Singh has since announced he will step down as NDP leader MP-elect Damien Kurek (Battle River–Crowfoot Alta.) announced his resignation to allow Poilievre to contest a by-election He lost his Carleton riding by about 4,000 votes to Liberal newcomer Bruce Fanjoy with more than 90 candidates on the ballot Kurek had defeated his Liberal opponent by a margin of 53,502 votes to 7,482 Student Vote is an initiative of CIVIX a non-partisan Canadian charity dedicated to strengthening democracy through civic education A Summerland doctor has been honoured with an award for his contributions to family medicine in the province Kyle Stevens has won the "My Family Doctor 2025" award through the BC College of Family Physicians Stevens has spent his career since 2005 working with individuals experiencing mental health and addictions issues He is described as a leader in compassionate care and nonjudgemental approaches to medical issues Stevens has served as the South Okanagan “GP Champion” for the Family Practice Services Committee’s Practice Support Programs in both Adult and Child & Youth Mental Health He works at his family practice in Summerland as well as the Martin Street Outreach Clinic in Penticton which "supports patients living with severe and persistent mental health or addiction challenges." "It has been a privilege to work alongside so many dedicated colleagues and skilled allied health professionals whose commitment to patient care continues to inspire me I am profoundly grateful for the trust my patients have placed in me; walking with them through their health journeys has been one of the greatest honours of my career," Stevens said the shared spirit of collaboration and compassion that defines our work.” His colleagues and community members agree wholeheartedly that the award is well deserved “Our community is incredibly proud to celebrate Dr Kyle Stevens and his remarkable contributions to family medicine,” said Dr Jennifer Begin board chair of the South Okanagan Similkameen Division of Family Practice and leadership in mental health and addiction care embody the very best of our profession Stevens is an inspiration to his colleagues and a trusted advocate for his patients—this recognition is so well deserved.” The Critteraid Animal Sanctuary in Summerland has some tiny four-week-old kittens who are looking for socialization and new homes President Lori Huot-Stewart said momma cat Jackie O had her three beautiful babies The kittens are too young to be adopted yet we actually have a little program that we try and make sure that they're socialized and ready since they can't be exposed to the rest of the sanctuary," Huot-Stewart said "Maybe there's somebody out there looking for kittens and they want to be a part of this journey." Huot-Stewart said being a part of this volunteer group or potential adopters has many rules as the rescue is strict on care until they are vaccinated but "it is still a very fulfilling little room to be in when it's full of kittens." If you are interested in joining this team, please email [email protected] attention Jackie O We Canadians emerged from our homes like groundhogs peeking out after the winter: cautious unsure if the political storm had passed or merely stopped for a coffee we leaned over counters and said things like at least it wasn’t the other guy,” or “Did you see the size of her majority The sacred rite of grumbling commenced—a truly national sport my friends: we are almost pathologically committed to not letting politics ruin the mood A cousin might bring up trade policy over turkey that governments are like the weather—unreliable Sign up below for unlimited digital access for 30 days receive our daily news alerts & breaking news Interior Health (IH) says emergency services will be temporarily unavailable at South Okanagan General Hospital in Oliver The hospital's emergency room is closing from 7 p.m This comes after IH announced a 19-hour closure at Oliver's emergency room on Friday evening through Saturday morning Its most recent service interruption marks the fifth of its kind in 2025 after a slew of regular emergency room closures in 2023 and 2024 Patients are asked to access emergency care at the Penticton Regional Hospital during this time "All other inpatient services will continue at South Okanagan General Hospital," IH said Crews are working on three sections of Highway 97 in the South Okanagan crews are continuing some ongoing highway extension work Crews are constructing a new intersection and installing new traffic lights The shoulder is closed and industrial traffic may be slow or block regular traffic electrical maintenance work between Johnson Street and Jones Flat Road — a 6.3-kilometre stretch of highway — is affecting traffic Lane closures are in effect on weekdays from 8 a.m DriveBC advises motorists to watch for traffic control in the area maintenance work is underway between North Beach Road and Brent Road The area affected is from two kilometres south of Peachland to five kilometres north of Summerland.  Lane closures are in effect and the left turn lane is closed along this portion of the highway This work is expected to continue until May 2 Along the sun-drenched shores of Okanagan Lake in Summerland’s coveted Trout Creek enclave a newly built waterfront estate is making a strong case for year-round luxury living in one of the BC’s most exclusive lakefront corridors Listed at $6,299,000, the home at 704 Stonor Street delivers the kind of lifestyle that's often relegated to daydreams With 75 feet of private lakeshore frontage and a level of finish that reflects true craftsmanship from the ground up the residence was designed with both high-performance functionality and elevated leisure in mind the property includes a 4,300-sq.-ft main residence and an additional 952-sq.-ft family wing — ideal for multigenerational living from the radiant in-floor heating and commercial-grade water filtration system to the clean lines of porcelain plank floors and the built-in wine closet the scale of the home is immediately apparent — but somehow the estate balances elegance with a sense of warm welcome The open-concept layout flows easily between interior spaces and the 1,510 sq creating an ideal setting for both private enjoyment and entertaining The central chef’s kitchen serves as the heart of the home merging effortlessly with an outdoor kitchen and lounge that seems tailor-made for sunset dinner parties or lazy lakefront brunches while thoughtful details — like expansive windows and custom lighting — highlight the stunning natural surroundings and a spa-style ensuite complete with a luxurious steam shower ample space — including that aforementioned family wing — ensures comfort for all occupants whether relaxing indoors or gathering outdoors outfitted with LED solar lighting and boat tie-downs ft of garage space — not to mention parking for five (or more) vehicles plus room for a boat or RV — this property delivers a rare combination of luxury and practicality on the water ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ There’s a lot to admire at this sprawling home but it’s the fusion of form and function that leaves a lasting impression From the chef’s kitchen that opens to the outdoor lounge every element of this home is crafted to maximize connection — to the water and to the easy elegance of lakeside living Located in one of the most high-value neighbourhoods in the Okanagan the Trout Creek area is beloved for its quiet charm particularly with private waterfront access This article was produced in partnership with STOREYS Custom Studio. forced some evacuations Thursday evening (May 1) which is 56 hectares and burning out of control was discovered on Thursday and is believed to be human caused Wildfire Service says 12 firefighters are responding alongside the Fort St along with two helicopters and an air tanker.  John posted on its Facebook page that the wildfire not currently threatening any structures as it moves beyond the Community Forest into the Peace River Regional District Evacuees were directed to the Pomeroy Sport Centre for emergency support services.  Enter your email to connect to 30 more days worth of stories by journalists living & working in Summerland The municipality of Summerland is starting work on the Wharton Street Revitalization Project its first major initiative under the Downtown Neighbourhood Action Plan Some of the components will include upgrading underground utilities improving the roadway and pedestrian infrastructure including adding all-season washrooms and enhancing public spaces The work is scheduled to begin on April 28 said the electrical upgrade work will extend from Smith Street and Armstrong Avenue along the length of Wharton Street and on the back alley of Victoria Road to the post office.  The overhead power lines in place at present will be relocated underground.  The streetscape work on and near Wharton Street will be done at the same time and creating a more attractive and functional environment we maximize the investment and bring added value to the community,” a statement from the municipality reads director of works and infrastructure for Summerland said the streetscape work will include the creation of the Memorial Park Plaza which will include an upgraded cenotaph area A raised crosswalk will be installed to connect this area to the Henry Avenue Plaza The Henry Avenue Plaza will involve the section of Henry Avenue between Main Street and Wharton Street This section of road will be closed to vehicle traffic to create the plaza area It will include an all-season public washroom The upgrade project will also include a raised intersection at the corner of Main Street and Victoria Road Victoria Road traffic will not stop at this intersection but the raised crosswalk will slow traffic.  Upgrades to Wharton Street and Victoria Road will include a three-metre-wide multi-use pathway The two roads will remain two-way streets.  access to driveways and rear entrances will be restricted and traffic delays and detours will be in place Some of the events traditionally held in Memorial Park may be relocated during the construction Summerland Action Festival in early June will proceed as usual Mitchell said Wharton Street may be affected but most of the park will still be usable for the festival activities The project is expected to be completed by Remembrance Day in November with the potential for some electrical work to be finished in 2026 The total cost of the Wharton Street project is estimated at $8.557 million the municipality approved the borrowing of up to $3.365 million for this project The borrowed money is to be repaid over a 25-year term The municipality will provide regular updates while the work is continuing Details will be available online at whartonstreet.ca and on the municipality’s Facebook page Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma says new legislation will speed up approvals for infrastructure projects the Infrastructure Projects Act is meant to enable the provincial government to expand work already underway "to reduce redundancy but redundancy," Ma said in Victoria.  "We'll be able to prioritize and accelerate approval for projects that will need to support for people in their communities The environmental assessment office will be developing an expedited environmental assessment process so that designated provincially significant projects we go through a faster review while continuing to uphold high environmental standards." Ma said B.C.'s population has "exploded" by 188,000 people between June 2023 and June 2024 "For everyone 10,000 people that are added to the population we need an additional 18 hospital beds and 4,000 additional homes and we saw 188,000 people join us in a single 12-month period." the legislation will speed up approvals for priority provincial infrastructure projects It would also allow for an expedited environmental assessment process so designated projects can be reviewed "more quickly without compromising B.C.'s high environmental standards." The legislation would also allow the Infrastructure Ministry to work with school districts health authorities and post-secondary institutions to deliver some projects on their behalf.  Ma said the projects could be delivered by Crown corporations First Nations and the private sector.  "They would need to create significant economic social or environmental benefits for people in B.C. and are projects that contribute to the priorities of British Columbians The municipality of Summerland is about to begin the Wharton Street Revitalization Project will focus on critical infrastructure renewal The work is scheduled to begin on April 28 and will continue through November The municipality will provide regular updates while the work is continuing.  No One Covers Summerland Like The Summerland Review Don’t miss out on reading the latest local Join our community and receive daily news alerts & breaking news 2025Highway 97 will remain open to two-way traffic between Callan Road and Okanagan Lake Provincial Park north of Summerland Check DriveBC.ca As temporary stabilization work is completed the site will be safely shut down for the winter months.  Two lanes of traffic remain open. Long term stabilization work set to begin spring 2025 Oversized loads are permitted Sunday, Monday, Wednesday between 9 pm and 5 am. Preschedule prior to arrival with traffic control personnel on site. See below for details This section of Highway 97 was closed on Aug 2023 because of a rockslide that deposited approximately 3,000 cubic metres of material onto the highway surface Further investigations revealed tension cracks above the source area of the rockfall geotechnical engineers have determined that additional long-term stabilization measures are required in this area You MUST contact Traffic Control 24 hours in advance prior to arrival on site to arrange for the applicable traffic control resourcing Typical travel delays observed are 2-3 minutes or less Geotechnical engineers discovered tension cracks extending  further upslope beyond the initial rockfall area The tension cracks were up to 2 m wide and up to 20 m deep These findings revealed that the initial rockfall event part a larger event that required mitigation to protect road users and the highway.  a 22 m high temporary soil and rock berm was constructed along the toe of the slide to resist further slope movement This temporary berm acts as a buttress for holding back slide movement until long term stabilization measures can be implemented a 24/7 slide monitoring program was established Specialized survey equipment is used to continuously monitor the area for slide movement the highway can be closed on short notice to protect road users and site workers blasting operations were conducted as part of the effort to unload a portion of the slide mass.  This is to reduce the pressure on the hillside and protect the road from further rockfall The unloaded material has been moved to off-site storage Blasting to remove unstable material above Highway 97 north of Summerland is now complete More than 46,500 m3 of material has been removed from the slope since the rockfall in August 2023 To stabilize the rockslide, steel rock anchors (32mm to 75mm thick and up to approximately 30 m in length) will be installed in the slide zone After the rock anchors have been installed and will be replaced by a Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) retaining wall which will form a buttress to complement the anchors Search news The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure acknowledges with respect and thanks that this endeavor is occurring within the traditional territories of the Syilx peoples represented by and with the assistance of the Okanagan Indian Band Enter your email address to subscribe to updates of this page Email addresses are collected under section 26(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, for the purpose of providing content updates. Questions about the collection of email addresses can be directed to the Manager of Corporate Web, Government Digital Experience Division. PO Box 9409, Stn Prov Govt, Victoria, BC V8W 9V1 Get construction updates, traffic, weather and road conditions, plan your route and regional information links. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure on  Did you find what you were looking for?YesNoThe B.C Public Service acknowledges the territories of First Nations around B.C and is grateful to carry out our work on these lands and concerns of all Indigenous Peoples - First Nations and Inuit - respecting and acknowledging their distinct cultures We can help in over 220 languages and through other accessible options. Call, email or text us, or find a service centre Infrastructure work on Highway 97 north of Summerland could be picking up again soon as the ministry begins to complete long-term repairs at the site The major Okanagan highway has been subject to frequent traffic disruptions after a rockslide first tumbled onto the road in August 2023. The Ministry of Transportation and Transit completed their temporary stabilization work at the end of November 2024 between Callan Road and Okanagan Lake The site was shut down for the winter months In a statement provided by the ministry to Castanet on Wednesday they said the province will be tendering a project in the upcoming months to complete long-term repairs at the site the Ministry of Transportation and Transit will have more information on the estimated completion date," they added Highway 97 remains open to two lanes of traffic and the ministry is continuing to monitor the site to ensure safety Construction zone speed is still in effect through the area "The ministry appreciates the public's patience as solutions continue to develop for this complex site." The hope is that the long-term repairs will not impact traffic too much Detailed information on the project can be found online here. Cutting the popular provincial rebate program for electric vehicles will make hitting government-mandated targets for EV sales impossible said the head of the New Car Dealers Association of B.C government announced a pause on the CleanBC Go Electric rebate program which gave consumers with incomes under $100,000 between $1,000 and $4,000 towards the purchase of an EV and between $500 and $2,000 for the purchase of a plug-in hybrid Join thousands of other like-minded readers and sign up below to gain immediate & unlimited access to our news for the next 30 days – plus start receiving our newsletters Critteraid Animal Sanctuary President Lori Huot-Stewart said she just wanted to say thank you this Easter Weekend "We have so many responsibilities in our worlds and at times it all seems very overwhelming," she shared "It's during some of these moments of chaos pressure and that everything seems so out of control that I have some examples of these amazing people that just show up." Huot-Stewart said the sanctuary in Summerland has been dealing with a broken irrigation line along with weeks and months of non stop animal situations and medical issues there's my 86 year old dad and my husband and my best friend I think I felt such relief," she added I feel this must be what one of our animals kind of feel like when somebody takes a moment I feel like all of this is possible." The 10-acre property hosts a multitude of animals that the charity has saved The organization works hard to look after its furry friends being completely run by volunteers and donations It makes me really so appreciative to all our volunteers The Summerland branch of the Royal Canadian Legion will hold a candle-lighting event for VE Day on Sunday members of the legion place memorial candles on the graves of veterans at Summerland cemeteries A formal colour guard ceremony will take place at Canyon View Cemetery followed by the placing of candles. Volunteers April 28 is the National Day of Mourning in Canada It commemorates workers who have been killed injured or suffered illness due to workplace related hazards and occupational exposures More than 200 people gathered in Kelowna's Ben Lee Park on April 29 to remember the 11 people who were killed in an attack on a Filipino cultural festival in Vancouver and to send love to those who remain in hospital after surviving the incident On the evening of April 26, an SUV drove through a crowd of people who were celebrating the Filipino Lapu-Lapu Day festival in Vancouver Summerland is starting their first major initiative under the Downtown Neighbourhood Action Plan beginning with the Wharton Street Revitalization Project The district said the $8.5 million investment is "focused primarily on critical infrastructure renewal in the heart of our community." Work will be done to upgrade aging infrastructure above and below ground Roadway and pedestrian infrastructure will also get redone along with reconfiguring parking and traffic flow for better downtown functionality There will be an additional of all-season public washroom and improving public spaces to "support a more functional and community-oriented downtown core." Construction is scheduled to begin on Monday and will continue through November 2025 "The district acknowledges that construction will temporarily impact residents "Anticipated disruptions include: restricted access to driveways and rear entrances The district said due to the construction in and around Memorial Park some community events traditionally held there may be relocated a construction information and awareness session will also be held on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m at the George Ryga Arts and Cultural Centre "This infrastructure renewal project is a key step in preparing Summerland’s downtown for the future — supporting growth and reliable service delivery for years to come The district thanks the community for its patience and cooperation during this essential work." Updates will be available at www.whartonstreet.ca and on the District’s Facebook page. One of council’s top priorities for this term has been to focus on core municipal infrastructure including paving more roads than in the past This spring and summer will see concurrent roadwork projects that will impact traffic on several major routes including Prairie Valley Road Wharton Street and Victoria Road South.  roads will have to be closed for periods of time and there will need to be detours to re-route traffic Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines.