Tag Archives: Brayden Ursel

Kelowna bait bike program a success, say RCMP

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BAIT BIKES SNARING CROOKS

The Kelowna RCMP say their bait bike program is working.

Earlier this year, the program was started to help combat the increase in bike thefts in the community, and according to RCMP, the bike has been picked up multiple times by well-known suspects.

“Our officers will continue using bait bikes to go after these individuals in an effort to curb the thefts,” said Sgt. Scott Powrie with the RCMP Community Safety Unit.

Police say it’s important for the public to know that the thefts all occurred in less than 20 minutes of officers placing the bike in position, the quickest being within eight minutes.

This is a common crime that happens fast, so it’s crucial to always lock up your bike.

If your bike is stolen, you should report the following information to the RCMP:

  • Serial number
  • Make and model
  • Colour of the bike
  • Any modifications made
  • Recent pictures of your bike

You should also consider registering your bike, before it is stolen, on Project 529.

BC Sports Hall of Fame to hold summit in Kelowna this fall

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HALL OF FAME IN KELOWNA

For the very first time, the BC Sports Hall of Fame will host its annual summit in Kelowna.

Partnering with the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame, this event will mark the first time in the BC Sports Hall of Fame’s 56-year history that it’ll be held outside of the Greater Vancouver area.

The two-day summit will pay tribute to several defining moments in BC sport history with a luncheon event. There will be a dinner honouring 2022 winners of the Eric Whitehead Inspired Service Awards, a series of community development workshops, a pin ceremony for BC Sports Hall of Famers who are Okanagan-region residents, and the annual general meeting.

The chair of the BC Sports Hall of Fame Tom Mayenknecht says part of the plan is to move the annual summit to a new city around the province each year.

“We’re grateful for the warm welcome and support of Patrick Kennedy and the team at the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame,” said Mayenknecht.

“We will build on this year’s annual summit in Kelowna and previous pilots in New Westminster and Surrey, to make the annual meeting an important coming together of those who advocate for the promotion of sport history, heritage, and culture in British Columbia. We’re keen to make it a valuable opportunity for professional and community development for honoured members and other supporters from throughout the province.”

The BC Sports Hall of Fame Annual Summit will be held at the Rotary Centre for the Arts in downtown Kelowna – and is being co-chaired by Aziz Rajwani and Joan McMaster of the BC Sports Hall of Fame Board of Trustees, along with Patrick Kennedy, manager of the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame.

“Given several postponements due to COVID-19, this is an opportunity that has been three years in the making,” said Kennedy. “We consider it an honour to be co-hosting the BC Sports Hall of Fame Annual Summit, and we are looking forward to welcoming trustees, directors, and other stakeholders, including members of the BC Sports Hall Network. It will be a big weekend for us at the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame.”

The event takes place September 23 and 24. Registration for this event is now open.

 

HELICOPTERS FLYING FOR FORTIS

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Helicopters will be flying low over the Okanagan through mid-July to late August as FortisBC performs aerial inspections of their high-pressure natural gas transmission lines.

Talon Helicopters will be flying over municipalities throughout B.C. to conduct LiDAR mapping of the lines. The routine inspections are to ensure FortisBC that their natural gas system continue to operate safely and reliably.

Flight times for these helicopters will be minimal and no ground related work will be performed during these flights.

Kelowna Art Gallery open for free on Canada Day

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FREE ART ON CANADA DAY

The Kelowna Art Gallery is inviting locals to take on an artsy experience free to the public this Canada Day.

“We love seeing people of all ages and skill levels expressing themselves through art,” said education coordinator Sumi Ali. “Plus, we know children like things they can wave around, so this year we’ll be making nature-inspired wind streamers.”

Creation stations will be set up around the building for people interested in taking part as all materials will be supplied. This includes markers, construction paper, ribbons, scissors and glue.

Visitors will then have an opportunity to explore the exhibits, including From Warhol to Banksy. They’ll get to see pop art works and ephemera from some of the art world’s biggest names, including Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Tom Wesselmann, Takashi Murakami, Banksy, and Mr. Brainwash.

There will be a chance to touch the art as natural sculptor Annabel Stanley’s Circle of Life invites guests to move the spheres to curate their own sculpture.

The event runs from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on July 1.

Accelerate Okanagan hosting hackathon on affordable housing

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‘HACKING’ THE HOUSING CRISIS

The Okanagan innovation sector is going to attempt to “hack” one of the region’s great problems.

Accelerate Okanagan is organizing a single-day hackathon on June 23, dubbed Hacking House, at the Innovation Centre to build solutions and business models to address affordability in housing.

“Hackathons are a great opportunity to collaborate and build new connections in the community. Whether you are working in the housing industry, a current resident of the Okanagan, or you’re new to the area and want to expand your network, this is an excellent opportunity to plug in,” says Alex Goodhew, community manager at Accelerate Okanagan.

“The teamwork I see at these events is really inspiring and I’m excited to see what ideas the participants come up with.”

The event will see participants introduced to “design thinking” — a process that can bring an idea to life in hours. Teams will be formed to create sustainable business models for solutions.

At the end of the day, teams will pitch their ideas to a panel of judges and an audience of community members at a public event held at the new Metro Community Centre.

This event is open to all who are interested in developing an innovative mindset and building creative solutions to a critical challenge faced by our community. You don’t need to be a coder or work in IT to participate in a hackathon.

More information is here.

According to the British Columbia Real Estate Association, The annual average MLS residential price in B.C. last year was $927,877 — an 18.7 per cent increase

 

SENIORS NEED HOUSING HELP

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Seniors Outreach is running a 50/50 raffle to raise funds for seniors in need of housing help in Kelowna.

As the housing market continues to rise, seniors with fixed incomes are struggling to pay their rent. According to reports, Kelowna is the third most expensive city in Canada in terms of rent prices. Castanet data shows a one-bedroom is now renting for $1,500 in the Central Okanagan.

Seniors Outreach executive director Vi Sorenson says finding a new place to live is stressful for anyone, but even more so for the elderly.

“Picture someone who is in their eighties who may have dementia or Alzheimer’s trying to call ads and have conversations with landlords,” said Sorenson. “It creates a lot of anxiety and confusion. These vulnerable people are struggling as they find themselves on the verge of experiencing homelessness.”

2021 saw the lowest vacancy rate since 2017, yet rental rates were up nearly five per cent. This indicates there is more demand for rental units than what’s currently available.

According to Seniors Outreach, rent in Kelowna can be more than the Canadian Pension Plan pays – an average of $779 per month.

Funds generated in the raffle will help Seniors Outreach fund their companion housing program, run their housing directory, and to employ a social worker. The worker will help clients navigate the system and sorts through housing options such as affordable or low-income housing, assistive living, supportive housing, and long-term care.

You can purchase tickets for the raffle and get more details here.

Christmas Holiday movie being filmed in Kelowna neighbourhood

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CHRISTMAS IN MAY?

Snow has covered the streets of Kelowna this May.

In particular, fake snow and Christmas decorations have been on display at two houses located on Elliot Avenue and Richter Street, for an upcoming Christmas Holiday movie.

A film production team with a handful of trucks and equipment has been spotted in the area on and off for about a week, with the team working hard to produce a quality flick.

A crew member has said that the team will be in the area over a three-week period, with someone controlling traffic flow in both directions between takes.

The name of the film is unknown at this time, but a female actress was spotted with a young actor who appeared to be about 10 years of age.

People are encouraged to take alternative routes in the area, but the road is open to local traffic.

Kelowna has become a popular filming location for made-for-TV movies over the past few years.

The Okanagan Film Commission says last year, 32 projects were shot in the region, bringing $43,970,500 in to the local economy.