French Immersion concern
Man presumed drowned
Car in river, one missing 
‘Meet Me in Mortlach’
Public inquest for death
Canada will sign pact 
Chance to challenge 
Rise of humble water gun 
Shooting suspect surrenders
Israel condemns partitions
US stocks rise, oil prices slip 
Carrying on father's legacy 
Panthers one win away
Pickard to start for Oilers
Rocket joins Canucks staff
Brad Pitt admits mistakes
Former MTV host dies
Sabrina Carpenter 'too sexy'
Summerland News
Summerland's Critteraid Animal Sanctuary looking for more foster homes
Rescue needs foster homes
The Critteraid Animal Sanctuary in Summerland is in need of people to open up their homes and become fosters.
Lori Huot-Stewart, president of Critteraid, said the sanctuary has capacity issues and they are looking to improve by adding more volunteers.
"We can provide more animals with temporary, safe and loving accommodations while they're awaiting adoption," she said.
"We have a variety of young and old guests that would be great candidates for a foster home, and they would certainly welcome the chance to once again be introduced to what real world living is all about."
Fosters for kittens and puppies are definitely a specialty foster, Huot-Stewart said, since they play a crucial role in ensuring that they grow up confident, well behaved and socialized.
"Fostering a mama and baby, it is rewarding, and it does take and make a significant difference in the lives of the animals," she added.
"We have a need for these homes."
If you are interested in knowing more, email [email protected] attention Foster Program
Summerland museum shares a snapshot from 1936 for Father's Day
Honouring past fathers
In celebration of Father's Day, the Summerland Museum & Archives Society went back to 1936 to share a photograph of a local father and son.
John Malcolm McDougald, born on November 16, 1885, and his son, Jack, born in 1922, are seen camping near Trapp Lake, Merritt.
"John sits behind, while Jack reclines in front, both look to be enjoying time together in the outdoors. It’s a quiet snapshot, showing that some of the most treasured moments aren’t grand gestures, but easy time spent together," they said in their post.
Both father and son would serve in the military, with John serving in World War I before returning home to Summerland to build a life with his wife, Margaret McDougald (née Marr).
John served in World War II before working at the Summerland Experimental Research Station, where the museum said records show he contributed to advancements in agricultural research.
"This Father’s Day, we recognize all the fathers, grandfathers, and father figures who provide love, wisdom, and support, not just through words but through their presence and dedication."
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.
New York-based clinical herbalist hosting workshop in Summerland next month
Herbalist hosting workshop
A clinical herbalist and teacher will be offering workshops in Summerland next month for people interested in studying plants, human health, and herbal medicine.
7Song is a botanist, photographer, and naturalist from Ithaca, New York. He is also the founder, director and main teacher at the Northeast School of Botanical Medicine, which he started in 1994.
Join 7Song during a 90-minute morning herb walk in the Summerland area, followed by an afternoon lecture at the Summerland Regional Library on Herbal Protocols for Stress and Anxiety on Sunday, July 6.
This will be 7Song’s first visit to BC since the 1980s.
Tickets for the workshops are $30 for the lecture or plant walk and $50 for both. The plant walk is limited to 25 people, and the lecture to 50 participants.
Organizers said no one will be turned away due to a lack of funds.
For tickets and information, reach out to Sarah Willard at 672-204-1330 or [email protected]
District of Summerland reports progress with $8.5M Wharton Street revitalization project
Progress on Wharton Street
Infrastructure upgrades are underway in downtown Summerland as part of the $8.5M Wharton Street Revitalization Project.
The District of Summerland shared a progress report on Friday, noting that "crews have installed new stormwater pipes along Henry Avenue and have begun excavation at the intersection of Wharton Street and Henry Avenue to install a new stormwater pipe and drain."
Construction is scheduled to continue through November 2025.
"On Wharton Street, structural soil is being placed and electrical upgrades are underway. This involves installing new electrical boxes, foundations for new light posts and underground electrical conduits," the district added.
"These are all important steps towards new landscaping and lighting features."
Upgrades will be done to aging infrastructure above and below ground, with improvements to water, sewer, stormwater, and electrical systems.
Roadway and pedestrian infrastructure will also get redone, along with reconfiguring parking and traffic flow for better downtown functionality.
The construction in and around Memorial Park cuts off part of the roadway.
"We know that this work brings extra noise and dust, and we appreciate your patience as construction progresses."
The project hasn't been without its controversies, with one Summerland resident who has a contentious relationship with the local council, bringing the funding plan for two downtown infrastructure projects to the courts.
Last year, council approved borrowing $5 million from the provincial government to help finance upgrades to Wharton Street and Victoria Road, with the total project cost estimated at $12 million.
The district went through the Alternative Approval Process (AAP), for long-term borrowing for the Victoria Road South upgrade and the Wharton Street upgrade.
Through the AAP, if 10 per cent or more of the total number of eligible electors sign and submit response forms, then a municipality cannot proceed without first holding a referendum.
Neither project's AAP passed the threshold to trigger a referendum. Feedback on the Victoria Road project saw only a total of 768 eligible elector responses, while Wharton Street saw 929 eligible elector responses.
With Belser filing for a judicial review, the long-term borrowing is delayed, and council has opted to use reserve funds to keep the projects on track.
On Thursday, Besler and the district's lawyers were scheduled in civil court. The decision from the review will be made public soon.
For more information on the project, visit whartonstreet.ca
Summerland Museum hooks up fully functional telegraph machine to communicate with other museums in BC and Alberta
Museum sets up morse code
The Summerland Museum now has a fully functional telegraph machine in its station exhibit, ready to send dots and dashes around B.C. and Alberta.
Museum administrator Hannah Irvine said they've had the telegraph in place for a while in their West Summerland train exhibit, but it is now connected to the Alberta MTC Line Project to send and receive Morse Code messages.
"Visitors can now get involved and actually get hands-on and have a go at Morse code," she said.
Getting it up and running was thanks to the hard work of a few volunteers, the key player being Timothy Taylor.
"Tim is a telegraph expert enthusiast. He also volunteers at Heritage Park in Calgary and is part of the Morse code telegraph club," Irvine added.
The museum is one of only seven that are fully connected, but there are around another 30 museums interested in getting involved.
The connected museums send messages to one another at any time.
The local museum's telegraph is connected to a computer screen, which translates the dots and dashes into English.
"I think even the Morse code telegraph club would admit it's really hard to learn, but it's lots of fun and lots of fun to practice," Irvine said with a chuckle.
"Sometimes we will be working in the office and we'll hear the machine start tapping at us, and that's other museums across B.C. and Alberta contacting us. But as we're not experts, the computer does the work for us and translates it, and all those little dots and dashes become words."
The telegraph machine has a sending key set up to tap to create the dots and dashes, alongside a code sheet of what all the letters and numbers correspond to.
The museum said the best time to hear the telegraph is between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturdays, as Heritage Park in Calgary regularly stages Morse Code sessions at this time.
"Usually, you go to a museum and you're told, 'Don't touch anything.' Well, here you can."
Those interested in trying their hand at sending a message are asked to please ask museum staff, who will be happy to help you with the equipment.
Or come out this Saturday, June 14, for a drop-in Morse Code Workshop with Taylor from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
"We're also going to have a Morse code craft as well, so people can make little bracelets with hidden messages in Morse code in them to take home with them as well," Irvine said.
The S.S. Sicamous and the Kettle Valley Railway have just connected to the Alberta MTC Line Project and will be joining in future message sending.
The Summerland Museum is currently open from Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Summerland company acknowledges mistake after fine from WorkSafeBC
Fine for 'high-risk' violation
A Summerland company was fined more than $5,000 for "high-risk" violations relating to work near overhead high-voltage power lines.
According to a WorkSafeBC post-inspection report, Matt and Karen Properties Ltd. had begun duplex construction at 11610 Victoria Road South when the infractions occurred. On Feb. 19, inspectors saw workers installing siding at the site, near high voltage electrical power lines.
Workers were unable to provide a crucial document used to provide assurance that proper safeguards were in place. They were also unable to confirm the voltage of the lines.
"The firm failed to ensure that, before starting work close to high-voltage electrical equipment, workers were informed of the location and voltage of the equipment and of the work procedures to be followed," said WorkSafeBC on its website.
The utility owner confirmed to inspectors that they had not issued a document for work beyond the demolition of the home previously located on the property.
A stop work order was issued for all work near the lines.
Inspectors returned May 14 to find that more action was still needed for compliance. WorkSafeBC fined Matt and Karen Properties $5,835.
Company Owner Matt Briscoe said in a statement to Castanet that he was given "incorrect information regarding what was required to work in this area."
"This relates to overhead wires that are currently located beside a new duplex we are building," he said. "I do accept responsibility for this error as I should have followed up to confirm."
"We have built many homes in Summerland and have never had any issues prior to this. We at M and K Properties take work place safety very seriously and strive to ensure that all on-site workers have a safe environment in which to operate."
Briscoe said they are working with Summerland utilities to have the wires removed so they can continue construction.
Stowaway porcupine flown home from Summerland to Northern B.C. thanks to community efforts
Stowaway porcupine home
Thanks to generous donations from 45 private donors, a stowaway porcupine that ended up in Summerland is home again.
The porcupine, named Mackenzie by the Interior Wildlife Rehabilitation Society, was discovered by the crew of a wreck recovery company that had hauled the remains of a plane crash in Northern B.C. to Kelowna.
Crews called in the Wildlife Rehabilitation Society for help, and the traveller was transported to its facility in Summerland.
Eva Hartmann, society founder, said that Mackenzie did not have any injuries and needed to get back home, since porcupines have territories that are their home range.
Luckily, a local pilot stepped up and was willing to fly the porcupine back to where it was found. What he needed was support from the community since the approximate cost of fuel is $1,100.
In just a few days, the public stepped up.
"What an incredible week for her and how fortunate we are to receive the support of our community that has come together to fly her back to Northern BC," the Wildlife Rehabilitation Society said in a social media update.
"From the pilot Jayson to the 45 private donors that have sent fuel money for her return flight, and the Conservation Officer Herb. We brought her to the Penticton airport, but Herb picked her up from the airport on the other side and released her far away from planes, people and roads, in a suitable wooded habitat by the community of Mackenzie."
"Much gratitude goes to all that helped her back home, with a full stomach and the big majority of her quills still intact."
Any funds that were collected by the society over the needed amount will be used by the charitable society for the other 50-plus animals currently in their care, or any future rescues.
To learn more about the Interior Wildlife Rehabilitation Society’s work, go to their YouTube channel or their website.
Summerland rescue hosting adoption open house next weekend with all sorts of cats and kittens
All types of cats to adopt
Come on out to Summerland next weekend to meet all the adoptable cats at the Critteraid Animal Sanctuary.
Lori Huot-Stewart, president of Critteraid, said they have so many cats looking for homes right now.
"We have beautiful older cats. We have young, beautiful ones, all colors, shapes and sizes, and we definitely have those cuddly ones, but we definitely also have those adorable, shy ones that, for some reason, have been overlooked, and it might just be that perfect person to help them become their very best self," she said.
The event takes place on June 14, from noon to 6 p.m. and pre-registration is required.
To attend, RSVP by sending an email [email protected] to let the sanctuary know you will be attending, and they will send the address and further details.
Annual Summerland Action Festival full of family fun and games
Action Fest in full swing
Summerland’s Action Fest has the local community buzzing, taking over Memorial Park and nearby baseball diamonds.
Now in its 42nd year, the three day event is chalked full of activities.
The festival kicked off on Friday when all park vendors, a 19-plus beverage garden and a kids zone opened, followed by the first pitch of a weekend-long slo-pitch tournament.
Saturday was host to more slo-pitch, the Giant's Head Run, and along with live music, kids activities and the Okanagan Valley Championships arm wrestling contest all going on in Memorial Park.
The evening will include plenty of live music and a dance, to be capped off by fireworks at 10 p.m.
Then on Sunday, the fun starts up again in the parks, followed by the slo-pitch awards, Summerland Sportsman’s Kid’s Fishing Derby at Agur Lake and the Action Fest prize draw.
For a full schedule and list of festival sponsors, head to the website here.
Summerland resident captures northern lights time lapse across Okanagan skies
Northern lights dance in sky
Northern lights were visible at the start of week over B.C., and one Summerland resident captured a stunning video of their dance across the skies.
Monica Dooley Mason shared a time lapse of the aurora borealis captured Monday between 1:30 a.m. to 3 a.m.
"I was asleep but set up the GoPro overnight and was delighted to see the results the next morning," she said.
"The GoPro was on night lapse setting with linear view."
To see the next Northern lights, check out forecasts on NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center website or an aurora forecasting app.
Recommendations for aurora-watching include watching in a quiet, dark area away from city lights. Make sure to check the weather forecast, since clouds can cover up the spectacle entirely.
Cameras can also reveal hints of the aurora that aren’t visible to the naked eye.
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