Top Stories for February 3, 2025
Trudeau says U.S. tariffs on Canada will be paused for 30 days
UPDATE 2:45 p.m. U.S. President Donald Trump has agreed not to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico for another month, pulling back from a plan that would have...
No criminal investigation after man on fire runs onto Bennett Bridge
A man was taken to hospital with significant burns in a Sunday evening incident that police say did not require any criminal investigation. It was around 4:45...
Some passengers stuck overnight as weather causes delays at YLW
Some air travel passengers were forced to spend the night at Kelowna International Airport after delays in other cities caused a cascading effect that has left...
Burnaby Mounties pull over more than 100 snow-covered vehicles
Apparently some Lower Mainland drivers were in too much of a hurry to properly prepare their vehicles to drive in snowy conditions. As the West Coast got...
350 Bakehouse and Cafe final day downtown will be Feb. 22 before move to Spall
The last day for 350 Bakehouse and Cafe in downtown Kelowna will be Saturday, Feb. 22. Owner Ed Wouda in October announced the bakery was moving out of its 567...
B.C. critical minerals being diverted away from United States: David Eby
British Columbia Premier David Eby said companies in British Columbia were working to redirect critical minerals to markets outside the United States, just a...
Trump cited B.C. fentanyl crime before pausing tariff threat
Two days before temporarily hitting the pause button on 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports, United States President Donald Trump cited criminal activity in...
In Kentucky bourbon country, the newest trade war feels like a hangover that won't go away
In the rolling hills of Kentucky where most of the world's bourbon supply is crafted, the prospect of a new trade war feels like an aching hangover that...
PETA says Kelowna's Naked Cafe has one of Canada's top vegan poutine dishes
A Kelowna restaurant has attracted the positive attention of the world’s most famous animal rights group. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals,...
Do you think Canada can head off the implementation of U.S. tariffs in the next 30 days?
U.S. President Donald Trump has agreed not to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico for another month, pulling back from a plan that would have tipped North...
Vernon man wants better public transit connection to Kelowna
According to Fraser Young, support is growing for a better transit system between Vernon and Kelowna. When Young started taking transit to commute from Vernon...
B.C. cattle ranchers eye new markets in face of 25% U.S. tariffs
B.C. cattle ranchers who usually see their product shipped south are looking at ways to get beef east to Canadian markets in the face of steep 25 per cent...
Chilly temperatures in the Okanagan for first week of February
North America’s weather prognosticating groundhogs couldn’t reach a consensus on whether there will be six more weeks of winter, but Environment...
Ontario to pause retaliatory measures as U.S. pauses tariffs
UPDATE 2 p.m. Ontario Premier Doug Ford says that American alcohol products will not be removed from LCBO shelves, now that the tariff threat has been paused...
Will you be shopping Canadian despite tariff pause?
There may be a pause on the U.S. order to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canada but that's not stopping people from putting their money where their hearts...
Wide range of labels make identifying Canadian products 'extremely tricky'
Determining how Canadian a product is can be so much of a minefield that experts say anyone attempting to support homegrown options will need to do their...
Similkameen resident wins grand prize in 2024 Millionaire Lottery
A Similkameen resident is likely in a very good mood today after winning the grand prize in the 2024 Millionaire Lottery. The annual lottery, proceeds from...
Vernon Winter Carnival cancels, rejigs some events
For the second year in a row, the Snow Sculpture Vernon Winter Carnival event has been cancelled. VWC executive director Lisa Fenyedi said the event is being...
China counters with tariffs on US products. It will also investigate Google
China's Ministry of Commerce announced Tuesday it was implementing counter tariffs against the U.S. on multiple products, while announcing other...
Kelowna RCMP need help to find stolen boat and trailer
Kelowna RCMP need the public's help to locate a boat and trailer stolen from a home located near the Sunset Ranch Golf and Country Club. The incident...
Elon Musk tightens grip on federal government as Democrats raise alarms
Elon Musk is rapidly consolidating control over large swaths of the federal government with President Donald Trump ’s blessing, sidelining career...
National Bank closes Canadian Western Bank acquisition
National Bank of Canada says it has completed its acquisition of Canadian Western Bank. The Montreal-based bank says integration activities will now begin as it...
Kelowna to participate in immigration pilot project
The City of Kelowna is one of several communities across Canada selected to take part in two separate immigration-based pilot projects. Kelowna is one of just...
Loonie falls after tariffs announced, futures market points to drop for U.S. stocks
The Canadian dollar fell to its lowest level in more than two decades after U.S. President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs to be enacted Tuesday. The...
Medics attend to fan who collapsed courtside at NBA game in Memphis
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Medics attended to a fan who collapsed courtside Monday night before the visiting San Antonio Spurs played the Memphis Grizzlies game....
Trump and Trudeau to talk as Canada braces for trade war with its southern neighbour
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to speak with President Donald Trump on Monday morning as Canada's leaders scramble to prepare for a trade war...
B.C. puts response to U.S. tariffs on hold after 30-day delay
British Columbia Premier David Eby says his government will pause its response to threatened American tariffs after a 30-day reprieve was negotiated today...
First night for warming tent at Kelowna homeless encampment
For the first time this winter, a new warming tent is open tonight along the rail trail homeless encampment in Kelowna. Staff from the Kelowna Gospel Mission...
The Grammys had a few surprises up their sleeves. Here are some key moments from the show
All eyes at the Grammy Awards were on whether the most-nominated artist in the history of the telecast would finally walk away with the coveted album of the...
BC Ferries vessel collides with moored boats at Bowen dock
The Queen of Capilano was out of commission for much of Sunday, making it an eventful day for the ferry after it collided with moored vessels in Snug Cove...
'Treacherous conditions' result in intermittent shutdowns on Highway 1
Police are warning drivers about "treacherous" winter conditions on a busy B.C. highway. Cpl. Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol said Monday...
Roadside deaths in spotlight for February
B.C. drivers are being reminded to slow down and move over when they see flashing lights on the road because it could be a matter of life or death. Between 2008...
Penticton RCMP seeking witnesses after violent mid-morning assault in the middle of Main Street
Police in Penticton are investigating a violent altercation in the middle of the street on Saturday morning. Shortly before 10 a.m. in the 1700 block of Main...
Trump's tariff threat sends crypto prices falling
Cryptocurrency prices took a hit from the prospect of a trade war between the U.S. and its major trading partners, with some well-known digital assets seeing...
Emergency crews deployed on Santorini as an earthquake swarm worries Greek experts
Schools were closed and emergency crews deployed on the volcanic Greek island of Santorini on Monday after a spike in seismic activity raised concerns about a...
Rubio says El Salvador offers to accept deportees from US of any nationality, including Americans
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said late Monday that El Salvador's president has offered to accept deportees from the U.S. of any nationality,...
Alberta law society reprimands ex-justice minister Kaycee Madu, orders $39K payment
UPDATE 2:40 p.m. Alberta's law society has formally reprimanded former provincial justice minister Kaycee Madu and ordered him to pay nearly $39,000 in...
Arctic cold descends over B.C., bringing snow and school closures
A bitter cold spell sweeping over coastal and northern British Columbia has brought snow and prompted school and college closures. Environment Canada has issued...
Former Kelowna Christian student completes on way to conquering seven summits
A former Kelowna Christian School graduate is taking his athletic pursuits to new heights. Steven Eichhorst, who grew up in Kelowna and went to Kelowna...
Dairy cows build natural immunity to H5N1 after initial infection
Dairy cows build a natural immunity to H5N1 after initial infection according to research conducted at the University of Saskatchewan (USask). When highly...
Trial set to begin for two girls charged in death of homeless Toronto man
The murder trial of two teen girls charged in an alleged group attack on a homeless man is set to begin today in Toronto. The two girls, who are among eight...
Microsoft founder Bill Gates explores the making of his internal operating system in new memoir
With his 70th birthday looming on this year's horizon, Microsoft founder Bill Gates looked inward to open a window into the man behind Windows and other...
Pause on U.S. tariffs good news, but uncertainty is 'dagger over our heads': Legault
Quebec Premier François Legault welcomed news that Canada would not be hit with United States tariffs for another month, but he said Monday that...
Loonie risks falling further if U.S. tariffs become prolonged: currency expert
The Canadian dollar is trading at its lowest level since 2003 on the eve of sweeping tariffs from the United States. The loonie plunged to 68.62 cents US as of...
Mario Canseco: Trump tariffs spark Canadian backlash—and a shift in political winds
Two days ago, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the implementation of a 25-per-cent tariff on imports from Canada, and 10 per cent on Canadian energy....
Vernon tennis pro says goodbye to Davis Cup following year-long rally
A Vernon pro-tennis player has played his last Davis Cup. Vernonite Vasek Pospisil took to Instagram on Monday morning to comment on his recent retirement...
Lawsuit blames deaths on 2023 train derailment in Ohio as JD Vance visits
A lawsuit alleging for the first time that people died because of the disastrous 2023 East Palestine train derailment has been filed ahead of Monday's...
Two years in prison for rapist who confessed because it was 'the right thing to do'
A Kamloops-area man who went out of his way to confess to raping his ex-girlfriend, a crime that was not on the radar of police until he told them, has been...
Forests critic worried as 'very precarious' industry runs into tariff uncertainty
B.C.’s forests critic says he’s hopeful the effects of a punishing 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods entering the U.S. won’t force the...
Wall Street falls following Trump's tariffs but pares its losses after Mexico announces a delay
Wall Street is paring its losses after Mexico’s president said the United States will delay its tariffs on Mexican imports by a month, easing some of the...
From made in Canada to product of Canada: How to make sense of Canadian labels
Shoppers have been caught up in the buy Canadian fervour since U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Sunday applying 25 per cent tariffs on all...
Begrand Fast Design wins five Okanagan Housing Awards, Mo Bayat honoured
Begrand Fast Design was the big winner on Saturday night during the 32nd annual Okanagan Housing Awards of Excellence. The Kelowna design firm, led by Nicole...
Companies embrace 'buy Canadian' sentiment as tariffs approach
Canadian businesses preparing for Tuesday's imposition of tariffs are leaning into the "buy Canadian" sentiment. Grocery chain Loblaw Companies...
Observers call for pressure on U.S. corporations as Trump, Musk take aim at Canada
As U.S. President Donald Trump and Elon Musk take aim at Canada, some high-level observers are calling on the federal government to consider sanctioning or even...
Law Society of B.C. members vote in favour of strike ahead of mediation
Unionized workers at the Law Society of B.C. have voted overwhelmingly in favour of job action and could be days away from striking if a last round of mediation...
B.C. resource company stocks jolted by tariff news
Stocks in B.C.’s three major publicly traded forestry companies were predictably down this morning, when stock markets opened after this weekend’s...
WHO chief asks countries to push Washington to reconsider its withdrawal
The World Health Organization chief asked global leaders to lean on Washington to reverse President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the U.N....
Hypothermic man rescued from Island avalanche, flown directly to B.C. hospital
A man caught in an avalanche in the backcountry on Vancouver Island is lucky to be alive after he was spotted by two witnesses. Around 4 p.m. on Sunday,...
Okanagan College Careers Expo set to connect students with employers
Okanagan College is hosting its annual Careers Expo on Wednesday, Feb. 5, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kelowna campus. The event offers a chance for OC...
Tim Hortons brings back the cups for Roll Up to Win contest
Tim Hortons is returning its famed Roll up to Win contest back to its roots. The café chain said Monday it will reintroduce hot beverage cups with rims...
B.C. manufacturers relieved with pause in U.S.-Canada tariff war
B.C. manufacturers told BIV they are relieved that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this afternoon said the U.S. will pause for "at least 30 days" its...
B.C. Court of Appeal orders new trial for husband in 'rape role-play' case
The B.C. Court of Appeal says a Kamloops man convicted of sexually assaulting his wife deserves a new trial because messages between the pair about a consensual...
Wintry blast to continue after season's first big snowfall blankets Metro Vancouver
The first snowy blast of winter in Metro Vancouver is expected to continue with up to 25 centimetres of snow predicted in some areas before it's done today....
USAID staffers are instructed to stay out of the agency’s Washington headquarters
Staffers of the U.S. Agency for International Development were instructed to stay out of the agency’s Washington headquarters on Monday, according to a...
Penticton man unsuccessful in bid to have seized drugs barred from criminal trial
A Penticton man's bid to get drugs seized from his vehicle excluded from his upcoming trial has been shot down by a judge, despite acknowledging minor...
Another patient of jailed bogus nurse suing B.C. health authority
A woman claiming she was a patient of a bogus nurse now in prison is suing the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) and a surgical centre, alleging...
FortisBC completes testing of new hydrogen production process
FortisBC says it has successfully tested new turquoise hydrogen production equipment and is now looking to develop a commercial-scale project. In 2022, FortisBC...
Surreal prices for COP30 in Brazil's Amazon leave attendees scrambling for accommodation
Nine months ahead of this year's annual U.N. climate summit, known as COP30, lodging prices in the Brazilian host city of Belem are turning heads—and...
Pacific Coast Highway reopens nearly a month after devastating Southern California wildfires
The Pacific Coast Highway reopened Monday morning, nearly a month after it was closed when flames from the deadly Palisades Fire ripped through hillside Los...
Revelstoke city council votes to rescind 1985 policy forbidding nuclear weapons
Revelstoke council members have decided to rescind a decades-old policy outlawing nuclear weapons from city limits. The City of Revelstoke’s governance...
Interprovincial trade barriers: what they are, why they exist and how to cut them
The Trump administration's on-again, off-again threat to impose damaging tariffs has boosted an old idea for driving economic growth in Canada: eliminating...
Glass half empty? Germany's annual beer sales down again despite soccer's European Championship
German beer sales declined last year even as the country hosted the European Football Championship, continuing a long-term downward trend that has seen sales...
Supports individualized: CLBC says after Vernon mom calls for change
Following parental concerns over support for adults with disabilities, Community Living B.C. says, in general, cases are dealt with on a case-by-case basis....
Man charged after fatal stabbing outside Coquitlam pub
A 32-year-old man has been charged with one count of second-degree murder after another man was fatally stabbed during a fight outside the John B pub in...
6 charged in probe of 'particularly violent' drug trafficking group: Burnaby RCMP
Drug charges have been laid against six individuals after an investigation that has "severely disrupted" a violent drug trafficking organization run...
Hospitals in eastern Congo are crowded with wounded and exhausting their supplies
Hundreds of wounded people have poured into overcrowded hospitals in Goma, a major city in eastern Congo, as fighting rages on between government forces and the...
Taking bold action to keep Kelowna moving
A growing city needs a transportation system that keeps people moving. Last month, I used outlined how the city’s budget is developed and the importance...
Okanagan Okie makes chilling prediction at Vernon's Allan Brooks Nature Centre
With the cold snap hitting Vernon, it should come as no surprise that the city’s favourite groundhog is predicting more winter to come. After seeing his...
BC Wildfire Service crews return from California
More than two weeks after being deployed, BC Wildfire Service crews have returned from battling destructive and deadly fires in California. BCWS first sent...
As birth tourism rises again, will Trump's citizenship moves send more Canada's way?
Vancouver-based birth tourism operator Liga Lin says her phone has been buzzing with inquiries from expectant mothers since U.S. President Donald Trump moved to...
B.C. ban on U.S. alcohol spares Vancouver International Wine Festival
While holding a wine festival with the U.S. as a theme region could likely not come at a worse time, the Vancouver International Wine Festival (VIWF), which...
Auto sector hoping for tariff relief as tariff shutdowns loom
Canada's auto sector is hoping for the tariff reprieve Mexico has secured as it faces a potential shutdown from the added border tax. Flavio Volpe, head of...
Tiny endangered Chilean froglets are born in London after a mission to save them from extinction
It was quite the journey for such tiny froglets: traveling thousands of miles from the forests of southern Chile to London, carried and brooded inside their...
Downtown block to see five-hour closure due to BC Hydro work
A five-hour closure is planned for a stretch of Third Avenue in downtown Kamloops on Tuesday due so BC Hydro crews can carry out emergency work. In a social...
Kelowna Rockets hit the road for back-to-back games in Victoria
The Kelowna Rockets open up another busy week with a pair of games in Victoria this week. The Rockets will look for some semblance of payback against a Royals...
The difference between financial and product advice
When seeking guidance on managing money, Canadian investors often encounter two different types of support—financial advice and product advice. While...
Lots of indoor fun in Penticton to keep warm
"Four seasons of fun" is an ongoing collaboration between Castanet and Visit Penticton showcasing what Penticton has to offer all year round. Watch...
Canada's chief justice decries misinformation as top court turns 150
Canada's chief justice says the nation's top court is expanding public outreach as "misinformation and disinformation" circulate and more...
Seven-day guide to giving a properly prepared speech
Imagine , you’re asked to give a presentation on a subject you are passionate about. You’re honoured and excited but there’s one problem, the...
Penticton's BC Hockey Hall of Fame announces class of 2025 inductees
The BC Hockey Hall of Fame in Penticton has announced its class of 2025. This summer, they will welcome players Dan Hamhuis Shawn Horcoff, team builders Mike...
An Invictus Games 2025 primer
With the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 just around the corner on Feb. 8 to 13, all eyes will soon be on approximately 550 athletes competing at...
Enterprize Challenge registration closing soon for another year of the North Okanagan business bootcamp
Registration for the next iteration of the Enterprize Challenge is closing soon – and Community Futures is giving an update on the top three winners of...
CMHA says extreme weather beds hitting capacity as cold snap rolls through city
The Canadian Mental Health Association says its extreme weather beds have nearly maxed out as the city’s vulnerable population looks for shelter as a cold...
Forecast calls for plummeting temperatures, easing up by the weekend
A cold snap has caused the mercury to plummet in the Kamloops area, but daytime highs are expected to return to normal by the weekend. Monday will be mainly...
Chamber of Commerce says meeting planned to discuss local response to trade crisis
Kamloops business leaders will meet early this week to discuss the potential local ramifications of the trade dispute that erupted over the weekend between...
Winter weather in Lower Mainland could cause delays at Kamloops Airport
Snow flying in the Lower Mainland could impact flights in and out of Kamloops Airport on Monday. Vancouver International Airport is warning travellers about the...
Otter Co-op can improve your hometown through Co-op Community Spaces
Otter Co-op is always prepared to make communities more beautiful—in more ways than one. For starters, you can get your car washed at a ridiculously low...
Water polo Olympian to back TRU WolfPack at annual fundraiser
One of Canada’s most influential women in sports will be on the campus of Thompson Rivers University campus next month in support of the WolfPack. Waneek...
Vernon Vipers drop both games to top BCHL teams
The Vernon Vipers are fighting for every point as they try to sneak into a playoff position. The Vipers went through a gauntlet this weekend. They travelled...
Nelson industry experts predict the U.S.-Canada tariffs war will be quick, but painful
The latest round of U.S. tariffs on softwood lumber and other Canadian goods is putting pressure on mills, workers, and small businesses. In response, many in...
Preparations heat up for the Coldest Night of the Year fundraising event
As the West Kootenay weather prepares to keep a chill in it into the month of February, the Coldest Night of the Year fundraising event is preparing to meet it...
New strategic plan gives college focus for the future
Selkirk College has released a road map to the future with the completion of its new strategic plan. A steering committee representing a cross-section of the...
Salmon Arm Chamber of Commerce urges residents to shop local with U.S. tariffs on the horizon
Amid growing concern over tariffs between Canada and the United States, the Salmon Arm Chamber of Commerce has released a statement urging residents to support...
Watch Super Bowl LIX live at Oliver pub on Sunday
Watch the Chiefs versus Eagles live during Super Bowl LIX at The Howling Coyote Pub in Oliver next Sunday. On Feb. 9 starting at 3:30 p.m., enjoy the big game...
UK plans rollout for digital IDs—is Canada next?
The UK government announced in January that it would move forward with a national digital ID system, aiming to streamline access to government services and...
The Town of Osoyoos is looking for a resident to fill vacant community services committee seat
The Town of Osoyoos is looking for a resident to join its Community Services Advisory Committee to fill a vacant seat and contribute to the town's community...
Boss Smith and Nelson's legacy of resistance and community support
Each February, Black History Month is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of Black communities in Canada, listen to their stories, and learn more about...
Normally busy month of January for precipitation creates quiet in accumulation column
The region’s snowpack accumulation is dropping well below normal and remains one of the lowest regional averages in the province during what should be the...
Whitewater Ski Resort's Ymir Climber will test competitors ski skills
Whitewater Ski Resort is gearing up to host three days of high-intensity ski mountaineering races this weekend. The Ymir Climber races are designed to test...
Update on geothermal project for Kootenay Lake shows focus moving to financial plan stage
A project exploring geothermal heat and energy sources from Kootenay Lake is moving out of the exploration stages and into the financial planning arena as the...
Family Literacy Week makes for a good read to develop literacy, life skills
It looks like a small container of grass — but suggest to a preschooler that they draw eyes and a smile on the side of the pot and suddenly they’ve...
Castlegar seeks more artists to participate in the 26th Art Walk.
The Castlegar Art Walk organizers said they are 18 people short of reaching their post-COVID participation numbers. In past years, we've had up to 30...