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RCMP investigating after brawl breaks out at Kelowna, BC comedy present – Okanagan

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 18:06:00 +0000

When Kelowna, BC, residents took in a comedy show Friday evening, they weren’t expecting it to pack a punch. Kelowna RCMP are now investigating after fights broke out.

Well-known comedian Steve-O was in Kelowna Friday night during a stop on his Bucket List tour. During the pre-show, one witness says things quickly got out of hand.

“It was two girls. The one girl said, ‘Can you please be quiet?’ They told her off and then said the other one a couple of minutes later, ‘We can’t hear,’ and then it just started fighting,” said Tammy Heykants, who witnessed the incident.

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Heykants was on the other side of the Kelowna Community Theater and watched the heated argument turn into a brawl involving multiple people.

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“All I saw was this girl in a white shirt, she was just pounding on this girl, it was horrible, it was so bad. Then her boyfriend and some other guys started fighting,” said Heykants.

“The one girl is beating her up in the chair behind her and then the two larger men in black were fighting in the aisle.”

1:14One dead in overnight stabbing in downtown Kelowna

Shortly after the fight broke out, security guards went over to intervene and escort several people out of the theatre.

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The City of Kelowna, which operates the theatre, said in a statement to Global News that they work with each promoter to analyze the security needs of each show.

“All show promoters are required to use professional bonded and uniformed security personnel that attend the event – as was the case at the Steve-O show,” read the statement.

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“We believe that the security company acted appropriately in response to the altercation between the patrons. The patrons involved were removed without further incident. The matter remains in the hands of the RCMP.”

1:08One dead after ‘altercation’ outside popular Kelowna, BC nightclub

Heykant says these types of situations can make going out a scary experience.

“I went out to have a good time and thank god it was just that. Thank god there were no knives or guns there,” Heykants said.

Kelowna RCMP says they received a complaint regarding the altercation.

“An investigation is underway and police are asking for the public’s assistance,” said Ryan Watters, communications adviser for the Kelowna RCMP.

“If anyone that attended the performance has photos or video footage of the altercation, please call Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300 and reference the file number 2022-67847.”

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‘Outpouring of compassion’ for these coping on Kelowna streets throughout chilly climate – Okanagan

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 07:01:28 +0000

Every morning outreach workers bring breakfast items to the outdoor sheltering site in downtown Kelowna, BC’s north end.

“Coffee, oatmeal and juice,” said Josh Heinitz, an outreach worker with the Gospel Mission.

But these days, the outreach teams are bringing a lot more than just a bite to eat.

“Blankets, sleeping bags and anything that kind of keeps people warm,” Heinitz told Global News. “We’ve been giving out a lot of those things. As you know, it’s been very cold lately, so we’ve been having very high demand for sleeping bags and for blankets.”

A winter shelter has not yet opened this season and the outlook for one is bleak.

Not only has a suitable site not been secured but staffing shortages are also making it hard to find workers to staff existing shelters.

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There are about 150 people living on the streets, many of them at the outdoor sheltering site along the Okanagan Rail Trail.

One of the people living outdoors is Nick Gagnon.

He said he appreciates the items he’s given to help manage in the cold conditions.

“Socks, socks are a big one,” Gagnon said. “The sock game is the most important part of the game when it comes to staying outside … dry feet, stay warm.”

Socks and other donations have been pouring in from the community in recent days.

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The Gospel Mission’s executive director credits Global Okanagan News and a story aired last week for the overwhelming response from residents wanting to help those out on the streets.

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“Shortly after the news piece went out last week asking for donations, I got a message from my front-line team going, ‘Carmen, did you make a shout-out for donations because we’re busting at the seams,’” executive Director Carmen Rempel said. “We had so many people come down, make donations right to our Lyon shelter and to our thrift store. We had to fill up the rafters with all of the donations.”

Rempel said she’s extremely grateful to the community and for the support for those in need.

“I would just like to thank the community for that outpouring of compassion,” she said. “It means a lot for people who are on the street and it means a lot for all of us who are engaged in this work every day.”

Shelter and service providers, including the Gospel Mission, are set to meet with Kelowna’s new mayor, Tom Dyas, on Tuesday to address the homelessness crisis and the lack of a winter shelter.

They’ll also be discussing long-term solutions so that the dire situation doesn’t continue to repeat itself every year.

“It’s a really good opportunity for us to explain what gets in the way and the barriers that we face to winter shelter and the big message that our group is bringing forward is that we really need to be working smarter, not harder,” Rempel said . “Temporary emergency shelters aren’t the answer to homelessness and it’s becoming unsustainable to keep popping them up every winter.”

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About two weeks ago, six shelter providers across the Southern Interior penned a strongly worded letter to decision-makers pleading their case that it’s more supportive housing that’s needed, not emergency shelters.

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The situation is not isolated to Kelowna.

The urgency exists across the Okanagan Valley and BC

In Penticton, it’s estimated 80 people are living outside. In Vernon, that number is around 100.

“It’s hard. It is hard to see because you know they just have nowhere to go,” said Heinitz. “So it’s, it’s not easy to see for sure.”

While thankful for the donations it has already received, the Gospel Mission said the need is ongoing and it will continue to accept donations to help people cope during the winter season.

“We need warm winter socks, mittens, jackets and boots are the top things that we’re constantly in need of as well as men’s pants,” Rempel said.

For more information or to make a cash donation, you can visit the Gospel Mission website.

2:25Between Kelowna, Penticton and Vernon, there are well over 300 people sleeping outside in the cold

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Police standoff on Cactus Highway ends, but it surely’s not clear if police discovered their suspect – Kelowna Information

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 20:00:13 +0000

Cindy White

UPDATE 8:50pm

The standoff on Rutland’s Cactus Road appears to be over. But it’s not clear if the police found their suspect.

A resident of Cactus Road said police executed their search warrant at 1075 Cactus Road at 8:30 pm, with the Emergency Response Team entering the home after waiting for about 10 hours. But the neighbor says the police didn’t bring anyone out.

“They breached the house finally and there was nobody in there, we watched them come out,” she said.

As of 8:45 pm, the ERT has left the scene and Kelowna RCMP officers remain in and around the house. Cactus Road has now been reopened to traffic.

Police first arrived at the home at about 10 am Thursday morning. The neighbor said a man surrendered to the police at about 11 am, followed by two women from the basement suite just after noon.

Two other men surrendered to the police shortly after that, but the neighbor says no other residents of the home were taken into custody since then.

Another resident of a nearby home was also arrested after he allegedly threatened officers at the scene. That man was not connected to the incident at 1075 Cactus Road, but after he was arrested, the police learned he had two outstanding warrants for his arrest.

The neighbor says 1075 Cactus Road has “been a known problem for the cops” for the past year.

The Kelowna RCMP has not yet disclosed the circumstances around the incident, but spokesperson Const. Mike Della-Paolera said he’s hoping to release some information either later Thursday evening or first thing Friday morning.

UPDATE 7:15pm

RCMP Emergency Response Team personnel continue to surround the home on Cactus Road Thursday evening, with officers deploying what appeared to be stun grenades at about 7 pm

A neighbor in the area says police began using their loudspeaker once again, calling for an individual, or perhaps several, to come out of the basement at 1075 Cactus Road with their hands up. The neighbor has also recently heard several loud bangs, which he believes were stun grenades.

Stun grenades produce a blinding flash of light and an extremely loud bang noise to disorient a person.

The police incident began earlier Thursday morning, and the neighbor says several people have been taken into police custody throughout the day.

Police have not yet disclosed the circumstances around the incident, but Kelowna RCMP spokesperson Const. Mike Della-Paolera says officers are waiting on securing a search warrant.

While police are now primarily focused on 1075 Cactus Road, Const. Della-Paolera says officers were forced to turn their attention to a house two doors down earlier in the afternoon, after a neighbor made threatening comments to the officers on scene.

“One of the occupants of that house, for whatever reason, decided he didn’t like police in his neighborhood, or whatever the situation was, and he started making some threats to the police officers,” Const. Della-Paolera said. “Unfortunately he didn’t realize that he was also a man who had two warrants for his arrest.

“He ended up barricading himself temporarily but they ended up making the arrest without any issue, he just kind of gave up. But he basically ratted himself out, because we weren’t even paying attention to that, nobody knew he was there.”

That man has been taken into custody, but the situation at 1075 Cactus Road remains active.

UPDATE 3:50pm

Police continue to respond to an incident in the 1000 block of Cactus Rd. in Kelowna’s Rutland area.

Kelowna RCMP officers, along with the RCMP Emergency Response Team, have had a home at 1075 Cactus Road surrounded since Thursday morning.

According to a neighbor in the area who has been following the police operation for hours, six people have been taken into custody at the scene so far.

Officers briefly expanded the road closures in the area Thursday afternoon, closing Springfield Road from Neptune Road to Hollywood Road South. But those closures have now been lifted.

Police continue to ask people to stay out of the area.

“This is an unfolding incident and further information will be released at an appropriate time,” says RCMP spokesperson Const. Mike Della Paolera.

UPDATE 2:48pm

RCMP, the police dog team and the Emergency Response Team continue to surround a home in Rutland Thursday afternoon.

Police set up a ‘hard block’, including spike belts, on Cactus Rd. between Jasmine Rd. and Monterey Rd. before 10:30 am and have surrounded a home at 1075 Cactus Rd.

As of 2:45 pm Thursday, police snipers and cruisers have surrounded the house and have been on the loud speaker asking the occupants of the home to come out through the back door with their hands up and empty.

RCMP have asked media to stay well back of the home. One officer on the scene indicated the request was for our own safety as they had a report of a possible firearm.

Residents in the area have been asked to remain in their homes for their own safety.

No other information has been released.

UPDATE 11:20 am

Using a loudspeaker, RCMP are telling someone inside the house to come out, saying they are under arrest.

UPDATE 10:55 am

An RCMP Emergency Response Team is on the scene and police have set up a ‘hard block’ on Cactus Rd. between Jasmine Rd. and Monterey Rd.

Officers are canvassing the neighborhood and using a loudspeaker to tell nearby residents to shelter in place.

They have been on the scene for nearly an hour and have set up a spike belt.

Along with several RCMP vehicles, there are two ambulances stationed at the end of Cactus Rd.

Photo: Rob Gibson

RCMP have set up a roadblock on Cactus Road.

ORIGINAL 10:13 am

Kelowna RCMP have blocked off Cactus Road between Jasmine Road and Monterey Road Thursday morning as they respond to an unfolding incident.

RCMP are advising the public to stay clear of the 1000 block of Cactus Road in Rutland.

A news release from Kelowna RCMP indicates, “police are asking people to stay out of the area. This is an unfolding incident and further information will be released at an appropriate time.”

Castanet will update this story as more information comes available.

The post Police standoff on Cactus Highway ends, but it surely’s not clear if police discovered their suspect – Kelowna Information appeared first on KELOWNABC CANADA DAILY NEWS.

Metropolis of Kelowna showcases new high-tech snow-blowing machine – Okanagan

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 21:49:48 +0000

Brand-new snow removal equipment hit Kelowna, BC, roadways for the first time Monday morning.

Kelowna’s infrastructure operations department manager, Geert Bos, says the previous machine needed to be retired as it was old and would continually break down.

“The previous unit … I believe it was 33 years old, so it had seen its heyday,” said Bos.

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The new, high-tech snow-blower machine, which is faster and more efficient, came with a hefty price tag of $230,000.

Bos says the purchase was pre-planned and doesn’t come out of or affect the snow removal budget.

“When we make these budget decisions, there is a lot of things we’ve got to weigh,” said Bos.

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“We’ve got to make sure the budget is available and we also have to recover the investment we make, right? So we recover it by using the equipment.”

According to Bos, the snow removal budget took a significant hit due to the early season snowfall.

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Currently, there is about $285,000 left in the 2022 snow removal budget.

“We started off the winter with $585,000 remaining in the budget for 2022. The past event we spent approximately $350,000 so far,” said Bos.

2:21
Community has concerns with Kelowna’s snow removal services

Meanwhile, Kelowna’s roadway operations manager, Andrew Schwerdtfeger, spent Monday morning training staff.

“This unit is rated for 2,750 tons of snow an hour,” said Schwerdtfeger.

“Where it really shines is in a rural cross-section, where it can just blow it over the sidewalk into a ditch on the other side of the road.”

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The City of Kelowna wants to remind residents to be patient as it continues to work hard on clearing the remainder of the snow off the streets.

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The post Metropolis of Kelowna showcases new high-tech snow-blowing machine – Okanagan appeared first on KELOWNABC CANADA DAILY NEWS.

Metropolis of Kelowna showcases new high-tech snow-blowing machine – Okanagan

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 10:45:50 +0000

Brand-new snow removal equipment hit Kelowna, BC, roadways for the first time Monday morning.

Kelowna’s infrastructure operations department manager, Geert Bos, says the previous machine needed to be retired as it was old and would continually break down.

“The previous unit … I believe it was 33 years old, so it had seen its heyday,” said Bos.

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The new, high-tech snow-blower machine, which is faster and more efficient, came with a hefty price tag of $230,000.

Bos says the purchase was pre-planned and doesn’t come out of or affect the snow removal budget.

“When we make these budget decisions, there is a lot of things we’ve got to weigh,” said Bos.

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“We’ve got to make sure the budget is available and we also have to recover the investment we make, right? So we recover it by using the equipment.”

According to Bos, the snow removal budget took a significant hit due to the early season snowfall.

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Currently, there is about $285,000 left in the 2022 snow removal budget.

“We started off the winter with $585,000 remaining in the budget for 2022. The past event we spent approximately $350,000 so far,” said Bos.

2:21
Community has concerns with Kelowna’s snow removal services

Meanwhile, Kelowna’s roadway operations manager, Andrew Schwerdtfeger, spent Monday morning training staff.

“This unit is rated for 2,750 tons of snow an hour,” said Schwerdtfeger.

“Where it really shines is in a rural cross-section, where it can just blow it over the sidewalk into a ditch on the other side of the road.”

Story continues below advertisement

The City of Kelowna wants to remind residents to be patient as it continues to work hard on clearing the remainder of the snow off the streets.

1:19
Snow delays several flights at YLW

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‘Actually difficult’: Inexpensive housing a problem in Kelowna, BC – Okanagan

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 23:45:10 +0000

It’s already one of the most expensive housing markets in the country and with the skyrocketing cost of living, finding an affordable place to live in Kelowna seems to be going from bad to worse.

The recent rejection of an attainable rental development slated for the city’s downtown is sparking a debate on what is an affordable price to pay.

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City council rejected the agreement Monday, which priced affordable studio unit rents at $2,050 a month, unanimous in saying that the price was unaffordable.

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A Kelowna mortgage broker said the cost of a single-family home in the city can be between $3,500 to $4,000 a month.

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“What is affordable right now, I would say townhomes mostly. If you’re a family, a lot of people have to go into a townhome where maybe you get a three bedroom and the price is usually around $700,000.” said mortgage broker Aaron Marsh.

Those looking to buy their dream homes may have looked at different options in recent months, and with interest rates and the rising cost of living, higher incomes are required.

“You need dual household income. It’s very hard to qualify someone with a single income. Everyone’s different but for most borrowers, you’ll need dual household income in order to qualify,” Marsh said.

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“You’re going to need at least $120,000 to qualify for a decent mortgage and it depends on your debt load. A lot of people have car payments or student loans which factor into things.”

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In recent years, many new high-rise developments have been approved in Kelowna and the city is considering bringing in regulations and incentives to make them more attainable for renters.

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“Do we require that all new developments provide a certain amount of affordable housing and then define that term? Is that one-bedroom units, two-bedroom units, what’s the rent and who manages it,” said Ryan Smith divisional director of planning and development for the City of Kelowna.

The city has been working with non-profit housing societies to find affordable properties in Kelowna, but that can be a long process.

“It’s really, really complicated to get affordable housing projects done in BC and Canada. That’s part of the reason we have a housing shortage. All across local governments, it’s not just one type of housing, it’s all types of housing we need to be building a lot more of,” added Smith.

1:21
Rental prices have risen significantly in Kelowna

Smith said the City of Kelowna has made it a priority to find additional housing and will be asking for the public’s feedback sometime next year.

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“One of the tools that we use to determine that is called a housing needs assessment. We’re going to embark on another assessment in 2023. That will help us figure out what is affordable in different categories,” said Smith.

Rental prices in Kelowna have been fluctuating in recent months with the addition of new rental properties however, Marsh said no relief is in sight.

“Kelowna is super desirable, there’s a lot of demand for people to move here. So I don’t see prices coming down anytime soon, so I think we are going to continue to have those affordability challenges,” Marsh said.

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Mamas for Mamas raises $500,000 throughout gala in Kelowna – Okanagan

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 12:43:29 +0000

Mamas for Mamas, a charitable organization that supports mothers and caregivers in crisis, has raised over $500,000, in the Kelowna branch’s most successful fundraiser to date.

After being put on pause for three years, the gala returned to the Delta Grand Hotel, on Saturday for a black swan-themed event.

In a press release, Mamas for Mamas says 450 guests attended the gala.

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“Grateful doesn’t quite express how we feel toward our attendees from Saturday,” said Shannon Christensen, founder of Mamas for Mamas.

“We are in awe of each and every one of them, (in) awe of the new friends we have made and the long-term supporters who never fail to show their support. It was completely surreal watching a room full of powerful and compassionate people working together to help us make long-term changes to poverty-based systems.

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“These donors and guests are changing the future of thousands of families who would otherwise fall through the cracks,” she continued. “We didn’t just fund our biggest and most expensive program this last weekend, we funded a positive future for thousands.”

Funds raised from the gala will support the Mamas At-Risk program, a resource navigation relief program that has already served over 16,600 families since 2018.

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The program helps mothers, fathers, and families in crisis who are facing homelessness, hunger, and poverty-related issues.

“We have served 16,000 mamas directly and 50,000 indirectly alone in 2021 through the Mamas At-Risk program. We have grown and distributed more than 2,000 pounds of food in the last three years alone,” Christensen said.

“We continue to provide rental subsidies and homeless support when our clients are deemed too high risk to support the government-funded agencies.”

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Kelowna’s first ‘purple shirt’ worker to retire after 15 years of strolling downtown core – Okanagan

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 01:41:31 +0000

Ron Beahun has clocked thousands of hours and millions of steps walking Kelowna’s downtown core during the past 15 years.

Beahun is Downtown On Call’s very first employee, a program operated by the Downtown Kelowna Association (DKA).

“When I used to carry a pedometer, it used to be 25 to 30 kilometers a day,” said Beahun, the on-street services manager with Downtown On Call.

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“Downtown On Call is more commonly referred to as the red shirts, or the red coats depending on the time of the year,” said DKA executive director Mark Burley.

“If you’ve lived in Kelowna for any length of time and been downtown, you’re familiar with them.”

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The ‘red shirts’ move loiterers along, keep an eye out for criminal activity, provide safety chaperones when requested and help tourists with directions.

Beahun, who has been with the program since its inception in early 2008, is about to retire.

“One thing I’ll miss leaving is just the people downtown,” Beahun said. “I’ve introduced my family members to some of the street entrenched.”

That’s because a big part of the job is dealing with the city’s homeless population, which he believes has to be approached with a firm yet personable attitude.

“My guys know everybody by name,” he said.

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The mandate of Downtown On Call is to create a safe, clean and friendly downtown core. While that goal hasn’t changed, in many ways the downtown landscape has.

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“It’s a different attitude now,” Beahun said of describing how criminal activity has changed and some of the people who call the downtown streets home.

“The old folks that were down here were more peaceful and loving, honestly. They’d hang out at City Park, whereas now it’s a different breed. I see a lot of people who aren’t Kelowna residents, they’re coming into town and they do what they want.”

Beahun says the job can at times be dangerous and admits he’s had some close calls over the years.

“Absolutely it’s dangerous,” he said. “We’re just out there walking around. We have no protection except our voice and the training that I’ve tried to supply when to engage and when to disengage.”

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According to the DKA, Downtown On Call teams often de-escalate situations without the need to call the police.

“We keep statistics on our calls and the types of calls, whether we’re picking up sharps (needles) or you know what it is. And for every 100 times that somebody calls 470-9058, we only find ourselves calling another agency, mostly the police, 12 times,” Burley.

“So 88 per cent of the time, we don’t need assistance because the guys are used to moving around and making things happen.”

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2:25
Between Kelowna, Penticton and Vernon, there are well over 300 people sleeping outside in the cold

RCMP said the work done by Downtown On Call is invaluable and supports police work in a big way.

“They’re a very big tool that we can use for their eyes and ears. They know a lot of people down there,” said Const. Mike Della Paolera. “They’re a big part of keeping Kelowna downtown safe.”

Beahun is set to retire at the end of the month.

His efforts will be honored at the Downtown After 5 event on Nov. 30 at the Laurel packing house.

The post Kelowna’s first ‘purple shirt’ worker to retire after 15 years of strolling downtown core – Okanagan appeared first on KELOWNABC CANADA DAILY NEWS.

‘Actually difficult’: Reasonably priced housing a problem in Kelowna, BC – Okanagan

Sun, 29 Jan 2023 14:40:05 +0000

It’s already one of the most expensive housing markets in the country and with the skyrocketing cost of living, finding an affordable place to live in Kelowna seems to be going from bad to worse.

The recent rejection of an attainable rental development slated for the city’s downtown is sparking a debate on what is an affordable price to pay.

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City council rejected the agreement Monday, which priced affordable studio unit rents at $2,050 a month, unanimous in saying that the price was unaffordable.

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A Kelowna mortgage broker said the cost of a single-family home in the city can be between $3,500 to $4,000 a month.

Story continues below advertisement

Those looking to buy their dream homes may have looked at different options in recent months, and with interest rates and the rising cost of living, higher incomes are required.

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“You’re going to need at least $120,000 to qualify for a decent mortgage and it depends on your debt load. A lot of people have car payments or student loans which factor into things.”

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In recent years, many new high-rise developments have been approved in Kelowna and the city is considering bringing in regulations and incentives to make them more attainable for renters.

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The city has been working with non-profit housing societies to find affordable properties in Kelowna, but that can be a long process.

1:21
Rental prices have risen significantly in Kelowna

Smith said the City of Kelowna has made it a priority to find additional housing and will be asking for the public’s feedback sometime next year.

Story continues below advertisement

Rental prices in Kelowna have been fluctuating in recent months with the addition of new rental properties however, Marsh said no relief is in sight.

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Kelowna Mounties supply recommendations on methods to thrust back vacation grinches – Okanagan

Sun, 29 Jan 2023 03:35:21 +0000

‘Tis the season for giving and, for thieves, taking.

Kelowna RCMP sent out news releases this week reminding the public to take preventive measures against theft both at home and when out and about.

“When shopping locally place your purchased packages in the trunk of your vehicle instead of leaving them on your backseat and park in a well-lit area,” RCMP said.

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“Thieves generally target vehicles with packages, backpacks or other valuables that are visible from the outside. It typically takes a thief less than 30 seconds to break into a vehicle.”

On Thursday, police noted that a vehicle is broken into every 12 minutes in British Columbia.

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“Thieves like to target vehicles with packages, backpacks and other valuables that are visible from the outside,” said police.

“Remember to lock your vehicle’s doors. Far too often do thieves get into a vehicle because the doors have been unlocked.”

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Those who are online shoppers are asked to consider getting packages sent to a work address or an address where someone can receive them.

To avoid porch pirates, don’t leave packages waiting on a front stoop.

For businesses, police recommend keeping front and rear entrances well-lit and rear and side doors locked.

Alarms work and digital video recording systems are helpful if an investigation is needed.

If you are the victim of a theft, do not hesitate to call the Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300.

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