Photo: RCMP
The Kelowna RCMP is seeking the public’s help identifying “persons of interest” in a double stabbing downtown last month.
Two 19-year-old men ended up with stab wounds after a brawl on June 4 just before 11:30 p.m. in the park space between Stuart Park and the Cactus Club Restaurant.
“Our investigation has determined that the group of people in these images are persons of interest in this investigation. We are hoping the public can assist us in identifying them,” says Cpl. Jocelyn Noseworthy of the Kelowna RCMP. “If you recognize any of these individuals, we are asking you to contact us immediately.”
Anyone with information on this investigation is asked to contact the Kelowna RCMP General Investigation Section at 250-762-3300.
Photo: Denim on the Diamond
Live music is returning to Kelowna in a big way this fall.
After having to cancel last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the homegrown Denim on the Diamond one-day music festival is returning to Kelowna’s Kings Stadium on Oct. 2.
“During this difficult year and a half, one thing that became very apparent is our collective need for community and social connection – our goal is to create a space where everyone is welcome, everyone feels safe and we’re able to celebrate overcoming the hardships the pandemic has brought to people,” said festival co-founder Kurt Jory.
“This is going to be a party to remember that’s for sure.”
Denim on the Diamond was started by Jory and Mitch Carefoot in 2018, and it’s been wildly successful in the two years it ran. While live music was scheduled to return to Kelowna’s North End again last September, Jory and Carefoot were forced to cancel, along with most other events across the world, due to the pandemic.
The festival will return in full force this year, with country artists The Hunter Brothers headlining. But while the festival has always leaned in a country music direction, there’ll be plenty of other music for all tastes, including rock groups Yukon Blonde and J.J. Wilde, and folk-electronic duo Moontricks.
“We’ve always had a vision of Denim stepping outside of being a traditional one genre music festival – this year we have the most diverse line-up to date,” Carefoot said.
The full lineup can be found here.
In addition to the music, the all-day event will also include a variety of games, food trucks, and local beverages. Tickets will start at $49, beginning Friday morning, before prices rise to $69 after July 17.
Photo: Big White Ski Resort
The Big White Ski Resort says it is nearing completion on the first stage of its wildfire risk mitigation project.
The project is funded by the provincial government, part of $20 million spent on the Crown Land Wildfire Risk Reduction (WRR) program.
“For the past months, there has been a lot of activity around the resort involving chainsaws, cutting of trees, and trucking of logs,” says Michael J. Ballingall, Senior Vice President of Big White Ski Resort Ltd. “This is an essential risk management project that will continue in the controlled recreational boundaries at Big White Ski Resort.”
Big White Ski Resort resides in an area that is recognized as a high wildfire risk area. As such, selective logging practices around the resort have been a part of the provincial fuel management treatments program to protect the public, property, and essential infrastructure.
The first stage of the program includes thinning the forests through mechanical and manual falling, pruning, removing surface fuels, and pile burning or fibre removal will continue around the resort.
“The saw work is finished, and the last of the logs that were going to be trucked off the mountain left Wednesday, July 14. The crews are now raking and piling brush in the treated areas and will move the piles to their landings in preparation for chipping. There will still be machines working in the treated areas but will be quieter than chainsaws, so please keep out of these areas. The contractor working around the resort is pushing hard to be done by the end of July – with exception to chipping.”
The next step of this program will also involve the removal of heavy undergrowth and lower branches on trees. Within the following months, crews will be clearing away immature young trees on the mountain to widen the spacing between trees.
Selected older trees will remain to provide shade and grant adequate regrowth abilities to the forest.
The project started back in 2019.
With just over 300 wildfires burning across the B.C., the air quality in many parts of the province has been impacted. Castanet hit the streets of Kelowna to find out if it is bothering them, or just routine by now.
“No, it doesn’t bother me. We were kinda planning this trip for a while, and we were interested in visiting British Columbia. I guess it’s part of being out here,” said one man visiting from Ontario with his family. He also went on to say “I couldn’t imagine living here if it affects people this way.”
Another man we interviewed has lived in Kelowna for most of his life. “My breathing is not the worst, I’m making the best of it. Three years ago was bad, I don’t think it was this bad, but pretty bad.”
A group of women from Vernon came down to Kelowna to take in the scenic views and downtown scene. They were a little disappointed to not have a great view of the mountains, but they seemed to be positive overall. “It hasn’t been that bad, we’re from Vernon so the smoke isn’t as bad there,” said one women.
“It’s just been a visual thing, I mean hiking up a hill gets kinda hard, but it’s not too bad. It’s a little rough touring here, because I wanted to see all the mountains and you kinda can’t see them too well from here with the smoke, but I’m making do,” said another.
“It’s honestly not too bad, I’m still glad to be here, but you know, you wish you’d be able to see the mountains from a little bit further away, but you get what you get,” said the third women.
One man said what is happening around us is normal. “It’s part of nature. We’ve got to burn off the brush.”
Part of nature or not, B.C. has seen record breaking temperatures very early into summer which has fuelled the flames, and with no rain in the immediate forecast for the Thompson-Okanagan region, we can expect these smoky conditions to last. The smoke is also spreading into Alberta and Saskatchewan as fires rage on in other parts of the country, according to FireSmoke.ca
Rob Gibson – Jul 16, 2021 / 4:00 am | Story: 340099
Photo: Frances Callaghan
One of the organizers of the Kelowna Farmer’s Market is warning Okanagan vendors and local businesses to be on the lookout for fake fifties.
Market co-ordinator Frances Callaghan tells Castanet she came across a counterfeit Canadian $50 bill after the July 7, 2021 market in Kelowna.
“As soon as I saw it I knew it was counterfeit.”
Callaghan says she has experience with counterfeit cash through different industry jobs and while she says the bill looked good from afar, it was far from good.
“The back only had one serial number, all bills have two and in the hologram, instead of saying 50 it said five and it wasn’t cut straight,” Callaghan says.
Callaghan has reported the incident to RCMP and they have asked her to track which vendors receive large denomination bills, like $50’s.
“They come in with a $50 and buy something for $5, we give them back $45 and they just made $45 off a vendor.”
For more information check the Bank of Canada counterfeit page.
Photo: Contributed
A Kelowna business success story has now made its way into the U.S. market.
GetintheLoop, which is Canada’s largest shop local platform, has partnered with BenefitHub, which bills itself as the largest employee lifestyle benefits company.
BenefitHub, which has 17 million members worldwide, will offer GetintheLoop content to its businesses, which will then pass on the local deals to its employees. The partnership will start in Nevada and Arizona.
“Our partner employers have long requested more local deals around their campuses and neighbourhoods where their employees live,” BenefitHub founder and CEO Seif Saghri said in a press release. “This partnership will give us a stronger and growing local offering.”
More than 5,000 businesses in Canada are customers of GetintheLoop, which has thrived in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The restrictions accelerated the need for local businesses to use digital tools to connect with consumers, and now the company will be able to do just that south of the border.
“We’re excited to jump-start the launch of GetintheLoop into the U.S. with a consumer audience of 10 million people and an amazing aligned partner in BenefitHub,” GetintheLoop founder and CEO Matt Crowell said.
Photo: Miriam Severin
Crews continue work on crane collapse Thursday afternoon
Downtown Kelowna evacuations orders related to this week’s fatal crane collapse will not be lifted until next week at the earliest.
Central Okanagan Emergency Operations announced Thursday afternoon that outside experts are being brought in to continue the “meticulous work on the disassembly and removal of the collapsed crane.”
“The incident area is still considered unsafe and unstable. The experts will assess and action the technically complicated removal of the remaining sections of the collapsed crane which pose a risk.”
Crews are working to ensure the remainder of the crane is removed safely and efficiently as possible, but it is not anticipated that the orders will be lifted before Monday.
The crane collapse killed five men who will be mourned at a vigil downtown near the construction site on Friday night at 9 p.m.
Photo: CORD
Downtown Kelowna evacuation area in red, now-lifted evacuation zone in green
Cindy White
UPDATE 4 p.m.
The verbal abuse directed at the security guard has outraged Kelowna City Councillor Mohini Singh.
“Horrible, deplorable, unacceptable. I could go on and on. It made me very, very angry, very angry,” said Singh.
“What really upset me was here’s a guy just trying to do his job, to keep Canadians safe, park their vehicles safely, and get to have a vaccination, get in a timely fashion, had to take this abuse. It was horrific, horrific. Unacceptable. This is not Kelowna.”
“All I know is I can speak up and say we as a society can not accept this, can not condone this. We need to stand up against this,” added Singh.
The Security company Paladin Security also took to Twitter to comment, praising the security guard for his professionalism.
Security Officer Anmol displayed #professionalism and courage in a very distressing situation, and we will be recognizing his #outstanding #service. We are very thankful for the overwhelmingly #positive response Anmol and our organization has received. [3/3] pic.twitter.com/E0dVkp5Ax7
— Paladin Security (@PaladinSecurity) July 15, 2021
As well, Interior Health issued this statement: “Security staff support our vital public health efforts against COVID-19 and ensure the safety of staff and clients. It is disappointing and completely unacceptable that one of our security staff was disrespected based on their race. We strive to create communities that are accepting of all people, regardless of their race, gender or sexual orientation. During these ongoing challenging times it is more important than ever to be kind and respectful to each other.”
ORIGINAL 12:21 p.m.
Kelowna RCMP are investigating after public outcry over a video showing a well-known anti-vaccine protester unleash a racist tirade against a security guard at the vaccination clinic at Trinity Church on Springfield Road.
“The original complaint was that protestors were impeding access to the clinic,” says Cpl. Jocelyn Noseworthy of the Kelowna RCMP. “Officers attended, spoke with staff, and dealt with the protestors. No arrests were made at that time.”
Since then, a video showing the man yelling racist comments at the security guard has received a lot of attention, sparking outrage in the community.
The video published by InfoNews showed the man, Bruce Orydzuk, yelling at the South Asian security guard for trying to get the protesters to move along.
“You’re not a Canadian, you are disgusting. Go back to your country,” Orydzuk repeated several times.
“We are now investigating this incident through the lens of the willful promotion of hatred under Section 319 of the Criminal Code,” says Cpl. Noseworthy. “Racism has no place in our community, and I want to reassure the public that this matter is being given the full attention of our General Investigative Support Team in consultation with the Provincial Hate Crimes Unit.”
Anyone who witnessed this confrontation and has not spoken to police is asked to contact the Kelowna RCMP at (250) 762-3300.
Premier John Horgan has condemned the incident on Twitter.
Castanet will be publishing more on this story later today.
This is vile, racist behaviour. If this is how you treat people, you are the problem.
Racism is a scourge and we must stand together against it to build a better province. https://t.co/9vySVQH0aG
— John Horgan (@jjhorgan) July 15, 2021
Photo: GoFundMe
Brad Zawislak is being described as an “amazing, fun-loving character.”
Zawislak was in his office in downtown Kelowna Monday morning when he was trapped beneath the rubble when the crane, being dismantled at the Brooklyn on Bernard development, collapsed.
Four crew members on the crane also lost their lives.
“The Zawislak/Furuya family is devastated with the sudden and tragic loss of Brad,” a GoFundMe page states.
“Brad was an awesome, amazing, fun-loving character. His personality, humour, and unique style brightened the day for all those who knew him.
“He was the beloved husband of Helen, and proud father of Savanah and Zoe. He was a kind, giving and committed family man. He was a friend to so so many.”
He is gone far too soon, the fundraising bio says. He will be sorely missed…never forgotten.
“This tragic loss will leave an unfillable void for his family.
“We ask for your help. This financial support will help his family secure their stability while they come to grips with their loss.
“In Brad’s memory and in loving support Helen, Savanah and Zoe.”
The GoFundMe campaign has raised nearly $20,000 of the $100,000 goal.
Photo: Colin Dacre
Someone out there is preying on your generosity in order to make a quick buck.
A fraudulent GoFundMe campaign has popped up, purportedly seeking to raise money for the fifth victim of Monday’s crane disaster in downtown Kelowna.
Castanet News became suspicious of the campaign Thursday morning because the alleged victim bore the same name as the Vancouver Fire Rescue assistant chief who led the team that recovered the fifth body.
The campaign was started Wednesday evening in London, England. All funds raised so far have been in British pounds.
The campaign description has scant details, indicating only that he left behind two daughters and a wife, and had recently won a two year battle with renal cancer.
In a brief statement, the Kelowna RCMP also concluded the fundraiser appeared to be fraudulent.
The campaign has since been taken down.
If you want to support the families of the victims of the crane collapse, links to legitimate GoFundMe pages can be found here.
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