Barry Gerding

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Flooding around the entrance of Mission Creek into Okanagan Lake has been a reflection of the impact of climate change on the spring snowmelt across the Okanagan Valley watershed. (File photo)

B.C. water sustainability plan pitched to Okanagan stakeholders

Seeking resolution to water and land-use conflicts

Flooding around the entrance of Mission Creek into Okanagan Lake has been a reflection of the impact of climate change on the spring snowmelt across the Okanagan Valley watershed. (File photo)
Overcrowded enrolment at Mount Boucherie Senior Secondary School in West Kelowna is pressing the need for a new secondary school to be built on the Westside, as outlined in the school district's updated Long Term Facilities Plan. (Barry Gerding - Black Press Media)

Central Okanagan school facility plan addresses challenges

Rising enrolment reflected in Long Term Facilities Plan proposal for school district

Overcrowded enrolment at Mount Boucherie Senior Secondary School in West Kelowna is pressing the need for a new secondary school to be built on the Westside, as outlined in the school district's updated Long Term Facilities Plan. (Barry Gerding - Black Press Media)
Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran’s absence from meetings of the RDCO board, which he serves on as one of seven city representatives, became a point of controversy last month. (File photo)

Curtailing Kelowna influence on regional district board

Kelowna’s representation on the 13-member RDCO board could drop from 7 to 6 with proposed changes

Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran’s absence from meetings of the RDCO board, which he serves on as one of seven city representatives, became a point of controversy last month. (File photo)
The propeller of a motorized boat encrusted with invasive mussels. Zebra and Quagga mussels can thrive in tiny crevices and even inside outboard motors, meaning very thorough cleaning is required to prevent their spread. (Contributed)

B.C. content with invasive mussels prevention measures

Environment minister responds to Okanagan Basin Water Board letter of concern

The propeller of a motorized boat encrusted with invasive mussels. Zebra and Quagga mussels can thrive in tiny crevices and even inside outboard motors, meaning very thorough cleaning is required to prevent their spread. (Contributed)
The real estate boom across the Okanagan has not felt a negative impact from the coronavirus impact on our national economy. (Contributed)

Okanagan real estate boom keeps escalating

Predictions of the current boom extending through the 2020 decade

The real estate boom across the Okanagan has not felt a negative impact from the coronavirus impact on our national economy. (Contributed)
School district staff can start to receive a COVID vaccine shot this week. (File photo)

Central Okanagan School District staff to get COVID vaccine shot

Interior Health quickly sets up clinics for AstraZeneca and Pfizer shots this week

School district staff can start to receive a COVID vaccine shot this week. (File photo)
The SASCU Recreation Centre is serving as a COVID-19 mass immunization clinic. (File photo)

Volunteer staff at Salmon Arm vaccination clinic replaced by paid out-of-town workers

Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo questions how and why volunteers relieved of duties

The SASCU Recreation Centre is serving as a COVID-19 mass immunization clinic. (File photo)
Indigenous education programs have become an important aspect of the education curriculum offered in the Central Okanagan School District. (File photo)

Central Okanagan School District registers surplus for Indigenous student spending

COVID-19 event/activity cancellations creates $500,000 carryover for Indigenous education budget

Indigenous education programs have become an important aspect of the education curriculum offered in the Central Okanagan School District. (File photo)
The provincial budget revealed this week in Victoria will present some challenges for school districts around B.C. for the 2021-22 school year. (File photo)

Mixed response to provincial budget funding for Central Okanagan schools

Central Okanagan School District finance and audit committee grapples with fiscal challenges facing 2021-22 school year

The provincial budget revealed this week in Victoria will present some challenges for school districts around B.C. for the 2021-22 school year. (File photo)
Interior Health nurses were administering COVID-19 vaccines to seniors and care aides in Kelowna on Tuesday, March 16. In Salmon Arm on March 11, guests, staff and support personnel at the Salvation Army’s Lighthouse Shelter at McGuire Lake were vaccinated. (Phil McLachlan/Black Press)

Central Okanagan school staff anxiously await vaccine

Pause in AstraZeneca vaccine delivery setback for vaccination plan

Interior Health nurses were administering COVID-19 vaccines to seniors and care aides in Kelowna on Tuesday, March 16. In Salmon Arm on March 11, guests, staff and support personnel at the Salvation Army’s Lighthouse Shelter at McGuire Lake were vaccinated. (Phil McLachlan/Black Press)
Serving alcohol has been altered in the Central Okanagan Public Schools policy regarding rental of school facilities for after-school hours events. (Contributed)

Alcohol option opened up at Central Okanagan school facilities rented for events

Central Okanagan Board of Education retains final approval for after-hours event approvals

Serving alcohol has been altered in the Central Okanagan Public Schools policy regarding rental of school facilities for after-school hours events. (Contributed)
Twin sisters Kyla, left, and Jordyn Bear have accepted scholarships to play at Rochester Institute of Technology in New York for this upcoming fall. The 17-year-olds dream of playing together for Canada in the Olympics one day. (Jesse Johnston/CP photo)

Lake Country twins inspire Indigenous hockey players

Grade 12 George Elliot Secondary students Kyla and Jordyn Bear earn hockey scholarships at NCAA Division 1 school

Twin sisters Kyla, left, and Jordyn Bear have accepted scholarships to play at Rochester Institute of Technology in New York for this upcoming fall. The 17-year-olds dream of playing together for Canada in the Olympics one day. (Jesse Johnston/CP photo)
Voting day for the upcoming Central Okanagan Board of Education by-election is June 26. (Contributed)

Central Okanagan school board election set for June 26

Kelowna voters will go the polls to fill vacant Kelowna trustee seat

Voting day for the upcoming Central Okanagan Board of Education by-election is June 26. (Contributed)
Eleven portables currently make up classroom space for 46 per cent of the students at Rutland Middle School, which was built in 1949 and is now significantly more expensive to operate and maintain than other schools in the district. (File photo)

Engaging public advocacy to counter Central Okanagan school enrolment crisis

Board of education invites community to help convince ministry of education to fund urgently neecded capital school projects

Eleven portables currently make up classroom space for 46 per cent of the students at Rutland Middle School, which was built in 1949 and is now significantly more expensive to operate and maintain than other schools in the district. (File photo)
Hallway design for the new Health Sciences Centre on the Kelowna campus of Okanagan College. (Contributed)

Okanagan College fundraiser counters pandemic

Health Sciences Centre campaign has raised $2 million in midst of COVID economic slowdown

Hallway design for the new Health Sciences Centre on the Kelowna campus of Okanagan College. (Contributed)
Royal LePage Arena was an addition to West Kelowna championed by Len Novakowski. (File photo)

West Kelowna community leader Novakowski dies

Former Westside regional district director Len Novakowski dies after lengthy health battle

Royal LePage Arena was an addition to West Kelowna championed by Len Novakowski. (File photo)
According to a recent child poverty report card published by the BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition last year, one in six children in the Central Okanagan are currently living in poverty. (Contributed)

United Way developing strategy to reduce poverty in Central Okanagan

Policy ideas now seek public input

According to a recent child poverty report card published by the BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition last year, one in six children in the Central Okanagan are currently living in poverty. (Contributed)
Tom Smithwick has written a new book, Knocking On Freedom’s Door, about his experiences advocating for a drug addiction treatment program in Kelowna. (File photo)

‘Knocking On Freedom’s Door’: A retired Kelowna lawyer’s insights to mental illness, addiction

Freedom’s Doors advocate Tom Smithwick shares what he has learned from experiences of treatment program clients in new book

Tom Smithwick has written a new book, Knocking On Freedom’s Door, about his experiences advocating for a drug addiction treatment program in Kelowna. (File photo)
Coronvirus expansion to new variants are raising virus containment issues for the province. (File photo)

Rising COVID-19 variants unsettling for Central Okanagan teachers

Vancouver Canucks being sidelined by COVID has been eye opener for public school community

Coronvirus expansion to new variants are raising virus containment issues for the province. (File photo)
High school student wearing N95 face mask. (Contributed)

Central Okanagan schools adapt to expanded mask wearing rules

Amended rules now affect all Grade 4-12 students

High school student wearing N95 face mask. (Contributed)