Top Stories – Feb 16 – Full Stands, Bars Reopen

The covid vaccine card and masks in indoor public places stay for now, but as of 11:59 tonight, capacity restrictions for public gatherings such as sports events will be lifted and bars and nightclubs will be allowed to reopen at full capacity. Also, indoor personal gatherings can return to normal and dancing and mingling will be allowed in bars and restaurants. Also, sports tournaments can return at full capacity and wedding parties can resume. Concerts can return to 100% capacity and fitness centres can reopen at full capacity. Restrictions to Long Term Care visitations remain for now. The remaining measures will be reviewed before Spring Break and again before Easter.

For the upcoming Family Day weekend, the City of Kelowna is offering free drop-in skating on Friday from 6:30 to 7:45pm at the Capital News Centre, and Sunday from 1 to 3:15pm at Rutland Arena. Participants ages 12 and over must show proof of vaccination. Registration and pre-booking are not required but maximum capacity limits are in place.

Canada is adjusting the testing requirements for border re-entry, but not going as far as many people had hoped. Starting February 28th travelers will have the option of having a Molecular test or a health care administered Rapid Antigen test before returning to Canada. On arrival, fully vaccinated people will be chosen at random to take home a test but will not have to isolate while they wait for the result.

A large fire engulfed part of the Blue Heights business complex along Hwy 97 near McCurdy on Tuesday morning. The severity was raised to a General alarm which means all available fire personnel are requested to respond, on and off duty. Damage to the building is extensive and heavy equipment was assisting fire personnel with completing extinguishment and investigation. (Image: Kelowna10)

Tim Hortons parent company Restaurant Brands International expects to raise prices this year as it faces rising input and staffing costs. The company that also includes Burger King, and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen. Revenue last quarter was 179 Million dollars compared to 91 Million a year ago in the height of the pandemic.

As the province announced the easing of many restrictions there were 519 new covid-19 cases in three health regions in BC yesterday. Computer issues prevented any reporting from the south coast. There were 287 cases in the Interior where 164 people are in hospital.

While Kelowna RCMP were patrolling after some break and enters in the Mugford road area last week, they managed to arrest a man who had been wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for 2 years. They spotted a car that had taken off from Penticton RCMP earlier and then saw a man running away. He was arrested without incident.

After days of occupation by truckers of city streets, the Ottawa police chief resigned yesterday. As this was happening, an integrated command centre was being set up. Also, some protesters moved their trucks out of residential areas but others said they will stay put.

Sports

Women’s hockey will wrap up at the Beijing Olympics later today. Canada will play the United States for Gold at 8:10 tonight. Canada is undefeated at the games, while the U-S has just one loss… to Canada.

Canada’s men’s hockey team is coming home from the Olympics after losing their quarter final game 2-0 to Sweden.

The BC Lions have added Tanya Walter to the coaching staff as a defensive assistant. She becomes the first full-time female coaching hire in CFL history. The Forestburg, Alberta native began coaching at Edmonton’s St. Francis Xavier High School from 2017-21.

The Kelowna Rockets wrap up their 4 game WHL homestand tonight at Prospera place. Prince George is in town for a 7 PM face off.

An estimated 101.1 million people in the U-S watched the Los Angeles Rams win the Super Bowl over the Cincinnati Bengals on NBC and Telemundo. The Nielsen company said another 11.2 million people streamed the game, putting the total audience at 112.3 million.

The New York Rangers appear interested in bringing back J.T. Miller for a second tour of duty in the Big Apple. New York is among several teams to inquire about the Vancouver Canucks forward. Miller was a 2011 first-round pick by the Rangers.

In a post Super Bowl news conference Sean McVay didn’t guarantee he’d be back to coach the winning Los Angeles Rams next season. McVay has been one of the NFL’s most successful coaches since taking the Rams job in 2017, posting a 55-26 record.