Top Stories – May 24 – KFD Kept Busy

Kelowna Fire and RCMP investigators were checking out a suspicious fire ear0ly Saturday on Crighton Road in the Southwest Mission. A number of beach structures were burned and the fire had spread to nearby trees. There was also a fire in the public washrooms at Tugboat Beach on Saturday night.

The federal government will conduct a public interest assessment of WestJet’s deal to buy Sunwing. Transport Canada has been given until December to complete the review and provide it to the transport minister, who would then provide a recommendation to cabinet. WestJet announced in March it would buy Sunwing in a move that would bolster its holiday tour business.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney ended speculation on his immediate political future when he said he would not be running in the race to pick a new leader for his United Conservative party. He surprised many people last week when he announced his intention to step down after a party leadership review. Kenney captured just 51 percent of the vote in the mail-in ballot of more than 34,000 party members.

Two men from Vernon have been banned from hunting for 5 years and fined 13-thousand dollars. The BC Conservation Office Service says Wayne Jopling and his nephew Corey, illegally killed 3 moose northwest of Kelowna. It happened in November of 2019 and the C-O-S says only one moose was removed while the other 2 were left to rot.

The cleanup effort continues following Saturday’s fierce storm that left at least eight people dead and hundreds of thousands without power after it swept across southern Ontario and Quebec. More than a Million people in the two provinces were without electricity in the aftermath of the storm which saw winds gust to 132 kilometres per hour. Ottawa Fire Services said emergency crews fielded about 3-thousand, 911 calls between 4am Saturday and midnight.

Seasonal industries are struggling to ramp up ahead of the busy summer rush as Canada’s rock-bottom unemployment rate and swelling job vacancies create an acute hiring crunch. The situation is leaving businesses from restaurants and hotels to garden centres and landscaping firms scrambling for workers. Among workers aged 25 to 54, the unemployment rate dropped in April to 4.3 percent.

With the unofficial kickoff to summer done, City of Kelowna Bylaw Services says more officers will be visible in the community, particularly in the downtown core and along the Rail Trail. City Park Ambassadors will once again be at popular outdoor spaces, including beaches, parks, sports fields and waterfront areas.

Okanagan residents are being asked to take a pledge to Make Water Work. The Okanagan Basin Water Board is asking people to reduce water use by watering lawns in the evening, choose plants that are suitable to the climate, and tune up irrigation. The OBWB is giving away yard upgrades to people who make a pledge, and the community that collects the most pledges will be named the Make Water Work Community Champions.

West Kelowna’s FireSmart Family Day is back this Saturday from 11-2 at Firehall 31 on Old Okanagan. For the big kids, there’ll be tips on preparing for, and protecting your home from wildfires, along with information on Emergency Preparedness. For the smaller ones, there’s a chance spray a firehose, check out the engines and meet Sparky the firedog.

Sports

The Oilers can take a 3 games to one lead in their NHL playoff series with a win against the Flames tonight on home ice. Face off at 6:30. The other game has the Rangers hosting the Hurricanes with Carolina up 2 games to one.

Last night, the Tampa Bay Lightning became the first team to move on to the next round with their 4th straight win against the Panthers. And in St. Louis, the Avalanche picked up a 6-3 win to take a 3 games to 1 lead.

The BC Lions released eight players at training camp including Canadian defensive back Jordan Hoover, who they had just signed on Saturday, and former NFL receiver Hakeem Butler. Hoover failed his physical. The Lions will take on the Stampeders in Calgary Saturday afternoon in a preseason game.

The Toronto Blue Jays have the second of 3 games against the Cardinals in Saint Louis tonight. Yesterday, they went to 10 innings before a grandslam won it for the Cards.

At the World Hockey Championships, Canada’s record is 4 & 2 in the preliminary round which ends tomorrow before the quarterfinals begin Thursday. Canada plays France this morning at 10:20.