Top Stories – June 21 – Man Missing

The West Kelowna RCMP boat team has been searching for a man in Okanagan Lake since Saturday afternoon. The 34 year old from Calgary was visiting with friends when he didn’t resurface after jumping in from a boat south of Rattlesnake Island. The RCMP was joined by teams from COSAR and West Kelowna Fire Rescue but as of yesterday had found no trace of the man.

Loblaw says it plans to eliminate all single-use plastic shopping bags from its stores by the end of the first quarter of 2023. The parent company of Real Canadian Superstore and Shoppers Drug Mart among others, says the move will apply to its corporate and franchise grocery stores, pharmacies and PC Express service. It has 25-hundred stores across the country.

And we made it! Today is the first day of summer. It officially arrived at 2:14 this morning and will last until September 22nd. It is also the longest day of the year with 16 hours, 21 minutes and 3 seconds of daylight that began at 4:49 and ends this evening at 9:10. Tomorrow is 5 seconds shorter.

Mission Creek and its tributaries are under a High Streamflow Advisory. The BC River Forecast Centre said the flows were increasing at Mission’s East Kelowna station and Pearson Creek’s upstream station near the mouth. Though the Advisory does not predict any major flooding events, it was noted that there may be minor flooding in low-lying areas.

Applications are being accepted from child care providers to join the $10 a Day ChildCareBC program this year, which will allow them to offer low-cost child care. It reduces the average cost of child care from $1,000 a month for full-time, centre-based infant care at facilities participating in the Reduction Initiative, to $200 a month. More info here

Defence Minister Anita Anand says Canada will invest almost 5 Billion dollars over the next six years to modernize North America’s aging defensive systems. She says the funding is the first of an estimated 40 Billion that will be spent over the next 20 years to upgrade the joint US-Canadian early warning system known as Norad and purchase other military assets to protect the continent.

Due to colder than average temperatures, spring snowfall, and the inability for outdoor crews to get to some of the biking and hiking trails on Big White, the resort is delaying summer opening by a week. They had hoped for June 30, before the long weekend, but it has been pushed back to July 7th. The summer guide is online at BigWhite.com/summer .

Despite an increase is some types of crime, the 2022 Citizen Survey in Kelowna results were generally positive. Perceptions of quality of life remain high at 90 percent and three quarters believe they receive good value for their tax dollars. Top priorities for investment include addressing social issues, encouraging a diverse supply of housing options, and drinking water.

Paul Haggis has been arrested in Italy on suspicion of sexual assault and aggravated personal injury. The Oscar-winning ‘Crash’ moviemaker, was detained by authorities after an unidentified woman pressed charges. Haggis also wrote the Clint Eastwood-directed sports drama ‘Million Dollar Baby’ as well as James Bond movies ‘Casino Royale’ and ‘Quantum of Solace’.

Sports

The Tampa Bay Lightning looked a lot better on home ice last night as they beat the Colorado Avalanche 6-2 in the Stanley Cup final. Colorado still leads the best of seven, 2 games to 1 as they get ready for game 4 tomorrow night in Tampa

The Kelowna Rockets will open the 2022-23 season on home ice at Prospera Place, hosting the Portland Winterhawks on Saturday, September 24. An on-sale date for opening night tickets will be released at a later date, but season ticket holders have been mailed their renewal packages.

Pen has been put to paper. One of the most sought-after free agents not already in the NHL, has signed with the Canucks. Andrei Kuzmenko was never drafted by an NHL team, but the 26 year old had 67 points last season for St. Petersburg in the KHL.

The BC Lions have signed American running back Brian Hill. The 26-year-old was a fifth-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. He dressed for 39 games over four seasons, recording 198 carries for 945 yards and three touchdowns.