Top Stories – July 28 – Gordon and Dehart

A major intersection in the Mission is going to be closed this evening and overnight. Gordon Drive at Dehart Road will be shut down from 7pm to 6am tomorrow morning so crews can pave the intersection. The work is being carried out overnight to avoid daytime traffic impacts. Motorists are asked to use alternative routes and should allow for extra travel time or avoid the area if possible and watch for flaggers.

Big White is again thanking all Interior Health employees for their dedication and hard work by offering free Scenic Chairlift Rides through the long weekend from today to August 1. Interior Health employees just have to show their work identification/photo ID at the ticket window. Tickets are valid for I-H employees only and are not transferable.

Updating one of the largest wildfires in the province, Nohomin Creek was estimated yesterday at about 23-hundred hectares. Despite the hot conditions, a lack of wind is helping to keep it in check. There are about 150 firefighters, 11 helicopters and dozens of support personnel working the fire.
The largest fire is about 62-hundred hectares and is burning near the BC/Yukon border.

As the temperatures soar, WorkSafeBC is reminding workers and employers to be careful whether they’re working outdoors or indoors. During last year’s heat dome event, WorkSafeBC says it accepted 115 claims of heat-related stress while at work, nearly tripling the annual average. It also reminds employers they must complete heat stress assessments and make sure that plans are in place to reduce heat stress.

A 25 storey tower will be going up on the site of the former RCMP building in downtown Kelowna. Council approved the development which will be mixed use, by a 6-2 vote. It will be built next to the Innovation Centre on Doyle and will have 259 units with 10 percent guaranteed to be affordable, along with nearly 23-hundred square metres of office space and 14-hundred for retail.

The Province is launching upgrades to Emergency Support Services including direct payment for evacuees to help meet their basic needs, including food and clothing. To be eligible for an e-transfer, people must log in to Evacuee Registration and Assistance online with their BC Services Card app and register. E-transfer is now available in many communities for people receiving ESS.

West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund provided council with an update on the wildfire situation in West Kelowna. The current fire danger rating is “4 or High” and is anticipated to move to “5 or Extreme” in the coming week. The City and West Kelowna Fire Rescue are reminding the public to report smoke and exercise vigilance with campfires, especially as temperatures rise.

People living with substance-use challenges in the Okanagan will have access to more treatment and recovery supports in Kelowna. In partnership with Interior Health, the Province is opening seven adult women’s treatment beds and two adult women’s stabilization/transition beds at the Bridge Youth & Family Services. They are scheduled to open in late September.

Starting next Tuesday, kids between 6 months and 4 years old will be eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine. The BC Centre For Disease Control says most youngsters who get the virus have mild symptoms, but some can get very sick. For more info, check out gov.bc.ca/under5vaccines .

Sports

Week 8 in the CFL kicks off tonight with just 1 game. The 1 & 5 Tiger Cats host the 2 & 4 Alouettes in Hamilton with a 4:30 start time. The BC Lions are on the road this week, playing in Regina tomorrow.

Christophe Farmer of the West Kelowna Warriors was one of 5 players to be awarded a 2-thousand dollar Shaw BCHL Scholarship. The winners were selected based on their academic track record, their stated future career and education goals and their time spent in the league.

Detroit is the location for the PGA Tour stop this week as the Rocket Mortgage Classic will be played at the North Course. Seven Canadians will be among those teeing off with defending champion Cam Davis.

The Toronto Argonauts have signed American quarterback Khalil Tate following the retirement of practice roster quarterback Austin Simmons. The six-foot, 216-pound native of Inglewood, California, signed with the Edmonton Elks in January but was released by the team as training camp opened.

The Blue Jays homestand continues tonight as the Detroit Tigers come across the border for the weekend. Last night at Rogers Centre, the 7 game winning streak came to an end with a 6-1 loss to the Cardinals.

Hockey Canada CEO Scott Smith said during testimony in front of Parliament yesterday that he won’t resign. Smith said he believes he can help inspire appropriate change from his position. Hockey Canada has been subject to intense scrutiny over a sexual assault lawsuit that was settled in May.