Top Stories – Apr 5 – Fundraiser

The Kelowna General Hospital Foundation is always fundraising but it has just kicked off one of its biggest events ever. It is looking to raise $40 million to be used across 8 categories. One of the pieces of equipment they are looking to buy is a 3T MRI scanner which twice as powerful as the fields used in conventional high-field MRI scanners.

The BC Nurses Union says a new staffing model announced by the province will make BC the best place in Canada to be a nurse and improve patient care. The government will invest 750 million dollars over three years for a new nurse-to-patient care model. Victoria is also funding a new recruitment strategy, and more mental wellness and education supports as part of a tentative contract with the union.

A few days after the federal minimum wage went up, we will get an announcement today regarding the minimum wage in this province. The minister of Labour is holding a media event in the noon hour in Victoria. The current minimum wage in BC was raised to $15.65 an hour on June 1 last year.

Construction of the new South Perimeter Way is complete connecting the south end of Gordon Drive to the new Stewart Road West. It provides a third link in and out of the Upper Mission, improved access for emergency services, and better transportation connections for the proposed commercial development in the Ponds neighbourhood.

The parliamentary budget officer says Ottawa’s spending on employees saw record growth during the pandemic. Salaries, pensions and other employee compensation rose from $46 billion to $60 billion with the government spending an average of 6.6% more on each full-time worker.

December 4th is the next day Donald Trump is scheduled to appear in court in Manhattan. Yesterday after being charged, he pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. The judge warned the former President and potential witnesses to refrain from rhetoric that could inflame or cause civil unrest.

This is the second of a 2-year trial to allow driving only halfway up Knox Mountain and some councillors are pushing for an early review. Ron Canan, who wasn’t on Council when the plan was initially adopted in 2021 says it should be available to everyone, not just those that can bike or walk to the top. Right now, vehicle access is limited to the first lookout from noon to 8pm.

More kids will have access to healthy meals and snacks at school through the Province’s new Feeding Futures funding, which invests in building and expanding local school food programs. $214 million over three years will be used for purchasing food and hiring dedicated staff to co-ordinate providing meals and snacks to students.

Major oil-producing countries led by Saudi Arabia said they’re cutting supplies of crude, again. In theory, less oil flowing to refineries should mean higher gasoline prices for drivers. Saudi Arabia, OPEC’s dominant member, said that the move is ‘precautionary’ to avoid a deeper slide in oil prices.

Sports

In the WHL playoffs, the Kelowna Rockets find themselves down 3 games to none after a 4-1 loss last night at Prospera Place. Game 4 is at 7:05 tonight with the pregame show on 104.7 The Lizard at 6:35.

At Kal Tire place last night the West Kelowna Warriors took a 2-1 lead in the BCHL playoff series against the Vernon Vipers thanks to a 5-2 win. Game 4 goes tonight at 7.

The Vancouver Canucks lost their 4th straight game last night, 5-2 against Seattle. The home stand continues tomorrow against Chicago.

The Blue Jays play their third of four games against the Royals today. Yesterday in Kansas City, Toronto took a 4-1 win.