Top Stories – June 13 – Lake Recovery

RCMP said yesterday that it would be a complex operation to recover the body of a woman from Okanagan Lake. She was the sole occupant of a vehicle that went off Westside Road Friday night and ended up in deep water. The incident is not considered criminal in nature and while the victim’s family has been notified, her name has not been publicly released.

A poll suggests only a third of Canadians support a proposal to ask the federal government to change the lyrics of the national anthem. It would alter the line that reads “O Canada! Our home and native land” to “O Canada! Our home on native land.” 48 percent were opposed to the suggestion.

You can own a house that our boss lived in, for just one dollar… but there’s a catch. The home that belonged to Jim Pattison, his family and his parents in West Vancouver has to be moved from its current location, and preserved. West Van is acquiring a number of properties so it can turn the area into a waterfront park.

Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair says with 4.7-million hectares of forest burned across the country, this year is the worst wildfire season Canada has seen this century… and we’re only in mid-June. About 5,000 personnel have been deployed, and hundreds more firefighters from Chile, Costa Rica, Spain and Portugal are expected to arrive in the coming days.

West Kelowna is inviting residents to view and submit comments on the draft 2022 Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements. The city says it provides a summary of the activities and accomplishments that support moving the community forward. Check out the report at westkelownacity.ca/annualreport .

Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization says anyone who has not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19 can receive the bivalent formulations developed for the Omicron variant. The supply of the original m-R-N-A vaccines will no longer be available in Canada in the coming months.

Don’t forget about the free event happening tomorrow at Parkinson Rec Centre. From 7am to 6pm you can drop-by for a free swim, workout, refreshments, games and prizes to help kick off summer. It’s usually held in the fall, but it will now take place just ahead of summer, to make the most of the warm weather.

Russell Brown has resigned from the Supreme Court of Canada rather than face a public inquiry into allegations he harassed women at an Arizona hotel. It’s the first time a justice on Canada’s highest court has quit amid questions of misconduct. Brown was a strong conservative voice urging restraint on a court known for its liberal rulings.

The Illinois Governor signed a bill that will make it the first state in the U-S to outlaw book bans. The new law comes into play as states push to remove certain books in schools and libraries, especially those about LGBTQ+ themes and by people of colour.

Sports

The Las Vegas Golden Knights can win the Stanley Cup on home ice with a victory over the Florida Panthers tonight. Going into game 5, Vegas leads the best of seven three games to one.

Toronto Raptors Fred VanVleet will enter free agency this summer after declining his $22.8-million player option for next season. He will be among the most sought-after guards on the market.

The Kelowna Falcons are on the road in Washington state this week. They kick it off tonight with the game against the Bellingham Bells.