Top Stories – June 29 – Boats Stolen

Sometime between June 20th and 28th, 14 aluminum fishing boats were stolen from their locked compound at Kelowna Yamaha and Marine on McCurdy Place. The ‘Marlon Jon’ boats taken included seven 10-footers, six 12-footers, and one 14-foot. Police are hoping to hear from anyone who was in that area at the time and may have seen someone loading a bunch of boats onto a trailer or may have dash cam video. Witnesses can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers.

Starting today people can book an appointment to see a pharmacist through a new provincial online booking system to access the health care they need. On June 1, pharmacists’ scope of practice was expanded to allow them to prescribe for 21 minor ailments and contraceptives. To book an appointment and learn about how they could help you, go to gov.bc.ca/seeapharmacist

The federal government will spend 625-million dollars over four years to help provinces and territories build child-care infrastructure. The money is intended to help providers renovate, retrofit and build new not-for-profit and public facilities.

If you plan on heading down to the Kelowna waterfront for Canada Day action, keep in mind that there will be a number of road closures and restrictions. In addition, set-up for the event will take place tomorrow from 8am to 10pm. During that time, the lakefront promenade will be closed from the north end of Tugboat Beach through Rotary Marsh and Sunset Drive. Visitors can still access Waterfront Park through Rhapsody Plaza on Water Street.

The pickleball courts at the Mount Boucherie Sports Fields will be temporarily closed for required maintenance. They’ll be closed for prep tomorrow and then fully closed from next Monday to July 10 for resurfacing and installation of new black out fabric. During the closure, pickleballers can play at the courts at Anders Park.

More than 7,000 port workers in BC have filed notice they will walk off the job Saturday if they can’t reach a deal with the Maritime Employers Association. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union says the main issues are contracting out, automation and the cost of living.

Debris from the Titan submersible that imploded on its way down to the Titanic wreck site has been brought ashore in St. John’s. Human remains are believed to have been found within the wreckage according to the US Coast Guard. Several pieces of the sub, including the nose cone, were recovered by a remotely operated vehicle aboard the Canadian ship Horizon Arctic.

When you are out driving be careful at the intersections of Harvey and Dilworth and Harvey and Spall. According to data compiled by ICBC they are the top two intersections in the southern interior for accidents. Kelowna also had number three and four. They are Harvey and Gordon and Harvey and Cooper.

The provincial government has opened access to its $500 million rental-protection fund that will help non profit groups purchase rental buildings. The goal of providing the capital funding is to allow renters to stay in the buildings and keep their rents affordable. More than 97,000 units were lost between 2016 and 2021 as they were converted to condos, demolished, or the price of rent went up.

Sports

This is day 2 of the NHL entry draft. As expected, Connor Bedard was selected 1st overall by Chicago. The Canucks took Tom Willander, a defenseman from Sweden with the 11th pick. No Kelowna Rockets were taken in the first round.

The Kelowna Falcons are off today. They host Kamloops tomorrow before heading to the Northpaws’ field for a couple of long weekend games.

The Blue Jays and Giants will wrap up their series today. Last night at Rogers Centre, Toronto beat San Francisco 6-1.

The NHL’s salary cap ceiling has increased by $1 million to $83.5 million for 2023-24. The maximum salary is $16.7 million.