Top Stories – October 5

Two residents of Oliver are in big trouble after taking off on an ATV from a dealership in Kelowna Tuesday afternoon. It was seen racing through the streets, crashing through fences, and was eventually spotted by the RCMP helicopter. After a while, it rolled near Pyman Road past Black Mountain and with the help of police dogs, both suspects were taken into custody.

The area around the McDougall Creek Wildfire is once again open for recreation. The area restriction has been lifted as the fire is now classified as under control. The fire began August 15th and grew to almost 14,000 hectares.

A regimental funeral, including a procession and final salute, was held for RCMP Const. Rick O’Brien in Langley yesterday. He was killed last month while he and other officers were executing a search warrant at a home in Coquitlam. He joined the Mounties in 2016 after a career of working with at-risk children, but it wasn’t long before he was decorated for bravery for helping to rescue victims from a home invasion.

The annual harvest is underway at Gellatly Nut Farm in West Kelowna. There’s a big event on Saturday from 10:30 to 2:30 with entertainment, heritage displays and of course fresh nuts to buy with cash or e-transfer. Visitors can also fill park-provided buckets with nuts off the ground, because those are the ripe ones.

Free mental-health supports are once again available 24 hours a day for post-secondary students who may be coping with anxiety, depression and other concerns. Here2Talk is a confidential virtual counselling service that provides immediate mental-health support to students via the Here2Talk app, over the phone or through online chat. So far, 73% of students said the service provided them with the support and tools they needed.

WestJet is halting flights between Toronto and Montreal for the winter in a continuation of its retreat from short-haul routes in Eastern Canada to retrench in the West. It has slashed routes in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. However the airline shored up its position in Eastern Canada with the acquisition of Sunwing in May and says it remains committed to the region.

Gowns were worn and caps were tossed at Okanagan College’s first ever fall graduation ceremony yesterday at the Kelowna campus. Over 100 students were graduating from a wide range of degree, diploma and certification programs. They made up the 60th grad class of Okanagan College.

IH REPORT 630/8
Interior Health has released a five-year climate change and sustainability roadmap. It contains 20 actions designed to build a healthy and resilient health-care system while supporting climate adaptation in the region. Interior Health staff, doctors, Indigenous community representatives, local government and municipalities worked together alongside specialists in emergency management, climate resilience and public health.

HWY 1 630/8
Just in time for the Thanksgiving long weekend, Highway 1 East of Golden is reopening to traffic tomorrow at noon. It has been closed since September 25th for work to continue on the Kicking Horse canyon section. After the long weekend it will revert to overnight closures.

SPORTS

The Kelowna Rockets took their second loss in as many nights in Prince George, 8-1 to the Cougars. Next up are 5 home games starting with 2 on the long weekend.

The Blue Jays’ season is over. Minnesota took the best of three Wild Card series in two games straight with a 2-0 win yesterday.

In NHL preseason in Abbotsford last night, the Seattle Kraken beat the Canucks 2-1. Calgary visits Rogers Arena tomorrow.

Thursday Night Football in the NFL has the 0 & 4 Bears taking on the 2 & 2 Commanders at FedEx Field in Landover. Kickoff is at 5:15.

And boy are the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves on the road in NBA exhibition play. They take to the court at 9 this morning in Abu Dhabi.