Top Stories – Jan 5 – More Snow Coming

The frigid temperatures may be behind us for now, but the snow still has a lot more to say. Environment Canada is talking about the potential for heavy snow this evening through tomorrow. Snowfall accumulations could be 10 to 20 cm, with up to 25 possible for highway passes.

City of West Kelowna Crews will be back at work this morning fixing a water main break. It happened last night in the 1600 block of Scott Crescent. A number of homes in the area may be experiencing no, or low water pressure in the meantime

There were just over 25-hundred new cases of covid-19 reported in BC yesterday, including 270 in Interior Health. The number of people hospitalized for the virus in the Interior is the same as New Year’s Eve. There has been one more death in I-H, bringing the total to 299. Dr. Bonnie Henry suggests wherever possible, people should work from home for the time being.

Ottawa has reached agreements in principle with First Nations partners to compensate children harmed by its underfunding of child welfare. 20 billion will pay for compensation and another 20 billion will be spent on reforming the system over five years. Children living on reserve who were removed from their homes between April 1, 1991, and March 31, 2022, are to be compensated, along with their parents and caregivers.

Artwork by a Vernon man will be featured at the BC Winter Games in the city, if they proceed next month. David Wilson has created a series of pictograms depicting the sports featured in the games. Images will be used on apparel and other games merchandise, but will also be carved into large wooden disks to be put on display at the site of the events. You can see them at vernonmatters.ca .

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says school safety is the highest priority and also the safest places for our children. She says while they’re not a major source of virus transmission and it is essential they be kept open, while at the same time preparing for outbreaks. Most kids in BC will return to the classroom on Monday.

Transport Canada has been asked to investigate reports of rowdy behaviour on a recent Sunwing Airlines flight to Cancun. Videos of the Dec. 30 flight on social media appear to show passengers not wearing masks as they gather in close proximity, singing, dancing and drinking in the aisle and in seats. The plane had been chartered and some of the passengers were cast members from Quebec reality television shows.

Kelowna International Airport Director Sam Samaddar is now Chair of Airports Council International of North America. The group is the voice of North American airports, representing local and regional governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada. The City of Kelowna owns YLW.

Dr. Bonnie Henry says the interval between first and second doses of vaccine for kids will remain at 8 weeks and not shortened as other places have done. She says there is better protection. As for booster shots, she says if anyone has been infected recently, they can get the booster when they are feeling better. Dr. Henry adds they have not seen a high number of Omicron cases in hospitals.

Canada’s 100 highest-paid CEOs had their second-best year ever in 2020, even as the pandemic left the country in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. The left-leaning Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives claimed that by noon yesterday, the average boss of those companies would have already earned what the average worker will make all year. The top CEOs at publicly traded companies earned an average of 10.9 million dollars.

Sports

Three Western hockey league teams on the prairies have had their seasons put on pause because of covid. The Edmonton Oil Kings, Red Deer Rebels, and Moose Jaw Warriors had multiple players and staff added to the protocol list.

The Edmonton Elks announced additions to their 2022 coaching staff including two key faces from their last CFL championship team. Steve McAdoo will be offensive coordinator and Jarious Jackson will handle the pass game coordinator and quarterbacks duties.

The West Kelowna Warriors are on the BC Hockey League road tonight. They take on the Centennials in Merritt the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena at 7.

Oilers superstar Connor McDavid and forward Derek Ryan tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday. Both players are being retested and their status for today’s contest against the Leafs won’t be known until later.

The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League said the game between the North Okanagan Knights and Kelowna Chiefs last night at Rutland Arena had to be postponed. It came after a number of positive COVID test results by members of the Chiefs organization over the past 48 hours.

The NFL Washington Football Team will reveal its new name and logo February 2nd. Team president Jason Wright didn’t give any indication as to what the new name will be but did eliminate both the Wolves and Red Wolves from contention.