Top Stories – Feb 18 – Teen Girl Approached

The Kelowna RCMP is looking for a man who allegedly approached a teenage girl while she was walking in the area of Bernard and Doyle. The man pulled over and asked her what she was doing. The girl kept walking but he followed her until she yelled at him to leave her alone. He’s white, 25-30-years old with brown hair and a brown beard. The truck is described as a newer model white Dodge Ram.

Canadians now have access to another vaccine to fight Covid-19. Health Canada has approved the vaccine from Novavax for use in adults 18 and over. It’s recommended that there be 21 days between the first and second doses and the vaccine is required to protect against all known variants of covid.

And there were 191 new covid-19 cases for Interior Health yesterday as part of 782 in BC. New outbreaks were reported at Mountainview Village on KLO, and Three Links Manor on Kelglen Crescent. The one at Village at Smith Creek is over. Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been just over 343-thousand infections in the province.

Members of a BC First Nation who were evacuated more 3 months ago when a nearby river changed course during catastrophic floods are set to return home. Chief Arnie Lampreau of the Shackan Indian Band says he never expected they would be off their reserve in the Nicola Valley for so long. He said the landscape has permanently changed after it was charred by wildfires last summer then submerged by floods.

Workers in BC will be transitioning back into their workplaces. Dr. Bonnie Henry has updated them Order on workplace safety, removing the section that requires employers to allow staff to work from home if possible. All workplaces must continue to have a COVID-19 safety plan in place, and the Face Covering Order will still apply to most workplaces.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says using the Emergencies Act is a last resort to bring an end to the illegal and undemocratic blockades that have harmed Canadians for nearly three weeks. New powers have been granted to banks and police to freeze bank accounts of participants. It’s also illegal to bring children to within 500 metres of the blockades or provide supplies or property to participants.

Anyone who has been in the housing market lately certainly knows this. The parliamentary budget officer says that homeownership has become even less affordable through the pandemic for the average buyer, who may find it tougher to get into the market unless prices drop. Costs have been juiced by rock-bottom interest rates, demand for more space, and supply that can’t keep up.

Authorities began moving in on convoy protestors in Ottawa yesterday. One of the organizers, Chris Barber was arrested. Police have been warning people for a couple of days to get out of the city or risk been arrested, charged, having their vehicle impounded and lose their operating license.

And Defence Minister Anita Anand says the Canadian military is weighing its capacity to send reinforcements to bolster NATO’s eastern flank given its numerous other commitments at home and around the world. But the minister isn’t saying when an assessment could be finished.

Sports

After a few days off, the Canucks were back at in San Jose last night where the Sharks scored with 6/10ths of a second left in the third to tie the game at 4. But JT Miller scored in the extra frame to give the Canucks the win. Vancouver hosts Anaheim tomorrow night.

In the WHL this weekend, the Kelowna Rockets are in Prince George tonight and tomorrow. They are back home holiday Monday afternoon for a game against Tri Cities, who they beat a week ago.

It’s a busy weekend in the BC Hockey League for the West Kelowna Warriors. They are in Penticton tonight then back home for games tomorrow and Sunday against Cranbrook and Trail.

Going into the second round of the PGA Tour’s Genesis Invitational in L-A, Chilean golfer Joaquin Niemann leads the pack by three after shooting 8 under par yesterday at Riviera. Top Canadian is Corey Conners at 1 over.

The Western Hockey League says its playoffs will begin Friday, April 22, allowing for an update to the regular season schedule, including the rescheduling of postponed games. There will be three best-of-seven rounds followed by a best-of-seven championship series, set for June 3-14.

The Kelowna Chiefs wrap up their KIJHL regular season this weekend. They are in Summerland tonight, then have their last game at Rutland arena tomorrow at 7 against Sicamous.