Top Stories – Nov 25 – Rink Preps

Preparations are underway so the Stuart Park ice rink is ready for skaters next week. Starting Thursday, residents can get in some outdoor skating daily through late February, weather permitting. The rink opens at 10am on Thursday, but will be open from 6am – 11pm after that. Rentals will be available between 11 and 8.

RCMP say 3 people were arrested after an incident on the Coquihalla highway Wednesday. The highway was shut down for more than 4 hours after police tried to stop a stolen pickup at the summit, but it took off down a side road and got stuck. A woman was quickly arrested, but it took a few hours of searching to find two men. There had been reports a gun was spotted, but the pair were taken into custody without incident.

According to the latest Canadian Federation of Independent Business Barometer, BC’s short-term index continues below 50 for the 5th month in a row, signalling continued weakened performance over the next three months. The group says high costs of doing business, a lack of staffing and ongoing interest rate hikes make it harder to know where their business is headed.

If you have been putting off getting a flu shot this year, better do it soon. All the shots have been distributed to doctors and pharmacies and no more are expected. But BC says it could contact other provinces to see if they have any leftovers. Shots can be booked online at getvaccinated.gov.bc.ca .

Stats Canada says the number of job vacancies was up 3.8 percent in September to 995,000. The biggest increases were seen in accommodation and food services at 12 percent, while the construction industry saw a gain of 14 percent. On a positive note, the number of vacancies in manufacturing was down just over 11 percent.

You’ve probably noticed by all the flyers and all the online ads, that the biggest shopping event of the year arrives today. Black Friday has evolved from a one-day event when shoppers lined up overnight outside big box stores to snag door-crasher deals, into an entire season of sales. More than 1 in 5 Canadians intend to take on debt to pay for gifts according to an Ipsos poll.

Metal fabricator Northside Industries was named the 2022 Large Business of the Year at the 35th Annual Kelowna Chamber of Commerce Excellence Awards. Modern PURAIR and Strut Footwear & Apparel won the Mid-Size and Small Business Awards respectively while the First Nations Finance Authority was recognized as Indigenous Business. A full list of winners is on the Chamber’s website.

WildSafeBC’s Okanagan Westside Coordinator provided an overview of the year’s wildlife activity in the community to West Kelowna council. It included 276 black bear sightings which was a slight increase over a six-year average. Garbage continues to be the main attractant in Westside neighbourhoods.

International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan (HAR-jit SAJ-an) is facing opposition criticism because he did not make any public statement about human rights during his visit to Qatar. He went for the World Cup on behalf of the Trudeau government. Earlier, MPs passed a motion condemning FIFA for threatening to penalize players who wore armbands supporting LGBTQ people.

Sports

The Kelowna Rockets continue their Washington road trip tonight with a game in Everett. Pregame show on 1047 The Lizard begins at 6:35. Moose Jaw visits Prospera Place tomorrow with the face-off at 7:05 and the pregame at 6:35.

Canada’s next soccer game at the men’s World Cup is Sunday morning at 8 against Croatia.

The Canucks have 2 more road games on the current trip. Tomorrow at 7 in Vegas and Sunday at 5 in San Jose.

Legendary Maple Leafs defenseman Borje Salming has died at 71. He was diagnosed with ALS in August.