KAMLOOPS

Jason White, who owns Powder Ventures Excavations and has been racing cars for a long time, was elected mayor after being the only person who ran for the top job in the resort municipality.

Jason White

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chelsea Isenor has been appointed as the new executive director of Western Canada Theatre, effective November 2, 2026.

The STEPS clinic, located at the Cooper Centre in North Kamloops, is now fully staffed and has expanded its range of medical, maternity, and mental health services.

The Kamloops Film Society is gearing up to commence a new season of opera screenings at the Paramount Theatre, located at 503 Victoria St. The season will commence with a gala event on Sept. 19.

Transport Canada‘s Airports Capital Assistance Program has granted Kamloops Airport $1.35 million to upgrade its essential airfield electrical infrastructure. 

A business plan and financial feasibility study for a new hotel and event space near Kamloops are being conducted by Rebecca Pickford, MBA, CMC, and Kirstin Hallett in collaboration with the Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation. 

Western Canada Theatre will now be in charge of the Kamloops Wine Festival. 

 

SALMON ARM

Shelley Desautels is running for a seat on the Salmon Arm City Council. Desautels used to be the executive head of the Salmon Arm Chamber of Commerce and now works as a mapping and data analyst.

Kari Toliver Wilkinson, a well-known businesswoman with deep roots in the Shuswap, intends to run for Salmon Arm city council this fall. 

A rezoning request that could allow for a new 38-unit multi-family at 10 Street SE is being considered by the Salmon Arm city council. 

The Community Emergency Preparedness Fund will fund the District of Sicamous and Neskonlith Indian Band. While the District of Sicamous, in partnership with the Columbia Shuswap Regional District, will receive $29,916 to fund additional evacuation route planning and a tabletop exercise to test the plan and improve local evacuation decision-making, the Neskonlith Indian Band will receive $40,000 to develop an evacuation route plan and public notification plan to improve community readiness in high-risk wildfire.

 

VERNON

Lara Lawson will soon be joining Tourism Vernon. 

Jeff Faragher has been appointed as the Conductor of the Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra for the 2026/27 season. 

The former Anchor Inn in Armstrong has been acquired by Sueño Restaurant Group, which also owns and runs Moose Mulligans and Brothers Tavern in Sicamous, Hideaway Public House and Canooligans in Salmon Arm, and restaurants throughout Vancouver Island and Mexico. 

Two environmental awards were given to the City of Vernon at the Union of BC Municipalities conference. This week, the Community Energy Association presented the two Climate & Energy Action Awards. 

Watkin Motors Ford, a local dealership in Vernon, is urging consumers to participate in the “Fill the Ford” event in order to support local food banks through the Global Ford Dealer Food Drive.

The Okanagan Indian Band, Regional District of North Okanagan, and District of Lake Country have been recognized for their North Aberdeen Plateau Wildfire and Watershed Resilience Initiative with the Presidents Committee Choice Award at the Union of BC Municipalities on September 15.

 

KELOWNA

Ester Pike has been officially named as the Chief Executive Officer of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce. 

Ester Pike

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BJ Tumanut, who owns JoieFarm Winery in Naramata, and Joey Cotroneo, vice-president of Iconic Winers of BC and Mission Hill Family Estate, were chosen to join the board of directors of Wine Growers BC.

Mike McCready and Merek Cutler are joining Crowe MacKay LLP after passing the Spring CFE Exam and will soon be certified as CPAs.

FireSwarm Solutions, a Squamish-based B.C. company has recently signed memorandums of understanding with the City of Kelowna and Okanagan College. These agreements commit the company to ongoing collaboration in order to expand its operations in the Interior.

Atlas Puzzles and Lounge, which is owned and operated by Mark Shillington, has recently opened at #9 – 3045 Tutt Street. 

Team Construction Management Ltd., a construction company in Kelowna, is marking 45 years of business.

An offer to buy the Recreation Inn at 1891 Parkinson Way and a mostly empty lot at 1864 Harvey Avenue has been accepted, and C. Cheveldave & Associates is in charge of liquidating Witmar Holdings.

Britannia Brewing will open a new location in Kelowna next year at Movala on Lakeshore Road.

The Okanagan International Film Festival (OKIFF) is set to return from October 15–18, 2026, after a nearly decade-long absence. The festival will be devoted to the development of the region’s film and television industry, with a bold new vision.

 

SUMMERLAND

An Evening Anchored in Hope, a special fundraising dinner event, will be hosted on September 26 to help Summerland’s recovery efforts as part of the Kiwanis Club of Penticton‘s ongoing efforts to promote community recovery. 

Summerland is hosting the Ryga Arts Festival from September 15 to September 20.

The Summerland-based Recope Program‘s 50th anniversary will take place on October 3 at Summerland Heritage Cider, 3113 Johnson St. 

 

PENTICTON

Penticton approves an $8.9 million microgrid to assist in providing emergency power to Penticton Regional Hospital and other major facilities. A maximum of $3.7 million, or 40 per cent of the total, was to be contributed by the city from its Electrical Capital Reserve; grants or other outside sources were to provide the remaining $5.6 million.

Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce members are urging the British Columbia government to halt tax expansion in the face of impending uncertainty caused by the imposition of a provincial sales tax on several business services. The tax is scheduled to take effect on October 1st. 

Yellow Dog Brewing is teaming up with the British Columbia SPCA to host a label contest and is on the hunt for pets to feature on beer cans. 

The Weird Beer Brewery Crawl, scheduled to take place from September 18 to 27, will feature the most unusual creations of seven Penticton breweries: Cannery Brewing, Abandoned Rail Brewing, Yellow Dog Brewing, Neighbourhood Brewing, Highway 97 Tin Whistle Brewing, and Barley Mill Brewery.

Following a year of hard community work, Penticton’s Dream Society is finally opening their newly remodelled listening room downtown in October, The Dream Cafe.

The Community Foundation of South Okanagan Similkameen is still taking grant applications from charities and non-profits until October 16. 

 

OSOYOOS/OLIVER

The BC Arts Council Infrastructure Program and the Canadian Heritage Cultural Spaces Fund provided funding for Oliver’s Venables Theatre to get a new wheelchair lift for the stage.

The Rotary Club of Osoyoos is starting a $100,000 fundraising drive as part of its 25th anniversary celebrations. The money will be used to help build a new playground at Kinsmen Park.