Author: Benjamin Carter

Highway 3 crash Princeton caused a major disruption for travellers on Saturday afternoon. The busy Crowsnest Highway was closed in both directions about 33 kilometers west of Princeton following a serious vehicle incident. The closure stretched between Garret Road and Sunday Summit, leaving many drivers stranded or forced to take long detours. According to DriveBC, the road has now reopened in both directions. However, authorities warn that traffic will remain slow for some time as congestion clears. Motorists are advised to be patient and drive with care in the area. Emergency crews worked at the site for several hours. Traffic…

At a men’s addictions recovery centre in Penticton, B.C., the sound of mechanical tools and a revving motorcycle fills the air, giving patients hope and purpose. For months, 12 men at Discovery House Recovery have been carefully building a new motorcycle, piece by piece. The plan is to raffle the bike to raise funds for more treatment beds, supporting more people struggling with addiction. The fundraiser addresses a critical need, said Blaine Russell, executive director of the Penticton Recovery and Resource Society, which runs three Discovery House homes. Currently, 25 men are supported through various stages of recovery at Discovery…

Penticton council has approved the next steps to move forward with a major fire hall renewal plan that aims to improve safety, training, and emergency response across the city. The decision includes submitting a grant application and developing a funding strategy for the multimillion-dollar project. The initiative is part of the city’s Civic Places and Spaces strategy, a long-term plan to update and modernize community infrastructure. Under the new approach, the city will build a Fire Hall Headquarters at the Fire Hall #2 site and carry out upgrades at Fire Hall #1. Once complete, Fire Hall #1 will serve as…

Penticton residents now have a new way to escape the summer heat. After a month of construction, the city has opened a permanent cooling station in the heart of downtown. The project is part of an effort to support public safety during hot weather and to prepare for the effects of climate change. The cooling station is located beside City Hall inside Gyro Park. It includes misting features, solar-powered lighting, and an accessible walkway. Officials say the design aims to give residents and visitors a safe place to cool down during extreme heat events. The construction of the facility began…

Twelve candidates are in the running for Penticton’s upcoming by-election to fill the council seat left vacant after Helena Konanz stepped down. Advance voting will take place on August 13 and 14 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, with the main voting day scheduled for Saturday, August 23, at the same location and hours. All candidates were invited to answer the same set of questions and provide a brief biography. Two candidates, John Archer and Jason Town, did not send responses before the deadline. The questions asked focused on three major issues: how…

For the first time in six years, the Penticton Peach Festival skies were alive with the roar of jet engines as the Snowbirds performed their thrilling aerial show on August 6. The Royal Canadian Air Force’s famous Snowbirds acrobatics team flew high above the festival to mark the event’s opening night. Despite a strong storm bringing heavy rain and lightning, which delayed the performance by an hour, the crowd’s excitement remained high. The storm forced many attendees to seek shelter briefly. But once the rain cleared and sunlight peeked through the clouds, the Snowbirds delivered a full, high-altitude aerial display.…

It had been six years since the skies of Penticton last hosted the legendary Snowbirds. That changed this BC Day as the elite Royal Canadian Air Force jet team gave beachgoers a thrilling surprise over Okanagan Lake Beach. The last official Snowbirds air show in Penticton was back in August 2019. But on Monday afternoon, locals and tourists were treated to a surprise rehearsal that lasted nearly 10 minutes. Just before 2:30 PM, the full nine-plane formation appeared over the city. The aircraft moved quickly across the sky in single file, roaring above the valley and the beach. The jets…

One of the three people accused in the Penticton murder case has made his first court appearance. On Thursday morning, Simon Bourbonnais appeared by video at the Penticton Courthouse wearing an orange jumpsuit. Bourbonnais is facing several charges. These include being an accessory after the fact in the murders of Douglas Barker and Alannah Brown. He is also charged with manslaughter in Brown’s death, unlawful confinement, and committing indignity to human remains. The remains of the two victims were found in Trout Creek in September 2022. Both were 30 years old and lived in Penticton. The case remained unsolved for…

Penticton’s federal representative, Helena Konanz, has formally asked Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald to reverse the decision to end the federal lease on the Penticton shooting range. The site, run by the Penticton Shooting Sports Association, will lose its lease on December 31, 2025. The nonprofit group was told of this change in a letter dated May 2024. Konanz argues that the range has served the community for decades. She notes it offers safe, family-friendly facilities for target shooting. The site also helps train regular citizens, Scouts Canada, Air Cadets and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. In a public post on…

Penticton has opened new water fill stations to help residents stay hydrated as a heat warning affects the B.C. Interior. Along with adding new stations, the city has also upgraded many existing ones to improve access to clean drinking water. Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued a heat warning for Penticton, forecasting temperatures between 35 and 38 degrees Celsius until Thursday. Kristen Dixon, the city’s general manager of infrastructure, said the new water stations encourage active lifestyles and contribute to a safer, more resilient community. She explained that making clean drinking water more available in parks and public spaces…