Author: Harpreet Bains

Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) raced into the woods north of Kelowna Thursday night after two hikers dialed 911. They reported hearing cries for help near the Boulderfields, a well-known climbing area off the old Kettle Valley Railway line. COSAR search manager Duane Tresnich said the call arrived just as the team was on its regular training night. Since Thursday is their standard practice evening, COSAR assembled its full team. Two RCMP officers joined the search, along with the drone unit. By 8:30 p.m., searchers were fanning out on foot along the trails. Other members patrolled the nearby forest…

Emergency teams in British Columbia are responding to a fast-moving wildfire that broke out between Peachland and West Kelowna. The fire, now known as the Drought Hill wildfire, has already triggered tactical evacuations for about 400 properties and led to road closures in the area. The Central Okanagan Regional District issued evacuation orders for residents living east of Trepanier Bench Road, south of Highway 97C, and north of Highway 97. Officials warn that people in these areas should be prepared to leave for an extended time. Authorities are urging residents to take important items like medications and personal documents, and…

A man from Kelowna has received $10,000 in compensation after the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal found he was unfairly dismissed because of a past bank robbery conviction. The man, identified only as Mr. T, had applied for a job at MotiveWave, a company that provides software for online trading. He used a new name when applying for the role and answered “no” when asked if he had a criminal record. The tribunal stated that Mr. T lied because he believed his past had no bearing on the work he was applying for. Tribunal vice-chair Devyn Cousineau ruled that Mr.…

A British Columbia man who stabbed a police officer during a violent confrontation in 2022 has been found criminally responsible for his actions. The verdict was delivered on July 28 in a Kelowna courtroom, where Justice Steven Wilson ruled that Richard McCrae understood what he was doing during the attack and is therefore accountable under the law. The ruling followed a detailed court process examining McCrae’s mental state at the time of the incident. McCrae has a long history of mental health struggles, including schizophrenia, auditory hallucinations, and psychotic episodes. Despite this, the court determined that his actions showed awareness…

Search and rescue teams in Kelowna had a full day of action on Friday, helping people in two different emergencies in the area. Volunteers from the Central Okanagan Search and Rescue team were called into action for two separate missions. One involved a missing hiker, and the other an injured cyclist in a hard-to-reach location. In the second incident of the day, an injured cyclist needed urgent help after getting hurt in Myra Canyon. The location and the extent of the injuries made it too difficult for regular ground rescue. To get the cyclist out safely, a helicopter was brought…

Melanoma Canada’s Mole Mobile has arrived in Kelowna to offer free skin cancer screening for residents. This mobile clinic gives people the chance to see a dermatologist without a referral or long wait. It was parked at Save-On-Foods on Lakeshore Road on Friday, July 25. The service continues on Saturday, July 26, at Save-On-Foods on Cooper Road from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. No appointment is needed. Screenings are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The Mole Mobile is a walk-in service designed to give people quick and free access to skin checks. It is led by a medical team…