Municipal Government

Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran. (Photo contributed)

Another day in Kelowna court ends without plea from former mayor charged with sex assault

The charges stem from an incident on May 11, 2022, while Colin Basran was in office

 

In 2022, the mayor and council members received a total of $141,052.10 in remuneration and $18,492.93 in expenses. (Summerland Review file photo)

Summerland council members were paid more than $140K in 2022

Remuneration and expenses for council and staff shown in Statement of Financial Information

 

Summerland municipal hall will provide counter service four days a week, from Tuesday to Friday, beginning July 2. The hours of operation will be extended. (Summerland Review file photo)

Summerland adopts 4-day week pilot project

Extended hours will be in place Tuesday to Friday, beginning July 2

 

District of Coldstream chief administrative officer Trevor Seibel is waving goodbye to the district after 14 years of service. Seibel will stay in the position until the end of June. His replacement is current deputy CAO Keri-Ann Austin. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

Coldstream administrative officer leaving after 14 years to new opportunity in West Kelowna

Trevor Seibel is heading to the City of West Kelowna; deputy CAO Keri-Ann Austin takes over July 1

District of Coldstream chief administrative officer Trevor Seibel is waving goodbye to the district after 14 years of service. Seibel will stay in the position until the end of June. His replacement is current deputy CAO Keri-Ann Austin. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
Opening weekend at LocoLanding. (Monique Tamminga Western News)

LocoLanding loses out on loos as Penticton demos old washrooms

New, accessible washrooms are now open on Riverside Drive

Opening weekend at LocoLanding. (Monique Tamminga Western News)
Spallumcheen Mayor Christine Fraser (left) accepts the Southern Interior Local Government Association’s 2023 Economic Development Award from Community Excellence Awards sponsor representative Jamie Kozak of Urban Systems at the Prestige Vernon Lodge Friday, April 28. The township won a second award at SILGA for Environmental Sustainability. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

Vernon hosts record-breaking SILGA

Annual Southern Interior Local Government Association puts wrap to four-day event in North Okanagan

Spallumcheen Mayor Christine Fraser (left) accepts the Southern Interior Local Government Association’s 2023 Economic Development Award from Community Excellence Awards sponsor representative Jamie Kozak of Urban Systems at the Prestige Vernon Lodge Friday, April 28. The township won a second award at SILGA for Environmental Sustainability. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)
Many of the pilings at the pier on Lakeshore Drive in Summerland are now considered unsafe. The municipality and the Rotary Club are working to replace the pier. (John Arendt - Summerland Review)

Summerland council and Rotary Club to work on pier replacement

Iconic pier has been a landmark at Summerland’s lakeshore

Many of the pilings at the pier on Lakeshore Drive in Summerland are now considered unsafe. The municipality and the Rotary Club are working to replace the pier. (John Arendt - Summerland Review)
The City of Vernon will play host to the Southern Interior Local Government Association (SILGA) conference and annual general meeting April 25-28. (File photo).

Vernon hosting municipal counterparts for SILGA

Annual conference of the Southern Interior Local Government Association April 25-28

The City of Vernon will play host to the Southern Interior Local Government Association (SILGA) conference and annual general meeting April 25-28. (File photo).
Delegates at the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities convention at Nanaimo’s Vancouver Island Conference Centre on Saturday, April 15. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)

Vancouver Island leaders vote against resolution to protect B.C.’s old-growth forests

AVICC delegates vote instead to support old-growth panel’s recommendations

Delegates at the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities convention at Nanaimo’s Vancouver Island Conference Centre on Saturday, April 15. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)
Children enjoy the pier in Summerland on the last day of summer holidays in 2022. (Photo by Jessica Shaw)

Summerland council commits to funding pier replacement

Lakefront attraction was deemed unsafe and will be removed

Children enjoy the pier in Summerland on the last day of summer holidays in 2022. (Photo by Jessica Shaw)
Penticton mayor Julius Bloomfield addresses a large crowd at a Chamber held meeting at Okanagan College on March 8. The new mayor addressed housing, community safety and touched on the budget. (Monique Tamminga Western News)

Penticton mayor heads to Victoria for face-to-face on mental health addictions funding

Julius Bloomfield spoke to Chamber members about how to make it a vibrant city again

Penticton mayor Julius Bloomfield addresses a large crowd at a Chamber held meeting at Okanagan College on March 8. The new mayor addressed housing, community safety and touched on the budget. (Monique Tamminga Western News)
People carry umbrellas while crossing Robson Street as rain falls in Vancouver, on Thursday, January 6, 2022. Canada’s intelligence service warns that technological innovations adopted by municipalities could be exploited by adversaries such as the Chinese government to harvest sensitive data, target diaspora communities and interfere in elections. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

CSIS warns ‘smart city’ technology can open door to attacks, foreign interference

AI platforms for things like traffic lights, energy use, transportation create security risk

People carry umbrellas while crossing Robson Street as rain falls in Vancouver, on Thursday, January 6, 2022. Canada’s intelligence service warns that technological innovations adopted by municipalities could be exploited by adversaries such as the Chinese government to harvest sensitive data, target diaspora communities and interfere in elections. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
This was last year’s draft budget papers that showed the potential for a 8.5 per cent tax hike. The tax increase was brought down to 5.7 per cent with the carry over to 2023’s budget. (Brennan Phillips Western News)

Penticton hosts open house on 5-year plan, community safety and utility rates

Special council meeting on Feb. 28 to release draft 2023-2027 financial plan

This was last year’s draft budget papers that showed the potential for a 8.5 per cent tax hike. The tax increase was brought down to 5.7 per cent with the carry over to 2023’s budget. (Brennan Phillips Western News)
Revelstoke City Hall. (Liam Harrap/Revelstoke Review)

‘We are powerless right now’: Revelstoke looks at new method to enforce short term rental bylaws

The new method could help enforce issues with short term rentals

Revelstoke City Hall. (Liam Harrap/Revelstoke Review)
Bonnie Forsythe with her family at the Coachman Apartments complex in Terrace. (Michael Bramadat-Willcock/Terrace Standard)

‘Feeling like we’re drowning’: Tenants of rundown B.C. building fear for future

Tenants living in “shocking” conditions fear losing what little they have left

Bonnie Forsythe with her family at the Coachman Apartments complex in Terrace. (Michael Bramadat-Willcock/Terrace Standard)
Terrace Mayor Sean Bujtas (right) gaining entry to the managers’ office at Coachman Apartments. (Submitted photo)

Northwest B.C. mayor steps in to help apartment residents after burst water pipes

Provincial emergency support services assisting displaced Terrace, B.C. tenants with hotel rooms

Terrace Mayor Sean Bujtas (right) gaining entry to the managers’ office at Coachman Apartments. (Submitted photo)
Utility rates in Summerland are increasing. For a typical home in the community, the increase in water, sewer ane electrical rates is estimated at $29.43 a month or $353.16 a year. Read more on page 2. (John Arendt/Summerland Review)

Summerland utility rates jump

Water, sewer and electrical rates will raise utility rates by nearly 13%

Utility rates in Summerland are increasing. For a typical home in the community, the increase in water, sewer ane electrical rates is estimated at $29.43 a month or $353.16 a year. Read more on page 2. (John Arendt/Summerland Review)
Pay parking in downtown has been stopped until March 31, now offering two hour free parking instead. (File photo)

Pay parking is no more in downtown Penticton

City council votes unanimously to eliminate pay parking from Dec. 7 to March 31

Pay parking in downtown has been stopped until March 31, now offering two hour free parking instead. (File photo)
Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas speaks at swearing in ceremony for the new city council. (Barry Gerding/Black Press Media)

Kelowna council supports mayor in making city hall more transparent

Developers, resident groups, and others seeking to influence government decisions need to register

Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas speaks at swearing in ceremony for the new city council. (Barry Gerding/Black Press Media)
The Knights of Columbus annual nativity scene atop Terrace City Hall on Dec. 14, 2021. (Ben Bogstie/Terrace Standard)

Northern B.C. officials ban nativity scene from Terrace city hall roof

The move reflects a 2015 Supreme Court of Canada decision

The Knights of Columbus annual nativity scene atop Terrace City Hall on Dec. 14, 2021. (Ben Bogstie/Terrace Standard)