Outdoors

The City of Vernon has introduced a new permit to allow businesses in the downtown core to expand their retail and patio spaces outdoors. The city announced the new permit Tuesday, March 28, 2023. (City of Vernon photo)

Downtown Vernon businesses can now expand patios into parking space

The city unveiled a new outdoor commercial use permit Tuesday, March 28

 

(BC Interior Sportsman Show/Facebook)

Sportsman show returns to Kelowna for outdoor enthusiasts

The show hasn’t been hosted in three years due to pandemic closures

 

New research has spelled out for the first time the gap between official lists of trails in the southern Rockies and the number of trails there actually are, suggesting effects from the growing number of backcountry users may be larger than suspected.The hiking trail on Yamnuska in Alberta’s Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park, part of Kananaskis Country, is shown in June 2017.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Colette Derworiz

Nearly one-quarter of trails in southern B.C., Alberta unmapped and unmanaged: study

Researchers found 24 per cent of all trails in the southern Rockies were undocumented and unmanaged

New research has spelled out for the first time the gap between official lists of trails in the southern Rockies and the number of trails there actually are, suggesting effects from the growing number of backcountry users may be larger than suspected.The hiking trail on Yamnuska in Alberta’s Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park, part of Kananaskis Country, is shown in June 2017.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Colette Derworiz
Campbell River Chef Jade Berg stars in the new series Chefs Vs. Wild, which was filmed on Vancouver Island. Photo courtesy Hulu

‘‘Embracing the suck’: B.C. chef takes on the wild for Disney+ series

Four nights trying to make a 5-star dinner in the woods an eye-opener for chef Jade Berg

Campbell River Chef Jade Berg stars in the new series Chefs Vs. Wild, which was filmed on Vancouver Island. Photo courtesy Hulu
Wayne Danforth - “Nothing like a good back scratch”
Wayne Danforth - “Nothing like a good back scratch”
Kevin and Kyle Soanes sit atop an igloo-shaped structure at the inclusive playground at Vernon’s Parshall Field Park, which opened in the fall and was officially celebrated Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

Inclusive playground celebrated in Vernon park

Opened last fall, the playground is 7,500 square feet of fun for kids of all abilities

Kevin and Kyle Soanes sit atop an igloo-shaped structure at the inclusive playground at Vernon’s Parshall Field Park, which opened in the fall and was officially celebrated Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
Neighbours on Fuller Avenue look at bee swarm.

Bees swarm home in downtown Kelowna

Bees took over the front yard of a house on Fuller Avenue

Neighbours on Fuller Avenue look at bee swarm.
There are more than 20 varieties of tulips at the first annual Tulip Festival in Armstrong-Spallumcheen. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

More time to enjoy North Okanagan tulip festival

First Armstrong-Spallumcheen tulip festival extended to May 28, as cold spring delayed bloom of some flowers

There are more than 20 varieties of tulips at the first annual Tulip Festival in Armstrong-Spallumcheen. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
Andrew Pickard rides at the ‘Fire in the Mountains’ enduro at Smith Creek last weekend. (Joe Roberts/ Jump into Frame Photography/ @jumpintoframe)

Cool kind of ‘Fire in the Mountains’ at West Kelowna bike event

West Kelowna firefighters organized the charity event

Andrew Pickard rides at the ‘Fire in the Mountains’ enduro at Smith Creek last weekend. (Joe Roberts/ Jump into Frame Photography/ @jumpintoframe)
DunnEnzies Pizza downtown Kelowna (Black Press File Photo)
DunnEnzies Pizza downtown Kelowna

Kelowna restaurants make top 100 list in Canada

Restaurant reservations for the month of May up 61 per cent compared to May 2019

DunnEnzies Pizza downtown Kelowna (Black Press File Photo)
DunnEnzies Pizza downtown Kelowna
B.C. Wildlife Federation offers a course called ‘Becoming an Outdoors Woman’ where women can learn archery, nature photography, proper handling of game meat, firearm safety and more (Brittany Webster - Capital News)

Building confidence, gaining independence in the Okanagan while Becoming an Outdoors Woman

Women gathered at Lake Country’s Camp Winfield to learn outdoor skills in the BOW course

B.C. Wildlife Federation offers a course called ‘Becoming an Outdoors Woman’ where women can learn archery, nature photography, proper handling of game meat, firearm safety and more (Brittany Webster - Capital News)
Vernon residents Tyson and Shannon Head reached the summit of Aconcagua in Argentina on Jan. 15, 2022. (Submitted photo)

Vernon couple reaches Argentinian summit, 10 years after husband’s heart surgery

Tyson and Shannon Head reache the top of Aconcagua, nearly 7,000 metres above sea level

Vernon residents Tyson and Shannon Head reached the summit of Aconcagua in Argentina on Jan. 15, 2022. (Submitted photo)
A Sugar Maple tree. (Contributed)

B.C. just doesn’t have proper maple trees

OPINION: The maple trees that grow here, just don’t change hues the way they do in the east

  • Oct 14, 2021
A Sugar Maple tree. (Contributed)
Marc Ledger (left) presents a cheque to Kane Blake (right) (Facebook)

Okanagan non-profit that cleans up illegal dump sites rewarded with $10k donation

The Okanagan Forest Task Force helps clean up local backcountry and stop the spread of forest fires

Marc Ledger (left) presents a cheque to Kane Blake (right) (Facebook)
A hummingbird gives its wings a rare rest while feeding in a North Okanagan garden. (Karen Siemens/North Okanagan Naturalists Club)

Hummingbirds back for another Okanagan season

North America’s littlest birds return, and they’re hungry

A hummingbird gives its wings a rare rest while feeding in a North Okanagan garden. (Karen Siemens/North Okanagan Naturalists Club)
The pink supermoon rises over the Shuswap on Tuesday, April 7, 2020. (File photo)

Column: Looking forward to May supermoon, June solar eclipse

Great Outdoors by James Murray

  • Apr 29, 2021
The pink supermoon rises over the Shuswap on Tuesday, April 7, 2020. (File photo)
Now anglers can use what Davies describes as a quick and convenient electronic method to record their catch, under NRLS.

New digital recording tool available for fishing licence sales in B.C.

Anglers can now use an online system to take note of fish they have caught, as per DFO rules

  • Apr 3, 2021
Now anglers can use what Davies describes as a quick and convenient electronic method to record their catch, under NRLS.
The Walking Curriculum gets students outside and connecting with nature. (Amanda Peterson/Special to S.F. Examiner)

‘Walking Curriculum’ crafted by SFU professor surges in popularity

The outdoor curriculum encourages students to connect with the natural world

The Walking Curriculum gets students outside and connecting with nature. (Amanda Peterson/Special to S.F. Examiner)
Métis carver and elder John Sayer works at the Storefront School in Salmon Arm on Thursday, Nov. 19, helping students learn to carve and sharing his culture, while teacher Robin Wiens and student William Dicer try their hand at carving. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)

Video: New faces to emerge from the forest in Salmon Arm’s Little Mountain Park

Students at Storefront School join Métis elder in project that will add small carvings to trees

Métis carver and elder John Sayer works at the Storefront School in Salmon Arm on Thursday, Nov. 19, helping students learn to carve and sharing his culture, while teacher Robin Wiens and student William Dicer try their hand at carving. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)
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