The Red Cross launched a $3 million dollar fund raiser to establish Red Cross House in Kelowna. This will equip the Red Cross so that they are better able to respond to regional emergencies. The Organizing Committee has already raised $1.5 million toward their goal. Pictured here is Lambert Schmalz, a Military Honor Guard, RCMP and Fire Department raising the Flag to signify the opening of the campaign. The Red Cross is an important resource to the community in times of need. I wish them much success.

Luke and Anne

The Okanagan Sikh Temple and Cutural Society celebrated the third annual Vaisakhi Parade on Saturday April 28th, 2013. Literally thousands of people gathered to celebrate. The Vaisakhi parade celebrates the founding of the Sikh religion as well as a celebration of the harvest in the Punjab region and marks the beginning a the new year. It was a festive atmosphere with much music, marching and visiting - and lots of food. This year, a marshal arts group from Surrey BC participated in the parade. As always, I was impressed with the generosity of many people as they provided everyone in attendance with lots of good food to eat.

Marshal Arts at the parade                                                                                 MP Ron Cannan on the drums

Council says yes to Monaco twins

by Wayne Moore - Story: 90937
Apr 24, 2013 / 10:52 am

Proponents of the Monaco development are one step closer to breaking ground.

Photo: Contributed - Artist Conception of the (almost) twin towers.





After being turned down twice, Kelowna City Council gave second and third readings to the proposed Monaco development for the corner of St. Paul Street and Doyle Avenue.

Council moved the development forward following a lengthy public hearing Tuesday night.

"The truth of the matter is what they did hit with a bulls-eye is the heart of the plan, which is we need people living downtown, working downtown and spending their time downtown without having to get in an automobile," says Councillor Luke Stack, a proponent of the third iteration of the development proposal.

"When you look at what the overall plan delivers - it's a new hotel for downtown which is another very important priority for council - and new residents living right downtown with retail all around it. That's really the future of our downtown and we need to see this type of development go forward."

Several people did come forward and speak for and against the project.

Most of those opposed were neighbourhood residents concerned the size of the project would restrict their view of the lake and surrounding area.

There was also some concern raised about the height of the two towers, proposed to be 22 storeys and 30 storeys.

The project was turned down twice previously by council - not due to height - but rather because of the lack of separation between the two towers and the bulky nature of the project.

Despite saying no twice, council did support a development on the property and continued to urge developer Premier Pacific Group to try and find a solution that council could support.

The developers were able to purchase a small piece of land to the north of the property which increased the development enough to provide adequate separation between the two towers.

"I am pleased with the final outcome. It was interesting because last night (Tuesday) they went back and we looked at the very first proposal that came in where the towers were really close together and bulky," says Stack.

"The second proposal was somewhat better but didn't hit the mark. The third proposal really identified the problems and came up with practical solutions so the final outcome is so much better than was proposed to us a year and a half ago."

The development calls for a four storey podium base featuring a mixture of commercial and retail space.

The two towers would sit on top of the four storey podium and would include 161 residential units, 128 hotel suites and 3,000 square metres of commercial space.

In exchange for approval of various variance requests, the developer plans to include within the project a street level daycare centre, two pieces of public art valued at $55,000, two electric car charging stations and a bike share program.

The corner of Rutland Road and Highway 33 has taken a leap forward with the grand opening of the new Valley First Credit Union. This two level 9,600 square foot building, is officially "open for business" as of April 11, 2013. The attractive new building is an anchor in the Uptown Rutland town centre. "This is the type of revitalization that the City has been working toward." said Deputy Mayor Luke Stack. Best wishes to the Valley First Team.  Valley First Credit Union has 37 branches and is BC's third largest credit union. (The sod turning was February 7, 2012.) 

 The Exterior of Valley First Credit Union.                                         Mayor Gray and Shawna McRea at the Grand Opening

 

by Wayne Moore - Story: 89357
Mar 25, 2013 / 2:03 pm



Retiring RCMP Supt. Bill McKinnon made his final public statements Monday afternoon in Kelowna City Council Chambers. McKinnon, whose last day is Thursday, has stated he will not conduct any media interviews about his retirement now or in the future.

"Mayor Gray, I want to thank you and Ron Born who was City Manager at the time for giving me the opportunity. You were part of the selection process when I was appointed as the Chief of Police in the City of Kelowna and I am forever grateful for you giving me that opportunity. It's been the best job I've ever had," McKinnon told council.

"It's been the most challenging job I've ever had, but I can tell you I've enjoyed every last minute. Thirty-eight years (on the force) is a long time and it's time to go. I think it's healthy to have a new Chief of Police in the community. I've been here a long time, but I think we all have a best due date and I think I'm at that point right now."

McKinnon says all of the articles chronicling his time in Kelowna left out one thing he is extremely proud of - the fires of 2003.

"At that time as you may recall Don Harrison (Superintendent at the time) was away on holidays and I was responsible and in charge of evacuating - I still think to this day it's the largest evacuation in Canadian history when we evacuated 30,000 people," says McKinnon.

"I can tell you probably one of the times I was most fearful of my role as Chief of Police in this community was during that time when Ron Mattiussi came to me and said can you put a plan together to evacuate the whole city. That's all history now."

McKinnon also thanked council for its support especially over the past year or two in providing the detachment with the resources it needed to undertake crime reduction initiatives.

Council presented McKinnon with a sculpture of a bear as a gift of its appreciation for his nine years on the job.