Community

"Protest successful," reads the cutline. Salmon Arm protesters gathered to send a message to the federal government, which was cutting funding to Crown corporation Via Rail, on December 13, 1989. Image from the Salmon Arm Observer collection, the Archives at R.J. Haney Heritage Village and Museum.

Shuswap history in pictures: Salmon Arm protesters send message to Ottawa

Salmon Arm protesters gather to send a message to the federal government,…

  • Jan 25, 2022
Shelley Desautels was recognized as one of the Shuswap’s outstanding community leaders in the 2021 Salmon Arm Top 20 Under 40 program. (Contributed)

Salmon Arm’s Top 20 Under 40: Shelley Desautels

Program recognizes young community leaders in the Shuswap

  • Jan 26, 2022
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched for Vernon’s Gauge Serhan, seven, who suddenly, without warning, lost his ability to walk without assistance earlier in January. (GoFundMe photo)

Okanagan boy hopes to walk again without assistance

GoFundMe campaign launched as Vernon youth undergoes testing in Vancouver for mysterious ailment

Sophia Benzai keeps three plates spinning as a volunteer assistant to magician Leif David during his Unplug and Play week performance hosted by the Literacy Alliance of the Shuswap Society at the Salmar Grand on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)

Mirth and misdirection: Salmon Arm audience enjoys magical start to Unplug and Play week

Free events scheduled throughout North Okanagan-Shuswap for Family Literacy Week

Sophia Benzai keeps three plates spinning as a volunteer assistant to magician Leif David during his Unplug and Play week performance hosted by the Literacy Alliance of the Shuswap Society at the Salmar Grand on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)
Parkview Elementary student Lenora Kasick laughs in disbelief as magician Leif David pulls an impossibly long piece of paper from his mouth. David returns to the Shuswap for an Unplug and Play performance at the Salmar Classic on Sunday, Jan. 23. (File photo)

Leif David returns to Salmon Arm for magical start to Unplug and Play events

Activities scheduled throughout North Okanagan-Shuswap for Family Literacy Week, Jan. 22 to 29

Parkview Elementary student Lenora Kasick laughs in disbelief as magician Leif David pulls an impossibly long piece of paper from his mouth. David returns to the Shuswap for an Unplug and Play performance at the Salmar Classic on Sunday, Jan. 23. (File photo)
Unplug and Play and Family Literacy Week is back for it’s 8th year, encouraging families to get outside and avoid screen time (Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star)

Unplug and play during Project Literacy week in Kelowna

The week long event offers a variety of free activities for families around the Central Okanagan

Unplug and Play and Family Literacy Week is back for it’s 8th year, encouraging families to get outside and avoid screen time (Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star)
B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame curator Pay Loyer has collected dozens of famous memobillia since taking the job two and a half months ago. (Logan Lockhart, Western News)

B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame going the extra mile to honour province’s history

Hall of Fame curator Pat Loyer is a man on a mission

B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame curator Pay Loyer has collected dozens of famous memobillia since taking the job two and a half months ago. (Logan Lockhart, Western News)
From left, Shuswap Food Action Society (SFAS) Melanie Bennett and Serena Caner, SASCU president and CEO Barry Delaney, SFAS president Claire Askew and Askew’s operations manager Dave Wallace show their support for the upcoming Coldest Night of the Year walk/fundraiser which takes place on Saturday, Feb. 26. (Contributed)

Salmon Arm residents warming up for walk in Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser

Supply chain disruptions highlight importance of local food

  • Jan 20, 2022
From left, Shuswap Food Action Society (SFAS) Melanie Bennett and Serena Caner, SASCU president and CEO Barry Delaney, SFAS president Claire Askew and Askew’s operations manager Dave Wallace show their support for the upcoming Coldest Night of the Year walk/fundraiser which takes place on Saturday, Feb. 26. (Contributed)
Brent Cox is fundraising to get his daughter Madison a new emotional support dog. (Brent Cox photo)

Salmon Arm father fundraising to get daughter a dog for emotional support

Brent Cox’s daughter has a rare genetic condition and was best friends with her previous dog

Brent Cox is fundraising to get his daughter Madison a new emotional support dog. (Brent Cox photo)
Lane Merrifield and the Merrifield Family Foundation have gifted $100k to healthcare students at Okanagan College. (Photo courtesy of Okanagan College)

‘Incredibly grateful’: Okanagan College Health Sciences Centre receives $100k donation

The Merrifield Family Foundation’s donation will support technology upgrades around the building

Lane Merrifield and the Merrifield Family Foundation have gifted $100k to healthcare students at Okanagan College. (Photo courtesy of Okanagan College)
Rie Shiozaki is treated to a new look by one of Opus Salon’s expert stylists (Gary Barnes/Kelowna Capital News)

Kelowna salon gives up day off to help Central Okanagan families

Opus Salon on Ellis St. is raising funds in support of Central Okanagan Family Hub

Rie Shiozaki is treated to a new look by one of Opus Salon’s expert stylists (Gary Barnes/Kelowna Capital News)
This is the James R. Doherty ice house, originally located at the west end of Denike Street in Prairie Valley. Prior to the invention of the refrigerator, ice houses were used to store ice. Ice was protected by the insulating properties of straw and sawdust. The District of Summerland leased out ice on the Trout Creek Reservoir at a rate of 20 cents per ton. The district also determined the selling price: $1.15 per ton to Summerland customers. The ice had to be at least 12 inches thick before harvesting. For most years, Robert Mitchell (1861-1949) was awarded the contract. To the right of the ice house is Doherty’s fruit sprayer. (Photo courtesy of the Doherty family)

Ice was once harvested in Summerland

Before refrigeration, ice was collected and sold to customers

  • Jan 19, 2022
This is the James R. Doherty ice house, originally located at the west end of Denike Street in Prairie Valley. Prior to the invention of the refrigerator, ice houses were used to store ice. Ice was protected by the insulating properties of straw and sawdust. The District of Summerland leased out ice on the Trout Creek Reservoir at a rate of 20 cents per ton. The district also determined the selling price: $1.15 per ton to Summerland customers. The ice had to be at least 12 inches thick before harvesting. For most years, Robert Mitchell (1861-1949) was awarded the contract. To the right of the ice house is Doherty’s fruit sprayer. (Photo courtesy of the Doherty family)
The Shuswap Recycling society, led by president Jake Jacobson (left), christen the new Newspaper Recycling Depot in this photo from Dec. 20, 1989. Image from the Salmon Arm Observer collection, the Archives at R.J. Haney Heritage Village and Museum.

Shuswap history in pictures: All tied up

The Shuswap Recycling society, led by president Jake Jacobson (left), christen the…

  • Jan 18, 2022
The Shuswap Recycling society, led by president Jake Jacobson (left), christen the new Newspaper Recycling Depot in this photo from Dec. 20, 1989. Image from the Salmon Arm Observer collection, the Archives at R.J. Haney Heritage Village and Museum.
(Aussie) Dave Henry of the North Okanagan Valley Gleaners Society prepares to unload a truckload of donated produce from an Edmonton farm, including bananas for the first time ever. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

North Okanagan Valley Gleaners go bananas over donation

First time in Gleaners history they’ve received a donation of bananas, coming from Edmonton farm

(Aussie) Dave Henry of the North Okanagan Valley Gleaners Society prepares to unload a truckload of donated produce from an Edmonton farm, including bananas for the first time ever. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)
Anne Schmiedel of Summerland (Photo/BCLC)

Summerland woman welcomes whopping windfall

A free play leads to a $1 million guaranteed prize for resident Anne Schmiedel

Anne Schmiedel of Summerland (Photo/BCLC)
The Kingfisher Interpretive Society is the winner of the Canadian Museum of Nature’s 2021 Nature Inspiration Award for Community Action. (Submitted photo)

VIDEO: North Okanagan centre receives national accolades for salmon conservation

The Kingfisher Interpretive Society has received an award from the Canadian Museum of Nature

The Kingfisher Interpretive Society is the winner of the Canadian Museum of Nature’s 2021 Nature Inspiration Award for Community Action. (Submitted photo)
Lead Pastor, Mark Wagner, from the Kelowna Salvation Army, joins Officer Jennifer Henson and Lenetta Parry from the Westside Salvation Army, for a picture with Real Canadian Superstore Assistant Manager, Randy Sheehan, and Gary Bennett in front of some of the shelf-stable, healthy, and ready to eat food items purchased for the Salvation Army’s Emergency Food Hamper programs (Salvation Army/ Submitted)

Kelowna charity donation to the Salvation Army feeds local community

Gary Bennet Family Fund gave $3000 to local Salvation Army locations to fund food programs

Lead Pastor, Mark Wagner, from the Kelowna Salvation Army, joins Officer Jennifer Henson and Lenetta Parry from the Westside Salvation Army, for a picture with Real Canadian Superstore Assistant Manager, Randy Sheehan, and Gary Bennett in front of some of the shelf-stable, healthy, and ready to eat food items purchased for the Salvation Army’s Emergency Food Hamper programs (Salvation Army/ Submitted)
A small community of snow people in Blackburn Park are beginning to lose their sense of self due to rain falling on them on Jan. 12, 2022. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)

Snow people start to melt while water pools in areas of Salmon Arm

City asks residents to clear grates to keep water draining and prevent icy patches

A small community of snow people in Blackburn Park are beginning to lose their sense of self due to rain falling on them on Jan. 12, 2022. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)
Canadian astronaut Cmdr. Chris Hadfield relaxes before launch, ahead of a past trip to the International Space Station. He spoke to Black Press Media this week about his time at Royal Roads Military College. (Courtesy Cmdr. Chris Hadfield)

B.C. university ‘renames’ stairway after alumni Chris Hadfield

‘For me it all started there, just up the hill from Hatley Castle,’ Canadian astronaut says

Canadian astronaut Cmdr. Chris Hadfield relaxes before launch, ahead of a past trip to the International Space Station. He spoke to Black Press Media this week about his time at Royal Roads Military College. (Courtesy Cmdr. Chris Hadfield)
A candle-lit tree helped light the way for skiers participating in the Larch Hills Lantern Ski event held Saturday evening, Jan. 8, 2022. (Marcia Beckner photo)

Donations at successful Larch Hills Lantern Ski doubled by Rotary

Rotary Club of Salmon Arm tops up donations to food bank

A candle-lit tree helped light the way for skiers participating in the Larch Hills Lantern Ski event held Saturday evening, Jan. 8, 2022. (Marcia Beckner photo)