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Today in Kelowna

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

13 stories · Updated 12:30 p.m. PT

Our Instagram post: Rates just went up. A small white model house beside a gold arrow pointing up, with a long blue lake between dry hills behind.
As posted on Instagram

Your Money · Oct. 28

Rates just went up.

The Bank of Canada raised its key interest rate by a quarter point, from 2.25% to 2.5%, on Wednesday, Oct. 28. It’s the bank’s first rate hike since July 2023. Canada’s big banks are raising their prime rate to match, which means borrowing costs more for anyone with a variable-rate loan.

Who feels it

  • RBC, TD and CIBC are raising their prime rate from 4.45% to 4.70%, starting Thursday, Oct. 29.
  • Variable-rate mortgages and lines of credit tied to prime get more expensive. Example: $100,000 owing on a line of credit at prime costs about $21 more a month in interest.
  • Fixed-rate mortgage? Your rate stays the same until you renew.

Why

  • High oil prices tied to the war in the Middle East are pushing up costs. The bank wants to stop those costs spreading to the prices of everything else.

What’s next

  • The bank says more hikes could be needed, but it will go carefully, one meeting at a time. Its next decision is Dec. 9.
Read the full story News · CBC NewsNews · Castanet (The Canadian Press)Prime rate · RBC Royal BankPrime rate · TD Canada Trust

Original reporting: Bank of Canada

Also today

Our Instagram post: That pipe isn’t a fix. A white radon vent pipe rising from a concrete basement floor in soft light.
As posted on Instagram

Home & Health · Radon

That pipe isn’t a fix.

Since March 8, 2024, every new home in BC has to be built with a radon “rough-in”: a sealed pipe under the floor that’s ready for a fan. But the code doesn’t require the fan, and the pipe alone doesn’t prove your air is safe. Only a test can tell you.

Why it matters here

  • Radon is an invisible, odourless gas that seeps up from the ground.
  • Health Canada says it’s the #1 cause of lung cancer in people who don’t smoke.
  • The Central Okanagan is considered a high-radon area.

What the pipe does

  • It’s ready for a fan. The building code doesn’t require one.
  • Some older homes only got a short capped pipe that vents nothing.

How to test

  • Use a long-term (3-month) test, ideally over fall and winter. BC Lung Foundation kits start at about $63, lab results included.
  • If your result is 200 Bq/m³ or higher, Health Canada says to hire a certified radon mitigation professional.
Read the full story Health · Health CanadaGuideline · Health Canada radon guidelineTest kits · BC Lung FoundationLocal · Interior Health

Original reporting: Province of BC (Building Code bulletin B24-03)

Our Instagram post: A $33K win for kids. A black hockey puck and a gold hockey stick on white ice, with a long narrow lake and dry pine-dotted hills behind at dusk.
As posted on Instagram

Community · Hockey Fest

A $33K win for kids.

The third annual Kelowna Hockey Fest, held Aug. 22 at MNP Place, raised $33,185 for the YMCA of Southern Interior BC. Organizers shared the total this week. All of the money goes to the YMCA’s child and youth programs.

The day

  • Saturday, Aug. 22 at MNP Place. More than 1,000 fans came.
  • A pro game with NHL players including Shea Theodore, Logan Stankoven, Curtis Lazar and Brayden and Luke Schenn, plus a free indoor family festival.

The total

  • $33,185, raised through a 50/50 draw, a silent auction and a jersey and signed-stick raffle.

Where it goes

  • The YMCA’s Child and Youth Development programs, which help local kids get into sports and access childcare, school and family support, and youth mental health services, whatever their family can afford.
Read the full story Coverage · CastanetCoverage · KelownaNowEvent · YMCA of Southern Interior BC

Original reporting: Kelowna Capital News

Our Instagram post: What they promised us. A small white jet on a runway beside a tall stack of gold coins, with a long narrow lake and dry hills behind at dusk.
As posted on Instagram

BC Politics · Oct. 27

What they promised us.

BC’s new Conservative government, led by premier-designate Lorne Doerkson, made several campaign pledges that could reach Kelowna wallets and the airport. They are promises for now: each still needs a budget and a timeline.

Your wallet

  • Raise BC’s basic personal exemption from $13,216 to $32,000. The party says that’s about $1,000 a year off provincial income tax for most workers ($2,000 for a two-earner couple), starting with the 2027 tax year. People who already owe little or no provincial tax would save less.
  • Remove the PST at the till on Canadian beer, wine and spirits for as long as the U.S. trade war lasts.

Here at home

  • Match Ottawa’s up to $22.4 million to service 165 acres of YLW’s East Lands for a planned aerospace hub. The party says it could support close to 3,000 jobs.

The catch

  • None of these has a confirmed start date yet beyond the tax-year target. Watch for them in the new government’s first budget.
Read the full story Promises · CastanetWhat to expect · CBC NewsAirport pledge · Kelowna Capital NewsTax cut details · BC Conservative platform

Original reporting: Castanet

Our Instagram post: Bundle up for Halloween. A glowing jack-o'-lantern on a frosty stone step beside a knitted scarf, with dry hills and a lake behind.
As posted on Instagram

Weather · Sat, Oct. 31

Bundle up for Halloween.

Halloween (Saturday, Oct. 31) looks mostly dry in the Okanagan, but cold. Environment Canada expects a mix of sun and cloud with a high around 7–8°C, and about 0 to 5°C during trick-or-treat hours. Mountain passes could see snow and wind today and Wednesday.

The forecast

  • Saturday: a mix of sun and cloud. High around 7–8°C.
  • Trick-or-treat hours (about 7 to 8 p.m.): roughly 0 to 5°C. Near freezing overnight.

Before you go

  • Plan a warm layer under the costume.
  • Sunset is just after 5:30 p.m. Reflective gear or glow sticks help drivers see kids.

Driving this week?

  • Snow and wind are possible on mountain passes Tuesday and Wednesday.
  • Hwy 97C had slippery sections Tuesday morning. Check DriveBC before you go.
Read the full story Forecast · Environment CanadaCoverage · CastanetRoads · DriveBC

Original reporting: Environment Canada (via Castanet)

Our Instagram post: City Hall closed Monday. A modern white civic building with a gold padlock accent at dusk.
As posted on Instagram

City Hall · Oct. 26–27

City Hall closed Monday.

A brief power outage caused an unforeseen mechanical problem at Kelowna City Hall on Monday, Oct. 26. The building was emptied as a precaution and closed for the day while repairs were underway.

What happened

  • An unforeseen mechanical issue after a short power outage.
  • The building was emptied as a precaution. Firefighters were on scene.

What you can still do

  • Many city services stay online, including payments and service requests.
  • Staff will contact people who had Monday appointments.

What’s next

  • Expected to reopen Tuesday, Oct. 27 — once the fire department clears it.
Read the full story Details · CastanetCoverage · Kelowna Capital News

Original reporting: City of Kelowna (via media)

Our Instagram post: The gang team is staying. Four white shield silhouettes on a gold ring against a dark navy backdrop.
As posted on Instagram

Public Safety · Oct. 26

The gang team is staying.

Kelowna RCMP made its four-person Gang Enforcement Team a permanent unit after a four-month pilot. The move was announced Oct. 26; the unit became permanent on Sept. 15.

The pilot

  • Four months of work. Hundreds of enforcement actions.
  • Seized: over 12 kg of suspected drugs and 215 weapons (10 firearms).

Now permanent

  • Became permanent Sept. 15. Announced Oct. 26.
  • Since then: about 1.8 kg of suspected drugs, 71 weapons, 2 firearms.

What they do

  • Target organized crime, drugs and firearms with partner units.
Read the full story Release · Kelowna RCMPCoverage · CastanetCoverage · Kelowna Capital News

Original reporting: Kelowna RCMP

Our Instagram post: Fire at YLW? It’s a drill. A white training plane with small flames and smoke on a runway at dusk, two fire trucks nearby.
As posted on Instagram

YLW Airport · Tue, Oct. 27

Fire at YLW? It’s a drill.

On Tuesday, Oct. 27, from noon to 4 p.m., Kelowna International Airport is running a full-scale practice for a plane emergency on the south end of its secure airfield.

What you’ll see

  • Smoke and flames from a training plane.
  • Fire trucks and other emergency vehicles with lights and sirens.
  • Volunteers acting as hurt passengers.

Do you need to do anything?

  • No. It’s not a real emergency, so please don’t call 911 about it.
  • Flights keep running as normal, and signs in the terminal will explain the drill.

Why

  • Transport Canada requires regular full-scale emergency drills at certified airports. Kelowna Fire, RCMP, BC Emergency Health Services, Interior Health and others take part.
Read the full story Details · CastanetWho’s involved · Kelowna Capital News

Original reporting: Kelowna International Airport

Our Instagram post: Only 132 votes apart. A white 3D model of the valley and lake with a gold marker on Kelowna Centre.
As posted on Instagram

BC Election · Kelowna Centre

Only 132 votes apart.

Kelowna Centre is picking 1 person to speak for us in BC’s government. Right now, it’s almost a tie.

The count so far

  • Kristina Loewen, Conservative: 10,791
  • Loyal Wooldridge, NDP: 10,659

How tiny is 132?

  • About 22,300 votes counted. If just 67 people switched their vote, it would flip.

What’s next

  • Mail-in ballots get counted Nov. 6–10. Then we’ll know.
  • Could it flip? Yes. In 2024, Loewen’s 148-vote lead shrank to just 40 in the final count.
Read the full story Live results · Elections BC

Original reporting: Kelowna Capital News

Our Instagram post: Snow’s on the passes. A dark highway curving over a white, snowy mountain pass at dusk.
As posted on Instagram

Roads & Weather

Snow’s on the passes.

Winter hit the mountain highways today. Here’s what it means tonight.

The roads

  • Okanagan Connector: open, with slippery sections (DriveBC, 3 p.m. Sunday).
  • Coquihalla: open. Slushy and slippery between north of Merritt and Kamloops (DriveBC, 3:55 p.m.).
  • Tonight up top: 30% chance of flurries, snow level about 1,200 metres. In town: a chance of showers, low of plus 2.

Big White

  • Not open yet. Opening day: Thursday, Nov. 26.
  • It picked up fresh snow today.

What to do

  • Winter tires are required on BC’s mountain highways until April 30.
  • Check DriveBC before you go.
Read the full story Roads · DriveBCForecast · Environment CanadaOpening day · Big White

Original reporting: Castanet

Our Instagram post: Fewer than half of us voted. A tall glass only half filled with paper ballots, one gold ballot on top.
As posted on Instagram

BC Election · Voter turnout

Fewer than half of us voted.

Early numbers show only about 48% of BC’s registered voters cast a ballot.

The numbers

  • BC this year: about 48% (early count, Elections BC).
  • Past: 53.9% in 2020 and 58.4% in 2024.

Why it matters here

  • Kelowna Centre is just 132 votes apart. Every uncounted ballot counts.

What’s next

  • Mail-in and absentee ballots get counted Nov. 6–10, so turnout will rise.
Read the full story Turnout · Elections BCRecord low · Castanet

Original reporting: CBC News

Traffic

Crash slowed Highway 97 at Ellison Lake

A crash on Highway 97 near Ellison Lake in Lake Country slowed traffic to a crawl at about 3:40 p.m. Saturday, with a backup reaching Old Vernon Road. RCMP, with a police dog and a drone, searched the hillside above the crash. DriveBC showed no incident there by Sunday afternoon.

Read the full story

Original reporting: Kelowna Capital News

Public Safety

Small hillside fire put out fast in Mount Royal greenspace

A witness spotted a fire on the slope south of Knox Mountain late Saturday morning and called 911. Firefighters put it out quickly and police arrested a woman. The brush there is still dry after years of drought.

Read the full story

Original reporting: Castanet

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