KelownaNow

A piece of Canadian mountaineering history will make its world premiere in Kelowna this fall when Flatlanders – The 1992 Mount Manitoba Expedition screens at the 2026 Adventurers Wanderers and Explorers Film Festival (AWEFF). AWEFF '26 takes place Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, at 7 pm at the Rotary Centre for the Arts in Kelowna. The annual festival brings together adventurers, athletes, filmmakers and outdoor enthusiasts for an evening of inspiring films, stories and connection.

Central Okanagan residents are invited to recycle their spare vehicle tires, bike tires and inner tubes at the RDCO’s annual, free tire recycling event. Spare vehicle tires will be accepted on or off rims, at no cost. Please ensure all items are clean of debris before dropping off. The event runs from 9 am-1 pm at Okanagan College's Kelowna campus on Saturday, Sept. 12.

September has a way of bringing everyone back into a routine. School is starting, evenings are getting a little cooler and the slower days of fall are just around the corner. It is also a great time to refresh the bookshelf, pick up something new to read or spend an afternoon browsing without knowing exactly what you are looking for. From comics and paperbacks to new releases and longtime favourites, these Kelowna bookstores give readers plenty to explore.

It’s certainly not the last summer hurrah that many hope for over the Labour Day long weekend. Instead, there will be a feel of fall over the next three days, with highs in the low 20s being accompanied by a mix of sun and cloud throughout. Saturday could also bring a bit of instability, as Environment Canada is calling for a 60% chance of showers and risk of thunderstorms in the afternoon. There will also be some notable wind gusts later on before it plummets down to a low of 8°C overnight.

Forcing those with complex mental health illness and drug addictions into secure and mandatory care at a jail is a controversial strategy. But, it's exactly what Okanagan mayors are demanding at the Okanagan Correctional Centre in Oliver. Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas, West Kelowna Mayor Gord Milsom, Penticton Mayor Julius Bloomfield, Oliver Mayor Martin Johansen and Osoyoos Indian Band Councillor Mary Wilbur held a news conference in front of the 378-cell facility on Friday.

I can't help but feel a little melancholy on the Labour Day long weekend. Sure, it's three days off work and a chance to frolic in British Columbia's late-summer glory. But, it's also a harbinger of the end of summer. The kids are going back to school and we have to buckle down at work come Tuesday. It's a return to errands and routine, cooling weather and nights that start to close in. But, shake off that woe. Embrace the long weekend and the wine-drinking opportunities it presents.

Kelowna Veterinary Hospital (KVH) has received the green light from the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC). It’s a major milestone for the KVH’s plan to build a new mixed-animal veterinary facility at 1853 Munson Rd., which was approved by Kelowna city council and sent to the ALC late last year. This unique veterinary clinic would serve both companion animals and the agricultural community, while continuing to actively farm on the property.

Mounties in Kelowna are investigating a late-night stabbing that sent one person to the hospital. Police were called to the scene near the intersection of Dilworth and Summit drives, a residential area on Dilworth Mountain, around 10:15 pm Thursday. According to an RCMP release, the victim was transported to hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. Officers were unable to locate the suspect, even with the help of the police dog unit.

At a meeting on Thursday, the RDOS Board of Directors approved a pair of relief measures for residents who lost their home in the Bald Range wildfire. One is a 50% reduction in building and demolition permit fees for up to five years to support rebuilding and recovery efforts. While that will help with long-term recovery, the other measure aims to make things easier for affected residents in the short-term.

On Saturday, September 19, families across Canada will gather for the 4th Annual Steppin' Out for PANS PANDAS Walk, a Canada-wide awareness and fundraising event for PANS and PANDAS.