Winter

The first ski shop at Big White Ski Resort created and founded by Cliff Serwa and Doug Mervyn. (Contributed by Cliff Serwa)

Climbing that Big White mountain: the birth of Kelowna’s signature ski hill

Best friends they were 12, Cliff Serwa and Doug Mervyn created Kelowna’s ski resort

 

Snow-covered cattle stand in a pasture near Didsbury, Alta., Monday, Oct. 23, 2023. It could be a long, lean winter in cattle country, as drought-ravaged western Canadian ranchers struggle to secure enough feed to get their livestock through the cold months. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Canadian ranchers brace for long, lean winter after droughts, soaring feed costs

As of Sept. 30, 72% of the country was considered either ‘abnormally dry’ or in ‘moderate to exceptional drought’

 

A makeshift shelter sits among the landscaping of the Courtenay City Hall parking lot, with the Connect Centre in the background. The Connect Centre is a safe haven for the homeless. (File photo)

Comox Valley facing severe shortage of shelter options as winter looms

Nearly 80 per cent of area’s homeless population would be without a bed in case of an emergency

 

B.C. wine growers are forecasting significant losses, with crop yields cut by as much as 56 per cent, due to a severe cold snap that gripped the province in December 2022. (Pixabay.com)

B.C. wine grape crop ‘devastated’ by winter cold snap

The cold snap cut this year’s crop by up to 56 per cent; Okanagan and Similkameen most affected

B.C. wine growers are forecasting significant losses, with crop yields cut by as much as 56 per cent, due to a severe cold snap that gripped the province in December 2022. (Pixabay.com)
Vancouver Coastal karate athlete Haumi Tarighatbin (red) faces off against Cancouver Island Central Coast athlete Hudson Ball Saturday, March 25, 2023, during the Greater Vernon B.C. Winter Games at Kalamalka Secondary School. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

PHOTOS: Athletes dazzle on Day 2 of B.C. Winter Games in Greater Vernon

Competition in the Games continued Saturday; run through to 12 p.m. Sunday, March 26

Vancouver Coastal karate athlete Haumi Tarighatbin (red) faces off against Cancouver Island Central Coast athlete Hudson Ball Saturday, March 25, 2023, during the Greater Vernon B.C. Winter Games at Kalamalka Secondary School. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
More than 900 athletes are competing in the B.C. Winter Games from Friday, March 24, to Sunday, March 26, 2023. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

Let the games begin: B.C. Winter Games in Greater Vernon officially underway

The torch is lit and over 900 athletes are ready to compete from Friday to Sunday

More than 900 athletes are competing in the B.C. Winter Games from Friday, March 24, to Sunday, March 26, 2023. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
Winter 2022-23 was drier and colder than normal and ranks as the 31st coldest on record, says Environment Canada. (News Bulletin file photo)

Snowy end to February caps off dry and cold meteorological Vancouver Island winter

February’s average temperature was 3 C, a little colder than usual

Winter 2022-23 was drier and colder than normal and ranks as the 31st coldest on record, says Environment Canada. (News Bulletin file photo)
Coquihalla Highway, looking southbound at Zopkos Rest Area, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo/DriveBC)

Winter storm warning issued for B.C.’s Coquihalla and Highway 3

Up to 35 centimetres of snow expected to fall on both routes

Coquihalla Highway, looking southbound at Zopkos Rest Area, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo/DriveBC)
Vernon ultra athlete Shanda Hill and some of her lake-dipping friends cut a large smile into a huge chunk of ice on Coldstream’s Kalamalka Lake. Of course, the event wasn’t complete without a dip through the eyes. (Screen shot)

VIDEO: Okanagan athlete puts smile on (chunk of) ice

Vernon’s Shanda Hill and friends cut huge happy face into big ice flow on local lake, then go for dip

Vernon ultra athlete Shanda Hill and some of her lake-dipping friends cut a large smile into a huge chunk of ice on Coldstream’s Kalamalka Lake. Of course, the event wasn’t complete without a dip through the eyes. (Screen shot)
Kelowna Fire Department on the ice at Kelowna Golf and Country Club for cold water training on Jan. 5, 2023. (Brittany Webster/Capital News)

Black Press reporter takes the plunge with firefighters for cold water training

Kelowna Fire Department renews skills with annual training

  • Jan 5, 2023
Kelowna Fire Department on the ice at Kelowna Golf and Country Club for cold water training on Jan. 5, 2023. (Brittany Webster/Capital News)
A heavy snowfall Dec. 20 buried cars and anything else left out in the open. (Photo by Carolyn Dykeman)

Twice as much snow and sun during a volatile December on the Island

The month also featured much colder weather than usual

A heavy snowfall Dec. 20 buried cars and anything else left out in the open. (Photo by Carolyn Dykeman)
The Okanagan Connector is closed due to a vehicle incident. (DriveBC)
The Okanagan Connector is closed due to a vehicle incident. (DriveBC)
Highway 1 is closed from Revelstoke to Golden due to avalanche hazards. (DriveBC)

Highway 1 closed from Revelstoke and Golden due to avalanche hazard

The highway will be closed until at least 9 p.m.

Highway 1 is closed from Revelstoke to Golden due to avalanche hazards. (DriveBC)
Four of the six golden retriever puppies rescued from a North Okanagan property on Dec. 21, 2022. (BCSPCA/ photo)

Golden retrievers, including 6 puppies, rescued from North Okanagan property

No heat, clean water or insulation, little food accessible for nine dogs

Four of the six golden retriever puppies rescued from a North Okanagan property on Dec. 21, 2022. (BCSPCA/ photo)
BC Hydro is expecting system damage thanks to a freezing rain forcast for Dec. 22 and Dec.23 (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

BC Hydro prepares for outages as freezing rain looms for Victoria

BC Hydro is asking customers to make a plan for extended outages and create an emergency kit

BC Hydro is expecting system damage thanks to a freezing rain forcast for Dec. 22 and Dec.23 (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
Wayne Dorman, dressed as Santa, jumped in to save a dog after it had fallen through the ice on Okanagan Lake near Kelowna’s downtown. (Contributed)

Santa Claus to the rescue when dog falls through ice in Okanagan Lake

Wayne Dorman says this is a good reminder of how important strong recall is with dogs

  • Dec 13, 2022
Wayne Dorman, dressed as Santa, jumped in to save a dog after it had fallen through the ice on Okanagan Lake near Kelowna’s downtown. (Contributed)
A man pauses while digging out snow from under a car stuck on a street in the aftermath of a snowstorm, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

QUIZ: Are you ready for winter weather?

Winter begins later this month, but is already on the ground in many parts of the country

A man pauses while digging out snow from under a car stuck on a street in the aftermath of a snowstorm, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
14 members of Whonnock Roofing and Gutters shovelled walks on Nov. 30 for donations to the family of Savanna Gervais. (Clay Gagnon/Special to The News)

B.C. company shovels driveways to collect donations for 4-year-old cancer victim

Whonnock Roofing collected more than $6,000 for family of Savanna Gervais

14 members of Whonnock Roofing and Gutters shovelled walks on Nov. 30 for donations to the family of Savanna Gervais. (Clay Gagnon/Special to The News)
Snow falling on Highway 1 at Malahat Summit in 2020.Winter driving conditions are on the way with snow and wind forecast for south, inland, east and north Vancouver Island from Tuesday morning through Wednesday (Nov. 30). (DriveBC/File)

Shift into winter: Snow, wind warnings issued for most of Vancouver Island

Work-related crashes are the leading cause of traumatic workplace deaths in the in B.C.

Snow falling on Highway 1 at Malahat Summit in 2020.Winter driving conditions are on the way with snow and wind forecast for south, inland, east and north Vancouver Island from Tuesday morning through Wednesday (Nov. 30). (DriveBC/File)
A snowplow works to shift snow off of a highway. Environment Canada is forecasting that much of southwestern B.C. could see snow on Nov. 29 and Nov. 30. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Winter weather expected to strike southwestern B.C. this week

Snow forecast Tuesday night, with possibility of freezing rain in some areas Wednesday

A snowplow works to shift snow off of a highway. Environment Canada is forecasting that much of southwestern B.C. could see snow on Nov. 29 and Nov. 30. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)