Community

Brownie, one of the llamas moved to The Llama Sanctuary’s new home in Mara on March 31, 2023. (The Llama Sanctuary/ Facebook)

Llama Sanctuary finds last-minute Shuswap home following eviction

Llamas and alpacas safely moved to property in Mara, move cost nearly $26k

Brownie, one of the llamas moved to The Llama Sanctuary’s new home in Mara on March 31, 2023. (The Llama Sanctuary/ Facebook)
Seth Cowan, a good friend of Rob Konkle, wears one of the T-shirts made for the memorial on April 1 that recognizes Konkle, whose nickname was Red, as well as his love for dragons. (Martha Wickett-Salmon Arm Observer)

‘He was always there’: Memorial honours Salmon Arm steadfast friend to people living rough and others

Man dies five days after being struck by vehicle in what police called an altercation over a debt

Seth Cowan, a good friend of Rob Konkle, wears one of the T-shirts made for the memorial on April 1 that recognizes Konkle, whose nickname was Red, as well as his love for dragons. (Martha Wickett-Salmon Arm Observer)
P. L. and Kristen Meindertsma of Abbotsford have started the Cycle 5 to Survive initiative. They plan to cycle five continents over five years while raising $500,000 each for five charities. (Instagram photo)

Abbotsford couple plan to cycle 5 continents in 5 years to raise $2.5M for 5 charities

P. L. and Kristen Meindertsma start with 4,300 km trip along Continental Divide

P. L. and Kristen Meindertsma of Abbotsford have started the Cycle 5 to Survive initiative. They plan to cycle five continents over five years while raising $500,000 each for five charities. (Instagram photo)
There's a family of four red pandas at the Greater Vancouver Zoo, following the delivery of twin cubs – one girl, one boy – last June. Now they need names. (Screengrab Greater Vancouver Zoo)

Aldergrove zoo asks celebrity to help name red panda cubs

Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds encouraged to submit names for the twins

There's a family of four red pandas at the Greater Vancouver Zoo, following the delivery of twin cubs – one girl, one boy – last June. Now they need names. (Screengrab Greater Vancouver Zoo)
Rona Tepper and Kristen Gribble are among six women who are active RCMSAR5 Crescent Beach crew members, out of a total 28. Tenures of the women range from eight months to 7.5 years. (Contributed photo)

PHOTOS: Number of women on South Surrey marine-rescue team ‘a bit of anomaly’

More than one-fifth of active RCMSAR5 Crescent Beach crew members are women

Rona Tepper and Kristen Gribble are among six women who are active RCMSAR5 Crescent Beach crew members, out of a total 28. Tenures of the women range from eight months to 7.5 years. (Contributed photo)
A group of 321 Grade 10 and 11 students from the Yamata Gakuin school in Japan arrived at the Langley Christian School on Saturday, March 18, to begin an eight-day Canadian adventure. While here, they are staying with local families. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)

VIDEO: More than 300 Japanese students begin a Canadian adventure in B.C.

Will be staying with local families for eight days

A group of 321 Grade 10 and 11 students from the Yamata Gakuin school in Japan arrived at the Langley Christian School on Saturday, March 18, to begin an eight-day Canadian adventure. While here, they are staying with local families. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)
Shamrocks are associated with Ireland, but a four-leaf clover is much more rare. Do you know the odds of finding a four-leaf clover? (Pixabay.com)

QUIZ: How Irish are you?

St. Patrick’s Day, on March 17, is a celebration of Ireland and Irish culture

Shamrocks are associated with Ireland, but a four-leaf clover is much more rare. Do you know the odds of finding a four-leaf clover? (Pixabay.com)
For her father’s birthday, Christine Fritz made a donation at the Canada Blood Services Clinic in Walnut Grove on Saturday, March 11. It was her eighth contribution. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)

Daughter donates blood for dad’s birthday

‘If I’m out there donating, someone else is donating for him’ B.C. woman says

For her father’s birthday, Christine Fritz made a donation at the Canada Blood Services Clinic in Walnut Grove on Saturday, March 11. It was her eighth contribution. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)
Tammy Young beams with excitement when she returns from her first call with the Salmon Arm Fire Department. (Photo contributed)

‘I fell in love with it’: Salmon Arm woman always wanted to be a firefighter

Fire department celebrates its female firefighters on International Women’s Day

Tammy Young beams with excitement when she returns from her first call with the Salmon Arm Fire Department. (Photo contributed)
Name the puppy contest press conference at BC RCMP headquarters in Surrey on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. The two dogs are Tuesday’s announcement- Rip and Rev- were some of the last German Shepherd puppies born at the Centre last year. (Photo: Anna Burns)

BC RCMP asks youth to help ‘Name the Puppies’

The RCMP is asking for help in naming 13 German Shepherd puppies that will be born this year

Name the puppy contest press conference at BC RCMP headquarters in Surrey on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. The two dogs are Tuesday’s announcement- Rip and Rev- were some of the last German Shepherd puppies born at the Centre last year. (Photo: Anna Burns)
Ethan, 12, suffered damage to his leg after falling under a Kelowna transit bus on Feb. 28, 2023. (GoFundMe)

Fundraiser tops $10,000 for Okanagan boy injured after falling under bus

The GoFundMe says donations will help with cost of physiotherapy

  • Mar 7, 2023
Ethan, 12, suffered damage to his leg after falling under a Kelowna transit bus on Feb. 28, 2023. (GoFundMe)
Drummers sing as they walk into the Sts’ailes Lhawathet Lalem (Healing House) on Friday, March 3. (Adam Louis/Observer)

PHOTOS: ‘This beautiful work’: Sts’ailes First Nation welcomes 29 baskets home

Ancestral baskets repatriated to First Nation from Kilby Historic Site

Drummers sing as they walk into the Sts’ailes Lhawathet Lalem (Healing House) on Friday, March 3. (Adam Louis/Observer)
South Surrey Grade 3 student Zhiji Dong has been honoured by Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth as “one of the brightest students in the world.” (Contributed photo)

B.C. Grade 3 student ‘one of world’s brightest’

Zhiji Dong was among highest scorers in Center for Talented Youth assessment

South Surrey Grade 3 student Zhiji Dong has been honoured by Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth as “one of the brightest students in the world.” (Contributed photo)
Canadians are making their final Registered Retirement Savings Plan contributions, in advance of the deadline. (Black Press Media file)

QUIZ: How much do you know about money and savings?

In January and February, Canadians make their final savings contributions for the tax year.

Canadians are making their final Registered Retirement Savings Plan contributions, in advance of the deadline. (Black Press Media file)
There’s a family of four red pandas at the Greater Vancouver Zoo, following the delivery of twin cubs – one girl, one boy – last June. Now they need names. (Screengrab Greater Vancouver Zoo)

Twin red panda cubs need names

Greater Vancouver Zoo in Aldergrove is holding a contest for naming rights – prizes included

There’s a family of four red pandas at the Greater Vancouver Zoo, following the delivery of twin cubs – one girl, one boy – last June. Now they need names. (Screengrab Greater Vancouver Zoo)
The week of Feb. 19 to 24 is Freedom to Read Week in Canada. (Black Press file photo)

QUIZ: How much do you know about your freedom to read?

Feb. 19 to 24 is Freedom to Read Week in Canada

The week of Feb. 19 to 24 is Freedom to Read Week in Canada. (Black Press file photo)
Suhaandeep Gill spent last week delivering special treat bags to shelters in Abbotsford, Maple Ridge and Mission. (Jessica Peters/Abbotsford News)

Kid Cupid: Young Abbotsford boy delivers love to the streets with Valentine’s Day bags

Suhaandeep Gill, 7, created thoughtful bags of much-needed items to give to three city shelters

Suhaandeep Gill spent last week delivering special treat bags to shelters in Abbotsford, Maple Ridge and Mission. (Jessica Peters/Abbotsford News)
The volunteers who maintain Penticton’s outdoor rink on 107 Martin Street. Front row from left to right: Frank Gair, Mark Hammerquist, Cathy Terris, Chris Terris, John Buckley, Lance Zablotney, Patrick Meyer, Chris Araki. Back row from left to right: Gord Barnes, Dave Burgoyne. Missing from picture: Ralph Consolo, Kent Fiske, Lloyd Lindsay, and crew chief Cam Gunning. (Contributed)

Meet the volunteers who make the Okanagan’s newest outdoor rink a reality 7 days a week

‘All of them just want to do something that makes our community better to live in,’ said Gord Barnes

The volunteers who maintain Penticton’s outdoor rink on 107 Martin Street. Front row from left to right: Frank Gair, Mark Hammerquist, Cathy Terris, Chris Terris, John Buckley, Lance Zablotney, Patrick Meyer, Chris Araki. Back row from left to right: Gord Barnes, Dave Burgoyne. Missing from picture: Ralph Consolo, Kent Fiske, Lloyd Lindsay, and crew chief Cam Gunning. (Contributed)
Project Mama Duck is a new pedestrian safety program run by the Ridge Meadows RCMP Road Safety Target Team, which is seen here crouching next to a goose. (Ridge Meadows RCMP/Special to The News)

RCMP launches new Project Mama Duck pedestrian safety program in B.C. city

The RSTT educational program focuses on the Maple Ridge area of Lougheed Highway

Project Mama Duck is a new pedestrian safety program run by the Ridge Meadows RCMP Road Safety Target Team, which is seen here crouching next to a goose. (Ridge Meadows RCMP/Special to The News)
Ben Baker died of an accidental overdose on Jan. 23, 2023. The family is fundraising for two memorial benches to make a monetary donation in Ben’s name to The Last Door in New Westminster. (Ben Baker’s Legacy/GoFundMe)

Benches in West Kelowna, Lower Mainland help keep man’s legacy alive

All additional donations will be donated to the treatment facility Ben stayed at

  • Feb 2, 2023
Ben Baker died of an accidental overdose on Jan. 23, 2023. The family is fundraising for two memorial benches to make a monetary donation in Ben’s name to The Last Door in New Westminster. (Ben Baker’s Legacy/GoFundMe)