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KELOWNA ROCKETS forward Brett Bulmer was named the team’s MVP for the 201112 season at the WHL club’s annual awards banquet.
COLUMNIST Robert Smithson outlines five concepts that all managers should know to help keep their companies out of court.
THE ELDERLY continue to be victimized by the classic ‘sweepstakes’ scam so Consumer Protection B.C. offers some tips on how to avoid being duped.
ALISTAIR WATERS says contract talks with teachers has been a poor lesson for students in how to resolve disagreements.
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TUESDAY March 20, 2012 The Central Okanagan’s Best-Read Newspaper www.kelownacapnews.com
▼ WEST KELOWNA
Hockeyville title push fires up community pride
Kathy Michaels
STAFF REPORTER
West Kelowna’s bid to be crowned Kraft Hockeyville ends one way or another tonight, but some say the real prize was awarded weeks ago in the form of a newfound sense of community. “You know, we’ve gone through a lot of turmoil,” said Larry McLean, a 40-year resident of West Kelowna, during his Monday stop at the 24/7 voting centre set up in the Comfort Inn. “I’ve seen a lot of friction here, and this event has done wonders.” Divides born from the 2007 incorporation of the city, which controversially stripped it of the name Westbank, as well as other regional disputes are just a few of the issues McLean has seen fall to the wayside in the last few months. “This is dispelling that us-and-them thing that’s gone on for so long,” he said. “We’re a brand new community, and this is a fresh start. We’ll come out of this dancing.” McLean diligently attended the voting centre every day since it opened—even altering his work schedule to open up the maximum amount of voting time—and he’s not unique in either his dedication or enthusiasm. “To some it’s a hockey contest, but it’s become a lot more than that,” said West Kelowna Hockeyville cochair, Adam Less. “It’s captured people’s imaginations in a way I never would have imagined. It’s been an amazing transformation.” It’s a transformation that’s become noticeable since West Kelowna was first put in the Top 15 of the Hockeyville competition, and reached a fever-pitch Saturday when Hockey announcer Ron MacLean told viewers the municipality reached the Top 5. West Kelowna joined Yarmouth, NS, Amos, QB, Stirling-Rawdon, ON and Duck Lake, SK,—earning the second largest share of votes. See Pride A7
festivities at the Kelly O’Bryans restaurant in downtown Kelowna on Saturday. See more St. Patrick’s Day photos A3.
▼ ELECTION EXPENSES
Gray outspent Shepherd by 2:1 margin Alistair Waters ASSISTANT EDITOR
Walter Gray outspent Sharon Shepherd nearly two to one to reclaim the mayor’s chair in last November’s Kelowna civic election. Gray, who served as mayor from 1996 to 2005 before losing to Shep-
herd, spent $56,920 on his comeback campaign, compared to Shepherd’s $29,729. And in doing so, Gray increased the amount he spent in 2005 by about $10,000, or 17 per cent. “Going in, I thought it shouldn’t cost more than what I spent last time,” said Gray on Monday, the
deadline for filing financial disclosure papers for the 2011 civic election. The vote, which was a narrow victory for Gray that came down to the last polling station reporting on election night. According to the financial disclosure documents filed with the city on Monday, Gray raised
$57,490 in campaign donations, including $13,600 of his own money. His biggest campaign contributors included $5,000 from solar panel maker Sunlogics Inc., $2,500 from Vancouver company BFL Canada and $1,000 each from local developer Al Stober and three businesses—
Imperial Parking, Don Folk Chevrolet and the Pheasant and Quail Pub in South Pandosy. His campaign also received $1,000 from Castanet owner Nick Frost, who was a leader of the FourChange.org group,
See Expenses A6
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DOUG FARROW/CONTRIBUTOR
GOING GREEN…Kelowna lawyer Marc Whittemore and his wife Susanne sampled the green bear at the St. Patrick’s Day