82 serving our community 1930 to 2012
BUSINESS
SENIORS
FIRST-TIME Apple Triathlon champion Ellen Pennock of Calgary revels in her victory. Andrew Russell won the men’s division.
DAVID BLACK, the Victoriabased owner of the Black Press newspaper empire, is proposing a $13-billion oil refinery for Kitmat to process oil carried by the controversial Embridge pipeline.
KELOWNA-AREA seniors are being warned to stay vigilant and be on the lookout for scammers who prey on the elderly with schemes to separate them from their money.
A19
A16
A18
Fall Promo $
32500
Model 435
BONUS …
+ SALES SINCE 1965
SPORTS
SERVICE
+
=
PARTS
SAVOY EQUIPMENT
LTD.
1892 Byland Rd, West Kelowna
250-769-7355 1892 Spall Rd, Kelowna
250-868-1010
TUESDAY August 21, 2012 The Central Okanagan’s Best-Read Newspaper www.kelownacapnews.com
Council likes IHA downtown plan STAFF REPORTER
Local politicians were brimming with enthusiasm Monday afternoon when Kelowna city staff presented a plan to move Interior Health offices into the downtown core. “This is the single biggest thing that’s happened in downtown in its history,” said Coun. Andre Blanleil. “I think the economic spinoff-will help the condo market…and the businesses downtown.” Coun. Colin Basran was equally ebullient about the project’s potential to forever change Kelowna. “Everything will flow from here,” he said. “Our downtown in three years will have a different look and feel. It will finally be the heart of our community.” If the city and the health authority jump through all the hoops that will allow them to move forward with the plan, it will definitely be busier downtown than locals have grown accustomed to. Doug Gilchrist, Kelowna’s manager of corporate sustainability, explained the plan is to sell 1.2 acres of city-owned land on Doyle Avenue to Interior Health for $2.75 million for a community services and corporate building. To accommodate that development, the city will take on a project that will
r Credit ‘Direct gCoat even aurus Truck-o-vsed’ appro
see 702 new parking spots developed through an expansion to the Library parkade on Ellis Street and a new parkade at the south east corner of the Memorial Arena. “That would bring 1,000 employees and all the clients they serve (to the downtown),” Gilchrist explained. These people will be riding transit, supporting businesses and possibly choosing to live in the neighbourhood, he explained. “The project provides long-term benefits for the downtown as a whole and is supported in the City’s Official Community Plan and the Downtown Plan.” And the economic spin-off, even before the health authority’s staff move in will be hefty. The building of office space, as well as the citydriven parkades that are required for the development, would result in $45 million to $50 million in construction. The project is not without any financial risk on the part of the city, however. To fund the parking lot development, the city will have to borrow $15 million. But Gilchrist said it won’t impact taxpayers. The project revenues will offset this borrowing, he said. The city and IH have signed a memorandum of understanding declaring their intention to work together. If all goes well, the project should be completed within three years.
DON SIPOS/CONTRIBUTOR
KELOWNA RCMP officers cover a body found in Okanagan Lake Monday afternoon off Hot Sands Beach in City Park.
Third body of the summer found in lake Jennifer Smith STAFF REPORTER
A snorkeller found the body of a man submerged off Hot Sands Beach Monday afternoon. Just after 1 p.m., the swimmer spotted a body in an area in front of the volleyball courts just offshore and brought it into the beach. “Basically, a group of bystanders saw a body floating, dragged him to the beach, determined he was deceased and called emergency services,” said Const. Kris Clark, Kelowna RCMP. Standing on the beach as police arrived, Steve
Brown, who identified himself as the one who pulled the body in, said the it appeared to be that of a man in his 20s. Police were unable to say how long the body had been in the water, though Clark indicated the death did occurred at the time the body was found. He said the dead man had been in the lake for some time, and though he was not able to say how long, he said the deceased had likely been swimming when he died as he was wearing swimming trunks. Kelowna RCMP have been in contact with police in West Kelowna, Sum-
merland, Vernon and Penticton to see if any missing persons reports had come in to match the description of the man. “There is nothing really suspicious at this point,” said Clark, who also indicated it would be extremely unlikely anyone would die jumping from the bridge directly adjacent to the beach. A pink blanket was used to shield the body from view and by 2:30 p.m. the coroner had yet to arrive to remove the it. “The coroner is usually there within the hour, but sometimes, under certain circumstances, they have to get certain resour-
ces in place for themselves as well,” said Clark. “As you know, in the recent plane crash, the coroner didn’t go in until the next day. Of course, those were special circumstances because there is another agency that was investigating as well.” Two young men who stopped by the scene told police they had been at the spot on the beach where the body was found at 5 a.m. Monday morning and did not seen anyone or anything suspicious at that time. “There’s usually a bit of current, so once the boats get things going, it turns the water,” Clark
said before indicating the body might have floated in from anywhere on the lake in the hours before the discovery. Kelowna RCMP have now dealt with three bodies in Okanagan Lake this summer and one in Wood Lake. On July 13, a 39-yearold West Kelowna man drowned off Westside Road while swimming off a log boom with his wife. Then, on Aug. 1, police recovered the body of a man who had gone missing while paddle boarding on Okanagan Lake in the area of Carr’s Landing. jsmith@kelownacapnews.com
three simple steps
to vehicle ownership & credit freedom
n Don’t Wait! Call Jordan at 888.440.7215 an appointment for a credit consultation today for best o Make vehicle selection
p You’re Approved! Drive home in your new car or truck with a smile!
BANKRUPT SLOW PAYER
BAD CREDIT CREDIT COUNSELLING
DISABILITY DIVORCE
Receive a VISA™ credit card with your bonus approval to help you re-establish your credit!
DL#30539
Kathy Michaels