NOWMEDIA MAGAZINE VOL 2.
MEET THE TEAM CHECK OUT SOME OF OUR FAVOURITE ARTICLES
We’re NowMedia
Who are we? We’d like to take a minute to introduce ourselves We are a hyper-local, digital portal where our communities can find the information that they need. It doesn’t matter which NowMedia platform you read, we provide readers with relevant news, sports, events, weather and much more. We are the go-to source for locals because of our positive approach to delivering the information people need to know. We also provide lifestyle content that showcases how interesting, creative and inspiring our communities are. We take pride in starting conversations on meaningful topics with the largest social engagement reach in the Okanagan Valley. We are committed to being a reliable, honest and positive platform, and with a passionate team of journalists, reporters, photographers and videographers, we will always provide the Stuff that Matters.
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NowMedia started as Welcome to Kelowna
in 1999
NowMedia has grown to
7 platforms across the province
KAREN MONTGOMERY NowMedia Operations Manager
What does the voice of the platform sound like? The voice across all of our platforms is consistent; it is soft, intelligent, respectful, conversational, positive with a bit of cheekiness. Why? We want to stand out in our communities as a news and lifestyle platform that people can always respect and rely on. We pride ourselves on our integrity, honesty, resourcefulness and creativity. We are always evolving and have a responsibility to our readers to always give them the Stuff That Matters.
What is the vision for NowMedia? Our vision for the NowMedia platforms is to continue growing in all ways. Growing as writers, editors, photographers, videographers and individuals. Growing our readership, followers, engagements, likes and ambassadors. Growing as a media company in the content that we publish. Growing as a team by continuing to look for and hire great people. And, growing as a company into new communities. Honesty, resourcefulness and creativity.
What do you bring to the NowMedia team? I pride myself on the leadership, knowledge and mentorship that I provide for my team. With my background in education, I understand that teaching goes beyond the classroom. I can use my experience and skills to educate and challenge my team to always be better.
JOSH DUNCAN
NowMedia News Director
What topics do you find yourself writing about the most? In general, I write about anything and everything. I know it sounds like an excuse but there’s nothing I don’t cover. When it comes to stories I sink my teeth into, I’d say stories about new restaurants, breweries or other kinds of stores opening around town. I also tend to get a little more involved in certain music and sports stories that rely on lengthier interviews with musicians or athletes.
“It doesn’t all have to
be straight up serious news, and with some of the stuff going on in the world right now, we could certainly use some easy, fun and lighthearted reading.” STUFF THAT MATTERS
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What types of stories interest you the most? I’ve always been a sports first guy, so I think it’s safe to say the sports stories will always be the most interesting to me. It makes me sad at times that people don’t seem to care as much about local sports as they might have in the past, unless the Rockets are in the midst of a playoff run, but I still love taking photos at the games, writing about local teams and athletes and trying to tie bigger sports stories back to the community.
What is important to you when writing a story? I think tone is very important when writing a story and I love how this job allows us to have some freedom with that. If it’s a serious story, you’re not going to mess around with it too much, but I love having the ability to have some fun with certain stories and try to make people feel something when they’re reading. It doesn’t all have to be straight up serious news, and with some of the stuff going on in the world right now, we could certainly use some easy, fun and lighthearted reading.
What do you bring to the NowMedia team? I think I bring a lot of versatility and that’s what has allowed me to take on the role I have. While I do spend a lot of time at my desk writing a greater number of stories, I can also go out and cover a major event. I’m a good photographer, I do a lot of editing for other writers and I’m always sending in story ideas to the newsroom when I’m not in the office.
Read Josh’s article on the following page!
What is your best story or a story you are most proud of to date? If I was to make a safe estimate, I think I’ve written around 6,000 stories since I started here in November 2016, so it’s not always easy to think back and pick out just one or two. Two moments that really stick out, however, is the 20 minute interview I had with Ron MacLean in January 2017 and my interview of Arkells (arguably my favourite band) frontman Max Kerman in December 2018. It’s hard not to fanboy a bit when talking to people you look up to so much, but it’s certainly a memorable experience.
‘NOBODY’S GOING TO WORK ON WEDNESDAY’: ARKELLS ARE BRINGING THEIR CAN’T MISS LIVE SHOW BACK TO KELOWNA BY JOSH DUNCAN
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Since they last played in Kelowna in 2013, Arkells have released three albums and become one of the most recognizable Canadian bands out there. They’ve added to their collection of Juno Awards, headlined a number of festivals, had their music used in NHL playoff montages and even had a song featured in the Super Bowl 52 broadcast. Despite the success, the band’s frontman, Max Kerman, says the last five years haven’t felt a whole lot different than the previous five. “I think for us, all the growth has been really incremental over the years,” Kerman told NowMedia.
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“You can usually track the nature of the shows and how they grow... I love that, it’s actually really gratifying work, because it’s all about just putting in the work.” Kerman says the band just keeps their heads down and continues to work, relying on a mix of studio time, touring and other ventures to keep things fresh and exciting. One day you might find Arkells in the studio, the next day they could be playing a stadium show in a major U.S. city and the following day they’ll be doing a popup set for a handful of lucky fans in the park. That’s the process that helped the band make their latest album, Rally Cry, which was released on Oct. 19, 2018.
“We toured and then we booked maybe five days in the studio, banged out a couple of songs, hit the road again, the variety of all of that is really appealing,” Kerman explained. “I think it’s our punchiest record. It’s 10 songs, each song you kind of understand what it is really quickly and that was very intentional in the studio. We didn’t want to meander about when it came to the production or the arrangement of the songs.” With their punchiest album yet comes their punchiest tour yet, as the band will be bringing along the Northern Soul Horns, a fantastic horn section from Toronto. Their presence allows Kerman to ditch his guitar for certain songs and “just be more of a dance instructor on stage.”
“That makes the show that much more fun for me,” he said. “I get to sort of be my own version of James Brown or Bruce Springsteen.” Along with the horns, Kerman says the production meetings for the tour have begun and they’re going to have a cat walk, a great set list and tons of exciting moments for the fans.
the bill and we can’t wait to see them play every night.” That means you’ll want to make sure you’re inside Prospera Place for both bands when the Rally Cry Tour rolls through the Okanagan on Feb. 5, 2019.
“Our shows have always been a really communal thing, that’s the thread between all the records,” Kerman told NowMedia.
DESPITE THE SHOW BEING ON A TUESDAY, KERMAN PROMISES IT’S GOING TO FEEL LIKE A SATURDAY NIGHT AND EXPECTS PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE B.C. INTERIOR TO ROLL INTO TOWN FOR THE PARTY.
“The songs are meant to be sung together, really positive, outward looking music, so this is probably just a bigger version of what we used to do.” Unsurprisingly, the set list on Feb. 5 will be much different than the one they played last in Kelowna six years ago, but that’s far from a bad thing. Kerman says it’ll give the fans a chance to build a relationship with the band’s newer tunes that they might not have seen live yet, an experience you can’t get by simply listening to the record. While the band isn’t looking too much into their past, they still try to include songs from every record on the set list and that won’t change for this tour. As for the opening act, Arkells will be bringing along Lord Huron, a band that they “really love,” but have also never met. Kerman says they wanted the bill for this tour to be world class and they believe they’ve accomplished just that by choosing Lord Huron as their support. “They play Red Rocks in the U.S., sell out massive shows themselves and have hundreds of millions of streams for their song that was in 13 Reasons Why,” he said. “They’re not necessarily a household name, but if you go through their Spotify, you’re like ‘oh, I know this song, oh, I know this song.’ So we’re really proud of
Despite the show being on a Tuesday, Kerman promises it’s going to feel like a Saturday night and expects people from all over the B.C. Interior to roll into town for the party. “Nobody’s going to work on Wednesday, so just book it off,” he advised. “We’re going hard on a Tuesday night!” Tickets are still available, but they’re sure to go fast, so make sure you grab them through Select Your Tickets. December 20th 2018
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MEGAN TRUDEAU NowMedia Journalist
What types of stories interest you the most? I love a good heartwarming story. Anything about someone doing a good deed, or just doing something really cool and adventurous always make great tales.
What topics do you find yourself writing about the most? I find myself writing a lot of travel articles, as well as stories on animal welfare.
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What do you bring to the NowMedia team? I bring emotional intelligence, a keen eye for a story and an appreciation for other people’s perspectives.
What is important to you when writing a story? It’s important to me that it is both entertaining to read and informative.
“I bring emotional intelligence, a keen eye for a story, and an appreciation for other people’s perspectives.”
What is your best story or a story you are most proud of to date? I am proud of a lot of my stories, but I would have to say that the one that stands out from this year would have to be the story of two local men who went missing on Boulder Mountain while snowmobiling.
Read Megan’s article on the following page!
TWO MISSING SNOWMOBILERS FROM KELOWNA TELL THE STORY OF THEIR RESCUE BY MEGAN TRUDEAU
At 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, the pair went up the mountain, and around 1 p.m. they decided it was time to turn back, as one of the snowmobiles was low on fuel. The descent down the mountain didn’t go smoothly however, and the two snowmobiles got stuck in the deep snow several times. After becoming fatigued from digging themselves out, they ended up making a wrong turn down the mountain and quickly became lost in the unfamiliar terrain.
Taylor describes setting an alarm on his phone for every 15 minutes to prevent hypothermia and having them fall asleep. After what was a restless and cold night, they got up early to try to dig out their snowmobiles, but they just continued to get stuck in the snow. They made the
decision to continue on foot and began what turned out to be a six-hour hike — soaking wet and freezing — down the mountain in the waist-deep powder. Their situation was quickly going from bad to worse, as they had enough vital supplies for only one day.
They found themselves stuck in a valley along a creek bed, and by 4:30 p.m. the sun was starting to go down. The two friends accepted they would be spending the night there. They built what Dumonceaux describes as an igloo-like structure, where they laid down some branches and twigs to try to keep out of the snow. “We were soaked in sweat so we were super cold,” he says. “So we just tried to cuddle together and stay warm with body heat.”
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Photo Credit: Andrew Macleod
“We had no food, no water, no nothing really,” Dumonceaux recalls. “We were just really tired, so we found an open area we figured would be a good spot to rest up. Our hands were frozen and all of our gear was soaking wet and frozen solid. “We pulled our avalanche bag and we deployed the air sack in it just to have something to sit on because everything was freezing.” Without knowing what they had with them for supplies, they searched the contents of the backpacks they had rented and found eight to 10 flares.
After having their vital signs and health checked, the pair were able to go home for some much-needed rest after a trip into the wilderness for which they weren’t prepared. “It was scary how fast everything happened. We were so thankful for the Revelstoke Search and Rescue team. When they found us they were almost as happy to see us as we were to see them.” Dumonceaux says their families were relieved, but they had faith they would make it back.
Things really started to turn around for the better when they heard a helicopter in the distance. They began yelling as loud and as much as possible, but without success.
“They knew we weren’t quitters, and there was a lot of times where we could have just sat back to freeze and die,” he says. “We didn’t want to give up and we weren’t about to die on that mountain, that’s for sure.”
“The sound of the helicopter disappeared and we were pretty bummed,” he says.
Dumonceux says he can’t thank the Revelstoke Search and Rescue enough.
They missed one rescue opportunity, but not long afterward, their hope was renewed at the sound of snowmobiles in the distance. They once again began to call out, setting off a flare to get their attention.
“Those guys did an amazing job,” he adds. “The reason we’re here today is 100% because of them. We didn’t know where we were and we were undersupplied for what we were doing.”
“We heard the machines turn off and someone yelled back at us saying ‘where are you guys,’” says Dumonceaux. “Then, thank God, we see about 10 snowmobiles coming down the hill.”
He says the next time they will be planning their trip a bit differently, having learned their lesson about being prepared.
He remembers the relief they both felt as they were being rescued, saying it felt like they were given a second chance. “We were on our last legs, honestly, so it was perfect timing. We were freezing up and didn’t have supplies and it was a scary time for sure,” he says. “We were talking, and we honestly didn’t think we were going to make it through another night.” Their rescuers had extra socks and mittens, and they were even taking their coats off for the rescued men before taking them back to the snowmobile club’s shack, where they were able to warm up and eat.
“Even if you’re just going for a quick ride, prepare for the worst, because out there you don’t really have any other option.” January 8th 2018
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[TAYLOR] REMEMBERS THE RELIEF THEY BOTH FELT AS THEY WERE BEING RESCUED, SAYING IT FELT LIKE THEY WERE GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE.
DYLAN MCCULLOUGH NowMedia Journalist
What types of stories interest you the most? Luckily, the stories I report on often also interest me the most. Downtown developments are usually subject to public hearings that are a great opportunity to better understand the public perception. Covering the legalization of cannabis has also been an interesting ride with plenty of twists and turns.
What topics do you find yourself writing about the most? I spend the majority of my time reporting on various cannabis topics and local developments and Kelowna City Council. Kelowna is going through a period of drastic change in the form of retail cannabis and big budget developments, so there is no shortage of stories to cover!
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What do you bring to the NowMedia team? Growing up in the Okanagan has provided me with a solid understanding of the region’s history and journey to becoming the city it is today.
“ I recently started a
new series called In the Weeds that focuses on cannabis in the Okanagan. For the first episode we visited Hemp City and Mary Jane’s Headquarters. Not something I would have seen myself doing during work hours a couple years ago. ” Watch “In The Weeds” on kelownanow.com
What is important to you when writing a story? The facts! And providing a unique voice to the topic. Making sure the public has the proper information to base their opinions on is important.
What is your best story or a story you are most proud of to date? Everyday offers the opportunity to write interesting stories. However, covering Shambhala 2018 is a story I will never forget! Read Dylan’s article on the following page!
A BRIEF INQUIRY INTO EVERYTHING I CAN RECALL FROM SHAMBHALA 2018 BY DYLAN MCCULLOUGH
Photo Credit: Instagram @shambhala_mf
Who quotes Charles Dickens at a music festival? Anyone? Okay okay, probably no one. But honestly, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” may have floated in and out of my consciousness at least once while attending Shambhala 2018. Full disclosure, I arrived late Friday evening, waited in minimal lines and jumped into an already set up camp, but I heard stories. Stories of all the fun I had missed, like patiently waiting for hours in 40 degree heat and watching security pirates raid beloved stashes of alcohol. However, covered in sweat and dust, inside a tent turned microwave oven, I had truly arrived at Shambhala by Saturday morning. With my head outside the tent’s door hoping to catch a breeze, the only thing
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more obvious than the stifling heat was the buzz surrounding the night before. “Brasstracks blew my mind” “Dj Qbert is a legend” “My bassface during Whipped Cream was real” and more than one mention of “But Claude Vonstroke and Christian Martin at the Pagoda tho…”
A great debrief followed, touching on many things from illuminated sandboxes to hanging in hammocks and visiting Rabbit Holes. Despite the vibe, 10 a.m. did hit hard with the realization that the day would indeed be a marathon. Que my sidekick and lovely girlfriend (a badass five-time Shambhala vet) who sensibly suggested we visit the river.
In a blink, the night had begun to creep over the horizon and neon face paint had returned to the crowd’s cheeks.
My crew’s dehydration had clearly been overshadowed by their enthusiasm and had also peaked my curiosity just enough to pull me from a deep “Shambahaze”.
While it was definitely five o’clock somewhere, the buzz surrounding the water had nothing to do with substances. The riverside was full of bright eyed and bushy tailed patrons sipping smoothies, yoga stretching and dipping in the nippy Salmo River. By the time the clock actually neared 5 p.m., the vibe had spread to hundreds of groups splashing, laughing and dancing to the Living Room stage’s beachside beats.
It was chill, it was beautiful, and for a moment Saturday seemed relaxing like a weekend should be. In a blink, the night had begun to creep over the horizon and neon face paint had returned to the crowd’s cheeks. Kicking off the evening was Stylust’s annual set at The Village stage, once again bringing a strangely delicate mix of both fun beats and bone-crushing basslines. Afterward, as I shuffled between stages for the infinite time, the unique bass music mosaic created by Shambhala’s hand-picked lineup became fully apparent. With trademark BC Bass acts a la Stickybuds playing late night sets alongside trendy headliners like Boom Box Cartel, attendees can cover a wide spectrum of electronic genres without walking more than ten minutes between shows.
Destructo’s 4:00 a.m. set was both too good and too long for any mortal being. As I once again trekked to the tent, all I had left to ponder was whether a delicious taco can in fact, be too expensive? Sundays are always a dose of reality and Shambhala is no different. As if late for church, I scrambled to get my act together in time for the annual Fractal Forest Funk Jam. Luckily, I was able to gather a tie-dye bucket hat just in time to make the talented DJ showcase.
So let’s wrap it up, is Shambhala for everyone? Likely not (I mean, definitely not), but I can say with confidence that it’s memorable. Similar to those less-than-glamorous stories from your backpacking trip, the best parts of the journey are sometimes the inconvenient, unexpected and dirtiest parts. Enduring a few rough patches for an unforgettable weekend with thousands of friends? Sign me up. August 20, 2018 _
With Skratch Bastid, Mat the Alien and Slynk on the wheels of steel, the crowd participation during the five-hour jam is the only thing better than the classic tunes. Post funk-jam, a brief visit to the river was followed by favourite sets courtesy of
AFTERWARD, AS I SHUFFLED BETWEEN STAGES FOR THE INFINITE TIME, THE UNIQUE BASS MUSIC MOSAIC CREATED BY SHAMBHALA'S HAND-PICKED LINEUP BECAME FULLY APPARENT. Photo Credit: Instagram @turdbeau
With a feast for the senses available around every corner, you will have to forgive me for not mentioning every amazing beat and funky art project. However, I can confidently say my neck still hurts from The Glitch Mob and that
Rezz, Dizzee Rascal, Craze, Mr. Carmack and other amazing music I am either too old or too young to fully understand. Honestly though, it’s a full week later and this review is already far too indulgent for any editor to handle.
SAVANNAH BAGSHAW
NowMedia Multi-media Journalist
What topics do you find yourself writing about the most? I mainly write articles based around community events that are both informative, personable and fun. I often write concert and music reviews along with human interest pieces that have a prominent local flair.
“As much as I love community events, my heart lies with writing music driven stories.” STUFF THAT MATTERS
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What types of stories interest you the most? As much as I love community events, my heart lies with writing music driven stories. whether it is retelling my experience at a concert, sharing my thoughts on new music or sharing the story behind Kelowna’s own local musicians - my passion is music and all things that accompany it.
What is important to you when writing a story? For my particular writing style I think it is important to help create a palpable feeling for our readers with my words. I try to make my articles engaging and inviting, while still sharing the story of those I write about in an unbiased and thoughtful way. I hope to make our readership excited to learn from us and about the different aspects of the community I am so lucky to get to write about.
What do you bring to the NowMedia team? I hope that I bring approachability to our platform. I never want to be one of those writers, videographers or photographers people feel they couldn’t talk to. I think that is important to have because it allows us to capture raw moments within the community, share honest stories from our locals, and do so in a way that really makes our readers and viewers feel like they are getting to know us and the people of Kelowna on a deeper level.
Read Savannah’s article on the following page!
What is your best story or a story you are most proud of to date? I tend to be proud of every article I am a part of. Whether I have written, produced the video and captured the photos all myself, offered an idea a coworker can take flight with or helped to bring another journalists vision to life with visuals, I try to produce a piece that I’m not only stoked on, but one my coworkers and our readers can be proud of too. Here is one of my favourites (on the following page).
BREAKOUT WEST 2018: A NARRATIVE STORY AND PHOTOS BY SAVANNAH BAGSHAW
BreakOut West swept through the city this past weekend and though the dust has settled the impact the sold-out event had on its 1,500 attendees still lingers on.
To start off the weekend, I spent my Thursday evening at the KCT in the presence of some of the most rambunctious acts to grace the festivals line up — Like A Motorcycle, Little Destroyer and some of my favourite dudes on and off the stage, The Wild!
With over 60 bands from across Canada, The United States and Europe conquering over 10 local venues, BOW illuminated the careers and hard work of up and coming musicians all the while bringing music lovers and industry professionals a chance to dive head first into the unknown.
After a night of grease slathered garage punk, social justice infused alternative and the warm familiarity of rock and roll, It was safe to say I was riddled with anticipation for what else my ears, eyes and camera would feast upon over the rest of the weekend.
With so much to see and do I have to admit tackling coverage for the festival seemed a bit daunting, and attempting to photograph in “creatively” lit bars a little nerve wracking, however, my anxieties were quickly drowned out by the muffled sound of guitars, drums and synth that hit the padded walls of each venue I passed.
The contrast between morning BOW and BOW after dark was one of the most intriguing aspects of the event.
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Mornings brought forth the education that I didn’t know my brain was hungry for. With the Delta Grand acting as festival headquarters, I melted into the stream of
curious attendees who visit each seminar, eager to sop up all the knowledge possible in hopes of catapulting dreams skyward. From dominating the social media scene, to learning how to hold one’s own in the cutthroat industry along with networking opportunities up the wazoo, the conferences acted as a crash course on all things music related, a lot of which took me by surprise. One of the reasons I most looked forward to revisiting HQ was for the opportunity to see the sporadic “Lobby Sessions.” A chance to see acts I didn’t know I wanted to in an intimate yet quirky setting, the public mini shows offered attendees a chance to scope out their peers, and passersby a taste of the magic BOW mustered up.
Though I didn’t have the chance to catch them all, I managed to see Sarah Jane Scouten, along with Gunner & Smith — both of which specialized in genres that normally I would’ve disregarded (Folk and Country.) But upon hearing the first song from each I was hooked, giving me that first dose of discovery I was promised by the festival. Despite the education, networking and bonding offered up being so staggeringly important and informative, the impact it had on me was nothing compared to the nights where bands who dwell underground resurfaced.
After all is said and done, I thought I would be a bit relieved to have some down time, but the yearning for more new music, photo ops and constant learning is already settling in.
Night one had me running across downtown like a madwoman — constantly checking my phone for the pre-loaded and curated schedule I had made using the extremely helpful BOW app, I wanted to be sure I hit every venue and sampled as many bands as possible. I managed to hit 12 of the 13 venues, accomplishing my initial goal while also catching some incredible performances from local musicians Andrew Judah and Ben Klick. From BNA for Nêhiyawak of Edmonton to Muninn’s Post for UK, indie outfit Kidsmoke, to eventually just throwing my schedule to the wind, which may have been my best decision of the weekend. It led me to the holy stoops of stages in front of acts like Too Soon Monsoon, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Local Boy, (both of
which blew my mind and will undoubtedly be added to the roster of only two other hip-hop acts I listen to) and The Mariachi Ghost. After fumbling through the trial and error that comes with photographing in the dark pit of despair that is the red and blue lights housed in smaller venues, I managed to finally come across that sweet spot for shooting which helped to make my second night a bit less hectic. Starting out at BNA Brewing, KelownaNow’s sponsored venue (shameless self promo #sorrynotsorry). I was serenaded by the angelic again country (I know, I’m shocked too) trio, The Heels. Three beautiful girls, with vocal registers even more beautiful, The Heels stripped down covers and originals acted as a testament that you don’t have to have deep rooted relationships to create musical chemistry. Afterward it was off to the races once again! Akin to the Looneytoon’s, Tazz, I was a rip-roaring through downtown mini tornado leaving no venue unturned. Stopping at Craft to see Aussie act, Busby Marou (who are simply lovely), then to the New Arts Collective for Steph Cameron. Followed by being taken aback by the showmanship and artistry of multiinstrumentalist, NAHGA at Doja and the full on interdimensional hyms of Efflo at Fernando’s — all before heading back to my post at BNA. Upon my return, I could sense there was something a bit different about the performance that was currently gyrating the brew pub — and I was right. Walking in right as Nuela Charles was in the midst of tearing it down, I was starstruck. A warm, full-bodied vocal range, a soulfully palpable energy and a presence the world has not yet seen since the
passing of Winehouse, Charles, was a soul-train on a rampage, flooding the space with her modern motown sound. Up next, the grand-finale, a performance that most of Kelowna had been anticipating since it’s announcement, The Grapes of Wrath. The crown jewel of Kelowna’s music scene, the Grapes have been blazing a trail for Okanagan musicians since the mid 80’s and finally got recognized for it. Prior to their nostalgia dripping set, the alt-rock trio received their coveted award for being inducted in to the Western Canada Music Hall of Fame. Short and sweet the group played a seven song set filled with their most popular tracks. Before calling it a night, I had to spend a bit more time with one of my favourite acts of the festival, Like A Motorcycle. Downright grimey, this Nova Scotian group served up some of the rawest, most honest and wicked shows of the weekend. Playing at breakneck speeds, their trashy tunes, and genuine happiness to be on stage stood out among the jam packed lineup. After all is said and done, I thought I would be a bit relieved to have some down time, but the yearning for more new music, photo ops and constant learning is already settling in. Sparking new obsessions, igniting motivation and flooding with knowledge, the launch pad that is BreakOut West elevated the careers of blooming artists, deepened the musical library of those lucky enough to attend and left an entire city with hopeful hearts that it will once again return (hopefully sooner than eight years in the future.) October 14, 2018
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See more photos at Kelownanow.com
KENT MOLGAT NowMedia Reporter
What topics do you find yourself reporting about? I find myself reporting the most about the Homelessness, Health and Wellness Sectors and covering breaking news happening in Kelowna. If I am not out reporting, I have interesting people sitting on Kent’s Couch for an interview.
What types of stories interest you the most?
What is important to you when writing a story?
I am really interested in people who make a positive difference in the community. I love talking with people about and reporting on Innovation, Health and Politics.
It’s important to fully understand the points of view being expressed. Once I get the facts right, I present the story in an engaging manner through well thought out storyboarding and storytelling.
What do you bring to the NowMedia team? I bring experience, interviewing skills and a deep understanding of how to best use video in story telling. Through my career I have gained many contacts, learned about legal knowledge and have a genuine love for what we do. With a side of humour.
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What is your best story or a story you are most proud of to date? My emotional interview with former BCHL hockey player Kevyn Kirbyson who ended up drug addicted and homeless.
FORMER VERNON VIPER NOW HOMELESS AND BATTLING ADDICTION BY KENT MOLGAT See the Video on KelownaNow.com He once skated with the Vernon Vipers. He was married with a beautiful baby daughter. But today you’ll find him on the streets of Kelowna with no place to live and a heroin addiction. Kevyn Kirbyson is homeless, but he’s not hopeless. Kirbyson might be written-off by some. He admits to selling small amounts of drugs to support his addiction. But listen to his story and you might change your mind. Things went off the rails for him after his marriage broke down. “I was drinking and partying for a few days,” recalled Kirbyson, “and using some other drugs, cocaine at the time.”
17 months later, Kirbyson is hooked on heroin. He wants to turn things around, but he’s struggling to find a way out. “This has gone on too long,” said the 29-yearold. “I miss my family. I miss my daughter.” When he talks about his three and a half-year-old child, he gets choked-up. “It’s pretty hard to talk about,” he told us in our interview studio at NowMedia. He wants to make this moment a motivator. He’s agreed to a follow-up interview in three months and promises to have made some positive changes by then. “The first thing for me is I want to put a roof back over my head,” he said. “I want to get a home and start working on my recovery and getting back to where I was before.” October 18, 2018
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NICK CSEK
NowMedia Videographer STUFF THAT MATTERS
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What kind of videos do you enjoy editing the most? I love editing our in-house studio interviews. We get the opportunity to bring in new, and interesting individuals everyday to cover varying topics in our community. These topics create instant feedback and conversation to get the ball rolling towards a better future.
“We get the opportunity to bring in new, and interesting individuals everyday to cover varying topics in our community.� What is important to you when putting together a video piece? I think it’s always important to remember the level of engagement when it comes to the viewers. When you can convey and evoke emotion in a piece, it connects to the viewer in a completely different way, as if they were actually there.
“OUR CONTENT IS NON-TRADITIONAL COMPARED TO THE WAY NEWS IS TRADITIONALLY CONSUMED, WHICH MAKES IT
SPECIAL AND UNIQUE IN ITS OWN WAY.” What do you bring to the NowMedia team? I feel that I bring youthfulness, creativity and exuberance when it comes to video editing and producing. Our content is nontraditional compared to the way news is traditionally consumed, which makes it special and unique in its own way. We have the ability to think outside the box and push boundaries using the power of social media.
What is one video piece you are most proud of? I am most proud of the RCMP piece featuring Sgt. Greg Woodcox and Cpl. Carrie Seale. We mic’d them up and followed behind with our camera as they interacted with the homeless and less fortunate along Leon Ave. It was truly an eyeopening experience to go through a small sample size of their daily schedule. I felt honoured to capture and edit a piece that displayed their compassionate approach to the biggest challenge our city is facing at the moment.
Check out the story on the following page!
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A KIND AND GENTLE APPROACH ON KELOWNA’S TOUGHEST BLOCKS VIDEO BY NICK CSEK, STORY BY KENT MOLGAT
See the Video on KelownaNow.com This video might just change the way you see the police. In Kelowna they are called the Downtown Enforcement Unit, but sometimes they’re more like friends than enforcers. Meet Sgt. Greg Woodcox and Cpl. Carrie Seale. They’re cheerful, compassionate and trusted.
Sgt. Woodcox has spent five years with the Downtown Enforcement Unit. Cpl. Seale has been involved for seven. For both of them, it’s those times when their interactions with people lead to positive changes that keep them going. “I really look at people down there as if they’re my kids,” said Woodcox who says a mutual trust has developed. “I feel completely comfortable walking down there into the shelters, because it’s just
how you treat people over time.” There are success stories said Seale. “That’s what keeps us going, is the potential that someone is going to come out of it okay.” December 18, 2018
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THERE ARE SUCCESS STORIES SAID SEALE. “THAT’S WHAT KEEPS US GOING, IS THE POTENTIAL THAT SOMEONE IS GOING TO COME OUT OF IT OKAY.”
JOHN LUKE KIEPER NowMedia Journalist
What is important to you when writing a story? My stories need to have a nice flow to them. I can’t stand when I’ve used the word “the” more than three times to start a sentence. I try to keep it classy with some radical vocabulary.
What types of stories interest you the most? I find myself super interested in any stories from the RCMP. From the alleged crime to the arrest, it really keeps you on your toes as a writer.
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What do you bring to the NowMedia team? Rugged good looks, a keen sense of style, endless jokes and the best nose to find a good story.
What is your best story or a story you are most proud of to date? I like to think my best story was “Kamloops’ Jordan Moore running 270 kilometres in support of father and Move for Movember.” Getting to know Jordan and learning that he was running to raise money for Men’s Health was a very rewarding experience. Being a reporter allows me to spread awareness in the community and that case made me feel all happy inside. :)
Check out John Luke’s article on the following page!
What topics do you find yourself writing about the most? Majority of my work revolves around sports, but I’m a sucker for anything animal or environment related. There’s no better feeling than posting a weekly Woof Wednesday!
Photo Credit: Instagram - @2pawsonpoint from the article “Woof Wednesday Vol.3” by John Luke Kieper
KAMLOOPS’ JORDAN MOORE RUNNING 270 KILOMETRES IN SUPPORT OF FATHER AND MOVE FOR MOVEMBER BY JOHN LUKE KIEPER Photo Credit: Jordan Moore
A Kamloops native is making it his goal to run close to 300 kilometers this Movember in an effort to bring more awareness to Men’s Health and the Move for Movember challenge. University of Victoria Student Jordan Moore hopes to run 150 laps around Ring Road on the UVIC campus, which equals about 270 kilometres. Moore explained that his run is about “doing his own thing” and raising as much money as he can for the Movember Foundation. “I’m trying to do my own thing by running as much as I can,” said Moore. “Hopefully I’ll collect some donations along the way and inspire other people to do stuff like this, take their own initiative, and make stuff happen.”
“It’s something that I thought I could do other than trying to go out there and look for a completely new skill I don’t already have. I thought if I could build off one of my own personal strengths that has inspiration to me, I could achieve better results.”
“My initial inspiration would come from three years ago when I found out that my dad got diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Move for Movember asks participants to run 60 kilometers each, a mark Moore will more than quadruple if he is successful. “I know it’s a lofty goal, I don’t think I’ve ever put together a month where I’ve run 200 kilometers or maybe even 150. I mean as close as I can get, as long as I’ve put in as much as I have, and even if I can exceed that goal would be awesome.” Moore added that much of his inspiration comes from his father Tim who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Photo Credit: Jordan Moore
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“MEN’S HEALTH ISSUES DO DEFINITELY RUN DEEP IN MY FAMILY, AND I KNOW IT IS SOMETHING THAT COULD AFFECT ME IN THE FUTURE AS WELL AS A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WORLDWIDE.”
Photo Credit: Jordan Moore
It’s not going to necessarily affect him in the short term, but could get worse as time goes on, and the same with his dad before him who actually died of prostate cancer.” “Men’s health issues do definitely run deep in my family, and I know it is something that could affect me in the future as well as a lot of other people worldwide.” Before being diagnosed, Tim Moore went on a streak of running every day for over
two years, something Jordan has kept close to his heart.
more for men’s health once Movember concludes.
“I definitely wanted to do something to honour him and he is a guy who likes to go for runs a lot… He hyped it up to be going on one run every single day for two years which is very impressive for someone his age.”
“It’s definitely a goal to do this and find other ways to spread this good positivity and good health to people. You can only do so much but it is just about expanding and keep doing what you can.”
Jordan, who is raising money on Team “Flowshow and the Bois,” hopes to raise $1,500 collectively and plans to do
November 4, 2018
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IAIN BURNS NowMedia Journalist
What topics do you find yourself writing about the most? Since joining NowMedia in January, I’ve been writing about everything that has crossed my desk. That’s included hockey, housing, city and provincial politics, road closures and restaurant openings – in other words, the meat and drink of local news. But I’ve also written about particularly interesting world stories, like our monarch’s nonagenarian consort crashing his Land Rover in England.
“It’s one of the main reasons our job is necessary: to wade through murky junk and come out with something easily understood.” STUFF THAT MATTERS
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What types of stories interest you the most? I find it interesting to get stuck into a big juicy story based on an apparently impenetrable dossier of statistics and complicated terms, especially when (as is usually the case) the mountains of information are effectively concealing very important facts. It’s one of the main reasons our job is necessary: to wade through murky junk and come out with something easily understood.
What is important to you when writing a story? The most important thing to me by a very large margin is clarity. It is our job to decode waffle and make complex ideas or events easy to understand by writing in short, unpretentious sentences free of ambiguity. That also ties into another priority, which is to ensure that what we’re writing about is actually interesting enough to warrant reading in the first place.
What do you bring to the NowMedia team? I have a lot of experience of reacting to breaking news stories and working something up very quickly and under a lot of pressure. I think I can also offer something of a different perspective on stories and practice since I’ve worked in a variety of newsrooms during my career.
What is your best story or a story you are most proud of to date? My options are somewhat limited with this one since I’ve only been on the team for a short time, but a couple come to mind. Probably the most relevant – since it links up naturally with earlier questions – is a story I wrote based on a very long and very boring provincial health report. By going through the figures and hacking through the dull technical writing, I managed to find a great angle (about increasing binge drinking) and flesh out the story with other important information that might otherwise have been missed.
Read Iain’s article on the following page!
BC HEALTH REPORT: OKANAGAN LIFE EXPECTANCY LOWER THAN THE COAST AND BINGE DRINKING ON THE RISE BY IAIN BURNS British Columbia’s latest annual health report has revealed a series of problems faced by the province, from alcohol intake to life expectancy disparities across the regions.
Photo credit: Office of the Provincial Health Officer
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The review, announced on Friday by provincial health officer Dr. Bonny Henry, also shows much improvement in key areas such as smoking during pregnancy and diabetes incidence. Other positives are a decrease in hepatitis C prevalence and death from preventable causes.
But the report, titled Taking the Pulse of the Population: An Update on the Health of British Columbians, identifies a series of challenges. It highlights inequality experienced by B.C.’s indigenous population, explaining that they “continue to face health inequities as a result of the social and institutional legacies of colonialism and systematic racism.”
Photo credit: Office of the Provincial Health Officer
More broadly, there are major inequalities identified between the regions of the province.
40-49 reporting considerably lower life satisfaction than the groups 70-79, 80+ and 12-19.
The Okanagan, for example, has an average life expectancy at birth of 82 (below the B.C. average of 82.6).
What the report calls “hazardous” or “binge” drinking – five (four for a woman) or more drinks on one occasion at least once a month during the past year – is also deemed a problem.
Richmond, however, has an average life expectancy of 86.2, Vancouver’s is 84.2, North Shore/Coast Garibaldi’s is 83.9 and Fraser North’s is 83.5.
It is currently estimated that 17.8% of the B.C. population are binge drinkers. It was 16.5% in 2013-14.
Fraser South and South Vancouver Island are also ahead of the Okanagan, but at the bottom of the list is Northwest, Northern Interior and Northeast – all of which are lower than 80.
Healthy eating is also a concern for the province, with the percentage of people over 12 consuming five or more portions of fruit and vegetables a day declining.
There are also age disparities in the province, with the groups 20-29 and
It is now estimated at 39.5%, down from 40.2% in 2013-14.
Another point highlighted in the report is a disparity between men and women, with men twice as likely as women to die due to unintentional injuries or preventable causes, and much likelier to binge drink and eat unhealthily. Commenting on the report, Dr. Henry said: “We have made important progress in many areas of health in recent years. “However, not all British Columbians are experiencing these improvements, and there remain important differences in health status based on region of the province, between sexes and by age. As well, there are some measures where we are actually losing ground.”
January 25, 2019
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