LIFE OF WATER The signs are there, if you look, Judy Wyper says P.6
Peachland POST
POINT Peachland has found enough players for team of their own P.8
TOWN Find out what’s going on and where it’s happening P.11
BUY and HOLD
Far from random, the recent Trepanier land purchase by the district is part of wider vision for Peachland parks
By Jeff McDonalD Staff RepoRteR
Few people took notice when the District of Peachland announced the purchase of a piece of land at 5180 Trepanier Bench Road last month for $1.5 million.
The announcement referred to the property’s 1.3-hectare size and relatively flat topography and a great view of Okanagan Lake. It also mentioned a public engagement process that would generate a staff recommendation to Peachland council on the property’s future use.
Darin Schaal, Peachland’s director of planning and development services, suggested a park as the most likely use.
“At this time we don’t have a firm direction one way or the other, but I think the big thing to note is that this property that we acquired has been designated in the Official Community Plan for the last 30-plus years as parks and open space, so that I think kind of shows an intent right there,” he said.
Schaal said the Trepanier purchases
fits into what he describes as Peachland’s long history of making significant parkland acquisitions that become beloved community assets, especially along Beach Avenue.
“There’s been some key acquisitions along our waterfront in the past, showing a lot of vision for where and what type of parks the community would really value,” he said. “Probably one of our biggest assets, and probably one of the biggest assets on a regional level too, are the Centennial Walkway and Heritage Park. So I look at this in the same sort of vein.”
One possibility for recovering the $1.5 million that taxpayers shelled out for the Trepanier purchase is similar to how the district funded the purchase of Turner Park, a large and mostly flat site now under development and scheduled to open to the public this spring. Schaal referred to it as “buy-sever-sell.”
“We bought the whole property, and at the same time we severed off a part of a property that we then sold to a developer
Mark Rucker photos
Peachland POST
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• We respectfully acknowledge our society operates on the traditional territory of the Syilx/Okanagan People.
• Peachland Post gratefully acknowledges office space provided by Brenda Renewables.
Airport flying high with record passenger numbers
Kelowna International Airport broke its own record for monthly passenger volumes last month.
Over 211,493 passengers went through the airport in December, the airport authority said in a media release.
The previous monthly high on record was August 2018 with 201,485 passengers.
The airport also saw a record-breaking 2,133,582 million passengers in 2024.
Increased air service providing access to new destinations, increased frequency and larger aircraft contributed to the increase. In 2024, U.S. seat capacity was up 75 per cent and international seat
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
capacity was up 30 per cent from 2023, the airport said.
Passenger numbers are expected to grow with the recent launch of more daily flights to Seattle and seasonal flights to Los Angeles.
Porter Airlines will begin offering service from Kelowna to Toronto beginning in May.
The airport is doubling the size of the departures lounge and construction is starting on a new hotel and parkade beside the terminal building later this year, it said.
RCMP stepping up local traffic enforcement
West Kelowna RCMP is reminding drivers in the Peachland area to drive safely and watch their speeds following a 566 per cent increase in e-tickets issued from November to last week.
“We recognize the citizens of Peachland voiced their concerns over the lack of traffic enforcement in a recent community survey, and we’ve stepped up our patrols in response,” said Staff Sgt. Brendan Dolan of the West Kelowna detachment in a media release. poSt Staff
Birds of a feather must shop together
Porter Airlines will begin offering service to Toronto in May.
CUPE workers seeking more than district is willing to give in final offer
By Jeff McDonalD Staff RepoRteR
The District of Peachland and the union representing district workers are saying little about negotiations on a new contract.
A representative of Canadian Union of Provincial Employees local 608 said he couldn’t comment when contacted by the Peachland Post.
The Post also reached out to Peachland chief administrative officer Joe Creron, who said he could not speak publicly about where bargaining is at or what outstanding issues are on the table.
“We are working with the union to find a fair agreement that’s affordable for the community, which I believe we can get,” he said.
District staff have been without a contract since June 30, 2024. The next bargaining meeting between the two sides is scheduled for February 10.
Animosity between the two sides became public in December when the union sent an email directly to Peachland’s mayor and council stating that the district’s final offer was well below recently negotiated contracts at other Okanagan cities and towns. The
email included a chart showing offered increases of two per cent in 2023, four per cent in 2024, and three per cent in 2025 and 2026.
The district responded by going around the union’s bargaining team and addressing members directly. A district media release stated that, with negotiations failing to result in an agreement, it went ahead with a final offer vote as per B.C.’s Labour Relations Code. The release claimed the district was not attempting to sidestep the union in its communications with members,
WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED!
only to inform them.
District of Peachland workers aren’t the only ones looking for significant wage bumps. Contracts between employers and public sector unions across B.C. are expiring or have expired, with workers seeking significant increases to keep up with years of post-COVID inflation.
The provincial government will be bargaining with 400,000 employees in 2025. Bargaining began this month with B.C. General Employees Union representing 90,000 workers.
Council approves six residential units on Beach Ave
At its January 28 meeting, Peachland council voted in favour of a bylaw to rezone a property at 4062 Beach Ave. which would allow six residential units to be built on the site.
The council vote came after an amendment that prevented any commercial use for develpment of the property.
No public hearing was required because the proposed bylaw is consistent with Peachland’s Official Community Plan, said the staff report to council.
Pickleball court proposal moves to the next stage
Council directed staff to issue a request for proposals for up to $200,000 to build two pickleball courts at Lambly Park.
A staff report to council said council could consider alternate sites for pickleball courts such as Turner Park, but “the project will need to be paused until higher priority council items are completed and staff resources become available.”
poSt Staff
Jeff McDonald photo
The District of Peachland has tendered its final offer with CUPE local 608.
Park
totem is part of our history, regardless of historical accuracy
To the editor:
Judy Wyper’s diatribe about the totem pole is one of the most tone-deaf articles I’ve read in a while, but at least it made me laugh.
After detailing its history, and the positive impact that Oliver Jackson had in the community, she concludes that all this reflects badly on Peachland!
The totem pole has history of its own. Local history that includes being the signage of the Scrotum Inn (now the Edgewater) for many years.
I like its colorful history, thank you very much and I don’t care to be told by someone else that their history has more value than mine. Histories coexist and one history should not obliterate another.
Pre-contact, the local tribes were a stone age people and little of their history remains, which is sad.
I for one would be very
LOCAL NEWS
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
interested in learning more about their culture, technology and spirituality.
There is nothing wrong with using the totem as a teaching tool, which would include informing the public that it is not a true First Nations artifact, and then showing other artifacts that are part of the First Nations culture. History is not a one-way conversation; we have much to learn from each other.
James Parnis, Peachland
There’s no reason to fear this old hitchhiker
To the editor:
Having lost vision, which meant my drivers license was revoked, to have the accessibility of a bus in Peachland grants me and many other users freedom, options and most times convenience.
But mishaps do happen.
The bus has broken down, not shown up, or even arrived early, when often having an appointment
Streaming service “underused”: librarian
If British movies and tv are your thing, the Peachland Library can help.
The library’s free streaming service called Kanopy gives you unlimited access to the British Cinema & TV Collection, a blend of mysteries, dramas and comedies.
After signing up, Kanopy also allots you 15 credits each month that can be used to stream award-winning documentaries, rare titles, filmfest favorites, indie and classic films and television series through the library app.
Kanopy for Kids offers educa-
tional and entertaining videos on history, science, and language as well as movies, television series and animated favourites.
Community librarian Raphael Desjarlais said the service isn’t new but it’s underused.
To get started, go to orl.bc.ca and choose eLibrary and under eMovies and eMusic select Kanopy Streaming Films.
All you need to access the service is your library card and PIN. If you don’t have a library card, drop by the Peachland branch and they’ll set you up. ••
or specific designation leaves me one option – to hitchhike.
I have hitchhiked only one other time in my life (to a festival) so do not have a lot of experience but I thought it would be easy in a small town. Being a grey haired senior woman standing by a bus stop with my thumb out would open car doors.
Not so. I am never going far, not even to Kelowna. You may be thinking I could walk but often times if I walked I wouldn’t be able to catch the return bus therefore I would have to walk both ways. Not at this stage of the downhill game.
I have always gotten a ride - eventually - but often after funny looks not only from passing drivers but also from the Beach Avenue walkers. By saying I missed the bus, didn’t show up or
that I have an appointment, this seems to calm the pedestrians.
As I settle into the passenger’s seat I ask every ride “Do I look like a terrorist, or a mugger?”
The occupants smile and ask why as I explain how difficult it is to catch a ride. Some tease me and comment how threatening I look with my white hair and aged countenance. One driver said ‘you never know I could have a AK-47 in my back pocket.’
So, I suppose I am reaching out in the hopes if you see a senior (me) with a thumb out, a lift would be greatly appreciated. Oh and sometimes its just nice to have a place to sit out of the cold and rain cause the bus stops do not have seating or shelter and the wait times can be extended.
Carole Chapman, Peachland
NO HISTORY? KNOW HISTORY by
RICHARD SMITH
Cottage estate wineries can thank a Peachland vintner for their existence
In the 1970s an immigrant from Europe started a vineyard on the north slope of the Trepanier flat. His past experience at winemaking was a great asset and that is how Marion Jonn created the first cottage estate winery in British Columbia. His first red and white wines were labeled Chateau Jonn de Trepanier. Today that vineyard is called First Estate and still exists, although the winery is no longer. There are now two major wineries in Peachland and cottage estate wineries across the province all thanks to the first one in Peachland.
Richard Smith archives
A bottle of Chateau Jonn De Trepanier, named for the man who kickstarted British Columbia’s cottage estate winery in the 1970s. While the winery no longer exists, the original vineyard is still in operation.
LETTERS
Resident wants answers about Princess Street development
To the editor:
It is my understanding that when council receives a letter, asking for information or answers to questions, the mayor is expected to reply. I sent a letter to the mayor on the proposed Princess Street development on December 7 but have received no response.
Below is what I asked him in a second letter emailed to him last week on the same topic.
Did he and the other three councillors that voted in favour of the proposed development ever actually come to Princess Street, and view the land site before voting?
Was there a traffic and safety study done on the access to Princess Street, prior to either the Somerset Heights development or the new proposed development? If so, who did the study and when?
Are there bylaws in Peachland that specifically address height and height restrictions for developments that protect existing homes? If so, what are they, and are they being enforced?
Are there bylaws to prevent a developer from varying from the original submitted plans halfway through the construction? The Somerset Heights development was obviously exempt from this restriction, if there is one.
What is preventing council from recommending that the developer change the construction so as not to alter the two homes affected? They’ve been paying taxes to the community of Peachland for over 35 years.
The decisions he and council are making are serious ones that affect the taxpayers and residents that voted for him.
Margot L. Wheeler Peachland
Drought Hill speed limit needs to come down
Collision brings traffic to a standstill in both directions on Drought Hill. How many times have your heard or read about that?
Accidents on the notorious Drought Hill have become so familiar to us that it is easy to slip into a state of resigned acceptance rather than determined action to address the causes.
The causes are many: impatient drivers, winter road conditions, the posted speed limit, poorly maintained vehicles, poor driver training, and no doubt other factors, too.
Of these, let’s look at the speed limit.
The District of Peachland has repeatedly urged the provincial Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to impose a speed limit of 70 kilometers per hour on the whole stretch of Highway 97 from Antlers Beach through Peach-
POLICY MATTERS
land to the Connector, but to date those efforts have proven fruitless.
There are safety and development considerations that bear on the 70-kmh proposal.
With respect to development, the ministry has refused to allow the New Monaco development site to be accessed from Drought Hill with a ‘left-in’ entry for northbound traffic, while a 90kmh speed limit is in effect.
Instead, vehicles would be required to circle onto the Con-
nector and access the site via an as-yet-unconstructed tunnel, possibly of show-stopping expense.
Whether a 70-kmh limit would change the ministry’s position on a left turn-in from Drought Hill remains to be seen.
However the question is moot as the ministry has so far declined to consider a speed limit reduction.
I believe that a 70-kmh limit would help, if only because of the difficult road conditions on that Drought Hill stretch.
Maybe it won’t deter the impatient southbound driver crossing a double yellow line to overtake a vehicle already doing 90-kmh, but it will inform the respectful majority that caution is needed.
Please, mayor and council, keep up the pressure on the province.
Keith Fielding is a former mayor of Peachland.
ROAD SAFETY
Keith Fielding
Hidden life of water gives us plenty of signs to its presence
Water has a hidden life.
Groundwater hides in rock and soil spaces and in fractures of rock formations. Wetlands are where the water table sits above ground. There are clues to its presence.
McCall Lake. Maps show McCall Creek stopping at Turner Avenue.
That’s where it decidedly travels underground to make its way down to Okanagan Lake. It also oozes out of the rocks at the start of Seymour Avenue.
It comes up and flows in the ditch along Princeton Avenue close to Somerset Road.
I knew a man in this same area who owned the rights to spring water that came out above his property.
Each springtime he would run a sprinkler around the clock to ease the increased pressure of the raised water table and springs that erupted above ground.
My neighbour had fruit trees that he never had to water, because underground water did that for him.
One summer, the property on the hill above him began to be developed for a subdivision, and the rock was blasted and shattered for the infrastructure.
The fruit trees became parched, and he had to water his trees. The blasting had changed the underground water patterns, perhaps making the water go deeper due to new fractures, and the free natural watering close to the surface stopped.
That water was underground McCall Creek, flowing out of
When he died, no one continued that, and Meldrum Place had water running down it, flooding onto Victoria Street.
It did that for a couple of years or so before the district made some changes.
If you wander around our hills in springtime, you will be able to find wild asparagus, watered by underground flows. Lush green growth beside the dried grasslands are clues.
Asparagus hides quite well for much of the year, but when fall comes the plant is green much longer than the surrounding grasses, and red berries are clues to help you find them.
A healthy stand of golden
quaking aspen thrives at the entrance to the Gladstone Trails at the end of Harrington Court.
Rainwater runs into a small wetland from the sides of the nearby hills. This is no doubt connected to the same stream that flows seasonally onto the land above the old golf course.
Water used to pour down the logging road, digging huge grooves until one do-gooder diverted it downhill.
I know a spot where there are small very cold springs
bubbling out of the ground during freshet. That’s when the spring runoff is at its height.
It is a special spot to visit and glory over. Perhaps the water runs through marmot or mole holes.
This ebb and flow of water is like our lives and gives us lessons about resilience.
Judy Wyper is involved with the Peachland Watershed Protection Alliance, Seniors For Change, First Things First, and the South Okanagan Chapter of the Council of Canadians.
Peachland Places of Faith
JUDY WYPER
Pete Wyper photo Lady slippers bloom in wetlands in the spring.
Provincial law allows for confidential land purchases
to help finance the purchase of the large flat area that we wanted for a park,” he said.
Peachland has to consider ways to fund land purchases because it’s a small town lacking the deep pockets of cities like Kelowna, Schaal said, and a buy-sever-sell could be part of the public consultation on the Trepanier purchase, likely to take place later in 2025. “We have to be a little bit more thoughtful in terms of how we acquire these parks…what are the park needs, do we need the whole thing as a park, or could we subdivide the property and use part of it as a development lot to help pay for the cost of acquiring it,” he said.
So where does the Trepanier land purchase fit into a strategy?
An inventory compiled three years ago shows the district owns 96 properties of various types, uses and values.
The inventory was the first phase of a three-phase land acquistion and disposition strategy that Schaal said has been postponed due to shifting priorities driven partly by the province’s Bill 44.
It forces municipalities to increase density in order to deal with the province-wide
“More recently, the provin
cial mandates from Bill 44 have been the focus of our long-range planning efforts,” he said. “Over the last few years we’ve also prioritized other projects such as the childcare facility project and the Beach Avenue zoning amendment project to list just two.”
Even absent a fulsome strategy, Schaal said the district has targets in its official community plan for the amount and type of parkland throughout the community. “We’re certainly looking at…where we’ll
need to acquire parkland in the future, what types of parks, and the amount of parkland,” he said.
The province’s Community Charter allows municipalities to keep land purchases and sales confidential until after the transaction is completed, and that’s why Peachlanders didn’t hear about the Trepanier purchase until after the fact.
of the public record. He listed several, including properties at 6575 and 6650 Renfrew Road, where the developer is dedicating several parks and an environmentally sensitive area, adjacent to Hardy Falls, to the district.
Hi Alan, OK let’s try this...
However, Schaal pointed out that parkland acquired through development and rezoning is part
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“In this last example, the parkland dedications were made conditions of zoning adoption and the actual dedications are to occur as part of the subdivision process,” he said. ••
Mark Rucker photo Centenial Way is an example of a strategic land purchase by the District of Peachland that has long since become a beloved amenity for Peachland residents and vistors.
Peachland soccer kids teams well on their way
In the early spring of 2023 we had enough six- to nine-yearold Peachland kids wanting to play soccer (15 girls and 16 boys) that after numerous meetings with neighbouring clubs, we all agreed that Peachland could be a club in its own right.
That was the first time in 25 years, in any sport, that in order to play on a team, Peachland children did not have travel to Kelowna or Penticton or somewhere in the Okanagan to join a neighbouring club.
A number of Peachland adults with soccer backgrounds immediately stepped up to volunteer to coach.
Tristin Ahern, a former Metro League soccer player, and Mark Wilson, director of Maple Springs Bible Camp,
both volunteered to coach their daughters’ soccer teams.
Martin DesLauriers (who has coached and played soccer for over 40 years) and I coached the boys.
The Peachland Lions Club and David Co. Construction stepped up and provided soccer uniforms for the kids.
All our games were in Penticton, which is a hub location for
Peachland POST
weekly games with youth soccer teams from Osoyoos, Oliver, Keremeos, Naramata, Penticton, Summerland and now Peachland.
So you would drive half an hour each week (but no further) to have games with every youth team in the south-central Okanagan, in one multi-field location.
By mid-April the kids were ready for their first game and spirits were high.
After playing a total of eight other Okanagan teams for 15-minute mini games, our boys had done well and hadn’t lost a game.
But what about the Peachland girls?
I approached a Peachland mother and daughter in their car and asked her how the girls had done.
The woman pumped her fist
LEGAL NEWS
proudly and yelled, “The Peachland girls kicked ass today!”
I knew then the kids were going to have a good first season. not because both the boys and girls teams won most of their games, but rather because the parents were involved, the teams were competitive, and the kids were having a blast.
More Peachland children joined in 2024 and we had another fun and successful season. Registration for our 2025 April-June Peachleand soccer season starts Feb. 1.
Randey Brophy has coached youth soccer and baseball for 32 years. He spearheaded the drive for Turner Park to be redeveloped as a baseball/softball/ soccer field in 2022 and formed the Peachland Youth Soccer club in 2023.
Man ordered to pay for fireplace
By Ben BulMer iNfoNewS RepoRteR
A Lake Country contractor, who said they were out of the country and no longer ran the business, has been ordered to pay $5,000 after he had a fireplace installed but didn’t pay the bill.
According to a Jan. 22 BC Civil Resolution Tribunal decision, Sandy Scheiris gave numerous reasons why he didn’t owe Okanagan Fireplace Den $4,400 after the company installed a new fireplace but he didn’t pay up.
The decision said Scheiris and his firm Smith and Sons Lake Country paid a $5,500 deposit in July 2022 to have a gas fireplace installed. Okanagan Fireplace Den came and did the work and then sent Scheiris the final bill.
However, Scheiris didn’t pay, so the company took him to the online small claims court.
In the decision, Scheiris says Smith and Sons Lake Country is no longer a franchise and denied contracting the work. However, the Tribunal didn’t agree.
The tribunal says it accepted that Scheiris may have had a falling out with the franchisor but didn’t change the fact he contracted to have the fireplace fitted. Scheiris went on to say he’s out of the country and says the contract had an arbitration clause in it. However, the Tribunal found that only a verbal contract existed and said that Scheiris failed to provide any copy of a contract or arbitration clause.
Ultimately, the tribunal ordered Scheiris to pay $5,059 including interest and fees. ••
Mark Rucker photo
Maria Bandol photo A pair of swans keeping cool on Okanagan Lake.
Maria Bandol photo A view of Peachland shows snow on the mountains in but none at lower elevations.
SEE ALL PUZZLE ANSWERS BELOW
Jokes of the Week
I gave my handyman a to-do list, but he only did jobs 1, 3 and 5. Turns out he only does odd jobs.
My lack of knowledge of Greek literature has always been my my Achilles elbow.
Reservations or registration may be required for some activities or events.
SATURDAY
50 Plus Centre 250-767-9133
Carpet Bowling 9:30-12 PM
Peachland Legion 250-767-9404
Meat Draw & 50-50 Draw 3-5 PM
Everyone Welcome
SUNDAY
Peachland Community Centre
Home alone class 9 AM-12 PM
Babysitter training 9 AM-2 PM
Paint on pottery 1-2:30 PM
Movement and dance 12-12:45 PM
Kids and parents clay class
1-2:30 PM
Intro to Ballet 1-1:45 PM
Beginners Ballet 2-2:55 PM
Jazz 3-3:55 PM
MONDAY
Peachland Community Centre
Indoor walking 8-9 AM
Learn to make Pottery:
Patio Lantern 1-3:30 PM
Mini batters (ages 4 to 6) 5:15-6 PM
Baseball fundamentals (ages 7 to 9) 6 PM-7 PM
Volleyball 7:00-8:15 ($5.25 drop in)
50 Plus Centre 250-767-9133
50+ Fitness 9-10 AM
Variety singers 9-11 AM
We Art Here 12 PM
Bridge 1 PM
Tae Kwon Do 5:30-8:30 PM
Peachland Wellness Centre
250-767-0141
Ladies Coffee 1-2 PM
Peachland Boys and Girls Club
250-767-2515
Peachland Preschool 8:30-12:15 PM
Family Tot play time 9:30-1 PM
School’s out 2:30-5 PM
TUESDAY
Peachland Community Centre
Flow Yoga 9-10 AM
Remedy yoga (Level 2) 10:30-11:45
NEW Learn to Weight train 12-1 PM
Therapeutic yoga 12-1:15 PM
Pickleball drills & play
10:30-12:30 PM
Friendship Club 1-3 PM
NEW Yoga for your back
3:15-4:30 PM
Peachland Library 250-767-9111
Winter Story Time 11 AM
Stay & Play 11:45 AM
50 Plus Centre 250-767-9133
Yoga 8:30-9:30 AM
Carpet Bowling 9:30-12 PM
Fellowship (AA) 12-1 PM
Mahjong 1-4 PM
Passion 4 Art 1-4 PM
Line Dancing 4:30-5:30 PM
Cloggers 6-7 PM
Peachland Wellness Centre
250-767-2133
Ladies Coffee & Cards 11-12 PM
Mens Coffee & Cards 1-3 PM
Peachland Classic Car Club
Monthly meeting 7 PM at the Little Schoolhouse.
WEDNESDAY
Peachland Community Centre
Indoor walking 8-9 AM
Pickleball 3.0 11-1 PM ($5:25 drop in)
Yoga and beyond
5:15 PM and 6:30 PM start times
Mini kickers (ages 4 -6) 5:15-6 PM
Soccer fundamentals (ages 7 to 9)
6-7 PM
Quilters 8-4 PM
Strength & Stretch 11:15-12:15 PM
50 Plus Centre 250-767-9133
50+ Fitness 9-10 AM
Chair Yoga 10:30-11:30 AM
We Art Here 12 PM
Bridge 1:00-3:30 PM
Tae Kwon Do 5:30-8:30 PM
Peachland Boys and Girls Club
250-767-2515
Peachland Preschool 8:30-12:15 PM
School’s Out 2:30-5 PM
Element Club 6-8 PM
Peachland Wellness Centre
250-767-0141
Tia Chi 10-11 AM
Sunshine Singers 1-2 PM
THURSDAY
Peachland Community Centre
Art group 8-4 PM
Volleyball 5-6:15 PM ($5.25 drop in)
50 Plus Centre 250-767-9133
Yoga 8:30-9:30 AM
Iron & Silk 11-12 PM
Ukulele 1:15-2:30 PM
Peachland Library 250-767-9111
Winter Story Time 11 AM
Stay & Play 11:45 AM
Peachland Legion 250-767-9404
Meat draw & 50-50 3-5 PM
Everyone Welcome
FRIDAY
Peachland Community Centre
Flow yoga 9-10 AM
Remedy Yoga level 1
10:30-11:45 AM
Pickleball all play 3-4:45 PM ( $5.25 drop in)
Yoga for pickleball 12-1 PM
Volleyball 5-6:15 PM ($5.25 drop in)
Peachland Boys and Girls Club 250-767-2515
Peachland Preschool 8:30-12:15 PM
Schools Out 2:30-5 PM
T.G.I.F. 6-8 PM
Peachland Wellness Centre
250-767-0141
Intergenerational Choir 10 AM
Peachland Library 250-767-9111
LEGO Builds 3-4 PM
50 Plus Centre 250-767-9133
50+ Fitness 9-10 AM
Coffee Bean 10:15-12 PM
Chair Yoga 10:30-11:30 AM
Canasta 1-4 PM, Knitting 1-3 PM
For more information search Peachland Recreational Guide Winter 2024.
UPCOMING
Red Tie Gala Fundraiser
Saturday, Feb. 8. 5-9 PM
Our SPACE (yellow schoolhouse) Tickets at peachlandarts.ca
CLASSIFIEDS
Send classified ads and obituary enquiries to info@peachlandpost. org. Cost is $10 per column inch (30 words) with a minimum charge of $10.
Classic car show a little smaller this year but just as electric
By Jeff McDonalD Staff RepoRteR
It’s the busiest day of the year by far on Peachland’s waterfront.
The Peachland Classic Car Show brought some 7,000 visitors to town last year, and organizer Al Wiebe is expecting to have at least that many this year on the long weekend in May.
“If you’ve never been to this show, you’re in for a treat,” declared Wiebe. “There’s an electricity in the air that you can’t get from anything else.”
Wiebe and the organizing team have room for 225 pre-registered cars, which he says is easier to manage but there’s still going to be room for classic car owners to show up on May 18, and there’s likely to be lots of them.
“We’ll leave it open for maybe 50 or 75 cars that are going to kind of roll in off the street, but we’ll close that down if we run out of room” he said.
“If you want your car to be part of it, it’s definitely better to pre-register if you can.”
As well as other preparations, the organizing team has put together a new website at peachlandclassiccarshow.com.
Bannister Automotive is the show’s main sponsor.
Wiebe is a car show veteran, having organized the first classic
car show in Peachland in 1997.
There were 75 cars that year, and the show grew from there to as many as 450 cars in the 1990s and 2000s.
Cousins Park was the location back then, but the local government of the day felt the show did too much damage to the park grounds.
Wiebe stepped back from organizing the show for a number of years, before returning two years ago.
These days the show mostly takes place on Beach Avenue from
Sixth Street south to the museum. Some of the cars will be parked in Heritage Park and near the town’s cenotaph.
Food vendors will be found on Second Street, and automotive vendors will be part of the show too.
“It’s a chance for them to showcase their stuff and make some pretty good sales that day, and it just adds to the action,” said Wiebe.
So what defines a classic car?
To keep numbers down, Wiebe said the show is limiting entries to cars from 1980 and older.
But for him, classic cars come from the muscle car era, the mid-sixties to the mid-seventies.
“I come from the era where chrome was king, the hot rods and the muscle cars. For about ten years, it was as fast as you could go and as much power as you could get out of the vehicle,” he said.
“The very first car that you could call a muscle car was probably the GTO, then the Mustang, and so on,” he added.
Wiebe said the show is popular because it takes people back to a different time, and because it’s a chance to see old friends.
“It puts them back to when they were growing up,” Wiebe said.
They’re going, ‘I remember when my dad had this car,’ or ‘I remember going on family outings in this vehicle.’ You hear all kinds of comments like that,” he said.
“A lot of people in Peachland here come to the show because they get to meet people that have lived here and are coming back for the show, so it’s like a big family reunion, and they have a great day,” he added.
The Peachland Classic Car Show takes place on May 18. Admission is by donation. Pre-registration for car owners will open soon at peachlandclassiccarshow. com. Registration on the day of the event takes place from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. ••
Peachland POST
Mark Rucker photo Classic car show organizer Al Wiebe and his 1936 Coupe. While pre-registration is recommended, the Peachland Classic Car Show will still have room for some last minute drive-up registrations.