🗂 →️Emergency Evacuation Checklist
🙏 →Donations Needed
The Okanagan wildfire fight still leads the news, but some residents are finally home and two major fires are now being held. Also this week: a one-day support centre, a Canadian drug warning, a local mural map and our improved word game.
The Bald Range wildfire near Summerland remains out of control. Many residents have returned home, but evacuation orders and alerts remain in parts of the region. Highway 97 is open to through traffic, although drivers should expect changing conditions and check before leaving.
There is better news farther north. The Quilpituk Creek wildfire is being held and residents have been allowed home, although some properties remain on alert. The Bradley Creek wildfire west of Vernon is also classified as being held.
Hot, smoky weather returns Friday before a cooler, wetter system moves in over the weekend. A little rain would be welcome. A lightning encore would not.
Bald Range fire status →
Central Okanagan emergency updates →
Summerland and RDOS updates →
Current road conditions →
Coping with the smoke →
Live view across Okanagan Lake from the downtown sails. Click image to refresh. The image updates at the source ~ Castanet
Quick size check: Wildfires are often measured in hectares. One hectare is a square measuring 100 metres by 100 metres. Orchard Park Shopping Centre is about 8 hectares and Kelowna City Park is about 15 hectares. At 18,450 hectares, this fire covers an area larger than 1,200 City Parks.
Friday, August 21, 2026
People affected by the Okanagan wildfires can pick up donated clothing and household supplies at the Kelowna Event Centre, 2041 Harvey Avenue, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Everything is free.
Nearly 50 life-saving or life-extending drug launches have reportedly been cancelled or delayed in Canada during the past year. U.S. pricing policy and Canada’s slower approval and reimbursement system are both part of the problem.
Read the CityNews investigation →
A simple interactive map shows public murals across Kelowna, with photos and locations. It is a handy way to turn an ordinary walk downtown into a free outdoor art tour.
The daily five-letter game has a much larger usable word list. That means fewer valid guesses being rejected, while the answers still have a Kelowna and Okanagan flavour.
Canada’s daily national average is currently 172.7/L. Kelowna drivers can compare that with local pump prices to see whether we are paying more, less, or just enjoying the usual Okanagan “scenic surcharge.”
Kelowna gas prices →
Canadian average gas prices →
*Bonus Bookmark:*
All the news from all the sources for Kelowna.
Normals: High +26°C, low +11°C. | Sunrise 5:55 a.m. Sunset 8:07 p.m.
Friday will be sunny with local smoke, a high of +35°C and a humidex near 37. Saturday turns cloudy and windy with a 60% chance of showers and a high of +32°C. Sunday looks wet, windy and much cooler near +24°C.
Environment Canada forecast →
Daily Forecast Canada videos →
The Central Okanagan AQHI was at moderate risk Thursday morning, but smoke could push local readings into the high-risk range through Friday night. Conditions can change quickly, so check before outdoor work or exercise.
Environment Canada AQHI →
B.C. air-quality data →
FireMap.live → combines satellite hotspots, smoke layers and agency data on one easy map. It is useful for general information, but not for safety decisions.
EmergencyInfoBC → has verified B.C. emergency notices.
DriveBC → has current closures and road conditions.
Central Okanagan emergency map → shows local orders and alerts.
📘 City Payrolls... →
📘 2026 FINANCIAL PLAN Preliminary Budget: PDF File →
📘 Read the New B.C. Budget 2026 →
📘 Kelowna’s 2026 Citizen Survey →
Council rejected a Hall Road-area subdivision, endorsed the first two phases of a new parks plan and received a clean mid-year financial update. Capital construction is also running at a record pace.
Council voted not to advance a plan that would have changed two O’Reilly Road and Woodland Crescent properties from large rural lots to smaller residential lots.
Council also endorsed phases one and two of the Parks Master Plan. The City’s second-quarter report found revenue, spending and capital work were tracking as expected, with no major financial risks identified.
Read the City’s meeting highlights →
Capital spending is up $19 million from this point last year and more than 220% since 2023. Kelowna has budgeted $559 million for capital projects in 2026, including roads, parks, utilities and major facilities.
Court documents show Kelowna bought a large Beaver Lake Road parcel from a company connected to Hotel Eldorado’s owner. The deal closed as a separate dispute over the hotel’s waterfront boardwalk moved toward court.
September 16, September 24 and October 1, 2026
Twenty-one invited council candidates will be spread across three forum nights at Revelry, 1383 Ellis Street. Doors open at 6 p.m., the live forum starts at 6:30 p.m., and the candidate meet-and-greet runs from 8 to 9 p.m.
Forum details →
Revelry calendar →
The Rockets are opening their Young Guns Game to fans, the Lions have won three straight, and the Blue Jays are still hanging around the wild-card race.
Training camp: August 26–30, 2026
Kelowna Rockets prospects and returning players will take the ice at Prospera Place on teams honouring alumni Duncan Keith, Shea Weber, Jamie Benn, Mikael Backlund and Tyler Myers.
The camp ends Sunday, Aug. 30 at 11 a.m. with the DKL Financial Young Guns Game. For the first time in team history, the showcase is open to the public. Admission is by donation to the Central Okanagan Food Bank.
Thursday, August 13, 2026
The Lions beat Calgary 30-26 after Nathan Rourke found Keon Hatcher for the late winning touchdown. B.C. improved to 4-5 after starting the season with three straight losses.
Next game: Saskatchewan Roughriders at B.C. Lions, Sunday, Aug. 23 at 4 p.m. PT.
Record through Wednesday, August 19: 62-66
Toronto had won six of eight before a 7-6 loss to Tampa Bay. The Jays entered Thursday one game out of the final American League wild-card spot, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. beginning a rehab assignment after a concussion.
Prospera Place, 1223 Water St, Kelowna, BC V1Y 9V1.
Sep 2: “Weird Al” Yankovic – Bigger & Weirder 2026 Tour
Outdoor plans may still be affected by heat, smoke or weekend showers. Check the event page and AQHI before leaving home.
Friday and Saturday, August 21–22, 2026
Free live music is scheduled at Kerry Park from 7 to 10:30 p.m. both nights. The weekend closes out another summer of concerts on Kelowna’s waterfront.
Open daily through September 8, 2026
The farm at 5932 Old Vernon Road is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors can see kangaroos, wallabies, capybaras, emus, goats, parrots and other animals. Earlier visits are cooler and usually quieter.
Hours, prices and visitor rules →
Jann Arden shared the happy news with two simple words: “Wife and wife.” The Canadian singer and author married Icelandic writer and activist Thordis Elva, with congratulations coming from friends and fans across the country.
Elva is known for her work on gender equality and the #MeToo movement, and is co-author of the non-fiction book South of Forgiveness. Arden lives near Springbank, west of Calgary, but Kelowna audiences know her well from many concert and comedy stops over the years.
Read the wedding story →
Jann Arden’s official links →
The Grapes of Wrath formed here in 1983. Yukon Blonde began in Kelowna as Alpha Baby, and the city also produced post-hardcore bands Stutterfly and Secret & Whisper.
That homegrown history sits beside a busy touring circuit of theatres, festivals and winery stages. For a mid-sized city, Kelowna has made and hosted a surprising amount of Canadian music.
The Grapes of Wrath story →
Yukon Blonde biography →
August 19 and 26, 2026
Reel Okanagan brings two more evenings of independent films, documentaries, local productions and filmmaker talks to the Mary Irwin Theatre.
July 30–September 27, 2026
Kelowna Art Gallery presents oversized handmade versions of familiar objects by Inuk artist Tarralik Duffy. The exhibit opens this long weekend and runs through September.
Ongoing event listings
The Box Office is a handy local hub for Kelowna shows, concerts, comedy, dance, theatre, sports, and festivals. Worth checking before saying, “There’s nothing going on.”
Available anytime
This free browser game lets you roam across a 3D version of British Columbia as Sasquatch. Explore 30 historic towns, mountain ranges, roadside stops and hidden landmarks.
Bernie’s Cinema’s popular Toonie Tuesday series, with classic and crowd-pleasing films for just $2.
Upcoming Movie lineup: Love Actually, It’s Complicated, About a Boy, Blue Heron, Fool’s Gold, The Devil Wears Prada, Bohemian Rhapsody
The RCA calendar is packed with theatre, live music, and gallery shows throughout the week.
From tastings to winemaker dinners, Okanagan wine events continue year-round.
Browse events → Wine Festivals
Local bands, touring acts, and pub shows are heating up this month.
What’s playing → Live Music Kelowna
South Okanagan Events Centre
853 Eckhardt Ave. West
Penticton, BC V2A 9C4
Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.
Four-time Grammy winner Lyle Lovett brings his Small Large Band to Penticton for an evening of music and storytelling. The Hello Darlins will open the show.
Sunday, September 13, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
Canadian rocker Bryan Adams brings four decades of classic hits to the SOEC. The Roll with the Punches Tour also features special guest Lights.
Friday, October 23, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
Brit Floyd returns with a full-scale tribute to Pink Floyd. The show features music from The Dark Side of the Moon, The Wall and other classic albums.
Home Block at CedarCreek Estate Winery, Old Vines Restaurant at Quails’ Gate and Kin & Folk were named among Canada’s best outdoor dining spots.
About 300 people attended the grand opening of Spice Garden Asian Fusion at 1030 Harvey Avenue, near Gordon Drive. The new restaurant takes over one of Kelowna’s best-known dining locations.
Kelowna-built Happy Hour Compass gathers current specials from restaurants in Kelowna, West Kelowna and Lake Country. Search by day, time or location instead of opening twelve menus and losing the will to save three dollars.
Tastings, winery dinners and summer vineyard events continue across the valley. One calendar saves a lot of hunting.
The Grapevine guide rounds up favourite ice cream and frozen treats from around Kelowna. →
If you’re stuck in the “where should we eat?” loop, this helps. Tourism Kelowna has rounded up 74 local restaurants across the city.
From lakefront patios and wine bar gems to global flavours and casual comfort spots, it’s a solid master list for a great dining out experience.
Browse the full list → Tourism Kelowna
August is usually one of Kelowna’s quieter real estate months, so July remains the latest complete snapshot. The market is moving, but buyers are still choosy and condos remain the soft spot.
Central Okanagan buyers completed 467 sales worth $413.7 million in July. Sales were down 2.7% from last year, while total dollar volume rose 13.8%, helped by several expensive sales.
Benchmark prices were $1,072,400 for a single-family home, $709,500 for a townhome and $490,700 for a condo. Detached homes gained from last year, while townhome and condo prices slipped.
See the July market breakdown →
The median asking rent for a typical one-bedroom apartment rose from $1,750 in May to $1,790 in July. Landlords are still using free parking, free internet and rent-free months to fill some newer buildings.
A new video tour looks at the districts, restaurants, transit work and thousands of homes changing Kelowna this year. It is a quick way to see how many large projects are moving at once.
Buyers still have plenty of choice, while sellers need to price for today’s market rather than the market they remember. The lemons in the listing photos can only do so much.
James Roffel’s videos offer quick local updates on listings, sales, price cuts and what buyers are doing right now.
Want to Unsubscribe? Send an email with Unsubscribe as the title. No hard feelings.
Know someone who would like the Kelowna Grapevine? Forward them the website.
Are you, or someone you know an aspiring writer? Or have a journalism background that is under utilized? Get in touch, and we can explore some possibilities for collaborations, partnerships...ideas?
Note About Advertising: I do not solicit advertising for the Kelowna Grapevine, as it is a passion project...for now. I recommend businesses that I know and deal with, owners I respect and admire, and folks who follow the “right thing” way of living.
We are thinking about a short 3 minute Daily Grapes issue, living on this website starting in September. Let me know if you would read something like this.
Did You Know? Since Kelowna Grapevine’s first edition last November, we’ve put together over 100,000 words in these Friday newsletters.
*”Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” by J.K. Rowling. It is approximately 77,000 words long.
This is your local newsletter, Kelowna. Email paul@kelownagrapevine.ca
Thanks for reading!
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.