Okanagan Blog - Access Okanagan Services (A-OK)

Tobogganing in Kelowna!

2012-02-07T15:46:00.000-08:00

After a recent snowfall, this family got out their sleds and headed to a neighbourhood park to enjoy winter! What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon in Kelowna. The added touch ... it's free!

There used to be so many places to enjoy tobogganing in this part of the Okanagan Valley, but I suppose growth and the liability factor put an end to favourite spots. As a child, we were fortunate to live close to the Kelowna Golf and Country Club and spent a lot of our time there during the winter months. Back then, the course welcomed families from all over Kelowna. It was common to see skating and hockey games taking place on the pond and the slopes were perfect for a fast swoosh down!

Monica

Season's Greetings from Access Okanagan!

2011-12-25T01:20:00.000-08:00

We would like to wish everyone a very relaxing, enjoyable festive season and all the very best for 2012!! ... which ever side of the country/pond you are on, have a fabulous time.

Best Wishes,
Access Okanagan (A-OK)

2011 Parade of Lights Bus Tour

2011-12-17T23:33:00.000-08:00

Formerly known as the "Twinkle Tour" .... people enjoyed a tour of Kelowna and surrounding areas again this year, as residents best efforts in decorating their homes with Christmas Lights was appreciated by many.

Get Your Skates On!!!

2011-12-03T18:23:00.000-08:00

(archive photo)

The Stuart Park Ice Rink was a buzz of activity in downtown Kelowna today. The rink was opened this afternoon to accommodate residents who came for the Downtown Kelowna Christmas Light Up.

There is not a lot of snow to talk about, but at least enthusiasts and families can enjoy a good day out on the ice.

White Season has Arrived!

2011-11-18T13:58:00.000-08:00

Well, ironically after a long, late summer ... we jumped into the "white season" relatively early this year. After a couple of minor dustings over the last week, we woke up to a decent 4-5 inches of snow this morning in our part of Kelowna (can imagine that to be closer to 6+ inches on higher ground throughout the Okanagan Valley)

Great time for the kids, maybe not as popular with commuters!!!

Trick or Treat? ... Okanagan Style

2011-11-01T16:47:00.000-07:00

The weather held out for a very active 2011 Okanagan Halloween. After mentioning to some folks that I've never known a rainy Trick or Treaters night, is was looking like a possibility around 4pm.

However, it passed very quickly and didn't put the dampers on a busy outing for the kids. Everyone from the little tots to the teenagers put in a good effort this year and the numbers were high!!... we shut off the lights around 8.30pm, due to "out of stock"!

Malc

Kokanee Run at Mission Creek Park

2011-10-13T12:21:00.001-07:00

A week or so ago, we visited Mission Creek Park to see the Kokanee Salmon. We saw a few that had a blush of colour, but nothing like the thousands of bright red salmon now returning to the Adams River in the Shuswap!

Uptown Rutland Scarecrow Festival

2011-10-02T15:57:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed a nice afternoon out at the Scarecrow Festival in Rutland's Lions Park today. Pleasant weather for October and a great day out for the kids and families, some competing for the prize of best scarecrow.

The event included many stalls, variety of foods, stage with live music and entertainment .. and of course, many scarecrows in every corner of the park.

Sun sets on the Okanagan...

2011-10-01T01:45:00.000-07:00

It certainly took a while to arrive, but it also had to end sometime. Yes, summer is gone, with a significant drop in temps over the last week. We did experience a bit of an Indian Summer, with temps breaking records throughout the valley when the mercury hovered at 30c. Kelowna's high Friday of 32.1 C broke the previous record of 27.8 C set in 1990 while Saturday's high of 30.1 C broke the 2007 record of 28.7 C for the same day.

So I guess it's time to prepare for Autumn/Fall, with all the fun chores ahead!! (shutting off irrigation, pruning, draining hoses, gathering hazelnuts ... and my favourite, raking leaves!!!!)

Classic Car Show / Outdoor Movie Night

2011-08-13T16:40:00.000-07:00

A glorious day for folks, who enjoyed admiring classic cars, bikes, trucks ... and even boats!!!

This event took place at Rutland Centennial Park today and the conditions were perfect. Now everyone can enjoy a summer's night entertainment, as the outdoor movie night opens at dusk in the same location. The movie showing tonight is "Hachi: A Dog's Story"

Link: Classic Car Show & Movie Night, Kelowna

Enjoy! :)

Angry Okanagan Skies!

2011-08-11T12:15:00.000-07:00

After almost two weeks of pleasant summer heat in the valley, something had to give ... and BOY!! did it give.

Last night around approx 7pm, the skies over the Central Okanagan opened. From our location in Kelowna, the thunderstorm appeared to build over Black Mountain and the rain came down with conviction. As darkness fell, a second wave seemed to be sitting right above us and was determined to stick around, along with extensive lightning and earth shaking cracks of thunder.

Power was affected in parts of Kelowna for around one hour and certain areas of the city were flooded out after the intense downpour.

It's now "the day after" .. so hopefully we can all return to our flip flops and sunblock!!!

Snowbirds Over Kelowna

2011-08-01T19:11:00.000-07:00

Residents and summer travellers were offered up a treat as the Snowbirds put on a show over the city of Kelowna today. Great weather conditions and lots of BC Day activities throughout the Okanagan have provided a great day out!!

Save those Cherries!

2011-07-26T12:58:00.000-07:00

A local orchard in Kelowna receives much needed assistance from the air, as a helicopter hovers over the cherry trees to help blow moisture away. Excess moisture can cause the cherries to split and can damage the entire crop!

The risk to the cherries comes when they are almost ready to harvest and sudden heavy rain or hail happens. We received a fair amount of rain this past week and some orchardists have hired helicopters to disperse the moisture from crops around the Okanagan Valley.

Sunshine Cabaret & Evening Community Market

2011-07-07T11:11:00.000-07:00

Sunshine Cabaret & Evening Community Market

Happy Canada Day!

2011-07-03T23:41:00.000-07:00

We hope everyone here in the Valley and across the country, had a fantastic, fun packed Canada Day!!! There were enthusiastic turnouts for the celebrations, parades and fireworks that were held throughout the Okanagan Valley.

The weather was not the best it could have been for the season, but at least it stayed dry and relatively sunny throughout the day.

Rutland May Days 2011

2011-05-18T12:42:00.000-07:00

The Rutland "May Days" local event starts today, 18th May 2011. This is a great few days out for the family, with many events including crafts, music, culture, amusements, food stands, as well as a parade on Saturday.

So, if you are in the Kelowna area, stop on by and have fun participating in this community event.

Link: Rutland May Days, Kelowna

Up, Up! .. and Away!!

2011-05-09T21:47:00.000-07:00

This has to be the ultimate way to see the Okanagan Valley!!

An air balloon passing over Kelowna on an early spring morning. Don't be fooled by the snow on those mountains, as this was about a month ago. Today, we enjoyed temps that were edging towards the mid 20's today, as everyone gets into full swing for the season ahead.

A Drive to Vernon BC

2011-04-21T20:22:00.000-07:00

During our drive to Vernon yesterday, we caught this nice reflection on Kalamalka Lake. Still quite chilly for this time of year, but a nice day out regardless. Even with cloudy skies, there is still a lot to enjoy around the Okanagan.

We also passed through some nice scenic spots in the Kalamalka area of Coldsteam ... nothing better to unwind and enjoy the surroundings here in the valley.

Gas Triggers Another Rise at the Pumps!

2011-04-19T18:06:00.000-07:00

Well, it's that time of year again, as gas prices are hiked around the Okanagan, leading up to the early summer months.

We witnessed queues at gas stations last week, as prices jumped up to 131.9 from an average of 126.9 per litre. In the blink of an eye (or one tank up in our case) ... after a couple of cents drop, it's now said that prices have already gone up again in places, where it's soon to be averaging 134.9 across the Central Okanagan.

I guess we can at least be thankful that we are not in the lower mainland, but wouldn't be surprised if we see 140.9 by June/July!!!!

Canada's Best Beaches!

2011-04-14T16:17:00.000-07:00

In a recent public survey, the Okanagan Valley BC, comes in a very respectable second on Canada's Best Beaches. British Columbia as a whole, pretty much dominates the list, with a lot of travellers from UK, Europe, USA & further a field, making it their choice for Beach Life!

Spring into Action!

2011-04-13T18:36:00.000-07:00

Okay, just to get back into the swing of things, here is a recent shot from Kelowna Golf & Country Club in the Glenmore area of the city ... to give visitors a flavour of early golfing here in the Okanagan Valley.

Getting back to things!!

2011-04-13T18:11:00.000-07:00

Concentrating on A-OK's main website, we had limited time to update things here on our Access Okanagan Blog. We will get back in the swing of things in the coming weeks and update things, adding new content as we go.

All the best!

Winter & Wineries in the Okanagan Valley

2009-12-10T16:42:00.000-08:00

The temperatures have dipped below -8C and the vineyards are busy getting the last grapes off the vines for ice wine. The sooner the temperatures dip in the winter, the better for the wineries as there are then more grapes for harvest. We've seen lows of -15C to -20C overnight this past week in the Kelowna area, so prime conditions for the remaining grapes to produce their sweet nectar! Cheers to another banner year for this "nectar of the gods".

Although the area has seen a dusting of snow, we haven't had to break out the shovels yet. We'd personally much prefer the white stuff to stay up on the mountains to satisfy the ski resorts and allow the traffic to move smoothly in the valley! You'd think that locals would become accustomed to travelling in snow, but for some reason the two just don't seem to mesh after the first major snowfall. Big White, the ski resort local to Kelowna, opened early this year and has enjoyed good attendance. To view the Big White web cam... click on the link below:

http://www.bigwhite.com/images/bwwebcam.jpg

AccessOkanagan.com has web cams that display views from Osoyoos through to Vernon, so be sure to check them out when you stop by for a visit!

Autumn Approaches...

2009-10-19T02:25:00.000-07:00

The Okanagan Valley Fall Wine Festival, which ran October 1 through 11th, brought droves of wine connoisseurs to the valley! The festival attracted approximately 200,000 visitors & provided the opportunity to take part in a choice of 165 events offered at the many wineries throughout our area. A popular annual event that is always well received!

Many of us were surprised by the cold snap that arrived last week and broke temperature records dating back to 1972 (Kelowna). Overnight temps dipped to -10C and -11C. The grapes in our backyard certainly didn't look as lush as the day before, and unfortunately, we didn't get all the bounty from the vines. Hopefully its not an early indication of a cold winter to come here in the valley.

A website update... we've recently added a new webcam and hope to have some new photos of the valley uploaded soon!

Rain Welcomed!

2009-08-16T17:12:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago we got some long awaited rain here in the Kelowna area. It certainly has made a difference in how green the surroundings look now! There has been very little rainfall this year in many areas of the Okanagan Valley and as a result the forests are tinder dry, the lakes are half pool and many areas are on water restrictions.

It's been a nice break from the sweltering 37-40C temperatures of the last few weeks. We're expected to return to warm, sunny weather this next week, however, I doubt it will reach into the high 30's again (whew!).

A Sigh of Relief...

2009-07-28T14:07:00.000-07:00

Of the 3 fires burning, only Terrace Mountain is still a concern. Residents of Glenrosa & Rose Valley can now begin to resume normal daily activities.

Here are some more photos from the Glenrosa fire, provided by one of our members, Marie.

Fires in West Kelowna

2009-07-24T15:02:00.000-07:00

Hi folks,

It's been a stressful time for the residents of West Kelowna over the last two weeks. We are into the fire season here in the valley and there have been three major wildfires in the area.

Two are currently under control (Glenrosa and Rose Valley) ... but the largest wildfire on Terrace Mountain, currently at 4,400 hectares, is a strain on crews that are trying to battle the fire in less than ideal weather conditions.

Keep Safe!

New Domain!

2009-04-24T00:16:00.000-07:00

Hi folks!

We can now also be found under our new domain www.kelownaforums.com

This is essentially for future development, as well as enhancing our structure within the main Access Okanagan website (www.accessokanagan.com or www.okanaganforum.com)

Clear as mud eh? lol

Kind Regards.

Thank You!

2009-04-03T16:10:00.001-07:00

We'd like to thank our current local business advertisers, for their support in our forum at www.accessokanagan.com

* www.okanaganheat.com
* www.sterlingadvisory.com
* www.ductdoctor.ca
* www.denisevines.com

Without their commitment, Access Okanagan would not be able to stay online.

Heading into Spring?

2009-03-29T23:51:00.000-07:00

Well, it's almost April, as we are all twitching here in the Okanagan for Spring to arrive. The temperatures tonight are still showing figures below 0c, which we would all prefer to be long gone by this point.

However, I’m sure in the next couple of weeks, we will all be itching to return to the great outdoors, whether it be yard cleanup, scenic drives, hill walking or any of the great outdoor sports around the Okanagan.

We wish you a VERY Belated Happy 2009!

2009-02-08T01:09:00.000-08:00

Hi again folks!

Sorry for the long delay, but we are now finding time to get back to our blog. We would like to start by wishing everyone a very belated Happy & Prosperous 2009!!

More news & updates coming soon.

Kind Regards :)

New Site!

2008-08-29T18:32:00.000-07:00

Hi folks,

We finally moved over to our new forum on Saturday 23rd September. You can still enter our new site through www.accessokanagan.com (which is now a full website along side the original featured forum.

So, if you are travelling, researching or relocating to the Okanagan Valley, please come along and see us! ... we cover all areas, including "Research & Info", "Where Can I Find?", "Real Estate", "Employment" and much more!!

Make us your first stop for all you need to know about the Okanagan Valley!

All the best.

How is your grass coping?

2008-07-24T14:58:00.000-07:00

Hey folks,

Well, it's been a better spell of weather in the last few weeks, but still not reaching those toasty 38c + temps we can expect in the peak of summer.

How is your grass holding up? ... keep those mowings to the higher lengths and give the grass good watering early in the morning if possible.

All the best! :)

Happy Canada Day to Everyone!!!!

2008-07-01T18:45:00.000-07:00

Hey Folks,

Hope you had a great fun packed day. Not the clearest of skies in the valley for the occasion, but still pretty warm in the low 30's.

All the best!! :)

Getting toasty in the Valley!!!

2008-06-28T18:20:00.000-07:00

Hi folks,

After a miserable May/June ... we are finally getting some decent temperatures here in the Valley (or Kelowna in our case). It's a nice 35c today, although they are expecting higher tomorrow (and possibly on Canada Day).

So, whether you are in Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon or wherever, hope you are at the beech or taking a dip in the water.

Here are a couple of pics from around the valley from last year.

Turtle Bay Marina, Winfield

The Old Kelowna Bridge

Skaha Lake, Penticton

What We Have To Offer?

2008-05-29T14:51:00.000-07:00

Our forum members will help you to source the best real estate agents, schools, accommodations, services, recreational activities and general advice available in the valley - and all from people who have either lived here all their lives, or newcomers who have gone through the relocation experience themselves.

Both myself and Monica, and the members of our community, are here to help you achieve your dream of relocating to the Okanagan Valley. www.accessokanagan.com is a welcoming forum, enabling contact with individuals and businesses.

What we are about? ...

2008-05-28T16:09:00.000-07:00

Our community/relocation forum was launched in April 2006, and since that time, we have helped individuals/families relocate to the valley by providing information, helpful links and introductions to smooth the way. We aim to bring established residents and newcomers in the valley together to share their experiences and local knowledge. If you're looking to make the move, or if you'd just like to find out a bit more about the Okanagan - please join our community!

Who are we? ...

2008-05-28T15:55:00.000-07:00

Hi there! :)

We are Malcolm and Monica. We met over the internet in 2001. Our relationship was truly a long-distance one, what with Monica living in Kelowna, Canada and myself living in Livingston, Scotland!

I made the move across the pond in December, 2002, and began the Canadian Immigration process, which was successfully completed in July 2004. After completion of immigration and my relocation to the valley, we realised that others would benefit if the information we'd gathered was freely available and decided to assist newcomers making the move to the Okanagan Valley. Access Okanagan (affectionately known as 'A-OK') was born!

You can find us at: http://www.accessokanagan.com/

Getting started with Access Okanagan

2008-05-28T15:47:00.000-07:00

Hi folks!

Completely new to this, but will constantly be developing it over the coming weeks.

All the best.
M&M