May News

Between 50 and 100 people working on projects at Kelowna Mountain are about to receive their pink slips.

Lawyer Garry Benson, spokesman for the controversial multi-million dollar project, says the layoff notices will be issued to those working at the mountain if the Regional District goes ahead and adopts the South Slopes Community Plan.

Link: http://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/74905/Kelowna-Mtn-ready-to-issue-pink-slips

A Belgian national cycling champion and Olympic medalist is showing his support for the Gospel Mission.

Axel Merckx, who currently lives in the Okanagan, will be a guest rider in the 30K Club forth annual Bikeathon.

Bikeathon is a 15 or 30 km ride that takes place June 16 at the Mission Park Greenway. It is a non competitive, family friendly, fun event suitable for all ages and abilities.

Riders can register on line to ride and gather team-mates and pledges to help reach the 30K Club's goal of $30,000. All proceeds from the Bikeathon will go to the 30K Club.

Link: http://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/74903/Olympian-helps-out-Gospel-Mission

The Apex Trail between the upper Apex Lookout and the lower Crown Lookout on Knox Mountain will be closed periodically between Tuesday May 22 and Tuesday May 29.

Link: http://www.castanet.net/edition/news-story-75261-1-.htm#75261

Supporters of a national park in the region outnumbered opponents by a two-to-one margin, according to a 2007 survey commissioned by Parks Canada.

Link: http://www.pentictonwesternnews.com/news/151605325.html

"I'm seeing so many cyclists on the wrong side of the road lately that I am starting to wonder if the law has changed," says a reader from Courtenay. "It might save a life or two if they got back on the right side of the road!" I agree with him because I almost made a hood ornament out of a wrong way cyclist not long ago.

Link: http://www.castanet.net/edition/news-story-74685-900-.htm#74685

BC Parks is getting an extra $3 million for this year's capital budget, a 27 per cent increase over last year. Overall, $13.98 million is funding projects directed at attracting young families, offering new recreation opportunities, improving accessibility and increasing attendance.

A number of the projects are still in the process of being tendered, but the breakdown by region is proposed as follows:

Interior (Kootenay, Okanagan, Cariboo, Thompson): $6.71 million.

Link: http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2012/05/a-3-million-boost-helps-fund-improvements-in-bc-parks.html

Mountain bikers are coming out of their winter shells to embrace another cycling season and add another trail to the region.

The North Okanagan Cycling Society (NOCS) volunteers are planning a new trail called Gingerly in Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park.

The new trail will be eight kilometres, starting at the Cosens Bay parking lot.

Link: http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/news/150089295.html

Penticton’s bicycle lanes are about to get a whole lot busier. May 28 to June 1 will be Penticton’s fourth Bike to Work Week, an initiative to get people out of their cars and onto their bikes in an effort to promote healthy living and sustainable transportation.

Link: http://www.pentictonwesternnews.com/news/153675455.html

Ryder Hesjedal has become the first Canadian to win the Giro d'Italia.

Hesjedal used a strong performance in the individual time trial to win on the final stage of the race.

Hesjedal had already made history earlier in the race by becoming the first Canadian to win the pink jersey as the overall leader, which he earned in stage seven. The pink jersey is awarded to the rider with the fastest time overall.

He is also the first Canadian to ride to victory in any of the three professional grand tour races consisting of the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a Espana.

Link: http://www.castanet.net/edition/news-story-75723-7-.htm#75723