Boat launches closed; don’t tamper with barricades

The City of West Kelowna is reminding the public that the two boat launches in the community are closed for recreational users until further notice with only supervised access allowed in relation to flood response or essential operations.

Due to extraordinarily high Okanagan Lake levels and the damage that watercraft wakes can cause to vulnerable properties and infrastructure, the Gellatly Boat Launch and Casa Loma Boat Launch have been closed, as well as a number of West Kelowna waterfront parks.

Users who require access to or from Okanagan Lake can contact the City’s Parks Dept. at 778-797-8849 to request supervised access.

The public is asked not to tamper with or move barriers or flood protection installations that have been placed at the Gellatly and Casa Loma Boat Launches. Fines can be issued to anyone who tampers with municipal infrastructure or who accesses a space closed due to public safety.

Parking infractions top the list of bylaw complaints in West Kelowna.

Complaints about unsightly premises and illegal suites also figure prominently when residents lodge grievances against one another.

City officials provided this information after announcing bylaw enforcement will be offered seven days a week.

Calls are taken at 778-797-8810 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. After-hours calls will be forwarded to an answering machine for follow-up the next day. Officials could not say how many bylaw tickets are issued.

More than 14,000 tax notices are now in the mail to property owners in the City of West Kelowna. Property owners are reminded to claim their Home Owner Grant and pay their taxes by 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 4. Payments can be made: • Online or in person through most financial institutions. Important note: some financial institutions no longer accept in-person payments or Home Owner Grant applications. Please check with your bank beforehand;

• By mail to City of West Kelowna, 2760 Cameron Road, West Kelowna,V1Z 2T6; or

• In person using cash, debit, cheque or money order (credit cards are not accepted) at Municipal Hall, 2760 Cameron Road, during business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, excluding holidays. If coming into Municipal hall, save time by: • Ensuring the Home Owner Grant application found on your Property Tax Notice, is completed in full and signed. Or, claim your Home Owner Grant online at westkelownacity.ca/onlineservices;

• If paying by cheque, fill it out in advance and make it payable to the City of West Kelowna; please write the roll number in the memo line; and

• If paying by debit, ensuring in advance that the daily withdrawal limit on the bank account is enough to cover the amount owing on the tax notice.

If you are unable to get to Municipal Hall during business hours, you may wish to use the drop box located to the right of the main entrance. Non-cash payments should be stapled to completed forms and placed in a sealed envelope before being put in the drop box.

Current taxes that are not paid by the close of business on July 4, including any unclaimed Home Owner Grant amounts, are subject to a 10% penalty. Those unable to pay taxes in full can reduce the penalty amount by paying as much as possible and by claiming the Home Owner Grant by July 4. Please note that postmarks are not accepted as a proof of payment date.

For more information please call the City of West Kelowna Tax Department at 778-7978860.

Victims and Survivors of Crime Week is part of Justice Canada’s annual outreach initiative ,and the Central Okanagan Elizabeth Fry Society is launching our awareness campaign #SpeakOut to end domestic and sexual violence at Orchard Park Mall June 1- 3.

According to the Society, every 10 seconds someone is sexually assaulted and young women aged 14 to 24 are at the highest risk. The Society says 460,000 sexual assaults occur every year.

Elizabeth Fry’s campaign is to bring attention to the issue of sexual and domestic violence in our community by displaying a clothesline with decorated t-shirts with messages from survivors.

According to the Society, next to murder, childhood sexual abuse is the most devastating of crimes. The trauma of abuse lingers for decades and most of the adults that come to our program are dealing with complex posttraumatic stress. The Society helps them find their strength and start the healing process. The Society says it relies on the generosity of community in providing the vital funding for the trauma therapy program. Currently, the waitlist is well more than 50. To donate, go online to www.coefs.ca.

The Sncewips Heritage Museum and Westbank First Nation invite the public to attend the 27th annual Siya celebration today.

The Siya celebration honours the land, resources, and the achievements and hard work of school children as they near the end of the school year. This year, the public is invited to attend and experience traditional syilx dancing, drumming and singing, as well browse local arts, jewelry and crafts for sale.The celebration will take place today, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pine Stadium, 1900 Quail Lane.

The first Siya celebration took place in 1990, when Westbank First Nation School (now Sensisyusten House of Learning) first opened. The event was later renamed Siya.