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Posted on 11 August 2022 by admin

Kamloops Pride Week is back with brand new, big events | iNFOnews

People walking in the last Kamloops Pride Parade in 2019. Pride Week 2022 is returning after a two year COVID hiatus.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Facebook, Kamloops Pride

August 11, 2022 – 6:00 PM

Kamloops Pride Week is back after a two-year COVID hiatus, and it is expected to be bigger than ever.

The week is jam packed with fun activities, starting with a gathering at the Pride Week Kickoff event at the Riverside Park Bandshell at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 22.

“Some city councillors and the mayor are planning to attend and speak,” said president for Kamloops Pride, Ashton O’Brien. “We have invited a Tk’emlúps elder to do a land acknowledgment.”

O’Brien is seeing more people attending local monthly events with the organization. More businesses are reaching out for partnerships and there is a lot of engagement from sponsors for Pride Week.

O’Brien is predicting a bigger-than-ever turnout this year, but the week is more than a joyful celebration.

“This is a reminder the queer community is here and we are not going anywhere,” they said. “Kamloops is still not a safe place for the queer community, we are still trying to create safe spaces here. Our organization continues to receive hate mail. This is why this is important.

“It is not OK for anyone to feel unsafe,” they said.

Kamloops Pride started in 2013 as part of an organization that has been evolving since the 1990s. Pride Week 2022 runs from Monday Aug. 22 to Sunday Aug. 28.

New to the event list this year is a day full of drag entertainment.

“Saturday starts with the Drag Storytime event, followed by a drag brunch at Match Eatery,” O’Brien said. “Then we will have two drag shows, one for all ages and one for adults only. We are bringing performers from out of town to do talent and comedy shows.”

The colourful week includes a few different dances, a window decorating contest and a scavenger hunt. A variety of vendors are participating.

When asked what the most anticipated event was for the week, O’Brien said the last day is what people are most excited about.

“The parade, festival and an after party will wrap the whole week up,” they said. “There is definitely energy building up for it.”

To view event details for Pride Week 2022 click here.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Ainslie or call 250-819-6089 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won’t censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.

News from © iNFOnews, 2022

Posted on 21 May 2022 by admin

Kelowna’s Knox Mountain Hill Climb sees one of its busiest events in a decade | iNFOnews

Brent Thorkelson stands with his 2007 GT3 Porsche as part of the Knox Mountain Hill Climb, Saturday, May 21, 2022.

(CARLI BERRY / iNFOnews.ca)

May 21, 2022 – 6:04 PM

Driven by the desire to attend events following the easement of pandemic restrictions, thousands flocked to one of North America’s oldest hill climbs Saturday in Kelowna.

The Knox Mountain Hill Climb was last held in 2019 and was shut down afterwards due to COVID-19. Each year, drivers gather in an attempt to beat their own and others records of who can climb the hill the fastest.

For eight years, Vancouver Island driver Brent Thorkelson took children affected by cancer up the hill in his 2007 GT3 Porsche as part of his Hands Together for a Cure fundraiser but this year he decided to race as a participant.

“We always wanted to give the kids the best ride possible… we had eight years of great runs with great kids so we should just stop while we’re ahead,” he said, adding there was some safety concerns.

“It’s a huge responsibility taking kids up the hill.”

Thorkelson grew up in Kelowna and is is still driving his Porsche.

“For me, as well as my brother, it’s never been being first, second or third, it’s about personal best,” he said.

He recommends new drivers to start with an inexpensive car to hone your craft and to listen to other drivers on the hill.

“That’s probably one of the best things about the Knox Mountain Hill Climb, is the people that attend it,” he said.

The Knox Mountain Hill Climb, May 21,2022.

(CARLI BERRY / iNFOnews.ca)

Event organizer Bryan Sulton said it’s one of the largest crowds they’ve seen in a decade with 60 drivers and more than 2,000 attendees that showed up to watch, May 21.

“I think there’s been a pent up demand for people to get out,” he said. “I feel good because we put 365 days worth of effort into organizing it and the reward we get out of it is seeing people having a good time and the money we raise for charity.”

It’s the oldest running hill climb in Canada and one of the oldest running paved hill climbs in North America, he said. The event wraps up tomorrow, May 22.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Carli Berry or call 250-864-7494 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

News from © iNFOnews, 2022

Posted on 28 March 2022 by admin

Penticton dinosaur event has no connection to controversial Kelowna show | iNFOnews

FILE PHOTO – Jurassic Fest is stopping in Kelowna.

Image Credit: FACEBOOK/Jurassic Fest Canada

March 28, 2022 – 7:35 AM

A Penticton animatronic dinosaur exhibit titled Jurassic Quest says it has no ties to a controversial Kelowna dinosaur show.

Last year, Jurassic Fest, an opportunity to come “face-to-face with various gigantic moving prehistoric creatures to see their teeth, see them blink, swaying tails and hear their majestic roar” in Kelowna was promoted on Facebook and scheduled for February 2022.

Those dates have since been changed to May 13-15 but no site location has been announced, nor have ticket sales commenced. Organizers didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Now, a similarly titled Jurassic Quest dinosaur event is being planned at the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton.

“Jurassic Quest is in no way associated with this organization. We have no direct knowledge of Jurassic Fest’s history or management and cannot find evidence of any successful previous events held in Canada or the United States. There is absolutely no connection between our company and theirs,” said Robert Hardy, CEO of Jurassic Quest Holdings, in an emailed statement.

“We regret any confusion or inconvenience caused to families in these markets. Jurassic Quest has worked hard to establish a best-in-class reputation for guest experience, and we look forward to sharing our experience with families across our upcoming eleven city tour of Western Canada this April and May.”

In Montreal last year, Jurassic Fest was sold by its promoter as an outdoor, week-long “mesmerizing, world-class dinosaur exhibition featuring over 20 life-size animatronic, robotic dinosaurs,” according to a report by The Canadian Press.

But less than a week after a parent bought the non-refundable tickets, the Australian company promoting the event announced the venue that was to hold the show was pulling out, leaving parents concerned the show was a scam.

According to the event organizer’s website, the Montreal show is now scheduled for July 22-26. Tickets are now on sale but a venue has yet to be announced.

David Huni, the South African promoter of The Dino Expo, the organizer of the Canadian shows, said in a previous interview with iNFOnews the event was postponed due to the pandemic and they have truckloads of dinosaurs that will be in Canada for the next three to four years.

Jurassic Fest is also scheduled to hold an event in Surrey at the beginning of April at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds. The city, which owns the fairgrounds, said it has signed a contract with organizers and a schedule of events is expected to be announced this week.

Organizers also inquired about using CIty of Kelowna property but have not submitted an application, said communications manager Tom Wilson with the City of Kelowna. No dinosaur event has been scheduled at Prospera Place in either May or June, said Prospera Place director of marketing George Fadel.

– With files from The Canadian Press