The incident occurred on Nov. 25.

Ed Atkinson, manager of protective services for Princeton, said the Nicola Similkameen School District contacted the town for assistance in removing the camp.

He said there were a few people present there when the meeting took place. However, the population of this camp had fluctuated in the past.

Courtney Lawrance, superintendent of schools with the Nicola Similkameen School District, said there was initially a question of whether the encampment was on school district property or municipal property.

Once it was identified as being on school district property, the school district and the Princeton town staff met with those at the encampment. The encampment was near the river and less than one kilometre from a daycare facility.

Lawrance said the school district wanted to ensure those at the camp knew there were other services they could access.

Two people were remaining at the camp at that time.

“The group was very compliant and understanding,” she said. “They were very receptive to what we had to say.”

She added that Princeton has a significant unhoused population, and said she hopes the municipality is able to get a shelter with assistance from the province.

A similar shelter was set up in Merritt last year, with the help of BC Housing.

Atkinson added that there is a high proportion of unhoused people in Princeton.

Princeton mayor Spencer Coyne has also raised concerns about the community’s unhoused population.

“I have almost 1.2 per cent of my population living on the street, that you can see,” he said at a recent meeting of the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen. He added that this figure does not include those living in Area H, which is the rural area near Princeton.

“There’s probably close to 100 people living rough in our collective area, which is massive for a population our size,” he said.

Lawrance added that unhoused people in remote and rural areas have less access to services and support than those living in urban centres.

A young woman, probably in her 20s, was calling to a man of around the same age who was slumped on the sidewalk.

“Wake up. Can you hear me?”

The man was not responding.

This happened recently, at the end of the workday, as I was leaving work. It was less than 100 steps from the door to the office building.

“Do you want me to call 911 for you?” I asked.

“No. He’ll be fine,” the woman said.

“Are you sure?” I asked. “I can get them right now.”

“We’ve got a phone and we’ll call if we need,” said another woman just behind the couple on the sidewalk.

I do not know exactly what had happened to this young man, other than that he had collapsed and was not conscious. However, this location, in downtown Penticton, has a lot of substance use. I see it happening in the green space near my office. First responders are often called to the downtown because of toxic drugs. Sometimes there are serious consequences.

At times, I have noticed people in the area — not medical responders — with Naloxone kits. These kits are used to reverse or reduce the effects of opioids and to restore breathing after an overdose.

The two women with the young man had both declined my offer to call for help, and they had said they would call if they needed care. I don’t know if they did.

All three were young, and they were at a point where life should have been ripe with hope and opportunities. What I was seeing instead was something different. It’s a story that plays out far too often.

What mattered was that a young man was down and needed help. That was all.

In April 2016, British Columbia declared the toxic drug crisis a public health emergency. Since that time, more than 16,000 deaths have been attributed to this ongoing crisis. That is far too many tragedies.

In September 2025, the latest month for which statistics are available, there were 158 toxic drug deaths in British Columbia, or an average of 5.3 deaths each day. Fentanyl was found in around 70 per cent of these cases.

Overdose deaths occur in large urban centres such as Vancouver and also in smaller centres. Information from the British Columbia Coroners Service lists Terrace and Campbell River – both smaller communities – as places with a significant number of drug-related deaths.

Then, my thoughts turned to others who have also been affected by this ongoing health crisis.

At least two families I know in Summerland have lost family members to toxic drug overdoses. One of my relatives who lived elsewhere in the Okanagan was dealing with his own substance use disorder. He is clean now , and his life is good, but not everyone has the same outcome.

He’s one of the fortunate ones.

I do not know what happened to the three people I saw near my office.

Since that evening, I have not been able to stop thinking about them – especially the young man who was collapsed on the sidewalk.

Something needs to be done to put an end to the toxic drug crisis we are experiencing in British Columbia.

It is easy for armchair critics to respond with simplistic generalizations and pithy platitudes, but such responses help nobody and do nothing to end what is happening around us.

I don’t know the best approach to take. And I don’t know how to respond when – not if – I see something like this happening again.

The next time, the outcome could be fatal.

John Arendt is the editor of the Summerland Review.

In some areas of Canada, the snow is already on the ground, while in places with mild temperatures, the roads are bare, but black ice can become a winter driving hazard.

Take time to prepare for winter travel to avoid an unexpected walk in a winter wonderland.

How much do you know about winter driving and other forms of winter transportation? Put your knowledge to the test with these 10 questions.

Good luck.

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Every Fall, by Angela Douglas, is the story of a family’s struggle against unseen and all-too-real dangers.

The story follows the lives of Bree, a former party girl turned stay-at-home mom, and Jake, a police officer whose life unravels after a tragic incident.

Bree confronts haunting voices and nightmares while trying to protect her children as Jake’s guilt intensifies.

Douglas began work on the novel in 2019. At that time, she and her family had moved to Summerland, where she was working as a real estate agent.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she spent additional time working on the novel, writing at her real estate office.

The book is published by Rising Action Publishing, a Canadian independent press based in Ontario. It is available in print and as an e-book. An audiobook version will be coming as well.

It is available through the Okanagan Regional Library and through booksellers.

Her next book, The Bone Trail, will be available in 2026.

Every Fall is one of three titles in the Thriller/Mystery category in the book club awards. The awards have three finalists in each of 13 categories.

This year, 50 per cent of the finalist titles in the Canadian Book Club Awards are independently published.

Of the finalists, 82 per cent are Canadian. The awards are open to authors from around the world but are judged exclusively by Canadian readers.

The winners will be chosen by Canadian verified readers who cast their votes by January 2026.

Paul Rodgers, founding member of Bad Company and Free, was the only Canadian inducted into the Hall of Fame this year.

Because of health concerns, Rodgers, 75, was not able to attend the ceremony in Los Angeles, but Canadian performer Bryan Adams attended in his place and performed in honour of Rodgers.

“Bryan was amazing on so many levels — such a consummate professional. It was an absolute charge watching him perform our song,” Rodgers said.

In his acceptance speech, delivered via video, Rodgers thanked his wife Cynthia, calling her “my secret force and the reason my heart still beats.”

Rodgers, who was born in Middlesbrough, United Kingdom, moved to Canada in 1997 when he met her. He relinquished his British citizenship in 2011 and is now a Canadian citizen.

He was the lead singer and one of the founders of Bad Company in 1973, along with guitarist Mick Ralphs. The band also included bassist Boz Burrell and drummer Simon Kirke. The band has been recognized as a defining rock band of the 1970s and beyond.

A new album, Can’t Get Enough: A Tribute to Bad Company, is a tribute to honour the band.

This album includes rock, country and Americana artists performing the band’s songs.

Rodgers and Kirke also appear on the album.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony can be streamed on Disney+ on demand. A primetime special featuring performances and moments from the show will air on Jan. 1, 2026.

Football in Canada has a long history, and the Grey Cup has been in place since 1909.

The game is unique to Canada and has some important differences from U.S. or Australian football.

How much do you know about football as it is enjoyed in Canada? Put your knowledge to the test with these 10 questions.

Good luck.

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On Nov. 11, Canadians will attend Remembrance Day ceremonies to honour those who served and died in wars and military actions.

In honour of the day, here are some questions about wars that have occurred since Confederation, and the toll taken as a result of war.

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H5N1 is an avian influenza virus circulating among wild birds and poultry in the province. The virus can also cause illness in people.

Critteraid announced the case on its Facebook page on Friday, Nov. 7. Staff at Critteraid have been working with veterinary professionals, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Interior Health and epidemiology divisions.

“Our team and volunteers are devastated,” a statement from Critteraid reads. “The animals in our care are the centre of everything we do, and the emotional weight of this moment is intense.”

The Summerland announcement comes after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency had put down more than 300 ostriches at Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, following an earlier outbreak of avian influenza there.

Critteraid, a nonprofit animal sanctuary has functioned in Summerland for more than 30 years. Its facility has many animals including cats, dogs and farm animals.

The organization has said it will share details about the H5N1 case as information becomes available.

“We want to be very clear: we are not hiding anything from our community,” Critteraid said. “We are simply trying to move through this with care, accuracy and integrity while also supporting our animals and each other.”

Lori Stewart, president of Critteraid, said the incident began when a bird at the sanctuary died on Oct. 25. By the following Monday, three more birds had died. All the chickens at the facility had died before test results came back.

Since Critteraid had ducks in the same building, the ducks were also put down, Stewart said.

The virus has not spread to other animals at this time.

“I did everything I could to shut it down and contain it,” Stewart said.

She added that Critteraid will have discussions on how to create a safe facility for its birds.

This is the first time an avian influenza case has occurred at the facility.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said it is working with the organization on next steps for any exposed birds.

On Nov. 7, a groundbreaking ceremony for the Okanagan Food Hub was held at 15815 Highway 97.

The food hub is described as a state-of-the-art facility that will have more than 2,100 square metres, with 557 square metres of cool storage.

It is scheduled to open in May 2026.

The project is the initiative of LocalMotive Farmers Network Co-op and Okanagan Food and Innovation Hub.

Thomas Tumbach of LocalMotive said the facility is important for the community.

“The new facility will enable local farmers from our region to access new markets, create new products and increase the viability of their farms,” he said.

“At the root of it, agriculture impacts our whole culture.”

The food hub will provide members with access to a collaborative space with shared technology, specialized equipment, expertise and commercial kitchens.

Aaron McRann, Chief Executive Officer of Community Futures of the South Okanagan Similkameen, said the money for this project came from local donors. He said many funding partners have come together to provide the money for this project.

Brian Southern, a food scientist and founder of Indiana-based AgroRenew, has been involved with the food hub project.

He said the facility, once completed, will provide an economic benefit for Summerland. Every dollar invested will bring in $1.75 to the local economy.

He also said it is important to have an initiative that focuses on local agriculture.

“We all want success for this project,” he said. “We want to have a sustainable food system. We want to be self-sufficient.”

Charles Cornell of Community Futures said the project will be a pay-per-use model and will serve as an economic engine for the community.

Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes said the idea of a food hub in the community has been around since at least 2013.

The Okanagan Food and Innovation Hub, Community Futures Okanagan Similkameen, the Ministry of Agriculture and the municipality have been working on this regional food hub since 2023. In 2024, LocalMotive Organic Delivery joined as a partner.

Holmes added that Summerland is a logical location for an agricultural facility, since the community has a strong farming and cultivation tradition.

In addition to apple research and the wine industry, Summerland has also played a role in cherry development. Today, around 80 per cent of all cherry varieties in the world were developed in Summerland, Holmes said.

Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food for the province, said the food hub is a way for small-scale food entrepreneurs to connect with their market.

Since becoming the agriculture minister in 2017, she has cut the ribbon on 14 B.C. food hubs with provincial funding. She added that other food hubs have started without funding from the province.

One of the food hubs, in Port Alberni, has expanded significantly and will have a second ribbon cutting in January 2026, she said.

“What an incredible moment this is for the Okanagan,” Popham said before the Summerland groundbreaking. “This is the moment agriculture has been waiting for.”