Kelowna Community News

This National Volunteer Week (April 19–25, 2026), the BC Association of Community Response Networks (BC CRN) proudly celebrates the thousands of volunteers across British Columbia who work every day to help prevent adult abuse, neglect, and self‑neglect.

This past weekend, the Honourable Senator Dr. Kristopher Wells, on behalf of the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, announced an investment of almost $600,000 to support the delivery of inclusive, culturally sensitive SRH services and resources to the communities across the country that need them. The announcement took place at the Positive Light Gala in Edmonton, AB, held in support of building a more inclusive and accepting society for all, including people living with HIV.

Two years after the release of her landmark report on homeless encampments, the Federal Housing Advocate continues to urge all levels of government to do more to address the human rights crisis of homeless encampments in Canada. The number of people experiencing homelessness in Canada continues to rise. Figures show the number of people living unsheltered has more than doubled in recent years – an increase of 107% between 2020-2022 and 2024. In Ontario alone, a report published in January by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario identified 85,000 people experiencing homelessness in the province in 2025. First Nations, Inuit and Métis people continue to be grossly over-represented in these numbers.

Marc Lazarus has fostered more than a dozen dogs for Kelowna’s Paws It Forward animal rescue, including his latest Cali, a three-legged Dutch Shepherd mix. He does it “to give back to society and speak for those who can’t speak.” But the Kelowna-based animal charity is no longer able to take in a dogs in need, at least not for now, as rising medical and care costs force it to pause programs.

The Government of Canada is engaging provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous partners and key stakeholders to develop a Men and Boys' Health Strategy. The goal is to create supportive and safe environments, challenge harmful stereotypes, reduce stigma and encourage men of all ages to seek help when they need it. Improving the health of men and boys is a shared effort. The factors that lead to poorer health outcomes for men and boys are complex and interrelated, and don't begin in adulthood. Complete the questionnaire by June 1, 2026.

In Canadian tax law, being a “registered charity” is a mark of public trust and regulatory approval, granting the ability to issue official donation receipts. As the regulatory landscape evolves in 2026, there is growing concern that “serious non-compliance” is shifting from intentional wrongdoing to a focus on administrative accuracy. This trend prompts the question: must charities now not only pursue their social mission but also maintain impeccable internal controls and reporting?