bc tourism ban

B.C. government introducing travel restrictions to free up accommodations for evacuees

The B.C. government is using the extraordinary powers granted to it under its state of emergency declaration to implement a restriction on tourism-related travel to areas affected by wildfires.

Premier David Eby announced the order at a news conference Saturday afternoon.

He said the order is intended to ensure sufficient temporary accommodations are available to people who are evacuating or are involved in fighting fires.

"The current situation is grim," Eby said, adding that there are about 35,000 people on evacuation order across the province and another 30,000 are on evacuation alert and may need to leave at a moment's notice.

"We have an urgent need for more accommodation," the premier said. "This order says, 'Stay off the roads for tourist-related, non-essential travel to stay in temporary accommodation.'"

The order applies specifically to the Okanagan region, according to Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Bowinn Ma.

"People, families, firefighters and other front-line responders need a safe place to stay during this extremely challenging and difficult time," Ma said. "Under this order, we are restricting travel to several communities for anyone planning on staying in temporary accommodation."

Communities included in the order are Kelowna, Kamloops, Oliver, Osoyoos, Penticton and Vernon, the minister said.

"Let me be clear: Temporary accommodation in the areas I have listed are no longer available for non-essential visits. If you do not need to travel to these areas for essential reasons, we need you to change your plans." Ma said.

She asked those who are currently vacationing in the area to consider cutting their visits short in order to free up more space.

"I want to thank everyone who has already cancelled their plans to travel to the Okanagan," Ma said. "Your efforts are helping."

The premier also thanked people for staying home, characterizing the order announced Saturday as the formalization of what the province was already requesting when it declared a state of emergency Friday . 

"We shouldn't need an order," he said. "Please, just stay out of these areas if you don't have to be there." 

Declaring a state of emergency grants the province extraordinary powers under the Emergency Program Act, allowing for swifter responses to rapidly developing crises.

Those powers can include restricting travel, forcing evacuations, and even commandeering personal property if doing so is deemed necessary for disaster response.

The government previously declared province-wide states of emergency in March 2020 as part of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in November 2021 following the historic floods and landslides that left several communities under water and cut off highway access to the Lower Mainland.

The declarations remain in place for two weeks by default, at which time they can be renewed or cancelled. Officials also have the ability to call them off at any time.

With files from CTV News Vancouver's Andrew Weichel 

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The central Okanagan is facing weeks without tourism during its peak season after British Columbia's premier imposed bans on travel to wildfire zones.

Walt Judas, CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of BC, says the travel restrictions mean many tourism operators in the region are “taking a hit,” though it's too early to quantify the damages.

“If you look at the entire 12 months of the year, August is typically the busiest month for visitors,” he said.

The ban, which was introduced Saturday under the provincial state of emergency, will be in place until Sept. 4 for hotels, motels, inns, bed and breakfasts, hostels, RV parks and campgrounds in Kelowna, West Kelowna, Kamloops, Oliver, Osoyoos, Penticton and Vernon.

Premier David Eby has said the decision was made to ensure accommodation is available for crews and the 30,000 people who were forced from their homes across B.C.

Realtor Raymun Khunkhun, who has lived in Kelowna for about three decades, said the ban has left streets usually teeming with visitors eerily bare.

“There's not a lot of people walking around,” he said in an interview Saturday.

“It's almost like a ghost town now out here.”

Nearby wildfires have forced the evacuation of thousands in the city and watercraft rental businesses to close their doors, leaving boats and jet skis sitting idle, bobbing on the water.

The Kelowna International Airport has also been cancelling flights since Friday to ensure aerial firefighting efforts go uninterrupted.

Khunkhun said there's not much that can be done now other than “pray for better days.”

“These streets are usually packed, like it's hard single-file walking when you're on the sidewalks, and now it's almost a little scary that it's just empty,” he said.

“Hopefully this doesn't turn into anything worse than it already is.”

• In pictures: B.C. declares state of emergency amid intense wildfires
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Lisanne Ballantyne, CEO of Tourism Kelowna, said in a statement Sunday that the ban will impact the tourism sector, but the current focus remains on the wildfire response effort.

She encouraged people to listen to evacuation orders and avoid impeding firefighting efforts.

“When able, we will move forward to recovery planning,” she said. “We have faced challenging situations before, and while none are the same, we will work through this together, rebuild and also focus on long-term resiliency.”

Judas agreed, adding the ban comes at a time when businesses were already reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, the devastating floods in 2021, and were finally expecting to bounce back.

“Many businesses are still not fully up to speed and operational after COVID. Many are still carrying a lot of debt and and don't have a full complement of staff,” he said. “The industry is taking a big hit once again.”

He added that projections showed the tourism industry's revenue was on track to be comparable with the 2019 season.

“To what degree this will affect overall tourism revenues is difficult to say,” he said.

In the meantime, Judas said the focus should remain on protecting guests, residents, the community and businesses.

The province said the travel ban does not impact other regions, but is asking people to avoid non-essential travel to the central Interior and southeast to keep roads clear for emergency-response operations and other potential evacuations.

- With files from Darryl Greer in Kelowna.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 20, 2023.

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Travel ban in parts of B.C. disrupting tourism as raging wildfires burn

David Eby says the decision was made to ensure accommodation is available for crews and the 30,000 or more people who were forced from their homes across B.C.

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KELOWNA — The central Okanagan is facing weeks without tourism during its peak season after British Columbia’s premier imposed bans on travel to wildfire zones.

Travel ban in parts of B.C. disrupting tourism as raging wildfires burn Back to video

Walt Judas, CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of B.C., says the travel restrictions mean many tourism operators in the region are “taking a hit,” though it’s too early to quantify the damages.

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“If you look at the entire 12 months of the year, August is typically the busiest month for visitors,” he said.

The ban, which was introduced Saturday under the provincial state of emergency, will be in place until Sept. 4 for hotels, motels, inns, bed and breakfasts, hostels, RV parks and campgrounds in Kelowna, West Kelowna, Kamloops, Oliver, Osoyoos, Penticton and Vernon.

Premier David Eby has said the decision was made to ensure accommodation is available for crews and the 30,000 people who were forced from their homes across B.C.

Realtor Raymun Khunkhun, who has lived in Kelowna for about three decades, said the ban has left streets usually teeming with visitors eerily bare.

“There’s not a lot of people walking around,” he said in an interview Saturday.

“It’s almost like a ghost town now out here.”

Nearby wildfires have forced the evacuation of thousands in the city and watercraft rental businesses to close their doors, leaving boats and personal watercraft sitting idle, bobbing on the water.

The Kelowna International Airport has also been cancelling flights since Friday to ensure aerial firefighting efforts go uninterrupted.

Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion.

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Khunkhun said there’s not much that can be done now other than “pray for better days.”

“These streets are usually packed, like it’s hard single-file walking when you’re on the sidewalks, and now it’s almost a little scary that it’s just empty,” he said.

“Hopefully this doesn’t turn into anything worse than it already is.”

Lisanne Ballantyne, CEO of Tourism Kelowna, said in a statement Sunday that the ban will impact the tourism sector, but the current focus remains on the wildfire response effort.

She encouraged people to listen to evacuation orders and avoid impeding firefighting efforts.

“When able, we will move forward to recovery planning,” she said. “We have faced challenging situations before, and while none are the same, we will work through this together, rebuild and also focus on long-term resiliency.”

Judas agreed, adding the ban comes at a time when businesses were already reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, the devastating floods in 2021, and were finally expecting to bounce back.

“Many businesses are still not fully up to speed and operational after COVID. Many are still carrying a lot of debt and don’t have a full complement of staff,” he said. “The industry is taking a big hit once again.”

He added that projections showed the tourism industry’s revenue was on track to be comparable with the 2019 season.

“To what degree this will affect overall tourism revenues is difficult to say,” he said.

In the meantime, Judas said the focus should remain on protecting guests, residents, the community and businesses.

The province said the travel ban does not impact other regions, but is asking people to avoid non-essential travel to the central Interior and southeast to keep roads clear for emergency-response operations and other potential evacuations.

A look at the number of wildfires and evacuations in B.C.

Size of Bush Creek East fire on west side of Adams Lake: 410 square kilometres

Size of McDougall Creek fire in West Kelowna: 110 square kilometres

Size of Kookipi Creek fire near Lytton: 105 square kilometres

Estimated total number of people under evacuation orders: 30,000 or more

Estimated number of people under evacuation alerts: 36,000

Number of firefighters working in West Kelowna: 500

Population of West Kelowna: approximately 38,000 people

Number of central Okanagan properties ordered to evacuate: about 10,700

Number of central Okanagan properties on evacuation alert: about 9,500

Number of structures damaged or destroyed: “Significant”

Number of wildfires burning in B.C.: 382

Number of B.C. wildfires considered “of note” because they are highly visible or threatening public safety: 14

— with files from Darryl Greer in Kelowna

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B.C. orders fire-zone travel bans as evacuations soar

KELOWNA - British Columbia imposed bans on travel to wildfire zones on Saturday after evacuee numbers doubled to 30,000 or more, marking another day of dramatic developments in the province's desperate battle against hundreds of blazes.

The epicentre of the fight is the Okanagan in the southern Interior, where fire chiefs hailed the efforts of an “army” of firefighters trying to hold off fires looming over the lakeside communities of West Kelowna and Kelowna.

West Kelowna fire chief Jason Brolund painted a vivid picture of what his fire crews were facing on Saturday, including multiple simultaneous housefires and a “street full” of homes ablaze.

Yet he said the situation represented a reprieve compared to the pitched battles being fought the day before, something he described as “mind-boggling.”

B.C. Premier David Eby said the sheer scale of the evacuations prompted the government to issue an order restricting travel to fire-affected areas to ensure accommodation was available for evacuees and emergency personnel.

He told a news briefing the order restricts non-essential travel for the purpose of staying in temporary accommodation such as a hotel, motel or campground.

Eby put evacuee numbers at 35,000, although Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma said it was 30,000, with a further 36,000 on evacuation alert.

Evacuee numbers stood at 15,000 late Friday when Eby announced a provincewide state of emergency in response to the fires.

Ma said the latest order, effective immediately until Sept. 4, restricted travel for anyone planning to stay in temporary accommodation in Kelowna, Kamloops, Oliver, Osoyoos, Penticton and Vernon.

“Let me be clear. Temporary accommodation in the areas I have listed are no longer available for non-essential visits,” she said, adding would-be tourists need to “change your plans.”

People already in accommodations were being asked to check out early, she said. The order excludes travel for medical reasons, funerals and a range of other activities.

Eby also said Solicitor General Mike Farnworth had authorized emergency provisions to allow municipal RCMP resources to be deployed to evacuated areas and secure empty properties.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's office issued a statement on Saturday saying he convened the incident response group - made up of ministers and senior officials - to discuss the wildfire situation in British Columbia and the Northwest Territories.

The group agreed on the importance of making additional resources available to both jurisdictions and “working closely with all orders of government in order to support Canadians,” the statement read.

Trudeau also discussed the provincial situation with Eby, his office said in a separate release, noting he pledged to provide all necessary aid from the federal government.

In the Okanagan, West Kelowna fire chief Brolund said firefighters continued to face multiple structure fires.

But he said the previous night's battle got a boost from calmer and cooler conditions.

He said there were “real successes” overnight thanks to the efforts of about 200 firefighters battling the destructive McDougall Creek wildfire.

“We were still fighting tens, multiple structure fires at the same time in the community. So to call that a reprieve, it just boggles my mind,” he said at the morning news conference.

He said he was sad to report multiple structures were lost again Friday.

“Today the fire fight is on again out there,” he said.

“Normally when we fight a house fire it's contained to one structure … but these things are all wrapped up in one and it's an entire street full of houses that's on fire being faced by these firefighters.”

“That's the type of things we are facing today. Multiple structures and all of the contamination that comes along with it.”

Kelowna fire chief Travis Whiting also confirmed structural losses in his city, adding he couldn't confirm specific numbers until after homeowners had been informed.

Claire Blaker came down to the Kelowna waterfront to look across the lake, wondering if her house in the West Kelowna Estates was still standing.

Blaker, a city resident for 13 years, first visited her insurance broker to print out important policy papers, hopeful that she's covered in case of the worst.

She worried about her sister, who lives less than half a kilometre from her, and her elderly neighbours.

“You could see a number of houses on my street just kind of candling up, one house, then the next house and the next house, so I'm not sure how far down (the fire got),” she said, describing what she saw Friday night.

“It's just like, what can you do? And, I don't usually get too emotional but I definitely got some tears welling up at the evacuation centre, and you're just in shock.”

The extent of the destruction in the Okanagan was underscored by Ross Kotscherofski, chief of the North Westside Fire Rescue service.

He said some of his firefighters had seen their own homes go up in flames.

“Even though some of these members have lost their homes, they still remain dedicated to the community and they show up every single day,” he said.

Fires deemed out of control now burn on both sides of Lake Okanagan, including the devastating McDougall Creek fire that the BC Wildfire Service says covers 105 square kilometres.

Threatening Kelowna on the east side of the lake is the so-called Clifton-McKinley fire, comprised of several blazes.

But conditions were calmer than during Thursday and Friday's desperate battle against flames that consumed numerous homes and other properties, including the Lake Okanagan Resort.

Jerrad Schroeder of the BC Wildfire Service described Okanagan firefighting conditions Saturday as “subdued compared to the previous night.”

“Today would be characterized as a good firefighting day. It's a day where we can roll equipment and crews,” he said.

The last new evacuation order in the central Okanagan was issued at 9:18 p.m. on Friday, in contrast to earlier that day and late Thursday when orders poured in.

At least one evacuation order for part of the Westbank First Nation was also downgraded to an alert around midnight.

Saturday dawned cool and calm in Kelowna, with a blue sky visible through the smoky haze.

Chris Durkee and Danielle Mogdam and their five kids just returned to their Kelowna home from a trip to Alberta and thought they were safe from the fire across the lake, only to be awoken by a neighbour banging on their door to tell them a mountainside visible from their yard was on fire.

But Durkee, who has lived in Kelowna for 30 years, said they aren't panicking just yet - but they have a trailer packed and ready to go should the flames get too close.

Caution persisted among authorities too.

Interior Health recommended that 715 elderly residents be evacuated from seven care homes in West Kelowna and Kelowna. The health authority said it was up to individual operators to arrange the evacuations.

Elsewhere, a series of evacuation orders were issued for residents of the southern Interior Shuswap area Friday night, threatened by the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire and the Bush Creek fire.

The Columbia Shuswap Regional District and area Indigenous nations issued evacuation orders for the Scotch Creek, Lee Creek, Celista, Magna Bay and Little River areas.

The Scotch Creek and Takana Bay bridges were closed and Scotch Creek residents were told to evacuate by boat.

The wildfire service said the lightning-triggered Lower East Adams fire on the east side of the lake had grown to 100 square kilometres, while the Bush Creek fire to the west is now 33 square kilometres.

The service said areas under evacuation alert due to the Bush Creek fire “may receive an evacuation order today” due to severe weather.

The Columbia Shuswap Regional District said Friday was an “unprecedented and profoundly challenging day” as it fought the most devastating fires in its history.

A fire in the Lytton area, meanwhile, forced the evacuations of numerous properties Friday, including the closure of the Trans-Canada Highway, while the Downton Creek fire in the Gun Lake area near Lillooet destroyed homes.

There are about 380 wildfires burning across the province, including 158 that are out of control and 16 wildfires of note that are highly visible or a threat to people or properties.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 19, 2023.

Smoke from the McDougall Creek wildfire fills the air and nearly blocks out the sun as people take in the view of Okanagan Lake from Tugboat Beach, in Kelowna, B.C., Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

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Travel ban in parts of B.C. disrupting tourism as raging wildfires burn

Post date: Aug 21 2023

Date: Aug 21 2023

By: The Canadian Press

The central Okanagan is facing weeks without tourism during its peak season after British Columbia’s premier imposed bans on travel to wildfire zones.

Walt Judas, CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of BC, says the travel restrictions mean many tourism operators in the region are “taking a hit,” though it’s too early to quantify the damages.

“If you look at the entire 12 months of the year, August is typically the busiest month for visitors,” he said.

The ban, which was introduced Saturday under the provincial state of emergency, will be in place until Sept. 4 for hotels, motels, inns, bed and breakfasts, hostels, RV parks and campgrounds in Kelowna, West Kelowna, Kamloops, Oliver, Osoyoos, Penticton and Vernon.

Premier David Eby has said the decision was made to ensure accommodation is available for crews and the 30,000 people who were forced from their homes across B.C.

Realtor Raymun Khunkhun, who has lived in Kelowna for about three decades, said the ban has left streets usually teeming with visitors eerily bare.

“There’s not a lot of people walking around,” he said in an interview Saturday.

“It’s almost like a ghost town now out here.”

Nearby wildfires have forced the evacuation of thousands in the city and watercraft rental businesses to close their doors, leaving boats and jet skis sitting idle, bobbing on the water.

The Kelowna International Airport has also been cancelling flights since Friday to ensure aerial firefighting efforts go uninterrupted.

Khunkhun said there’s not much that can be done now other than “pray for better days.”

“These streets are usually packed, like it’s hard single-file walking when you’re on the sidewalks, and now it’s almost a little scary that it’s just empty,” he said.

“Hopefully this doesn’t turn into anything worse than it already is.”

Lisanne Ballantyne, CEO of Tourism Kelowna, said in a statement Sunday that the ban will impact the tourism sector, but the current focus remains on the wildfire response effort.

She encouraged people to listen to evacuation orders and avoid impeding firefighting efforts.

“When able, we will move forward to recovery planning,” she said. “We have faced challenging situations before, and while none are the same, we will work through this together, rebuild and also focus on long-term resiliency.”

Judas agreed, adding the ban comes at a time when businesses were already reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, the devastating floods in 2021, and were finally expecting to bounce back.

“Many businesses are still not fully up to speed and operational after COVID. Many are still carrying a lot of debt and and don’t have a full complement of staff,” he said. “The industry is taking a big hit once again.”

He added that projections showed the tourism industry’s revenue was on track to be comparable with the 2019 season.

“To what degree this will affect overall tourism revenues is difficult to say,” he said.

In the meantime, Judas said the focus should remain on protecting guests, residents, the community and businesses.

The province said the travel ban does not impact other regions, but is asking people to avoid non-essential travel to the central Interior and southeast to keep roads clear for emergency-response operations and other potential evacuations.

Tags: B.C., Lead Story, Wildfires

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Parts Of BC Are Under A Travel Ban & Here's What You Need To Know About Heading West

Canadian airlines have adopted some flexible travel policies.

A wildfire in British Columbia

Wildfires have been raging across parts of Canada in the last few weeks leading to evacuations across parts of B.C.

As a result of the wildfires, the Province of B.C. issued an emergency order asking visitors to avoid all non-essential travel to central interior and southeast B.C. on Saturday, August 19, 2023.

The order also restricted the "non-essential use" of temporary accommodation such as hotels, motels, hostels, RV parks and campgrounds in cities around the Okanagan, including Kelowna and West Kelowna, Kamloops, Oliver, Osoyoos, Penticton and Vernon.

On Friday, August 18, Kelowna Airport also announced that airspace surrounding the airport had been shut down to "allow aerial fire-fighting activity."

"Transport Canada is allowing temporary exceptions so flights can operate from 9 p.m. on August 20, until 6 a.m. on August 21," the airport said in a statement.

It added that it expects flights to be cancelled on Monday, August 21 until 9 p.m. and urged passengers to check with their airlines for the most up-to-date flight information.

Canadian airlines have also been updating their policies for passengers who were due to fly in or out of Kelowna Airport over the coming days.

In a press release , Air Canada said it had implemented a "flexible rebooking policy" on flights impacted by the wildfires between August 17 and September 4, 2023.

Passengers that have booked a flight to Kelowna, Penticton or Kamloops Airports, no later than August 20, 2023, are able to change their flight free of charge by September 30, 2023.

If travellers choose to cancel their flight, they will receive a full refund.

Flair Airlines customers that are due to travel to Kelowna between August 18 to 25, 2023, are able to change their bookings without change fees, though fare differences or cancellation fees may apply.

In a travel advisory , WestJet said it has adopted flexible change or cancellation policies for flights purchased on or before August 18, 2023 for travel between August 18 and September 4, 2023.

Meanwhile, in its own travel advisory , Swoop said impacted passengers would receive an email outlining re-accommodation options or the chance to receive a refund on their flights to Kelowna.

Passengers with flights booked before August 19 that were due to travel between August 20 and August 25, 2023, will be able to change their flights at no extra cost.

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Everything to know about B.C.'s new guidance on travel in the province

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Ready to explore B.C. this summer?

Provincial officials announced the beginning of Step 2 in B.C.'s Restart Plan Monday (June 14), which will allow British Columbians to enjoy travel across the province for the first time in several months. 

"Thanks to our collective efforts and commitment to get vaccinated, we are ready to take another step forward in our careful restart," said Premier John Horgan. "This next step means seeing more of the people we love, visiting more of our favourite places and safely celebrating the major milestones we've missed. Better days are in sight, but we must continue to do our part, get vaccinated, keep our layers of protection strong and work together to put this pandemic behind us." 

Recreational travel is now permitted across the province and the order restricting travel has been lifted.  However, Horgan noted that "we are advising against travel outside of the province."

In Step 2 of B.C.'s Restart Plan, the following restrictions have been lifted and you may enjoy the following: 

• Provincial travel restrictions lifted
• Recreational travel within B.C. allowed
• BC Transit and BC Ferries offers increased service as needed

Melanie Mark, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, said, "Our step-by-step reopening plan is giving British Columbians what they have been waiting for. The best way we can show our love for B.C. is to get out and eat, stay, shop and play. Whether it's watching your kids play sports outside, going to the theatre or travelling to new and exciting destinations across the province, we can finally get out and support people, jobs and our economy."

B.C. prepares to safely move to Step 2 of its restart plan

Public health safety protocols, such as mask-wearing in all indoor public spaces and physical distancing, will remain in place during Step 2.

British Columbians travelling within B.C. are asked to plan ahead and be respectful while visiting communities, especially smaller and rural towns, as well as Indigenous communities - including respecting local travel advisories. Travel manners and guidelines to follow during summer trips and vacations include:

* getting vaccinated;

* pre-trip planning and research before arriving at destination;

* respecting any local travel advisories to isolated and remote communities and Indigenous communities;

* following masks guideline;

* respecting personal space and practising good hygiene, including frequent handwashing; and

* no travelling for anyone who is sick. If symptoms develop while travelling, self-isolate immediately and contact 811 for guidance and testing.

The transition into Step 2 of the four-step restart plan aligns with key metrics for moving forward. More than 75 per cent of adults are vaccinated with their first dose, exceeding the target Step 2 minimum threshold of 65 per cent. The other metrics for moving through the stages - COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations - continue to steadily decline. 

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Provincial State of Emergency Expired: Sept. 14, 2023.

The Provincial State of Emergency issued by the Province of BC on August 18, 2023, expired at the end of day Thursday, September 14, 2023 (Pacific time).

Links & Resources

For current wildfire evacuation information, visit EmergencyInfoBC.ca . For wildfire locations and response information, visit BCWildfire.ca .

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• Information on how to prepare for wildfires from PreparedBC

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Travel ban in parts of B.C. disrupting tourism as raging wildfires burn

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The central Okanagan is facing weeks without tourism during its peak season after British Columbia's premier imposed bans on travel to wildfire zones.

Walt Judas, CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of BC, says the travel restrictions mean many tourism operators in the region are "taking a hit," though it's too early to quantify the damages.

"If you look at the entire 12 months of the year, August is typically the busiest month for visitors," he said.

The ban, which was introduced Saturday under the provincial state of emergency, will be in place until Sept. 4 for hotels, motels, inns, bed and breakfasts, hostels, RV parks and campgrounds in Kelowna, West Kelowna, Kamloops, Oliver, Osoyoos, Penticton and Vernon.

Premier David Eby has said the decision was made to ensure accommodation is available for crews and the 30,000 people who were forced from their homes across B.C.

Realtor Raymun Khunkhun, who has lived in Kelowna for about three decades, said the ban has left streets usually teeming with visitors eerily bare.

“There’s not a lot of people walking around," he said in an interview Saturday. 

"It’s almost like a ghost town now out here." 

Nearby wildfires have forced the evacuation of thousands in the city and watercraft rental businesses to close their doors, leaving boats and jet skis sitting idle, bobbing on the water.

The Kelowna International Airport has also been cancelling flights since Friday to ensure aerial firefighting efforts go uninterrupted.

Khunkhun said there’s not much that can be done now other than "pray for better days."

"These streets are usually packed, like it’s hard single-file walking when you’re on the sidewalks, and now it’s almost a little scary that it’s just empty," he said.

"Hopefully this doesn’t turn into anything worse than it already is."

Lisanne Ballantyne, CEO of Tourism Kelowna, said in a statement Sunday that the ban will impact the tourism sector, but the current focus remains on the wildfire response effort.

She encouraged people to listen to evacuation orders and avoid impeding firefighting efforts.

"When able, we will move forward to recovery planning," she said. "We have faced challenging situations before, and while none are the same, we will work through this together, rebuild and also focus on long-term resiliency."

Judas agreed, adding the ban comes at a time when businesses were already reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, the devastating floods in 2021, and were finally expecting to bounce back.

"Many businesses are still not fully up to speed and operational after COVID. Many are still carrying a lot of debt and and don't have a full complement of staff," he said. "The industry is taking a big hit once again."

He added that projections showed the tourism industry's revenue was on track to be comparable with the 2019 season. 

"To what degree this will affect overall tourism revenues is difficult to say," he said.

In the meantime, Judas said the focus should remain on protecting guests, residents, the community and businesses.

The province said the travel ban does not impact other regions, but is asking people to avoid non-essential travel to the central Interior and southeast to keep roads clear for emergency-response operations and other potential evacuations.

— With files from Darryl Greer in Kelowna.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 20, 2023.

Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press

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Current Road Advisories and Information

This page provides additional information during significant events impacting travel on BC highways.

• Check DriveBC , your best source of current road information
• Check EmergencyInfoBC for information about provincial emergencies
• Check News Releases for Travel Advisories

Although less impactful now, wildfires continue to occur in parts of B.C., potentially impacting driving conditions.  As British Columbia progresses into fall and winter, further hazards may emerge, particularly rain and flood related.

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South Okanagan – Summerland Rockslide

This section of highway was closed Aug. 28, 2023 because of a rockslide when approximately 3,000 cubic metres of material came down.

Highway 97 is generally OPEN to two lanes of traffic, one in each direction, subject to short scheduled and unscheduled  closures.

As part of the plan to expedite the work, intermittent 20-minute closures will continue during non-peak hours (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.), to support additional smaller blast events as needed.

Blasting will make short closures necessary . Closures for blasting can be expected regularly. The schedule is contingent on ground conditions which are revealed by previous blasts, and each blast requires varying degrees of preparation, so blasts may not occur on the same day each week. The public will be notified as early as possible prior to each blast through  DriveBC.ca

Oversize Loads

Daily traffic control on site. Typical travel delays observed are 2-3 minutes or less. Oversize loads are permitted through the site. These loads must be prescheduled prior to arrival with traffic control personnel on site.

Find further information on the Summerland Rockslide project page .

Check for current highway condition and event information:  DriveBC

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Travel ban in parts of B.C. disrupting tourism as raging wildfires burn

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The central Okanagan is facing weeks without tourism during its peak season after British Columbia's premier imposed bans on travel to wildfire zones.

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The central Okanagan is facing weeks without tourism during its peak season after British Columbia’s premier imposed bans on travel to wildfire zones.

Walt Judas, CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of BC, says the travel restrictions mean many tourism operators in the region are “taking a hit,” though it’s too early to quantify the damages.

“If you look at the entire 12 months of the year, August is typically the busiest month for visitors,” he said.

The ban, which was introduced Saturday under the provincial state of emergency, will be in place until Sept. 4 for hotels, motels, inns, bed and breakfasts, hostels, RV parks and campgrounds in Kelowna, West Kelowna, Kamloops, Oliver, Osoyoos, Penticton and Vernon.

Premier David Eby has said the decision was made to ensure accommodation is available for crews and the 30,000 people who were forced from their homes across B.C.

Realtor Raymun Khunkhun, who has lived in Kelowna for about three decades, said the ban has left streets usually teeming with visitors eerily bare.

“There’s not a lot of people walking around,” he said in an interview Saturday.

“It’s almost like a ghost town now out here.”

Nearby wildfires have forced the evacuation of thousands in the city and watercraft rental businesses to close their doors, leaving boats and jet skis sitting idle, bobbing on the water.

The Kelowna International Airport has also been cancelling flights since Friday to ensure aerial firefighting efforts go uninterrupted.

Khunkhun said there’s not much that can be done now other than “pray for better days.”

“These streets are usually packed, like it’s hard single-file walking when you’re on the sidewalks, and now it’s almost a little scary that it’s just empty,” he said.

“Hopefully this doesn’t turn into anything worse than it already is.”

Lisanne Ballantyne, CEO of Tourism Kelowna, said in a statement Sunday that the ban will impact the tourism sector, but the current focus remains on the wildfire response effort.

She encouraged people to listen to evacuation orders and avoid impeding firefighting efforts.

“When able, we will move forward to recovery planning,” she said. “We have faced challenging situations before, and while none are the same, we will work through this together, rebuild and also focus on long-term resiliency.”

Judas agreed, adding the ban comes at a time when businesses were already reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, the devastating floods in 2021, and were finally expecting to bounce back.

“Many businesses are still not fully up to speed and operational after COVID. Many are still carrying a lot of debt and and don’t have a full complement of staff,” he said. “The industry is taking a big hit once again.”

He added that projections showed the tourism industry’s revenue was on track to be comparable with the 2019 season.

“To what degree this will affect overall tourism revenues is difficult to say,” he said.

In the meantime, Judas said the focus should remain on protecting guests, residents, the community and businesses.

The province said the travel ban does not impact other regions, but is asking people to avoid non-essential travel to the central Interior and southeast to keep roads clear for emergency-response operations and other potential evacuations.

— With files from Darryl Greer in Kelowna.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 20, 2023.

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Translations

News release, media contacts, jimmy smith, ministry of public safety and solicitor general, ministry of health, ministry of mental health and addictions, meet the team.

• Cabinet Ministers
• Deputy Ministers
• Cabinet Committees

B.C. is taking action to make illicit drug use illegal in all public spaces, including inside hospitals, on transit and in parks.

It’s part of several new measures introduced by the Province, focused on providing police with more tools to address public safety while offering support and access to treatment for people living with addictions.

“Keeping people safe is our highest priority. While we are caring and compassionate for those struggling with addiction, we do not accept street disorder that makes communities feel unsafe,” said Premier David Eby. “We’re taking action to make sure police have the tools they need to ensure safe and comfortable communities for everyone as we expand treatment options so people can stay alive and get better.”

The Province is working with the federal government to make changes to the legality of possessing drugs in B.C. This will provide police with the power to enforce against drug use in all public places, including hospitals, restaurants, transit, parks and beaches. Guidance will be given to police to only arrest for simple possession of illicit drugs in exceptional circumstances.

When police are called to a scene where illegal and dangerous drug use is taking place, they will have the ability to compel the person to leave the area, seize the drugs when necessary or arrest the person, if required.

This change would not recriminalize drug possession in a private residence or place where someone is legally sheltering, or at overdose prevention sites and drug checking locations.

“Our communities are facing big challenges. People are dying from deadly street drugs and we see the issues with public use and disorder on our streets,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “As we continue to go after the gangs and organized criminals who are making and trafficking toxic drugs, we’re taking action now to make it illegal to use drugs in public spaces, and to expand access to treatment to help people who need it most.”  

The government will also improve safety and security for patients, visitors and health-care workers in hospitals. This includes a single policy prohibiting street-drug possession or use and additional measures to increase enforcement, support patients with addictions, and encourage them toward treatment and recovery.

Going forward, when patients are admitted to hospital, they will be asked if they experience any substance-use challenges. Patients will receive active support and medical oversight for addiction care to ensure people with addictions receive personalized care while their medical issues are being treated in hospital.

“Today, we are taking immediate action to make hospitals safer and ensuring policies are consistent and strictly enforced through additional security, public communication and staff supports,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “The action plan launching today will improve how patients with addictions are supported while they need hospital care, while preventing others from being exposed to the second-hand effects of illicit drug use.”

The Province is also expanding access to treatment for people struggling with addiction, including those who are most at risk of overdose by:

• increasing the availability and accessibility of opioid-agonist treatment (OAT), a medication-assisted treatment for people who have an opioid-use disorder, by implementing a provincewide virtual system;
• integrating addictions services with health care, housing and related services; and
• working with experts to develop methods to track prescribed alternatives with the aim of identifying and preventing diversion.

“People across the country are dying from poisoned drugs and B.C. is no exception,” said Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.  “Addiction is a health-care issue, not a criminal one, and we’re going to keep doing everything we can to save lives and connect people to treatment.”

Government is also investing $25 million to support and expand the Hope to Health Research and Innovation Centre located in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, to provide intensive primary care and other services to more people with highly complex medical and psychosocial needs. The innovative Hope to Health model of care is led by Dr. Julio Montaner, a world-recognized physician and researcher in HIV, and in the provision of comprehensive care to vulnerable and marginalized populations. This initiative will lay the foundation for potential expansion to other communities in B.C.

Quick Facts:

• B.C.’s three-year exemption under section 56(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to decriminalize people who use drugs was first requested on Nov. 1, 2021, and enacted on Jan. 31, 2023.
• Since 2017, the Province has opened 600 publicly funded substance-use treatment beds throughout B.C.
• Since 2019, the Province has invested $35 million to support 49 community counselling agencies provincewide, and more than 250,000 free or low-cost counselling sessions have been delivered to individuals, couples and families.
• There are currently 50 overdose prevention sites around the province to provide people who use drugs with the tools and supports they need to use safely and connect to care. 
• Almost half (24) of these sites provide inhalation services.

Three backgrounders follow.

Backgrounders

Stopping illegal drug use in all public places.

The B.C. government is currently working with Health Canada to urgently change the decriminalization policy to stop drug use in public and has requested an amendment to its s.56 exemption to exclude all public places. That includes a place to which the public has access as a right or by invitation, express or implied, whether or not a fee is charged for entry, and on public transit.

Importantly, the Province is working to ensure the exemption continues to apply to private residences, healthcare clinics that provide outpatient addictions services such as Rapid Access Addictions Clinics, sanctioned overdose prevention sites, including those operated by housing providers, as well as drug checking sites and to people lawfully sheltering overnight.  

The Province is also working with police on guidance to ensure that people who merely possess drugs but are not threatening public safety, their own safety or causing a disturbance, will not be subject to arrest or charge.  

In November 2023, the B.C. government passed the Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act (RPCISA). The intention of the act was to provide law enforcement with more tools to address instances of inappropriate drug use in a variety of public places, such as parks, beaches, sports fields and community recreation areas, as well as near business and residential building entrances and bus stops. This legislation is currently being challenged in court.

Opioid agonist treatment

Opioid agonist treatment (OAT) is a medication-assisted treatment for people who have an opioid-use disorder. OAT uses medications, such as Suboxone and methadone, to treat opioid addiction, reduce drug-related harms and support long-term recovery.

The treatment helps people who live with opioid addiction stabilize their lives, manage withdrawal symptoms and work toward recovery. It can lower the risk of drug-related harms, including hepatitis C and HIV transmission as well as fatal overdose. It can also help people stay in treatment and engage in their care.

Since 2017, the Province has been taking action to reduce barriers and expand access to OAT:

• There are approximately 2,000 clinicians prescribing OAT in the province, an increase from 773 in June 2017.
• In 2021, BC allowed registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses to be trained to prescribe this treatment – a first in Canada. More than 280 nurses have enrolled in this training and to date, more than 170 have completed their training and are qualified to be OAT prescribers.
• In 2023, the Province made OAT free for B.C. residents with MSP coverage by adding OAT medications to Plan Z, the Province’s universal coverage plan.

As of December 2023, 24,232 people were receiving OAT – this is just over 30% of the people with a diagnosed opioid use disorder in B.C. Barriers continue to exist for some people to access OAT, including a lack of prescribers in many rural communities.

Creating a provincewide system to provide virtual access to OAT will reduce barriers for people no matter where in B.C. they live.

Taking action to make hospitals safer, better manage addictions for patients

The Ministry of Health is developing a consistent approach to prevent illicit drug use in B.C. hospitals through universal policies, practice requirements, and appropriate enforcement approaches. Working in partnership and consultation with First Nation and Indigenous partners, health-care providers, professional associations, health-care unions, patients and communities, the actions below outline elements of a policy framework that will be implemented across all hospitals: Action 1. Take consistent action across B.C. to prohibit drug possession, use, and purchasing of illicit drugs in hospitals or hospital sites:   

• This will be made explicit to all patients and visitors in outpatient clinics, emergency departments, and during admission to inpatient care through a single policy prohibiting street drug possession or use, along with a no tolerance policy for drug trafficking in hospitals.  
• Non-compliance will be addressed by hospital security and through an escalation process that could include discharge (with support) from the hospital and/or police involvement.  

Action 2. Improve how patients with substance or opioid-use illnesses are supported toward treatment and recovery services:

• Hospitals will expand and develop active medical oversight and addictions support to better manage patient addictions while the patient is in hospital, and improve discharge planning for post-discharge treatment in the community.
• Patients will be provided with post-discharge care and ongoing support and treatment. Hospitals will establish expedited referral pathways to community-based addictions care and treatment.

Action 3. Add in-person addiction specialists to large hospitals and virtual clinical consultation in smaller regional and rural hospitals.

• Addiction and mental-health support teams will be added in major hospital sites for immediate response and engagement with patients with severe addictions or mental-health issues. 
• These teams will also provide inpatient care management services related to managing addiction and/or mental-health illnesses while in care and be responsible for post-discharge care co-ordination related to severe addiction and or mental-health issues.

Action 4. Remain focused on a culturally safe approach to implementing change.

• Transitioning to a universal policy will be undertaken in partnership and consultation with local and regional First Nations and Métis leadership to ensure clear plans, processes and pathways are established to prevent Indigenous people from further harm and marginalization, while ensuring critical supports for Indigenous patients accessing and receiving quality and culturally safe care throughout their recovery journey.
• Treatment services rooted in Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing are critical, alongside harm reduction and mental-health services that support individuals where they are at. The integration of cultural safety and humility and Indigenous-specific anti-racism into hospitals or hospital sites will be essential to ensure Indigenous patients receive the care and wraparound supports needed and is reflective of the region and work underway with Indigenous partners and local/regional communities since the In Plain Sight report was released. 

Action 5. Actively address unacceptable behaviour such as aggression, noncompliance with the policy, and drug dealing in hospitals through additional security.

• The safety of staff and patients is of the utmost importance. Security capacity reviews will be completed at all hospital sites to ensure adequate security capacity is available for rapid response and ensuring the safety of patients and health workers.
• Where it is deemed necessary, additional security will be added to quickly respond to any incidents involving possession or use of drugs, aggressive or violent behavior.  

Action 6. Introduce improved education and awareness efforts to better equip and support staff facing unsafe situations.

• While the intention of the work above is to eliminate exposure to illicit substances, health-care workers will have improved training and access to the necessary protective equipment in the event of suspected exposure to the secondhand effect of drug use.
• Increased staff education will include: enhanced understanding of addictions and addiction treatment, trauma-informed care, cultural safety supports for Indigenous patients, training to manage difficult conversations, and de-escalation strategies when confronted with aggressive behaviour.

Action 7. Ensure existing overdose prevention (OPS) sites are working for people

• Existing overdose prevention sites will continue to operate.
• Use of an OPS by an inpatient will be restricted to only when expressly stated that it is permissible to do so as part of an addiction’s treatment care plan.
• The Province is currently taking action to establish minimum service standards for overdose prevention sites, as recommended recently by the auditor general to support consistent, quality care for people and a safe environment for workers. These standards will establish baseline operational and facility requirements for all provincially funded, fixed and mobile, overdose prevention services in B.C.
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Tourism groups worry as B.C.'s short-term rental rules change

Communities in the tourism-heavy okanagan are among those facing new limits on airbnb, vrbo rentals.

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Ralph and Tina Gerlitsch say they've had to rethink their retirement plans due to B.C.'s new short-term rental regulations.

The couple own a bungalow on a leafy residential street in the Glenmore neighbourhood of Kelowna, B.C., and, for the last couple of years, they've also been running a seasonal Airbnb in a downtown Kelowna highrise.

They would rent the apartment to tourists in the summer and students during the academic year. 

"We ran [it] for two years and it was wonderful," Ralph Gerlitsch said.

However, starting May 1, new provincial rules will make such enterprises illegal.

B.C. announces new rules around short-term rentals to take effect May 1

In many B.C. communities , including Kelowna, short-term rentals will only be allowed in an operator's principal residence, and one secondary suite or carriage house on the same property. 

The Gerlitsches say their Airbnb is one of those that will have to shut down. 

"This was our Hail Mary for retirement. It really hurts when somebody at a desk, in government, can tell me what I can do with my property," Ralph said. 

"Don't ask me if I'm angry, but I certainly am."

While the provincial government hopes the rule changes will free up much-needed housing for long-term residents, critics say they are also creating uncertainty for the broader tourism industry with some worrying the Okanagan will become a destination reserved for the wealthy, and businesses will suffer in the process. 

Uncertainty for tourists and tourism

Known for its lakes, beaches and wineries, the Okanagan Valley attracts crowds each year, with more than two million overnight trips to the Kelowna area alone in 2023, according to Tourism Kelowna statistics.

The same agency says  the tourism industry has an annual economic impact of $2.4 billion in the Central Okanagan.

That means many businesses have a financial stake in tourists finding a place to stay — and some feel as if the short-term rental rules are limiting affordable accommodation options. 

"Our hands are really tied unless they suddenly open up a bunch of brand new hotels at a decent price," said Krystina Rossworm, whose company offers private tours of wineries and adventure spots in the Lake Country region. 

"I am afraid of what's going to happen and I feel very powerless against this type of decision."

Tourists themselves have been left uncertain about what the changes mean for them. 

Jackie Roberts of Lacombe, Alta., booked accommodation in Kelowna this summer through Airbnb.

Now she's unsure whether the booking will be able to go ahead. 

When she went to look for alternative places she ran into issues with both availability and price.

"I know it is going to deter people from going if, one, there is no vacancy and, two, we are paying double the price or more to find a place that is available," Roberts said. 

Plenty of available rooms: hotel director

An executive in the local hotel industry disagrees that tourist accommodation will be a problem under the new regulations. 

Rudolf Heider, director of hospitality for Argus Properties, which has four hotels in the Kelowna area, says hotels have plenty of space to cope with demand. 

Heider said in 2023 hotel occupancy in Kelowna was 59 per cent, lower than the 69 per cent occupancy provincewide.

He believes the regulation can actually help the tourism industry by helping to open up housing for staff to live in. 

"We have, over the last couple of years, seen quite a few managers … leave Kelowna and go to other places [like] Kamloops, Trail, etc., because housing is just not affordable any more, or not available," he said. 

Asked if the price of hotel rooms is going to increase because hotels have less competition, Heider said he doesn't think his hotels compete that much with Airbnb.

"I don't feel it will be a huge increase in the pricing," Heider said.

"I don't think it will bring that much demand that you can really push pricing and I think we have room even during those [peak] months to really take the additional demand." 

More hotels being built

Data from Tourism Kelowna shows the area's hotels are typically between 70 and 90 per cent full  in the summer.

The society's CEO, Lisanne Ballantyne, said the Kelowna area currently has about 4,500 room nights in conventional accommodation and, during peak seasons, around 2,000 active short-term rental listings. 

That means short-term rentals have made up about 30 per cent of Kelowna's tourist accommodation during peak seasons. 

Ballantyne said there are more hotels in the works for the city.

"My office probably gets at least three requests every month from developers that are looking for information to help them develop hotel properties. We have a number of cranes in the sky and we also have a number of hotels waiting to come online as well," she said.

As for Ralph and Tina Gerlitsch, they'll be selling their home and moving into what used to be their short-term rental apartment.

Ralph expects they'll soon be handing over the keys to his house to a new owner. 

"There will be tears. For sure, there will be tears," he said. 

• 19,000 homes are permanently listed as short-term rentals, B.C. government says
• B.C. is changing its short-term rental rules. Some owners think that's a mistake
• Outspoken Vancouver Airbnb host in court over lack of business licence
• Some strata hotels, motels to be exempt from B.C.'s short-term legislation
• Parksville, B.C., residents worry over short-term rental exemptions
• Video Tourist town of Tofino wants to restrict short-term rentals
• Province rejects Prince George's request to keep short-term rentals on secondary properties

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Megan Turcato is an associate producer with CBC Kelowna. She has more than a decade of experience covering news and current affairs in B.C.'s Southern Interior.

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