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Keremeos’ Sparks Crowned BC Provincial Boys Basketball Champions

The Similkameen Sparks pulled off an impressive and unexpected victory at the 1A BC School Sports Boys Basketball Provincial Championships held in Langley over the weekend.

“Third in their zone, but first in the province — that’s the story of the Similkameen Sparks,” stated a BC School Sports press release.

On Saturday, the Keremeos-based Similkameen Elementary Secondary School team secured the championship with a 75–63 win over the St. John’s School Eagles at the Langley Events Centre. The victory marks their first provincial title since 2001.

Entering the tournament as the third seed from their zone, the Sparks went on to defeat the top-ranked team in the gold medal game, earning the fourth provincial championship in the program’s history.

Individual honours highlighted the team’s performance, with Balkaran Lidhar named Most Valuable Player. Krishon Terbasket earned Championship Player of the Game, while Jasdeep Dhaliwal was recognized as a game All-Star.

The championship capped off four days of competition in Langley, featuring 64 teams and 128 games across four tiers.

Mar 9, 2026

Keremeos Mayor Jason Wiebe to Step Down in Early 2026
KEREMEOS, B.C. – Mayor Jason Wiebe officially announced in October 2025 that he will resign from his position, with his departure set for the beginning of January 2026.

The mayor cited personal reasons for his decision, stating he plans to move away from the Keremeos area to join his family, who had previously relocated to Prince George.

Despite rumors of his resignation having circulated for months, Wiebe had previously denied the reports until his formal announcement.

Leadership Plan
By timing his resignation for after January 1, 2026, Mayor Wiebe avoids triggering a municipal by-election, as the next general election is already scheduled for October 2026.

The Village Council has confirmed that the remaining council members will rotate the Deputy Mayor role to maintain leadership stability until the next general municipal election.

Long-serving RDOS fire chief announces retirement

The long-serving fire chief of the Keremeos and District Volunteer Fire Department (KVFD) has announced his retirement. Jordy Bosshca has stepped away from his leadership role after 37 years of service as a firefighter, 27 of those years as chief of KVFD. During his decades of service, Bosscha played an integral role in advancing the community’s firefighting and response efforts. The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) would like to express sincere appreciation for his dedication and commitment to the community.

Tony Iannella has been appointed to the newly created role of sub-regional fire chief for the RDOS and will take over operations at KVFD, effective immediately. Fire Chief Iannella will continue to lead the Willowbrook Volunteer Fire Department in Electoral Area “C” (rural Oliver).

Keremeos and Lower Similkameen Indian Band Unite for Emergency Support Services

Keremeos, BC – June 13, 2025

The Village of Keremeos and the Lower Similkameen Indian Band (LSIB) have signed a new agreement to coordinate Emergency Support Services (ESS), enhancing emergency response efforts for both communities.

The agreement, signed on June 9th by Chief Keith Crow and Mayor Jason Wiebe, outlines how the two communities will collaborate on training, planning, and communication to ensure residents receive timely and effective support—whether on reserve land, in the village, or across traditional territory.

“This not only benefits villagers and the sməlqmíx, but everyone—including visitors,” said Mayor Wiebe. Chief Crow added, “The more that village residents and sməlqmíx help each other, the stronger we all will be.”

Conservative Konanz win in Similkameen-South Okanagan-West Kootenay

After two previous bids for a seat in Parliament, the third time proved successful for Penticton city councillor Helena Konanz. Konanz win the Similkameen–South Okanagan–West Kootenay riding as the Conservative Party of Canada candidate.

Following defeats in the 2019 and 2021 elections, Konanz secured a win on Monday, edging out a strong challenge from Liberal candidate Gloria Morgan, with NDP’s Linda Sankey finishing third.

“It’s been a long journey, and I’m incredibly excited and honoured,” said Konanz. Morgan ran a competitive race, keeping the results close until the final count.