Interior Health is advising people who use N’Kwala (Nicola) Lake, Spaxomin (Douglas) Lake and/or Chapperon Lake that there is a risk of exposure to cyanobacterial toxin due to the presence of blue-green algae blooms on these lakes.

Water samples taken on July 26 from each lake tested positive for the cyanobacterial toxin. Cyanobacteria can produce several types of toxin that can be poisonous to people, pets and livestock.  

Fear and anxiety are natural reactions to stressful events such as wildfires. Here are some tips that can help you cope with the stress that wildfire season and wildfires can bring.

Name: Jennie Bui (she/her/hers)
Job Title: Communication and Engagement consultant 
Years of Service: 2 
Worksite:  Royal Inland Hospital
Community: Kamloops
Ancestral Territory: Secwépemc 

Oliver and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at South Okanagan General Hospital (SOGH) due to unexpected limited physician availability.

From 6 p.m. tonight, Monday, July 24 to 8 a.m. Tuesday, July 25, emergency services will be unavailable and patients can access care at Penticton Regional Hospital.

During this time, all other inpatient services will continue as normal at South Okanagan General Hospital.

Interior Health is reminding people who use Nicola Lake that there is a risk of exposure to cyanobacterial toxin due to the presence of a blue-green algae bloom on the lake. Samples of lake water taken on July 18, July 10 and July 7 tested positive for the presence of cyanobacterial toxin. 

Samples were taken at two beach locations on the lake and due to the nature of algae blooms, the advisory is being issued for the whole lake at this time.  Cyanobacteria can produce several types of toxin that can be poisonous to people, pets and livestock.  

Environment Canada continues to adjust heat warnings in the Interior Health region due to daytime temperatures in the mid to high 30 degrees Celsius combined with overnight lows near 18 degrees Celsius. No extreme heat emergencies have been declared at this time.

Please check the Environment Canada website for updates on heat warnings in your area.