Columnists
- Using plants native to areaSigrie Kendrick Feb 1 - 3245 views
- Benefits of a positive focusCorinne Crockett Feb 1 - 2376 views
- Premier's costly adviceRenee Merrifield Jan 31 - 9338 views
- Moving oversized loadsTim Schewe Jan 31 - 4907 views
- Consolidating debtTracy Head Jan 30 - 4785 views
- Dealing with debtBrett Millard Jan 30 - 4614 views
- Head vs. heartReen Rose Jan 29 - 6678 views
- Guidelines hard to swallow Jan 29 - 7283 views
- As mind goes, body followsTania Gustafson Jan 28 - 3239 views

Sigrie Kendrick is a Master Gardener and executive-director of the Okanagan Xeriscape Association.
Using plants native to area Feb 1, 2023
Learn to use the right plants Jan 18, 2023
Eventful year for xeriscapers Jan 4, 2023
Learn to use the right plants Jan 18, 2023
Eventful year for xeriscapers Jan 4, 2023

Food for the mind and the heart, to encourage an awakening of the power and potential within everyone.
Benefits of a positive focus Feb 1, 2023
Help with difficult emotions Jan 25, 2023
Hacking happiness Jan 18, 2023
Help with difficult emotions Jan 25, 2023
Hacking happiness Jan 18, 2023

Renee Merrifield is the B.C. Liberal MLA for Kelowna-Mission. She keeps readers up to date on what she is doing as an MLA and what is happening in the B.C. Legislature in Victoria.
Premier's costly advice Jan 31, 2023
Need for farm workers Jan 24, 2023
Provincial autism funding Jan 17, 2023
Need for farm workers Jan 24, 2023
Provincial autism funding Jan 17, 2023

A veteran columnist and traffic enforcement officer with the RCMP, Tim writes on all things traffic-related.
Moving oversized loads Jan 31, 2023
Hitch-mounted bike racks Jan 24, 2023
Education over punishment Jan 17, 2023
Hitch-mounted bike racks Jan 24, 2023
Education over punishment Jan 17, 2023

Mortgage professional Tracy Head provides guidance for obtaining a mortgage, a new home, or planning a move.
Consolidating debt Jan 30, 2023
Figuring out the numbers Jan 16, 2023
Buyers' second thoughts Jan 2, 2023
Figuring out the numbers Jan 16, 2023
Buyers' second thoughts Jan 2, 2023

Certified financial planner Brett Millard translates complex investment, insurance and planning jargon into language everyone understands.
Dealing with debt Jan 30, 2023
Financial resolutions Jan 23, 2023
Preparing for retirement Jan 16, 2023
Financial resolutions Jan 23, 2023
Preparing for retirement Jan 16, 2023

Reen Rose shares strategies to help you find happiness.
Head vs. heart Jan 29, 2023
Dealing with frustration Jan 22, 2023
Don't let fear stop you Jan 15, 2023
Dealing with frustration Jan 22, 2023
Don't let fear stop you Jan 15, 2023

Welcome to Writer’s Bloc, a column for guest writers to share their experiences with our readers.
Guidelines hard to swallow Jan 29, 2023
Gaining shoppers trust Jan 22, 2023
Combating theft from stores Jan 13, 2023
Gaining shoppers trust Jan 22, 2023
Combating theft from stores Jan 13, 2023

The FIT Nutritionist, Tania Gustafson, educates and shares valuable tips to help people achieve their health and weight loss goals without dieting and live longer, stronger, better lives, naturally.
As mind goes, body follows Jan 28, 2023
The problem with diets Jan 14, 2023
Holiday food guilt Dec 31, 2022
The problem with diets Jan 14, 2023
Holiday food guilt Dec 31, 2022

Happy Gourmand is about enjoying life and living in the moment, and sharing that joy to keep those good vibes going.

Public or private health care Jan 27, 2023
NDP helping Canadians:MP Dec 30, 2022
Protecting biodiversity Dec 16, 2022
NDP helping Canadians:MP Dec 30, 2022
Protecting biodiversity Dec 16, 2022

Astronomer Ken Tapping shows you the sky and the stars.
The cost of hiding the stars Jan 27, 2023
Are we alone? Jan 20, 2023
Listening to the solar wind Jan 13, 2023
Are we alone? Jan 20, 2023
Listening to the solar wind Jan 13, 2023

Dan Albas, MP for Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola, keeps us posted on what's going on in Ottawa.
Pondering big telecom deal Jan 26, 2023
Bill Morneau's new book Jan 19, 2023
Fighter plane purchase Jan 12, 2023
Bill Morneau's new book Jan 19, 2023
Fighter plane purchase Jan 12, 2023

Veteran volunteer, volunteer coordinator and leader of volunteer organizations, Karen Knight helps others in the sector deal with the myriad of issues associated with non-for-profit organizations.
A volunteer training method Jan 26, 2023
Hiring from within Jan 19, 2023
Part-time volunteer leaders Jan 12, 2023
Hiring from within Jan 19, 2023
Part-time volunteer leaders Jan 12, 2023

Allison Markin tastefully explores the wine, libations and food scene in the Okanagan, with thoughtful commentary and reviews of her favourite bottles.
B.C. wine in the U.S. Jan 25, 2023
Pie and 'Dry January' Jan 11, 2023
New Year's Eve dining Dec 28, 2022
Pie and 'Dry January' Jan 11, 2023
New Year's Eve dining Dec 28, 2022

Doreen always has had a knack for getting herself in a pickle, whether it be with wild animals or difficult people. She thinks the problem might be herself.
Remembering Austyn Jan 23, 2023
Birthday boy deities Dec 26, 2022
Home treatments for the flu Nov 28, 2022
Birthday boy deities Dec 26, 2022
Home treatments for the flu Nov 28, 2022

April Dunn has been assisting clients to purchase, refinance, or renew their mortgages for over 20 years.
Renewing your mortgage Jan 21, 2023
Mortgage broker or bank? Jan 7, 2023
The evolution of mortgages Dec 24, 2022
Mortgage broker or bank? Jan 7, 2023
The evolution of mortgages Dec 24, 2022

MP Tracy Gray serving her constituents of Kelowna-Lake Country
Poor financial forecasts Jan 20, 2023
Gun control legislation Jan 6, 2023
MP's year in review Dec 23, 2022
Gun control legislation Jan 6, 2023
MP's year in review Dec 23, 2022

Columnist Adam Wilson takes a critical look at what's going on at City Hall.
Meeting expectations Jan 15, 2023
Creating a lasting legacy Nov 13, 2022
Change at city hall Oct 18, 2022
Creating a lasting legacy Nov 13, 2022
Change at city hall Oct 18, 2022

Public speaking and presentations are skills that can be learned and one of the most successful ways is through Toastmasters.
Public speaking preparation Jan 9, 2023
Public speaking tips Dec 12, 2022
No need for filler words Nov 14, 2022
Public speaking tips Dec 12, 2022
No need for filler words Nov 14, 2022

Staggered attempts to make meaning and connections.
It can be a lot of things Dec 25, 2022
The time it takes Dec 4, 2022
Creative writing struggles Oct 16, 2022
The time it takes Dec 4, 2022
Creative writing struggles Oct 16, 2022

Bonnie Gratz is the Artistic Director of Kelowna's New Vintage Theatre, and offers us an exciting insider's view of local theatre.
North Pole Stories Dec 7, 2022
Kelowna Fringe Festival Aug 24, 2022
Welcome to Bikini Bottom Jul 6, 2022
Kelowna Fringe Festival Aug 24, 2022
Welcome to Bikini Bottom Jul 6, 2022

With a well-deserved reputation as a real estate renegade, AJ Hazzi has been shaking up the Kelowna real estate scene since 2002.
New zoning bylaws Nov 6, 2022
Retirement rescue plan Jun 17, 2022
Speculating or investing? Feb 23, 2022
Retirement rescue plan Jun 17, 2022
Speculating or investing? Feb 23, 2022

What's in your future? This is your horoscope stop, with psychic Heather Zais.
Heather's Horoscope Oct 30, 2022
Horoscope Oct.2-8 Oct 2, 2022
Horoscope Sept. 25-Oct. 1 Sep 25, 2022
Horoscope Oct.2-8 Oct 2, 2022
Horoscope Sept. 25-Oct. 1 Sep 25, 2022

Ross Freake is the columns editor at Castanet.
Zen and art of searching Sep 24, 2022
The shadow knows Sep 9, 2022
Lesson learned...wait! Aug 12, 2022
The shadow knows Sep 9, 2022
Lesson learned...wait! Aug 12, 2022
Writer submissions
Are you a writer, looking for a home to showcase your work?
We occasionally have openings for new columnists.
Successful writers will show that they have a solid plan for a column, and demonstrate that they can generate fresh ideas weekly or bi-weekly. You will have good writing skills, the ability to meet deadlines, and a willingness to work with us on changes that we deem necessary.
If accepted, your submissions will be kept in the range of 500 to 800 words.
As a Castanet columnist, you will have your own columnist page with masthead, along with excellent exposure to your work in the Okanagan region, as well as further afield.
Our columns are weekly and bi-weekly. We also have a Guest Column for occasional submissions.
To query for information or to submit your idea, please e-mail [email protected]. If submitting an idea, please give a brief write-up of the idea along with a short sample of your writing (paste sample directly into the body of the email).