Columnists
- Canadians buying less food 4:00 am - 708 views
- Mortgage renewalsApril Dunn May 27 - 6312 views
- Space-age foodKristin Peturson-Laprise May 27 - 2994 views
- Two carbon taxesTracy Gray May 26 - 7322 views
- Luxury with a view May 26 - 1375 views
- Death of stars from the pastKen Tapping May 26 - 4138 views
- A bigger cost for fuelDan Albas May 25 - 5553 views
- Benefit of selfish volunteersKaren Knight May 25 - 4905 views
- Helping bees, butterfliesSigrie Kendrick May 24 - 5085 views

Welcome to Writer’s Bloc, a column for guest writers to share their experiences with our readers.
Canadians buying less food May 28, 2023
Helping secure food supply May 14, 2023
Downside of remote work May 7, 2023
Helping secure food supply May 14, 2023
Downside of remote work May 7, 2023

April Dunn has been assisting clients to purchase, refinance, or renew their mortgages for over 20 years.
Mortgage renewals May 27, 2023
Benefits of refinancing May 13, 2023
Home ownership assistance Apr 29, 2023
Benefits of refinancing May 13, 2023
Home ownership assistance Apr 29, 2023

Happy Gourmand is about enjoying life and living in the moment, and sharing that joy to keep those good vibes going.
Space-age food May 27, 2023
Getting down and dirty May 20, 2023
Remembering Julia Child May 13, 2023
Getting down and dirty May 20, 2023
Remembering Julia Child May 13, 2023

MP Tracy Gray serving her constituents of Kelowna-Lake Country
Two carbon taxes May 26, 2023
MP's effort to support bills May 12, 2023
MP out and about in riding Apr 28, 2023
MP's effort to support bills May 12, 2023
MP out and about in riding Apr 28, 2023

Astronomer Ken Tapping shows you the sky and the stars.
Death of stars from the past May 26, 2023
When a star eats a planet May 19, 2023
When Einstein got it wrong May 12, 2023
When a star eats a planet May 19, 2023
When Einstein got it wrong May 12, 2023

Dan Albas, MP for Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola, keeps you posted on what's going on in Ottawa.
A bigger cost for fuel May 25, 2023
Debt servicing concern May 18, 2023
Federal assistance needed May 11, 2023
Debt servicing concern May 18, 2023
Federal assistance needed May 11, 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.
Benefit of selfish volunteers May 25, 2023
Finding volunteers within May 18, 2023
Volunteer board members May 11, 2023
Finding volunteers within May 18, 2023
Volunteer board members May 11, 2023

Sigrie Kendrick is a master gardener and executive-director of the non-profit Okanagan Xeriscape Association.
Helping bees, butterflies May 24, 2023
Importance of native plants May 10, 2023
Planning your plantings Apr 26, 2023
Importance of native plants May 10, 2023
Planning your plantings Apr 26, 2023

Food for the mind and the heart, to encourage an awakening of the power and potential within everyone.

Renee Merrifield is the B.C. United 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.
B.C. patients sent to the U.S. May 23, 2023
MLA lists achievements May 16, 2023
Watershed worries May 9, 2023
MLA lists achievements May 16, 2023
Watershed worries May 9, 2023

A veteran columnist and traffic enforcement officer with the RCMP, Tim writes on all things traffic-related.
Riding bicycles side by side May 23, 2023
The key to safe merging May 16, 2023
Yielding on left turns May 9, 2023
The key to safe merging May 16, 2023
Yielding on left turns May 9, 2023

Mortgage professional Tracy Head provides guidance for obtaining a mortgage, a new home, or planning a move.
Emotional mortgaging May 22, 2023
Bridge financing May 8, 2023
Handling mortgage renewal Apr 24, 2023
Bridge financing May 8, 2023
Handling mortgage renewal Apr 24, 2023

Certified financial planner Brett Millard translates complex investment, insurance and planning jargon into language everyone understands.
Invest responsibly May 22, 2023
Long term care insurance May 15, 2023
Learning early about money May 8, 2023
Long term care insurance May 15, 2023
Learning early about money May 8, 2023

Kelowna lawyer Wes Forgione explains the legal side of estate planning, real estate and corporate/commercial law to help readers make informed decisions.
Is incorporation right move? May 21, 2023
Complete estate plan: Part 2 May 7, 2023
Wills offer peace of mind Apr 18, 2023
Complete estate plan: Part 2 May 7, 2023
Wills offer peace of mind Apr 18, 2023

Staggered attempts to make meaning and connections.
Inspired by author May 21, 2023
Tofino, and time Apr 16, 2023
Writing off AI's creations Mar 7, 2023
Tofino, and time Apr 16, 2023
Writing off AI's creations Mar 7, 2023

Columnist Adam Wilson takes a critical look at what's going on at Kelowna city hall.
Drug decriminalization May 19, 2023
Redistributing concern Apr 19, 2023
E-scooter pilot project Apr 6, 2023
Redistributing concern Apr 19, 2023
E-scooter pilot project Apr 6, 2023

The price of climate change May 19, 2023
Supporting workers May 5, 2023
Support for mass timber Apr 21, 2023
Supporting workers May 5, 2023
Support for mass timber Apr 21, 2023

Allison Markin explores the creative scene in the Okanagan, from arts and culture, to artists and artisans, to chefs and tastemakers, to the occasional movie night.
Farm-to-table fare on menu May 17, 2023
Dig in for Earth Day Apr 19, 2023
Breaking bread this Easter Apr 5, 2023
Dig in for Earth Day Apr 19, 2023
Breaking bread this Easter Apr 5, 2023

Reen Rose shares strategies to help you find happiness.
Column will return in fall May 17, 2023
Kindness good for the skin Apr 9, 2023
Tackling temptation Apr 2, 2023
Kindness good for the skin Apr 9, 2023
Tackling temptation Apr 2, 2023

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.
Elderly love story May 15, 2023
Dog senses the paranormal Apr 17, 2023
'Inking' dilemma Mar 20, 2023
Dog senses the paranormal Apr 17, 2023
'Inking' dilemma Mar 20, 2023

What's in your future? This is your horoscope stop, with psychic Heather Zais.
Heather Zais dies May 15, 2023
Horoscope April 30-May 6 Apr 30, 2023
Horoscope April 23-29 Apr 23, 2023
Horoscope April 30-May 6 Apr 30, 2023
Horoscope April 23-29 Apr 23, 2023

Terry Robertson takes modern look at old images of landscapes, street scenes and images of prominent structures around the Okanagan.
A big part of lake's history May 14, 2023
Kelowna in 1909 and now Apr 30, 2023
Bernard Ave. then and now Apr 15, 2023
Kelowna in 1909 and now Apr 30, 2023
Bernard Ave. then and now Apr 15, 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.
Healthy way to lose weight May 6, 2023
Hormonal imbalance Apr 22, 2023
Enjoy vacation foods Apr 8, 2023
Hormonal imbalance Apr 22, 2023
Enjoy vacation foods Apr 8, 2023

Bonnie Gratz is the Artistic Director of Kelowna's New Vintage Theatre, and offers us an exciting insider's view of local theatre.
You'll love Shirley Valentine May 5, 2023
North Pole Stories Dec 7, 2022
Kelowna Fringe Festival Aug 24, 2022
North Pole Stories Dec 7, 2022
Kelowna Fringe Festival Aug 24, 2022

Public speaking and presentations are skills that can be learned and one of the most successful ways is through Toastmasters.

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

Ross Freake gives his own particular take on life.
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).