COMMUNITY

Why Nanaimo Residents May See a Future RCMP Police Dog Around Town

Four-month-old German shepherd puppy Basko has arrived in Nanaimo to begin one to two years of RCMP police dog training following a proud family lineage.

Published

1 week ago

on

A New Generation of Police Dog Begins Training

Nanaimo residents may notice a four-month-old German shepherd named Basko exploring local sights as he takes his first steps toward a potential career with the RCMP. Born at the RCMP Police Dog Service Training Centre in Innisfail, Alberta, the young puppy recently arrived in the community to start a rigorous development process lasting one to two years.

Supervised by RCMP Const. Jordan Braid, Basko will live with a specially chosen imprinter — an officer dedicated to raising and socializing future police dogs from puppyhood. While residing as part of the imprinter’s household, Basko’s daily routine will focus on socialization, building confidence, and exposure to various environments, people, noises, and animals. Evaluators will assess his progress every three to four months to determine if he meets the force’s strict operational standards.

A Lineage of Service and Sacrifice

Basko carries strong service credentials in his lineage. His father, Neon, serves in Nanaimo alongside Braid, while his grandfather, Jago, died in the line of duty in 2021 during a manhunt near High Prairie, Alberta. Jago was shot while protecting his handler and fellow officers, prompting High Prairie officials to lower flags to half-mast in his honor. Coverage from outlets including the Kelowna Capital News, Penticton Western News, Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News, and Vernon Morning Star also highlighted that Jago was killed while on duty in Alberta.

Braid noted that while Basko comes from a strong lineage, his ultimate placement remains uncertain. There is no guarantee he will complete the full program in Nanaimo or join the local detachment alongside Neon, as final assignments depend on successful graduation and operational needs across the country.

Why the RCMP Only Uses German Shepherds

Unlike some police services that train various breeds, the RCMP relies exclusively on German shepherds. The national police force maintains its own breeding program, which Braid explained helps control expenses while selectively breeding out health issues and unwanted traits.

Braid added that the breed is exceptionally loyal, highly intelligent, and hard-working. German shepherds are capable of signaling handlers when injured or fatigued, and their versatile coats allow them to adapt easily to diverse climates across Canada.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

COMMUNITY

The week ahead in Okanagan: Mon 7 — Sun 13 September

30 things to do in Okanagan, Mon 7 — Sun 13 September.

Published

2 days ago

on

September 9, 2026

By

The Okanagan Current · What’s on

The week ahead

Mon 7 — Sun 13 September

Seven days of what’s on, and what to keep an eye on.

The week at a glance Mon 7 — Sun 13 September

Mon 7

Nothing yet

Tue 8

Nothing yet

Wed 9

Nothing yet

Thu 10

8 am Thursday Only PASSPORT District Wine Village, 100 Enterprise Way British Columbia Oliver V0H 1T0 Canada, Oliver 8 am Meat the Need Buy-Low Foods, 5717 Main St, Oliver 11 am The Bread Project Bartier Bros. Winery, 4821 Ryegrass Road British Columbia Oliver V0H 1T1 Canada, Oliver 11:30 am Delicous Oysters Miradoro Restaurant, 537 Tinhorn Creek Rd. British Columbia Oliver V0H 1T1 Canada, Oliver 4 pm Thursday Live Music Black Hills Estate Winery, 4190 Black Sage Road British Columbia Oliver V0H1T1 Canada, Oliver 5 pm Free Live Music Thursday with Lisa Toon Nostalgia Wines, 4900 Black Sage Road British Columbia Oliver V0H 1T1 Canada, Oliver

Fri 11

8 am Ask Me Anything Bartier Bros. Winery, 4821 Ryegrass Road British Columbia Oliver V0H 1T1 Canada, Oliver 8 am Meat the Need Buy-Low Foods, 5717 Main St, Oliver 11 am The Bread Project Bartier Bros. Winery, 4821 Ryegrass Road British Columbia Oliver V0H 1T1 Canada, Oliver 11:30 am Delicous Oysters Miradoro Restaurant, 537 Tinhorn Creek Rd. British Columbia Oliver V0H 1T1 Canada, Oliver 1 pm Live at Rust: Lewis Cardinal Rust Wine, 4444 Golden Mile Bench British Columbia Oliver V0H 1T1 Canada, Oliver 4 pm Summer Series with Same Same but Different Thai Food Truck Gehringer Brother’s Estate Winery, 876 Rd 8, Oliver 4 pm Fender Fridays | Show & Shine Gino’s Coffee House, 8316 Main St, Oosyoos

Sat 12

8 am Sessions Saturday Ride Sessions Outdoor Sports, 8503 78 Ave, Osoyoos 8 am Fantastic Firehall Festival 2026 Firehall Brewery, 6077 Main Street British Columbia Oliver, Oliver 8 am Meat the Need Buy-Low Foods, 5717 Main St, Oliver 9 am 3rd Annual Gino’s Legacy Fundraiser Gino’s Coffee House, 8316 Main St, Oosyoos 9 am Okanagan Science Centre Garage Sale 2704 BC-6 10 am Vernon Volunteer Fair Vernon Recreation Centre, Dogwood Gym, 3310 37th Avenue, Vernon BC 10 am Enderby Lit-Con Splatsin Community Centre, 5767 Old Vernon Road, Rd RR 3, Enderby, BC V0E 1V0 10 am Scrapbook Retreat at Hullcar Hall Armstrong, British Columbia, V4Y 0M6 11 am Live Music & Food Truck Saturdays River Stone Estate Winery, 143 Buchanan Drive British Columbia Oliver V0H 1T2 Canada, Oliver 11 am The Bread Project Bartier Bros. Winery, 4821 Ryegrass Road British Columbia Oliver V0H 1T1 Canada, Oliver 11 am Memorable Wine Tour Nostalgia Wines, 4900 Black Sage Road British Columbia Oliver V0H 1T1 Canada, Oliver 11 am Legacy Poker Run | Ride for Tiannna Gino’s Coffee House, 8316 Main St, Oosyoos 11:30 am Delicous Oysters Miradoro Restaurant, 537 Tinhorn Creek Rd. British Columbia Oliver V0H 1T1 Canada, Oliver 1 pm Live Music On The Patio Hester Creek Estate Winery, 877 Road 8 · Box 1605 British Columbia Oliver V0H 1T0 Canada, Oliver 4 pm Welcome Back BBQ Oliver Senior Centre, 5876 Airport Street British Columbia Oliver V0H 1T0 Canada, Oliver 6 pm Silent Disco District Wine Village, 100 Enterprise Way British Columbia Oliver V0H 1T0 Canada, Oliver

Sun 13

7:30 pm Queen: It’s a Kinda Magic Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre, 3800 33rd St Vernon, BC V1T 5T6

What’s on

What’s on 30 events

10 Thu

Thursday Only PASSPORT

Time
8 am
Where
District Wine Village, 100 Enterprise Way British Columbia Oliver V0H 1T0 Canada, Oliver

@ Thursday Event Day | Wine Tasting Passport Available to be used and redeemed on Thursday’s Purchase your Village passport for $10 which includes 10 –…

Details from the organiser

10 Thu

Meat the Need

Time
8 am
Where
Buy-Low Foods, 5717 Main St, Oliver

@ We know times are tough for many families right now. That’s why Valley First and Buy-Low Foods Oliver are coming together to help.

Details from the organiser

10 Thu

The Bread Project

Time
11 am
Where
Bartier Bros. Winery, 4821 Ryegrass Road British Columbia Oliver V0H 1T1 Canada, Oliver

Until May 24, 2026 purchase The Pairing Project Passport for only $99.

Details from the organiser

10 Thu

Delicous Oysters

Time
11:30 am
Where
Miradoro Restaurant, 537 Tinhorn Creek Rd. British Columbia Oliver V0H 1T1 Canada, Oliver

@ September Oysters & Bubbles @ Miradoro $3. 25 oysters! Daily, any amount, until sold out. Lightning Rock sparkling wine feature!

Details from the organiser

10 Thu

Thursday Live Music

Time
4 pm
Where
Black Hills Estate Winery, 4190 Black Sage Road British Columbia Oliver V0H1T1 Canada, Oliver

@ Join us on select Thursdays from June 18 to September 24 and enjoy oysters from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, with live music continuing until 6:30 pm.

Details from the organiser

10 Thu

Free Live Music Thursday with Lisa Toon

Time
5 pm
Where
Nostalgia Wines, 4900 Black Sage Road British Columbia Oliver V0H 1T1 Canada, Oliver

@ We welcome back our good friend Lisa Toon for tonight live music Thursday. Law of Attraction food truck will be serving up their delicious eats.

Details from the organiser

11 Fri

Ask Me Anything

Time
8 am
Where
Bartier Bros. Winery, 4821 Ryegrass Road British Columbia Oliver V0H 1T1 Canada, Oliver

@ Every Friday, 3–5 PM Join us on the Bartier Bros.

Details from the organiser

11 Fri

Meat the Need

Time
8 am
Where
Buy-Low Foods, 5717 Main St, Oliver

@ We know times are tough for many families right now. That’s why Valley First and Buy-Low Foods Oliver are coming together to help.

Details from the organiser

11 Fri

The Bread Project

Time
11 am
Where
Bartier Bros. Winery, 4821 Ryegrass Road British Columbia Oliver V0H 1T1 Canada, Oliver

Until May 24, 2026 purchase The Pairing Project Passport for only $99.

Details from the organiser

11 Fri

Delicous Oysters

Time
11:30 am
Where
Miradoro Restaurant, 537 Tinhorn Creek Rd. British Columbia Oliver V0H 1T1 Canada, Oliver

@ September Oysters & Bubbles @ Miradoro $3. 25 oysters! Daily, any amount, until sold out. Lightning Rock sparkling wine feature!

Details from the organiser

11 Fri

Live at Rust: Lewis Cardinal

Time
1 pm
Where
Rust Wine, 4444 Golden Mile Bench British Columbia Oliver V0H 1T1 Canada, Oliver

@ Rust Wine 250-498-3276

Details from the organiser

11 Fri

Summer Series with Same Same but Different Thai Food Truck

Time
4 pm
Where
Gehringer Brother’s Estate Winery, 876 Rd 8, Oliver

@ Gehringer Brother’s Celebrates 40 years!

Details from the organiser

11 Fri

Fender Fridays | Show & Shine

Time
4 pm
Where
Gino’s Coffee House, 8316 Main St, Oosyoos

@ EVERY FRIDAY OPEN UNTIL 6pm Love classic cars? Come show yours off! Or just come take a look.

Details from the organiser

12 Sat

Sessions Saturday Ride

Time
8 am
Where
Sessions Outdoor Sports, 8503 78 Ave, Osoyoos

@ Join Sesssions Outdoor Sports on the Saturday Rides.

Details from the organiser

12 Sat

Fantastic Firehall Festival 2026

Time
8 am
Where
Firehall Brewery, 6077 Main Street British Columbia Oliver, Oliver

@ Firehall Brewery, Mo’ Pro Promotions, & Respect Record & Skate Shop are proud to present… the 2026 Fantastic Firehall Festival!

Details from the organiser

12 Sat

Meat the Need

Time
8 am
Where
Buy-Low Foods, 5717 Main St, Oliver

@ We know times are tough for many families right now. That’s why Valley First and Buy-Low Foods Oliver are coming together to help.

Details from the organiser

12 Sat

3rd Annual Gino’s Legacy Fundraiser

Time
9 am
Where
Gino’s Coffee House, 8316 Main St, Oosyoos

Join us on Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 9:00 AM–7:00 PM at Gino’s Coffee House in Osoyoos for the 3rd Annual Gino’s Legacy Fundraiser.

Details from the organiser

12 Sat

Okanagan Science Centre Garage Sale

Time
9 am
Where
2704 BC-6

Details from the organiser

12 Sat

Vernon Volunteer Fair

Time
10 am
Where
Vernon Recreation Centre, Dogwood Gym, 3310 37th Avenue, Vernon BC

Details from the organiser

12 Sat

Enderby Lit-Con

Time
10 am
Where
Splatsin Community Centre, 5767 Old Vernon Road, Rd RR 3, Enderby, BC V0E 1V0

Details from the organiser

12 Sat

Scrapbook Retreat at Hullcar Hall

Time
10 am
Where
Armstrong, British Columbia, V4Y 0M6

Details from the organiser

12 Sat

Live Music & Food Truck Saturdays

Time
11 am
Where
River Stone Estate Winery, 143 Buchanan Drive British Columbia Oliver V0H 1T2 Canada, Oliver

@ Join us at River Stone Estate Winery from mid-June through mid-September for laid-back afternoons filled with great wine, live tunes, and tasty bites.

Details from the organiser

12 Sat

The Bread Project

Time
11 am
Where
Bartier Bros. Winery, 4821 Ryegrass Road British Columbia Oliver V0H 1T1 Canada, Oliver

Until May 24, 2026 purchase The Pairing Project Passport for only $99.

Details from the organiser

12 Sat

Memorable Wine Tour

Time
11 am
Where
Nostalgia Wines, 4900 Black Sage Road British Columbia Oliver V0H 1T1 Canada, Oliver

@ Tour & Tasting Experience Discover the essence of Nostalgia Wines on this captivating 90-minute journey through our vineyard, winery, and cellar.

Details from the organiser

12 Sat

Legacy Poker Run | Ride for Tiannna

Time
11 am
Where
Gino’s Coffee House, 8316 Main St, Oosyoos

@ CALLING ALL RIDERS & DRIVERS! Our first-ever Legacy Poker Run, part of the 3rd Annual Gino’s Legacy Fundraiser, is happening Saturday, September 12th!

Details from the organiser

12 Sat

Delicous Oysters

Time
11:30 am
Where
Miradoro Restaurant, 537 Tinhorn Creek Rd. British Columbia Oliver V0H 1T1 Canada, Oliver

@ September Oysters & Bubbles @ Miradoro $3. 25 oysters! Daily, any amount, until sold out. Lightning Rock sparkling wine feature!

Details from the organiser

12 Sat

Live Music On The Patio

Time
1 pm
Where
Hester Creek Estate Winery, 877 Road 8 · Box 1605 British Columbia Oliver V0H 1T0 Canada, Oliver

@ Every weekend in the summer we host local musicians live on the patio at the Wine Shop from May to October and celebrate the incredible talent coming out of…

Details from the organiser

12 Sat

Welcome Back BBQ

Time
4 pm
Where
Oliver Senior Centre, 5876 Airport Street British Columbia Oliver V0H 1T0 Canada, Oliver

@ Lets get together and kick off a great season! Good food, great friends, live music. Oliver Senior Centre Society 250-498-6142

Details from the organiser

12 Sat

Silent Disco

Time
6 pm
Where
District Wine Village, 100 Enterprise Way British Columbia Oliver V0H 1T0 Canada, Oliver

@ Saturday, September 12 | 7pm – 10pm Join us for a fun night of dancing in the centre plaza with DJ Shakes.

Details from the organiser

13 Sun

Queen: It’s a Kinda Magic

Time
7:30 pm
Where
Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre, 3800 33rd St Vernon, BC V1T 5T6

Details from the organiser

Also coming up 8 of 53

  • Mon, Sep 14 Band Council Meeting
  • Tue, Sep 15 Intro to BellyDance with Kesavah
  • Wed, Sep 16 September Community Shuttle
  • Wed, Sep 16 Raine Maida & Chantal Kreviazuk
  • Thu, Sep 17 Unlocked – Real Talk. Music. Mental Health
  • Fri, Sep 18 Reconnecting our spirit healing circle
  • Fri, Sep 18 Vernon Seniors Fair
  • Fri, Sep 18 Sundog Festival of Arts & Culture

Dates and names only — we confirm the details with each organiser in the edition that runs them.

Running something? Get it in front of your neighbours.

The Okanagan Current publishes this every week for readers looking for something to do. Listing is free, and what you send us is what runs — so check the details before you send them. Or post it to your municipal calendar and we will find it.

Continue Reading

COMMUNITY

Lake Country Resident Priscila Brunetto Steps Forward as First Candidate for Mayor

Priscila Brunetto, 39, becomes the first candidate to announce a bid for mayor in the District of Lake Country ahead of the 2026 General Local Elections.

Published

4 days ago

on

September 7, 2026

By

First Candidate Enters Mayoral Race

With the 2026 General Local Elections slightly more than a month away, the District of Lake Country has its first official contender for mayor. Priscila Brunetto, 39, declared her intent to campaign for the municipality’s top public role this coming fall.

Background and Professional Experience

A resident of Lake Country for nine years, Brunetto is a mother of three and married to a police officer, according to her biography on the district’s elections page. Professionally, she serves as a senior manager of process improvement and manufacturing, a role focused on team leadership, operational optimization, and enhancing production-floor efficiency.

“My professional background has taught me how to look at problems practically, find realistic solutions, move things forward. That’s the approach I want to bring – focused, constructive, and grounded in the everyday experience of raising a family here,” Brunetto stated.

Platform and Key Priorities

Outline priorities for her campaign center on public infrastructure, housing affordability, and local economic development. In addressing infrastructure, she emphasized creating “safer roads, improved sidewalks and more practical transportation options.”

“I’m running because I love Lake Country and want to help keep it a wonderful place to live for the next generation,” she said. “I would be honoured to earn your support and work together to make our community even better.”

Continue Reading

BC STORIES

Discover the Hidden Beauty of New Brunswick’s Waterfalls Through Drone and On-the-Ground Video

CBC videographer Roger Cosman explores New Brunswick’s hidden waterfalls using drone and ground footage, with tours including Walton Glen Gorge Falls.

Published

6 days ago

on

September 5, 2026

By

Exploring Provincial Waterfalls

CBC videographer Roger Cosman is traveling across New Brunswick this summer to document the province’s hundreds of natural cascades. His journey relies on drone footage and on-the-ground exploration to capture these often-secluded scenic spots.

Featured Locations and Next Destinations

Cosman’s tour has covered multiple sites, including Pabineau Falls, Sand Brook Falls, Tetagouche Falls, Lepreau Falls, Wallace Falls, Welsford Falls, Little Sheephouse Brook Falls, and Fall Brook Falls. His latest footage highlights Walton Glen Gorge Falls along the Fundy coast, with Fuller Falls scheduled as the next stop on the itinerary.

Continue Reading

Trending