Kelowna, British Columbia

Coast Wholesale Appliances Inc., a national appliance retailer with 300 employees across 17 showrooms and 9 distribution centres, has filed for creditor protection under the Creditors Arrangement Act. Staff at locations including the Kelowna store are being laid off as the company faces liquidation.

Lassonde Industries announced 80 job cuts at its Sun-Rype plant in Kelowna, BC as it moves beverage packing operations to facilities in Calgary, Toronto, and Rougemont. The transition will occur in phases through December 2026, while apple processing and snack production will continue at the Kelowna location.

Okanagan College laid off 12 staff members and offered 34 early retirement packages, totaling 46 positions eliminated, due to a significant drop in international student enrollment following federal restrictions on study permits. The college also cut the Modern Languages in Arts program and suspended a Science in Nursing partnership program with UBC Okanagan.