Progress 2016 by Okanagan Life

2016 edition SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL ISSUE

s s e n i s u b l l a Sm

PROGRESS 2016

3.95

S S E C C U S

PM40028474

PROGRESS 2013 okanaganlife.com

Okanagan business profiles

COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE SINCE 1988

WWW.PARSHOMES.CA 250.878.0662

Get Ready For Summer Now!

With Kelowna’s Most Popular Non-Surgical Skin & Body Sculpting Treatments At DermMedica we offer modern cosmetic solutions in a comfortable, no-pressure, patient friendly environment. Call us today to schedule your personalized confidential consultation.

dermmedica.ca

Dr. Craig Crippen MD CCFP

Publisher/editor J. Paul Byrne Senior editor Laurie Carter Administration Wendy Letwinetz Graphic design Mishell Raedeke, Andrew Hutton Account executive Alan Monk

Contributing writers Bruce Kemp, Laurie Carter, Jaimie Kehler, Dona Sturmanis, Yvonne Turgeon

Keith Construction is proud to announce that we have been awarded 3 Silver Georgie’s (BC Builder Awards), and 3 Silver Tommie’s (Thompson Okanagan Builder Awards) including “Renovator of the Year” for 2016.

Contributing photographers Bruce Kemp Peter Solymosi

okanaganlife.com & social media Yvonne Turgeon

ISSN 08405492 (Okanagan Life) / ISSN 11803975 (Okanagan Business). Okanagan Life magazine is a member of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, City and Regional Magazine Association (CRMA) and Circulation Verification Council (CVC).

Okanagan Life is published by Byrne Publishing Group Inc. To subscribe, call 250.861.5399; email subscribe@okanaganlife.com; or online okanaganlife.com/subscriptions To advertise, call 250.861.5399 Email info@okanaganlife.com Write to: 814 Lawrence Avenue, Kelowna, BC, V1Y 6L9

Okanagan Life is available at Mosaic Books in Kelowna or at our oﬃce: 814 Lawrence Ave., Kelowna. © 2016, All rights reserved. Opinions and perspectives expressed in the magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the ownership or management. Reproduction in whole or in part without the publisher’s consent is strictly prohibited.

Best Renovation Company - North Best Building Company - North

Winners from 2011 - 2014 Best Renovation Company - North Best Building Company - North

PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40028474 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO BYRNE PUBLISHING GROUP INC. 814 LAWRENCE AVENUE KELOWNA, BC V1Y 6L9 email: info@okanaganlife.com

CUSTOM HOMES & RENOVATIONS DESIGN | DRAFTING | CONSTRUCTION | NEW HOMES | RENOVATIONS & ADDITIONS

Visit our new website: www.keithconstruction.ca

250-545-1300 4

PROGRESS 2016 Okanagan Life Magazine

CIRCULATION VERIFICATION

C O U N C I L

CONTENTS in their own words

Feature 8

Argus Properties

Beachcomber Home + Leisure

PARS Homes

Big Audio Productions

Roger Watts Advocacy Debate

Bohemian Café & Catering

Scorched Earth Winery

Boyd Autobody & Glass

Skaha Hills

Central Green

Sleepy’s

Country RV

Sparkling Hill Resort

DermMedica

Sticks & Stones Desgin Group

Dilworth Homes

The Cottages

Downtown Vernon Association

The Herbal-Health Centre

Fawn Run at The Ponds

Third Space Coffee

KGH Foundation

West Harbour

Minstrel Café & Bar

SMALL BUSINESS See how Okanagan small business owners ﬁnd ways to prosper, ﬁlling local and international niche markets even in trying economic times

Plus 6 46

PAUL’S VOICE Real giants, superstars and Titans

REARVIEW Have you got what it takes to be your own boss?

On the cover (clockwise): Jason Cox, Ken Carmichael, Janet Cody, Ray Morin, Ragwha Gopal, Sharleen McBain, Steve Jasper, Linda Andersson, Rob Rickard, Salina Colpitts, Jack Borden. Cover and Contents photos by Bruce Kemp.

okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2016

PAUL’S VOICE

Real giants, superstars and Titans In early March 1989, 60 business people gathered at the Four Season’s Racquet Club in Kelowna to display their personalities for the cover of Okanagan Life’s Progress issue. This was a hybrid magazine created by Okanagan Life and Okanagan Business to celebrate the people, stories and faces behind the great business community that powered the local economy of the day. Perhaps Progress was the first Facebook? In 1992 the Okanagan was benefitting from free market growth or, as it was known, the boom years. These Cover Men and Cover Women were the giants, the superstars and the Titans of the local economy. Perhaps you see a friend or neighbour? One thing’s for sure — all 60 put their best face forward. Notice that nobody is texting, Yelping or Flickring? No cat videos? Have you StumbledUpon one of them SnapChatting, Googling, hogging their space or MySpace for that matter? No! Digg deeper and you’ll see these LinkedIn businesses Tweet great respect, shout Yahoo and show great Bing for one another. No blogging or Technorati crappy here. This is simply a great cover of 60 interesting souls who are focused, attentive and, best of all, in the moment.

Exceptional value with local media The 1992 issue of Progress probably registered 300,000 to 400,000 readers — real readers who were influenced to buy local products and services. The 2016 version you are reading will register over half a million total readers. Newspapers, radio stations, TV stations and other local media have served the Okanagan in good and honest ways also.

United States on the platform that Wall Street is rigged and he has pledged to break up the big banks. Feel the Bern! Digital media, unfortunately, is Wall Street’s newest baby. Years ago when Wall Street realized that digital advertising was actually a poor advertising platform, they did what Wall Street does best — they lied. First, they created bots that mimic human behavior so well the clicks and page views seem like real people on the ROI reports, graphs and charts. Then they doubled-down with a media blitz claiming that digital media is so star-spangled-spectacular, that digital advertisers could walk on water and that all traditional media would die a slow and painful death. Tom Foremski of the Silicon Valley Watcher sees it this way: “Advertising fraud, where large brands buy cheap traffic that is not seen by anyone but provides audience numbers that look good, is costing the media industry billions of dollars in annual losses. Some estimates are as low as $6 billion a year by the advertising trade association to as high as $18 billion by the Wall Street Journal. This money would have gone to media companies. The media industry thinks of it as an advertising industry problem. Ad budgets are not cut but newsroom jobs continue to be lost. At $6 billion — the lowest estimate — it would pay for a lot of newsroom jobs. Ad fraud is rife and no one is charged or arrested. The media industry is having trouble enough surviving on the low ad revenues. You would think it would be up in arms over this daylight robbery. It shows again, how little the media industry understands the new economy.”

The most corrupt place on Earth Did you know that thousands of journalists, business leaders, politicians, lawyers and judges agree that Wall Street is the most corrupt place on Earth? Bernie Sanders is running for president of the

Covert partners Suppose your best friend jumped into your car on a sunny Okanagan afternoon and yelled—drive! You blast away and a few blocks later, he informs you he’s just robbed a bank and is happy you

PROGRESS 2016 Okanagan Life Magazine

saved him from the RCMP. Wall Street invites many partners to join them this way, and many do. Many have. The bots that pose as real people are there for one reason — to deceive. The digital web has become so toxic that only 5% to 25% of digital ads are seen by a human. The rest are bogus. The pretty graphs and charts complete the illusion. Advertisers are being fleeced but feel like they’re in a marketing fairy tale. Three rational and emotional points 1 – Ad blocking is on the rise with some 24% of all computers using ad blocking software. No one’s fault here, it’s just that technology giveth and technology can taketh away. Estimates predict that nearly all computers will have some ad blockers installed by 2019. 2 – Broken defaults, bot traffic and straight-up fraud are creating pretty graphs and charts, but the reality is most online ads are not seen by real people. This bot problem has infected the entire web, making all digital advertising corrupt and fraudulent. 3 – Monopolies are anti-small business. They are like vampire squids that suck the lifeblood out of small communities. Google is a world monopoly. Instead of an Okanagan search engine or a Canadian search engine, we’re forced to use Google, which owns 95% of search in Canada. Apple, Facebook and Twitter are also monopolies and should be broken up as our laws call for. The real giants, supestars and Titans Progress shop local. That, my friends, is Progress.

John Paul Byrne publisher/editor paul@okanaganlife.com

okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2016

POSITIVE

Story and photos by Bruce Kemp

Okanagan small business owners maintain optimistic outlook for regional economy

PROSPECTS A wide range of small businesses from personal, financial and high tech services to retail and hospitality find success in the Okanagan by filling niche markets

here is the Okanagan economy headed? That’s the question on everyone’s mind these days. With the crash in oil prices and a stock market tanking, largely based on China’s economic output, do we have any wiggle room to prosper and grow here in the Valley? According to local business people, the answer is an unequivocal “Yes” — but with some understanding and strategies to deal with current conditions. One of the reasons it’s so hard to assess what’s going on is the lag time for data to be collected and factored into the overall picture. Many surveys on which economists base their predictions are several years old and don’t take into account recent events that sandbag their assumptions.

Labour market

According to the WorkBC website, the latest numbers for the Thompson-Okanagan regions show a total population of 433,000 people with 244,300 in their working years (aged 15 to 64). As of December 2016, overall regional unemployment sat at 7.3%, while Kelowna fared a little better with 6.6%. This lower unemployment figure is not surprising as the Central Okanagan/Kelowna region is the most urbanized population (82% urban as opposed to 28% rural) of the five districts within the region. Interesting, because despite the disparity in urban vs. rural population, the largest employment generator in the Thompson/Okanagan is the agricultural sector, with 23.2% of the total number of jobs. Kelowna is the anomaly in the equation because, as Kelowna Chamber of Commerce president Ken Carmichael points out, “Kelowna is a city, not just a retirement community, and businesses want to locate here.”

okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2016

Kelowna is a city, not just a retirement community, and businesses want to locate here.” Ken Carmichael

Kelowna Chamber of Commerce President

Across the province in 2014 (these numbers may have changed since the oil and stock market crashes of the past eighteen months) the Thompson/Okanagan region ranked fifth in a list of six regions for full-time employment. However, the market outlook for job creation from 2014 to 2024 predicted an increase of 37.5% in new jobs and 62.5% for replacement jobs — due to retirement, outf low emigration and other causes. Other groups with a vested interest are watching the Okanagan closely. The Central Okanagan Development Commission asked Malatest Program Evaluation and Market Research to complete a labour market outlook study. The study was released on June 16, 2014 and covers the period from 2014 to 2020. Oil prices were starting to wobble by this point, but they hadn’t crashed to the near record lows of 2015. China’s woes were some distance in the future and that economy was still considered the bright star the world’s trading nations would follow to prosperity.

PROGRESS 2016 Okanagan Life Magazine

Ken Carmichael, president of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, in the city’s popular Pandosy Village, a haven of small business success.

The Malatest study took a pretty sobering look at local conditions. On the plus side, it predicts an increase in the workforce: 18.5% in the six years post 2014. But there’s a problem: our workforce is ill-suited to answer the needs. New positions opening up will demand an educated workforce. About two thirds of all new hires will require some post-secondary education. As of 2014, 47% of the local workforce only had a high school diploma. Since its creation as a province, BC has had a resource-based economy. When you could make big wages cutting down trees or digging rocks out of the ground, an education seemed unnecessary. Because of this, British Columbia has not placed the same emphasis on higher education as other provinces. The Malatest study ranks BC as eighth overall in terms of provinces whose workers have an undergraduate degree or equivalent. Even in engineering there’s a lag. The national average is 46.1 engineers for every 100,000 people. BC produces only 27.7 engineering grads. We could train more, but first we have to put the programs and seats in place. The Malatest study predicts that unemployment rates should remain close to stable until 2020. It does predict a slight climb, 0.5% over the six years, but there will be changes in the make-up of the workforce. The number of men participating in full time employment will decrease by 0.3% while the number of women will increase by 1.3%.

One of the facts of life in the Okanagan is that its population is grey-heavy. Out of the more than 400,000 residents, 45.9% are over the age of 50 — BC’s average is 38.6% — and there are fewer people working here — 63.3% compared to 68.5% provincially. The study anticipates that only 4.8% of the total population will reach working age (15+ years) by 2020. Valley demographics are also highly subject to migration patterns. Immigration policy, household development and real estate prices all have their impact. As real estate prices rise in Vancouver and baby boomers reach the end of their working lives, they are migrating east into the Okanagan. Fift y-five per cent of our inflow comes from within BC. Many of those people are arriving from the coastal markets with wads of cash generated by runaway housing prices and they have no intention of working here. Internally, we’re seeing people on the move to Kelowna from the north and south ends of the Valley to take advantage of city amenities and better employment opportunities. Inflow relocations from other provinces and outside Canada comprise 37.6% and 7.4% respectively. At the same time, there is a definite outflow of population from BC. Between 2006 and 2012, nearly 81,000 people left the province producing a net population increase of slightly more than 22,500 new residents.

Employment numbers

Changes in full time employment

Regional workforce education level

Okanagan workers will provide only 69.4% to 52.3% of new hires

2014-2020

Okanagan inﬂow

55%

37.6%

from within BC

from other provinces

7.4%

from other countries

Workforce increase 80 60 40

18.5%

20 0

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Small business employment in the private sector

54%

69.4%

1 60 0

50 40

-0.3%

Men participating in full time employment

+1.3%

Women participating in full time employment

47%

of the regional workforce has only a high school diploma

52.3%

10 0

Source: Malatest Program Evaluation and Market Research.

okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2016

Agriculture remains the single largest small business sector in the Okanagan, but independent tradespeople and small manufacturers also ďŹ nd their niche.

PROGRESS 2016 Okanagan Life Magazine

The Malatest study also points out the fact that the Okanagan Region cannot depend on traditional business models any longer if it hopes to grow. In the future, we may not be labouring to cut down trees. New and proposed trade agreements like the TransPacific Partnership will put shut to that.

The study’s authors go on to point out that as our current labour pool stands, Okanagan workers will only be able to fi ll somewhere between 52.3% and 69.4% of all new hires. We will always have tourism creating jobs in the Okanagan. At best, the majority of those will be

low-paid, seasonal positions. To earn a living income in the Valley, a person must be in fields like the trades, medicine or education. The alternative for people without the requisite training to work in any of these is to attempt to build a small business.

Small business

According to the federal government website, a small business is one that employs from five to 99 people, while the BC defi nition is one to 49 employees. Statistics reported on the provincial government website indicate that small business employs 54% of private sector employees. Federally, companies with fewer than five employees are considered micro-businesses while provincially no such distinction is made. Because some are registered and some are not, it’s hard to determine how many micro-sized companies there are locally. Many of these microbusinesses are one-person shops. BC and Saskatchewan are tied as the top provinces for small business with 82.6 companies per capita. Th is doesn’t necessarily reflect an entrepreneurial spirit. In a number of instances it may simply mean that Employment Insurance has run out and starting a small business is the only way to feed a family when there’s no other work in the region. These smaller Okanagan businesses work within the narrow market of the Valley, selling their products or services locally. They include the drywall installers, roofers, driveway pavers, wedding photographers and one-man electrical services. For many of these people, starting a profitable and ongoing business is a struggle for a number of reasons. In the case of trades people with viable industrial construction skills, the collapse of the Oil Patch

These smaller Okanagan businesses work within the narrow market of the Valley, selling their products or services locally. They include the dry-wall installers, roofers, driveway pavers, wedding photographers and one-man electrical services.” has eroded their income base. For them, a small business is just a way to make ends meet. It’s a waiting game for the high-paying northern camp jobs to come back. When they do, the trades people will return to that industry as soon as possible. Others need work to stay in the Okanagan and enjoy its lifestyle. They see small business as a means to an end. It’s a way to pay for real estate and ski lift tickets. For more than a few, a small business is the difference between the grocery store and the food bank. Still others see small business as a way of realizing their passions. All that being said, there is a remarkable level of entrepreneurial enthusiasm here. Many of the

Valley’s younger residents see small business as a way to employ their creative skills, or avoid low-paying service and retail employment, thereby avoiding the necessity to move to larger centres to make a decent living. The proof of this pudding lies in Kelowna Chamber of Commerce membership. The second largest such organization in BC outside the Lower Mainland, it acts on behalf of 1,300 businesses and their 25,000 plus employees. Penticton’s chamber has another 600 members on its list and the Greater Vernon Chamber advertises 750. There are more still in smaller centres like Osoyoos. Roughly 2,700 members belong to the various official chambers throughout the Valley.

okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2016

Accelerate Okanagan CEO Ragwha Gopal with marketing and business relations director Jennifer Lewis, working to help small businesses succeed in the information economy.

It is now possible to build a billion dollar company on your couchâ&#x20AC;Ś in the Okanagan.â&#x20AC;? Ragwha Gopal

Accelerate Okanagan CEO

PROGRESS 2016 Okanagan Life Magazine

Strong efforts are being made by government-funded agencies like Accelerate Okanagan to become part of the new information economy . CEO Ragwha Gopal is quick to point out that there are 86,600 tech jobs in BC today and that number is growing. He also notes, “that BC tech sector wages are 60% higher than the provincial average.” Part of Accelerate Okanagan’s pitch in promoting the tech sector is that, “It is now possible to build a billion dollar company on your couch… in the Okanagan.” Although the statement may be a little ambitious, there are certainly a number of small business people who have succeeded in making sales in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Lane Merrifield, Lance Priebe and Dave Krysko started Club Penguin in Kelowna on their credit cards and personal lines of credit. After testing their product through a variety of web applications, they officially launched in 2005. Two years later they were boasting a user-base of 12-million kids generating annual sales of $40-million. This caught the attention of the Disney mega-corp, which purchased the business for $350-million with promises of roughly another $350-million through bonuses. So it can be done — just not to the billion-dollar level yet — but it is coming. The province is staking a lot on information technology and high tech manufacturing. It believes this sector will be our next economic base and through these businesses, the rest of Okanagan businesses will benefit from the trickle down effect. Information technology is one of the new global businesses that know no political boundaries. It’s based in California and India, Australia and the Philippines, China and Korea, Germany and France. In fact IT and high tech is being developed just about anywhere there is an electrical and Internet connection. It is also becoming a prominent feature on the landscape of Okanagan business. Locally,

THE LOCATION SPECIALIST Ofﬁce Space • Retail Space Industrial / Warehouse • Business Parks New Design Build Projects

250.763.6789 ARGUSPROPERTIES.CA

Renaissance: Featuring Ballet Kelowna and Continuum Contemporary Music with special guest artists from The National Ballet of Canada

Choreography: Simone Orlando Heather Myers | James Kudelka John Alleyne | Robert Binet

Photo: Hannah Fischer. Photo by Aleksandar Antonijevic

High-tech solutions

KELOWNA: April 29 + 30 2016 / 7:30pm

Kelowna Community Theatre

TICKETS: KELOWNATICKETS.COM | 250 862 2867 TOLL FREE | 1 888 974 9170 okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2016

The Canadian dollar has gone in the right direction for us, dropping like it did. We still have some material we need to pay for in US dollars, but local costs, like labour are all paid for in Canadian dollars because we manufacture locally.” Dave Veitch

AEM owner and CEO

it’s a billion-dollar enterprise with 558 businesses employing 6,551 people. Thirty-eight per cent of these are under the age of 34 and 27% are female. Each company averages eight employees. This sector can be confusing. If you’re over 50, it’s likely you may not be fully knowledgeable in the various areas of the IT world. To keep it simple, 36% of the total IT companies produce technology soft ware (programs used for everything from designing products to instructing a robot how to build those products) and services (actually operating those programs for clients and building websites); 33% are involved in new media (social media being a prime example — think Twitter, Facebook and Instagram) and Internet technologies (providing specific working platforms — like shopping cart programs — for a variety of businesses); 11% are involved in life sciences and biotech; 8% produce products used in environmental technology; 8% are in the electronics and peripheral field; with 3% working for the aviation and aerospace industry.

So far, this has generated $42.8-million in revenues provincially and added 1,138 jobs to the economy. And it has attracted more than $126-million in investments — although it is not clear whether that is local money or comes from investors from outside BC. Dave Veitch, owner and CEO of Anodyne Electronic Manufacturing (see Okanagan Life Progress 2011) is someone who knows the benefits of the high tech industry using modern information technology. Anodyne (AEM) produces instrumentation for helicopters and fi xed wing aircraft as well as public address systems to be used on the outside of aircraft. He’s been in business since 2009 when he and his wife Diana purchased the company (then Northern Airborne Technologies) from its parent company, Cobham. The larger parent was about to move Northern Airborne to the United States when the Veitches made a bold offer. At first it was a struggle. The major Canadian banks weren’t in a mood to play and Veitch Clockwise: CEO Dave Veitch at the design phase while AEM skilled workers complete the manufacturing process.

PROGRESS 2016 Okanagan Life Magazine

finally turned to HSBC to get his funding. Since then business has progressed and the company has grown. “If you’re not set up with a bank,” he advises start-ups, “and don’t need them, it’s best to avoid them.” However, he adds, “…Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust (SIDIT) is an excellent avenue to explore for financing and grants.” While new contracts have arrived from as far away as Australia, Veitch still faces many of the problems of other small businesses. “We don’t do much business here [in Canada] and the market for our product has taken some hits recently. Bell Helicopters is down about 15%. But we still do a lot of contract manufacturing for companies like Cobham and we’ve taken on a great new contract with Skytrac, a local company, and we’re negotiating with some big new names from California.” On the brighter side, “The Canadian dollar has gone in the right direction for us, dropping like it did. We still have some material

Thank you! BEST AUTO BODY REPAIR CENTRAL OKANAGAN

BOYD AUTOBODY & GLASS Kelowna | Rutland | West Kelowna | Penticton

VOTE ONLINE MARCH 8– APRIL 8

The battle of the restaurants is ON!

Make your voice heard at okanaganlife.com okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2016

Questions about your hearing?

WE’RE ALL EARS

Call today to book your Free Hearing Test

NORTH KAMLOOPS SOUTH KAMLOOPS ASHCROFT SALMON ARM SORRENTO REVELSTOKE VERNON KELOWNA PENTICTON

We are as busy as we have been for the past two to three years and business is good, but challenging.” Rob Rickard

Owner of Hotwire Electric “Doing business in the Valley can be a pain in the *** at times when you are working with the trades. My biggest problem is finding good, reliable people. They want big money, the kind they were earning in the oil patch, and that just isn’t possible in the Valley. Out clients aren’t major corporations.

CanadianHearingCare.com

1-888-531-7008 1-888-531-4525 1-888-532-1450 1-888-530-8011 1-888-531-6244 1-888-533-5546 1-888-531-3023 1-888-533-1473 1-888-532-6447

MAG-ANIM-OKLF

2016 Unity

View our inventory online at www.countryrv.net

P 250.807.2898 TF 1.888.456.1808 3732 Hwy 97 N (Just South of Reid’s Corner), Kelowna, BC

Thank you for voting us one of The Best Central Okanagan RV Dealers

MODERN KITCHEN

INNOVATIVE MURPHY BED

IMPRESSIVE INSIDE SPACE

okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2016

Rob Rickard has found success serving the residential construction sector with his company Hotwire Electric. Right: working on plans with his wife Salina Colpitts.

we need to pay for in US dollars, but local costs, like labour are all paid for in Canadian dollars because we manufacture locally.” The P.A. (public address) system is a burgeoning business. AEM refreshed the product, developing new speakers and amplifiers. The market for these is with police and firefighters as well as search and rescue. “A couple of years ago when they had all that flooding in Calgary, the emergency workers flew over the endangered suburbs warning people about the rising waters and the need to evacuate,” Veitch explains. “We’re also making master caution panels for helicopters. They’re basically check engine lights for pilots. They used to have incandescent lights behind them, but these old systems used to fail because of the aircraft’s vibrations. Now we’re making them with LED lights and the manufacturers and service techs love using them because they are a retrofit that goes into the same slot the old panels used to use.” Veitch does have some con-

PROGRESS 2016 Okanagan Life Magazine

cerns about doing business in BC. “WorkSafe BC is an absolute nightmare to work with, as is the rest of the provincial government. Their regulations are convoluted and unclear.” One of his biggest problems is getting staff. Local techs trained by Okanagan College come with a bit of knowledge — particularly in the supply management area — but they don’t know how to improve processes. Veitch hires them in the summer and teaches them so they will become a valuable asset. Too many want Veitch to train them in this area and therein lies another problem. Many won’t be bothered to undertake the training on their own if they have to pay for it themselves. “As far as training goes, BCIT (British Columbia Institute of Technology) does have good programs and so does Accelerate Okanagan.” Veitch continually works to learn more about business himself. He is part of a group of owners that meets once a month under Peter Jeff rey, president of Okanagan Peer Mentoring Groups, for private courses.

Construction

Locally, one of the best sectors to be in after high tech is residential construction. Rob Rickard who owns Hotwire Electric, along with his wife Salina Colpitts, has been installing and upgrading electrical systems throughout the Valley since 1994 and he’s seen both the good and bad sides of small business. “We are as busy as we have been for the past two to three years and business is good, but challenging.” There are a few concerns that would make it easier to do business in the Valley. “Fuel costs could be lowered,” whether by a reduction at the pumps or increased tax rebates. “Affordable housing makes it hard to pay a living wage. Real estate prices have to come down and we need to have a cap on the amount of contractors in a region, like the taxicabs,” says Rickard. “I love the business and I’ve been blessed to have a great manager (Wayne Warner) working with me along with my wife. Wayne’s dad acted as my mentor when I was starting out so I owe him a lot.

“During the oil sands boom, I lost 21 guys to the oil sands. They would leave with no notice as soon as the hiring hall called them. That’s been one of the biggest problems here — the unions poaching my guys. They left for better money and when you look at it that way, you couldn’t blame them, but they left me in the lurch. “Now with Alberta in the tank, they’re f looding back into the Valley and coming to me for jobs. I can’t trust them to do it again if times improve so I really want to make sure I’ve got dedicated people. “Many of the guys I don’t hire buy a van, get some supplies and go out on their own. They’re so many of them that there is not enough work so they start slashing their rates hoping to pick up jobs here and there. What they’re doing is killing the businesses who are here and who are operating on small enough margins as it is. “The guys I’ve got now are all pretty good. I don’t need to micromanage them, but when they need expert input, they’re not afraid to come to me or Wayne.” Rickard, who has experience in Alberta as well as British Columbia, has some concerns about provincial regulations. “BC is very lax when it comes to contractor licensing. In Alberta, for example, you need a master’s certification as well as business courses to get a contractor’s license, but not here… And the provincial government needs to change the [Builders] Lien Act to make it easier to collect debts owed to the company.” But for all that, Rickard sees his company as a contributing part of the community. He and his team clean windshields at a local McDonald’s drivethrough to raise money for Ronald McDonald House on McHappy Day. This unintentionally paid off with new corporate business for his company — proving there is good karma, even in business.

PROGRESS 2016 Okanagan Life Magazine

Finance

where that particular business sector is headOne of the stumbling ed and a banker can blocks for a lot of budalso tell them whether ding entrepreneurs is their business is looked financing. Both Veitch upon in a friendly and Rickard have light or if the bank has been given a tough been burned by that time by major banks particular industry.” even though they proIt’s always good duce sound, needed to know if a bank has products. Jason Cox, been forced to foreclose the president of the on other similar comPenticton Chamber of panies, resulting in a Commerce (who also Jason Cox glut of machinery that sits of the board of the Penticton Chamber of isn’t making any monBC Chamber) has had Commerce President ey or servicing the bad plenty of experience debt incurred by the with financing compabusiness. That relationship will depend on nies, but from the other side of the desk. the individual banker. Like junk yard dogs, He was the merchant banking officer not all bankers are as friendly as they seem. for a highly respected provincial credit Business plans are a requisite for getunion before striking out on his own. ting to the batter’s box let alone first base. “From the bank’s perspective a small “New business people,” Cox says, “should business should be an investment. consider at least two business plans to People thinking of going into business present to the banking institution. Plan A, should start by developing a relationship should demonstrate how the business will with their banker. This can show them

If your wife [or husband] doesn’t support your business plan, why should we [the bank]?”

Jason Cox, president of the Penticton Chamber of Commerce, backed by posters for two of the Okanagan’s most important small business sectors, agriculture and tourism.

pay back the loan, provide a living and grow in the market. That’s ideal. Plan B is: ‘I have equity to borrow against.’ Usually a house or other real estate.” Anyone going into small business should have the support of their life partner. “If your wife [or husband] doesn’t support your business plan, why should we [the bank]?” There are more ideas out there than good ideas. Some business plans simply show what the business owner thinks the bank will like. Instead, says Cox, “they should be preparing a plan that shows how the business will operate and which they’ll follow.” Cox, who now operates as a business plan consultant, sees a lot of people who know their trade or service, but don’t know how to make it work. As a banker that’s one of the things he looked for. He also sees people who go into a business because it was a passion and they fantasized about doing this all day long. The problem is they’re really not interested in actually being in business.

The Bohemian AN ECLECTIC EATING EXPERIENCE

Visit our

new website at www.bohemiancater.com

Picked fresh daily Kelowna families have trusted Don-O-Ray Vegetables for top quality produce since the 1960s. We are proud to provide superb quality produce from our farm to your family; from our roots to your table. You’ll also find a wide selection of home-made juices, jams, and natural snacks. Try our infamous hot sauce and ever-popular butter chicken sauce for more great flavour!

3443 Benvoulin RD, Kelowna BC V1W 4M5 P. 250 860 2557 C. 250 575 7806 donorayveg@gmail.com /DonORayFarms

Come for & the Winter Summer Fun!

We invite you to experience all the comforts of home

9885 Pinnacles Rd, Silver Star Mountain, BC TF: 1-(800) 551-7466 • (250) 542-4548 reserve@pinnacles.com • www.pinnacles.com

okanaganlife.com okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2016

Janet Cody and Ray Morin followed their personal passion to create a small business, Olive Us Oil and Vinegar Tasting Room in Vernon and Lake Country.

Our regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role in the BC economy Share of provincial jobs by sector

Goods

23.2%

Goods

12.8%

Goods

21.9%

Goods

12.4%

Goods

16%

Agriculture

Construction

Fishing, hunting and trapping

Forestry and logging with support activities

Manufacturing

Utilities

Services

Public administration

6.8%

Transportation and warehousing

11.2%

Wholesale and retail trade

11.6%

Health care and social assistance

10.7%

Information, culture and recreation

9.5%

Educational services

Top photos by Bruce Kemp; infographic photos contributed.

PROGRESS 2016 Okanagan Life Magazine

The diﬀerence is made up for by the quality of our cuts, a broader range of beauty services and better environment for clients to enjoy.” Sharleen McBain

Owner of Secret Hair Aﬀair

From passion to proﬁt

Sharleen McBain was able to open her own small business as a hair stylist with the help of Community Futures.

Goods

15.6%

Services

9.5%

Services

8.1%

Mining and oil and gas extraction

Other services

Professional, scientiﬁc and technical services

Services

10.2%

10.5%

Finance, insurance, real estate and leasing

Business, building and other support services

10.8%

Accommodation and food services

Some passions work out. But it takes hard work and total dedication. Ray Morin and Janet Cody, own and operate Olive Us Oil and Vinegar Tasting Room in Vernon and Lake Country. It’s an independent, familyowned business based on their passion for extra virgin olive oil and the sweeter tastes of balsamic vinegar. Although the food industry and their product is a passion for them, they’ve taken the approach that it is a business. Ray, who is a carpenter by trade, did most of the work remodeling the interiors of their stores. They both split their time between Vernon and Lake Country and have brought their daughter, Bailey, into the business to help out and to cut overheads. “I guess staffing is one of our biggest headaches. We have two employees and could use more, but that’s what the business allows us to have. For Janet and I, our investment is our sweat equity and that’s what’s going to make it work.” Sharleen McBain has been in business as a hair stylist and the owner of Secret Hair Affair on Ellis Street in downtown Kelowna for nine years. She was teaching at Marvel Beauty College when she was laid off. With a sound knowledge of the trade and the business, Sharleen took the big step, with the help of the Community Futures program, of opening her own shop. She has two employees styling hair and a good clientele, but it hasn’t been easy. Sharleen faces stiff competition from stylists who keep overheads low by operating out of their homes. “The difference,” she says, “is made up for by the quality of our cuts, a broader range of beauty services and better environment for clients to enjoy.”

Job breakdown source: WorkBC; statistics for 2014.

okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2016

Linda Andersson found varying demographics in diﬀerent parts of the region profoundly aﬀected her service business.

Creative services

Not all businesses are based on their aesthetic appeal or making the client look good. Some, like Penticton’s Linda Andersson and Steve Jasper, offer indispensable services. Linda makes life simpler for people by helping them organize their offices and homes. Originally based in Kelowna, she moved to Penticton for personal reasons. In Kelowna her clientele was more involved with business operations. Her company, Organizing Help, established ergonomic systems and more efficient filing architecture to streamline corporate output. However, that all changed when she moved to Penticton and discovered she was dealing in a substantially different market. There the demand was to help private individuals make the move from their home to retirement resort communities or care facilities. They had to downsize their possessions, but found it difficult because of emotional attachments. Organizing Help as a business was flexible enough to read the market correctly and change its corporate personality to suit the needs. Jasper came into the Valley just recently from the industrial world. His profession is environmental engineering and he has worked for some of the biggest names in the business advising on different projects including pipelines from Alberta to the Coast. Steve and his wife visited the Okanagan on a week long trip and by the end of it had bought a house in Naramata. For him, this new company (so new his website was only two weeks old when we spoke) is a retirement job. Like a lot of people he views himself as too young to fully retire. To get things up and running, he joined the chamber of commerce because he doesn’t have a lot of contacts locally.

PROGRESS 2016 Okanagan Life Magazine

Small business owner and business author Jack Borden encourages would-be entrepreneurs to write a good business plan and follow it.

Advice from the trenches Would any of these people start a small business again? The answer is yes, but with qualiﬁcations.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Engineering consultant Steve Jasper is a big supporter of chambers of commerce as a tool for newcomers to network and get to know the local environment.

Know your profession or trade thoroughly. Plan to hire good, dependable people. Select a business that answers a market need, not one you feel like being in. Make a good business plan that tells bankers what they want to know and that you can use as a guide for the successful running of your business. Organize your funding so you have enough to operate with wiggle room. Take advantage of financing programs like the Business Development Corporation, SIDIT and your own bank, with whom you’ve developed a relationship. Be flexible to adapt to changing conditions. Network to find both clients and people whose experience you can fall back on for advice. Join the local chamber of commerce and take advantage of their networking and training programs. Work hard. Your labour is also your capital.

He sees three advantages to joining the are good technical and business manageChamber: “…it’s good for networking; for ment programs being offered through learning the local business culture; and getUBCO and Okanagan College, but there is ting the word out about my new business.” little in the way of entrepreneurial training. Jasper’s knowledge is his product and “People coming into small business need it isn’t affected by his age. Right now he’s to know more than how to make a product trying to find and connect with other small or create a service,” says Borden. “They environmental businesses so he can learn have to know how to avoid the pitfalls and from the successful local and regional guys, traps that can often come out of nowhere but there aren’t a lot of local businesses to sink your business, but they also have doing similar things. In the end, he views to know the rewards that are possible.” his role as a consultant on environmental In light of this, Borden has written issues to corporate entities and First Nations two books to help steer new business councils who need accurate information for people away from dangerous shoals and to the decisions they will have to undertake. encourage them to write a good business Steve Jasper is correct in thinking plan they can follow: Avoid Small Business that knowledge has a great deal of value, Hell and Faster, Cheaper, Better — How and he is also correct in understanding to Start and Operate a Business in the that small business requires a concerted Trades, both from Self-Counsel Press. effort at networking and marketing to make it a success. No one knows that better that Jack Borden who owns and Bruce Kemp is an Okanaganoperates Coldstream Meadows, a retirebased writer and ment resort community in Vernon. photographer Borden has been involved in small busiwho contributes ness for most of his life, coming to Vernon to national and in 1997 where he opened Westwood Electric. international media. He understands the difficulties in learning how to be an entrepreneur. Most everyone we talked to for this story agrees that there

okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2016

Leading-edge treatment, personalized care DermMedica “It’s our commitment to high quality patient care that keeps us motivated and constantly improving our services at DermMedica,” says Dr. Crippen. While some cosmetic facilities may be focused on pushing through as many patients as possible, DermMedica seems content at the opposite end of the spectrum. They firmly believe that quality care cannot, and should not, be rushed. “We really enjoy getting to know our patients, and how they are doing in their lives. It’s one of the joys of medicine that has been mostly lost in the modern era of increased efficiency.” Dr. Crippen sees patients who have been referred by their family physician for any number of skin issues. A common problem he sees in Kelowna is untreated skin cancers that have been left to grow for many years with no interventions. “All too often I see a patient with a very preventable skin cancer that now requires some minor surgery. It’s a very exciting time in medicine today with a number of treatment options that can delay or even prevent the need for skin surgery,” says Dr. Crippen. As a Dermatology teaching centre for UBC’s medical school here in Kelowna, Dr. Crippen’s clinic takes medical students to see firsthand how modern medicine is practiced. This is in addition to Dr. Crippen teaching at the medical school itself at Kelowna General Hospital. Dr. Crippen is a firm believer in being actively engaged with the university and being a resource to both his patients and the local medical community. On the national stage, Dr. Crippen is the BC & Alberta representative on the College of Family Physicians of Canada Dermatology Committee. This is a brand new committee that was formed in response to the ever increasing demand for higher quality dermatology education amongst family physicians. “There is a huge shortage of dermatologists in Canada, especially in British Columbia,” says Dr. Crippen. “As a family physician with a special interest in skin disorders, I am a resource to our BC Interior physicians who don’t want their patients

to wait six or more months for a specialist appointment. There are a large number of common skin conditions that can be appropriately treated by a physician like myself.” Dr. Crippen is also working with the brand new Canadian Acne & Rosacea Society committee whose purpose it is to work with representatives from medical and healthcare professional organizations on professional education and public awareness initiatives on acne and rosacea in order to improve the lives of sufferers. “Acne and rosacea are very common skin conditions that are very amenable to treatment, and it’s our job to educate both medical professionals and patients to help alleviate their symptoms,” says Dr. Crippen.

Some of the popular cosmetic treatments at DermMedica include laser skin treatments to remove moles/lesions and improve the colour and texture of the skin. CoolSculpting is also in high demand as he was the first physician to perform this procedure in Kelowna back in 2011. Dr. Crippen has been qualified to use Botox and Fillers for over 10 years to improve lines and wrinkles on the face, and this is one of the most popular treatments he performs. “I can dramatically improve the signs of aging in as little as one appointment with the appropriate use of Botox and Fillers.” says Dr. Crippen. “The key is using the right amount of these products in the right area to enhance someone’s appearance subtly. Our goal is completely natural looking results.”

We really enjoy getting to know our patients, and how they are doing in their lives. It’s one of the joys of medicine that has been mostly lost in the modern era of increased efficiency.” Dr. Craig Crippen.

PROGRESS 2016 Okanagan Life Magazine

Rejuvenate, revitalize, renew Sparkling Hill Resort Inspired by the great spas of Europe, enchanted by more than 3.5 million Swarovski crystals, and surrounded by the beauty of Okanagan Lake and the Monashee Mountains, Sparkling Hill is a North American trendsetter in healthy living and wellness hospitality. From luxurious suites and fine dining to the amenities and treatments of state-of-the-art KurSpa, this resort provides a completely unforgettable experience. Each sumptuous room opens a floor-to-ceiling window wall on warm sunlight, fresh mountain air and peerless views enhanced by the unique Swarovski architecture within. Amenities include custom soaking tubs, strategically placed to maximize the lake and mountain views, wireless internet and available in-room dining. Guests enjoy a full complimentary breakfast buffet offering expansive choices from healthy to indulgent; exclusive access to KurSpa pools, steam rooms and saunas, the Keiser-equipped fitness studio, and the Serenity and Tea Room for rest and relaxation. KurSpa offers all the amenities for pampering and health, with more than 100 innovative healing treatments for guests to sample a la carte or combined in fullyplanned wellness vacations. For those seeking a more comprehensive wellness retreat, the naturopaths, kinesiologists and estheticians of the KurSpa Clinic have integrated the

very best in traditional European spa treatments, naturopathy and homeopathic medicine. And integrated wellness means caring for the mind as well as the body. SHaRP is the Sparkling Hill relationship program, a three-day package of group education and individual meetings with the resort psychiatrist designed to enhance relationships at work and at home. Completing the incomparable destination spa experience is Sparkling Hill’s exceptional dining and catering. PeakFine restaurant

is renowned for its sparkling ambiance, stellar views and exquisite cuisine. Chef Marco Herbergs matches his menus to the seasons, celebrating the freshest Okanagan and province-wide ingredients with sophisticated European service. For lighter fare, Barrique & Java provides its own wonderful views in more casual style. Throughout the morning, freshly baked pastries complement coffee selections while the menu expands to soups, salads, sandwiches and shared plates later in the day. Evenings, the coffee shop transforms into a relaxed wine bar with vintages by the glass from Sparkling Hill’s carefully curated wine list. With such spectacular amenities and a location like no other, Sparkling Hill has also developed into a highly sought-after event destination. Private gatherings from corporate meetings and executive lunches to family celebrations and unforgettable weddings, fit perfectly in Gernots. Accommodating up to 50 guests, the room provides a feeling of rustic luxury created by reclaimed barn board, stone hearth, Swarovski crystal chandelier, local antiques and built-in wine bar. A private outdoor patio extends the space to take even greater advantage of the natural woodlands and those peerless lake views. No wonder readers and reviewers in publications from Condé Nast to Trip Advisor, Fodors to Okanagan Life repeatedly rate Sparkling Hill among the top spa destinations and experiences available today. Learn more at www.sparklinghill.com.

okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2016

Dilworth Homes has built success upon success for more than a quarter of a century. It’s obvious they’ve found the secret to overwhelming customer satisfaction.”

Your home, your way Dilworth Homes With Dilworth Homes, the focus on building Your Home, Your Way is the secret. Home buyers know they can expect unbeatable value, personal service and award-winning quality, while Dilworth’s amazing range of locations and styles ensures a perfect fit for every lifestyle need. This established leader in custom home construction applies the same level of engineering knowledge, building experience and style consciousness to its townhome projects and readyto-move-in express homes. Dilworth is committed to building sought after communities — one home at a time. Tower Ranch encompasses Kelowna’s #1 Golf Course as voted by the PGA of BC. The neighbourhood presents a selection of building lots, custom designs and express homes ideal for golfers or anyone drawn to broad expanses of green space and sweeping scenic vistas — yet still conveniently located just minutes from airport, downtown and university. Amenities include a clubhouse with restaurant, lounge and patio plus full service fitness facility along with hiking and biking trails. Floor plans incorporate such sought

PROGRESS 2016 Okanagan Life Magazine

after features as entertainment and wine rooms, main-floor master suites, and expansive patios, while natural wood and stone treatments raise the bar on décor. This same outstanding venue hosts the North Pointe on Eighteen neighbourhood. Here Dilworth places the emphasis on duplex style townhomes and express townhomes. Starting with a choice of four distinctive floor plans, buyers have the option to customize as much or as little as they like. With high-impact design elements like vaulted ceilings and frameless glass balcony railings, large kitchen pantries and master walk-in closet, these homes set a new standard for value and luxury. In the prestigious Upper Mission, Dilworth is responding to the tremendous demand for properties in the area with its new Stonebridge Pointe community. Here different elements of the Okanagan lifestyle predominate with just a short downhill walk to Summerhill Winery, apple orchards, and the Sunshine Market. Nature surrounds and Dilworth makes the most of it, building homes with Okanagan Lake views, creating a neighbourhood park and providing

access to mountain walking trails. Here buyers looking for a building lot, for their dream custom home or a Dilworth express home will all find an ideal fit. Dilworth hasn’t forgotten those looking for an executive townhome in the area. Coming in April, the Summit at South Ridge is a boutique offering of just 16 exclusive townhomes at the pinnacle of the Upper Mission with stunning views from Peachland to the bridge. Amenities usually found only in single-family dwellings include main floor master bedroom and premium finishes like hardwood floors, quartz counter tops and stainless steel appliances. If you are looking to escape the hustle of the big city but still live in the Okanagan Valley, look no further than Armstrong where Dilworth offers buyers at Southgate exceptional pricing of lots starting from $89,900, and the opportunity to work with the specialists at Dilworth, or other builder of their choice, to create the home they’ve been waiting for. Visit www.dilworthhomes.com for more exciting details and the location and hours of showhomes in the community that best suits your lifestyle and dreams.

OKANAGAN LIVING AT ITS BEST

Armstrong BC

EXECUTIVE TOWNHOMES

VIEW LOTS & SINGLE FAMILY HOMES

SINGLE FAMILY HOMES

DUPLEX STYLE TOWNHOMES

LOTS AND SINGLE FAMILY HOMES

This is not to be construed as an offering for sale which can only be made by way of disclosure statement. E&OE.

Are you tired of body impressions in your mattress? Sleepy’s Ahhh … the dreaded body impression! Only Sleepy’s have the cure! So, you just invested in a new sleep set and already in six months to a year you are noticing a large hump up the middle of the mattress with two deep sinkholes on either side of the top where your bodies lay. You call the salesperson that sold it to you and you are told that body impressions are normal, that the mattress is conforming to your body. You are told to rotate your mattress more often or if you have a king size, to make quarter turns and this should minimize the issue. Then you find out that these sags have to be visibly more than 1.5” to 2” deep before you can have anything done about it. You explain that you have to roll uphill to meet your partner and are told again that this is normal? “Well, I assure you that this issue is very common, but it is not normal!” says Geoff McLeary, Owner of Sleepy’s — Bedroom Furniture & Sleep Shop in Kelowna. Going back 12 years ago and beyond, mattresses did not get body impressions. Most good mattresses performed very well for years and stood the test of time. The mattress of today will last (if you’re lucky) an average of 5 to 6 years and most get these dreaded body impressions in a very short period of time. Mattress sets of the past lasted more than 10 to 12 years or longer. Back when the mattress makers decided to brainwash the North American public into believing that half a mattress was better than a whole one, it wasn’t so bad. Most of the factories upgraded the quality of the components in the top of the mattress to

give the bed more integrity. Sadly, after a few short years, the larger mattress stores put pressure on the manufacturers to reduce their wholesale costs so they could amp up their profit margins even more. The only way this could be achieved is by using inferior components and/or sourcing lower priced fillers from China … even springs systems come from there now. Some of the largest mattress makers are using 1.2 lb. density foam in their high end sleep sets. That’s only one step above “camping foam” folks! Sleepy’s owner, Geoff McLeary does not like this! He says, “At Sleepy’s, we do not like our clients to have issues with their sleep. We want happy and well rested customers! Sleep is important and your new mattress should enhance your health, not take away from it.” He has teamed up with the Restonic and Spring Air Mattress factories in Vancouver to resurrect the two sided flippable mattress. These two mattress makers build their beds with integrity, they use all North American components, and they are not in any of the bigger mattress stores. Restonic has won the Women’s Choice Award for the most recommended mattress brand for four years in a row. As well as the Consumer’s Digest Best Buy Award for the eighth year in a row. So, for about a 15% to 25% increase in the cost … you will receive over 100% additional lifespan on your new double sided flippable mattress. The mattress will perform better, will feel better over a much longer period of time, and will retain it’s shape for the long term. “We offer a range of two sided

Sleepy’s - The Mattress Store - #3-1725 Baron Rd. - Kelowna. T. 250-868-2337 E. sleepys@shaw.ca W. www.sleepys.ca

PROGRESS 2016 Okanagan Life Magazine

mattresses starting at a $388 queen size.” Sleepy’s also specialize in a lesser known superior material used in their mattresses, toppers, and pillows … pure latex. Latex is the longest lasting material used in the mattress industry and is derived from the rubber tree. You never have to flip or rotate a quality latex mattress, because these comfortable sleep systems will perform for the long term. Our most popular latex bed offers a 20 year full non prorated warranty and an unheard of ¾” body impression tolerance over that 20 year period of time. McLeary says “We have had clients come into our store that were dealing with a big mattress store in town and have gone through as many as five mattresses in two years due to premature body impressions/warranty issues and are looking for solutions. They found Sleepy’s offered them a solution, a better built and refreshing alternative to the defective designs being offered from other stores.” Sleepy’s are also striving to be your destination “green” sleep shop in the Okanagan. “We offer a nice range of green, natural, and organic mattresses and bedding for your better sleep and better health.” Sleepy’s promise to offer you only the best materials in their mattresses. Nothing made in China! No smoke and mirrors. No toxic memory foam. No gimmicks! Just the straight goods from the owner himself. You will find Sleepy’s — The Mattress Store just behind Costco on Baron Road in Kelowna — or — visit our virtual showroom at www.sleepys.ca to get a feel of who we are.

Lifestyle on the lake The Cottages The Cottages is the best-selling waterfront community in the South Okanagan, with 126 homes sold to date. It is a spectacular gated community of detached homes ranging in price from the high $300s to over $1 million, with most homes in the $450,000 to $500,000 range. The 70-acre property is located on the northeast corner of Osoyoos Lake near some of the region’s best known wineries such as Black Hills and Burrowing Owl. The project has 1,800’ of waterfront, over 500’ of sandy beach, two swimming pools, a 7,000 sq. ft. community centre, 20 acres of green-space for all to enjoy, boat slips, walking trails, and many other amenities. Twelve different standard floor plans are available and all homes can be fully customized. If you are retired, about to retire or need a spectacular vacation property, The Cottages is the place to be. For more information visit www.OsoyoosCottages.com or call 1.855.742.5555.

Unparalleled location, amenities and homes make The Cottages an obvious choice.

BEACHCOMBER...

ideas F O R

BETTER LIVING

SERIOUS INDOOR OUTDOOR QUALITY FURNITURE FOR THE DISCERNING HOME DECORATOR. Visit our spacious showrooms. We offer a comprehensive range of quality furniture from leading designers and manufacturers. Whether you need furniture for the home living room, dining room, outdoor room, poolside, or if furnishing your café, restaurant, hotel or resort, then Beachcomber Home and Leisure offer solutions encompassing style, comfort and budget. Hours: 9am-5:30pm Mon-Sat

KELOWNA 2457 Hwy 97 N 250.763.8847 1.866.763.8847

VERNON 5309 26th St. 250.542.3399 1.800.307.4835

okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2016

Introducing Fawn Run Give your kids a free-range childhood Does today’s hectic lifestyle leave you longing for a simpler time, when things weren’t quite so rushed? Have you been thinking the days of children riding bikes, climbing trees and playing outside are gone for good? It sometimes feels that way, doesn’t it? That those simple pleasures are all but forgotten in our plugged-in, instant-on world of smartphones, tablets and video games. Where we dash madly from one activity to another without really taking the time to savour what’s real, what’s important? But if you’re ready for a change — if you’re ready to slow down and truly appreciate all that life and nature have to offer — then you’re ready for Fawn Run at The Ponds. This new development in the highly sought-after community of The Ponds in Upper Mission is where families are embraced, challenged and inspired to reconnect with nature. It’s where they can — once again — recapture that sometimes elusive but wonderful rhythm that can only be found in the great outdoors. Let’s imagine for a moment what having nature at your doorstep really looks like. It’s a neighbourhood where families can explore, discover and wonder at all that nature has to offer. Where they can make the most of every square inch of backyard playing space. Fawn Run is a modern, new community with a vision that’s pure and simple. It’s based on the premise that we’re healthier when we feel connected, we’re more productive when

PROGRESS 2016 Okanagan Life Magazine

we feel inspired and we’re happiest when we’re living an active, balanced lifestyle. Within 90 acres of greenspace, surrounded by over 22 kilometres of walking trails and five lush ponds, home has never felt this good. Fawn Run’s thoughtfully planned amenities are abundant and the community takes its

cues from the beauty that surrounds it. An intricate trail system connects private enclaves of homes to the nearby lakes, waterfalls, woodland areas and grasslands that surround it. Perched atop a spectacular mountain plateau, Fawn Run is ideally situated alongside the untouched wooded southern slopes of Kelowna’s most desirable Upper Mission neighbourhood. The development will bring neighbours together with parks, playing fields and walkable urban amenities designed to integrate modern living with outdoor recreation in the best possible way. The first offering of unique home sites will be released this spring with prices starting at $242,500. This community encourages diversity and has set up a homebuilding program that allows buyers to select their own architect and builder to craft a home that is unique to them. That means streets lined with homes that are distinctive and reflective of the personal styles of the families that live in them. It makes sense, when you think about it. We were all designed as individuals so shouldn’t our homes be one of the greatest reflections of our personal style? It’s refreshing to see a development that recognizes and respects freedom of expression and can envision master planned communities as something more than cookie-cutter suburbia. To learn more about this special opportunity visit the Fawn Run show home at 5730 Mountainside Drive, past Chute Lake Road in the Upper Mission. Or visit them online at www.fawnrun.ca.

Boyd donation helps college launch automotive careers Boyd Autobody & Glass As a potential skills shortage looms that could affect the automotive sector in the Okanagan in the next five years, a local autobody shop owner is helping Okanagan College rev up excitement for careers in collision repair. Boyd Autobody & Glass recently presented the college with a unique demonstration piece: a mobile collision repair demonstration vehicle, which can be transported to local high schools. L-R: John Haller and owner Methal Abougoush.

Boyd owner, Methal Abougoush has been touring the vehicle around Kelowna and presenting to students for the past year. In addition to the demonstration unit, valued at over $15,000, Boyd Autobody & Glass has also made a donation to support a locker space in the new trades building. “We hope this demonstration vehicle and our support of students at the college inspires more people to think about collision repair as a career path,” says Abougoush. “It’s an exciting time for collision repair and all our programs,” says dean of trades and apprenticeship, Steve Moores. “The donations of equipment, tools, and support for the new trades facilities and for our students are helping us continue to enhance our programs, so we’re very grateful.”

Businesses working together Downtown Vernon Association Since 1967 the DVA has worked to promote Downtown Vernon as a unique and dynamic destination for entertainment, goods and services. We encourage people to shop local, support local businesses and participate in community events. Through a variety of programs and services the DVA works to strengthen the economic vitality of Downtown Vernon. The DVA is not a stand-alone organization, nor a function of the City of Vernon. We are a Business Improvement Area (BIA) created by the businesses within our boundaries and funded by a

commercial tax levy on properties within the BIA. This levy ensures a secure and equitable financial operating base, similar to the promotion and maintenance fees assessed by shopping malls. However, the mandate of the DVA is considerably greater and with a comparably smaller investment, the results are significant. We seek to build strategic relationships and speak with a unified voice on behalf of our membership. Our goal is to help create economic prosperity and sustainability and make downtown Vernon a desirable destination.

Civic Sounds by Peter Solymosi Photography.

Building Envelope Specialists R O O F I N G | C L A D D I N G | WA L L S Y S T E M S TOMTAR IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE NEW ACM DIVISION

Tel: 250-765-8122 | Fax: 250-765-7063 www.tomtar.ca | #101-199 Pinto Road, Kelowna okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2016

Built on service Country RV

Home2 Suites at 50% completion.

Synergy brings success Argus Properties Innovation, quality, service and outstanding people set Argus Properties apart as a business leader in the Okanagan Valley. This full service real estate development company is dedicated to providing personal attention to client needs, whether that be built-to-suit, leasing space, property management, renovations or maintenance. Clients like FedEx, Starbucks, Coca Cola, Alpine Aerotech and SW Audio demand the best and they’ve found it in Argus. Among the reasons for this trust is the determination within the Argus team to create synergy with their clients and it extends beyond the pure business basics to a true sense of commitment to community. This company doesn’t just construct buildings, it believes in active corThis company porate citizenship. doesn’t just As a Kelownabased company, construct Argus is proud of buildings, local successes like it believes its award-winning Four Points by in active Sheraton at the corporate airport and its citizenship.” recently acquired Hotel Eldorado. New on the horizon is the Home2 Suites by Hilton in Fort St. John, gateway to the Site C dam, which will bring 4,000 workers and their families to the region. The Hilton Home2 is a 90-room property offering studio and one-bedroom suites designed for extended stay with an amazing array of amenities. To learn more about how Argus Properties can meet your needs, visit www.argusproperties.ca.

34 PROGRESS 2016

Okanagan Life Magazine

Shopping for your first RV or looking for a change, you want a dealership with outstanding selection, professional staff, full parts and service, and uncompromising dedication to customer care. Since 1999, we’ve built our business on these key features. We carry top of the line North American RV brands like Cougar, Montana, Hideout, Bullet, Leisure Travel Vans, Pleasure-Way and many more. Our knowledgeable staff will help you chose

Henry Epp, general manager.

the perfect vehicle to fill your needs and suit your budget — with no pressure and no stress. And we’ll help you keep your investment in top condition with expert winterizing and repairs by our journeymen technicians. Service beyond compare with locations in Winfield and Kelowna.

Creating beauty Sticks + Stones In 1995, Sticks and Stones founder Carla Bond-Fisher entered the market to leave North America a little more beautiful than she’d found it. Twenty years, multiple moves and countless clients later, Carla’s at the top of her game, both professionally and personally. When asked about what success takes, Carla says it comes down to creating relationships, hard work and perseverance. The fact that some team members are going on their tenth

Sticks + Stones team.

year is a testament to their collaborative vision. Sticks and Stones was founded on the simple principle of doing something and doing it well. The entire team has worked hard to create a beautiful Western Canada and show no signs of slowing down.

Debate series draws community together Third Annual Roger Watts Advocacy Debates UBCO debaters will pit their wit and wisdom against each other at the upcoming Roger Watts Advocacy Debates. Last year’s attendees called the event, “the most compelling two hours in local show business.” Top student debate teams will face off in honour of the late Roger Watts, a respected member of the Okanagan legal community. Student debaters will be judged by a panel of community leaders, including Mayor Colin

Basran, and will be marked on the strength of their arguments and rebuttals, with a strong emphasis on humour. The event takes place on Tuesday, March 22 at the Rotary Centre for the Arts. The public is welcome and free tickets are available on www.eventbrite.ca Roger Watts 1945-2011

Eclectic eating experience Bohemian Café & Catering An icon in downtown Kelowna, ‘the Boh,’ as it’s affectionately known, is a favourite among locals and tourists for incredible downtown dining. In 2015, it won Best Breakfast, Best Vegetarian and Best Caterer in Okanagan Life’s Readers’ Choice Awards. Offering breakfast and lunch in a funky downtown setting, their menu features some of the best, fresh local ingredients the area has to offer. What started as a family-run business

inspired by home-cooking has become a Kelowna institution in eclectic and delicious comfort food. Soak in the sun on their patio or have them cater your event anywhere in the Valley. The Bohemian Café is open Wednesday to Sunday at 524 Bernard Avenue. Check out www.bohemiancater.com for details.

Argus Properties photo contributed; rendering by Cities Edge Architects.

A sense of community

West Harbour is a multiple Tommy Award winner.

West Harbour West Harbour is a master planned community featuring detached and semi-detached homes nestled on the shores of Okanagan Lake directly across the water from downtown. With peerless design and amenities, this project has developed into a neighbourhood of distinction. Yet West Harbour is so much more than a mere collection of dwellings and amenities designed to promote an enviable lakeside lifestyle. West Harbour has produced an amazing sense of community. Residents are friends. They love to get together for a glass of wine, share dinner, cruise together on the lake, or relax on the beach or pool deck. People love living here — and it’s easy to see why. The homes at West Harbour feature stunning Tuscan architecture incorporating timeless elements of stone, brick and wood with prominent arch, bridge and fountain features abounding throughout the community. Complementing the spectacular Mediterranean style are spacious

contemporary layouts and finishes inspired by the waterfront villages of Southern Europe. Each home has been mindfully designed to maximize livability by opening the space, illuminating the interior with fresh, natural Okanagan light. West Harbour homes are the perfect backdrop for everyday living, entertaining friends and family, or simple peaceful reflection. At West Harbour, expansive lake and mountain views set the mood for rewarding outdoor living. Residents share 500 feet of sandy beachfront, swimming pool, hot tub and barbecue lounge area, and they look forward to the addition of an amenity centre, coming soon. This community even boasts its own on-site marina, providing moorage on a lake where finding a space for your boat can be a serious challenge. One slip is included with every Estate home while Villa and Villetta owners have the option of purchasing their own docking space.

Villas with boat slip at West harbour start from $559,000. To learn more about how you can become a part of this remarkable community, visit www.westharbourkelowna.com and drop by our presentation centre, open Wednesday to Sunday afternoons from 12 to 4, at 1486 Old Ferry Wharf Road.

BACKYARD PARKING ENJOY LAKESIDE LIVING IN WEST KELOWNA.

NEW HOMES FROM $499,000*

An intimate community of Tuscan-inspired homes perched on the Okanagan’s west shore. With incredible views of downtown Kelowna, 500 feet of sandy beachfront, pool and boat moorage. Looking for more? Come west.

westharbourkelowna.com Sale Centre open WED – SUN, Noon – 4:00 PM Take Hwy 97 to Westside Rd., turn onto Old Ferry Wharf Rd *Boat slips may be purchased at an additional cost

okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2016

Third Space believes in creating a space that celebrates who you are and who you are becoming. We provide life services that integrate mind, body and soul celebrating the power of community. We are convinced that tomorrow can be better than today, that we all have the need to love and to be loved, and that we all have a longing to make sense of life. We challenge you to discover the tribe that is Third Space.

mind.

professional development life guidance spiritual exploration

body.

dietitians natural tattoo removal naturopathic medicine physiotherapy & kinesiology registered massage therapy traditional chinese medicine acupuncture

Learn more at thirdspaceculture.ca

PROGRESS 2016 Okanagan Life Magazine

soul.

coffee and food events and workshops community

or drop in at 1708 Dolphin Ave. in Landmark 2, Kelowna BC

A DA VD ER VT EIRSTEIM S EEM NE TN T

Park-side Park-sideliving living Central Central Green Green entrance entrance willwill feature feature a a Homes Homes at Central at Central Green, Green, Kelowna’s Kelowna’s newnewest master-planned est master-planned community, community, willwill offeroffer children’s children’s playground, playground, andand on the on the easteast sideside willwill residents residents all the all the benefits benefits of parkside of parkside living. living. Sales Sales for the for the firstfirst homes homes are are set to setbegin to begin thisthis be abe small a small stage stage for perfor performing arts,arts, adjacent adjacent to to spring. spring. These These heritage-inspired heritage-inspired modern modern loftslofts forming the the firstfirst Central Central Green Green willwill transform transform the the corner corner of Richter of Richter Street Street andand Harvey Harvey Avenue Avenue intointo the the most most sustainsustainbuilding building off Richter off Richter Street. Street. Starting Starting in the in the lowlow ableable community community the the citycity has has everever seen. seen. “Green, “Green, open open space space spawns spawns recrerecre$200,000s, $200,000s, Central Central Green Green condominiums condominiums willwill havehave oneone andand twotwo ation ation – and – and recreation recreation encourages encourages people people to to bedroom bedroom homes homes withwith several several two-storey two-storey livelive healthier healthier lifestyles,” lifestyles,” sayssays Randy Randy Shier, Shier, President President of Mission of Mission Group Group Homes, Homes, the the loft loft options. options. All All three three Mission Mission Group Group buildbuildingsings at Central at Central Green Green willwill feature feature accents accents developer developer behind behind three three residential residential green green of “school-house” red red brick brick andand detailed detailed buildings buildings to be toconstructed be constructed beside beside the the comcom- of “school-house” cornice cornice ledges ledges around around the the roofline. roofline. TheThe munity munity park. park. “We“We are are planning planning Central Central architecture payspays homage homage to both to both the the Green Green to be toactive, be active, greener, greener, andand more more walkwalk- architecture original original brick brick Kelowna Kelowna Secondary Secondary School School able,able, offering offering places places where where children children cancan andand the the century-old century-old Central Central School. School. playplay andand youyou cancan meet meet youryour neighbour,” neighbour,” “It was important important for us forto ushave to have the the TheThe CityCity of Kelowna’s of Kelowna’s planplan for the for the commucommu- “It was homes at Central at Central Green Green fit with fit with the the charcharnitynity parkpark includes includes a perimeter a perimeter walking/biking walking/biking homes acter acter of the of the neighbourhood neighbourhood andand honour honour circuit circuit andand a field a field areaarea for informal for informal games games the the richrich heritage heritage of the of the site,” site,” sayssays Shier. Shier. of soccer of soccer or football. or football. TheThe Buckland Buckland Plaza Plaza

All All homes homes at Central at Central Green Green willwill be built be built to Leadership to Leadership in Energy in Energy andand Environmental Environmental Design Design (LEED®) (LEED®) standards, standards, designed designed to use to use less less energy energy andand water water andand havehave better better indoor indoor air quality air quality andand temperature temperature regulation. regulation. Offering Offering urban urban living living at itsatfinest, its finest, the the pedestrian-friendly pedestrian-friendly community community is located is located within within easyeasy walking walking andand cycling cycling distance distance of of downtown, downtown, the the cultural cultural district, district, andand the the beach. beach. VisitVisit the the Discovery Discovery Centre Centre andand Display Display Home Home at 1800 at 1800 Richter Richter Street, Street, Kelowna Kelowna for the for the Advanced Advanced Preview Preview March March 12 and 12 and Grand Grand Opening Opening March March 19. Sign 19. Sign up to up to staystay informed informed at www.centralgreen.ca at www.centralgreen.ca

WeWe specialize specialize in ainfast, a fast, high high quality quality lunch lunch service service with with reasonable reasonable prices prices andand large large portions. portions.

Darrell Darrell andand Margaret Margaret Porubanec Porubanec Legacy Legacy Donors Donors

REMEMBER REMEMBER KGH KGH IN YOUR IN YOUR WILL WILL

ThTh ank ank you you Kelowna Kelowna forfor a great a great 2525 years! years! VotedVoted Best Lunch, Best Lunch, Best Soup, Best Soup, Best Casual Best Casual Dinning/Bistro, Dinning/Bistro, Best European Best European and Best andSandBest Sandwich of wich theofCentral the Central Okanagan Okanagan by Okanagan by Okanagan Life readers Life readers 2003-2015 2003-2015

WOOD FIRE BAKERY Central Okanagan

BEST MEAL FOR THE MONEY

WOOD FIRE BAKERY WOOD FIRE BAKERY Central Okanagan

Central Okanagan

WOOD FIRE BAKERY Central Okanagan

BEST MEAL FOR THE MONEY BEST SANDWICH

BEST SANDWICH

Every Every giftgift to the to the KGHKGH Foundation Foundation in support in support of of ourour hospital hospital impacts impacts the the liveslives of your of your family family andand community community nownow andand for generations for generations to come. to come. To discuss To discuss ways ways to create to create youryour legacy, legacy, please please contact contact Diane. Diane.

DIANE DIANE PATERSON PATERSON Manager Manager of Gift of Gift Planning Planning 250.862.4300 250.862.4300 locallocal 7011 7011 | diane.paterson@interiorhealth.ca | diane.paterson@interiorhealth.ca

2041 2041 Harvey Harvey Ave,Ave, Kelowna, Kelowna, BC BC (250) (250) 762-2626 762-2626

kghfoundation.com kghfoundation.com okanaganlife.com okanaganlife.com PROGRESS PROGRESS 2016 2016 3737

Service meets quality and selection Beachcomber Home & Leisure What sets this business apart is commitment to customer service. Their goal is to exceed the expectations of their customers. And with over 40 years in retail, they know how to make that happen! With their three sons, Dennis and Barbie Melvin have owned and operated Beachcomber Home and Leisure since its inception in 1989. Together they’ve created the complete home furnishing resource with conveniently located showrooms in Kelowna and Vernon. You’ll find

piece from their extensive manufacturer inventory catalogues, then get it delivered fast. Now’s the time to start planning for Okanagan summer living and Beachcomber is ready with a huge line up of amazing outdoor furniture ranging from woven resin, cast aluminium and wrought iron classics to contemporary styling. Complete your open-air lifestyle with a hot tub from one of their three different se series. Come in for a look and you’ll see why the Melvin family has been awarded Beachcomber Hot Tub Dealer of the year—worldwide! In addition to their two main showrooms, Beachcomber offers great deals and incred incredible finds—from comfortable living and bedroom furniture to stylish and functional outdoor patio sets—in their Vernon Clearance Centre. Shop now for the best selection. Beachcomber Home and Leisure truly is your best choice for quality, selection and price. But most of all, it’s about the service. Learn www.bhleisure.com. 0426 RPGP RN Individualized Program Ad - Desne Hall - Size 7.25in Wide x 4.875in High - CMYK - 03more PressatReady PDF

everything from living, dining and bedroom to home office and outdoor space with all the accessories and finishing touches to complete your dream décor—at an equally attractive price. Constantly shopping for quality, detail and unique design, the Melvin family maintains a massive inventory with two warehouses fully stocked so you don’t have to wait to enjoy your new furniture. And if you don’t see exactly the right item to express your personal style and spirit, they’ll help you find the perfect

PROGRESS 2016 Okanagan Life Magazine Edited and Formatted only by Gary Leung 2014 604 267 2113

Rising from the ashes Scorched Earth Winery Just above the shores of Okanagan Lake, nestled in Okanagan Mountain Park, is a small vineyard called Scorched Earth Vineyard and Winery. The name for our family Estate run farm and winery comes from the surrounding landscape of scorched earth, which still shows the remains of burnt out trees after the 2003 wildfires. The original vineyard was planted in 1989, but the high volume of fire retardant dumped on the vineyard to keep the aggressive 2003 wildfire from spreading, caused the vines too much damage to salvage. The entire vineyard was pulled out and the land resculpted to take it back to the basics. Using 40 dump truck loads of organic compost, the vineyard has been converted

to organic and replanted with 3 blocks of single lot Pinot Noir. Our Estate Vineyard produces only 500 cases of wine annually from hand-picked and hand-sorted premium French Pinot Noir clones. Scorched Earth Winery released its first licensed batch from the replanted grapes in 2012. Only 3 barrels of wine were made that year from the young vines, yet this wine went on to win the silver medal for Pinot Noir in Okanagan Life’s Best of BC Wine Awards. Our wine label carries the initials of our family under the name of PASK, a play on our initials to suggest: “pass the Pinot Noir for another glass.” As the winery continues to grow and the vines mature, Scorched Earth Reserve Pinot Noir will be released. Presently this wine is still in barrel from the 2014 harvest awaiting release in 2017. To find out more, find us online at www.scorchedearthwinery.ca.

Dorothy Thomson, KGH Foundation generous supporter.

Legacy gifts ensure the future KGH Foundation The work of the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation reaches far beyond the hospital. This independent, volunteer-driven organization also enhances the delivery of health care through four extended care facilities, the Central Okanagan Hospice House and community mental health programs. The KGH Foundation receives tremendous support from our community. Local resident, Dorothy Thomson supports the Foundation with annual donations and recently supported the Foundation’s Giving Giggles Campaign. She has also included a legacy gift through her will. As Dorothy says, “My children and grandchildren

were born at the Kelowna General Hospital. I have welcomed people into this world and said goodbye to them at this hospital. It has been a big part of my life and my family’s life for many years.” Legacy gifts of every size are greatly appreciated and help the Kelowna General Hospital continue its excellent standards of care. By creating a gift today, you can ensure the financial future of KGH in a substantial way without affecting your own security and peace of mind. To learn more about how you can help, visit www.kghfoundation.com or contact Diane Paterson, 250.862.4300, local 7011.

Spectacular Waterfront Homes

Here’s what our residents are saying about the Cottages. “The setting is simply stunning, the cycling is gorgeous and safe, there are wonderful hikes to explore, and there are fish just waiting to be hooked. But what we have discovered while building at The Cottages, is the wonderful community – a caring“family” of homeowners, reminiscent of the small towns in the Maritimes where I grew up. It was the location and setting that brought us to The Cottages, but it is the vibrant and welcoming community that will keep us here.” Visit our website for more details including photo galleries, home plans, video tours and more homeowner testimonials about our gorgeous location and homes.

1.855.742.5555 osoyooscottages.com Visit our Display Homes » 2450 Radio Tower Road, Oliver, BC See website for open hours.

okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2016

Passion for

quality PARS Homes In 1988, Amir Khajavi purchased his first lot in Crawford Estates. Shortly after, he established Pars Construction here in Kelowna. Since then, he has been continuously aiming towards the highest standards of quality and workmanship paired with unique and breathtaking designs and features. With a dedicated team of sub-contractors that heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been working with for decades, a Pars home is famed for itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s superior, rocklike structure and flawless finishing. Built on a reputation of quality, trust and award winning homes, Pars Construction has evolved into one of the most renowned single-family homebuilders in the Okanagan. This year Pars has been honored with three gold Tommie Awards including the 2016 Home Of The Year, and four provincial Georgie Award nominations that will take place on March 11, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency in Vancouver, BC.

PROGRESS 2016 Okanagan Life Magazine

Built on a reputation of quality, trust and award winning homes, Pars Construction has evolved into one of the most renowned single family home builders in the Okanagan. Amir Khajavi, owner

Fine food, atmosphere and entertainment

And the winner is...

The Minstrel Café & Bar The Minstrel Café & Bar is open daily for lunch, dinner, afternoon wine and charcuterie, or late night cappuccino and dessert. We proudly serve Chef Erik Yeverino’s unique and funky menu, featuring the best quality local and international ingredients accompanied by a wide variety of local and international wines. Check our website event page frequently for the latest news on our Wednesday and Saturday live entertainment, featuring talented local and national artists. You’ll also find details on special events like our customer appreciation cocktail parties, Robbie Burns night, Wine and Dine promotions and fundraisers. Our team prides itself on poviding knowledgeable and

friendly service. We enjoy welcoming our neighbours and guests to the dining room and lounge, and in summer, extend the invitation to our beautiful patio under the grand old London plane tree.

Who will win this year’s exciting competition? You’ll find out in the April 2016 issue of Okanagan Life Italian Chef Erik Yeverino at The Minstrel Café & Bar.

okanaganlife.com

Change Your View on Life. Visiting Here is Breathtaking. Owning Here is Life Changing. Beach Access Boat Moorage Golf Hiking & Biking Trails Spectacular Views Fitness Facility

Pool Outdoor Sports Courts Estate Winery & Restaurant Nation’s Top-rated Energy Efficient Homes Choice of Townhomes or Single Family

okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2016

Where you belong Skaha Hills desert-modern architecture inspires a sense Many happy homeowners have already discovered why Skaha Hills is the place where of sophistication and warmth, professionally designed for carefree main floor living. Every they belong. With Phase I completely sold out, buyers are eagerly anticipating the release of dwelling incorporates excellent storage and a garage, while careful attention is devoted to the final 17 single family Phase II homes in individual privacy, generous outdoor living March and the exciting addition of a brand new concept for Phase III, terspace, and low yard maintenance, leaving residents free to raced villa buildings featuring open 1600 sq ft, single level living enjoy the Okanagan outdoors. This remarkable Penticton floor plans with amazing views. community provides lifestyle The homes of Skaha Hills are built by Greyback, a fourth genamenities beyond compare. Set in Many happy 550 acres above the sun-soaked eration local company with an outstanding reputation for qualhomeowners shores of Skaha Lake, with more than 250 acres of natural space, ity. Greyback is proud of their role have already recreational activities are never in this master-planned, legacy discovered more than steps away. Tee off for project on some of the most desira round of golf, enjoy water sports able land in the Penticton area. All why Skaha at your easy beach access, hike or Skaha Hills homes boast the same Hills is the bike on groomed trails, and make award-winning energy efficient place where the most of the many onsite feaconstruction and spectacular lake, city and vineyard views. The sleek they belong.” tures including swimming pools,

Carefree main floor living with incomparable views.

sports courts, and community green spaces. With so much to offer, it’s amazing that Skaha Hills provides the most incredible value for your dollar, and as an added bonus there is no GST on the purchase. Buyers at Skaha Hills appreciate the peace of mind of knowing they’ve made the right decision. To learn more about the homes and lifestyle of Skaha Hills and for details on the latest release of incomparable dwellings, browse www.skahahills.com and visit the Discovery Centre at 120 Sandhills Road, Penticton: open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm.

Welcome HOME to # D ow ntow nVe r n o n

Delicious Mediterranean Menu New Wine List Great Service Open 7 Days a Week for Lunch & Dinner

4638 Lakeshore Rd. • 250 764 2301 • www.minstrelcafe.com

250-542-5851

d ow ntow nv e r n o n . co m

PROGRESS 2016 Okanagan Life Magazine

DELTA GRAND OKANAGAN RESORT UNVEILS RESTAURANT RENDERINGS Located on the lakefront in the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort and Conference Centre, the new destination restaurant and wine bar has begun to take shape. The new restaurant and wine bar draws its inspiration from the bounty of the Okanagan Valley which includes over 300 wineries and many local purveyors and artisans. Guests will enjoy the energy and passion of a well-trained team and venture on a culinary journey with a panoramic view of Lake Okanagan. “We intend to be the sought after gathering spot. With the talents of our food and beverage team and the energy driving from the hub of our newly designed lobby, our goal is on track.” says General Manager, Daniel Bibby. Executive Chef Iain Rennie and team are currently located in Hanna’s Lounge and Grill on the waterfront while the new restaurant is being designed. Locals and guests can enjoy the talents of our culinary team in our temporary location 7 days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The new restaurant and wine bar is expected to open June 1st.

1310 Water St., Kelowna, BC Phone: 250-763-4500 • Reservations: 1-888-236-2427

LOCALS KNOW BEST SERVING NORTH OKANAGAN FOR OVER 50 YEARS Open All Year-Round

LIKE US ON

250-542-7614

7920 Highway 97, Vernon BC

www.myswanlake.com

Plants and flowers • Shrubs • Fertilizers • Garden tools • Deli • Bakery Florist • Ice cream • Ladies fashions • Cement fountains & statuary Fresh local produce in season • Open 7 days a week

okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2016

NEW HUB OF KELOWNA

No Better Place to Live, Work & Play Central Green is a master-planned community located in the heart of Kelowna just a few blocks from the city’s downtown, signature waterfront, and Pandosy Village. A large portion of the site will be transformed into an expansive park, putting 5 acres of lush greenery and recreation amenities at your doorstep.

Advance Preview March 12 | Grand Opening March 19 Discovery Centre & Display Home

Heritage-inspired Modern Lofts from the low $200,000s

1800 Richter Street, Kelowna, BC 778.581.5800 info@centralgreen.ca

centralgreen.ca

Our sincerest thanks to Okanagan Life readers for voting us

#1 Best Roofing Company in the Central Okanagan WINNER 2015

CONCRETE TILES|METAL ROOFS NEW ROOFS|RE-ROOFS TORCH-ON ROOFING ASPHALT SHINGLES

105-2293 Leckie Rd. Kelowna, BC V1X 6Y5

250.861.5907 | pinnacleroofing.ca

PROGRESS 2016 Okanagan Life Magazine

BIG Sound! BIG Audio Productions Satisfied customers refer most of BIG Audio’s new clients. They appreciate the experience and dedication Bob Gabelhouse lavishes on every project to transform their music and songs into broadcast quality productions. Bob is a multi-award nominated, certified audio engineer, musician and music producer whose state-of-the-art music and post-production audio facility sets the standard for the Valley. Located in Kelowna overlooking Okanagan Lake, this studio with a view boasts a BIG control room, large ambient live/drum room and three isolation booths separated by sound-proof windows. In this premium professional environment, Bob puts his extensive experience in music, recording, and live concert mixing to good use— engineering

and producing high quality recordings and mixes to deliver a tight, yet “live” edge, and BIG, present sound. For him there’s just one focus, priority and passion—high fidelity! Bob employs the same tools as the world’s best studios to record and mix award-winning songs and movie soundtracks. He also runs The Music & Audio Technical Training Institute (MATTI) and is a certified instructor of audio engineering and music production with training classes held yearly at BIG Audio studio (more info at www.mattinstitute.ca). To view a selection of clients and albums and for full details on facilities and services, visit www.bigaudioproductions.com. Bob Gabelhouse owner/operator/producer

Wine for Spring!

Find smart advertisers Argus Properties Ballet Kelowna

15 31

Beachcomber Home + Leisure Bohemian Café & Catering Boyd Autobody & Glass

Canadian Hearing Care

F FK it z 1 it0io%n a lO W in e

Trad

Central Green

Central Okanagan Counselling Services

Country RV

DermMedica

Dilworth Homes

Don-O-Ray Vegetables

Downtown Vernon Association Fawn Run at The Ponds

KGH Foundation

Make your own wine and showcase your personality with custom labels designed by you

Pinnacle Roofing Skaha Hills

Cooper Road location only!

Sticks & Stones Design Group

Swan Lake Nurseryland

Everyone Welcome!

Experience one of the Okanagan’s most enjoyable yet challenging golf courses.

The Pinnacles Suite Hotel Third Space Coffee

TomTar Roofing & Sheet Metal West Harbour Wine Kitz

101-1980 Cooper Road (Orchard Plaza II) 250-717-0044

Summerland Golf & Country Club

The Cottages

AWA R D W I N N I N G WINE KITS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Minstrel Café & Bar PARS Homes

Keith Construction

F Fit z %e WO 15 in e K im a t

Ult

Delta Grand Okanagan

35 Visit our website for daily fee rates, internet specials, membership offers and directions

Wood Fire Bakery

www.summerlandgolf.com

SUMMERLAND GOLF CLUB • 2405 Mountain Avenue • 250.494.9554 okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2016

REARVIEW By Dona Sturmanis

Selfemployed See how one perennial Okanagan Life contributor assesses life as her own boss. It’s not all java and jammies

promised Laurie, my editor, I wouldn’t joke about working in pyjamas when she suggested I write about being self-employed for this particular edition of Rearview. Yet, here I sit at a very odd hour of the night eating Italian wedding soup and contemplating whether I should don the plaid flannel onesies (right tartan) or the cream silk and lace lounging outfit to write this. Well, in truth, I went to bed after the soup. I woke up still in the T-shirt and leggings I slept in last night because I wanted to get up early and finish editing the last leg of a client’s autobiography. I sent it off, and was able to corral a quickie appointment with my accommodating dentist to take care of a sore tooth without having to formally book a time based on a “real job” schedule. Yes, I’ve been one of those self-employed folks for most of my adult working life, with perhaps 10 years total working at a full-time position in a conventional office. They were “good” jobs, with decent position titles, salaries and coworkers. I left them all, despite the medical and dental benefits and paid vacation, for various reasons: (a) working five days a week, same hours, for 50 weeks a year (two weeks vacation); (b) working in the same physical location daily (cubicles, “bull pens,” once even a converted broom closet); and (c) a mutually agreed opinion by both parties that I was just too “colourful” to fit in. Fortunately, I have many of the characteristics recommended for self-employed people. I’m dedicated to my profession of writing, editing and teaching. I’m self-disciplined and hardworking. With the help of an intelligent accountant, I’m pretty good with the financial side of things. And not too shabby when it comes to looking for new work. Percs? I’ve travelled — much of it on assignment. I’ve

PROGRESS 2016 Okanagan Life Magazine

written articles and books on topics I probably never would have if I’d been in one job. And the fascinating people I’ve had the good fortune to meet — writing subjects, students who have turned into friends, and peers — many bon vivants, buccaneers and just darn interesting people who create their livings independently, just like I do. I’ve even made some pretty good money in my time. Downsides? As the cliché goes, it truly is feast or famine. Sometimes there’s been so much work, I felt like I was going to explode, working memorable overnight, weekend and holiday shifts to meet deadlines. And during the down times, I felt occasionally it was time to go and get a regular job. One strong piece of advice for prospective self-employed types: make sure you have a solid self-paid insurance plan for extra medical and dental requirements, as well as some type of disability program in case you are not able to work for a period of time because of injury or illness. Perhaps what I’ve come to appreciate most about being self-employed is being able to move my “office” (the laptop) to work in any part of the house that takes my fancy. I’ve worked amongst the plants in my little glassedin balcony, at the dining room table, standing at the kitchen counter, on the cozy couch, often in bed (between Netflix, of course), and any coffee shop or waiting room. Do I recommend being self-employed over working at a real job for someone else? I would say definitely, if you’re committed and organized, like variety in a work environment, and certainly if you are, ahem, too colourful to fit in with a conventional company. So now that I’ve finished this piece in the middle of a Friday afternoon, I can book off, change into those silk pyjamas, grab a glass of rosé and pay some serious attention to that spinach/ham frittata I’ve been meaning to cook all week. Tomorrow is Saturday, the start of a weekend when I have to edit 30,000 words for a client by Sunday night. Eek!

Do I recommend being selfemployed over working at a real job for someone else? I would say definitely, if …

I was an elite level pole vaulter, with hopes of making the 2016 Olympic Games. In 2012, Crohn’s disease changed my life. I tried every pharmaceutical. Nothing worked; the side effects were horrendous. Surgery allowed me to merely survive with Crohn’s, cannabis products from THHC allow me to thrive with it.” — Lane, Saskatoon, SK / Fitness instructor

Reclaim quality of life The Herbal-Health Centre Where cannabis is concerned, there has certainly been progress, at least in the form of campaign promises. Trudeau and the Liberals won a majority government and the new administration package comes complete with a mandate to legalize cannabis. Medical cannabis has been legal in Canada for over a decade and serving medical patients is the mandate at The Herbal-Health Centre (THHC) — where they continue to set industry standards for professionalism and compassionate care. More than 2,500 patients have joined The Herbal-Health Centre for access to medical cannabis. Word continues to spread quickly and results keep people coming back. Over the past two years, THHC has been an advocate for the shift to nonpsychoactive cannabis therapies. Patients report that these options offer relief from a host of symptoms, but without the “high” normally associated with cannabis use. These therapies effectively remove barriers for anyone who does not want to expose themselves to a mind-altering substance. Non-psychoactive, CBD-specific formulations are gaining significant traction for addressing pain from inflammation

and seizure disorders. Topical applications in the form of salves, balms and lotions provide relief from joint and muscle pain. Patients applying these topically have also experienced significant, easy-to-see improvement with symptoms of skin cancers, psoriasis, eczema, chemical burns and other skin injuries. Suppositories infused with cannabis oils are gaining acceptance and recognition for their ability to deliver the benefits of full-spectrum cannabinoid therapy without making patients high. The barriers for considering cannabis as a legitimate therapeutic option continue to fall and the number of patients exploring this option continues to grow. The professional, knowledgeable and compassionate staff at THHC are prepared to answer your questions about which forms of cannabis can help improve your quality of life. Medical cannabis patients have driven the movement for access to cannabis. Legislated change is coming. THHC is part of the conversation to develop intelligent, workable policy and regulation for cannabis that considers patients first. For more information visit www.thhc.ca or facebook.com/theherbalhealthcentre.

A decade of struggling with health issues led to 34 operations. Doctors prescribed a host of traditional narcotics with diminishing results and insufferable side effects. I couldn’t work and had to go on social assistance to get by. I felt powerless… Medical cannabis was something that I had never tried and the results were nothing short of a miracle. I was able to return to work and gain back a ‘quality of life’ for my family.” — Eric, Enderby, BC / Plumber okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2016

SEE KELOWNA’S BEST SHOWHOME

EXCELLENCE IN SHOWHOME $500,000 AND OVER See our award winning showhome

Representing four of Upper Mission’s finest communities. Learn about them at our award-winning showhome.

5730 Mountainside Drive, Upper Mission Open weekdays 9:00 – 4:00 NOW OPEN weekends 11:00 – 4:00

thecreekskelowna.ca

fawnrun.ca

trestleridge.ca

theedgekelowna.ca

Visit our websites to register to learn more or for driving directions