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Friday, May 4, 2012 Penticton Western News
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Make your own wine, brew your own beer at Logans!
Mark Brett/Western News
ROD HOLLETT reaches to pluck a gala apple from one of the trees in his Naramata orchard. A BCFGA survey showed growers are gaining confidence in apples once more.
Growers’ confidence on the rise Steve Kidd Western News Staff
your batch of wine, beer, cider or coolers. When your product is ready to bottle, you will find it easy and fun with our automated bottling equipment. It takes about 30 minutes or less of your time. The process of making beer, wine, ciders or coolers starts with choosing the type and quality of product you want to create. We assist you at all times to whatever extent required. After the batch is started, you have no further obligations until your product is ready to be bottled. We provide all the necessary equipment and assistance for you to accomplish this process with ease. Voted best place in the South Okanagan to brew your own beer and wine for the past 6 years in a row, come on down to Logan’s new location at 2203 Dartmouth Drive and experience the convenience and quality products they have to offer. www.logansminibrew.com
Logans’s
MINI BREW
is all moved in to their Since 1992 NEW LOCATION! We have moved & expanded but our Voted best QUALITY PRODUCTS & SUPERIOR place to brew your own beer CUSTOMER SERVICE & wine from 2005 to 2011! will always remain the same
Winner
BEST S of the outh
Okanag an
2011 2005 to
When the B.C. Fruit Growers Association got the results from a recent survey, they were surprised at what they found. While the survey showed that the conversion of orchards to vineyards was slowing, it also showed that growers had more con¿dence in apples, as well. In a poll conducted by Angus Reid, 150 B.C. growers were asked what their plans were over the next ¿ve years regarding how much acreage they planned to devote to four categories: apples, cherries, wine grapes and table grapes. Wine grapes showed only a small increase, with about four per cent of the growers surveyed saying they had plans to increase the amount of their acreage, while one per cent said they planned on decreasing. “For cherries, it was a little larger yet. In terms of the number of growers that were increasing acreage for apples, it was the largest increase,” said BCFGA general manager Glen Lucas. “For the cherries, it was smaller than what I expected, but maybe people are just waiting to see what happens with the market.” Unlike apples, which are mostly sold domestically and to the U.S., cherries have a potentially growing export market, according to Lucas. The industry is working with the government on expanding the Asian markets, an important factor for future growth. “We’re working with them and sometimes progress seems slow and other times you get a big leap forward,” he said. “We’re working on
access in China.” Lucas said they are “quite certain” it will happen by next year and are even hopeful it will happen as early as this summer. But growers may be taking a wait and see approach. “It’s growing, it’s positive but there is a bit of caution,” said Lucas. “I was surprised that (growers of) wine grapes were even more cautious than cherries.” The small growth in wine grapes, he speculates, may be due to the best sites for grapes having been planted out. “Maybe the best wine grape sites have been taken and people don’t want to plant on marginal grape site,” said Lucas. “You need the sugar content and the yields to make it work. That’s an important factor.” But it was in apples that the growers surveyed said they planned to make their biggest increases in acreage. “Apples were the biggest growth. We were quite surprised and don’t fully understand, because certainly the market has been down,” said Lucas. After three years of doldrums, Lucas said there are signs of a rebound in apple prices. “It appears prices are a little bit stronger, I wouldn’t call them stellar though,” said Lucas. “We’ve had better years.” Lucas thinks some of that may be due to the strength of the newer varieties of apples. “If people are replanting, they are probably going to replant the higher priced apples, which right now would be ambrosia and royal gala, and for the right sites, we would look at pink lady and honeycrisp,” he said. “We would like them to pay higher, but it’s been viable.”
Logan’s Mini Brew has been serving the South Okanagan and Similkameen – including Osoyoos, Oliver, Princeton, Penticton, Peachland and Kelowna – for 19 years. Making wine and beer is not just about saving money, although you will save a lot. It is about a lifestyle that is to be enjoyed by you, your family, and your friends all year round. Don and Linda opened the doors to Logan’s Mini Brew in 1992 to provide a Wine place for wine and beer lovers to make their own product easily and inexpensively. At Logan’s Mini Brew, we have the best wine making kits from around the world. We have the most award winning kits in the Industry and they are backed by our unconditional guarantee of quality. You have nothing to lose. What is involved in making wine and beer? It will take less than 5 minutes to start
logansminibrew.com
2203 Dartmouth Drive Penticton • 250-493-9464
Come in & see us soon to get ready for the upcoming season of entertaining!
4 www.pentictonwesternnews.com
Friday, May 4, 2012 Penticton Western News
Industry sees shift in long-term care Western News Staff
A lot has changed in the elder care industry over the years. Jane Tench, administrator for Haven Hill Retirement Centre, said the primary evolution in long-term care has been a shift to addressing the needs of the entire family, empowering them to work with elders to determine their needs. She has worked in long-term care since 1981, and said care is cycling around to focus less on the system and more on the individual. “I’ve seen the trends and seen the patients. My philosophy has always been, ‘How can we do this better?’” she said. The centre has family focus groups including loved ones of current and past residents who can provide feedback and information during meetings once a month. That feedback has informed planning decisions in the last decade, she said, to include a lot of things from home: creature comforts like ¿replaces and cozy couches for shared spaces, individual rooms and increased capacity
for couples, spa-like bathrooms complete with blanket warmers, gardens and pets in each wing. Services like inhouse hairdressers and exercise classes keep everyone comfortable. Haven Hill has also implemented a program called “gentle care,” Tench explains, where residents are free to organize their day as they see ¿t. That means allowing them to sleep in and eat meals when they are hungry, not according to the kitchen schedule. “It’s about how can we make it better, not for us, but for the person?” she said. Sun Village, a Park Place independent living residence, is also changing things around to meet varying needs — allowing things like pets where possible and fostering a sense of fun, like offering green beer on St. Patrick’s Day. “One of the things we pride ourselves in is to add life to years, and maintaining independence as long as they can,” administrator Izayana Pineda said. Sun Village recently went through some renovations to install small kitch-
enettes into a few rooms so residents can take care of some tasks themselves. “There’s still those who can do their soup, and others who are more moderate and require that Àexibility,” she said. “It’s such a broad scope. Some of those who are exhibiting symptoms of memory loss, you don’t want them near a stove. It’s about accommodating them all.” They also tailor their offerings for families, Pineda explained, by offering respite care for families that need a backup option in case something comes up. “The elder can come and stay with us, and they’ll be all right. It’s interesting to see how people can just Àourish and blossom, and that’s always about respecting the individual’s dignity,” she said. “They say having a break is a good thing, and it is. We’re all quite friendly. It’s a safe and secure environment, that helps the primary caregiver go and enjoy their downtime. “They’ll always wonder, ‘Is mom going to be all right if they’re not there?’ Of course she is.”
MORE CLINICAL SERVICES OFFERED! Nursing ursingg Services A Available vailable • Ostomy • Compression Therapy Pharmacist harmacist Services Available • Lactation Consults • Medication Review • Pelvic Floor Consults • Flu & Vaccine Injections • Wound Care • Adapting Prescriptions • FFoot oot Care • Specialized Compounding • Dispensing & Counseling
di P h ! Compounding Pharmacy! FREE LOCAL PRESCRIPTION & OSTOMY DELIVERY
SKAHA PHARMACY 3030 Skaha Lake Rd. 250-493-8155 Monday-Friday 9-6 • Saturday-Sunday 9-3
www.skahapharmacy.com
Mark Brett/Western News
CREWS WORK ON THE EXPANSION of Haven Hill Retirement Centre. An additional 66 beds are scheduled to be opened, with attention to creating a home-like setting for residents.
Clinical Services at Pharmacy are Making a Difference Over the last few years at Skaha Pharmacy, we have focused on adding a variety of new clinical services to offer residents of Penticton and the South Okanagan. Our Pharmacists have always been involved in the traditional roles of dispensing medications and counseling on the proper and safe use of medications. Now, with the changing face of pharmacy, our Pharmacists are very excited to offer many other specialized services. We are now booking appointments for patients to meet with one of our Pharmacists so they can evaluate all your medications including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, herbal and homeopathic medications. This service is referred to as a Medication Review. Any BC resident taking 7 or more of these types of medications qualifies for PharmaCare coverage of this service every 6 months. Four follow-up appointments a year regarding your medication review are also offered, if required. At Skaha Pharmacy, we ensure that this service is offered in a private consultation office at the pharmacy or we will come to a person’s home if that is more convenient. Other clinical services our Pharmacists provide are Flu and Vaccine Injections, Adapting Prescriptions and Specialized Compounding. Specialized Compounding involves making medications from scratch for patients who may need a unique dosage or a dosage form that is not commercially manufactured. Often times, the company who manufactures a commercial preparation is unable to supply the drug, so this is another need our Specialized Compounding can fulfill. We also prepare many medications in specialized dosage forms and flavours for pets prescribed by Veterinarians. Skaha Pharmacy is the only community pharmacy in the South Okanagan that has
the equipment and expertise to compound specialized sterile injections. We currently have two Registered Nurses at Skaha Pharmacy who also offer a range of clinical services. Our nurses have specialized training in Ostomy Care, Wound Care, Foot Care and Stocking Fitting. We have both a Nurse’s consultation and examination room onsite to ensure privacy is maintained. Our Nurses also offer Pelvic Floor consultations for women and lactation consults for breast-feeding moms. All of these services are offered by appointment. Skaha Pharmacy is also involved in many other Specialty areas: • We are the designated pharmacy in our area for providing medications to all the Kidney Dialysis and Organ Transplant patients. Our pharmacists have specialized training with these medications and we participate in the region’s Integrated Health team Clinic for kidney patients working with Nurses, Dieticians and Physicians • We are also responsible for designing and maintaining a Specialized “medication box” for Home Care nurses. This ensures they have 24 hour access to the medications required in the comfort and care of Palliative Care patients in their homes • Skaha Pharmacy also provides medications at no cost to the Apex Ski Patrol to help people who get injured at Apex Mountain Skaha Pharmacy has served the Penticton area for almost 30 years and we have seen many changes over these years. We have always had the ability and the expertise to adapt to these changes quickly. We are very excited about our opportunity to continue to expand our role as the Clinical Pharmacy in our community.
Penticton Western News Friday, May 4, 2012
www.pentictonwesternnews.com
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An incredible year for Penticton Laser and Skin Clinic RENÉ SERBON For the Western News
Penticton Laser and Skin Clinic Ltd was established in 2006. In November 2006, we opened our doors as a member of Aesthetic Solutions. In 2011 when our agreement with Aesthetic Solutions expired we reverted to operate under our company name, Penticton Laser and Skin Clinic Ltd. With this change came changes to our logo, and our website. Our website is a work in progress with minor additions still coming, but we are happy with the way it has turned out. Our focus remains strong on improving skin to ensure ‘beautiful skin at any age’. Read below to find out about some ways we achieve this.
Botox© and Fillers
Who wouldn’t want smoother, firmer-
looking skin? Juvéderm™ is designed to replenish what natural aging takes away, for a fresher, rejuvenated look. Replenish what’s been lost over time. Sun exposure, hormonal changes and aging can all have an impact on your skin’s appearance. Over time, your skin begins to lose hyaluronic acid and collagen, resulting in fine lines, wrinkles and a loss of fullness and elasticity. Healthcare professionals can now reverse these signs of aging by correcting the wrinkles and folds and adding volume to sunken skin. Refresh what nature gave you. Juvéderm is a soft, injectable gel filler that your doctor uses to help replenish and refresh your appearance. It uses hyaluronic acid (a naturally occurring sugar found in your body), which combines with the water in your skin to instantly restore lost volume and reduce lines and wrinkles. Hyaluronic injections
have also been shown to stimulate collagen production. Not only that, Juvéderm works to enhance and define lips, cheeks and jaw line. Natural-looking results that last up to a year. A Juvéderm treatment typically takes about 30 minutes. The results are instant and natural looking, and last for up to a year. Everyone will notice but no one will know. Combine Juvéderm™ with Botox© to achieve an overall SoftLift™.
Photorejuvenation /IPL
Photorejuvenation is a treatment that improves the appearance of pigmentation on the face, chest, and hands, as well as small blood vessels, and diffused redness found on the face and chest. This treatment results in a more even skin colour and a more youthful appearance of the skin. Photorejuvenation or IPL, as it is also known as, uses a broad spectrum light made
up of a range of wavelengths and colors. This is emitted in a series of pulses over the entire face (hands or chest) at monthly intervals for a series of three to five treatments. We recommend a proper skin care regime to prepare the skin before, and maintain the skin after treatment. Sun protection is of utmost importance when embarking on a series of Photorejuvenation or IPL treatments. Consult our medical skin therapist about your skin regime to achieve the best results. NOTE: Lasers (in contrast with IPL) produce a single wavelength of light and use for different treatments such as hair removal, or removal of targeted facials veins. These are two different technologies and should not be confused with one another. Visit www.laserandskin.ca to learn more about our products and services.
SERVICES WE OFFER FOR BOTH MEN AND WOMEN BOTOX: $9.00/unit PHOTO-REJUVENATION: $250.00/unit • Dermal Needling • Fillers • Laser Hair Removal
PENTICTON
LASER & SKIN CLINIC #140 - 1636 Main Street 250-490-8590 info@laserandskin.ca
Medical Director: Dr. P. Louw www.laserandskin.ca
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Friday, May 4, 2012 Penticton Western News
Foundation aids in purchase of medical equipment JANICE PERRINO - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR For the Penticton Western News
Over the past year, donations to the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation (SOSMF) have provided over $2 million for the purchase of medical equipment. As well, this past fall, Mr. David Kampe generously donated a piece of land to the SOSMF valued at $1.5 million that will be kept and used exclusively for future medical purposes. Our hope is that in the short term, the land will be used for parking and storage of equipment during the construction phase of the new ambulatory care facility. In the long term the land will be used to support patient health care provided at Penticton Regional Hospital. The cash donations the SOSMF received this past year were used for a variety of critical care medical equipment. Items purchased include the CT Scanner, several Pyxis machines, a Ventilator system, ice machines for patients, mattresses and beds, Flexible Ureteroscopes, Cystoscopes and a Glidescope, an Infant Resuscitator and a Laryngoscope for children, an EEG machine, a Urology video system, sterilizers, wheelchairs, Arjo tubs and bedside monitors…just to name a few. The SOSMF paid for more than 50 staff to take advanced education in training to use new equipment in areas of cardiology, respiratory, nutrition, diabetes, oncology, sexual assault preparedness training and palliative care. Patient comfort purchases included dozens of different items to help improve the quality
of life for our most vulnerable patients and long term residents. Some of the items included were bedspreads, TV’s, Christmas Trees, a Harpist for relaxation and entertainment, sing a long DVD’s and piano tuning, an aquarium,
the goal of the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation is to utilize as many dollars as possible to deliver the best care available within our health care facilities. This is a goal that we cannot possibly achieve without
MR. ROBERT A. (BOB) LOUGHEED is presenting Janice Perrino, Executive Director of the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation with a cheque for $25,000. These funds will be used to help purchase a new colonoscope for the Endoscopy department. Colonoscopes help detect cancers of the colon. When asked why Mr. Lougheed made this gift he explained, “I feel very fortunate that I have been lucky enough in life that I can help a little and I want to encourage everyone who can to do the same”. In the past, Bob & Millie Lougheed have given $36,900 to the Penticton Regional Hospital. With this gift, the families total contribution is $61,900. On behalf of the board of directors, the medical staff and all of the patients and their families, thank you to the Lougheed family for their incredible support and thoughtfulness.
furniture, games for the Rehab department, awnings and garden maintenance. With our administration and fundraising costs combined this past year at less than 8%,
the continued outstanding support of our communities. Annual donations at Christmas, gifts in memory of loved ones, donations through the
Giving today for a healthy tomorrow. www.sosmedicalfoundation.com South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation 550 Carmi Avenue, Penticton, B.C. V2A 3G6 Phone: 250-492-9027 • Toll Free: 1-866-771-0994
many hospital Auxiliaries, company and community fundraisers such as the Astral Media Radiothon, the Tees Up For Cancer Golf Tournament and service club events, make the work of our community vital and heart felt. More than any other, gifts from individuals and families, particularly through estates made the most profound impact on what the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation was able to do for the hospital and other health care facilities. These gifts help to ensure future generations the best health care possible for years to come. Over this past year we received more than $750,000 from 16 estate gifts. We are always reminded that we can’t physically say thank you to these incredible people who have passed on but their gifts will live on for many years for future patients. Our sincere thanks to all of the legal firms, financial institutions, executors and families who made these donations possible and made them in honour of those who have passed on. They hold a special place in all our hearts. On behalf of the medical staff, volunteers and especially the patients and their families thank you everyone. You have made a tremendous difference this past year. The Board of Directors and the staff of the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation offer our sincere and heartfelt thanks to everyone for your generous gifts, for your thoughtful dedication and for your continued support. After 30 years of serving our communities we look forward to the challenges of the next 30 years and beyond.
Penticton Western News Friday, May 4, 2012
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Kia awarded Recognition of Excellence for Western Canada The owners and Dealer Principals of Penticton Kia, David and Joanna Newman could not be happier with their opportunity to bring the fastest growing Car Manufacturer in North America to the people of the South Okanagan. Penticton Kia opened it’s doors on January 2, 2009 in it’s old location, on Westminster Avenue. It was not long until the business outgrew that location and in order to continue to provide excellent customer satisfaction as well as to accommodate the growing demand they moved to 550 Duncan Avenue West. Before the move that location underwent major renovations that took six months but was well worth it. It is now a premier facility that has been recognized for it’s design and customer friendliness. A great building is only one part of a great company, staff makeup the rest of the equation. George Spanks, General Manager can attest to that. “We have a winning combination that can’t be beat, Staff, Product and Building that we are very proud of”. Having some of the safest and most fuel efficient vehicles on the road it is no wonder Penticton Kia is growing. Every year Kia Canada holds Dealer meetings to not
only find out what great products are in the future but to also recognize individual Dealership accomplishments. For 2011 Penticton Kia received the award of excellence for highest overall growth in Western Canada. “We are very proud of our team and would like to thank the people of the South Okanagan for allowing us to be part of the buying and servicing of their vehicles” said Joanna Newman. “These days customers want to communicate with us in more ways than ever. That is why we not only have a website, www.pentictonkia.com but for those using social media join us on Facebook.com/pages/PentictonKIA-Fan-Page. We would love to hear from you” said David Newman. “Penticton Kia now has a staff of 20 people and is not only able to sell you new Kia but they have a great selection of used vehicles and they can service all makes of vehicles and have a full detail department to bring your vehicle back to its original shine. If your vehicle gets into an accident our sister store Skaha Ford is ICBC collision certified and handles windshield repairs to full collision repairs.
Please come down and see us at Penticton Kia and be sure to get the best in customer satisfaction!
IN! HURRY
TEST DRIVE THE OPTIMA AND RECEIVE A $100 GAS CARD IF YOU BUY THE COMPETITION† 2012
“CAR OF THE YEAR” YEAR
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AT
2.9%
APR
$2,199 down payment. Offer includes delivery, destination and fees of $1,927 and $1,000 lease savings¥.
2012 KIA OPTIMA LX A/T
2012 Honda Accord SE A/T
Horsepower (hp)
200
177
178
Torque (lb.-ft.)
186
161
170
6 Speed
5 Speed
6 Speed
2 9 2
2 2 2
DARE TO COMPARE
Automatic Transmission Fog Lights Power Driver Seat HWY: 5.7L/100KM CITY: 8.7L/100KM
David and Joanna Newman owners and dealer principals of Penticton KIA presenting General Manager George Spanks with the Recognition of Excellence award.
Heated Seats Optima SX Turbo shown
2012 Toyota Camry LE A/T
Offer(s) available on select new 2011/2012 models through participating dealers to qualified customers. See Dealer for dates and details. Dealers may sell or lease for less. Some conditions apply. Offers are subject to change without notice. See dealer for complete details. Vehicle images shown may include Other dealer charges may be required at the time of purchase. Other lease and financing options also available. †Optima Test Drive Challenge nclude optional accessories and upgrades available at extra cost. All offers exclude licensing, registration, insurance, other taxes and down payment (if applicable). Othe offer is open to eligible retail customers who test drive a new 2011/2012 Optima between: See Dealer for dates and details at a participating dealership and who purchase a competitive vehicle (2012 Hyundai Sonata, Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion, Chevrolet Malibu, Volkswagen Passat, Nissan Altima, Dodge Charger or Mazda6) within 7 calendar days of their Optima test drive. Eligible participants must be Canadian residents and must provide satisfactory proof of their purchase/lease of a qualifying competitive vehicle. Participants will receive a $100 Visa (or gas) card. Limit one offer per person. Some conditions apply. See participating dealers for complete details. **0% purchase financing is available on select 2012 Kia models on approved credit (OAC). Terms vary by model and trim, see dealer for complete details. Representative financing example based on 2012 Sorento (SR75BC) with a selling price of $28,367 [includes delivery and destination fees of $1,650, other fees and certain taxes (including tire levies) and A/C tax ($100, where applicable)] financed at 0% APR for 60 months. Monthly payments equal $409 with a down payment/equivalent trade of $2,799. License, insurance, applicable taxes, variable dealer administration fees (up to $699), PPSA and registration fees are extra. Cost of borrowing of $0, for a total obligation of $28,367. Financing example excludes $1,000 loan savings that is deducted from the negotiated selling price before taxes. Retailer may sell for less. See dealer for full details. ♦“Don’t Pay for 90 Days” on select models (90-day payment deferral) applies to purchase financing offers on select 2011 and 2012 models on approved credit (OAC) (2011/2012 Sportage/Sorento/Sedona/Borrego excluded). No interest will accrue during the first 60 days of the finance contract. After this period, interest starts to accrue and the purchaser will repay the principal interest monthly over the term of the contract. eLease offer available on approved credit (OAC) on 2012 Optima (OP541C) is based on monthly payments of $267 [includes delivery and destination fees of $1,455, other fees and certain taxes (including tire levies), A/C tax ($100, where applicable), $350 lease service fee and a lease savings (lease credit) of $1,000 ($1,000 includes $500 Loyalty Bonus and $500 lease savings)] for 48 months at 2.9% with a $2,199 down payment/equivalent trade, security deposit and first monthly payment due at lease inception. Total lease obligation is $15,023 with the option to purchase at the end of the term for $10,036. Lease has 16,000 km/year allowance (other packages available and $0.12/km for excess kilometres). Other taxes, registration, insurance, licensing and variable dealer administration fees (up to $699) are excluded. ¥Loyalty Bonus offer available on 2012 Optima (OP541C) at a value of $500 for any current Kia owners towards the purchase or lease of a new 2012 Optima (OP541C) See Dealer for dates and details. Loyalty Bonus offer applicable to cash purchase, lease and purchase financing only and will be deducted from the negotiated price before taxes. Offer is transferrable within same household only (must provide proof of address). Limit of one Loyalty Bonus per customer or household. Certain restrictions apply. See dealer for details. ÇHighway/ city fuel consumption of these vehicles may vary. These estimates are based on the Transport Canada’s approved criteria and testing methods. Refer to the Government of Canada’s EnerGuide Fuel Consumption Guide. Your actual fuel consumption will vary. For more information on our 5-year warranty coverage, visit kia.ca or call us at 1-877-542-2886. Reproduction of the contents of this material without the expressed written approval of Kia Canada Inc. is prohibited. All information is believed to be accurate, based on information available at the time of printing. Information sourced from independent third-party research. KIA is a trademark of Kia Motors Corporation.
PENTICTON KIA proud award winners of the Western Canada Region Award of Excellence for 2011.
Visit kia.ca
P PENTICTON KIA 2250-276-1200 550 Duncan Avenue W. Penticton, BC
www.pentictonkia.com
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Friday, May 4, 2012 Penticton Western News
Prison locks up economic benefits for region Kristi Patton Western News Staff
Ron Hovanes is excited about the possible economic bene¿ts that come with the prison being built near Oliver, but so should the whole South Okanagan he said. “It just makes such economic sense to bring long-term, stable jobs for young people in our community and the broader community,” said the Oliver mayor. In February, Premier Christy Clark announced the $200 million, 360-cell Okanagan Correction Centre would be built on the Osoyoos Indian Band industrial site, Senkulmen Enterprise Park. Dentists, coffee shop owners and real estate agents are just some of those in line to bene¿t, according to B.C.’s premier, from a correctional centre being constructed.. “I was talking to a dentist who operated in Oliver and he has gone through something like 20 assistants in the last ¿ve years. Why? Because their husbands can’t ¿nd permanent, good familysupporting work. Well, this prison is going to provide good work for people either inside the prison in one of the 240 permanent positions, but also all the contracted positions as well,” said Clark. “It will mean people can come to the community, settle down. But, hopefully, it will mean people can come from outside the community bringing their families, sending them to schools in the region and settling down. That is really important for the region as it ages, to have an inÀux of younger families coming in to support schools and all those other services that people depend on.” Boundary-Similkameen MLA John Slater said he expects the business plan for the correctional centre to be complete by the end
Western News file photo
OSOYOOS INDIAN BAND Chief Clarence Louie and Premier Christy Clark announce the band’s industrial site near Oliver as the location of the new Okanagan Correction Centre.
of June or into July. Once that is complete, they will identify the timelines, with the next phase being design work then tendering. “We all want to get it going. The prison is not only just going to help the local economy with jobs. Those are going to spin off and keep the arenas open, the curling clubs open, the swimming pools, the hospital, the schools — that is the biggest part on this,” said Slater.
Public Safety Minister Shirley Bond said it takes about four years to build a correctional facility, and the province would be “pushing the envelope” to get it complete by 2015. She suggested it would be more likely in early 2016. With the potential inÀux of workers, tourism and population, Oliver council has listed getting a chain hotel in the town as a priority. Town council has agreed to a proposal from Community Futures Okanagan Similkameen for their economic gardening service that uses market research tools to engage in detailed market research for small business and communities. For a hotel to consider building in Oliver, they would look to see what policies and incentives there are, who their clientele would be and what expectation of growth they could expect. Community Futures is going to help Oliver develop the feasibility study to be used to attract the most suitable size and class of hotel. The project would be basically split between Oliver ($7,950) and the economic gardening program ($7,700). The ¿nal report and presentation is expected to be given to council by the end of May. A kick-start of economic activity and community amenities has actually seen the population of Oliver increase by 9.8 per cent. The Southwinds Crossing Shopping Centre, anchored by Canadian Tire and Buy-Low Foods, and renovations to the high school could be the reason, said Hovanes. “We have had a lot of growth here in the last number of years for our community. We had large residential growth in the last 10 years and we had a big commercial growth this past couple of years in the south end of town. The new high school is a $30 million project, and between that and the mall, it probably was the biggest development building permit in our history,” said Hovanes.
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Hartford Cruise & Travel have been associated with Carlson Wagonlit Travel for one year now. Redeeming your RBC travel points is one of the many advantages offered as a result of this affiliation - making it even easier to bring your travel and vacation dreams to life. As an independent travel agency, Hartford Cruise & Travel has been serving the worldwide travel market from Penticton, BC, Canada since 1994. With over 53 years of experience, our Travel Consultants are extremely knowledgeable in all aspects of travel. Ongoing training keeps us the most up-to-date office in the South Okanagan. Whether you are considering a trek through the Amazon jungle or attending your nieces wedding in Ontario, we strive to ensure your journey is well planned and stress-free. Let our helpful staff help plan your honeymoon, relaxing cruise, family vacation, corporate/business travel or perhaps a golf or ski package. If you need hotel accommodations, car rental, bus tour or even information on attractions in the area, we will get you the best possible rates. Don’t forget, as a one-stop, full service agency, we can also provide travel,
medical and loss of baggage insurance to offer piece of mind and complete your trip. Carlson Wagonlit Travel is a world leader in leisure and business travel management services. By joining forces with CWT, we are able to offer our clients access to a full range of additional travel services including: special negotiated hotel rates at more than 13,700 hotels in 150 countries, preferred car rental rates, travel savings and special offers through CWT Vacation Club. Carlson Wagonlit Hartford Cruise and Travel agents have ACTA, and IATA accreditation. Our ongoing commitment to quality and excellence translates into travel agents who are genuinely dedicated to meeting your needs and exceeding your expectations. “We are known for our successful escorted tours and once again will be offering two. An escorted tour to Greece this fall as well as a tour to Machu Picchu in Peru March 2013. If you have either one of these destinations on your bucket list, now is the time to book your adventure!” - Helene Vassilakakis. With Carlson Wagonlit Hartford Cruise and Travel, you’ve got the whole world at your fingertips.
Penticton Western News Friday, May 4, 2012
www.pentictonwesternnews.com 9
Vibrant Penticton needs your voice to shape city’s future Penticton’s history shows that when the city invests in its commercial and waterfront areas, vibrancy emerges in spades. Penticton council decided in December 2011 that the city would have two strategic priorities throughout the next three years: revitalizing the downtown and waterfront areas. The two projects fall under the Vibrant Penticton banner, a year-long planning process to garner broad-based input and feedback from residents, businesses and other stakeholders. “We really want to hear how, when and why people use downtown Penticton and the waterfronts, and what their vision is for those areas to guide the city’s decisions for the years to come,” said Anthony Haddad, Penticton’s director of development services. The history of the City of Penticton is inextricably linked to its downtown and waterfront areas. As the townsite and its capacity grew in the early 1900s, Penticton’s population increased. With additional people, the area attracted vital amenities like the Kettle Valley Railway — which, in turn, fuelled growth in the commercial heart of the Àedgling town. This cycle ampli¿ed after the Second World War, when returning veterans sparked a wave of construction and large infrastructure projects. For a half century, the city, its residents, businesses and visitors from across the globe have capitalized on those investments. We have rejuvenated our downtown and waterfront areas before; together, we can do it again. There are many examples of how public investment to revitalize areas of a given city pay off several times over with private sector investments and systemic changes in a community. In 2009, Wichita, Kan. developed a business case for downtown revitalization, which reviewed what type of return on investment
THE CITY OF
permits issued after revitalization increased 73 per cent. “To create this critical mass requires an unparalleled level of community engagement, support and planning. It requires intention, collaboration and commitment,” Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer wrote in the business case. The Downtown Revitalization Select Committee was struck with the mandate to provide recommendations to council on improving the downtown areas. Throughout 2012, the downtown revitalization select committee is striving to engage the public in a comprehensive visioning process involving several activities that will help develop a vision and subsequent work plan for Downtown Penticton that will guide decisions in the years to come. All residents and stakeholders are invited to learn about and take part in the process. The waterfront enhancement select committee has been tasked with reviewing three separate areas: West Okanagan Lake, East Okanagan Lake and Skaha Lake. Revitalization plans are in various stages of progress according to the speci¿c area, with some initial projects already included in the 2012-2016 budget approved by council. There will be several public engagement opportunities for residents and stakeholders, and they are welcome to give input. Look for the orange Vibrant Penticton logo for activities, events and updates relating to downtown revitalization, and the blue Vibrant Penticton logo for waterfront news. Regular updates will be available on the City of Penticton’s website, and residents and stakeholders are welcome to bookmark www.penticton.ca/vibrantpenticton to access both the Downtown and Waterfront pages.
the city could see if it were to embark upon an urban renewal program. That city characterized successful downtown revitalization as a private-public partnership, with the public sector laying the groundwork through investments in infrastructure, entertainment districts and venues, parking and more — which then opens the door for additional private investment. They studied the successes of neighbouring municipalities that had already undergone downtown revitalization. Chattanooga, Tenn. began a downtown revitalization process in the late 1990s after generating many ideas during a three-year planning and engagement process. The results were staggering: study authors found Chattanooga’s population in the downtown footprint grew by 29 per cent, or four times that of the national average. The downtown area also saw an increase in the average household income, in addition to a 38 per cent increase in employment. Contract values of
Let’s make Penticton
Vibrant together
The City of Penticton is developing plans for its two strategic priorities: downtown revitalization and waterfront enhancement. The plans will come together in the next year, but not without your help. The City needs your ideas and vision on how to make our community great. We’re listening, and invite you to be part of the planning process this year.
For info and updates: www.penticton.ca/vibrantpenticton 171 Main Street •
Penticton • British Columbia V2A 5A9 • Phone 250.490.2400
•
Fax 250.490.2402 • www.penticton.ca
10 www.pentictonwesternnews.com
Friday, May 4, 2012 Penticton Western News
School district expecting enrolment to stabilize Steve Kidd Western News Staff
The ¿nancial picture at both the K-12 and post-secondary levels remains one of restraint, but both areas also see changes in the of¿ng. Though they’ve now had to deal with years of declining enrolment and cutting to beat budget shortfalls, the Okanagan Skaha School District has managed to keep the those cuts away from the classroom. “One of the successes we have had is that we haven’t had to cut programs,” said school superintendent Wendy Hyer. Programs for gifted students, special education as well as careers programs have all come through relatively unscathed. But fewer students and cuts to government funding haven’t been without an effect for the district, which employs 779 people, about 623 full time and the remainder occasional staff. “Our enrolment is declining at the middle and high school levels, so that means we need fewer teachers,” said Hyer, adding that changes to the annual facilities grant has also meant fewer and smaller construction projects, which also means fewer staff in those areas.
However, there is change ahead. While enrolment is still declining at middle and high school levels, elementary grades are stabilizing, with a rise in kindergarten enrolment. By about 2015, the district is expecting the student population to stabilize, where they maintain enrolment numbers from one year to the next. “We’re a little bit further ahead. Some of the more rural districts are still getting a decline in enrolment, our decline has stopped,” said Hyer, stressing that the stop in decline is only at the elementary school level. Another change at the K-12 level is increased attention on education streams, not only for students pursuing academic careers, but also trades. “If you were to say where are a lot of the job opportunities going to be in the future, a lot of them will be in the trades sector. The focus has always been on preparing students for university and college, but really, only one in three students will go on for a university degree,” said Hyer. “We’re just trying to change that focus that everybody needs to go to university to have a good career, because there are a lot of opportunities in other areas now.” Budgets also remain tight at Okanagan
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College’s Penticton campus, though the new Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Technologies and Renewable Energy Conservation, which opened its doors last September, is also changing the outlook of the college. “We’ve been very fortunate that we’ve been able to do a lot of growing in this period. Okanagan College has done a good job of weathering through the storm,” said Donna Lomas, regional dean for the South Okanagan. “It does mean there is so many more options for people living in the South Okanagan-Similkameen in terms of being able to get their post-secondary education closer to home, which makes it much more affordable for them.” Lomas said the opening of the new hightech facility has gone smoothly and is attracting students to the campus. “We’re de¿nitely getting students who would not otherwise have come, they are coming for the new programming as well as the amenities,” she said. However, tight budgets impose some restraints. “We are not in a position to be able to offer all the new programming that we would like to do, but it is ready to go and once funding
becomes available, we will be able to launch that programming,” said Lomas. However, the college has increased its staff. “A rough estimate is that the college, up and down the valley, has about a thousand full-time equivalents. It would be hard to say how many are in Penticton, because we have staff that are in Kelowna and Penticton,” said Lomas. “We have hired more trades instructors and we have more employees that are split between Kelowna and Penticton in the academic area.” Enrolment in academic programming is de¿nitely up, with areas like the social justice program drawing strong interest in the wake of the announcement of the new prison, to be built in the Oliver area. “Enrolment in the trades programming is not as strong as it was last year, but I think that is a reÀection of the economy right now,” said Lomas. “We’re looking to see the trades programming coming up as well, as the economy starts to turn and we start building houses and buildings again. “Certain program areas are overfull and looking to be very strong again in September. We are expecting very good numbers in the sciences and arts in September as well, so the academic side is doing really well.”
Front Street Laser & Skincare Front Street Laser & Skincare is a full service clinic that provides state of the art services and treatments. Located on Colourful Front Street in Penticton, Front Street Laser & Skincare has skilled, trained physicians and nurses that provide rejuvenating treatments in an upscale, warm and inviting environment. Some of the many services offered include acne treatments, eyelid surgery, Botox, filler injections, enzyme/glycolic peels, Microdermabrasion, photorejuvenation, fractional laser skin resurfacing and laser hair removal.
Our team has treatment strategies to address sun damage, wrinkles, acne, rosacea and dull uneven complexions. Charene, Justine, Michelle, Simone, Jackie and Teresa’s goal is to assist clients to look and feel their very best. Skincare products and Jane Iredale cosmetics are available for purchase. When not busy meeting their clients needs they enjoy spending time with their families and friends. For more information or a complimentary consultation call 250-492-7765. Visit our web page at www.frontstreetlaser.com.
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Charene, Justine, Michelle, Simone, Jackie and Teresa.
Penticton Western News Friday, May 4, 2012
www.pentictonwesternnews.com
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Skaha Ford putting customers in the driver’s seat Skaha Ford has had a lot to brag about in the past year, from winning the President’s Choice Award to Best in the South Okanagan, there are many reasons customers are leaving with a smile on their face. A few more reasons to brag are their exciting and innovative lineup of vehicles, including the 2012 Ford F-150 FX4 Supercrew 4x4 with EcoBoost engine, which has enough power to tow what you want and also give you the best mileage for your money. That’s quite a combination. The new F-150’s exterior has very few changes from 2011, but depending on the model does offer different grilles. This 2012 truck has a very well-appointed interior and features stitching and textured plastic along the dash and console. The back of the centre console has a 110V power plug and flow-through vents. There’s also the optional Ford Sync system that is part computer and part music storage. Ford EcoBoost is simply great engine
technology. The 3.5-litre V6 mated to a sixspeed automatic transmission puts out 365 horsepower at 5,500 RPM and 420 lbs.-ft of torque at 2,500 RPM. New this year is a
with the all new 2012 Ford Focus. In Canada, the new Focus comes in fivedoor hatchback and four-door sedan body styles and with a broad range of trim levels.
136-litre fuel tank that comes standard on all EcoBoost 4x4s, meaning you can drive over 1,400 highway kilometres before refuelling. Ford also “brings the future into focus”
In the Henry Ford Way, Focus is packed with advanced technologies that were only available in more expensive cars. Plus, a full electric version will be available later this year.
SKAHA FORD Celebrating over 27 years serving the South Okanagan
2012 Ford F-150
Ford’s Park Assist technology first helps a driver identify a parking space that will fit the Focus, then automatically steers it into that space. In other words, it makes you look like a parallel parking grand master. Power comes from a new direct-injection 2.0-litre gasoline engine with variable camshaft timing (TiVCT). More powerful and fuel efficient than its predecessor, it can generate 160 horsepower and 146 lbs.-ft of torque, yet uses 10 per cent less fuel. Focus is a good handling car and most drivers will find time spent behind its wheel very rewarding. A technology leader in the compact car class, the new Ford Focus looks and performs like a futuristic means of transport. From all new power-packing trucks to gas-saving cars, Skaha Ford has it all. Come on down and let the professional sales staff show you why they are leaders in world class innovative vehicles and pride themselves in customer service excellence.
2011 was an opportunity for Skaha Ford to shine through economic challenges and let our customers know that we always have been - and always will be here for you and future generations to come. We are proud to say that Ford continues to design innovative vehicles that serve our customers needs, and continue to strive through tough economic times. We stay strong by standing by and believing in our product the same way we would like you to. We would like to thank all of our valued customers for their support over the past year and will continue to serve the Okanagan in the same reliable, reputable manner.
Winner
ST BE of the
To all of you.. from all of us at Skaha Ford... THANK YOU.
outh S Okanagan 2011 2007 to
We look forward to serving you in the future. D.L. #7808
198 PARKWAY PLACE On the Channel Parkway
250-492-3800 • 1-800-891-4450
www.skahaford.com
12
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Friday, May 4, 2012 Penticton Western News
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Penticton Western News Friday, May 4, 2012
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Ray’s Autobody - your one-stop automotive shop AUTOBODY & REPAIR
Owner Ray Steinke of Ray’s Autobody presents the car keys to another satisified customer.
Ray’s Autobody has been serving Penticton and surrounding area for over 30 years with the most up-to-date cuttingedge technology that the South Okanagan has to offer. Owned and operated by Penticton resident Ray Steinke, his new location at 325 Dawson Avenue has been designed not only to meet the growing demand of highquality collision repair, but also to meet and exceed all expectations in the mechanical department as well. Ray designed and engineered his facility to the highest standards of quality repair and customer service, all while having the lowest environmental impact possible. They have the ability to scan diagnosis and repair electronic codes related to the emissions system, anti-lock brakes, fuel system and transmission. Your vehicle
does not have to be in need of body work to have automotive work done. In addition to collision repairs, Ray’s Autobody is also pleased to offer a fulltime mechanic with over 20 years of experience as a licensed mechanic. Dean can inspect, service and repair the engine,
Do these look familiar? brakes and other parts of your vehicle including: wheel alignment, tires, brakes, suspension, seasonal maintenance, detailing and much more. At Ray’s Autobody they make it their priority to keep your vehicle running safely and efficiently with regular service, repair and maintenance. Regular automotive maintenance is import-
ant to keeping your vehicle running in top condition and lasting long into the future. With the amount of technology in most cars on the road today, including structures and materials designed to protect the occupants in the event of an accident, it’s never been more important to know
WE CAN FIX THIS who’s repairing your vehicle. Ray’s facility houses all the equipment required to repair today’s modern vehicle to meet all manufactures codes. More importantly their mechanics and technicians are continuously upgrading their skills to allow them to understand these technologies and keep up with the latest repair techniques.
With over 30 years of experience in the autobody and mechanical industry, Ray’s Autobody is striving to be number one by offering everything that you could need for your vehicle in one convenient, state-ofthe-art facility. Offering you full collision and mechanical services, Ray’s Autobody is “Your one-stop automotive shop.” If you want the very best for your vehicle, stop in to see Ray and the staff at 325 Dawson Avenue in Penticton.
14 www.pentictonwesternnews.com
Friday, May 4, 2012 Penticton Western News
Expansion gets off to a flying start at airport Mark Brett Western News Staff
It’s been a rough ride for the airline industry in general for many years. However, for Penticton Regional Airport, there are still a number of bright spots on the horizon. After the disappointment of losing Southern Skies Aviation, which closed its doors due to a lack of building, the ball began rolling with news of the company’s sale to nextdoor neighbour Kittyhawk A/C Services owner Gord Lindsay. Coupled with that was the beginning of construction on the $5 million expansion and improvement project at Canadian Helicopters Ltd. which is well underway and is expected to be completed later this year. Other good news included word WestJet may be considering Penticton as an AlbertaB.C. direct-Àight centre. For the airport itself,, there are plans to construct a $1 million apron to accommodate additional incoming aircraft as well as some signi¿cant technical upgrades. “We have people moving in and wanting to invest and that’s a good sign. The more business demand there is, the more people
pay attention,” said airport manager David Allen. “I think the important thing is it’s constant, we’re not going down. I don’t think there are many airports that are bene¿tting from increased traf¿c and movement because we still have an airline industry in Canada that’s somewhat sick.” About the WestJet connection, the manager says he’s still waiting to hear from the airline, but expects a decision in the near future. He added the recent Àash mob at the facility generated a lot of publicity which he believes did not go unnoticed. “I don’t know if that puts us in the running or not, but at least they know we are here,” said Allen. He described the work at Canadian Helicopters which he has already toured as a great addition to the airport and added their increased presence here could also have an impact on getting the needed service to Alberta. “This is an exciting new step into a building that’s going to be world class and really representative of the class of school and the operation that we are here in Penticton,” said Jan Rustad, Canadian’s chief Àight instruc-
Give Your Investments a Spring Cleaning Spring is here. The arrival of spring means it’s time to spruce up your home. But why stop there? This year, consider cleaning up your investments. Do you have investments scattered everywhere? By consolidating all these accounts in one place, you can cut down on paperwork, reduce fees, and most importantly, unite your investment dollars so that
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MAKING SENSE OF INVESTING
Mark Brett/Western News
BUSINESSMAN GORDON LINDSAY looks over the aircraft in his Kittyhawk A/C Services Inc. hanger at the Penticton Regional Airport. He purchased Southern Skies Aviation and renovation work is already underway on the existing structure.
tor and business development manager about starting to role out some of his plans, so we’ll see how he does,” said the manager. “He’s the 20,000 square foot building. “I’ve always believed that we would got a lot of initiative and is very gung ho.” Penticton has the unique distinction of evolve, and with these new beginnings we being one of the few facilities, due to the are certainly doing that. “When this is ¿nished and when our cus- proximity of land and lake, where amphibitomers come to this facility, it’s going to ous aircraft (those equipped with wheels) make that much more of an impression and can transition from water to the airport and take off. it’s certainly going to put Penticton that much more The purchase of Southon the map.” ern Skies included the waBest known internaterdrome rights on nearby tionally for its mountainLake, which allows When this is finished Skaha Àying program, the busifor the existing dockness’s new school will and when our custom- ing area for Àoat planes have more classrooms which could also mean ers come to this facil- additional revenue. and much improved technology to pass along that “I very much believe ity, it’s going to make information, along with in the airport, and in the that much more of an grand scheme of things, considerably more hanger space. think there is some real impression and it’s cer- Ipotential The programs attract there,” said elite pilots from around tainly going to put Pen- Lindsay about his decithe world, training milision to invest there. tary personnel, paramili- ticton that much more “It’s a beautiful airtary, police and governport, nice big runway and on the map. ment organizations, as we had better take it seri— Jan Rustad well as those from the ously because this town corporate and commerneeds it. You help the aircial sector. port, you help the town.” It also teaches domestic pilots mountain Immediate plans include hiring a certirescue and aerial wild¿re ¿ghting. ¿ed aviation mechanic to work on planes Allen also likes the attitude of the new and helicopters which would bene¿t existing kid on the block following his purchase of tenants and visiting pilots, as well as refurSouthern Skies. bishing and opening the 12-unit motel sec“He’s very aggressive and he has a lot of tion on the south end of the Southern Skies things he wants to do down there and he’s building.
Penticton Western News Friday, May 4, 2012
www.pentictonwesternnews.com 15
Proposed legislation will improve the flow of B.C. wines Western News Staff
Nothing could help the wine industry more than loosening up laws that prevent bottles from travelling across provincial borders. Sandra Old¿eld, the CEO and winemaker at Tinhorn Creek Vineyards, said the industry is closely monitoring the progress of a homegrown piece of legislation designed to open up the market to inter-provincial importation of liquor. “It shouldn’t be harder to get a B.C. wine in Saskatchewan than it is to get an Aussie wine, and that’s the case right now. We should be exposing Canadians to Canadian wines,” she said. “As a consumer, I would like to buy more sparkling wine from Nova Scotia. It’s not just a matter of sending B.C. wine across the country.” Conservative MP Dan Albas (Okanagan-Coquihalla) devoted his ¿rst private member’s bill to championing a long-held cause for the local wine industry: taking down inter-provincial importation of liquor.
Albas presented the bill last fall calling for amendments to the Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act, which would allow for inter-provincial importation of wine for personal use. He drafted the bill after hearing from so many in the riding about the issue last summer. After receiving support, the bill moved to the ¿nance committee because the Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency. The committee has 60 days to review the bill and draft any changes required to legislation. Witnesses will be called to speak to the issue, including Albas, and proposed amendments or changes would arise from those discussions. After the committee investigations, a report is drafted with recommendations, which returns to the House of Commons for a third reading vote by MPs. The issue has generated a great deal of chatter in the industry. On Twitter, the ¿rst B.C. Wine Chat discussion was devoted to how the deregulation could impact winemakers
Mark Brett/Western News
LUKE WHITTALL pours a sampling of meritage wine at the VQA wine shop at the Visitors Information Centre.
in the province. At Tinhorn, more than 2,000 people are members of the vineyard’s wine club across Canada, and Old¿eld said the 300 to 400 Alberta clients have expressed a desire to buy a few cases of wine and bring them home after visiting the region. Old¿eld said she’s heartened that
the bill has been receiving good support on the federal level, which she hopes will translate into support on the provincial level when governments of B.C., Alberta and other provinces decide what personal allotments residents will be allowed. “I’m really hopeful that this bill will pass. I just want the provinces
to enact it in the spirit it’s intended, to open up the market for our homegrown Canadian markets,” she said. “The devil will be in the details of personal allotments.” Albas said B.C. Premier Christy Clark has already expressed support for the federal bill, and hopes that the various provinces follow suit. He has ¿elded questions from his Albertan colleagues, so there is interest across the country. “Everybody wants to see this go forward, but they also have to make sure it’s good at the provincial level, too,” he said, adding that liquor control boards often have to see legislation approved before it can begin work on things like personal allotments. Despite that, B.C. has indicated it is willing to change its rules. “I think that’s signi¿cant that at least they’ve shown support, while every other province has yet to weigh in fully. “Every single province is under pressure from good people in the wine industry across Canada, and that’s been a valuable support for me as an MP.”
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF USING NATURALLY DERIVED HAIRCARE & SKINCARE PRODUCTS?
The terms “naturally derived” and “organically sourced” are starting to become more common these days. Is it possible that we as society are just following some trend that is being popularized by the Hollywood icons? Or, have we truly realized that the products we use on a daily basis are slowly poisoning our bodies, as well as our fragile planet? In actuality, our daily essentials such as shampoos, conditioners, body washes and skin care regimes as well as make-up are among the worst offenders when it comes to toxins and synthetics. Most high street brands contain sodium laurel sulphate - a chemical considered by the industry to be a gentle cleanser for skin and hair. And it is gentle in small doses but in high concentrations can inflame the skin, produce allergic reactions and dry out the scalp or skin’s surface layers. Worse, it is also a persistent pollutant that has been previously used as a pesticide that when released into waterways can be extremely toxic to marine
life. What’s more, many of the cheaper brands are packed with preservative parabens and industrial detergents containing surfactants. Luckily, there are healthier, greener products on the market, with numerous organic brands producing eco-friendly shampoos and conditioners. Aveda is at the forefront of these brands. Aveda’s promise is to continually strive to increase the use of naturally derived ingredients, i.e. those in which more than 50% of the molecule comes from a plant, non petroleum mineral, or other natural source like water. Aveda sets other standards for use, too, like avoiding certain types of processing. Aveda’s standards have made them a pioneer in the green cosmetics world: now more than 90% of their essential oils and 89% of their raw herbal ingredients are certified organic. In short, Aveda products have been harvested with respect for the earth, in harmony with the web of life. Aveda: connecting beauty, environment and well-being.
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16 www.pentictonwesternnews.com
Friday, May 4, 2012 Penticton Western News
Penticton tourism going beyond the beach Kristi Patton Western News Staff
Tourism in Penticton is growing up. “So too has the marketplace,” agrees Jessie Campbell, the new CEO at Penticton and Wine Country Tourism. “One of the really big challenges is increased competition. We are now facing destinations that are very savvy, have deep pockets and are prepared to invest in winning business. We have to become a more sophisticated destination and be prepared to invest, too.” There’s also a new type of tourist for Penticton, those who aren’t just looking to go from hotel to beach and do it all again the next day. “They are the type of traveller who is looking to immerse themselves in the experience of Penticton, whether that be going to the ¿rst annual Rock The Peach Music Festival, trying out their ¿rst wine tour or taking in the amazing network of bike trails that we have to offer. They are looking for that slightly more sophisticated and meaningful experience,” said Campbell. Gone are the days of relying just on the beaches to get interest from people looking for a vacation. The focus has expanded from just three or four months of tourism to the whole year. Campbell said 15 per cent of all trips to Penticton are related to wine tourism. “That wasn’t the case ¿ve years ago. That means the pro¿le of our visitor has changed dramatically. It also means there is a huge opportunity for us now in the shoulder season,” said Campbell. Ultimately, the shoulder season and events during that time is the next focus for tourism. One of the big wins last year that ties into event tourism was the 2013 Continental Cup of Curling, coming to Penticton in January of 2013. “That lead came directly out of our of¿ce, and working in partnership with Sally Pierce at the South Okanagan Events Centre we
Steve Kidd/Western News
DANCERS FROM Okanagan Dance Studios lead the charge for a dance mob at Penticton Regional Airport, with about 500 people gathering to show how happy they would be if WestJet came to Penticton.
were able to land that event.” Also in 2013, Penticton will host the North American Wine Bloggers Conference, the ¿rst time the event has ever been held in Canada. This event occurs close to the busy season in June, but Campbell said the economic impact, valued at $1.5 million, and world-wide exposure will be phenomenal. “When I travelled to last year’s conference in Virginia and met with the organizers, there was much enthusiasm to bring the conference to Canada. Virginia’s wine industry is similar to ours in size and production, and they saw a marked increase in wine sales leading up to the conference, and continue to reap the tourism bene¿ts a year later, a lot of which can be attributed to ongoing social media chatter,” said Allison Markin of All She Wrote Consulting, a social media marketing ¿rm based
“to establish profitable business relationships through networking, education and information sharing” Luncheon Meetings: 2nd Tuesday of each month For more information or to register for luncheon, email: pwib@telus.net
in Penticton. The city also hosted the Young Stars tournament, treating an average of 2,000 hockey fans per game with the opportunity of watching potential NHLers on the ice at the SOEC in September. Many of the people visiting paired their vacation with the tournament. Penticton also received a huge boost this year being named to a number of Top 10 lists. The most prestigious being rated as the Top 10 travel destination for 2012 according to Facebook in an article that appeared in the Huf¿ngton Post. “Arguably the Huf¿ngton Post was the largest in terms of exposure,” said Campbell. And, for a number of reasons. “This accolade was speci¿cally about Penticton, 28 million viewers per month read the Huf¿ngton Post online, the fact that it was a global Top 10 list and it was about travel for this year. Very rarely you get on a Top 10 list that is forward looking,” said Campbell. “Social media is like word-of-mouth on steroids. Travel is an emotive experience. Ultimately, our job is to get people talking about visiting here: people talk about what they care about, so if people are talking about travelling to Penticton & Wine Country, we’ve done our job.” Those lists weren’t just a result her team’s work, either. “This is a result of strong relationships we have within Penticton, with partners such as like the Downtown Penticton Association, the winery associations, the Chamber of
Commerce, and the City of Penticton. And, ultimately, we are all bene¿ting from being named on those lists.” While the shoulder season is now the focus, summer events still have their place within Penticton. Two years ago the Valley First Gran Fondo Axel Merckx was introduced, last year it drew some 3,000 competitors to the city in July. Quite amazing since Ironman, an event that has been happening for 25 years and is well-established, draws about 2,500 competitors. This July the three-day music festival, Rock The Peach, will make its debut bringing with it some big name acts including Collective Soul, Walk Off The Earth, Glass Tiger, Sam Roberts and more. “Events like this, even if people don’t come the ¿rst time, puts Penticton on their radar in a way it hasn’t been before. There are some great things happening here, particularly in relation to events,” said Campbell. Another social media driven promotion for Penticton has been the campaign to bring WestJet regional Àights to the Penticton airport. In February, WestJet announced they are considering a new regional airline but did not say in which communities their planes would land. A community group wanting WestJet to consider Penticton as one of the stops has been making heavy use of social media to get the message out. This buzz grew to the making of a YouTube Àash mob video in which Mayor Dan Ashton makes a cameo, hoping to impress the WestJet executives. “It would be yet another fantastic chapter for Penticton,” said Campbell on if WestJet was to choose the Penticton airport, “And talk about a game changer. That would be phenomenal.” WestJet said they want approximately 40 smaller, turboprop aircraft and Penticton residents are hoping they would be included for short-haul Àights to Calgary. This also could eliminate some of the competition that Penticton has to deal with as tourists would be able to Ày directly into the city. There is a new competitive environment within B.C. With the province having its own ambitious goals with tourism, especially since the 2010 Olympic Games. “We strongly believe in co-opetition, which is the philosophy that all boats rise on rising tides. Yes, Kelowna is competitor of ours but at the same time they complement what we have to offer too,” said Campbell. “If someone comes to Kelowna ¿rst, likely they are going to take a day trip down to Penticton and that may have been a customer we would never have had. From there we hope to win them over and have them choose Penticton for their next adventure.”
Penticton Western News Friday, May 4, 2012
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New theatre brightens the picture for downtown Mark Brett Western News Staff
While there has been some serious economic repercussions in the city’s retail community from the global market downturn, the news is not all bad. In fact, some of the best news over the past year was the announcement of the replacement of the current Pen-Mar Theatre by Landmark Cinemas in the downtown core instead of the south end of the city. The new state-of-the-art seven-screen multiplex cinema has generated a lot of talk among moviegoers in the area since Landmark acquired the site at the location of the former Liquidation World. When completed later this year, each theatre will have full stadium seating, digital sound, large curved screens and RealD 3D technology. The project will be located in an area to be called Iron City Square. Someone who is especially happy with this development is president Julius Bloom¿eld of the Downtown Penticton Association. “This is going to be a huge bonus to the downtown, there’s no question about that, Penticton’s been waiting for decades for a decent movie theatre and now it looks like we’re going
to have one. We’re very excited about it and I challenge sometimes for that cultural aspect.” It will also likely mean new jobs, with the theknow the businesses are,” he said. “The classic date is dinner and a movie and atre staff expected to double to 30 or even 40. Overall, in spite of the challenges of the so I think it will bring a vibrancy especially to economy, Bloom¿eld sees the evening traf¿c and maybe good things on the horizon. we won’t see the sidewalks “I think there’s a growing rolled up at the traditional optimism in the downtown closing hours. with the knowledge that the “Having people downtown (in the evening) always makes Having people down- revitalization may actually for a much better community town (in the evening) happen and so there’s a growing interest in that,” said the with the more diverse populaalways makes for a president. “I think we have tion on the streets, so it will be a tremendous.” much better com- a great future and as long as we revitalize the downtown, And apart from the facility, is the fact having the new munity with the more as long as we’ve got the stage for the public and shopcomplex itself is likely to gendiverse population set pers. It’s up to the storekeeperate a much greater interest on the streets. ers to be the actors on the from the business community stage and pick up their perinteresting in locating nearby, — Julius Bloomfield formance. I think we’ll have especially those in the service a great show.” industries like restaurants. Another retail coup for the city since last “It is when you get things like this going forward and people start seeing the improvements summer was the opening of the 24,000-squareand new construction that other people get inter- foot Value Village outlet on Rosetown Avenue, ested and I hope it carries on,” said Mayor Dan which is proving to be a real hit with bargain shoppers. Ashton. “It makes a huge difference, to have a city There is also a change coming at the Penticton without a good movie theatre provides a little Power Centre, where the Zellers franchise is be-
ing replaced by a Loblaws/Superstore af¿liate. Meanwhile, over at Cherry Lane shopping centre, manager Garry Leaman is happy with the way business is going in terms of the number of retail outlets in place and the customers they are bringing in. “We’ve got a couple of holes we’re trying to ¿ll, but it’s tough to attract interest on the national front. Small market B.C. in particular is not very attractive but our existing clients are doing well,” said Leaman. “Our sales are up over the past and continue to trend up so far this year. “We are looking forward to ¿lling most of the vacancies in the building. We have some deals percolating for that.” New additions will include the Canada Post service which is moving from Zellers to London Drugs, a medical clinic and a new store called Showcase. That outlet features the best of ‘As Seen on TV’ and more, offering the most fun, interactive, new, and unique products which customers actually have a chance to try before they buy. Founded in Edmonton in 1994 there are now over 80 stores in shopping centres across the country. “Although we would like to have a men’s and children’s wear store, our market is solid,” said Leaman. “We’re happy.”
“Expedia Cruise Ships celebrates 3 year anniversary” Expedia cruise ships is happy to announce that they are celebrating their 3rd year serving Penticton and the South Okanagan. They continue to pride themselves on the best customer service and the best prices possible. Their team, including owner Paige Mintenko, have operated the Expedia Cruise Ship Center for just over three years now, with 14 independent travel consultants, they offer a full service travel agency specializing in cruising. All of the consultants are fully trained by all cruise lines as well as all land vacations. Expedia Cruise Ship Centers are partnered with BCAA and are available to take care of their members travel needs. They have developed strong preferred relationships with the world’s leading cruise lines and travel suppliers. Because of the preferred
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Friday, May 4, 2012 Penticton Western News
Apex numbers climb during 50th anniversary season Emanuel Sequeira Western News Staff
Apex Mountain Resort and Mt. Baldy in Oliver had reasons to be happy with their ski seasons. James Shalman, manager of Apex Mountain Resort, said the goal heading into the season was not having a decline in numbers. They achieved that and were above expectations. Celebrating its 50th anniversary, Apex saw a seven per cent increase in December from the year before, while January was three per cent better. February was eight per cent higher. March was fantastic as was the early part of April. “Being up is fantastic news,” said Shalman. “I can attribute that to lots of events.” Having events every weekend helped, as did big snowfalls, which Shalman added, provided “unbelievable” snowboarding conditions.
When it came to celebrating the anniversary, there was a focus on social media for marketing, more than in the past. Shalman said one of the things that came out of celebrating Apex’s birthday were the stories people shared. “It just shows that Apex is a tight community,” he said. “We are one big family. It’s good to see and good to be a part of.” Shalman said that Apex, which closed for the year on April 9, has had a great season. Mt. Baldy in Oliver had its tough moments. The snowpack was average, which was better than the year before, with no increase in skiers in an economy that manager Matt Koenig described as “in the tank.” Still, he said the mountain did pretty well. “This is a hidden gem. There was in inÀux of new skiers from word getting out,” said Koenig. “Everyone who came had a great day. Skiing was good here. We have good community support.”
Mark Brett/Western News
APEX MOUNTAIN RESORT held various skiing and mogul events during the 2011 season, including the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association’s Canada Selections camp on Dec. 18. Among the skiers competing was Penticton’s Connor Spence, a member of the Whistler Academy mogul team.
Groups foresee city’s vibrant arts community as a cultural draw Steve Kidd Western News Staff
Penticton and the South Okanagan have a solid foundation on which to build a cultural economy. According to Paul Crawford, curator of the Penticton Art Gallery, there are people and groups hoping to make cultural tourism and the idea of a creative economy a greater part of the city’s mandate in terms of attracting new people to the community, with the goal of it becoming an economic driver. But right now, Crawford doesn’t see cultural tourism as extending much beyond the wine industry. “I think that it is on the minds of many people,” he said. “It will be interesting to see how much of that takes root and begins to bear fruit.” He does, however, see signs that people are willing to travel and even relocate for cultural experiences, like the number of people that came
to see a recent retrospective by Nick Bantock, author of the Grif¿n and Sabine series. That show, so far, was the only time Bantock has had a large retrospective in Canada. “We did have a lot of people travel great distances to come to that,” he said. Some shows, like Bantock and the Daphne Odjig retrospective currently on at the gallery have a greater appeal, something Crawford noticed with a showing UBC Alma Mater Society collection a couple of years ago. “We had a number of works by the Group of Seven and we had a number of people that rerouted their vacation travels to stop in here and catch that show,” said Crawford. “Certainly Nick Bantock brought a lot of people. Daphne Odjig, I am already receiving lots of interest from people outside the community about that.” He is hoping to see that repeat with a major show of work by Joe Plaskett, another senior Canadian artist, coming this fall. “I anticipate that is going to bring a lot of people from outside Penticton. Certainly be-
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cause he has a lot of connections to Osoyoos,” said Crawford who says there is great potential in both infrastructure and the cultural connections and history of the area. He notes many world-renowned artists that have strong connections to the region, like Odjig, E.J. Hughes, Joel Plaskett and Tony Onley, who the gallery has a large collection of. “I think there are a lot of intriguing opportunities to work on, taking the people that pass through this community and doing something to celebrate their connections to this town,” said Crawford. “I look at the potential of this town to capitalize on cultural economy, and you look at the potential the Shatford has. I think the Shatford itself could be an incredible driving engine in this community.” Jane Shaak, a director of the Shatford Centre for the Arts, doesn’t disagree. “I think it is going to continue to grow as an economic driver; it is going to be a year round destination for people wanting to engage in cre-
ative pursuits. We’ve had some examples of that already,” she said, noting a recent medieval arts and sciences festival held there by the Society for Creative Anachronism. “Also we had the ArtsBC sustainability seminars here,” said Shaak. “Let’s say that brought in 25 people, it doesn’t sound like a lot but these were the leaders in arts and culture, and they stayed here.” Shaak also sees many possibilities for a cultural economy, some of which the Shatford Centre is planning to capitalize on. Individuals interested in creative pursuits, she said, share the pro¿le of an ideal tourist for the region. “They want to have very good food, amazing wines, beautiful landscapes, appreciation of the environment and a quality engaging experience,” said Shaak. “All those together are the pro¿le of who is coming to these areas. Once they have those kinds of experiences, they want to come back. It is all about engaging, returning tourists — and our residents too — to really appreciate what we have.”
Penticton Western News Friday, May 4, 2012
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Convention centre delivers major economic impact Western News Staff
Traf¿c at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre is looking up, with organizations throughout B.C. and Canada booking longer-term deals as a result of the local facility’s capacity. Centre sales director Paul O’Beirn said when he discusses Penticton with potential clients looking for a home for their event, people in B.C. often think of the Peach City as a vacation destination. Once they hear about how Àexible the space can be — ¿tting anywhere from 35 to 3,500 — then their interest is piqued. It’s the site inspection, though, that gets people hook, line and sinker. “Not a lot of people know that we have a convention centre as large as we do,” he said. “Once people come here, the vast majority of the sales process is done. People really do love the area, they love the natural beauty.” O’Beirn is celebrating the recent success of signing a deal with the Canadian Community Colleges Association to hold their four-day event that will draw more than 850 people from throughout the country to Penticton. A client he has been working on for ¿ve years, O’Beirn said Penticton Trade and Convention Centre sales staff are directly targeting those across the country. “It’s the perfect type of group that we want,” he said. “Part of our mandate is to grow our piece of the pie, so we’ve tapped into the Canadian national piece of business. “And we’re well situated to accommodate those groups. We’re trying something different, and they’re interested in coming.”
Sally Pierce, assistant general manager for the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, said they estimate $10.3 million in economic impact will transpire in 2012, and with this and the next year already posting good numbers, they will be on track to hit pre-recession levels by 2013. Pierce explained that some in the community believed there was a drop in the number of visitors because a different reporting standard had been used — including event participant days, which have remained steady at over six ¿gures. She says the provincial Tourism Ministry actually requires non-resident delegate days, which did not see as drastic a decline as many other municipalities after 2008 — in part because the local trade centre never relied much on corporate bookings compared to other markets.
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of service by improving accessibility. The front door of the pharmacy is wheelchair accessible, is now wider, and has an easy to use automatic opener. There are no perfumes in the store, in case you have allergies. And of course, there is free prescription delivery, too. Knights Pharmacy continues to be 100% locally owned and operated. It is truly a family oriented business, with Christie’s kids planning to continue in the pharmacy tradition.
Travis Petrisor
“I see the numbers that everyone else has. Penticton just bobs along because of the nature of who we are,” she said. For 2012, 37,500 non-resident delegate days have been slated for Penticton, meaning the number of room nights that have been booked. Next year is set to hit 39,000, a ¿gure last seen in 2008. “It’s an inÀux of revenue and funds that normally wouldn’t be here,” she said, adding the ¿gures don’t include instances where there are two or more people per room. Those non-delegate days in 2008 were pegged at 39,515. That year was a bit of an anomaly, she said, because Penticton played host to the Union of B.C. Municipalities AGM, which drew 5,400 on its own. Pierce said surveys have shown delegate spending to be an additional $275 per person, meaning 2012 will see $10.3 million in economic impact. She attributes those numbers to O’Beirn and his sales manager, Brannigan Boyd, for all-out efforts to lure new clients. “It’s unfortunate we don’t get to celebrate their success as often as they deserve,” she said. O’Beirn said trade centre staff work hard to make sure individual delegates and clients enjoy their experience, because it bene¿ts people throughout the community. “For me, I guess it’s about trying to make sure as a community we always are going out to pursue the groups, and the community as a whole is supporting those events,” O’Beirn said. “I don’t know if there’s one type of event or one thing that sets it apart. I get a charge any time people say they want to come to Penticton, and come back.”
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Friday, May 4, 2012 Penticton Western News
Penticton band building bridge to future prosperity Steve Kidd Western News Staff
“Moving forward” is emblazoned in big letters on the front of the brochure announcing the proposed Arrowleaf golf course and residential community. Arrowleaf is the latest project to come out of the Penticton Indian Band Development Corporation, which the band is getting ready to start developing over the next year. It’s also, according to Chief Jonathan Kruger, a sign that after years of laying groundwork, the band is ready to move ahead on their economic development plans. “There have been a lot of challenges in pursuing economic development. The main challenge for us was infrastructure,” said Kruger. “The good news is, I’m hoping for huge things this year with the province in regard to transportation infrastructure. We’re also talking about building a bridge for economic development along the river channel.” Arrowleaf will be constructed west of the Penticton airport, but the band also has plans to develop the area between the airport and the channel as well. Key to that development is the construction of a new bridge over the Okanagan River Channel at Green Avenue.
That single improvement would open up a large amount of lands between the airport and the channel, an area that the band already has earmarked for potential commercial development. Like the Arrowleaf development, the band is putting their focus on utilizing the lands for future projects and equity positions in partnerships with developers. Their hope is to generate new dollars and investment income, also to create job opportunities, not only for band members, but the region. “This will promote jobs for more than just our band members. If things go right in a good way, we are looking at over 1,500 jobs, easily,” said Kruger. Nor are the band’s two longterm existing businesses being neglected. Westhills Aggregate is a trucking, sand and gravel excavation and quarry ¿rm employing about 12-20 people, while Coyote Cruises is a tourism-based business that employs about 20 people supporting one of the area’s most popular summer pastimes, Àoating down the Okanagan River Channel in an inner tube. “We want to enhance the airport by developing the amenities around it,” said Kruger. To get that bridge, though, there is some dealing with the province to be done.
“There is outstanding Highway 97 road issues with the PIB and the province. We are going to start talking about those and we are going to talk about solutions,” said the chief, pointing out that the Westbank First Nation has also been talking with the province about land swaps. Kruger expects developments like Arrowleaf to be a strong economic driver for the entire region, citing spinoff bene¿ts from improved infrastructure, economic bene¿ts to retail, commercial and industrial sectors as well as huge employment opportunities. Kruger feels his community has already created substantial milestones with progressive steps like their comprehensive community plan. “Talking about being progressive. I mean, we went after the correctional centre, together as a community,” said Kruger. “I’m just so proud of our community members. Even though we didn’t get the correctional facility, we had those meetings. We talked about it and we were proactive and we were respectful. “I am very proud of our young people, they want to see things happen. And I am very proud of our elders, who are saying that if we’re going to make these things happen, we have to do it in a good way. We have a really good mix of young people and old people.”
Steve Kidd/Western News
THE PENTICTON INDIAN BAND isn’t just about economic development. In May of last year, the band, including young Leroi Bent, celebrated the opening of the new Outma Squil’xw school, a stunning fulfillment of a 20-year dream.
Detailed process involved in bringing the paper to your door Emanuel Sequeira Western News Staff
Before the Penticton Western News hits your doorstep, there are dozens of people hard at work to make sure everything is just right. Once the stories have been written, they are laid out onto the pages, where headlines and photos are added. The pages are then read and corrections made, before a PDF image is made of the page. That image of photos and stories for the paper is than meshed together with a separate image of the ads that will run on the page. The completed pages are then downloaded to creo, which is a computer-to-plate process. The process involves lasering the image onto a thin metal plate, which is baked in an oven, where chemistry develops the image on the
plate, and it’s ¿nished with a sealer to protect it from light. Once the plate is complete, it’s thrown onto the press and the magic begins. As long as no complications arise with the printer, pressman Glenn Gordon said “It works like a charm as long as you go through the right process.” Once the paper comes off the press, it takes little time to dry. “It dries while it’s stacked,” said Gordon, who recalls working off ¿lm only 10 years ago, saying the new process is much more ef¿cient. Having worked in a press for 30 years, Gordon still sees the job as a challenge. “You look at it,” he said glancing at a copy of the Western News. “You want to make it look good.”
Once the newspaper is complete, it is up to Western News circulation manager Mark Oleksyn to get the newspapers out to the community with the helping hand of drivers and carriers. The Penticton Western News employs seven drivers and 86 carriers. The lowest carrier route has 35 papers, while the highest is just over 500. One family delivers 700 themselves. The newspaper also has a new truck, speci¿cally designed for newspaper delivery, which they picked up from its sister paper, the Honolulu Star Advertiser. Oleksyn said his role is very important in that he has to make sure carriers and drivers are organized and know the routes. It’s also important that they have the paper out at certain times. Oleksyn gets calls from the public all the
time with requests on how residents would like the paper delivered to their home. He has a tracking system, which is put into a list with the information given to drivers and carriers. When asked what Oleksyn likes about his job, the answer is simple. “I love the people and that every day is different,” he said. “It’s fun talking to people as long as they are nice. I love Penticton and there is a lot the city has to offer for someone who loves the outdoors.” While Oleksyn sees his share of people who quickly discover that delivering newspapers isn’t for them, he has several who enjoy it. “It’s good money for someone who wants to do a lot of papers,” he said of the parttime work. “Some have been around for 15 years.”
Penticton Western News Friday, May 4, 2012
www.pentictonwesternnews.com
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Region’s housing market returning to previous levels Kristi Patton Western News Staff
The fulcrum is beginning to sway in real estate, according to the president of the South Okanagan Real Estate Board. “It used to be a total buyers’ market, but as our inventory comes down, it starts switching over to the seller,” said president Karen Amos. “It is a little bit tilted towards our buyer right now, but not by much, and that is expected to balance out very shortly.” Amos said when prices came crashing down in 2008 and 2009, buyers were putting in offers that may have seemed ridiculously low, but sellers were taking them. She said now people are better educated, and if houses are priced right, they can be sold for up to 90 to 95 per cent of their asking price. “With the coming of the computer and Realtor.ca, it has educated our consumer so nicely. Instead of putting them in the car and driving them around and then having to take the time to work through their sticker shock, now they arrive with their pages that describe and show them photos of the house. We have an idea of what they are looking for.” said Amos. “On top of that, they are watching these television shows that are talking about what to look for. The Àip
side of that is it also teaches the vendors what the buyers are looking for and what they have to do as well. I see all that as being really helpful. I think people are way more educated then they used to be.” Amos said last year there was some continuance of prices decreasing in the South Okanagan, but it is forecast the economy will pick up, which in turn helps the real estate market. “The economy is expected to be at full capacity within one year, and according to the (news media), the economy is moving a little bit faster than anticipated. If it returns sooner than that, we will be in full capacity in less than a year. That means the real estate market will start taking off again. We would have quite a few more sales, less inventory, but interest rates would rise,” said Amos. The SOREB president said MLS residential sales are expected to hover near their average of 15 years ago and the number of home sales are forecast to increase by 2.1 per cent this year. “Our economy might be a little rocky, but it is still going forward. The housing market is considered to have moderate demand, that is a de¿nite improvement. It’s not great, but a de¿nite improvement,” said Amos of the South Okanagan market. The British Columbia Real Estate Associa-
tion forecasts home prices in most B.C. markets will experience little change over the next 24 months, as the supply of homes for sale more closely match consumer demand. “Modest economic growth at home and abroad is expected to limit growth in consumer demand both this year and in 2013,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA chief economist. The BCREA also states given recent weakness in Canadian labour markets and the extent of the downside risks to the Canadian economy, it is unlikely that the Bank of Canada will move on interest rates in 2012. Moreover, long-term rates will likely remain at historically low levels until con¿dence is restored in the sovereign debt of Europe. The housing forecast summary for the ¿rst quarter predicts home prices in the South Okanagan region will rise from an average of $308,261 in 2011 to $310,000 in 2013. The BCREA forecast states moderate employment growth, a more gradual increase in population and above average standing inventories will act as a governor on new home construction this year. With the announcement of a correctional centre, Oliver Mayor Ron Hovanes expects the population in his community to move well over the 5,000 mark come time for the next census. “We do have room to grow and we have a
fair bit of undeveloped residential land. Our footprint is fairly small, but we are a very settled, stable community. Having this inÀux of jobs coming to our area is just huge and something that we are not taking for granted,” said Hovanes. As of the 2011 census, the population in Oliver is sitting at 4,824, up from 4,395 people in 2006. “I’m thinking with the prison announcement, we probably won’t make it through the next census being under 5,000,” said Hovanes. Oliver real estate agent John DiBernardo, with Re/Max Wine Capital Realty, also believes the correctional centre will help build the commercial base and bring more families to grow Oliver and the surrounding area, albeit not immediately. “I don’t think it will have an overnight effect on us. I don’t think prices are going to start to march up right away because there are too many other uncertainties in the global economy to do that. But over a period of time, it de¿nitely is going to have an impact on us. It is going to bring a lot of temporary workers into town that are going to be looking for rental accommodation and they will be visiting our restaurants, spending money in our town and there could be families relocating,” said DiBernardo.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE WITH FAMILY CAREGIVING With the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it’s rare to find time for ourselves—and it’s especially easy to lose perspective if you are also taking care of a loved one who needs assistance. While the demands of caregiving vary greatly from one situation to the next, specialists in this field say that caring for yourself is one of the most important, and often most forgotten about things you must remember to do. “It’s easy to lose perspective when you’re a family caregiver because there’s so much to do and so little time to do it,” says Lisa Slizek, RN and director/owner of We Care Home Health Services. “As a caregiver, you must value who you are and respect your personal needs if you are to remain physically, emotionally and spiritually healthy.” We Care Home Health Services has published Being a Family Caregiver guide which offers current and prospective caregivers more insight. To stay strong and healthy, ‘The 3 R’s of Caregiving’ can equip you with the knowledge you need, as follows: 1. RESPECT is closely linked to admiration, esteem and reverence. These words are used here to describe you,—the caregiver. You deserve to be held in high opinion by yourself. By respecting yourself, you ensure that your body, mind and spirit remain whole. 2. REALISTIC expectations. This is easy to say but more difficult to achieve. It’s hard to have realistic expectations when you are new to caregiving or when you are so involved in the process that you risk losing a sense of perspective. Striving for better time management involves delegating, planning
ahead, prioritizing and accepting offers of help from others. 3. RESPITE means taking a break or finding a breathing space in your day. Be good to yourself as you care for your loved one. Be sure to get your rest, create a detailed calendar that is realistic, incorporate time for you to do things that you enjoy and keep a personal journal where you can chronicle your feelings, concerns and thoughts. A free copy of the guide is available at our office at 102 – 3310 Skaha Lake Road, Penticton (250 4936693) or online at www.wecare.ca. We Care Home Health Service is providing services to families like yours in South Okanagan/ Similkameen since 1995. We Care provides professional and compassionate care that allows seniors and others to live independently in the comfort of their own homes. Our services include personal care, home making, companion, nursing, foot care, live-in care, caregiver relief/ respite care, accompanied visits, nursing foot care as well as specialized services like dementia care. We Care is fully accredited by Accreditation Canada.
Helping you. Live your life. Our Home Health Services provide the assistance and home support your loved ones need – everything from nursing care to meal preparation and help with medications. We also provide the peace of mind you need. Because when families are better able to cope, it frees everyone to live their lives. More fully, more comfortably, more independently. PERSONAL CARE
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Free Caregiver Guide. Call today for your copy. TM
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er Being a Family Caregiv CHALLENGES AND YOU MANAGE THE A GUIDE TO HELPING TO A LOVED ONE OF PROVIDING CARE RESPONSIBILITIES experience. can be a deeply rewarding Being a family caregiver you make better advice and insight to help This Guide provides expert loved one and to help – for the benefit of your decisions along the way mind. wellness and peace of you preserve your own by the same organization Services is fully accredited in Canada. We Care Home Health and other healthcare providers that accredits hospitals
UNITI ER 800 COMM SERVING OV
250-493-6693 www.wecare.ca
www.wecare.ca
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We Care Home Health Services is fully accredited by the same organization that accredits hospitals and other healthcare providers in Canada.
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Friday, May 4, 2012 Penticton Western News
Penticton Western News Friday, May 4, 2012
www.pentictonwesternnews.com
On May 23rd, The Penticton Western News will be publishing our annual “Women In Business” supplement. This very popular section is a showcase for the successful business women in the South Okanagan. Don’t miss this opportunity to have your story told! LIMITED SPACE AND IN FULL COLOUR! Call your advertising representative today! 250-492-3636
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Meet the early deadline booking and you may be chosen to be on this y year’s cover!
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Friday, May 4, 2012 Penticton Western News
Serving the South Okanagan for over 30 Years!
PERYHOerRA LARRY Pl ID Sales Manag Genera
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