sCapital News Wednesday, January 21, 2015
www.kelownacapnews.com A3
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Dream move realized by notso-real reality TV Kathy Michaels
Brent’s Grist Mill has been forgotten by most people on the site where it was moved to in 2002
A place for the Grist Mill Kevin Parnell kparnell@kelownacapnews.com
After 12 years of almost no activity, it appears 2015 could be the year Brent’s Grist Mill finally starts to emerge from being a hidden piece of Okanagan history to its rightful place as one of the most important heritage sites in Kelowna. The Grist Mill, the first industrial enterprise in the Okanagan constructed in 1871, has been sitting near the corner of Dilworth and Leckie since it was moved there in 2002. It’s hidden from view of nearby roads and without any signs explaining its importance to the area’s history. But this year the City of Kelowna says it expects to begin restoration work on the Grist Mill with close to $100,000 committed to stabilizing the building, which along with a nearby house and barn, were inhabited and used by Frederick Brent, one of the earliest European settlers in the Okanagan.
“The Grist Mill is one of the most important heritage buildings we have in Kelowna for a few reasons,” explained Terry Barton, building and facilities planning manager for the City of Kelowna. “It’s post-andbeam log construction which there are very few structures remaining. So, architecturally, it’s a very rare type of building and the only (post and beam) owned by the city. The building is very humble and very low key in its stature however it tells a very interesting story of a German who came to B.C. and started on the industrial side. It’s part of the story of how Kelowna was settled.” The Grist Mill and its two associated buildings—Brent’s home and dairy farm—were moved in 2002 from the Ellison area to its current location but have begun to fall into disrepair as the structures have not had much work done on them since the move. The availability of some
funds to stabilize the mill is positive news to the Central Okanagan Heritage Society (COHS), a group that has been lobbying to have the area revitalized. “This is what we wanted and have been hoping for, for the last 12 years,” said Janice Henry, executive director of COHS. “We’re encouraged. We want to be part of the future of the buildings. I think the site has huge potential.” A couple of developments could help the current site of Brent’s Grist Mill as a Rails with Trails walking path connects a loop around Kelowna that goes past the structures. Future plans for a Highway 33 extension in the area could also bring vehicle traffic and more tourists and locals past the historic structures. “The (Grist Mill) story isn’t very well told and I think the restoration of the building is one thing that allows the opportunity for the
interpretation side,” said Barton. “I think it could be more prominent. It could be a hub. I think if you have a new road and you have the rails to trails I think the possibilities are huge to what it could be.” Last week during budget discussions, Kelowna city council asked for more information and an update on the city’s heritage program. Currently the city has 19 heritage assets and city staff are now preparing to present an overview of the entire heritage portfolio and a recap of the program. Barton says that will be presented to council over the next few months before any more decisions are made on funding for heritage sites. The $100,000 committed to the Grist Mill has already been approved by Kelowna council with work expected to take place sometime this year. @KP_media1
A Kelowna couple is about to weigh anchor to embark on a Caribbean adventure, and anyone who owns a TV is invited along for the journey. JC and Felicia Rathwell have sold everything they own so they can start a new life on Roatán, the largest of Honduras’ Bay islands. They’d been searching for properties in the Caribbean for four years, but the plan was accelerated by a surprise phone call from the producers of HGTV’s Caribbean Life. “We had come home (to the Okanagan from the Caribbean) to run our boat business,” said Rathwell. “Then HGTV called us and said, ‘you are a fascinating couple… we want to follow you down when you look for some houses, and talk with you about the area.’” Producers had originally thought the couple were looking to buy in St. Martin, so they tentatively planned to meet some time in the future. Then they learned that the destination was Roatán, and that’s when things started moving ahead quickly . A film crew was heading to that destination in 10 days, so Rathwell decided to meet them. “I left my boat, took time off work and we got there one day before filming,” Rathwell said. The day filming started the couple woke up at 5:30 a.m. for a couple hours of general production prep and carried on with filming until sunset. It was a long, and
CONTRIBUTED
KEVIN PARNELL/CAPITAL NEWS
kmichaels@kelownacapnews.com
JC and Felicia Rathwell found their dream home with the help of a reality TV program. not necessarily fluid process. On the first day they ran out of daylight while working their way through a prospective property, so the film crew asked them to come back a few days later, and rehash the moments that had passed. That included saying the same words while wearing the same outfits. It was strange, but a huge lesson in the ways of reality TV for the Rathwells. “We did everything backward…we did a session where we talked about the houses the realtors were selling us, but we hadn’t met the realtor yet,” he said. “Then when we went back to the house we saw, we mentioned the realtor, and we were told, ‘No, you haven’t met him yet.’” Despite the unusual twists and turns related to being involved with filming a reality TV program, the couple did find a new home within four days. “We’re not allowed to say which one we chose,” said Rathwell. “But we’ll be moving in October.” And, to that end, life in the Okanagan is wrapping up nicely. Their business,
Kelowna Dinner Cruises, is being sold. As is their home and all the belongings that would be too hard to take along with them to their new beginning. “Everybody dreams of selling everything and moving to the Caribbean, but we’re actually doing it,” Rathwell said, adding that family and friends have been “all high fives and two thumbs up” about the decision. And their decision has been made sweeter by the fact that they won’t be leaving forever. “We love Kelowna, it’s a beautiful city,” he said. “We will stay here in the summer because we like the hot weather.” And the rest of the year they’ll soak up Roatán’s warm and stable weather and start another boat business. “We have a catamaran, and we’ll be doing snorkel and reef tours for cruise passengers,” Rathwell said, noting they’ve already got moorage lined up for next fall, and they’re in talks with cruise lines that frequent the area.” To see exactly where their new roots will be planted, turn in to HGTV on Feb. 15.
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