Special Features - Best of Kelowna 2015

WINING & DINING ● HEALTH, BEAUTY & STYLE ● SPORTS ● ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ● DIGITAL ● LOCAL GOODNESS ● OTHER GOODS & SERVICES ●

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Taking a moment to consider what we enjoy best about living in Kelowna, the public responded in droves again this year for the now third annual Best of Kelowna 2015 contest.

Started originally by Jim Csek, founder of the KelownaNow website (kelownanow.com), Best of Kelowna returns with the support of Excel Personnel Inc., the Kelowna Capital News and Bell Media’s three Kelowna radio stations—99.9 Sun FM, 101.5 EZ Rock and AM 1150!

The nomination period for the various contest categories opened April 6 to 24, and the actual voting for the eventual nominees was carried out from Monday, May 4, until Sunday, May 17.

Csek bases the contest on the tightly monitored principle of ‘One Vote, Per Category, Per Person.’ you could vote as a registered user (email registration) of the site or with a Facebook account, steps taken to ensure a fair vote.

E-mail addresses were used to send your voting information to you, and we may send out one or two reminders near the end of

voting if you haven’t finished.

So you could vote as a registered user or with your Facebook account, but if it was discovered that a voter has attempted to: (i) vote more than one time during the voting period; and/or (ii) use (or attempt to use) multiple names, identities and/or more than one (1) email address to vote, or otherwise participate, he/she could be disqualified from the competition and all of his/her votes may be disqualified.

Csek has said his intent from the beginning was and continues to be providing a popularity poll with voting credibility, not one where someone can sit at a computer or Smartphone and repeatedly vote as is the case in many other contests of this nature.

“We’ve all seen those types of contests in the past where someone sits at a computer all day just casting a vote by hitting a keyboard button,” Csek said.

“Some people complain about the voting limitations but I wanted it to be a legitimate vote, so to come out on top in a given category has a legitimate meaning.”

Csek said the feedback from last year was

WINING AND DINING ...................... 5-12

that businesses that were either winners or in a final top three for a given category saw it generate customer response.

“I think there is interest from the public in these kinds of things, and it might help convince someone to try out a business or service just to see. In the end, though, it’s up to that business to ensure those customers keep coming back.”

After expanding the field of categories last year from 74 to 85, contest watchers will notice this year many category vote getters defended their top rankings from last year, such as photographer Shawn Talbott, Train Station Pub, Knox Mountain Park, Club Penguin, hair salon Loyal Wooldridge and Moksha yoga.

And there are many newcomers outlined in the poll result pages of this Best of Kelowna 2015 special supplement. ultimately, Csek hopes the third edition of Best of Kelowna retains his goal to create a “community feel-good” project that can be beneficial to local consumers, the business community and for tourists who come here looking for direction on how and where to spend their money.

LOCAL GOODNESS ....................... 27-30

• BAKERY • BEST PLACE TO EAT AT BIG WHITE • BREAKFAST • BURGER • CATERER • CHEAP EATS • CHINESE • COFFEE • FINE DINING • ICE CREAM OR FROZEN YOGURT • INDIAN • JAPANESE • LOCAL CHEF • MEXICAN • PATIO • PIZZA • PLACE TO BUY WINE, BEER OR SPIRITS • PUB • ROMANTIC DINNER • SEAFOOD • STEAK • THAI • VEGETARIAN • WINERY

• PARK • CAMPGROUND • CUSTOMER SERVICE • DOG PARK • EVENT OR FESTIVAL • HIKING TRAIL • KELOWNA CITIZEN THAT DESERVES RECOGNITION - FEMALE • KELOWNA CITIZEN THAT DESERVES RECOGNITION - MALE • LOCAL CHARITY • LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIAL • LOCAL MEDIA • LOCAL MEDIA PERSONALITY • MIDDLE OR SENIOR SCHOOL • PLACE TO TAKE A DATE • PRIVATE SCHOOL • RETIREMENT RESIDENCE • WATERFALLS • WEDDING VENUE

HEALTH, BEAUTY, AND STYLE ....... 13-16

OTHER GOODS & SERVICES .......... 31-39

• FITNESS TRAINER • HAIRSTYLIST FOR MEN • HAIRSTYLIST FOR WOMEN • HEALTH PRACTITIONER • MANICURE OR PEDICURE • MEN’S CLOTHING • PERSONAL COACH • PLACE TO BUY JEWELLERY AND/OR ACCESSORIES • SALON • SPA • WOMEN’S CLOTHING • WORKOUT FACILITY • YOGA • YOGA INSTRUCTOR

SPORTS ......................................... 18-19 BICYCLE SHOP • FEMALE ATHLETE • GOLF COURSE • MALE ATHLETE • SKI & SNOWBOARD SHOP • SKI HILLS • SPORTS TEAM

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT .............. 20-23 ART GALLERY • LOCAL ARTIST • LOCAL BAND OR MUSICIAN • ARTS COMPANY OR ORGANIZATION • MUSIC VENUE • NIGHTLIFE VENUE • THEATRE GROUP

DIGITAL ......................................... 25-26

• BICYCLE SHOP • FEMALE ATHLETE • GOLF COURSE • MALE ATHLETE • SKI & SNOWBOARD SHOP • SKI HILLS • SPORTS TEAM

Publisher Karen Hill Managing Editor Barry Gerding Production Director Tessa Ringness Advertising Manager Karen Hill

Production Designers Nancy Blow Shayla Graf Kiana Haner-Wilk Courtney Larkan Laura Millsip Kelly Ulmer Editorial Mike Strauss Barry Gerding

AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE/MECHANIC • BIG BOX STORE • COMMUNITY • FLOORING COMPANY • FLORIST • FURNITURE OR HOME DECOR • HOME AND GARDEN STORE • HOTEL OR RESORT • LANDSCAPER • MOTEL • NEW CAR DEALER • PET BOARDING OR KENNEL • PET GROOMER • PHOTOGRAPHER • PLACE TO BUY A GIFT FOR A GIRL • PLACE TO BUY A GIFT FOR A GUY • POOL AND SPA COMPANY • REALTORS • RV DEALERS • SMALL BUSINESS - RETAIL • USED CAR DEALER • VETERINARIAN • CAR WASH • DEVELOPMENT • EQUIPMENT RENTAL • EVENT PLANNER • FINANCIAL SERVICES • HOME BUILDER • HOME RENOVATIONS • HOME SERVICES • INTERIOR DECORATOR • LARGE BUSINESS EMPLOYER • MEDIUM BUSINESS EMPLOYER • MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION • PET SERVICES & SUPPLIES • PLACE TO STAY AT BIG WHITE • SMALL BUSINESS EMPLOYER • STAYCATION SPOT OUTSIDE OF KELOWNA BUT WITHIN 250 KM • TIRE STORE • TOURIST ATTRACTION The photograph on the front of the Best of Kelowna special section this year of Kelowna’s downtown core at the foot of Okanagan Lake was taken by Shawn Talbott. Talbott topped the Best of Kelowna poll for the second consecutive year as the best photographer in Kelowna, while the Kelowna downtown core was top dog as well the best community location to visit.

Account Executives Tracy Cole Teresa Huscroft-Brown Sheri Jackson Bob Lindsay Rick Methot Christine Mould Megan Munro Al Tomiak Kimberley Vico

Front Page Photo Shawn Talbot (courtesy of Tourism Kelowna) Best of Kelowna is published by Black Press 2495 Enterprise Way, Kelowna Ph. 250-763-3212 Fax. 250-862-5275 adsales@kelownacapnews.com www.kelownacapnews.com

Distributed free to select households in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited.

The publisher cannot be responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs.

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WINING AND DINING

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✓ Best BURGER

✓ Best CHEAP EATS ✓ Best CHINESE

5

✓ Best CATERER

✓ Best PLACE TO EAT AT BIG WHITE

Little Hobo Soup & Sandwich Shop

Latin Fiesta

5

✓ Best PLACE TO BUY WINE, BEER OR SPIRITS

5

One Big Table

5

Discover Wines

Bliss Bakery

5

Metro Liquor

Okanagan Street Food

5

BC Liquor Store

Red Robin Restaurant

5

Globe Cafe & Tapas

Triple O’s by White Spot

Mad Mango Cafe

5

The Woods Restaurant

Five Guys Burger & Fries

5

5

5

Cora’s

5

5

The Jammery

5

5

Bohemian Cafe & Catering

5

Wood Fire Bakery

Snowshoe Sam’s Pub

5

Bread Company

5

5

✓ Best BREAKFAST

5

5

✓ Best BAKERY

5

Bliss Bakery

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Mekong Restaurant

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wna for all the Thank you Kelo u have shown t yo love and suppor ed DunnEnzies en op e w e us sinc e hile we celebrat W o. ag s ar 5 ye y ul tr e w niversary, our 5th Year An staff & business r customers, appreciate all ouates that made us Kelowna ’s . associ 3 years in a row

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Best of Kelowna | Spring 2015

WINING AND DINING

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The preferred place to buy seafood treated as just another mass produced protein, and that it should have special status as one of the few remaininag foods that have to be hunted and gathered, sometimes at considerable risk to the fisherman.

The place for modern fishmongers in the world is to show these wild gems the respect that they deserve, and use their mongering skills to ensure that fish is presented and prepared to the highest standard, so that they make it to the plate in prime condition.

filleted, it begins to deteriorate immediately, sometimes up to 10 times faster than when it is whole on ice. Codfathers ships all of their fish whole wherever possible, using trained fishmongers in store to cut them at the last possible minute.

Fishmongers can prepare fish in a number of different ways to suit your cooking needs, so always check with your fishmonger if your particular cut is suitable for how you wish to prepare it.

Codfathers has a qualified (Red Seal) chef on staff to advise you on cooking techniques.

Codfathers also has a marine biologist on staff, who specializes in live shellfish.* Codfathers will cook your crab or lobster for you, or filletprepare your large whole fish for no extra charge.

Many Codfathers’ products are traceable right back to the fishing vessel that caught them, information that is available on our shelf edge tickets..

RauDZ

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5

5

Waterfront Wines Restaurant & Bar

✓ Best COFFEE

Quails Gate Estate Winery

5

5

✓ Best FINE DINING

Once fish is

5

5

Tim Hortons

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The aim of the Codfathers Seafood Market in Kelowna is to provide a traditional fishmonger service to the Okanagan.

Codfathers take pride in offering a huge selection of fresh seafood, in peak condition, often day-boat caught and shipped every day from the coast, or air freighted from further away.

The business strives to be at the forefront of the Seafood industry in B.C. by encouraging sustainable harvesting of Seafood products, and promoting small artisanal fisheries.

That message is resonating with seafood enthusiasts in the Central Okanagan, apparent

by Codfathers as the preferred place to buy seafood in the Best of Kelowna poll.

Codfathers has been open in Kelowna for nearly 25 years.

Founded by the local Bishop family, the market has been owned and operated since 2002 by Jon and Anne-Marie Crofts, who emigrated from the south of England to the Okanangan.

The trade of “fishmongery” was fast becoming a dying art across Europe and North America, due to the rise of big box stores and bulk trade in seafood as a commodity.

Both Jon and AnneMarie believe passionately that seafood should not be

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524 Bernard Avenue Downtown Kelowna, BC

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www.bohemiancater.com Spring 2015 | Best of Kelowna

7

WINING AND DINING

✓ Best MEXICAN ✓ Best PATIO

✓ Best INDIAN ✓ Best JAPANESE

✓ Best PIZZA ✓ Best PUB

Mark Filatow at Waterfront Wines

5

5

✓ Best LOCAL CHEF

Lisa Cham,The Fixx Cafe

5

5

Best of Kelowna | Spring 2015

Rod Butters at RauDZ Regional Table

5

5

8

O-Zeki Japanese Restaurant

5

5

blissbakery.ca

Bluetail Sushi & Bistro

5

5

Ellis St + Cawston Av

Momo Sushi Cafe

5

5

Kelowna

Chutney Cuisine of India

5

5

Beach Ave + 13 St

Poppadoms - Taste of India!

5

5

Peachland

Dawett Restaurant

5

5

VOTED BEST BAKERY 3 YEARS IN A ROW ...AND 2ND BEST CATERER!

Dairy Queen

5

5

Thanks (again) Kelowna.

Tickleberry’s Ice Cream and More

5

5

VOTED BEST BAKERY 2 CONSECUTIVE YEARS

MOO-LIX Ice Cream

5

5

✓ Best ICE CREAM OR FROZEN YOGURT

BROUGHT TO YOU BY Hector’s Casa Authentic Mexican Cuisine

Latin Fiesta

Fernando’s

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Hotel Eldorado

Earl’s On Top Restaurant

DunnEnzies Pizza Co.

Bordello’s Italian Pizzeria

Mr. Mozzarella

Train Station Pub

Brandts Creek Neighbourhood Pub Doc Willoughby’s Pub

WINING AND DINING

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Simply… the best.

Sparkling Hill Resort was built in 2010, targeted to become the premier wellness resort spa destination in North America.

Offering 149 luxury rooms and penthouses, 40,000 sq. ft. of state-of-the-art wellness facilities at KurSpa, and a breathtaking Okanagan Lake setting, Sparkling Hill Resort offers a range of amenities and services.

By combining a Europeanstyle approach to wellness hospitality with cuttingedge crystal architecture and

spa wellness retreats. Our Swarovski spa is the largest among spa hotels in British Columbia and considered by many to be the most unique in the world.

Comprised of over 40,000 sq. ft. of treatment space infused with our unique Swarovski crystal architecture, and offering 100+ innovative healing treatments, KurSpa provides guests with the wellness retreat of a lifetime.

Our fully-planned spa vacations offer the chance to surrender to relaxation at Sparkling Hill. We invite you to one of the best spas in Canada to renew your mind, body, and spirit.

The resort’s luxury guest rooms and penthouses are outfitted with Swarovski crystal fireplaces, welcome crystal light fixtures, and starry ceilings, and floor-toceiling window walls to let you enjoy the natural beauty of the Okanagan Valley.

All rooms feature stunning

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5

state-of-the-art spa facilities, Sparkling Hill provides guests with an extraordinarily

unique destination spa resort experience.

Sparkling Hill Resort is devoted to providing an unforgettable wellness experience at KurSpa for every one of its guests. Enjoy exclusive access to the seven unique aromatherapy saunas and steam rooms, experience showers, igloo, indoor pool complete with underwater music and starry Swarovski crystal sky, hot pool, outdoor infinity pool, Kneipp water therapy, Tea & Serenity Relaxation Rooms, and the Keiserequipped fitness studio.

KurSpa comes from the German word kur (which means ‘healing’) and spa (Latin for ‘water’) to mean ‘health by water,’ which epitomizes the philosophy behind Sparkling Hill’s

Monashee Mountain or Okanagan Lake views and the window walls can be opened to instantly transform your room into an outdoor oasis and let fresh mountain air in. Relax in luxury twoperson soaking tubs and walk-through showers with spectacular views.

Included in your room rate are such services as: Exclusive access to KurSpa pools, steam rooms, and saunas; full European-inspired hot breakfast for two at PeakFine Restaurant daily; Keiserequipped fitness studio; Serenity and Tea Room access for rest and relaxation; wireless Internet; and valet underground parking.

1876 Cooper Rd., Kelowna 778.436.8102 Spring 2015 | Best of Kelowna

9

✓ Best THAI

5

5

RauDZ

5

5

Pilgrim & Pearl

Keg Steakhouse & Bar

RauDZ

Chop

Bai Tong Thai Food Restaurant

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RauDZ restaurant nominated in several categories It was an injured arm that got Rod Butters wielding a knife. Instead of heading off on a baseball scholarship in America, Rod’s professional sports ambitions were cut short.

He was forced to reflect on what appealed to him most in his life, to what he was drawn to from a very young age. And that was cooking. Even at age seven, his favourite thing to do was to get up before anyone else and make a pancake breakfast for his family.

Some career highlights include the Four Seasons Hotel group, Chateau Whistler Resort opening team and Pacific Palisades Hotel Vancouver. Rod then went on to open the world famous Wickaninnish Inn, Tofino as Chef de Cuisine in 1996. His innovative cuisine and high service standards quickly helped the Inn’s Pointe Restaurant attain the internationally recognized Relais & Chateaux designation.

So it should come as no

Bohemian Cafe & Catering

5

✓ Best VEGETARIAN

The Chopped Leaf - Orchard Plaza

5

5

10 Best of Kelowna | Spring 2015

5

Date: July 25, 2015 Tickets: $170 including tax and gratuity Reservations: 250-769-4451 ext. 236

Mad Mango Cafe

5

5

Join us for an al fresco long-table dinner that combines locally sourced cuisine and our world-class wines.

surprise that Rod Butters name and that of his restaurant, RauDZ, should be sprinkled among many of the dining categories in the 2015 Best of Kelowna poll.

The importance of Butters’ commitment to establishing regional B.C. cuisine has earned him international respect. Long before it became “trendy” to serve regional food, Butters has always been committed to this effort.

It’s because of this and his talents as a chef “at the top of his game” that in 2007 his peers inducted Rod into the B.C. Restaurant Hall of Fame.

Butters is a member of the Canadian Culinary Foundation and has earned the WCC designation recognizing international culinary excellence from the World Association of Chefs Societies.

He is also past president of the Okanagan Chefs Association.

✓ Best WINERY

5

5

Codfathers Seafood

5

5

Old Vines at Quail’s Gate

✓ Best STEAK

Bouchons Bistro

5

5

✓ Best SEAFOOD

RauDZ

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

5

5

✓ Best ROMANTIC DINNER

WINING AND DINING

Quails Gate Estate Winery Summerhill Pyramid Winery Gray Monk Estate Winery

WINING AND DINING

By MIKE STRAuSS

Stone Sisters Group finds success thanks to strong family ties

Although the two are now working side-by-side and feel more in tune than ever, they weren’t always business partners.

“I’ve been in real estate for 20 years,” Tamara says. “Our parents started selling homes in the 1970s. Originally, they discouraged me from entering real estate – they thought I was too young. I was 21 and I looked like I was 14.”

The sisters learned negotiating skills around the dinner table, Tamara says, and although her parents originally Strong communication, wanted her to finish great service, and a sense of her degree, they’re fun have propelled the Stone now very happy Sisters Group to collect three to see their legacy Best of Kelowna Awards. continuing.

Thank you Kelowna!

5

For many siblings, starting a business together can be a fool’s errand. But for sisters Tamara and Shannon Stone, it’s the foundation for success.

The two have been in real estate for 20 and 11 years respectively, and after over a decade of building a business together, the Stone Sisters have found a repeatable formula for success. The experienced realty group has once again been awarded a gold medal in the Best of Kelowna Awards’ Best Realtor category, making them the top real estate agency in Kelowna for the third year running.

Their secret to success?

A combination of service, communication, and fun.

“We never put our needs first,” says Tamara. “We put ourselves in the client’s shoes, and if we don’t think a house is a good fit for a buyer we’ll advise them to avoid buying it.”

The sisters also alternate evening and weekend shifts, she says, so that neither of them is too overworked.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Gluten Free, Vegetarian, Vegan & Delivery Available

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250.763.8638 250.763.8600 Spring 2015 | Best of Kelowna

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WINING AND DINING

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top workout facilities

A key objective of the yMCA of the Okanagan is to help the communities they serve live healthier lives.

“We try to create programs that can be accessible to all aspects of our population, from young to old, and create a comfortable environment for our members to be more physically fit and healthier,” said Kelley Taylor, senior manager of health fitness for the Okanagan yMCA. “That is a really big thing for us across the board at the y.”

That message appears to be connecting with the residents the y serves, as the workout facilities at the H2O Aquatic Centre in the Mission, run by the Okanagan yMCA, and Kelowna Family y in Rutland were voted the top two workout facilities respectively in the Best of Kelowna workout facility category.

Taylor said she is thrilled to see that response to what the y has to offer, as it helps to reinforce the workout programs available and the environment of support that is an objective to create for all y members.

She said the y’s goal is to help people develop healthy workout habits that allows each person to exercise within the time constraints of their lifestyle, and not to solely rely on a

5

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trainer or participating in a group class to get in shape.

“Coaching is very helpful and we provide those services as well, but people can come to our facilities and do so many things…we want to help people learn and understand the exercise habits that will work for them,” said Taylor.

She said the community aspect is a natural outfall of the y serving its members and the volunteer tutors available to help people get on the right fitness track for them, whether it be yoga or dance classes to lifting weights or endurance fitness training.

“We feel people generally want to feel part of a group or community, and not just be going to a gym when they take out a y membership,” Taylor said. “That is what our y brand is about, community. So our staff make a conscious effort to get to know our members on a first-name basis and give people that sense of community, of belonging.”

She add that y members come in all shapes and sizes and ages, so the diversity of gym fitness programs reflects those demographics.

“We are not just reaching out to a certain core group of people, we are here to help everyone with whatever they need to lead a healthy lifestyle,” Taylor said.

Taylor added a management structural change has also helped now that both workout facilities at the Family y and H20 now fall under one management structure, as opposed to being operated independently of one another in the past.

“It’s a bit of a different approach from the past but it has allowed us to align the programs at both workout facilities in a more efficient and coordinated way, while recognizing that both facilities have and will continue to offer unique programs to each facility.”

Be the BEST

you can be…

GOLD — H2O Adventure + Fitness Centre

Best Workout Facility

SILVER — Kelowna Family YMCA Best Workout Facility Best Customer Service Best Large Business Employer

Learn more about how the Y can help you achieve your best at ymcaokanagan.ca Thank you for taking the time to vote for us.

Spring 2015 | Best of Kelowna

13

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

HEALTH, BEAUTY & STYLE

Peachland home to favourite waterfalls

from it,” Smith said.

To get to Hardy Falls Regional Park, travel south on Highway 97 to Hardy Road on the south side of Peachland, and turn into the parking lot at the entrance to the park.

Hardy Falls can also be accessed along a hiking trail that leads to Antlers Beach Regional Park.

✓ Best HAIRSTYLIST FOR WOMEN

✓ Best FITNESS TRAINER ✓ Best HAIRSTYLIST FOR MEN

5

5

Casey Harder - Plan B Headquarters

5

5

14 Best of Kelowna | Spring 2015

Plan B

5

5

#108-1912 Enterprise Way, Kelowna, BC | 250.712.1112

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5

5

ospakelowna.com

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5

5

Thank You to Everyone who Voted for us!

Roz Huber

5

5

We are honored to once again be named Best Manicure and Best Pedicure and Best Spa in the city of Kelowna!

Keith Lanouette

✓ Best HEALTH PRACTITIONER

Best of Kelowna pollsters have brought attention to a unique feature of Peachland’s Hardy Falls Regional Park.

The park has topped the list of the favourite waterfalls to check out in the Central Okanagan, which is a big part of the park along with the spawning river Deep Creek and a well maintained hiking trail from the park entrance to the waterfalls.

The walking path is a leisurely hike of about one kilometre into a boxed canyon setting, the path also being wheelchair accessible. The waterfall itself extends up about three metres, with small pool to splash around in during the summer.

Because of the fish spawning, the park is also a popular visiting spot for local bears along with Mission Creek Park, Mission Greenway, Bertram Creek Park and Rose Valley Regional Park.

Bruce Smith, spokesman for the Regional District of the Central Okanagan, cautions the public to be both vigilant and prepared to encounter bears at all those park locations.

“If you see a bear, give it plenty of space and stay well away

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Ward Willison, All Body Care Okanagan Health and Performance

Happily Holistic

✓ Best SPA

✓ Best SALON

✓ Best PERSONAL COACH ✓ Best PLACE TO BUY JEWELLERY &/OR ACCESS.

✓ Best MEN’S CLOTHING

Cream Salon & Spa

5

5

Jessica Levy - Body Connection Fitness

Loyal Hair Therapy

5

Kasie Weiss

Plan B

5

Keith Lanouette

5

5

5

Winners

5

5

Man + Woman

5

5

MacDermott’s Menswear

5

5

Spa Pure

5

5

Mint Esthetics Studio

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5

O Spa

5

5

✓ Best MANICURE OR PEDICURE

HEALTH, BEAUTY & STYLE

Sparkling Hills

Spa at The Cover

O Spa

Posh

Blue Ginger

Funktional

Winning Silver for Best Development

makes us feel like shouting from the rooftops!

Winning yet another award confirms our unwavering

commitment to excellence does not go unrecognized.

Stunning streetscapes, expansive parks and wildlife

spaces, breathtaking views, a state-of-the-art elementary school, and beautiful, full-service Village Centre all

reflect a standard of excellence rarely found in today’s residential developments. We invite you to visit soon.

Lot Sales – Kettle Valley Discovery Centre 5636 Jasper Way, Kelowna, BC V1W 5L7 t 250.764.2199 | discoverycentre@kettlevalley.com kettlevalley.com

LIVE DIFFERENT Spring 2015 | Best of Kelowna

15

✓ Best YOGA INSTRUCTOR

✓ Best WOMEN’S CLOTHING ✓ Best YOGA

5

5

Oranj

5

5

Hot Box Yoga

5

5

Moksha Yoga

5

5

Blonde

5

Winners

5

5

best

5

Kelowna’s

lululemon

✓ Best WORKOUT FACILITY

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

HEALTH, BEAUTY & STYLE

H2O

Kelowna Family Y

Oranj

Laura Martini

Chelsea Ray

Susie Newson

• specialized kinesiology • bodytalk • personal training • nutrition • herbology •

When we opened Happily Holistic five years ago, we wanted to create a place where knowledge, health and compassion come together – the kind of place where people feel better when they walk in the door.

Mention this ad to receive $10 off* your first BodyTalk appointment with Annie. *new clients only

Holly Berezowski • Alexis Costello • Annie Nippard

Thank-you Kelowna!

We are grateful to be a part of your healing journey.

Whether you are looking for pain relief, stress reduction, a fit toned body, mental clarity or a new career, there are sessions and classes perfect for you!

www.happilyholistic.ca 250-491-7559 office@happilyholistic.ca

• reflexology • massage • bach flower essences • aromatherapy • health courses • 16 Best of Kelowna | Spring 2015

ThankYOU

!

Kelowna

We appreciate all your support - nominations, votes, social media sharing and conversation!

Congratulations to all of this year’s Best of Kelowna winners

Spring 2015 | Best of Kelowna

17

SPORTS Josh Gorges has received the distinction this year of being Kelowna’s most popular athlete in the annual Best of Kelowna poll.

It couples with another unique distinction for Gorges, a defenceman for the Buffalo Sabres, that being the only Kelowna born-and-raised hockey player to reach the National Hockey League.

And perhaps its fitting that the junior team which introduced Gorges to NHL scouts of his potential, the Western Hockey League Kelowna Rockets, continue to register as the most popular sports team in Kelowna.

Gorges story has become folklore in Kelowna junior hockey circles, standing as an example of perseverance that others have followed since in his footsteps. Gorges helped establish a winning tradition for the Rockets, one that has resulted in five Memorial Cup

But as with the WHL scouts, the NHL largely overlooked Gorges as well, but he did sign a deal with the San Jose Sharks as a free agent.

He struggled to find his way initially in the Sharks system, shuffling between the club’s farm team and the NHL level between the 2004-05 and 2006-07 seasons before being traded to Montreal Canadiens, where he would play for seven seasons before moving on to Buffalo Sabres in a trade last year, after refusing to waive his no-trade clause to be moved to Toronto Maple Leafs.

Today, Gorges is considered a top four defenceman for the Sabres, a leader on his team as he became with the Canadiens, a player who made the most of his ability, making up for his lack of size by becoming a solid defensive defenceman and a leader by example among his teammates—just as he did during his days with the Rockets.

Coming out on top

✓ Best MALE ATHLETE

✓ Best GOLF COURSE

✓ Best FEMALE ATHLETE

Predator Ridge

5

✓ Best BICYCLE SHOP

Harvest

5

CHEERS TO OUR SUPPORTERS

Two Eagles

5

R

TO BUY WINE, BEER OR SPIRITS

5

Malindi Elmore

5

Roz Huber

5

Kelsey Serwa

VE SIL

BEST PLACE

5

5

Cycle Path

5

5

Fresh Air

5

5

Kelowna Cycle

appearances in the last 12 years.

Gorges played his way through the Kelowna minor hockey system and was undrafted as a bantam player in the Western Hockey League draft.

The Rockets invited Gorges to training camp as a tryout, and he surprisingly stuck with the team, rising to eventually become team captain and leading his team to its first Memorial Cup championship in 2004. The Rockets roster back then was littered with future NHLers including Shea Weber, Kyle Cumisky, Troy Bodie and Blake Comeau.

Josh Gorges

Madison Bowey

Bruce Cook

Thank you to everyone who voted the West Kelowna Warriors

2015 Best of Kelowna

SPORTS TEAM 2nd Place

See you in September!

Specialty wines, spirits & ales | 1175 Ellis St. | 778.484.5656 | metroliquor.com

18 Best of Kelowna | Spring 2015

www.westkelownawarriors.ca

SPORTS

tourists alike.

It features an amazing array of trails, native landscape and wildlife. A drive up Knox Mountain Road will also lead you to the dog park and also to of the best high vantage point viewing spots from the

Silver Star

Telemark Nordic Club

5

✓ Best SKI HILL

Big White

5

5

5

Freeride

5

5

Fresh Air

south end of the city.

In a profile of the park last year, City of Kelowna parks manager Ian Wilson called Knox Mountain to Kelowna what Stanley Park represents to Vancouver.

“It’s kind of like Stanley

5

One Boardshop

5

5

✓ Best SKI AND SNOWBOARD SHOP

Iconic outdoor activity destination

✓ Best SPORTS TEAM

Along with defending its top seeding last year as best park and best hiking trail in Kelowna, Knox Mountain Park added a new dimension this year as the location of the best dog park in the city.

At 331 hectares (766 acres), Knox Mountain is the city’s largest park and one of it iconic outdoor activity destinations for locals and

Kelowna Rockets

West Kelowna Warriors

Okanagan Sun

Park,” Wilson said. “It’s right in the downtown core, a large natural park with a variety of trails and experiences to explore.

“It’s a very unique area, part of the Okanagan grassland habitat that is threatened throughout the valley. Our management plan set out a few years ago mapped out specific areas that have some of the more rare types of plants and animals.

It’s a pretty unique ecosystem.”

And one that Wilson says the city is intent on protecting for the future, striving to effectively manage the environmental sustainability of the park’s ecosystem against its continuing popularity as a recreation destination for everything from hiking to mountain biking.

voted best bike store THREE YEARS IN A ROW 2015

We thank you for your votes When you vote & shop locally owned, it means we can give back & support you & the community in Kelowna.

2014

• $10,000+ in charity donations • 900 student bike checks

2013

• 4 bike to work week stations

• Bike support for races

• Team sponsorships

• Trail Maintenance

Let’s celebrate with a

THREE WEEK LONG SALE June 9th - June 30th PROVISIONS FOR CYCLING

by Kelowna Cycle

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19

Everything For Your Four Legged Friends

We Have a Reason to Celebrate est Pet Services & Supply Store 103-1889 Springfield Rd. Kelowna~250-860-2346 2565 Main St. Westbank Town Centre~250-768-8870 20

Best of Kelowna | Spring 2015

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

✓ Best MUSIC VENUE ✓ Best NIGHTLIFE VENUE

✓ Best ART GALLERY ✓ Best ARTS COMPANY OR ORGANIZATION

5

Ballet Kelowna

5

Rotary Centre for the Arts

5

Kelowna Actors Studio

5

HeART School

5 5

5

Wild Son

✓ Best LOCAL ARTIST

✓ Best THEATRE GROUP ✓ Best WINE EVENT

Melissa Livingstone

5

5

✓ Best LOCAL BAND OR MUSICIAN

The Wild

5

5

~ Casey & Roo

Jolene Mackie

5

5

We love you too Kelowna!

Thanks for voting us #1!

Rob Balsdon

5

w/

5

The Okanagan’s Country Station

Alex Fong

5

5

Ro

Kelowna Art Gallery

ow

sh

la C y

se Phelps a C o

5

&

5

the

rke

5

e

Th

s Be

5

sic

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5

Winn Rentals is a familiar brand that is often evident at any variety of construction jobs, business or residential, around Kelowna.

So it perhaps is no surprise the Best of Kelowna category for equipment rental choice saw Winn Rentals come out on top.

The company is locally owned and operated, in business in Kelowna since 1975, continuing to grow and expand along with the community.

The Winn Rentals business reputation in Kelowna has been based on a simple philosophy: Their customers deserve quality equipment combined with good service at a fair price.

Along with those 35 years of doing business in Kelowna has developed good knowledge of goods and services—if Winn Rentals doesn’t have it, the staff probably know where to find it.

The construction equipment Winn Rentals provide to its customers ranges from small homeowner tools to large contractor equipment.

Whether you are renovating your bathroom or building a brand new home, Winn Rentals, located at 910 McCurdy Road in Kelowna, can help make it easier with access to the proper rental equipment to save having to buy it.

Winn Rentals has qualified mechanics on staff specializing primarily in small engine and tool repair. They are knowledgeable in areas concerning compaction equipment (large and small), electric hammer drills, electric hand tools, Honda engines, cut-off saws, generators, heaters, pumps, and Hilti fasteners.

5

AT A FAIR PRICE

Rotary Centre for the Arts

5

Quality equipment

Kelowna Community Theatre

Prospera Place

Doc Willoughby’s Pub

Rose’s Waterfront Pub Doc Willoughby’s Pub

OK Corral

Kelowna Actors Studio

Bumbershoot Children’s Theatre Fred Skeleton Theatre Company

Summerhill Pyramid Winery WestJet Wine Tastings Wine & Dine Thompson/ Okanagan

Spring 2015 | Best of Kelowna

21

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Providing answers to many health challenges

By WARD WILLISON

When I was young and growing up in Kelowna, I was a skinny kid who got hurt a lot doing what boy’s used to be allowed to do. I got my first big injury at age 16.

The GP said I would never be able to lift my arm above my head again. The physio said differently; it took six months but it works just fine.

Since that time I have had doctors and specialists say all kinds of things about me that have not come true. However I still go to them on occasion and listen to them carefully because they did save my life once.

It was an educational kinesiologist and two housewifes at a lunch break in my first alternative therapy course that changed everything. I was hit by a car in 2001 and it really injured me. I spent the next 5+ years in 24 hour-a-day pain, unless I took a lot of medication, which sometimes I did. I I went to four spinal specialists, several doctors, had dozens of x-rays, two canceled surgeries, hundreds and hundreds of chiro, physio and massage treatments and a wheelbarrow of medication.

But those three people in a conference room in Salmon Arm took all my pain away in about three minutes. Since then, I have dedicated myself to spend the rest of my life working on doing the same for others.

kelowna.ca/theatre Thank You for making us the Best of Kelowna’s #1 Music Venue Again!

Celebrate with us! Enter to WIN: a pair of Tickets to select upcoming events.

22

Best of Kelowna | Spring 2015

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

There is no way for me to list all the books, courses and people I have trained with. Education is as useful as what we can recall and use appropriately. However for those “A” type clients here is a list of what I can recall.

The biggest and most important reason my clinic All Body Care gets results is the education and love I have received from my teacher, Elisabeth Pazdzerski. The successes I have I credit to remembering what she told me, and when it does not work I take the blame for not remembering what she has told me.

I will forever be grateful for her kindness in teaching me. She has spent over 40 years working with some of the most difficult medical cases you can imagine.

At All Body Care, our clinical philosophy is to integrate Oriental medical practices (acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutrition, Tui Na, etc.) with modern research and kinesiology to get measurable results in your health.

RateMDs has rated All Body Care as the best acupuncturist in Kelowna, coupled now with the Best of Kelowna category winner as best health practioner Having done extensive internships, schooling, and thousands of clients, we have answers for many health challenges. From preventative health care, health maintenance, stress, sickness, trauma, disease, pre-race, pre-trip or pre-surgical care, we have treatments for those and many other things.

We are interested in the whole person; all your ailments, and all your concerns. This is a clinic where we deal with all of your challenges as we go forward in recovering your health or maintaining it. Each pain and symptom helps build a picture; the better the picture the better the results.

Our practices depend on why you arrived in our clinic. If you fell at the hockey game and hurt your shoulder, it is a very different process from treating an auto-immune illness.

While both people will receive a full treatment and homework, they are adjusted for each person’s specific needs. We have the flexibility of practicing over 20+ different therapies in our clinic, which we fold into your treatments.

Live in today, unless you need to remember the combination to your gym locker spend very little time in the past. unless you are building your shopping list for camping. Spend very little time in the future. Do you best to enjoy now and you will be happier. ~ From allbodycare.com

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Kelowna Actors Studio finds

continued success

in the local arts community

By Mike Strauss

After 13 years, countless productions, and more awards than they can count, the renowned Kelowna Actors Studio continues its successful stretch of great theatre this year. And thanks to its great mix of top-notch food, well-known plays, and prime talent both on-stage and off, the theatre group has won its fourth Best of Kelowna Award.

“I’m excited to see the growth that’s happening in the arts industry,” says Nate Flavel, KAS co-founder and executive producer. “The more that we grow and the more we focus on quality performances, the better we’ll be. We want people to believe that they can hit the cultural district and find some solid talent.”

For Flavel and artistic managing Director Randy Leslie, finding that local talent is a top priority.

Kelowna is home to scores

of talented performers, and the actors’ studio strives to reach out to them from an early age.

“The majority of our cast are quite young,” Flavel says.

“You can’t have teenagers play all the roles, but you’ll find that a lot of the students who take classes with us often end up in our main shows.”

And now, thanks to their continued success, the actors’ studio is in a prime place to expand their offerings to young actors looking for an enriched education. As of this year, the Kelowna Actors’ Studio has officially launched the KAS Academy Foundation – a pilot school where fulltime students take courses on acting, choreography, and music, while still pursuing all of their academic courses through a specialized Kelowna Actors’ Studio curriculum.

The company’s

Randy Leslie portrays Miguel de Cervantes / Don Quixote, from Man of La Mancha upcoming theatre season has several high-profile shows in store that were decided upon after much deliberation.

“Randy chooses the plays – that’s his baby,” says Flavel.

“There’s a lot of discussion that happens around what shows we can pull off given the actors we have available, and also the marketing and what we can sell. This year we have a lot of big blockbusters planned.”

The Kelowna Actors’ Studio is planning a stage adaptation of the Tom Hanks film Catch Me If You Can for this summer, followed by Jesus Christ Superstar in October and Mary Poppins next year.

But despite the studio’s long history of success,

Flavel says he’s more amazed at how welcoming Kelowna has been.

“What’s our secret to success? I don’t know! In our first season, we got the award with Okanagan Life Magazine. Then we won three Best of Kelowna Awards. The community has really welcomed us and opened their arms to support our vision. It’s been fantastic. Without the support of the community, we wouldn’t be here.”

One thing, though, is certain: The Kelowna Actors’ Studio is a great example of how quickly Kelowna’s vibrant arts industry is growing – and for theatregoers young and old, it’s a wonderful sign of great things still to come.

Day 335 - Recognized for my work. Day 124 - Met a colleague c Finished the ride together.

Never feltYOUR prouder.

NOT TYPICAL DAY-TO-DAY.

hr.ubc.ca/careers by students. Their energy is con - Surrounded Day 68 - Attended a fascinating lecture over lunch. Made me think.

Day

Day 507 - Started a UBC course I’ve always wanted to take. F Spring 2015 | Best of Kelowna

23

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DIGITAL

Film Factory relies on Teamwork to create great videos

By MIKE STRAuSS

✓ Best INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT

✓ Best LOCAL VIDEO PRODUCTION ✓ Best DIGITAL COMPANY OR MARKETING AGENCY

1

#

Club Penguin

digital marketing company

GetintheLoop

Accelerate Okanagan

KelownaNow

THANK YOU

We

you too!

Hamish the Pig

Together is better

5

5

Cheeky Monkey

5

5

GetintheLoop

5

5

Smart Betty Media

5

5

Edge Digital Media

5

5

Limelight Studios

5

5

The Film Factory

✓ Best HIGH TECH COMPANY

For Kelly Veltri, Owner and General Manager of The Film Factory, video production is about pursuing art for its own sake and finding an outlet for creativity.

“We’re always developing documentaries, music videos, and short films.

We try to do as much creative as we can to feed that inner artist.

Our bread and butter is corporate commercials, but

we’re always trying to feed the creative side as well.”

It’s that creative drive that pushes Veltri and others at The Film Factory to continually reinvent their style, to invest in new equipment, and to always strive for a better end product. That’s what spurred Veltri to specialize in aerial videos, and it’s part of the reason why he encourages other photographers and videographers to specialize as well.

“We’re always working with other artists, because we know we can’t do everything. That’s where the community comes in.

We have gliders with motors on them. When we need an aerial shot, we call our aerial guy. When we need a time-lapse shot, we call our time-lapse expert. It’s very collaborative. Anybody who thinks they can do it all by themselves is in for a surprise.”

Veltri started The Film Factory for that exact purpose>>

Okanagan Lifestyle

We've helped over 500 local businesses grow and prosper Get started with a free website analysis info@smartbettymedia.com OR 778.478.0765 Spring 2015 | Best of Kelowna

25

Ian MacKinnon

5 5

5

Club Penguin.com

✓ Best OVERALL FACEBOOK PAGE

5

5

KelownaNow.com

5

5

Castanet.net

✓ Best TWITTER

5

Susan Knight - Q103.1

5

Casey & Roo

5

5

26 Best of Kelowna | Spring 2015

5

it’s a shared coop space where professionals can collaborate, learn from each other, and find success together.

And it’s that spirit of co-operation that has made The Film Factory successful.

“One of the things we’ve always said – and one of the reasons why we have this shared space – is that there’s plenty of work to go around.

We’re not worried that so-and-so has this project or that project. If we can help each other, we’ll bring more work to the Okanagan. Having all of these collaborative resources strengthens the local industry.”

And although having a collaborative space has been a great help for photo and video professionals, Veltri says that building up to The Film Factory has been a long road.

“We don’t have the same resources that larger cities do,” he says. “This is the first studio of its kind in Kelowna. My business partner and I worked incredibly hard over the last 10 years just to get a good reputation. There aren’t many guys who do video full-time.”

Today, though, The Film Factory is well equipped to help filmmakers, photographers, and audio engineers all across the valley to succeed. With state-of-the-art equipment, a 1400-square-foot production facility, a cyclorama, and an inhouse composer, The Film Factory boasts some of the most advanced equipment in the Okanagan – and all of them are easily accessible.

“Our production studio and audio studio are available to anyone, whether they’re photographers, filmmakers, people who want to hold a workshop, et cetera. We’ve done a few screenings in our studio. We’re very community-minded.”

For The Film Factory, it seems, creating a community has helped them find success in a competitive industry – and their teamwork hasn’t just garnered them awards, but also meaningful work.

✓ Best LOCAL WEBSITE

GREAT VIDEOS FROM PAGE 25

✓ Best LOCAL SOCIAL MEDIA PERSONALITY

DIGITAL KelownaNow

Old Kelowna

Sun FM

Kelowna Rockets

Castanet Media

KelownaNow

Thank you!

TD would like to thank our Kelowna customers for voting us #1 in Financial Services for 2015.1

Financial Services Winner, Kelowna Now, Best of Kelowna 2015. ® The TD logo and other trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.

1

M01698 (1014)

Balance is a Natural State of Mind.

Find the space and time to just breathe.

The world keeps getting busier. There are not many places left for us to revel in nature‘s beauty without a time-consuming commute. Wilden is exactly that: the largest master-planned community between Vancouver and Calgary has dedicated over half of its 2,000 acres to natural parks and wildlife.

Downtown Kelowna, airport and university are just a 10-15 minute drive away.

New single family and townhome neighbourhoods are coming in 2015.

Lots to explore: www.wilden.ca

Contact Wilden Sales: 250.762.2906 · 132 Sky Court · Kelowna · sales@wilden.ca Four Showhomes open daily 1-5 pm, except Fridays: www.wildenshowhomes.ca

10 Minutes to Downtown 10 Steps to Nature

NATURE INSPIRED LIVING Spring 2015 | Best of Kelowna

27

✓ Best HIKING TRAIL ✓ Best KELOWNA CITIZEN THAT DESERVES RECOGNITION-FEMALE

✓ Best PARK ✓ Best CAMPGROUND ✓ Best DOG PARK

5

28 Best of Kelowna | Spring 2015

5

5

Ellison Park

5

5

Cedar Creek Park

5

5

Knox Mountain

✓ Best KELOWNA CITIZEN THAT DESERVES RECOGNITION-MALE

5

Dolicious Donuts

5

Kelowna Family YMCA

5

5

✓ Best CUSTOMER SERVICE

5

Tickleberry’s Ice Cream and More

5

5

Beaver Lake Resort

5

5

Fintry Provincial Park

5

5

Bear Creek

5

5

Waterfront Park

5

5

Mission Creek Greenway

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

5

5

Knox Mountain

✓ Best EVENT OR FESTIVAL

LOCAL GOODNESS

Canada Day

Parks Alive!

Okanagan Wine Festival Society

Knox Mountain

Myra Canyon Trestles

Paul’s Tomb

Maxine DeHart

Amanda Zais

Kim Froom

Mike Roberts

Bruce Book

Colin Basran

Here for a

good time

Former bandmates of the successful independent act, Bucknife, Dylan Villain (guitar/vocals), Lucas “Boozus” Jancikic (bass/vocals) and Rowdy “Rick” Riegs (drums) amalgamated to create a sound that is aptly described as “the bastard son of AC/ DC and ZZ Top.” Hailing from Kelowna, The Wild are living anything but the cliché faux-California lifestyle the Okanagan is known for.

Instead, they are ripe with grit, Southern-fried twang and a give-‘em-hell attitude that has struck a chord with listeners everywhere, making the group the most popular live band in the Best of Kelowna voter poll.

Blending a bold mixture of supercharged rock and roll, blues and equipped punkrock attitude, The Wild like to play up a public persona of being a reckless group of individuals who write music for other reckless groups of individuals.

“We aim to write music that makes people feel something” says Wild frontman Dylan Villain. “Whether it’s to dance, yell, fight…we’re writing this music with strong conviction for what we stand for; having a good time in the name of the party and in the name rock and roll.”

Further to that point, The Wild members are quick to admit that they draw their influence from their troubled pasts, the road and good old fashioned parties.

LOCAL GOODNESS

20 years For men who want the very best in casual and formal wear, MacDermott’s on Bernard is the top spot in town – and for good reason.

The family-owned store carries the best of new and old styles and is a one-stop shop for premium men’s clothing. Most men don’t enjoy shopping, says Office Administrator Lindsay MacDermott, which is why the MacDermott family strives to make the experience as painless as possible. “(Co-founder) Wayne (MacDermott) definitely has an eye for fashion, and he’s always keeping up with the trends,” she says. “Twice a year, Wayne makes trips to Toronto and Las Vegas to go to buying shows and scope out the trends.”

The MacDermott family strives to create a mixed offering of both the timeless basics, like a black or grey suit, as well as the big new trends. The store is continually

✓ Best LOCAL CHARITY

Colin Basran

Max DeHart

Let us show you the Regency difference 5

5

Kelowna Community Food Bank

5

5

Paws It Forward Dog Rescue

5

5

Kelowna SPCA

of bringing quality menswear to Kelowna

turning over its inventory, which means new and current styles are always available on the racks.

MacDermott’s on Bernard also offers two unique “shop in shop” areas for men who want casual and semi-formal wear. Their John Barbados line offers upscale casual wear with a rock-and-roll vibe, while their Robert Graham products embody the newest evolution of menswear with bright, colourful golf shirts.

Lindsay says that most people view menswear as stuffy and bland, and it’s the MacDermott family’s job to change that. She says that menswear is no longer just “old man clothes” – men can dress well at any age.

She says the store strives to create an accessible atmosphere where men can find interesting clothing. And although they no longer sell cigars or have a shoe-shine station, MacDermott’s on Bernard is still dedicated to creating great experiences.

✓ Best LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIAL

By MIKE STRAuSS

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Hon. Christy Clark

712 6363 | RegencyResorts.ca Spring 2015 | Best of Kelowna

29

LOCAL GOODNESS

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

✓ Best MIDDLE OR SENIOR SCHOOL

✓ Best RETIREMENT RESIDENCE ✓ Best WATERFALLS ✓ Best WEDDING VENUE

✓ Best LOCAL MEDIA PERSONALITY

✓ Best LOCAL MEDIA

5

5

Immaculata High

5

5

Kelowna Christian School

5

5

Aberdeen Prepatory Hall

5

Summerhill Winery

5

Quails Gate Estate Winery

5

RauDZ

5

Okanagan Mission Secondary OKM

5

Rutland Senior Secondary RSS

us some feedback. Pandosy Village is a great place to shop – people should come take a look.”

5

5

Christy Farrell

5

Brian Mack Sun FM

5

Casey and Roo - Country 100.7 FM

Kelowna Secondary School - KSS

5

30 Best of Kelowna | Spring 2015

5

5

CBC Radio

5

5

Sun FM

5

5

Castanet.net

play, that’s the victory.”

Deborah says that with Ginger Lily only a year old, there are still innumerable possibilities for where the store could go.

“Ginger Lily is a new baby, and it’s still finding its feet. I’d love it if people could visit the store and just give

5

competitions. I think part of our success has to do with the Pandosy Village area itself, which is quite unique. you can wander from shop to shop and they’re all different – there aren’t any chain stores. But it’s also a mix of having great staff, great products, a well designed store, and a lot of dedication.”

Deborah and her team invest a lot of time into Blue Ginger behind the scenes, in the form of acquiring new products, cataloging merchandise, and staying on top of the latest trends.

“Finding the next hot product really is a guessing game. you can have something fly off the shelf, and then something else won’t. I use it as an opportunity to stay up-todate on what’s new and exciting.”

“It was a huge challenge to start a new store up from nothing and steer it in the right direction. I think the way to manage that is to simply find the balance.

When you can find the balance between work and

5

When Deborah Scott moved to Canada from the united Kingdom, she knew that she wanted to start a business – and she didn’t waste any time in pursuing her dream.

She and her husband quickly acquired a local gardening supply store on Pandosy Street – and in 2009, the store became the area’s newest fashion shop.

Now, with two stores under their ownership and new products coming in almost every day, the Scott family’s business Blue Ginger has been named the Best Place to Buy a Gift for a Girl in the 2015 Best of Kelowna Awards.

This isn’t the first time Blue Ginger has been nominated for an award – the store was a finalist for the Reader’s Choice Award in the Best of the Okanagan Awards for 2013 and 2014.

But Deborah says that she couldn’t have been so successful without help.

“We’re very blessed to be considered in these

✓ Best PLACE TO TAKE A DATE

By MIKE STRAuSS

new offerings

✓ Best PRIVATE SCHOOL

Blue Ginger builds on past success with

Northwood

Missionwood

Sandalwood Retirement Resort

Hardy Falls

Crawford Falls

Bear Creek Provincial Park

Bo.ttega

Summerhill Pyramid Winery

Hotel Eldorado

The possibilities are endless.

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Spring 2015 | Best of Kelowna

31

OTHER GOODS & SERVICES

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personal service and support

32 Best of Kelowna | Spring 2015

✓ Best FLORIST

Art Knapp Plantland & Florists

5

BAKERY FOR DOGS | SPECIALTY PET FOOD | DOG GROOMING

5

BONE APPETIT

2696 Pandosy St. Kelowna 250.868.0212

5

2ND PLACE

5

5

PET SUPPLIES STORE

Creations by Mom and Me

✓ Best FURNITURE OR HOME DECOR

✓ Best COMMUNITY

✓ Best BIG BOX STORE

✓ Best AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE/MECHANICS

1ST PLACE

The Greenery

5

5

DOG GROOMING

Glenmore Community

5

5

for voting us…

Rutland Community

5

Thank You Kelowna

5

Homesense

5

Superstore

Downtown Kelowna

5

Costco Wholesale Canada

5

5

5

Europro Autohaus Ltd.

5

5

Elite Auto Centre

5

5

Boyd Tire and Auto Service

✓ Best FLOORING COMPANY

Unmatched

DirectBuy continues to evolve into one of the most popular membership organization service providers in Kelowna.

Now in its 13th year in Kelowna, DirectBuy, with 106 locations across North America, has close to 4,000 members at the local outlet.

Raymond and Barb Lee were DirectBuy members in the Lower Mainland before moving to the Okanagan in 2013 to take over the Kelowna store.

Since then, they have worked closely with the local community to enhance the offerings to its members and to support the local economy.

“We love DirectBuy for so many reasons: our elevated purchasing power, the club exclusives, paying less thus having more in our jeans at>> Nufloors Kelowna End of the Roll Discount Carpet & Flooring Okanagan Hardwood Flooring Co. Ltd.

Homesense

Treehouse Interiors Ltd.

Lakehouse A Home Store

5 5 5 5 5

✓ Best HOTEL OR RESORT

5

✓ Best HOME & GARDEN STORE

OTHER GOODS & SERVICES The Greenery

Art Knapp Plantland & Florists Byland’s Garden Centre

Sparkling Hill Resort

Hotel Eldorado

Delta Grand Okanagan Resort

the end of the day, and so much more.

DirectBuy has enabled us to save very large amounts of money on a kitchen reno, furniture for every room in two homes, plumbing fixtures, high end blinds, artwork, mirrors, appliances…being a member has changed our lives and our family’s lives,” said David and Brenda, residents of Gallagher’s Canyon.

“Working with the owners Raymond and Barb Lee, as well as all of the showroom staff (Marianne, Lindsey, Deidra), the designer, to Tyler in the warehouse…has been an absolute pleasure,” added Jason and Karen, residents of the upper Mission.

“Building a home can be a very stressful time, but the DirectBuy team helped

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around the clock with attention to our every detail.

The personalized service and support we have received throughout our membership has been unmatched.”

Sharing their experience is Debbie and Larry from Vernon: “We are in the process of renovating our house and ordered our new kitchen cabinets through DirectBuy. upon arrival some of the pieces were damaged from shipping.

“I advised Barb via email in the late afternoon. Barb and Ray came up to the house the next morning to document the damage and take pictures. The issues were quickly and very professionally resolved. We continue to receive excellent service with everybody we deal with at DirectBuy Kelowna.

We have also realized tremendous savings.”

Another Kelowna client member, Colby, said he purchased his DirectBuy membership prior to completely renovating his home. “The money I saved on the granite counter tops and kitchen cabinets alone, paid for the membership. I paid a fraction of the cost for window coverings, appliances, furniture and electronics. Since then I have saved thousands of dollars furnishing and updating my home through DirectBuy. It was one of the smartest purchases I ever made.”

The Kelowna DirectBuy location is at 5-2260 Hunter Rd. in Kelowna. Call 250-763-4130 for more information.

5

Thank you for voting us “Best Medium Business Employer”

Dogwood Nursery and Landscaping

5

✓ Best LANDSCAPER

5

5 5 5 5

✓ Best MOTEL

Creative Roots Landscaping

Since 1926

Tiger Landscaping

Prestige Inn Kelowna

Thank you Kelowna for voting us Kelowna’s Best Realtors for the 3rd year in a row. We are honored to serve you.

Open June 25 for the season

Best Western

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott

• 100% local produce • 32 flavours of hard ice cream • Homemade waffle cones • Espresso bar

KELOWNA 250-868-1501 info@stonesisters.com www.stonesisters.com

7 days a week until October 31!

3687 Paynter Road, Westbank 250.768.7313 • www.payntersfruitmarket.ca Spring 2015 | Best of Kelowna

33

OTHER GOODS & SERVICES

By far the biggest selection at the lowest grower prices!

www.thegreenery.ca www.facebook.com/greenerykelowna

34 Best of Kelowna | Spring 2015

✓ Best PHOTOGRAPHER ✓ Best PLACE TO BUY A GIFT FOR A GIRL ✓ Best PLACE TO BUY A GIFT FOR A GUY

✓ Best NEW CAR DEALER ✓ Best PET BOARDING OR KENNEL ✓ Best PET GROOMER

4

5

5

The Yuppie Puppy

5

5

Petsmart

5

5

Bone Appetit

Kangaroo Creek Farm gives tourism a boost and supports local community

Shawn Talbot Photography

Sara Beebe Photography

Andrew Lipsett

Blue Ginger Trading Company

Funktional

By MIKE STRAuSS

5

5

A1 Boarding Kennel

5

5

The Spotted Spa Retreat

5

5

Bark ‘n’ Fly

5

5

Kelowna BMW

5

5

Orchard Ford

5

5

Harmony Honda

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Posh Jewelry

Grouse River Outfitters Ltd.

ONE Boardshop

Gifts for Him

Thank you for voting us the

Best Home & Garden Centre!

Kangaroo Creek Farm, a 25-year pillar of the Lake Country business community, was named Best Tourist Attraction at the 2015 Best of Kelowna Awards.

Despite having cared for kangaroos since 1989, Caroline MacPherson wasn’t at all prepared for the massive popularity Kangaroo Creek Farm would find soon after opening to the public in 2012.

“Our learning curve looked like the face of a cliff,” she says. “We had to invest a lot of money into the farm very quickly. It’s hard for people to understand how your success can be your biggest problem, but that was the case for us.”

MacPherson says that overwhelming attendance at the farm forced her to make a choice: either institute a mandatory admission fee to keep attendance at manageable levels, or expand the farm onto a six-acre lot across the creek to allow

more people to visit. She’s currently negotiating with the Lake Country municipal government to acquire the land she needs. Although the process has been costly and time consuming, and it’s not yet a done deal, she’s optimistic.

“I don’t think people would expect a kangaroo farm to become a primary economic driver, but the response has been amazing. Last year we welcomed 70,000 visitors.

Every year since we opened our attendance has grown about 50 percent.”

This year, Kangaroo Creek Farm is expecting just over 100,000 visitors to come see the many kangaroos, wallabies, sugar gliders, goats, and capybaras that call the farm their home. Thanks to the farm’s close proximity to other major amenities in Lake Country, what’s good for Kangaroo Creek Farm and the “roos” is also good for local businesses.

“People park on Main Street and walk down to visit the farm,” she says. “One of the local grocery store owners told us that his sales last year were up 28% over the year before! Normal annual >>

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Valley Pool & Spa

Stone Sisters

5

5

Traveland RV Supercentre Kelowna

5

5

Voyager RV Centre Ltd.

5

5

Country RV

5

5

Colin Krieg RE/MAX

5

5

Jane Hoffman

5

5

✓ Best REALTORS

Beachcomber Home & Leisure

✓ Best SMALL BUSINESS RETAIL

5

✓ Best RV DEALERS

Sunshine Pools and Spas

help the Okanagan. Near the end of its season, the farm hosts a nickel drive for the food bank – and it raises about $1000 per year for local families in need.

Surprisingly, the farm has found all of this success in spite of the fact that it operates solely on donations and pays all staff members well above minimum wage.

“It costs us $800 per day just to open the gate,” says MacPherson. “But sadly, we’re still not hitting that target. We have no outside funding. People don’t realize how much it costs to keep this place open.”

Still, with the farm drawing in scores of tourists and supplying students and retirees with wellpaid jobs they love, it’s easy to see what has made it Kelowna’s Best Tourist Attraction for 2015.

✓ Best USED CAR DEALER

5

✓ Best POOL & SPA COMPANY

growth for a grocery store is four per cent. The store’s owner says it’s because of us. Tourists will park at the grocery store, come to visit our farm, then go shop for groceries when they get back to their vehicle.”

But drawing more tourists and more economic activity to the Valley is only where Kangaroo Creek Farm starts to

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Blonde

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Auction World

Elite Auto Centre

Orchard Ford Spring 2015 | Best of Kelowna

35

OTHER GOODS & SERVICES ✓ Best EQUIPMENT RENTAL

✓ Best HOME BUILDER ✓ Best HOME SERVICES

5

5

Interior Savings Credit Union

5

5

Royal Bank of Canada - Main Kelowna

5

5

TD Bank

5

Jenny McAlpine

✓ Best HOME RENOVATIONS

Impact Events

5

5

✓ Best EVENT PLANNER

Vintage Origami

5

5

✓ Best FINANCIAL SERVICES

✓ Best DEVELOPMENT

Home Depot

5

✓ Best VETERINARIAN

Avalon Event Rentals

5

5

✓ Best CAR WASH

Winn Rentals Ltd.

5

Blue Sky at Black Mountain

5

5

Sonic Wash Inc.

Village of Kettle Valley

5

5

Bubbles Car Wash & Detail Centre

Wilden

5

5

Skogie’s Car Wash

5

5

Tri Lake Animal Hospital

5

5

Fairfield Animal Hospital Ltd.

5

5

Rose Valley Veterinary Hospital

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Edgecombe Builders

Worman Homes

Rykon

Home Depot

Gord Turner Renovations Ltd.

Start to Finish Construction

Maids Gone Green

Accent Kurb Appeal Premium Comfort Heating & Air Cond. Ltd.

5

250.765.0405 www.spottedspa.ca

36 Best of Kelowna | Spring 2015

other goods & services

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We can never obtain

peace in the outer world until we

make peace with ourselves. ~Dalai Lama

associated with yoga helps to calm and balance the nervous system, increase blood flow to the brain, and help you remember where you left your keys.

The word Moksha means Freedom. A regular Moksha practice gives us the chance to explore what this means for

in 2007 when I was visiting my home town of Winnipeg.

My sister invited me to try hot yoga. Even though it was extremely hard, and I found myself wondering if i I would survive, my passion for yoga was born in that class. I found myself thinking about the class and how great I felt. I >>

each of us; whether it’s finding freedom from chronic pain, freedom from self judgement, or freedom from playing Angry Bird marathons.

Kelowna Moksha yoga instructor Karla Fredrich relates her discovery about it. “My yoga journey started

The Kelowna BCSPCA staff, volunteers and animals would like to thank everybody who voted us 5

Moksha Yoga is a green, clean, hot yoga series that stretches, strengthens and tones the muscles while helping to detoxify the body and calm the mind.

While all classes are rooted in the Moksha Yoga series, teachers are encouraged to bring their own unique knowledge and experience every time they enter the room to teach.

It is a formula that seems to connect with Kelowna yoga practioners, as Moksha Yoga finished first in the yoga category for Best of Kelowna.

Moksha Yoga, located at 2006-2900 Pandosy St. in Kelowna, builds upper and lower body strength, balance and flexibility, and cardiovascular health. The series also focuses on treating and preventing commonly cranky areas of the body like the lower back, knees and bellybutton lint. The cool part is that every body is welcome and everybody will benefit.A regular Moksha practice gives us the rare opportunity to slow it all down.

The stress reduction

Best Kelowna Charity 3 YEARS RUNNING!

Drs. Moshe & Noa Oz & staff want to thank Kelowna & West Kelowna for voting us the

BEST VETERINARIANS

“Remember, please do not leave your pets unattended in warm vehicles.”

3785 Casorso Road, Kelowna, BC V1W 4M7

250.861.7722

www.spca.bc.ca/kelowna

We’re proud to be your pet’s family doctors!

WE ARE WITH YOU ALL THE WAY.

Peace of mind at over 250 locations across Canada.

3 Locations in Kelowna and 2 in West Kelowna to serve you.

250-769-9109 112-2476 Westlake Road www.kelownavet.ca

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37

Okanagan Spirits

Central Kitchen and Bar

Chaibaba Teahouse

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MOKSHA yOGA FROM PAGE 37

quickly located a studio near my home.

“After practicing for a few years, I took my 200 hour Traditional Hot yoga training.

Something was still missing, until a friend, Jaclynn, invited me to the Moksha studio.

“As soon as I walked in, and she so warmly showed me around, I felt at home. It was at that moment my passion for yoga deepened and my desire to share it with others grew.

Fellow instructor Ian Jamieson involvement with Moksha yoga, the executive at a local bank recalls even with a competitive background in sports, he felt like a square peg in a round hole walking in to a yoga studio for the first time.

“That first class was tough!

Call us for

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Festival Society

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Inn at Big White

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RENTALS - SALES - SERVICE

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910 McCurdy Road, Kelowna, BC , Kelowna, BC Toll Free: 1-800-228-5702 0-228-5702

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RENTALS - SALES - SERVICE and operated since 1975 (250) 491-1991 EQUIPMENT since 1975 91-1991 CONSTRUCTION

Bosley’s Pets Pet Store

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(250) 491-1991

✓ Best PLACES TO STAY AT BIG WHITE

(250) 491-1991

Bone Appetit

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✓ Best MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION

5

ADDITIONAL

Buckerfield’s

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(250) 491-1991

One month later there was little hesitation committing to a membership. A daily practice developed and the edges started to soften,” he said. The studio and sangha became the highlight of his day. Books on anatomy and yoga philosophy started to fill his bookshelf.

After practicing for two years and volunteering at the front desk Ian’s journey took in Moksha teacher training in Los Angeles in 2014.

On the mat Ian is passionate about sharing the health benefits of yoga, and he’s an advocate of the Modo/Moksha seven pillars off it. He’s bicycled coast-to-coast across Canada, sailed to Hawaii, and paddled solo around Prince Edward Island by sea kayak.>> WORK TO SUPPORT

✓ Best PET SERVICES & SUPPLIES

✓ Best MEDIUM BUSINESS EMPLOYER

Paynter’s Fruit Market

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✓ Best STAYCATION SPOT OUTSIDE OF KELOWNA BUT WITHIN 250 KMS.

5

✓ Best LARGE BUSINESS EMPLOYER

5

5

Club Penguin

5

5

Kelowna Family YMCA

5

5

UBC Okanagan

5

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Rock House Style

✓ Best SMALL BUSINESS EMPLOYER

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Vintage Origami

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Sticks and Stones Design Group

5

✓ Best INTERIOR DECORATOR

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Sparkling Hill Resort

Big White Ski Resort Ltd.

Mabel Lake Provincial Campground

OTHER GOODS & SERVICES The LIFELONG HEALTH FOR THE BODY AND MIND seven By bringing a healthy awareness to what we eat, a ripple effect pillars of happens where we feel better stronger in every aspect of Moksha and our life. Ailments disappear, our practice deepens and kale Yoga: . yoga chips actually start tasting pretty

✓ Best TIRE STORE

WE LIVE TO PROTECT AND SERVE THE NATuRAL WORLD. The earth provides us with the air we breathe. Water sustains the functioning of our entire body.

Since Moksha yoga began in 2004, it has carried this green theme through our yoga practice.

WORK TO CREATE AND SuPPORT COMMuNITy In our busy lives, it’s easy to feel like we live in our very own world and lose our connection to one another. The cool thing is that when we start to work on ourselves, even just by getting more fit, we start to be happier, we start to have more fun, and naturally we start to have a more healthy sense of the world as one big old community.

IT’S ALL ABOuT KARMA yOGA....using our creativity and our sense of community to support others We feel lucky to have the resources to practice yoga and to offer green-designed, beautiful, clean yoga studios. We also acknowledge that yoga can help so many that may not have these resources. To help address that, every Moksha studio offers a bydonation class at least once a week.

In addition every studio offers an energy exchange program where work at the studio is exchanged for

unlimited free yoga. Proceeds from Karma classes go toward supporting community and environmental efforts. Each year Moksha studios worldwide raise some $400,000.

HOW BORING LIFE WOuLD BE IF WE DECIDED WE ALL KNEW WHAT WE NEEDED TO KNOW? Moksha instructors know they have a lot to learn from our students. Class teachers are inspired daily by students who step on their mats and find the courage to try new things and believe in possibilities. We commit to being students for life so that we continue to evolve as a big sweaty family. Life is so much more fun when approached from a place of openness and willingness to learn and try new things.

WE OFFER THE BENEFIT OF OuR PRACTICE TO THE BENEFIT OF ALL BEINGS EVERyWHERE. Sounds like kind of a tall order but it’s actually pretty simple. When we improve ourselves from within, we have more to offer our family, our community and the world. For the Moksha yoga international community, this is what yoga is all about—working hard on all the pillars, sweating buckets on our mats, all for the benefit of all beings everywhere, all for peace.

Kangaroo Creek Farm

Kettle Valley Railway and Trestles

2015

5

5

Fountain Tire

5

5

Costco Wholesale Canada

5

5

Kal Tire

✓ Best TOURIST ATTRACTION

good. If you commit to making small, significant changes to our diet like cutting out processed foods, increasing our organic veggie intake, and telling the pizza delivery dude it’s time to start seeing other people, you can be amazed with the changes on the yoga mat and elsewhere in your lifestyle.

ENDEAVOUR TO BE ACCESSIBLE IN THE MOKSHA YOGA LANGUAGE AND YOGA POSTURES. Moksha yoga believes in the ideal that everyone can have access to yoga and everyone can walk into a Moksha studio and know right away that they belong all religions, body types, injured bodies, all political views, crazy yoga outfits. Such an accessible experience is created by using clear language to explain yoga, and clear modifications for both absolute beginners and seasoned practitioners.

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Big White Ski Resort Ltd. Spring 2015 | Best of Kelowna

39

Best Theatre Company Best Arts Organization