Special Features - Best of Kelowna 2016

WINING & DINING H E A LT H , B E A U T Y & S T Y L E SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT DIGITAL LOCAL GOODNESS OTHER GOODS & SERVICES

CAPITAL news

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KELOWNA This year marks the fourth annual Best of Kelowna contest.

The creation of Jim Csek, founder of the KelownaNow website, added media support for the popularity survey comes from the Kelowna Capital News and the three Kelowna radio stations under the Bell Media flagship—99.9 Sun FM, 101.5 EZ Rock and AM 1150.

Csek has said from the outset of the contest, he wanted to provide a contest with online voting access that had credibility, not one where someone can sit and vote repeatedly from their computer or Smartphone for their favourites.

“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 has said.

As in past years, the ‘one vote, per category, per person’ mandate was adhered to, as a registered user (email registration) of the voting site or with a Facebook account. Any attempt to exceed the required allowance of voting meant those votes would be disqualified.

“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.”

That makes the results this year all the more heartening for the KelownaNow team as that website was first in the overall Twitter, overall Instagram and Facebook categories, and second for best website. As well, the Csek Creative marketing agency was third for best high tech company.

As in past years, Csek is hopeful the feedback in the survey will translate into a positive marketing bump for not only the winners, but others who found support in the various category rankings.

“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,” he said, adding then it’s up to that business to ensure those customers will keep coming back.

So, as you look through the voting results for the 2016 Best Of Kelowna contest, you will see some familiar names, past category winners, and there are some newcomers added to the poll results.

Csek’s hope is for the contest to continue its “community feel-good” approach, to be a project that is fun to participate in and be beneficial both to local consumers and businesses, and to tourists who arrive here for a vacation and are looking for direction about entertaining things to see and do.

CATEGORIES WINING & DINING

6–11 LOCAL GOODNESS

Bakery • Best place to eat at Big White • Breakfast • Brewery • Burger • Caterer • Cheap Eats • Chinese • Coffee • Ice Cream and/ or Frozen Yogurt • Indian • Japanese • Local Chef • Mexican • Patio • Pizza • Buy Wine, Beer or Spirits • Pub • Romantic Dinner • Sports Bar • Steak • Thai • Vegetarian • Vietnamese • Winery

HEALTH, BEAUTY & STYLE

13–15

Chiropractor • Dentist • Fitness Trainer • Group Fitness Facility • Hairstylist for Men • Hairstylist for Women • Health Practitioner • Manicure or Pedicure • Make Up Artist • Men’s Clothing • Personal Coach • Place to Buy Jewelry/Accessories • Salon • Spa • Spa Resort • Women’s Clothing • Workout Facility • Yoga • Yoga Instructor

SPORTS

17–18

Bicycle Shop • Female Athlete • Golf Course • Male Athlete • Ski & Snowboard Shop • Minor Sports Team

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

20–21

Arts Company/Organization • Local Artist • Local Band or Musician • Music Venue • Nightlife Venue • Theatre Group • Wine Event

DIGITAL

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High-tech Company • Instagram Account • Local Social Media Personality • Local Website • Overall Facebook Page • Start-up Company • Twitter PUBLISHER Karen Hill MANAGING EDITOR Barry Gerding PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Tessa Ringness ADVERTISING MANAGER Karen Hill

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PRODUCTION DESIGNERS Shayla Graf Lana Gregson Fatima Hartmann Nadine Krahn Tiffany Larkan Laura Millsip Greta Snodgrass Kelly Ulmer 2016

25–27

Campground • Community • 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 News Reporter • Local On-Air Personality • Middle or Senior School • Place to Take a Date • Private School • Retirement Residence • Staycation Spot outside of Kelowna but within 250 km • Waterfalls • Wedding Venue

OTHER GOODS & SERVICES

29–38

Automotive Service/Mechanic • Boat Dealer or Services • Electrician • Car Wash • Development • Electronic Store • Equipment Rental • Event Planner/Designer • Event Rental • Financial Services • Flooring Company • Florist • Funeral Home • Furniture or Home Decor • Home and Garden Store • Home Builder • Home Renovations • Home Services • Hotel or Resort • Interior Decorator • Landscaper • Large Business Employer • Luxury Car Dealer • Medium Business Employer • Membership Organization • Motel • Motorcycle/ATV Dealer - Off Road • New Car Dealer • Outdoor Gear Store • Pet Boarding or Kennel • Pet Groomer • Pet Services & Supplies • Photographer • Place to Buy a Gift for a Girl • Place to Buy a Gift for a Guy • Plumber • Pool and Spa Company • Realtor • Realtor Team • Retail - Small Business • Retail - Large Business • Roofing Company • RV Dealers • Small Business Employer • Tattoo & Piercing Shop • Tire Store • Used Car Dealer • Veterinarian • Wedding Planner

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Tracy Cole Jim Coulter Teresa Huscroft-Brown Sheri Jackson Rick Methot Christine Mould Megan Munro Wayne Woollett

EDITORIAL Mike Strauss Barry Gerding FRONT PAGE PHOTO Brent Crozier 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.

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

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✓ Best PIZZA

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✓ Best CATERER ✓ Best PATIO ✓ Best THAI

✓ Best PLACE TO BUY WINE, BEER, AND SPIRITS ✓ Best ICE CREAM OR FROZEN YOGURT

✓ Best CHEAP EATS

✓ Best STEAK ✓ Best INDIAN

Okanagan Street Food

One Big Table

Hotel Eldorado

Smack DAB

Earl’s On Top Restaurant Bai Tong Thai Food Restaurant Mon Thong Thai Restaurant Bai Tong Thai Food Restaurant

Thank you Okanaganites for all of your support, here’s to a great first year!

250-448-6009

With your purchase of $30 or more

ONE COUPON PER TABLE. COUPON NOT VALID WITH LUNCH SPECIALS AND CAN NOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER OFFERS. 2016

The Curious Artistry & Alchemy Cafe

Bohemian Cafe & Catering

B1-1620 Dickson Ave. LANDMARK

EAT IN ONLY Expires: July 31, 2016 DOWNTOWN LOCATION ONLY

KELOWNA

Bordello’s Italian Pizzeria

6

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DunnEnzies Pizza Co.

6

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Peachwave Yogurt

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$

250-860-6809

Dairy Queen

6

10

250-868-8009

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1876 Cooper Rd. ORCHARD PLAZA

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1573 Ellis St. DOWNTOWN

Exceptional Thai Cuisine

MOO-LIX Ice Cream

6

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Thank you Kelowna, We look forward to serving you!

- Joe

Liquor Depot

6

6

www.monthong.ca

Metro Liquor

6

6

Latin Fiesta

6

Little Hobo Soup & Sandwich Shop

6

Mad Mango Cafe

6

Blenz Coffee

BC Liquor Stores

6

Tim Hortons

6

6

6

Made in India Restaurant

6

6

Chutney Cuisine of India

Starbucks Coffee Co

6

6

6

Dawett Restaurant

6

6

Cactus Club Cafe

6

6

RauDZ

6

6

The New Kelowna Keg

✓ Best FRANCHISE COFFEE SHOP

WINING & DINING

kitchensynccatering.com • 250-300-0966

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WINING & DINING Here’s Breakfast!...

LOCALLY FOUNDED FRANCHISE SERVES UP AWARD-WINNING VEGETARIAN FARE

Here’s Lunch!... and We Cater!...

Health-conscious foodies have declared The Chopped Leaf in Orchard Plaza to be Kelowna’s Best Vegetarian Place to Eat.

The Chopped Leaf

Come experience our beautiful new patio Naked Cafe

Mad Mango Cafe

524 Bernard Avenue Downtown Kelowna, BC

Phone: 250-862-3517

www.bohemiancater.com

MIKE STRAUS PHOTO

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O’Grady bought the Kelowna location from the founders, who had originally opened the business at the Cooper Road location—and she quickly went to work learning the ins and outs of the restaurant industry.

“It was a very steep learning curve, coming from sales. After five years I finally feel like I have a handle on the restaurant industry. And I now have staff who are well equipped in the customer care domain.”

O’Grady said it took quite some time for her to learn how to manage inventory, as every restaurant has different ingredients it needs to buy each day. But thanks to her background in sales and her tenacious personality, she committed to learning the industry and is now successfully keeping the kitchen well stocked. continued on page 8

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It only took Rhonda O’Grady, one visit to Kelowna to realize that she wanted to live in the Okanagan.

After working in sales at CTV in Saskatchewan for 23 years, she visited a colleague who had retired in Kelowna and instantly started looking for an Okanagan-based business to buy.

“The CTV general manager retired in Kelowna, and when I came to visit him, that’s when I knew I wanted to live here,” O’Grady said. “His wife knew I was looking for a business here, so she introduced me to (Chopped Leaf founder) Blair Stevens. I knew the fresh, healthy trend would be a popular option because it’s the way I’ve always eaten.”

✓ Best VEGETARIAN

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BY MIKE STRAUS

Rhonda O’Grady and her Chopped Leaf staff lead the way in fresh and healthy fare.

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WINING & DINING from page 7

Train Station Pub

Quails’ Gate Estate Winery

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WWW.CHOPPEDLEAF.CA 8|

This year, Best Winery and Best Romantic Dinner are both awarded to Quails’ Gate Estate Winery.

✓ Best BREWERY

6

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*Sunshine Salad

6

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Bouchons Bistro

6

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RauDZ

✓ Best WINERY

✓ Best BAKERY

Bread Co.

6

6

✓ Best ROMANTIC DINNER

Wood Fire Bakery

Brandts Creek Neighbourhood Pub

6

✓ Best PUB

6

Proud to be Kelowna’s top Vegetarian restaurant!

Bliss Bakery & Bistro

BNA Brewing Co.

6

We cater to the most amazing people!

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1876 COOPER ROAD • 778-436-8102

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hit, and she’s already invested in a food bike of sorts to sell the Stuffed Cup around Kelowna.

“It’s old world—no power but human. Eventually I want to have a whole fleet of bikes. We’re the first Chopped Leaf location to be doing this—we introduced it to head office, and they’re going to be watching.”

O’Grady is also working hard to bring online ordering to the Kelowna location, which is something that several other Chopped Leaf franchises already offer—and something that can keep The Chopped Leaf at its award-winning best.

“When we won the Best of Kelowna Award in 2014, I got stickers put on my car,” O’Grady said. “I feel awesome about winning again this year. I feel so grateful that I found this place and that we have people who come to the restaurant and support us every day. It’s the most amazing feeling. It’s an honour to serve so many people.”

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“Another big challenge was keeping good staff. I now have a team that really cares and that has bonded to each other. It frees me up to take on the next challenge.”

The core concept behind The Chopped Leaf is simple yet elegant: a build-your-own-salad bar with fresh, healthy ingredients. Over time, the restaurant expanded to offer sandwiches and wraps, but the salad has always been the star of the show.

“Blair and his wife Karla came up with that idea, and I thought it was genius. It’s so simple. You pick your protein, the lettuce, the cheese, the toppings, the dressing. There’s lots of choice, which is great for people with allergies and dietary restrictions.”

The Chopped Leaf is home to a variety of light dishes, including a unique invention called the Stuffed Cup—a layered cup consisting of fresh vegetables, rice, and dressing. O’Grady anticipates the Stuffed Cup will be a summertime

Quails’ Gate Estate Winery Summerhill Pyramid Winery

Mission Hill Winery

BNA Brewing Co.

Tree Brewing Beer Institute

BC Tree Fruits Ltd.

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WINING & DINING

ROSE’S WATERFRONT PUB A LONG-TIME FAVOURITE ON KELOWNA’S SHORELINE

BARRY GERDING PHOTO

BY BARRY GERDING

The view from Rose’s Waterfront Pub is still a major draw.

Built as part of the original Grand Hotel convention centre development, Rose’s has endured many changes in the pub scene, from the evolution of the drinks to the healthier ingredient menu options to traditional pub food fare.

“The quality of service and pricing are also important factors which, when all taken together, have formed the foundation of the business,” Neville said. continued on page 10

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While Kelowna’s nightlife scene is changing, Rose’s Waterfront Pub remains a long-time fixture in the city.

Nominated this year in multiple categories, Rose’s remains the only true pub fronting on the Okanagan Lake shoreline, as it has been for more than 20 years since it opened.

“Our location right on the water has certainly been a contributing factor to our success,” noted Andrew Neville, general manager of Rose’s.

“Back when we started, ourselves and The Pier were the only two options in town for having a drink near the water.”

NG OM E RS F O R V OTI ST U C D E LU A V R TO O U

D U N N E N Z I ETSO W N !

IN T H E B E S T P I Z ZKAaryn & Deb

Watch for tOiuonr 2nd Loca 1st Opening J uly i ve 1886 Dayton Drrk 6)

Thank You!!

(Next to Landm

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na, B w o l e K • t e e r | SUN: noon-11pm t S M A 0 is :3 l l -3 N E O O 9 N 5 T: 15 AM | SA

| Thurs Mon-Wed: 11-11pm

-Fri: 11-3:30

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WINING & DINING

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✓ Best BURGER

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✓ Best TO EAT AT BIG WHITE

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Open Year Round | quailsgate.com | 250-769-2500 3303 Boucherie Rd. West Kelowna BC

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Come relax and enjoy!

✓ Best MEXICAN

6

Runner-up in Best Burger, Central Kitchen & Bar’s burger gave Five Guys Burgers & Fries some serious competition.

Five Guys Burger & Fries Central Kitchen & Bar

RauDZ Hector’s Casa Authentic Mexican Cuisine

Latin Fiesta

El Taquero

Snowshoe Sam’s Pub

The Woods Restaurant

Globe Cafe & Tapas

from page 9 Rose’s was started by a number of partners, but for many years the most visible of the group was Rose Sexsmith, both as a local business leader and someone who was active in the community supporting local charitable efforts.

Neville said Sexsmith has stepped away from the daily running of the business, but her personality and engagement in the community have been a big part of the pub’s success.

Neville said pubs today have evolved in different ways, from taking on more menu diversity— Rose’s now has a full-time chef on staff and widened its selection beyond grilled or deep fried foods—to the changing habits of its customers.

“We have always been a kind of preplace where people stop before heading off to the nightclubs, but that rush for us has been getting later and later,” Neville said.

“The nightclubs used to start seeing their business coming in the door between 10 or 11 p.m., but now it’s closer to 11:30 and midnight, which leaves them less time to make their money because people aren’t there as long.”

He said the announced closure earlier this month of Flashbacks, a long-time nightlife venue in Kelowna, is indicative of that trend.

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Thank you Kelowna www.mekongrestaurant.com 1030 Harvey Avenue, Kelowna

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2016

Proudly serving Kelowna for over 29 years.

250-763-8000

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Pho Soc Trang Vietnamese Cuisine

6

Central Kitchen & Bar

Bamboo Chopsticks

6

BNA Brewing Co.

Mad Mango Cafe

✓ Best LOCAL CHEF

The Canadian Brewhouse

✓ Best VIETNAMESE

✓ Best FINE DINING

Winner in Best Fine Dining, RauDZ recently received an interior face-lift.

6

✓ Best SPORTS BAR

Waterfront Wines Restaurant & Bar

6

✓ Best BREAKFAST

✓ Best CHINESE

Quails’ Gate Estate Winery

6

✓ Best JAPANESE

RauDZ

6

6

6

Rod Butters at RauDZ Regional Table Mark Filatow at Waterfront Wines

Ben Pallett

Bohemian Cafe & Catering

The Jammery

Coras

R VE SIL

BEST PLACE

6

6

Giobean Coffee

6

6

Bean Scene Coffee Works

6

6

Pulp Fiction Coffee House

6

6

O-zeki Japanese Restaurant

6

6

Bluetail Sushi & Bistro

6

6

Momo Sushi Cafe

6

6

✓ Best INDEPENDANT COFFEE SHOP

6

6

Wok Out Chinese Food

O F

WINING & DINING

Mekong Restaurant

Asian Pear Buffet

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TO BUY WINE, BEER OR SPIRITS

CHEERS TO OUR SUPPORTERS

Specialty wines, spirits & ales | 1175 Ellis St. | 778.484.5656 | metroliquor.com B E S T

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Be the BEST

you can be‌

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

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HEALTH, BEAUTY & STYLE

OKANAGAN HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE PHOTO

INTEGRATED HEALTHCARE SERVICES MAKE FOR GREAT MEDICINE

Ward Willison - All Body Care Okanagan Health & Performance Inc Dr. Mandy Wong - Restore Vein and Skin Care Centre ORAHSPASALON.COM PHOTO

✓ Best CHIROPRACTOR

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Dr. Christian Brix

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Dr. Todd Penner

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Okanagan Health & Performance Inc

✓ Best HEALTH PRACTITIONER

Okanagan Health and Performance founders Dr. Donna McAllister (left), Dr. Rob Mutch and Dr. Michael Schmidt.

A little of everything and a lot of your votes wins Orah Spa Salon the title of third Best Spa.

Thanks to a focus on integrated care, Okanagan Health and Performance has been chosen as Kelowna’s best chiropractor and second best healthcare practitioner.

BY MIKE STRAUS At the Okanagan Health and Performance chiropractic and wellness center, treating chronic pain and other complaints is a collaborative endeavour.

With chiropractic, acupuncture, massage therapy, kinesiology, and naturopathic medicine services all under one roof, OHP is developing an integrated practice guided by proven medical science.

OHP co-founder Dr. Michael Schmidt said he and his wife were first inspired to build a multidisciplinary practice after seeing the benefits firsthand while working in Australia.

“My wife and I are both chiropractors,” he said. “I graduated in 2001, she graduated in 2000. We were both working in Australia, and we had a great experience in a multidisciplinary practice.

There were chiropractors working alongside naturopaths, massage therapists and acupuncturists.

We saw how well it worked for patient care, and when we moved back to Canada, we decided to do something similar.”

Schmidt said having a variety of practitioners from different disciplines in the same office makes it easy to collaborate on difficult cases and create more effective treatment plans. This collaborative element is just one part of an approach designed to foster healing and a sense of well being rather than simply curing diseases.

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“We don’t just take the Band-Aid approach to fix the pain,” Schmidt notes. “We look beyond that at what the actual cause is. Sometimes it’s obvious, but sometimes it’s not. It could be anything from emotional trauma as a child to nutritional make-up to stress. It’s important to consider the whole person.” continued on page 15

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Thank You Kelowna for your votes!

Serving Kelowna Since 2005

855 Rowcliffe Ave Kelowna, BC

250.808.0489

namastespakelowna.com O F

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HEALTH, BEAUTY & STYLE

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2016

✓ Best DENTIST ✓ Best YOGA INSTRUCTOR

Oranj Dance & Fitness

6

BODYCONNECTIONFITNESS.CA

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info@bodyconnectionfitness.ca

✓ Best YOGA

250.470.0264

6

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Jessica Levy

Hot Box Yoga

6

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Moksha Yoga Kelowna

6

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Nicole Pidherny - Pomme Salon

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This approach seems to be paying off, and the team’s cohesive dynamic has helped the practice to thrive. Thanks to the organization’s hard work, commitment to quality care and integrated approach, OHP has been named Best Chiropractor and second best healthcare practitioner at the 2016 Best of Kelowna Awards.

Schmidt said that being recognized serves as validation that the practice is effectively meeting patient needs.

“We’re very honoured to have been chosen. All the practitioners here put their hearts and souls into their work, and seeing people get better keeps us motivated to keep coming back.

Being recognized always feels good.”

He notes that the wellness center has now developed a strong sense of priorities, and going forward, he and his team will continue to provide the quality care for which they are known.

“What’s next for us is more of the same. More quality care. In the past we were always trying to build and grow and strive for more. We’re at the point now where we’ve realized that we’re doing a great thing, and maintaining that great care is important to us.”

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from page 13 Managing an integrated practice has improved patient outcomes, but it hasn’t always been easy for the team involved. Dr. Schmidt said that human resources management is one of the early challenges that an integrated practice posed.

“Right now we have an amazing team that works well together and communicates clearly, but it’s taken a lot of effort and a very proactive approach to make that happen. A lot of it is about effective communication and openness— letting the people who work here know that we want to help, that we want people to be happy.”

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thank you!

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With his WHL career now behind him, Baillie sets his sights on developing into a pro hockey player, having already attended a free agent camp for the Calgary Flames last season.

While his skating style has drawn his share of detractors, Baillie has used the criticism as motivation to advance to the next level in his hockey career.

“There have been naysayers and there still are, but that’s what drives me and motivates me,” Baillie told Capital News sports reporter Warren Henderson earlier this season. “I feel like I have a passion for the game, a passion to score goals and to win, so I think that’s what the keys are for me.” continued on page 18

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Roz Huber

Tyson Baillie’s popularity with local Kelowna Rockets hockey fans emerged with his prominence as the leading scorer for the club this season.

The 20-year-old Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., native was selected to the Western Hockey League’s Western Conference first all-star team for the 2015-16 season, posting career highs for goals (46), assists (52), and points (95) to lead the Rockets in all three categories.

It helped place Baillie at the top spot for male sports personality in the Best of Kelowna contest this year, an honour he shared with the top female sports personality, Olympic ski cross silver medalist Kelsey Serwa.

Having just completed his fifth WHL season, Baillie’s emergence as a key offensive contributor to the Rockets came as no surprise to Lorne Frey, the Kelowna Rockets assistant GM. “We projected a couple of years ago that if he was still here as a 20-yearold, he’d be right up there with the top guys in the league,” Frey told the Capital News earlier this year. “(Tyson) has always been a scorer, he’s been in the league a long time, and he’s just gotten better every year. I don’t think a lot of us with the team are surprised at all.”

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from page 17 Growing up in Kelowna and skiing on the slopes of Big White, where her dad was one of the ski hill’s founders, Serwa had stepped away from competitive racing after the 2014 Winter Olympics to pursue her human kinetics degree at UBC Okanagan.

The time off allowed her body to heal sufficiently, after undergoing two knee surgeries in as many years before the Olympics.

But she was happy to return this past season to World Cup ski cross racing as part of Canada’s national ski team. It’s a familiar environment.

“I am so grateful to be back on the road with my team and racing on the World Cup ski cross circuit again,” she said.

KELOWNA.NOW PHOTO

When it comes to passion for her sport, Kelsey Serwa takes a backseat to no one.

She overcame serious injuries and ski cross race finish setbacks to earn a silver medal at the 2014 Sochi Olympics and continued her career on the World Cup circuit this past winter.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Kelowna knows how to pick ‘em!

Best Wine Event, the WestJet Wine Tastings at the Rotary Centre for the Arts, 2016’s second Best Arts Company or Organization.

BY MIKE STRAUS Self-taught artist Alex Fong has worked hard to provide for himself and his family through his art, a feat that few can say they’ve accomplished.

It’s his creativity, passion for art, and dogged determination that have

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Now 37 years into his art career, Kelowna watercolourist Alex Fong continues to paint the joyful and whimsical scenes he’s known for.

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kept him gainfully self-employed as an artist—and that have garnered him the title of Best Local Artist in the 2016 Best of Kelowna Awards.

Fong has loved art since his childhood, but it wasn’t until his college days that he discovered watercolours and began developing his unique style.

“Being Chinese, my mom didn’t encourage me to be an artist. It was doctor, dentist, or lawyer for me. I agreed being an artist would be a tough gig. But when I went to Douglas College for interior design, I fell in love with watercolours.”

The interior design program at that time focused strongly on the environment, Fong said, and his early paintings were reflections of nature intended to convey the importance of environmental conservation work.

After a full year of studying traditional oriental art and the contemporary acrylic paintings of Diana Kan, Fong experimented with the two styles— and his trademark method emerged.

37 years later, Fong loves being able to say he’s a professional artist.

“It hasn’t always been easy, but the last 10 years have been great. Nowadays, half my work is commissions, whether that’s a family portrait or a landscape. They say that only the top five per cent of artists make a living off their art.

I haven’t had a job in 37 years.”

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Newcomer this year, BNA Brewing Co. won several categories.

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“Way back when, the Vancouver Sun did a nice write-up about my work—but then a few years later, the woman who wrote it looked at my newer works and she didn’t like the new style. My style was evolving at that time, and I didn’t want to quit. I wanted to prove that this wasn’t the way my work was going to stay. When I first started painting, I showed my works in the malls in Vancouver—and when you go through that, you have to learn to take the good with the bad.”

Reflecting on his career as an artist, Fong said he couldn’t be happier.

“It feels good (to be named Best Local Artist). The last thing any artist wants is a lack of visibility. It feels like I’m not invisible.”

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Alex Fong concentrates on a painting in his Kelowna studio.

“Fong has embarked on a number of artistic endeavours over the years, with his most recent work including commissioned art for wine bottle labels for Nighthawk Vineyards. He’s also produced commissioned works for hospices as well as private buyers. But even with commercially commissioned art, Fong’s joy shines through.

“I try to make people happy (through art),” he said. “There’s a lot of bad news in this world, and I want to be one of the people who shares good news.”

Fong said that earning a living through art isn’t easy, and that young artists who want to pay their bills by selling artworks need to develop a thick skin and learn to accept rejection.

B E S T

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ✓ Best ARTS COMPANY OR ORGANIZATION

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skills. Harris worked at Caban interior goods store when she was younger, which introduced her to interior decor design, something she followed up by earning a certificate in design from BCIT in 2006.

That combination has also proven attractive to her social media followers in Kelowna, being named the top social media personality in the Best of Kelowna poll for 2016.

She appears on the series Love It or List It Vancouver, which airs on the W Network in Canada and on HGTV in the U.S. under the title Love It or List It Too. The reality shows sees her working each episode to redesign a family’s home in the hopes it will convince them to stay in the home, while her co-host, a realtor, tries to convince them to buy another house.

Leading up to Love It or List It, Harris was a contributor to a similar program, Extreme Makeover:

Home Edition in 2010. She also did a stint in 2011 as host of the Canadian TV show Canada’s Handyman Challenge.

Harris is originally from Peace River, Alta., but has seen her parents move to Kelowna while she settled in Vancouver.

Earlier this year, Harris announced online that she was expecting her first child with longtime boyfriend Justin Pasutto.

She has her own brand of interior decor items and an e-vintage webstore, Charlie Ford Vintage.

As an expectant mother, Harris said she is looking to curtail her media personality career to find a work/life balance.

“I think I’m just saying ‘no’ more, resting more and just picking my battles…I’m trying to enjoy these next few months and not overwhelm ourselves,” Harris said.

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Jillian Harris has forged a media career for herself since she made her television debut on The Bachelor in 2009.

She finished in third place and was later the husband chooser for Bachelorette, where she chose and became engaged to contestant Ed Swiderski before they broke up in 2010.

Since then, the 36-year-old has become a Canadian television personality combining her on-air personality with her interior decorating

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INFINITE CHOICE. ONE COMMUNITY. Everyone who lives in the Okanagan Valley will agree that it is a privilege.

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Wilden is an oasis of tranquility only ten minutes from downtown Kelowna.

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LOCAL GOODNESS KELOWNA’S MAYOR SAID HE HAS HIS ‘DREAM JOB’

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For someone who was born and raised in the Okanagan and has a passion for politics, Colin Basran said he has a dream job as the mayor of Kelowna.

Maxine DehartNATURE “I’ve always loved politics since I INSPIREDwas a kid,” Basran said, “and now LIVING that I’m involved in it as an adult, my love for politics is not lessening, Kelowna but just getting greater.

Secondary “I thought being a television journalist School - KSS here was the pinnacle, but I’ve gone well beyond that now as mayor.”

Rutland The love of what he’s doing is Senior probably reflected in Basran Secondary earning the most votes in the RSS Best of Kelowna 2016 contest for favourite elected official.

Okanagan Basran said he is flattered by the Mission notoriety and the people who Secondary voted for him, but he also realizes OKM for politicians, what ultimately matters at the end of the day are Aberdeen elections, when voters go to the Hall polls and make their choices.

Preparatory “What I always try to do is make School decisions that I believe are in the best interests of the community,” said Kelowna Basran, an attitude shared by the Christian other members of council, he said.

School “I may make people upset or angry at times. That is not done purposely, but just as a result of trying to make our city Studio9 better. I try to make decisions keeping Independent the whole community in mind and that School of the is the philosophy I live by.”

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Colin Basran

BY BARRY GERDING

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Everyone who lives in the Okanagan Valley will agree that it is a privilege.

Lake, farmland, forest, mountains and wilderness – it all flows together in soft lines and amazing colours.

From up in Wilden, you not only oversee this majestic natural beauty, you are immersed in it.

Wilden is an oasis of tranquility only ten minutes from downtown Kelowna.

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Basran feels this is the most exciting time to be serving on council in Kelowna in many years, mainly because of the economic optimism evident across the city and a new surge of younger families who are moving here in unprecedented numbers.

“There is an air of excitement and optimism in our city that I’ve never felt before,” said Basran who, before winning the mayoralty race in the last municipal election, had served one term as a councillor.

He said signs of younger people flocking to Kelowna rather than leaving to find jobs or lifestyle opportunities elsewhere marks a significant change for the city.

Basran’s popularity can perhaps also be attributed to his activity on his Twitter account, something he does on a daily basis, part of a network of expressing this thoughts and opinions and hearing feedback from his friends and other Twitter followers.

“I like to communicate and have always been a social person. I think I would be on Twitter regardless of what job I had. I was involved in social media growing up in my generation and it’s something that just comes naturally to me,” Basran explained.

“It’s something I just enjoy doing. It’s not extra work, but rather a natural part of my day when I have downtime, although that is something I don’t have a lot of these days.”

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Besides the task of being mayor, Basran has a young family and is learning how tough it is to balance work life and home life, something he said can be a constant challenge.

“I’m learning a lot more since I became mayor about how to manage my time,” he noted.

While Basran is one of four people on council who have had a journalism career or media profile—the others being Kelowna Capital News business columnist Maxine DeHart, former CHBC television reporter Mohini Singh and former journalist and current Kelowna Capital News columnist Charlie Hodge—the 39-year-old feels his former profession isn’t the natural lead-in to politics that some people might think.

“Personally, I am so far removed from my days as a journalist that I don’t think that enters into the equation for me. It helps from the standpoint of being comfortable with public speaking and interactions with the media, but beyond that the relationship between politics and journalism is not something I have given a lot of thought really.”

With two and half years until the next election, Basran said there are no guarantees in politics, so he wants to make the most of his current job as mayor.

“I love my job right now and I’m really having a good time, so if this will only last for four years I want to make the most of it.”

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Everyone who lives in the Okanagan Valley will agree that it is a privilege.

Lake, farmland, forest, mountains and wilderness – it all flows together in soft lines and amazing colours.

From up in Wilden, you not only oversee this majestic natural beauty, you are immersed in it.

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

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KELOWNA SPCA CONTINUES 100-YEAR TRADITION OF DEFENDING ANIMALS’ RIGHTS

Everyone who lives in the Okanagan Valley will agree that it is a privilege.

Lake, farmland, forest, mountains and wilderness – it all flows together in soft lines and amazing colours.

From up in Wilden, you not only oversee this majestic natural beauty, you are immersed in it.

Wilden is an oasis of tranquility only ten minutes from downtown Kelowna.

Single family and townhome neighbourhoods are tucked away in small pockets.

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10 Minutes to Downtown 10 Steps to Nature

“I’ve always said that animals are our priority, but it’s all about the people—the people who volunteer, who donate, who adopt. For our staff and volunteers—and the animals themselves—to be recognized, that’s significant.”

The Kelowna SPCA is currently redesigning its program in order to more efficiently make use of its 400 volunteers, which includes recruiting a new staff member to better manage that essential workforce.

But for Pugh, the SPCA is just one part of creating a more humane community. “When children abuse animals, it’s a sign that they’ll likely go on to commit more serious offences later in life. That’s why we’re invested in

Kelowna SPCA assistant manager Kaylyn Robinson (left) and branch manager Suzanne Pugh with puppy Maggie in the SPCA’s classroom. working with school districts to improve education regarding the care of animals. We believe it’ll improve society as a whole.”

Fully Insured. Certified Roofers.

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Since its first formal meeting in investigations team, which receives Ashcroft in 1896, the BC SPCA has more cruelty calls than any other worked to advocate for humane shelter in the province. But Pugh said treatment of animals all across that’s because Central Okanagan NATURE the province. And now, over 100 residents are more educated on the INSPIRED years later, the same issuesLIVING that subject of animal cruelty and are led to the creation of the BC SPCA therefore more likely to report animal are still driving the organization to cruelty than other B.C. residents.

“We’ve driven home a lot of continue its advocacy work.

“A hundred or so years ago, there awareness. We also offer education were a lot of issues with farm in the humane treatment of animals. animals—horses in particular,” said We believe the best way to prevent Kelowna branch manager Suzanne suffering and neglect is through Pugh. “The animals were being used education. We have a qualified fullfor transportation and farming, but time teacher who is responsible at that time the winters were a lot for a wide range of programs, and worse, and some of those animals a great team in Vancouver that were tethered out in the poor generates educational materials. weather. So a group of concerned ”The Kelowna SPCA’s spring break workshops and summer camps individuals formed the BC SPCA.” Pugh said the Kelowna SPCA takes allow children of all ages to learn in about 1,500 to 1,800 animals each about topics relating to the proper year, either as strays, abandoned treatment of animals. The most pets, or pets owners surrender popular workshop, Bite Free, teaches when they are no longer able to children and adults alike how to reduce incidences of biting. care for the animal in question.

“Every domesticated animal is “We also have a program called given a medical exam and treated Compassionate Board, where we if necessary. These animals stay in work with individuals in domestic our care until we feel they’re ready violence situations, or individuals who for adoption. The best environment might be going into social housing or for an animal is a loving home, so the ICU, who need care for their pets.” we try to keep them in the shelter Pugh said that winning the Best of Kelowna award for Most Popular for as short a stay as possible.”

The Kelowna SPCA is also home to Local Charity is a welcome validation the Central Okanagan’s animal cruelty of the organization’s mission.

KELOWNA SPCA PHOTO

BY MIKE STRAUS

Commercial

✓ Best LOCAL CHARITY

✓ Best COMMUNITY

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Rutland

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West Kelowna

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Downtown Kelowna

Kelowna SPCA

Paws It Forward Dog Rescue Central Okanagan Food Bank

Residential

FREE ESTIMATES 250-765-3191 • www.ryderroofing.ca 1-3350 Sexsmith Rd, Kelowna B E S T

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

• $10,000+ in charity donations • 4 bike to work week stations • Team sponsorships

• 900 student bike checks • Bike support for races • Trail Maintenance

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thehubkelowna.ca

Two stores to serve your bike better: 103-2949 Pandosy Street & 1461 Sutherland Avenue

kelownacycle.ca 28 |

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thehubkelowna.ca

• $10,000+ in charity donations • 4 bike to work week stations • Team sponsorships

BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

• 900 student bike checks • Bike support for races • Trail Maintenance

2 0 1 6

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OTHER GOODS & SERVICES

PROVISIONS FOR CYCLING

thehubkelowna.ca

Two stores to serve your bike better: 103-2949 Pandosy Street & 1461 Sutherland Avenue

✓ Best LUXURY CAR DEALERSHIP

✓ Best TIRE STORE

✓ Best CAR WASH

6

MotoVida Cycle: Customs, Parts, & Apparel

6

Konquer Motorcycles

✓ Best USED CAR DEALER

Gasoline Alley HarleyDavidson of Kelowna

6

✓ Best MOTORCYCLE/ATV DEALER - OFF ROAD

Audi Kelowna

6

✓ Best AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE/MECHANICS

Kelowna BMW

Skogie’s Car Wash

6

6

Kelowna Yamaha

6

Valley Motosport

6

M&M Performance

6

Costco Wholesale Canada

August Motor Cars

6

Fountain Tire

6

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Kelowna BMW

6

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Orchard Ford

6

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Harmony Honda

6

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OK Tire

6

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Boyd Autobody & Glass

Kal Tire

6

Kal Tire

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✓ Best NEW CAR DEALER

thehubkelowna.ca

✓ Best MOTORCYCLE DEALER - ON ROAD

kelownacycle.ca

Sonic Wash Inc

Bubbles Car Wash & Detail Centre Elite Auto Centre

August Luxury Motorcars

Orchard Ford

Pretend you didn’t see this ad Give your family a thoughtful, loving gift

Choose wisely.

Sure, you can flip the page and ignore this ad, but why would you?

Funeral preplanning is the most thoughtful gift you can give your family and all it takes is a little bit of your time. Instead, why not pick up the phone and call us today? We’ll take you through step-by-step and help you as you make your selections. Think of it as your chance to be remembere remembered as both wise and thoughtful.

1910 Windsor Road • Kelowna (250) 860-6440 104-3500 Carrington Road • West Kelowna (Inside The Vintage View Professional Building) (250) 768-8925 1130 Carmi Avenue • Penticton (250) 493-4112 B E S T

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• $10,000+ in charity donations • 4 bike to work week stations • Team sponsorships

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

OTHER GOODS

• 900 studen • Bike suppo • Trail Mainte

PROV

Two stores to serve your bike better: 103-2949 Pandosy Street & 1

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Taelor Gaschnitz RE/MAX

✓ Best MOTEL

✓ Best HOTEL OR RESORT ✓ Best REALTOR TEAM

Colin Krieg RE/MAX

6

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✓ Best REALTOR

Jane Hoffman - Coldwell Banker

6

SCANDIAGOLFANDGAMES.COM PHOTO

Kelowna Inn & Suites

6

✓ Best KIDS ATTRACTION

Best Western Plus Kelowna Hotel & Suites

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lity... to rea s m drea eel. your can f g u o n i y r B lue e... Va e s n u ca ity yo Qual

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Lots of fun to be had at Scandia Golf & Games, voted as third Best Kids Attraction for 2016.

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Fresh Air Experience

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Grouse River

Manteo Resort Waterfront Hotel & Villas

6

MEC Kelowna - Mountain Equipment Co-op

6

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Scandia Golf & Games

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H2O Adventure + Fitness Centre

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Kangaroo Creek Farm

✓ Best OUTDOOR GEAR STORE

kelownacycle.ca

thehub

Hotel Eldorado

The Cove Lakeside Resort Delta Grand Okanagan Resort & Conference Centre Stone Sisters

RE/MAX Real Estate

Royal Lepage Kelowna

CONTRACTORS • HOMEOWNERS • INDUSTRIAL • ride on rollers • air compressors • compaction equipment • bobcat loaders • electric jackhammers • garden equipment • mini excavators • generators • plumbing equipment WE RENT EQUIPMENT FO washers • pumps • space heaters • lift equipment • pressure • landscape equipment • stump grinders • survey equipment • welding equipment • wood chippers

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You k n a h T wna! o l e K for Equipment Rentals

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rykon.ca

250 712 9664 30 |

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Locally owned and operated since 1975 2016

• $10,000+ in charity donations • 4 bike to work week stations • Team sponsorships

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• 900 student bike checks • Bike support for races • Trail Maintenance

2 0 1 6

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OTHER GOODS

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thehubkelowna.ca

Two stores to serve your bike better: 103-2949 Pandosy Street & 1461 Sutherland Avenue

The Greenery

6

Art Knapp Plantland & Florists Byland’s Garden Centre

6

TD Bank

6 6 6

✓ Best FINANCIAL SERVICES

thehubkelowna.ca

6

✓ Best HOME & GARDEN STORE

kelownacycle.ca

Royal Bank of Canada - Main Kelowna

CIBC

PAST RELOCATION REMAINING FRUITFUL FOR THE GREENERY GARDEN CENTRE

BY BARRY GERDING When The Greenery Garden Centre relocated from Rutland to the Dilworth area 20 years ago, it took awhile for people to get used to the new location.

The Dilworth residential area was not well established at the time, and the Longhill Drive location seemed off the beaten track.

But in the years since, The Greenery’s location has become a local landmark as the area population has grown, and continues today to be a thriving business for Tell Segler and his family.

In the 2016 Best of Kelowna poll, The Greenery was named the Best Home and Garden Store.

#2 - 1660 Powick Road 250-861-1575

The Greenery is a family-owned operation open to the public for the four spring months of each year. For the past 32 years, The Greenery has grown one of the largest selection of garden plants at its Okanagan nursery. With more than 3.2 acres of greenhouse capacity, The Greenery inventory is all produced in-house.

Segler said it’s important for them to grow their own plants right here in the Okanagan. It not only improves plant quality and availability, but also saves on long distance trucking costs.

When it comes to cool season varieties and perennials, The Greenery is able to adapt them to our local climate during the growing process, allowing customers to purchase a hardened-off plant better suited to the local climate.

Segler said The Greenery is currently in the midst of the intense part of its season, starting in January with preparing plants for the start of spring garden planting, which he said seems to start earlier with each passing year. continued on page 32

Thank you to all of our customers & vendors for their continued support!

Weddings • Corporate Events • Private Functions Movie Productions • Festivals & More

Come see us for all your event rental needs! or view our catalogue online: www.avalonrents.com B E S T

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OTHER GOODS

• 900 studen • Bike suppo • Trail Mainte

PROV

Two stores to serve your bike better: 103-2949 Pandosy Street & 1

from page 31

✓ Best BOAT DEALER OR SERVICES

✓ Best MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION ✓ Best MEDIUM BUSINESS EMPLOYER

THE GREENERY PHOTO

✓ Best LARGE BUSINESS EMPLOYER

✓ Best RV DEALERS ✓ Best EQUIPMENT RENTAL

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✓ Best SMALL BUSINESS EMPLOYERLESS THAN 5 EMPLOYEES

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Mavazi Apparel

6

Scooter’s Ice Cream

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Just 4 Fun Playcentre Inc

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Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs

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BNA Brewing Co.

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Costco Wholesale Canada

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250-862-7675 info@stonesisters.com www.stonesisters.com

GetintheLoop

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We are honored to serve you.

Milkcrate Records

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4th YEAR IN A ROW.

Kelowna Yacht Club

Oranj Dance & Fitness

6

Thank you Kelowna for voting us Kelowna’s Best Realtors for the

BCAA

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Kelowna

Costco Wholesale Canada

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wide selection of various gardening tools and needs that includes potting soil, soil amendments, peat moss, fertilizers, seeds and lawn care supplies.

And with an acre of retail space to browse around, Segler said the store set-up creates a unique shopping experience in itself, with a showplant system that allows customers to view most plants in a mature blooming state, to help with those tough decisions about colour options and style.

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“We had to be ready this year by mid-April because of the weather. It got a lot warmer earlier than usual, and people wanted to get out in their gardens and start planting,” he said.

The Greenery offers an array of plant choices—more than 20,000 hanging baskets, wall bags and planters, thousands of different annuals, basket stuffers, vegetables, herbs, berries, perennials and grasses. Along with an extensive collection of garden plants, The Greenery also offers a

✓ Best ELECTRONICS STORE

kelownacycle.ca

thehub

Best Buy Electronics

Andre’s Electronic Experts

London Drugs

Dockside Marine Centre Rayburn’s Marine World Ltd

Scrub Captain

Country RV

Voyager RV Centre

Traveland RV Supercentre Kelowna

Winn Rentals Ltd

Home Depot

Nor-Val Rentals Ltd

• $10,000+ in charity donations • 4 bike to work week stations • Team sponsorships

BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

• 900 student bike checks • Bike support for races • Trail Maintenance

2 0 1 6

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OTHER GOODS

PROVISIONS FOR CYCLING

thehubkelowna.ca

Two stores to serve your bike better: 103-2949 Pandosy Street & 1461 Sutherland Avenue

thehubkelowna.ca

Funktional

lululemon athletica

6

Orchard Park Shopping Centre

6

Grouse River

6

Best Buy Electronics

6

Blonde

6

Milkcrate Records

6

Man + Woman

6

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Home Sense

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 Blue Ginger has been named the Best Place to Buy a Gift for a Girl in the 2016 Best of Kelowna Awards, and second in the Best Place to Buy Jewelry/Accessories category.

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 said that she couldn’t have been so successful without help.

“We’re very blessed to be considered in these 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.”

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lululemon athletica

BY MIKE STRAUS

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Costco Wholesale Canada

BLUE GINGER BUILDS ON PAST SUCCESS WITH NEW OFFERINGS 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.”

When it comes to determining what new products to bring in, Deborah said she relies on a mix of trade shows, social media, and learning what sells. And although stocking her two stores with hit products isn’t easy, it’s not the biggest challenge she’s faced.

“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 play, that’s the victory.”

Deborah said that with the Ginger Lily store only a year old, there are still innumerable possibilities for where it 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 us some feedback. Pandosy Village is a great place to shop— people should come take a look.”

BLUE GINGER PHOTO

Blue Ginger Trading Company

✓ Best TATTOO & PIERCING SHOP

6

✓ Best RETAIL - SMALL BUSINESS ✓ Best PLACE TO BUY A GIFT FOR A GUY

6

✓ Best RETAIL - LARGE BUSINESS

6

✓ Best PLACE TO BUY A GIFT FOR A GIRL

kelownacycle.ca

Dont Look Down Tattoo

Gas Pedals Tattoo

Bertram & Co Tattoo

Thank You for taking the

time to vote us as one of the top Pet Service & Supply Stores in Kelowna 2565 Main St. Hwy. 97 South, Westbank • 250.768.8870 103-1889 Springfield Road, Kelowna • 250.860.2346 B E S T

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

OTHER GOODS & SERVICES

• 900 studen • Bike suppo • Trail Mainte

PROV

Two stores to serve your bike better: 103-2949 Pandosy Street & 1

✓ Best HOME RENOVATIONS

✓ Best HOME BUILDER

✓ Best HOME SERVICES ✓ Best ELECTRICIAN

✓ Best DEVELOPMENT ✓ Best LANDSCAPER

6

Beachcomber Home & Leisure

6

Valley Pool & Spa

6

Sunshine Pools and Spas

6

Dannburg Flooring & Interiors

✓ Best FURNITURE OR HOME DECOR

End Of The Roll Discount Carpet & Flooring

6

✓ Best FLOORING COMPANY

Nufloors Kelowna

6

✓ Best POOL & SPA COMPANY

Houle Electric Kelowna

6

✓ Best PLUMBER

Horizon Electric Inc

6

✓ Best INTERIOR DECORATOR

Krueger Electrical Ltd

6

2016

Dom-Tech Appliance Repair

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KELOW NA

Superior Interiors Kelowna

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345 Bernard Avenue, Kelowna 778.478.4111• alchemykelowna.com

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Intrigued?

6

Define your unique style

6

Objects of desire

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Vision Mechanical Ltd

6

Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Kelowna

6

Wiener’s Plumbing & Irrigation

6

MS Budd Construction

Real Deals on Home Decor

6

Start To Finish Construction

6

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Lavish Design

6

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Sticks + Stones Design Group Inc.

Superior Interiors Kelowna

6

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Jillian Harris

6

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Harmony Homes

6

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Mission Group

6

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Rykon Construction Management Ltd.

✓ Best ROOFING COMPANY

kelownacycle.ca

thehub

Pinnacle Roofing

Ryder Roofing

Roof Doctor

Wilden

McKinley Beach

Village of Kettle Valley

Home Sense

Lakehouse Home Store

Alchemy

Creative Roots Landscaping Soil to Sod Landscaping & Irrigation

Tiger Landscaping

• $10,000+ in charity donations • 4 bike to work week stations • Team sponsorships

BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

• 900 student bike checks • Bike support for races • Trail Maintenance

2 0 1 6

B E S T

O F

OTHER GOODS & SERVICES

PROVISIONS FOR CYCLING

thehubkelowna.ca

Two stores to serve your bike better: 103-2949 Pandosy Street & 1461 Sutherland Avenue

kelownacycle.ca

thehubkelowna.ca

BARK N’ FLY PHOTO

BARK N’ FLY GIVES TRAVELING PET PARENTS A FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVE TO KENNELS

Tasha (left) and Norm Melnichuk with their dog in the passenger’s seat.

Kelowna’s Best Pet Boarding Facility, as voted by the citizens of Kelowna, offers a climate-controlled building, friendly interaction with other dogs and cats, and five acres of fenced outdoor play areas for pets to enjoy.

BY MIKE STRAUS Dog and cat owners alike know that keeping the family pet happy and comfortable is a big priority.

That’s why Norm Melnichuk and his wife Tasha opened Bark n’ Fly in 2010, after visiting existing kennels and feeling unimpressed.

“My wife’s mother was looking for a place to keep her dog,” Norm said.

“We looked at a few of the kennels in town, and we thought we could do better. So we bought a piece of land that used to be an apple orchard and built our facility.”

Norm said the Melnichuks knew from the start that they wanted to offer a high-end luxury option for pet owners who want the best.

Building their $650,000 facility from the ground up, the designs included a variety of sleep suites for the pets, plus a large outdoor yard, an indoor play area, and a separate cattery for feline guests to enjoy luxurious pampering.

“We hadn’t really given cats a lot of thought, but when we built the facility, we realized there are a lot of families out there with both a dog and a cat. So we figured we’d give people a one-stop shop where they can drop off the dog and the cat. We designed the cattery to be double insulated, so the cats can’t hear the dogs barking. It’s thoroughly ventilated, and it features scratch posts and cat toys as well.”

Norm said that on average, the cattery hosts four to five cats at any given time—but around the Christmas holidays, Bark n’ Fly may play host to as many as a dozen cats.

Aside from caring for pets while owners on vacation, Bark n’ Fly also strives to help owners better train their pets. The facility’s puppy and kitten daycare is designed to give pets a safe environment in which to socialize with other animals and learn how to play. continued on page 36

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

OTHER GOODS & SERVICES

• 900 studen • Bike suppo • Trail Mainte

PROV

Two stores to serve your bike better: 103-2949 Pandosy Street & 1

kelownacycle.ca

www.cofoodbank.com 36 |

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Fairfield Animal Hospital Ltd. Tri Lake Animal Hospital

✓ Best PET BOARDING OR KENNEL ✓ Best PET GROOMER

✓ Best PET SERVICES & SUPPLIES ✓ Best VETERINARIAN

Rose Valley Veterinary Hospital

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West Kelowna 250-768-1559

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Kelowna 250-763-7161

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We couldn’t do it without you!

Petsmart

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With great appreciation, we thank you for considering us one of Kelowna’s best local charities of 2016!

Buckerfield’s

6

www.facebook.com/greenerykelowna

6

www.thegreenery.ca

Bosley’s Pet Food Plus Kelowna

thehub

Bark N Fly Dog Daycare

6

By far the biggest selection at the lowest grower prices!

6

Best Home & Garden Centre!

6

Thank you for voting us the

5

For the Melnichuks, the upcoming dog days of summer are going to be busy.

“We’re thinking about putting together an events crew to spread the word at dog parks and beaches,” he said. “We’re also working on expanding the play field—we have about four acres fenced in, but we have access to another six acres we’d like to use.”

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Bark n’ Fly prioritizes safety above all else, and offers separate play areas for large and small breeds, an extensive network of security cameras, and a 24-hour monitoring system for burglary, fire and carbon monoxide alarms.

Not looking to board your pet?

You can also take advantage of professional dog grooming by appointment at the luxury bathing facility.

6

from page 35 “Some dogs don’t meet other dogs until later in life, and it can be a scary experience for them. We take puppies—obviously we give them special care —and we let them play with other dogs. They might play for 45 minutes, go into the kennel for a nap, and then come back out again. It’s the older dogs that need to train these puppies on how to interact. It’s also good exercise for the dog, which is great for highenergy breeds.”

Kelowna Pet Resort

The Spotted Spa Retreat

Bone Appetit - Glenmore

The Yuppie Puppy

Petsmart

• $10,000+ in charity donations • 4 bike to work week stations • Team sponsorships

BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

• 900 student bike checks • Bike support for races • Trail Maintenance

2 0 1 6

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OTHER GOODS & SERVICES

PROVISIONS FOR CYCLING

thehubkelowna.ca

Two stores to serve your bike better: 103-2949 Pandosy Street & 1461 Sutherland Avenue

kelownacycle.ca

Springfield Funeral Home

✓ Best FLORIST

6

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First Memorial Funeral Services

6

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Everden Rust Funeral Services and Crematorium

6

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✓ Best FUNERAL HOME

thehubkelowna.ca

Costco Wholesale Canada

Creations By Mom & Me

Art Knapp Plantland & Florists

CREATIONS BY MOM & ME

BY BARRY GERDING Receiving acknowledgment for longevity in business is nothing new for Creations By Mom & Me. Started 23 years ago as a floral business in the then-fledging Guisichan Mall on Gordon Drive in Kelowna, the mother and daughter business has thrived over time.

“Our longevity is something we are proud of, to stay in this crazy business for that period of time,” said Edithe Ross, who started the floral shop with her daughter Patti Custaloe.

She said “the crazy” aspect comes from dealing with weddings, of which they probably service the most flower requests in the city, and flower orders for things such as birthdays, funerals or last minute events that come with little notice.

“A lot of people in our business have come and gone since we first opened, but we credit (our logenvity

with) the fact we’ve always had the best staff. In any business, it’s always the people…you have to have a good staff and watch what’s going out the door.”

“Our floral designers are artists in what they do…when people look at a floral arrangement and without knowing otherwise can tell it came from us, that’s such positive feedback for what we do.”

She said past business awards have helped to build a word of mouth buzz about Creations By Mom & Me that have given the business a longer-term stability.

The floral shop started as an idea with a slightly ominous tone in that Ross and her daughter signed the lease with the shopping centre on Friday, Nov. 13, and by Dec. 2 the store was painted and ready for business.” continued on page 38

Thank You Kelowna for voting us…

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BEST DOG GROOMING Proudly Canadian and Locally Owned 111-1940 Kane Rd., Kelowna Glenmore location

PET STORE/DOG GROOMING SALON B E S T

250.862.2663

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• $10,000+ in charity donations • 4 bike to work week stations • Team sponsorships

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

OTHER GOODS & SERVICES

• 900 studen • Bike suppo • Trail Mainte

PROV

Two stores to serve your bike better: 103-2949 Pandosy Street & 1

kelownacycle.ca from page 37

✓ Best WEDDING PLANNER

✓ Best EVENT PLANNER/DESIGNER

Holly Dober - Social Magnet Productions

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All Occasions Party Rentals Inc

The Wedding Cafe

6

The Tickle Trunk

Vintage Origami-Vintage Wedding & Event Rentals

6

Avalon Event Rentals

✓ Best PHOTOGRAPHER

For an event to remember, look to Vintage Origami - Vintage Wedding & Event Rentals, voted Best Wedding Planner and Best Event Planner/Designer for 2016.

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✓ Best EVENT RENTAL

Sharla Pike Photography

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2016

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Darren Hull Studios

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VINTAGE ORIGAMI.COM PHOTO

Barnett Photography

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“The complex then was just an empty shell with the promise of what was to come—no other businesses none of the residential that is here now.

There was just ourselves, a produce store and a travel agency back then,” Ross recalled.

“But we did our homework and we could see this was an area where our customer base would grow, where Gordon Drive would become a high-traffic road as development grew. Christmas was our goal to be open by that year and by Dec. 2 the store was painted and ready for business.”

Today the family connection to Creations By Mom & Me has extended to Ross’ greatgranddaughter working at the shop. “The retail business always goes up and down over the course of the year. It can be nerve racking at times but it’s also been fun. And we started as a family business and we still are a family business today.”

thehub

Vintage Origami Vintage Wedding & Event Rentals

The Wedding Cafe

Jenny McAlpine Weddings

!

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

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Directed by Randy Leslie with Musical Direction by Roslyn Frantz & choreography by Jennifer Davies Based on the stories by P.L. Travers & the Walt Disney Movie | Original Music & Lyrics by Richard & Robert Sherman Book by Julian Fellowes | New Songs and Additional Music by Geroge Stiles & Anthony Drew

ʻs

KELOWNA COMMUNITY THEATRE JULY 28TH TO AUGUST 6TH, 2016

!

Y A D O T S T E K C I T R U O Y E V R E S E R !

T U O D L O S % 0 6 R E V ALREADY O www.KelownaActorsStudio.com 250.862.2867 or visit Kelowna Tickets at Orchard Park Shopping Centre