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Rutland MAY 2017
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MAY 2017
58 ANNUAL MAY DAYS THIS WEEKEND TH
Long-running festival is back, expecting some 15,000 people
By Carli Berry
Originally the May Pole was a part of festivities, a The 58th annual May Days is Rutland’s pride and joy as a traditional symbol of fertility. “I think the symbol of it is the beginning of the growing historical agriculture community. season,” said Swarbrick. One of the chairpersons for the festival, Wendy Being around for 58 years means keeping the tradition Swarbrick, of the Rutland Park Society said the festival is one of the longest running events in the Okanagan and strong. she hopes to see around 15,000 people this year. “Tradition is huge,” said Swarbrick. “We have three May Days is a celebration of spring.
generations who played in that park when they were kids. I think it’s up to us to make sure it continues and to make sure it doesn’t die out.” The festival starts today, May 19, and continues through the weekend at the Rutland Centennial Hall and Centennial Park.
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Festival goers should check out the parade, which starts Saturday, at 11 a.m. on Hartman Park Road at the YMCA. “The parade is a huge part of it,” said Swarbrick, adding the park society will have a float in the parade this year. The Shriners will participate with their little cars, as well as floats by the City of Kelowna, and the Sikh Temple. After the parade people can follow to the fairgrounds. Much like a fall fair, rides and activities will be provided, as well as food trucks, a pancake breakfast and a bingo booth put on by the Knights of Columbus.
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Big West Wrestling will also hold shows to provide crowds with some TV-style entertainment. “I think a lot of people want to see it come back, they really like it,” said Swarbrick. “It’s just good entertainment and you can bring your kids and watch.” The park society started May Days after forming in 1939. Volunteers make May Days happen as they direct traffic, sit at booths and cook pancakes. Other organizations like the Rutland Residents Association also contribute to create the event.
MAY 2017
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MAY 2017
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VAISAKHI PARADE SEES MASSIVE TURNOUT
The seventh annual Kelowna Vaisakhi Parade was a hit.
Annual gathering saw a visit from high level politician in Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan.
More than 1,000 people joined in for a celebration to mark the harvest of winter crops in the Punjab region and the start of a new year. Farmers celebrate the fruits of their labour, give thanks and pray for prosperity in the future. The parade ran Saturday, April 29 at the Okanagan Sikh Temple.
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MAY 2017
BUSINESS HOPPING IN RUTLAND
Some commercial expansion coupled with rising home prices
By Carli Berry Business is booming in Rutland.
The Uptown Rutland Business Association has had success with their business networking events that bring locals together.
He’s seen a variation of people moving in, young families and investors and the interest in Rutland is growing. He remembers as a child, orchards in the city that have been replaced with homes.
“We’ve definitely seen a trend with people attending the business side of things,” said Laurel D’Andrea, executive director of URBA.
Prices have surged in Rutland in the past year increasing as much as $100,000 on a single family home, which Crick said is not a usual market trend.
Proposals are currently in front of the City of Kelowna council for a mixed-use building, a distillery, student housing and more in Rutland.
He considers Rutland to be “a little hidden gem.”
Kelowna city council gave preliminary approval to plans for a craft distillery at 160 Highway 33. The redevelopment will offer cocktails and beer, non-alcoholic beverages, take home craft spirits and wood-fire pizza. D’Andrea said Rutland currently doesn’t have a lot of rental space. “You see down at Willow Park Shopping Centre… they’re busy trying to get their vacant spaces filled. The liquor store down there expanding… there is a lot of movement.” She thinks overall business has been expanding in the past few years. Dallas Crick is a realtor at Century 21, with a focus on Rutland. He agrees with that assessment. Growing up in Rutland, Crick said there has been a surge of people.
HOUSES ARE SELLING IN RUTLAND!
“We’re seeing a real turnover, it kind of brings me back to when I was a kid, my mom would say she had 150 kids visit for Halloween and the trend went down as we got older, but last year she said the kids are coming back into the neighbourhood again,” he said. Suites are popular in Rutland due to rising housing prices. “A suite makes it affordable for a young family to get into the market,” said Crick. “It’s one of the only ways a young family can get into the market.”
R U T LA ND OP TIC AL
Dr. Ajay Shah / Optometrist #3 - 590 Hwy. 33 W. Kelowna 250.868.3480 • www.rutlandoptical.ca MAY 2017
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PLANS UNDERWAY FOR
RUTLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS School district waiting for approval from the province over fate of dilapidated school By Carli Berry Central Okanagan Public Schools is currently waiting on funding to carry out a solution for overcrowding at Rutland Middle School. The plan is to move all 530 students out of the middle school to Quigley Elementary, converting Quigley back into a middle school. To do that, one of the options will be to phase out the elementary students, until the school becomes empty, sending new students to neighbouring schools, said school district secretary-treasurer Larry Paul. The process can begin after the school district receives funding from the province. “We’re waiting for approval from the ministry and what the government has asked for is another look at it,” said Paul of the district’s plans for RMS. Rutland Middle School is an aging building, at around 70 years old, which causes problems for the district. “These wooden-framed buildings that were built back then tend to not have a long lifespan. (The school) has been added to a number of times, so it’s quite chopped
RUTLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL HAS LONG BEEN ON THE SCHOOL DISTRICT’S TOP PRIORITY LIST. up on the inside (which causes mobility issues,)” said Paul, adding every space in the building is being used, along with eight portables. The district is also adding two more. “One-third… maybe even higher of kids attending that school are in portables,” he said. The recent Supreme Court’s ruling that set classroom sizes has also used up any extra space the middle school might have had. The decision was made to move the students to a different property, which wasn’t the best solution, but it’s the best the district can work with, said Paul. The decision will be made afterward on what to do with the middle school site. Rutland Middle School has been on the district’s high priority list for some time, but overcrowding in schools is a district-wide issue. The government has requested another study from the district which will be submitted in September, 2017.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CENTRAL OKANAGANS PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN JUNE’S EDITION OF
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RUTLAND
MAY 2017
RUTLAND FLEA MARKET Loses a friend
The market lost one of its regulars with the passing of the classic character Alfred “Scotty” Deans this winter.
The Rutland Flea Market lost one of its regulars this off-season with the passing of Alfred “Scotty” Deans, seen here in the middle of the picture, helping out a customer.
His son Andrew (right) and Scotty were regulars at the market and Andrew remains set up this year, following in the footsteps of his dad. Scotty had been a regular at the market for the past 10 years and had been antiquing and flea-marketing for 40 years.
THE RUTLAND FLEA MARKET RUNS FROM 7 A.M. TO 1 P.M. ON SUNDAYS AT RUTLAND’S ROXBY SQUARE.
MAY 2017
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CENTENNIAL PARK COMING ALONG
In the heart of Rutland, park improvements include new park, irrigation and a soccer field.
By Carli Berry Any more upgrades to the Rutland Centennial Park will happen after the City of Kelowna receives funding from the province.
transit improvements in the Rutland Town Centre. A few years ago, the city built the main Rutland transit hub on Shepherd Road behind the park.
The city purchased the land from the Rutland Park Society in 2015, and since then has been performing various upgrades in several stages, said city urban forestry supervisor Blair Stewart.
The federal government contributed $50,000 towards the construction of the $250,000 playground. The grant was announced in June 2015 by the former Conservative government.
The most recent were irrigation for the sports field and the building and irrigation around the playground.
The new sports field, which cost $450,000, accommodates one major, or three minor soccer fields.
Work was completed last year in June, just in time for kids to slide into summer.
In the past, the surface of the grassed area in the park was a concern and critics said the poor condition of the park was a big reason it was not used by the public in recent years, except for the annual May Days celebration.
The first phase of park improvements included a new accessibility playground, the addition of a natural turf soccer field and installation of the new irrigation system. “The last time I looked at the draft it was called a multicultural garden,” said Stewart, on the next area of development. A road right-of-way through the existing parking lot that separates the park and the hall will accommodate the future extension of Shepherd Road as part of the
City event development supervisor Chris Babcock said he can foresee the city holding events in the park in the future, other than the May Days event. The city bought the 2.5 hectare Rutland Centennial Park from the Rutland Hall Society for $800,000 along with a commitment to improve the park. The adjacent Rutland Centennial Hall stayed in the society’s hands and the society has said it plans to use the money it received for the park to either upgrade the aging hall or put towards building a new one.
OLIVIA-JEAN MITCHELL, THREE, ENJOYS PLAYTIME AT THE CENTENNIAL PARK IN RUTLAND WITH HER FATHER DAREK MITCHELL.
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STUDENTS VOTE IN BC ELECTION
Across the province, high school students cast ballots in a mock election Students from across B.C. held mock elections in advance of the May 9 B.C. election including in the Central Okanagan. At Rutland Senior, students cast ballots on election day. Here Grade 9 social studies student Iain Reid casts his vote for the mock student election.
Find out more about the mock election and others online at: www.kelownacapnews.com/ tag/BC-Votes-2017/
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RUTLAND’S EXCEPTIONAL
PARENT PARTICIPATION PRESCHOOL Teacher Bev has seen a lot of kids in her 34 years of teaching By Carli Berry Preschool teacher Bev Majewski has been teaching using a parent-participation method in her classes for 34 years. “We’ve gone through ups and downs and fun but it’s the kids that keep me young and why I keep doing it,” she said. Majewski originally wanted to be a kindergarten teacher, but turned to early childhood education because she liked to look after younger children. “I’ve always enjoyed working with kids and in high school, I took courses that allowed me to interact with children.” Students and parents learn valuable lessons at the Rutland Parent Participation Preschool, located at Quigley Elementary. The last of its kind in Kelowna, the preschool allows parents to get a hands-on experience by volunteering their time with the students. A typical day in the preschool starts with singing songs and allowing the children to “get their wiggles out,” said Majewski, before moving into play time which focuses on developmental components and preparation for kindergarten. Snack time and playing outside are also included in the mix.
“We still associate with people we knew, there’s still people who I’ve met when the school was at Black Mountain too, so we know a lot of people in that community,” she said. Class size is about 17 students with three parents in addition to a teacher. “I was just drawn with parents being involved. Studies have shown with people involved with their children’s education, children do better in school,” said Majewski. “You get to see who your children’s friends are in a (different) environment. You get to see (your kids) grow.” Another parent agreed. Kids are different from when they’re at home than with their peers… you get to see some of that stuff,” said parent Sonya Jezik. For more information on the preschool call 250-491-9699 or visit www.rutlandpreschool.ca. The preschool is for three and four-year-olds.
Parents get involved a few times a month, getting a chance to supervise and interact with the kids through group activities. Majewski said young parents have learned new techniques from other parents. “It’s a real social situation. It’s great for parents who are new to Kelowna because it’s a great way to meet other parents that typically live in the area,” said Majewski. But, parents have also come from all over the Central Okanagan. Jocelyn Anderson had two children who have been through the preschool and one child who is currently involved.
PRESCHOOL TEACHER BEV MAJEWSKI AND TIBOR JEZIK, FIVE, PLAY WITH TOYS AT THE RUTLAND PARENT PARTICIPATION
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MAY 2017
WRESTLING FOR CHARITY
Invasion event raises money for various community groups. By Warren Henderson
INVASION CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING COFOUNDER MIKE CHISHOLM (RIGHT) AND WRESTLER BILLY GUNN.
Pro wrestling is alive and well in Rutland.
And several local charities are reaping the benefits. On Friday, April 21, Invasion Championship Wrestling hosted an eight-bout show, Break it Down, to a sold out audience at Rutland Centennial Hall.
OUR COMMUNITY. OUR ECONOMY. OUR INVESTMENT:
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The brainchild of Kelowna’s Mike Chisholm and Mike Rizzo, the event has raised well over $100,000 for charity since its inaugural show in October 2013. Though the numbers aren’t all in, Chisholm expects this year’s event will have raised between $10,000 and $20,000 for charity. “It was an incredible night,” said Chisholm, “…everything we hoped for. We were very well received by the fans, and the people from the Rutland Park Society who came out to show their support absolutely loved the event.” With recent renovations inside Centennial Hall, Chisholm said organizers couldn’t ask for a much better setting for the event and have already booked two more shows for this fall and the spring of 2018. “We now call it ‘Invasion Arena’,” Chisholm said of Rutland’s main hall. Earlier this year, Invasion split $10,000 among four local charities—Mamas 4 Mamas, Okanagan Boys & Girls Club, the YMCA Strong Kid’s Program and NONA (North Okanagan Neurological Association.) From a wrestler’s perspective, Mad Dog Marty Sugar said he’s always thrilled to be involved with a worthy cause. “The charities is the big thing, I’ve been a wrestler for 15 years and the magnitude of what Invasion does, they have the connections, they have the wherewithal to get this done, to bring in money for these community-minded charities that need the help,” said Sugar. “It’s always good to give back, it’s a good feeling to not just go out and wrestle and entertain, but to go out and actually do something good with our efforts.” For more information in Invasion Championship Wrestling and its charity work, go to kelownainvasion.com
MAY 2017
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RUTLAND HOSTS BLOOD CLINIC
National Blood Donor Week is June 13 - June 18!
By Carli Berry It’s getting easier to donate blood in Rutland. A new blood clinic opened its doors for a day at Willow Park Church on May 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., so residents in the Rutland area were given the opportunity to donate blood and potentially save a life.
Blood donated from the Rutland clinic will be tested and distributed to people throughout the province. “Most of it stays in B.C. But, if we needed more blood we could potentially get it from our partners in Calgary. That’s the beauty of a national system,” said Voyer.
“The idea behind them is to bring the clinics to areas closer in our community,” said Canadian Blood Clinic interior territory manager Gayle Voyer.
If donating blood, she recommends eating a meal beforehand, bringing a friend and taking the eligibility quiz which is posted on blood.ca.
The temporary clinic was set up with about 130 volunteers.
Voyer said the aim of the staff is to make the donor feel comfortable donating blood.
Church groups, the Uptown Rutland Business Association and a few other organizations have endorsed the clinic, said Voyer. Although it is unlikely Rutland will have another blood clinic for awhile, she hopes it will inform residents about the permanent clinic in Kelowna. “It’s just a matter of bringing it the community,” she said.
“
At the end of the day everything you do is about the hospital patients
Gayle Voyer
Sunday June 19 • 12 noon-5 pm DAD’s DAY at House of Rose Winery!
Bring Dad, or Dad just come with your friends or loved ones, for something special for all DADs. Complimentary appetizers and a special tasting for DADs of a one time only special wine of the day for you! (We are open daily 10-6)
”
The Rutland clinic was the first blood clinic in that area. For more information call Voyer at 250-9798053 or visit blood.ca for details. You must be 17 or older to donate blood. The Kelowna blood clinic located is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and every second Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1865 Dilworth Drive.
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VOLUNTEER DAN KRUEGER GIVES BLOOD TO THE CANADIAN BLOOD SERVICES CLINIC. 14 [RE] DISCOVER
RUTLAND
MAY 2017
BURGER BARON
COMES BACK TO RUTLAND
Burger Baron recently reopened its doors Feb. 28.
Burger Baron is back with a moto to bring the best burger to Kelowna. Newly renovated with a taste from the 1960s, the burger joint has an array of sloppy burgers (which may take five napkins), milkshakes and fries. The food items are posted on an old-school sandwich board. Burger Baron was closed for renovations but reopened Feb. 28 with a fresh set of paint and a trove of old photos hanging on the walls. Staff spent two days cleaning the ceiling, taking down the wooden planks, cleaning the nuts and bolts and put it back together. “We really put our heart and soul into this,” said owner Karrin Morris, who moved to Kelowna with the intention of opening a restaurant.
“
We really put our heart and soul into this...
Karrin Morris
Business has been steady since the reopening. “We’re getting a lot of new customers,” said Morris, adding she has seen customers from all over the Okanagan. The restaurant is currently making more than 100 milkshakes daily.
” OWNER KARRIN MORRIS, OF BURGER BARON HANDS OVER A SHAKE. BURGER BARON REOPENED AFTER RENOVATIONS IN FEBRUARY
The owners took over the business in the fall, but before opening they had to complete the renovations of the inside. The next step will be the outside, said Morris. “We’re going to try and keep it as original as possible on the outside but we have a few surprises that we’re doing,” she said. A secret sauce goes into the burgers, said Morris. She recommends the popular mushroom burger or the bacon cheeseburger. The shakes are made with real cream and come in a mixand-match combination of flavours. Typical hours are 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. with extended drive-through hours for the summer. Morris is anticipating a busy weekend for May Days, with 16 employees on hand for the event. “They’re all excited and hyped up,” said Morris. Sample one of the messy burgers for yourself at 140 Rutland Rd N.
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