GOOD GRIEF Dealing with loss is not once-size-fits-all says Dawn Boys P.6
Peachland POST
BLISSFUL The local bakery Bliss is celebrating 20 years in the Central Okanagan P.8
ABOUT TOWN Find out what’s going on and where it’s happening P.11
The Kids are Alright
By John McDonalD Staff RepoRteR
Along with panoramic lake views and the classic car show, Peachland is well known for its population of seniors. That means the majority of Peachlanders – at least those who have children – are well past the age of needing childcare for a young family.
Conversations at the Edgewater Inn or Bliss Bakery are far more likely to revolve around the need for eldercare for aging parents rather than the need to secure a
much-coveted spot in one of the few local childcare facilities.
Almost 60 per cent of Peachland residents are at least 55 years or older, according to StatsCan and indeed, much has been written about the construction downtown of a second rent controlled apartment building by the Peachland Seniors Support Society.
So its refreshing to see the
District of Peachland throw its financial and organizational support behind a new 104 space child care centre to be constructed on district-owned land adjacent to the Peachland elementary school.
BGC Okanagan runs an existing childcare centre in Peachland’s Historic School and has been selected as the contracted operator of the new facility.
Staff there are already enthusing about it, even before construction has begun.
“It’s a great vision, it’s a beautiful community,” said Kirstie Blanleil, vice-president of child care for the non-profit society which also runs child care centres in Kelowna, West Kelowna and Lake Country.
Peachland POST
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Visit peachlandpost.org
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• Peachland Post gratefully acknowledges office space provided by Brenda Renewables.
Reduced transit fare program considered for the Central Okanagan
A new study is considering options for reducing transit fares for low-income residents.
Lead by the City of Kelowna, the study will be used to develop a reduced-fare program to compliment existing programs, according to a media release.
It says rising socioeconomic pressures and high demand for the existing Emergency Transit Assistance program has revealed the need for more affordable transit options. Those options would allow transit access with fares somewhere between the ETA program level and regular fares,
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
able transportation can help more people participate more fully in the community,” said Mike Kittmer, transit and programs manager for the City of Kelowna.
“Residents’ input will help shape a potential new fare option that supports those experiencing affordability challenges. By sharing your experiences, you’ll help ensure the program reflects real needs and lived experiences in our community.”
The ETA was launched in 2001 in partnership with United Way B.C. and provides transit tickets and passes to social agencies for distribution to their clients.
New Westside multi-use trail opens for business
The multi-use pathway connecting Peachland with West Kelowna opened for public use last Friday, according to a media release from the District of Peachland.
Cyclists and pedestrians can now travel safely between the two communities via Goat’s Peak Park, the release said.
“Enabling access to afford-
CANADA DAY EVENTS
The study is seeking input through an online survey to better understand the barriers to transit access. The survey can be accessed online until July 15 at getinvolved.kelowna.ca.
The 2.7 km section of trail ties into a planned 250-km trail that will eventually span the Okanagan Valley. The local portion was funded by a $920,000 grant from the provincial government and $356,000 from the federal Active Transportation fund. poSt Staff
Have
The Downtown Revitalization Strategy and changes to the Official Community Plan could have a generational impact on Peachland
By John McDonalD Staff RepoRteR
The District of Peachland is calling for residents to give their opinion on its downtown revitalization strategy through an online survey available until June 30 and several in-person events planned for the coming months.
In a media release, the district described the strategy and a separate update to the Official Community Plan as “important steps to shape the future of our community.”
The draft Downtown Revitalization Implementation Strategy, developed over 18 months under the guidance of municipal consultant Urban Systems, was presented to district councillors in April.
Several councillors have already voiced their opposition to the strategy, which calls for increased building heights in the downtown core along with density bonuses for developers.
Mayor Patrick Van Minsel is a proponent of the core tenets of the strategy, which he says are needed
downtown Peachland
to spur development in the downtown core.
The mayor said staff at the district’s open house June 11 told him there was not a lot of reaction to the strategy good or bad from attendees.
“There wasn’t a lot of comment either way,” he said.
That could change when Peachland residents are invited to attend one of two pop-up meetings planned for over the summer or at an evening public consultation. No dates have been announced for the events which will be managed by Urban Systems.
The OCP amendment will be
discussed by council at an open meeting of the committee of the whole scheduled for 11 a.m. July 11.
POINT X POINT
While the update to the OCP has been described by the district as minor and a clarification of the existing version, it is described on its update board as supporting the revitalization of downtown, introducing a new housing policy, refreshing guidelines for form and character of new buildings and reviewing long term land use goals.
The current OCP was adopted in 2018 and is subject to periodic review as mandated by the provincial government.
Van Minsel said the review must be completed by year’s end, but the revision and adoption of the downtown revitalization strategy is open-ended.
District staff must compile the survey results and feedback from the public events before making a final recommendation to council, which the mayor said is unlikely to happen before the fall at the earliest.
“We are going to take our time on this,” he added. “It’s very important for our community to get it right.”
To complete the survey and learn more about the OCP review and the downtown revitalization strategy go to tinyurl.com/peachlandocp.
For more information email planning@peachland.ca or call 250767-3707. ••
John McDonald photo The form and character of downtown Peachland is under review.
BETTY SUTHERLAND
Agricultural researcher has packed a lot of adventure into 99 years
Iam often asked: Why Peachland? It’s a fair question given that my husband and I, along with our tiny dog, drove 11,000 kilometres from one coast of Canada to the other, in search of a town to call home.
It wasn’t just the staggering views, or Peachland’s charming downtown that left us smitten.
What lies at the heart of our hometown, are the extraordinary people – people such as Betty Sutherland.
Turning a remarkable 99 years old this summer, Betty was born in Japan, spent her childhood in North Vancouver, and finally moved to Peachland, where she has lived for over seven decades. It was my distinct privilege to chat with Betty about her big life in our small town.
I realize quickly into our conversation that Betty is an adventurer. When asked for a tidbit most do not know, she smiles and shares that after earning a degree in agriculture at UBC, she spent two years hitchhiking across Europe between laboratory jobs in England.
In fact, Betty has hitchhiked across France into Spain and then all the way north into Norway.
I laugh when Betty clarifies that due to an unfortunate lack of traffic in Spain, in that one country, she was forced to take the bus. I wonder to myself how many of us have experienced such adventure!
After her travels, Betty settled down with her husband Earl on his family orchard in Peachland. Though warm and kind, Betty is made of sturdy stuff.
Years of early rising, long days hiking up and down ladders, as well as countless hours spent grafting and planting root stocks for apple trees, have demanded it.
And as if all that is not enough, I then learn that Betty worked for years in the laboratory at the Summerland Research and Development Centre and was a passionate horseback rider, who in 1969 helped found our non-profit Peachland Riding Club.
When I gush about the panoramic lake views from their home, she shares they once lived in the original farmhouse still on the property but it lacked a view.
In fact, the land where the second house now stands, was originally just a cow field.
I laugh yet again, when Betty tells me she built the second house because she was tired of the cows having a better view than she did.
So why Peachland? Because this town is full of people like Betty, who have shaped this hometown into something truly special.
Teresa Triggiano is a restorative justice facilitator and a youth and family counsellor. She was a youth and family expert on Global TV’s B.C. News. If you have a story suggestion email her at theheartofpeachland@gmail.com.
NO HISTORY? KNOW HISTORY by RICHARD SMITH
Electricity from a Peachland dam once provided back-up power to Westbank
Peachland once supplied electrical power to Westbank.
In the 1940s, the water- powered generator in Peachland was linked to the Westbank diesel generator over steel wires.
During the day, Westbank provided most of the power for the two communities.
Howewver, on occasion, when the diesel generator in Westbank shut down, the only electricity available was from Peachland over these power lines.
All this ended when rural electrification was brought to both communities by the B.C. Power Commission.
Peachland’s power plant ceased operation in 1947.
Richard Smith archives Peachland once supplied power from this dam to Westbank.
HOMETOWN HEART TERESA TRIGGIANO
Teresa Harris Triggiano photo Betty Sutherland is an adventurer and a long-time Peachland resident.
60-SECOND RANT
June is supposed to be wet so shut about a little bad weather
So you want to complain about the weather these last few days?
First off, June is supposed to be the Okanagan’s wettest month, known to meteorologists as Monsoon June. They are predicting a super hot summer so we need all the rain we can get.
Hot summers in the Okanagan used to be something to look forward to, but now they portend a long, smoky wildfire season.
So shut up about a little rain and a few clouds. We need as much moisture as the clouds will give us.
Density is incompatible with Peachland’s small-town charm
One of the most important public consultations that the District of Peachland will ever undertake is now officially underway: the district is seeking opinions about the future look and feel of downtown Peachland.
Once analyzed, sorted and sifted, those opinions will be some of the ingredients that will inform downtown zoning regulations and the policies and design guidelines in our next Official Community Plan. They will, in effect, serve to regulate what developers are allowed, not allowed, and required to do in the area between Beach Avenue and Highway 97 from the south end of Beach Avenue to Sixth street.
If it feels as though you have already expressed your opinions on this subject, maybe it is because you have lived in Peachland long enough to have participated in the 2008 Charette process led by Professor Condon of the UBC School of Architecture, Design
Centre for Sustainability.
Whatever you have had to say in the past, this is no time to stop talking!
The vision established then gained widespread public support. It focused on the preservation of Peachland’s small town charm and anticipated commercial and residential development stepped back from a maximum of three storeys on Beach Avenue up to six at Hwy. 97 built on two storeys of parking.
A link to the Charette report can be found on the district website peachland.
ca: search for Sustainable Peachland Downtown Plan.
In last year’s analysis of that plan, the Urban-Systems led process called DRIS (Downtown Revitalization Implementation Strategy) endorsed the desirability of the Charette vision but concluded that more densification would be needed if developers were to make a 10 to 15 per cent profit on their investment.
The densified DRIS vision, now the subject of public consultation, was explained in an Urban Systems presentation to council earlier this year.
The presentation and design illustrations are found on the district website: peachland.ca: search for DRIS COTW Workshop Presentation April 8, 2025.pdf
A key problem with the densified vision is that it derives from an analysis that fails to fully examine why the desired Charette vision and developer profit are incompatible.
If we want the Charette vision to be the blueprint for future downtown revitalization, and we acknowledge that developers need to make a profit, we reach inescapable conclusions: profit is limited because the land is currently overvalued; and creative developer incentives are lacking.
The value of land is based on what you are allowed to do with it – not what developers would like to do with it. That is why continued support for the Charette vision and rejection of the densified vision is so strategically important.
I hope readers will share with the district their own views about downtown revitalization during the unfolding public consultation process. I hope, too, that some of those views will be shared with Peachland Post via Letters to the Editor.
Keith Fielding is a former Peachland mayor and president of the Peachland Community Newspaper Society.
DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION
Time doesn’t always heal the wound of a lost loved one
Studying grief in my psychology and counselling training, has been a stark reminder that it affects everyone and has a process that is unique to each individual.
We have all had an experience of grief, and how we processed a loss can influence the way we process losses in the future.
A child losing a pet goldfish and a woman losing her husband can have very similar reactions. Children mourn, however, they have varying degrees of emotional and cognitive development which influences what they can process.
Being aware of this can help assist them in future experiences of death, so they can better move through the experience.
In my therapy practice I have supported clients, not only into the dying process but assisted death, or medical assistance in
dying as it’s known in Canada.
After having lived through a death, you become more aware of those left behind and how maladaptive family schemas, beliefs, cultures and religions affect our processing a loss and how we support those around us going through their own loss.
John Bowlby, a British psychiatrist, devoted much of his career to the topic of attachment and loss. People create intimate bonds with others and when it’s threatened or fractured they experience intense emotional reactions.
This is seen in the animal kingdom as well, and not just with mammals. An eagle’s mate will wait for months in the location they were last together, if their mate has been injured and taken in to be rehabilitated.
Sadly, if we don’t mourn a loss in certain stages we can get stuck and this can lead to a challenging grieving process, or what, in addition to many other terms, is referred to as “complicated grief”
(J. William Worden, 2018 Grief Counselling and Grief Therapy).
Worden talks about the saying “time heals”, in reference to the mourning process.
But this is not completely true, as the time can pass by, but what’s done to work through stages will influence the healing process.
“
“
And what about the way that society deals with grief?
If the bereaved is told that “you should be over it by now”, or “well at least he isn’t suffering anymore” and , “I know how you feel”, these comments dishonour the individual’s need to move through the mourning experience and may cause them to pull away from support that they need.
So what can you do to support a friend, co-worker, neighbour or loved one who’s going through the “normal” grieving process?
Allow them to share their feelings and listen. If they need help with getting some tasks done because they’re feeling the physical pain and fatigue that can accompany grief, offer to help.
Let them share stories and talk about the deceased. Ask them questions about the deceased if they are sharing. They may be trying to accept that this person is really dead.
Make them soup, walk their dog, cut their grass or shop for them if they accept assistance.
Sometimes the brain fog and forgetfulness that affects the cognitive processing of grief, limits their ability to know what they need or want. Making decisions can be challenging for them.
If this person would like to receive more support, reach out to the Peachland Wellness Centre for information about a bereavement group that meets every Monday at 1:30pm.
As this is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, those who are mourning should seek medical assessment if they are experiencing more complicated grief that is seriously affecting their physical, emotional and cognitive well being.
Keep your eye on someone who’s had a loss, especially if they live alone. You may be a lifeline that they need.
Dawn Boys is a counsellor student, works for Peachland Parks and Recreation, Peachland Wellness Centre and Okanagan Folk School.
An “interest list” has been set up by the facility operator
KIDS FROM PAGE 1
Blanleil said existing child care operators in Peachland have struggled to keep up with demand, which she said is an impediment for anyone with young children hoping to settle in Peachland. “We’re excited,” she added. “Now there’s no reason why young families could not move here.”
The new facility will accommodate a range of age groups, Blanleil said, with 24 spaces for infants and toddlers, 32 spaces for three-to-five year olds and 48 after school spaces for children from kindergarten to grade 6.
Blanleil said BGC Okanagan is well-established with a solid list of long-term employees including early childhood educators and infant toddler educators backing up trained early childhood educator assistants and support staff.
Provincial laws mandate a minimum ratio of one certified staff member to every four children, Blanleil added.
Program fees have yet to be established, she said, but fee reductions and subsidies are available, and qualified families can apply for the provincial Affordable Child Care Benefit.
While a firm opening date has yet to be established, Blanleil said she expects the facility to open on schedule.
“This particular project seems to be moving quickly,” she added. “The district seems committed to pushing the timelines.”
First identified as a pressing need in the 2018 Central Okanagan Childcare Needs Assessment,, council adopted it as a priority in its strategic plan and began the process of applying for construction funding from the provincial ChildCareBC’s New Spaces program, said director of community services Corey Labrecque in an emailed state-
ment to the Peachland Post.
The district secured a $12.2 million grant from the program with an additional $500,000 for the purchase of the site, part of another grant given to Peachland from the provincial Growing Community Fund.
The district kicked in an additional $100,000 for ancillary costs not covered by the two grants.
Blueprints for the 10,000-square foot facility by HMCA Architecture & Design is complete and contractor TKI Construction is expected to begin construction this summer, once a request for proposal process is complete, Labrecque said, with a grand opening scheduled for sometime in the spring of 2027.
The province requires the new facility be operated as a child care centre for at least 30 years and the district’s Community Services department will oversee the contract with BGC Okana-
gan, according to Labrecque.
BGC Okanagan has set up what Blanleil calls an “interest list” where parents can put down their names for contact when registration opens, likely next summer.
Email kelowna@bgco. ca with Peachland Interest List in the subject line.
The email should include both parent and child’s full names,
the child’s age and date of birth, a contact phone number and email address as well as preference for programs and full- or part-time attendance if known.
Blanleil encourages interested families to stay connected through the BGC Okanagan Facebook and Instagram accounts where the society will post updates about fees, schedules and registration.
John McDonald photo
The Peachland childcare centre will be located next to Peachland elementary school.
Bliss Bakery celebrates 20 years of building relationships
Follow Your Bliss and the Universe will Open Doors for You.” (Joseph Campbell). That was the inspiration for Darci and Barry Yeo, as they stood in the dirt where Gateway would rise, back in 2004.
They wanted to start and build a bakery and coffee business that reflected their values and passions, and this site, with its superb lake view, located near the main entrance to the magical community of Peachland, took the cake, and their dough (so to speak)
And so it came to pass, but not without the trials and tribulations suffered by most small-business entrepreneurs. They persevered, worked around the clock for several years to keep the doors open, survived COVID, expanded to four locations. Then they realized that they had lost the personal
touch, so they did not renew leases, and are back to two locations: the original in Peachland, and the second in West Kelowna.
The business still includes their values: No chemicals, no preservatives, no hydrogenated oils.
Barry elaborates, “We prioritize exceptional food and take no shortcuts because we believe that the results are worth the investment. Purity and passion are the founda-
tional principles that we opened Bliss Bakery with.” Bliss roasts all their own meats, make their own soups (starting with their own fresh stocks), and bake everything they make from natural, raw ingredients. In addition to their scrumptious desserts, their menu is extensive, including breakfast and lunch items, as well as sourdough breads and specialty coffee, plus tea. They add seasonal taste treats.
And how have their customers responded to that? Bliss has been named Okanagan’s best bakery” and best coffee shop” and the staff have been recognized for their friendly, superior service. One visitor said “Sometimes it feels like we vacation in the Okanagan just so we can eat at Bliss.”
The tastiness of the food is not surprising. Barry is a certified Red Seal master baker (the highest level) with many years experience, including a bakery on Galiano Island. Darci shares Barry’s passion for food quality and business excellence, and she adds her creative touch and sales and marketing experience to make Bliss a tremendous team success.
Bliss Bakery began as a dream, one that Barry and Darci poured their hearts into more than 20 years ago.
“What started as a personal journey quickly became some-
Lake Avenue at 13th Street 250-767-9237
Sunday Morning Service: 10:30 am
Pastor: Lyle Wahl peachlandbaptistcanada.com
There is a sermon audio available on our website each week.
thing much bigger: a place where community, connection, and kindness come together every day. Small businesses like ours aren’t just about what we create in the kitchen, they’re about the relationships built over morning coffee, the friendly chats at the counter, and the feeling of home when you walk through the door.”
Darci and Barry will celebrate the Bliss 20 Year Anniversary on June 28 at their Peachland Bliss location at 4200 Beach Ave. There will be music, sampling, giveaways, and other surprises, including two tickets to see Sarah McLaughlin at Prospera Place. Bliss is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Monday to Friday in West Kelowna) and includes a large patio. You can email barry@ blissbakery.ca or darci@blissbakery.ca. or call 250 767-2711.
KLIP’S TIP
“You should pursue what brings you joy and fulfillment, as it is a path that is uniquely designed for you. By doing so, you can find a sense of belonging and purpose, and discover the life you were meant to live.”
Bruce Klippenstein, CPA,CA is the Okanagan Town Crier and lives in Peachland. Contact klipper1@ shaw.ca. News items welcome!
Peachland United Church 4421 4th St., Peachland 250-767-2206
“Let Us Worship Together” ZOOM AND IN-SANCTUARY SERVICES AT 10 AM
Pastor: Ian McLean
ALL ARE WELCOME
For 10:00 am zoom service, visit www.peachlandunited.ca
CANADIAN & PR UD!
Okanagan Lake
this spectacular photo taken from the Edgewater Inn. Neil Fahlman photo
Martha McKenzie photo
A stunning double rainbow arches over Okanagan Mountain Park.
Maria Bandol photo
A family of geese take to the clear waters of Okanagan Lake.
Events
POST EVENTS
Reservations or registration may be required for some activities or events. Please contact the phone number or website provided for more details.
SATURDAY
PEACHLAND COMMUNITY CENTRE
250-767-2133
Fiesta of flavours 11:00 AM-1:00 PM
Mexican cooking class
PEACHLAND ART GALLERY
250-767-7422
13th annual OASIS
50 Okanagan artists
50 PLUS CENTRE
250-767-9133
Carpet Bowling 9:30-12 PM
SUNDAY
OUR SPACE
250-767-7422
Flea Market fundraiser 9-2 PM
PEACHLAND ART GALLERY
250-767-7422
13th annual OASIS
50 Okanogan artists
PEACHLAND COMMUNITY CENTRE
Movement & Dance 12-12:45 PM
Intro and beginning ballet 1-1:45PM
MONDAY
PEACHLAND COMMUNITY CENTRE
Indoor Walking 8-9 AM
Spin, Cord & Stretch 6:30-7:30 PM
Volleyball 7-8:15 PM
PEACHLAND WELLNESS CENTRE
Bereavement group 1:30-3PM
50 PLUS CENTRE
250-767-9133
50 plus fitness 9-10 AM
We Art Here 12 PM
Bridge 1-3:30 PM
Tae Kwon Doe 5:30-8:30 PM
TUESDAY
50 PLUS CENTRE
Yoga 8:30-9:30 AM
Carpet Bowling 9:30-12 PM
Fellowship (AA) 12-1 PM
Mahjong 1-4 PM
Passion 4 Art 1-4 PM
Line Dancing 4:30-5:30 PM
Cloggers 6-6:45 PM
WEDNESDAY
PEACHLAND ART GALLERY
250-767-7422
13th annual OASIS
50 Okanagan artists
50 PLUS CENTRE
50+ fitness 9-10 AM
Chair Yoga 10:30-11:30 AM
Bridge 1:00-3:30 PM
Tae Kwon Do 5:30-8:30 PM
THURSDAY
50 PLUS CENTRE
Yoga 8:30-9:30 AM
Art in Peachland 9:30-2:30 PM
Iron & Silk 11 AM
Ukulele 1-2:30 PM
Bingo 5:30
POST PUZZLES
PEACHLAND COMMUNITY CENTRE
Total Body Sculpt 5:30-6:30 PM
FRIDAY
PEACHLAND ART GALLERY
250-767-7422
13th annual OASIS
50 Okanogan artists
PEACHLAND COMMUNITY CENTRE
Indoor Walking 8-9 AM
Flow Yoga 9-10 AM
Remedy Yoga (Level 1)
10:30-11:45 AM
50 PLUS CENTRE
50+ Fitness 9-10 AM Chair yoga 10:30-11:30 AM Canasta 1-4 PM Knitting 1-3 PM
For information on more programs at Peachland Community Centre search on-line at peachland.ca/recguide. For additional information re: Pickleball lessons and games, contact Zoe at 250-767-2133.
