The Naked Cafe is a plant-based restaurant and bar owned and operated by three charming and up-beat sisters, Tessa, Teghan and Olivia Gordey. Like the name, Naked, it’s a 100 per cent vegan restaurant with their motto being “no animal is harmed.” The gals will also help people transition from meat to vegan. The restaurant has both table and casual seating, so you can enjoy lunch or a specialty coffee in a comfy chair. Some of the menu items offered are tortilla and chikin noodle soups, chikin caesar salad, burgers and teriyaki rice bowl. Their most popular dishes are the barbequed pulled pork sammy (bbq pulled-potato loaded with creamy coleslaw) and chili chikin (grilled meatless vegetarian chikin breast and cucumber tossed with sweet chili sauce on creamy coconut rice with green onion and sesame). Along with the best toasted coconut latte with non-dairy whipped cream that I have ever had. I tasted the pulled pork and chili chikin and they were both delicious. You don’t have to be vegan to eat there. They also offer specialized coffees and cocktails for 19 plus adults. Open seven days a week 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Senior’s Tuesday offer everything $10 and $1 coffee. Try their grab and go cooler and while you are there check out their huge animal murals. The Naked Cafe is at 571 Lawrence Ave. Call 778-484-5640.
Robert Ohlmann, CPA, CA, CGA has opened the doors to his new firm Ohlmann and Associates, Chartered Professional Accountant. Robert spent the past six years servicing clients as part of Schneider Sample Ohlmann and has started 2016 under a bold new brand. His location at #100 – 1449 St. Paul St. and services are the same. Robert is available for accounting, tax and bookkeeping needs for both individuals and businesses. Incidentally, Robert is a long-time Kelowna resident and in the late 1980s and early ’90s, you might remember his family and then later, Robert and a business partner had the Burger Barons on Harvey Ave, in the Mission, Westside and Rutland. They sold in 1997 and moved away. Everyone at that time went to the Burger Barons as they really had the very best burgers. I certainly ate my share. Robert, as he says, returned as a bean counter in January, 2010. I say from Baron to bean counter. Call 250-763-3066 www.ohlmanncpa.com.
Okanagan Chem-Dry is a new franchise in Kelowna. Owned and operated by franchisee Jared Power, the company offers carpet and upholstery cleaning. Chem-Dry is the second franchise in the area and is one of the world’s largest carpet and upholstery cleaning companies. They boast over 4,000 franchises in 50 countries and clean more than one billion square feet of carpet every year. The company uses a patented carbonated carpet cleaner that uses a low-pressure applicator to apply millions of microscopic carbonated bubbles into the carpet, lifting dirt and grime to the surface and then sweeping it away. This process leaves the carpet drier, cleaner and healthier than other cleaning. Chem-Dry uses state-of-the-art equipment, non-toxic environmentally safe supplies and well-trained service technicians and also provides one of the most comprehensive business protection plans in the carpet cleaning industry. Call 250-826-7285 www.okanagan.chemdry.ca
Karen Hawes, senior vice-president, people engagement and communications for Interior Savings was elected to the BC Chamber board in 2015. Karen was on the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce board for six years, two of those as president. On the B.C. Chamber board she has worked on the succession planning committee through 2015/16 and was elected as vice-chair at the end of January. Karen will be the incoming chair of the B.C. Chamber board in 2017. Call 250-869-8233.
The West Coast Grill and Oyster Bar, owned and operated by Valerie Lessard, in partnership with Prestige Hotels at four existing locations, is scheduled to open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus weekend brunches in the Prestige Inn on Abbott St. in early March. The menu will offer steaks, salads, burgers, fish and chips and their signature fisherman’s bowl. They are seafood-centric which comes from their home base in Sooke, B.C. Chef Travis Pye is currently working on their menus. Joe Huber is the CEO of Prestige Hotels and Resorts. www.westcoastgrill.ca.
The following Okanagan residents have been appointed to the board of Destination B.C., a Crown corporation that markets our province around the world as a tourist destination: Michael Ballingall (Big White), Gordon Fitzpatrick (Greata Ranch Winery), Ingrid Jarrett (Watermark Beach Resort-Osoyoos) and Glenn Mandziuk (Thompson Okanagan Tourist Association).
Acting CEO Raghwa Gopal has now been appointed the new CEO for Accelerate Okanagan Technology Association (AO). He is no stranger to the technology community, having been involved in Vadim Software, one of the region’s first and successful technology companies. Raghwa has been active in the community as an angel investor, the recipient of several business awards and has been recognized for many volunteer efforts including director of the Okanagan College Foundation and the Rotary Club of Kelowna. www.accelerateokanagan.com
Boss Management Inc., a top talent agency and a leading provider, supplying talent for film and TV productions is opening an office in Kelowna to accommodate a demand for talent and to better meet the needs of the Okanagan’s exploding film industry. With all studios in Vancouver at capacity, productions have moved to the valley. The new Boss office will offer talent representation for work on all slated productions in the areas as well as in Vancouver. This will allow Boss to work with the local talent directly and prepare them for what’s expected. The new office will be the first of many changes for the company in 2016. Sonya Siltani is CEO of the company. www.bossmanagement.com
Sun Asian Market has opened at Suite H, 2009 Enterprise Way (across from TELUS). Owned by Jenny Yu and managed by Yan Li, the market has a small eating area which offers dumplings, steamed buns, Asian pancakes, rice balls, wontons, Chinese hotpots, bean curd rolls, Korean ramon, shaomai and dim sum platters. You can also call ahead for take-out. They offer Cherry Hill Coffee and a large assortment of organic teas. The store has an incredible selection of dry, frozen and canned market food products from Korea, Thailand, Japan, China and Taiwan. Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week. Call 778-478-7388.
Kudos to the 2016 Community Sport Hero Award winners, presented by Sport Kelowna, Pacific Sport, City of Kelowna and Tourism Kelowna. Sport Hero Award Recipients are Dan Bernheisel (Basketball), Ken Boe (Rugby), George Curran (Rugby), Scott Jacobsen (Soccer), Ben Macauley (Football), Todd Russell (Baseball), Paul Thiessen (Volleyball), Johnny Vesterinen (Tennis), Mike Walsh (Athletics) and Travis Wray (Lacrosse). Athletic Excellence Award Recipients are Tekarra Banser (Biathlon), Hannah Bennison (Athletics), Olivia Gran (Figure Skating), Danielle Gruber (Gymnastics T and T), Kailin Jones (Volleyball), Riley McLean (Para-Swimming), Ryan Moffat (Alpine Skiing), Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe (Basketball) and Heather Wurtele (Traithlon).The Sport Hosting Award Recipient was BC Community Football Association, Joe Gluska (president).
Congratulations to Dale Lamb of DKL Financial Services Inc. who has been named in Wealth Professional Magazine’s Top 50 advisors list. Now in its third year, the annual report is the country’s most comprehensive ranking of financial advisors.
The Ultimate Social Club was started in September, 2012 in Vernon and now has a Kelowna branch. Creator Guy Bailey organizes three to four events each week with a wide array and variety of interactive activities for single men and women ages 30 to 60. This is not a dating club, it is a social club. Guy feels there is a huge need to connect single people in a fun, safe and relaxed social environment, supporting many businesses in the valley. The social site is www.Meetup.com for membership and a calendar of upcoming events from now until April. The website is www.ultimatesocialclub.com. Some upcoming events are Stuart Park Skating/Walk on Boardwalk (Feb. 20), Nakusp Hot Springs Overnight Road Trip (Feb. 27-28), Canadian Brewhouse Happy Hour (March 3), Grand 10 Movie Night (March 8), Exit Kelowna Gaming Experience/Mickie’s Pub (March 12). Call 250-938-4412.
The first 2016 Downtown Kelowna After 5 is Wednesday, Feb. 24 at the Laurel Packing House from 5 to 7 p.m. Wear pink for Pink Shirt Day and help stop bullying. The food will be from Taquero, the wine from Sandhill and the beer form Big Surf. $10 or bring your two closest pals for $25.
Charitable societies that need extra revenue should contact The Hudson’s Bay for an easy way to generate revenue for their organizations. The Bay’s Spring Giving Day is March 24. It’s a one-day shopping event designed to help charitable and non-profit organizations raise awareness and funds through the sale of Giving Day tickets. Organizations can order free tickets and sell them to donors and friends for $5, keeping 100 per cent of each ticket sold. The organization that sells the most tickets will also receive a portion of the proceeds from the store’s in-store ticket sales on March 24. It’s a win-win for any organization with little effort. Contact Karin Stickland (karin.stickland@hbc.com) or Shirley Nagy (shirley.nagy@hbc.com) or call 250-860-2483 (224).
Arlene Pilgrim is an Okanagan leap year baby. She is in a unique group and is doing a survey to see how many leapyearites there actually are in our area. She would eventually like to have a get-together (perhaps a birthday party) once some are found. If you are a leap year baby contact Arlene at appilgrim@hotmail.com or call 250-868-8171.
Imant Raminsh, an amazing internationally acclaimed composer, has written a 35-minute opera for Opera Kelowna which will bring the art of Jane Everett to life several times per day at the Rotary Centre of the Arts Atrium on Feb. 20, 22 and 23. This unprecedented cross-pollination of art forms will be a very unique experience for the enthusiast and new comer alike. www.operakelowna.com.
Birthdays of the week: Rod Warnock, my brother in law (today, Feb. 17); Philip Patara (Today, Feb. 17); Arlene McClelland (Feb. 18); Tommi Hanley (Feb. 18); Murli Pendharker (Feb. 18); Brad Campeau ((Feb.19); Don Favell (Feb. 19); Rodney Gray (Feb. 20); Deb Finnerty (Feb. 20); Tom Dyas (Feb. 20); Graham Lee (Feb. 20); Michael Lavigne (Feb. 22); Lori Patterson (Feb. 22); Grace Naka (Feb. 22); Carmen Prive (Feb. 22); Bob McGowan (Feb. 22); Anita Kinasewich (Feb. 23); Gerry Deshayes (Feb. 23); Ben Bodnar (Feb. 23); Karen Murray (Feb. 23); Byron Stappler (Feb. 23).
Maxine DeHart is a local hotelier. Phone her at 250-979-4546 or 250-862-7662, fax 250-860-3173, or email maxdehart@telus.net.