This week’s column is dedicated to a very dear long-time friend Sean Connor, who passed away after a long and brave battle with chordoma cancer, a tumour that affected his brain and upper spine. Along with being a media friend where he worked as a photographer for the Kelowna Capital News for many years, Sean was a lover of arts, culture, music and our community. A celebration of life service will be held for Sean on Monday, July 18, at Springfield Funeral Home, 2020 Springfield Rd., in Kelowna, 1 p.m.
Two new businesses have opened on the Westside, side-by-side with the same owners.
Talking Tree Nails & Spa has opened at 1655 Westgate Rd. (in the Super 8 Motel, facing the highway). Owned by Sako and Russel Boris, esthetician Sako and the spa’s manager, massage therapist Catherine Allard, are experienced in their industry, both having worked at the Cove Lakeside Spa. The spa offers several types of body massage, such as the Cocoon Bliss Body Wrap, a dry brushing treatment, and Treat of the Feet, created purely for relaxation. The new spa will also offer waxing, tinting, Japanese silk threading, facials, manicures, pedicures with Shellac or nail polish and gel nails. I had a wonderful pedicure with Shellac (#9 beautiful red) and experienced a white clay honey leg massage. It was delightful. They practice excellent cleanliness techniques with throw-away tub liners, nail files and buffers and reasonable pricing. Talking Tree retails Barefoot Venus and Natural Concept body products, both Kelowna based-businesses. Open Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Check out the website talkingtreespa.com for more information.
Next door to the spa is the Talking Tree Diner, also owned by Sako and Russel Boris with their son Chris Boris, who is the general manager of the business. The restaurant has been renovated and is now a little smaller and a lot brighter. Talking Tree offers breakfast, lunch and dinner long with junior meals seven days a week from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Two specialties on their breakfast menu include a family recipe Country Style Biscuits and Gravy and Len’s Farmer’s Sausage and Eggs, which is the grandfather’s sausage recipe. I tried Sako’s Home-Style Curry, a Japanese staple of sweet brown curry with port, carrots, potato and onions, served with rice which is on the dinner menu. It was delicious. Call 778-738-2202.
MNP LLP, one of Canada’s largest national accounting and business consulting firms will merge with Bruce Martin & Associates LLP, a Kamloops-based accounting firm with offices in Clearwater and Fort St. John effective Sept. 16. While Bruce Martin was looking to add much needed resources and expand their specialty services to clients, MNP was looking to establish a presence in Kamloops. The merger will add two new offices for MNP in Kamloops and Clearwater, while adding more resources to MNP in Fort St. John. MNP has more than 75 offices across Canada with over 3,500 team members. The Local MNP office is located at 600-1628 Dickson Ave. in Kelowna. Call 250-76-8919.
I was delighted to hear of the dedication of the lobby of the Interior Heart and Surgical Centre at KGH to cardiologist Dr. Richard Hooper. Long over-due, Dr. Hooper was the person who spearheaded the drive to bring full cardiac care service, including open heart surgery to Kelowna and never for one minute did he give up on his vision for all of us. I have always believed that citizens in our community who put themselves forward for a vision for all local citizens should be rewarded in some way. We are very lucky to have our wonderful hospital facility and also lucky to have Dr. Hooper in our community.
The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 110th anniversary last week. With only a few members, the Chamber started as the Kelowna Board of Trade in 1906 with Daniel Sutherland as the first president. It became a Chamber of Commerce in 1961 and today has a membership of 1,400. Tom Dyas, of TD Employee Benefits, is the current president. I was honoured to be on the Chamber board from 1992 to 1997.
After 22 years of being fender bender menders, Garry, Pat and Jolene Grigg have sold their family business, Springfield Autobody, located at 100-1765 Springfield Rd. Garry and Pat will retire and are looking forward to long overdue traveling. Over the years the Griggs felt fortunate to have hundreds of clients trust them with their vehicles and the award winning services they offered.
Kelowna airport manager Sam Samaddar has been elected vice-chairman of the Canadian Airports Council, which represents more than 100 airports of all sizes across the country. Howard Eng, CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, was elected chairman.
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) together with the Aboriginal Tourism Association of B.C. (AtBC) has added a regional aboriginal tourism specialist to the team. Greg Hopf, from the Yellowknives Dene First National and raised in Fort Simpson, will be responsible for developing a cultural tourism strategy for the two tourism promotion organizations.
Drs. Brad and Devon Almond, of Nuvue Optometry located at112 -1950 Harvey Ave., have added the Sunglass Cove to their office. It’s essentially a store within their offices. The Sunglass Cove is an optometry retailer located in select professional offices. Not only are sunglasses essential to protect your eyes but now are a bold fashion accessory that can add an exciting element to your look. Nuvue will display 200 fashion brands as an ultimate sunglass destination for quality, fashion, function and affordability. Call 250-826-3061.
At the Kelowna Okanagan Mission Rotary Club installation, several awards were given out. The Colin Pritchard Award, Service Above Self was given to John McCormack for his dedication and commitment to Rotary for the past 34 years and in recognition of being one of the founding members of Rotoplast Canada and subsequently Restor Canada for 10 years. The Lois Serwa Award went to Laurence Gaymer for his dedication and enthusiasm to Rotary both in the UK and Kelowna for the past 25 years. The David Hobson Memorial Award went to Steve Wolfenden, recognizing his tireless commitment to Rotary. The Unsung Hero Award went to Dr. Warren Cunningham, bestowed by Rotary District Governor Vern Nielsen, of Kelowna, for dependability, competence, supportive of club activities and looking for ways to help. Both the Rotarians of the Year and Club Service awards went to Ross and Monika Grimmer. This year’s club executive and directors are Irma Lux (president), Rita Henderson (vice-president), Dr. Iain Allan (past president), Ross Grimmer (secretary), Monika Grimmer (treasurer) and Neil Williams (Sgt. at Arms). The board directors are Lois Serwa, Steve Wolfenden, Howard Peet, Ken Kilcullen, Laurie Gaymer and Marie-Yvonne Cleaver.
Look for these two new businesses coming to Landmark Centre on Dickson Avenue. Cloud SFY is a cloud solutions provider which was started in 2000 in Kelowna and will be opening in Landmark 5 on Aug. 1. Echo Early Learning Center, a childcare facility, will open on Sept. 1 at 1605 Sutherland Ave.
New additions to the Landmark towers in 2016 were inSite Housing, Landmark 2 (hospitality and health, full scope supportive housing, assisted living and complex care services for seniors); Club Appetite, LM2 (connects food banks, businesses and users); WestX Business Solutions, LM2 (Xerox authorized agency); Sun Life Financial, LM3; End of the Roll, LM3 (Head office); Martketer Inc., LM5 (Marketing, web and graphic design); Landmark Dental Centre, LM6; Xchange Tapas, Bar & Lunch, 250-1615 Dickson Ave. Just recently opened were DunnEnzies Pizza, 1886 Dayton Ave., and Green Publishing, in LM1. Dallas Gray is the marketing agent commercial properties for Al Stober Construction Ltd.
Congratulations to grandparents Terry and Will Hoogewoonink on the birth of their granddaughter Presley Kahlia Phoenix on July 3, born to daughter Amanda and son-in-law Shane Nevdoff. Presley was born at home while the ambulance was still in the driveway. Accolades to the West Kelowna first responders for delivering the baby.
For over 17 years, Kelowna Yacht Club members have hosted visually impaired guests along with their guides. That tradition continues on Saturday, July 23, as the yacht club members will head out at 9:30 a.m. in their boats, some with fishing gear and visions of a fish that wins the trophy, while others will embark on a narrated lake tour. Lunch will follow. If you are blind or visually impaired, the yacht club invites you to participate in this year’s Blind Fishing Derby. For more details or to register call 250-762-3310.
Suzanne Delisle and Arlene Buick will host a book signing at Chapters on Saturday, July 23, from 1 to 4:30 p.m. promoting their book “Travelling Grannies Without GPS.” It’s about two mature ladies who decided to go on an adventure to explore France and Italy flying by the seat of their pants, without GPS. Available as e-book or paperback, including a section of valuable travel hints on Amazon.
Shakespeare Kelowna presents Romeo and Juliet, July 20 to 30, at Okanagan Villa Estate Winery, 3240 Pooley Rd., 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 for seniors/students and $30 for adults, available at Kelownatickets.com or call Kelowna Tickets Box Office at 250-862-2867. We have attended these performances in the past and they are absolutely wonderful. Wendy Sanderson is the theatre publicity agent. Contact her at 250-878-5021 or email wendy.sanderson.tks@gmail.com.
The Miss Lady of the Lake Pageant finale is Friday, July 15, 7 p.m., at the Kelowna Community Theatre. Tickets $20/person available from any of the candidates or at the door.
Join the Friends of Fintry at Fintry Estate Provincial Park on Sunday, July 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., for the organization’s summer fair. Admission by donation. Check out the website for more info at www.fintry.ca.
Birthdays of the week: Happy 90th Remi Picco (July 3); happy 70th Pat (Loyst) Oliver (July 15); happy 75th Gerry Dow (July 16); Cathy Comben (July 13); Henry and Albert Willms, twins (July 13); Gerry Moller (July 13); Moni Schiller (July 13); Stacey Metcalf (July 14); Bo Skapski (July 14); Robert Jay (July 14); Magda Kapp (July 15); Lillian Moller (July 16); Mario Pare (July 17); Bill Jack (July 17); Linda Yandel (July 17); Dave McLean (July 18); pastor Don Richmond (July 18); Cheryl Stecko (July 19); Phil Parker (July 19); in memory of Ben Lee (July 17).