Maria Centuria Boutique has opened at 5 – 1131 Lawson Avenue in the Centuria Plaza (Gordon and Lawson). Owned and operated by Olga Isakova, the boutique was named after her mother. The quaint European-style women’s store offers a range of clothing for all ages in sizes of XS to XXL. Shop for dresses, tops, tanks, jeans, slacks, jackets, coats and accessories of purses, jewellery, leggings and socks. Along with the clothes that are imported from Canada and the US, many of Olga’s items come from Italy, Spain, France and Germany, which makes them unique. Many are made of natural silk, cotton and linen. Olga has been in Canada for the past 16 years and in Kelowna for seven years. Open Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. www.mariacenturiaboutique.com.
I was very humbled to be nominated for Top 40 Over 40. Do not know who nominated me, but thanks to whomever for taking the time to submit the application. Very much appreciated.
Long-time Kelowna Chamber of Commerce member Ken Bessason is the interim executive director for the chamber. Ken has agreed to fill the position while the chamber recruits a full-time permanent incumbent. Ken previously has been a director, president and also interim executive director 12 years ago. Tom Dyas is the current president of the chamber. Call 250-861-3627.
Pioneer Country Market on Benvoulin Road is now open for the season.
Capri Insurance Services Ltd. and CMW Insurance Services Ltd. have merged to create one of the largest insurance brokerages and risk management firms in Western Canada. The two independent and employee-owned B.C. companies have had a collaborative relationship for years. The merger leverages the strength and stability of a combined 63 years of insurance and risk management experience, adding new expertise, products and services to better support client’s insurance needs. Tim Miller is the president of Capri Insurance Services Ltd. Andrew Kemp is the president of CMW Insurance Services. www.capri.ca; www.cmwinsurance.com.
Edward Olson, CPA, CA has joined Crowe MacKay LLP at 500 – 1620 Dickson Avenue as the new leader of their advisory services practice. He specializes in internal audit, risk management, corporate governance, process efficiency and performance improvement. Call 250-870-4976 or Edward.olson@crowemackay.ca.
The popular up-scale ladies shop in The Bay, Jacques Vert will be closing on March 4th. Construction will then be underway for a Topshop Topman which will open in April.
Principal/partner, Rachel Clarida of Hatch Interior Design Inc. has a new partner. Shanna Martin has now joined Rachel also as principal/partner. Both Rachel and Shanna are registered interior designers with many years experience in their field. Hatch Interior Design focuses on commercial interior design with a vast portfolio of projects ranging from office, retail, medical, hospitality and multi-family. Their primary concern is creating a space that is highly functional, incorporating the company’s brands into their designs, and then creating a unique space. Their current projects include the Okanagan Centre for Innovation, various Blenz locations and other corporate spaces that they say are top secret at this time. Hatch has a team of five offering a professional, large firm experience within their personable and boutique office at 107 – 1289 Ellis street. Call 778-484-4466 www.hatchdesign.ca.
Trevor Lutes is the new Associate Director of Roynat, a subsidiary of Scotiabank, working out of the main branch at 488 Bernard Avenue. Trevor’s territory spans the Interior of B.C. which is the Okanagan, Kootenays, Cariboo, Fort St. John, Terrace and Whitehorse. He has been with the bank for 23 years, and was formerly in Kelowna a few years ago. Roynat is the niche area of Scotiabank’s commercial lending arm. Call 250-575-4887 or trevor.lutes@roynat.com.
Kudos to Jamey Frank, City of Kelowna equipment operator II, in the Public Works Department who stopped and helped an elderly lady get over a large snowbank and cross the street. He then walked her to her car. Jamey was shoveling the ice from the side of the road across the street when he saw the women.
After eight years as Director of Community Services with the Regional District of Central Okanagan, Chris Radford is moving on. He has accepted a new position as director of infrastructure and operations with Okotoks, Alberta.
Kelowna Hyundai has acquired a new location for future expansion of both Kelowna Hyundai and the Buy Direct Truck Centre. The location is currently where the Buy Direct Truck Centre operates at 1630 Cary Road, just off Highway 97. The construction of a new 30,000 square foot, state-of-the-art building will start in June, 2020, with the goal of opening for business in November 2021. This will be the home of the new Hyundai GDSI, including all the new Genesis models. Kelowna Hyundai and Buy Direct Truck Centre are operated by president John Kot and Guy Lemieux. Call 250-491-9467.
The Salvation Army is hosting a Women’s Thrift Fashion Show, Thrifty Fashionista Spring Collection on Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Ramada Hotel and Conference Centre, 2170 Harvey Avenue. This sounds like a really neat fashion show with door prizes and swag bags. Tickets only $10 and can be purchased at any of their thrift stores or the Kelowna Community Church. Call Dorothy Moreno at 250-860-2329 (336).
Congratulations to Josh Starrett and Devin DiGiglio who were the winners of the 3rd Annual Stone Soup Gala for Literacy on behalf of the Niteo Africa Society. Their dish was a pork appetizer inspired by Babe. Second place when to Tina Tang and Alex McMillan with their dessert of green eggs and ham. Both were unique, delicious and captured their themes. Niteo’ first local book drive is May 27 where they will collect books for kids up to 18 years. Their goal is to get books into the homes of our most vulnerable children. For information call Brianne Swetlishoff of Fresh Event Design at 250-864-1436 or fresheventdesignkelowna@gmail.com.
On Sunday, Feb. 26 at 10 a.m. the Cathedral Church of St. Michael and All Angels, 508 Sutherland Avenue will be rededicating its church interior, 104 years after the first dedication of this Anglican Church in 1913. The ceremony will celebrate a substantial renovation and conservation of the interior of St. Michael and All Angels which has taken place over the past year under the leadership of Dean Basbaum. Everyone is welcome and refreshments to follow.
The Uptown Rutland Business Association (URBA) Uptown After Hours is Wednesday, March 1 from 5 to 7 p.m. hosted by Flashpoint Tattoo Company at their new location at 52 – 301 Hwy. 33.
Congratulations to the 2017 Central Okanagan Heritage Society Heritage Awards winners. Ken and Gwen Campbell, Kelowna and Ferne Jean, West Kelowna (Distinguished Community Service); 1250 Ellis Street, BNA Brewing Co., Old Cannery Building, North Wing (Conservation project on a heritage building currently in non-residential use); J.N. Thompson House, 1875 Richter Street (Conservation project on a heritage building currently in residential use); G.D. Loane House, 1858 Abbott Street, Kelowna and Hughes Building 2471 Main Street, West Kelowna (Continued conservation of a heritage building residential and non-residential); Johns Family Nature Conservancy Regional Park, 6970 Chute Lake Road (Preservation or restoration of a neighbourhood or area); Stabilization of the Brent’s Grist Mill Building, 2128 Leckie Place (Special Heritage Project).
Setting a new Canadian record for the 200 metre long course backstroke in the age group of 85-89, Conny Stamhuis of Okanagan Masters Swim Club showed that her 2016 induction into the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame was well deserved. Her time was 4:52.88, knocking eight full seconds off the previous record. Conny started with masters swimming following retirement from her career as a nurse, after a break of 48 years from competitive swimming as a teenager in the Netherlands.
Congratulations to Abbey Jones who received one of 12 B.C. Social Innovation Awards valued at $1,000 at the B.C. Summit on Social Innovation in Vancouver. Abbey is a third year student of the College’s Bachelor of Business Administration program and is the co-founder and project manager of CANsave, a financial education program designed to teach primary school students the importance of saving and financial planning.
MASK will present the second annual “Oh, What a Night” concert on March 11 at 7 p.m. at the Rutland United Church, 1370 Rutland Road N. Tickets $20 at the door and all proceeds go to the church.
Laura Pelletier of Kwikfit4u will be introducing a new folding bike product at the Spring Home Show at Prospera Place, Feb. 25 and 26. www.kwikfit4u.com.
Birthdays of the week –Happy 85th Trudy Ringer (Feb. 25); 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); Byron Stappler (Feb. 23); Carol Lesiak (Feb. 24); Wayne (Cactus) Farr (Feb. 24); Brenda Mole (Feb. 24); Ed Wheeler (Feb. 25); Lizann Allan (Feb. 25); Brad Cronquist (Feb. 25); John Matzigkeit (Feb. 27); Rob Mayne (Feb. 28); Norm Lecavalier (Feb. 28); Ken Laloge (Feb. 28); In memory of Vern Nielsen who passed away. His birthday is Feb. 28.
Maxine DeHart is a Kelowna City Councillor and local hotelier. Phone her at 250-979-4546, 250-862-7662, fax 250-860-3173, E-mail maxdehart@telus.net.