This week’s column is dedicated a long-time good friend Lise Sinclair, 65, who passed away June 2 after many health struggles. I will truly miss Lise and all the good times we had for many years, enjoying our British car runs and rallies, all the great meals we shared and of course, the many colourful handmade pillow cases she sewed for me. Personal condolences to her husband Bill, children Kim and Kenyon, her entire family and many friends.
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After 34 years and 68 shows, well-known dance gal Lynn Deschner is retiring and has sold her business DanceForce. Throughout the years, Lynn taught jazz, ballet, hip hop and tap, along with just about any other dance style that there is. Lynn will continue to work part-time for a couple hours a day at Studio9 School of Arts. She now hopes to go to New York for a vacation and perhaps take a dance lesson or two there. To commemorate her long-time dance history and her retirement, Lynn will be hosting her final show at the Kelowna Community Theatre on Thursday, June 23. Tickets at the door (cash only) at $21 (adults) and $18 (seniors) with a reception to follow. You won’t want to miss this one-of-a-kind final show.
Don’t forget to get your tickets for the GOLFBC Championship (PGA Mackenzie Tour) in Kelowna Thursday, June 9 to Sunday, June 12. It’s exciting to have this prestigious tournament in our city and an event you will not want to miss. Tickets available at Orchard Park Mall, online at www.golfbcchampionship.com or at the gate starting Thursday, June 9. Only $10 per day or $25 for the entire weekend. What a deal. See you there.
Community Western Trust Corporation has changed its name to Truvera Trust Corporation. Truvera Trust is an independent B.C.-owned trust company operating since 2005. While originating in the Okanagan, it has expanded and now has offices in both Kelowna, at 408 – 1708 Dolphin Road (Landmark II), and downtown Vancouver. Truvera Trust provides local, personal and practical solutions for those who need trust, estate and financial planning and administration services. It offers competitive rates and provides estimates. Everyone needs a will and often it makes sense to appoint a company such as Truvera to act as executor if you do not want to burden your relatives with such a time-consuming and complicated task, if you want to minimize taxes or if you need a neutral third party to administer your estate in order to avoid family squabbles or tensions. Ian Williamson is the manager in Kelowna. Call 250-860-4626 www.truvera.ca.
J.W. Bruce Picton has been appointed the new CEO of Crowe MacKay LLP based in Edmonton. He comes to the company with a history of driving growth through leadership roles in accounting and advisory firms. The local Crowe MacKay office is at 500 – 1620 Dickson Ave. Don Turri, FCPA, FCA, CFP is the firm’s chairman in Kelowna. 250-763-5021.
Burgrr Bar (By Black Bear Grill) has opened at 1570 Water St. (former Keg location). Owned and operated by well-known restauranteur, Steve Stinson and his son Wesley, the front-of-the-house is managed by Wesley and the back-of-the-house by Steve. The restaurant has a great atmosphere with high tables, booths and a large bar. The meat is hand-pressed, home-made and char-grilled. Burgers offered include the usual, but they also have the unusual Beach Bear (teriyaki-glazed patty, grilled pineapple, avocado and red pepper); Feeling Blue (blue cheese, hot sauce, onion ring) and The Steakhouse with two chuck patties, mushrooms, peppers, blue cheese and onion ring). I will leave The Drumpf Wall (after Donald Trump) to your imagination. A little different are the coconut shrimp, Thai turkey, crispy Buffalo chicken and B.C. salmon burgers. The fries are hand-cut frites-style (cooked twice). I tried the coconut shrimp burger and it was absolutely delicious. Burgrr Bar is not all about beef either. It has appies and shareables and if you do not want a burger, it also offers a good selection of dinner salads along with vegetarian and gluten-free choices. Of course, it serves Okanagan wines and craft beers. Starting June 22, Acoustic Wednesdays will be hosted with Jeff Piatelli on the guitar the first evening. Open daily 4 p.m. until late.
The Downtown Kelowna Association has a new board of directors for 2016 - 2017. Congratulations to Dan Allen, president (Doc Willoughby’s Public House); Yarden Gershony, vice-president (Rush, Ihas Hardwick LLP); Rob Collins, treasurer (Grant Thornton LLP); Angie Bricker, secretary (Georgie Girl Vintage) and Dustin Sargent, past-president (Streaming Café & Davara Enterprises). Directors are Nikki Csek (Csek Creative), Jason Guyitt (Delta Grand), Jan Johnson (Tigerlily Fashions), Brent Lobson (Imperial Parking), Jim Meiklejohn (Meiklejohn Architects), Renata Mills (Festivals Kelowna), Trevor Neill (Mosaic Books) and Renee Wasylyk (Troika Developments). As city council’s representative, I’m an ex-officio on the board
Small Shop at Night is back in downtown Kelowna on Thursday, June 16. Free on-street parking begins at 5 p.m.
Certified in laser, micro-needle and re-pigmentation technology, clinical technician Teresa Meyer-Fox has opened Joules Rejuvenation Medical Spa at 4948 Windsong Crescent. Teresa offers laser treatments using a palomar icon laser (optimum pulsed light) which is the next generation of IPL. This includes permanent hair removal, anti-aging sun damage removal, brown spots, skin tightening and smoothing, small vascular and spider vein removal, acne and rosacea treatment. Teresa also offers micro-needling treatment using the Skinstylus Microneedling System that uses a cartridge of 11 micro needles to penetrate the skin to the dermal layer for better absorption of skin care and to target deeper pigment and skin damage. This tightens and resurfaces the skin much like a fractional laser without the pain and downtime, plus the added bonus of being safe on all skin types. Along with all this, Teresa specializes in special effects makeup along with glamour makeup for weddings and special events. Or perhaps you would like prosthetic special effects makeup for Halloween. Teresa is one talented gal and when you meet her you will be impressed. She has a long list of credentials. Open by appointment only seven days a week. Call 250-212-3359.
Kelowna Christian School, through the Loran Scholars Foundation, has awarded three of its teachers prestigious Loran Teachers’ Building Leaders Awards. Congratulations to Rick Rauser, Dwayne Schultz and Virginia Hallonquist. KCS is also honoured to have three students win the national student Loran Awards valued at up to $100,000 over four years for undergraduate studies in Canada. They are Devon Bourgeous (2016), Hayden Rodenkirchen (2012) and Christina Klassen (2011). The Loran Teachers’ Building Leaders Award recognizes primary and secondary teachers who go above and beyond in developing the character, service and leadership of their students. The Loran Scholars’ Foundation is a national charity that works in partnership with Canadian universities, donors and volunteers throughout the country to invest in young people who demonstrate character, commitment to service and leadership potential.
Trent and Ria Kitsch are working hard on their new winery, Kitsch Wines, whose inaugural vintage pinot gris took home silver from the Okanagan Spring Wine Festival. Noteworthy because it was also winemaker Grant Biggs’ first vintage on his own. Moving back to the Okanagan, the couple purchased an acreage in 2010, converted it to riesling grapes and proceeded to secure the grapes from the neighbouring vineyards. The winery is located at 3330 Neid Rd. on the East Kelowna Bench. With a focused portfolio of three whites this summer, along with pinot noir and rosé next spring, the winery is concentrating on quality, small batch wines where each bottle is hand-signed and numbered by winemaker Biggs, who is also the vineyard manager. Biggs develops the wine from grape to glass. With the accolades in their inaugural year with a first vintage winemaker, Kitsch Wines could possibly be the first time in history of the festival that this has happened, but they certainly are one of the rare few that has accomplished this honour. Call 778-821-1966. www.kitschwines.ca.
OpenTable, the leading online restaurant reservations provider, unveiled the 100 Best Outdoor Dining Restaurants in Canada. The list reflects the combined opinions of more than 275,000 reviews submitted for more than 1,700 restaurants. The following made the list in our area in alphabetical order. 19 Okanagan Grill & Bar (West Kelowna), Grapevine at Gray Monk Estate Winery (Lake Country), Hooded Merganser (Penticton Lakeside Resort), Lakeside Dining Room (Hotel Eldorado), Liquidity Bistro (Okanagan Falls), Miradoro at Tinhorn Creek Winery (Oliver), Old Vines Restaurant (Quails’ Gate Estate Winery), Sonora Room Restaurant at Burrowing Owl Estate Winery (Oliver) and The Terrace, Mission Hill Family Estate Winery (West Kelowna).
Restore Vein and Skin Centre, a center for skin cancer detection and treatment has opened at 288-1835 Gordon Dr., owned and operated by Dr. Mandy Wong. The clinic boasts the latest skin cancer diagnostic equipment as well as state-of-the-art technology for both medical and cosmetic treatments. It has a team of expert doctors, including Dr. Henry Docherty, Dr. Harpeet Lotay and Dr. John Mah, along with nurse injectors who perform treatments ranging from fillers and neuromodulators to laser treatments for skin rejuvenation and resurfacing, as well as treatment for varicose veins, skin tightening and fat reduction. Lynda Burns is the medical and operations manager. Call 236-420-2888 www.kelownarestore.com
Happening around town…
The TELUS Motorcycle Ride for Dad is June 12, leaving from Banner Recreation, 819 McCurdy Place at 10 a.m. All riders welcome.
The St. Andrew’s Church annual flower show and tea goes Saturday, June 11 from 2 to 4 p.m. at 4619 Lakeshore Rd. If you would like to enter flowers, call Bev at 250-764-7478.
I won’t be writing a column next week, so I’ll see you next on June 22.
Birthdays of the week: Happy 75th to Janet O’Flynn (June 13); Happy 65th to David McDougall, Blenz Coffee (June 3); Jan McArthur (June 9); Al Horning (June 11); Dirk Rosendaal (June 11); Pat Moore (June 12); Wayne Judiesch (June 12); Tony Ambrosio (June 14); Ron Wood (June 14); Rod Mackay (June16); Jaime Briggs (June 17); Tony French (June 17); Sheldon Paulger (June 17); Jacqueline Brisebois (June 19); Daniel O’Fee (June 20); Ken Bernath (June 20).