This week’s column is dedicated to Glen Hawes who passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer. Glen worked at the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce and I enjoyed our many conversations. He will be missed by his family, colleagues and many friends. Personal condolences to Karen and Glen’s entire family.
Grant Baudais has started a new property maintenance service business, Select Property Maintenance Services. Their focus is on gutter cleaning, power washing, window washing and other services around the home or business. They use unique equipment in their business, including a vacuum system that allows them to clean gutters from the ground using a commercial vacuum system with minimal use of ladders with a remote wireless camera system which aids in monitoring the cleaning of the gutter to ensure all materials are removed. A surface cleaner power washes decks, patios, sidewalks, driveways and other hard surfaces cleaning ground in dirt, moss and other stains. Their website is active and changing daily as they add more information, pictures and videos. www.selectpropertymaintenance.ca or call 778-753-6936.
After more than 42 years as a leader in safety with Acklands Grainger Inc., well-known local Peter Baker has retired. He says that his years with Acklands were more than most could every dream of and he will miss the people he dealt with internally and externally. Peter is going to take a summer off to boat, fish, relax and perhaps drink a little wine. He hopes to plan some travel that he and his wife Kathy have put off over the years. bakerphb@telus.net.
Long-time travel gal Lynn Powell is back in the travel industry. Lynn was formerly with Tri-Star Travel for five years and before that at P. Lawson Travel for 10 years. Lynn has now joined Mission Park Travel at 102 - 3275 Lakeshore Road (in the Scotiabank complex). Lynn specializes in group and singles travel and Mission Park has a new product specifically for the single market travelers called SOAR (Solos on Adventure Routes). Call 250-762-4400
Brent Lavery is the new general manager of the Holiday Inn Express. Relocating form Vancouver, Brent was formerly the director of sales at the Pan Pacific Hotel for five years.
The Cornerstone Grill has opened at the Best Western Inn on Highway 97 and Leckie Road. Executive chef Cliff Huck previously worked at Spirit Ridge Resort and 108 Mile Health Ranch. He has created a menu making as many items from scratch as possible, including all breads, buns, pizza crusts and desserts. He purchases all food from local farms and suppliers with menu items from homemade beef and lamb burgers to pizzas, pastas, signature dishes, seafood and sterling silver steaks. The restaurant is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner and will offer a full breakfast menu in the next couple of weeks. For reservations call 250-979-6930. Rosemary Paterson is the general manager of the Best Western.
The May Downtown Kelowna After 5 is Wednesday, May 25 at the Century 21 building, 251 Harvey Ave. from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. $10 for appies, a pair of bevies and a chance to mingle with business people. Bring two pals and save at just $25 for you and your posse.
Underground Music, a unique retail record store at #4 – 1331 Ellis Street has new owners. Formerly owned for six years by Marnie and Victor Temprano the shop is now owned and operated by Joe and Paula Thompson. The store has an ever-changing library of over 100,000 records through constant buying and selling of primarily used vinyl records. They specialize in new and used vinyl records, CD’s, music posters, music memorabilia and collectables. Store manager Angela Stobart, who has been with the company since inception is staying on board to continue to provide the knowledge and service to their customers. Joe is not new to the industry as he had 20 plus years in the record industry as national music buyer and operations manager with Kelly’s Stereo Marts back in the 1970s and 80s plus an additional 20 years in home video and other retail. Open seven days a week. Call 778-478-0215
Dr. Ken Adams has joined the team at Lighthouse Chiropractic, 105- 1628 Dickson Ave. in Landmark IV. Adams will be working complimentary hours to Dr. Jenkins making Lighthouse Chiropractic a six-day-a-week office. Adams has relocated from Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows where he practiced for the last six years. He specializes in removing interference to the nerve system so that the body can heal and perform the way it was naturally intended to. He works with everyone from newborn babies to elite athletes and people in their 90s. For appointments call 250-870-9136.
Anthony von Mandl OBC, Bill Redmond and Dr. Rita Winkler will all be named Honorary Fellows of Okanagan College during Convocation ceremonies on June 4. This is the college’s highest honour on residents who have helped shape and define the region in unique and impactful ways through entrepreneurship, philanthropy and ecological research.
Executive chef Jeremy Tucker will return to the Vineyard Terrace Restaurant at CedarCreek Estate Winery for a third season which is now open. New this year, starting June 1, the restaurant will offer dinner throughout the season, as well as lunch. The winery has invested in significant upgrades to the Vineyard Terrace making it an exquisite dining experience even in inclement weather. Partnering with local farmers, all their produce comes from Okanagan farms with some meats from the interior. They receive 80 per cent of all their ingredients from B.C. and the goal is to get to 100 per cent. Scott Locke is the general manager. For reservations call 778-738-1027 or use the Open Table app.
Miss Kelowna 2014, Brooke Mapstone is competing for BC Ambassador and the winner will be announced on Aug. 13. The mandate of the program is to nurture provincial leaders of the future, promote post-secondary education and forge links of understanding throughput B.C. communities. To support Brooke, vote for her daily until August for the People’s Choice Awards at www.bcambassador.com/peoples-choice-ambassador.
Kelowna RCMP dog handler Const. Reg Sahay was awarded the prestigious International Order of Daughters of the Empire RCMP Community Service Award for his work in the community. Const. Sahay is a member of the Kelowna Minor Football Association and co-coach for the tackle football under 10 divisions. He is a co-coach and trainer in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for youth ages eight to 14 and volunteers at the local Jiu Jitsu Club.
Congratulations to Ruth Bazzana who received the 2015 Caregiver of the Year Award from Kelowna Home Instead Senior Care. Ruth has completed 8,000 (yes 8,000) hours of service to seniors and is always thinking of ways to enhance their lives. Along with her regular duties she creates picture/memory boards for people with dementia, documents visits in their own diary and orchestrates huge birthday parties in extended care facilities.
Happy 52nd anniversary Ken and Donna Good (May 9).
StarDyne Technologies has been ranked in the top 250 ICT companies in Canada as listed on the prestigious Branham 300. In the 2016 edition of the Branham 300 it is 23rd. This is the seventh consecutive year it has held a position on the list. StarDyne provides market-leading software and related services to its clients, primarily in the public sector through two divisions being education solutions division and government and enterprises management solutions division. Brad Imrich is the president of StarDyne. www.stardynetech.com
BrainTrust Canada is launching its Helmet Safety Program with a new program beneficiary. The Associated Canadian Travelers/United Commercial Travelers Kelowna West Council (ACT/UCT) are funding bike helmets for youth in Kelowna. The program’s goal is to decrease preventable brain injury through helmet compliance. Partners are the City of Kelowna Bylaw and RCMP bike squads who patrol the streets interacting with youth throughout the year. The helmets are a popular brand called Nutcase and include the motto I Love My Brain. Everyone is invited to the launch on Wednesday, May 25th at 10:30 a.m. at Quigley Elementary School, 705 Kitch Road. The day will be declared Helmet Safety Day with a City of Kelowna Proclamation. Brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability under 44, with youth at the highest risk and 85 percent can be prevented from helmet use. Keith Preece is the president of ACT/UCT. For more information call 250-762-3233.
There’s a few tickets left for the popular 12th Annual Canadian Cancer Society’s Daffodil Ball on May 28 at the Delta Grand. This year there is a twist, with 20 celebrity waiters serving the guests which I am delighted to be one. Along with me, other celebrity waiters are Jeff Stibbard, Jason Richards, Rose Sexsmith, AJ Eathorne, Kyle Nixon, Wade Redden, Brad Sieben, Todd Simpson, Cory Cross, Natalie Walstrom, Daniel Bibby Rob Smith, Clayton Gall, Steve Jarvis, Barry Johnson, Mayor Basran, Brian Mack, Sheri-Lee turner-Krouzel and Curtis Krouzel. With this line-up you are assured a fun evening. Debbie Robert and Shannon Gall are the honourary co-chairs of the event. Tickets available at www.daffodilballbc.ca.
WildPlay Kelowna at 5983 Highway 33 has launched the Do-It-All Deal for their 2016 season. You can climb 40 obstacles, zip 21 lines, jump 40 feet and swing 100 km in one day for only $99.99. This is your Monkido Classic and Extreme Adventure Course, WTF Jump, DragonFLY Ziplines and Primal Swing. All the monkeying around you could want. Limited spots are available each day so book now at www.WildPlay.com. Amber Hall is the park trailblazer for marketing and sales. Call 1-855-595-2251 (ext. 502).
Former Kelowna resident Terry Hynes has launched his new website Stories that Rhyme and Sometimes Amuse. It’s a sampling of some of his poems over the past few years that have been published or that he has won contests with. He hopes you will enjoy them and come away with a smile on your face and feel entertained. Visit www.terryhyneswrites.com.
Birthdays of the week—Rae Stewart (Today, May 18); Wendy Soon (Today, May 18); Marg Bernath (May 19); Ken Derer (May 19); Echardt Freitag (May 19); Corrie Metzger (May 20); Beryl Itani (May 21); Chuck Cey (May 22); Ken McLaughlin (May 22); Dino Gini (May 22); Mr. McHenry (May 22); Alan Tozer (May 23); Francis Braam (May 23) Ken Harding (May 24).