This week’s column is dedicated to a good friend, Walter Hut who passed away Jan. 18. I have known Walter and his wife Helen for many years. Walter was very interested in his community and loved to chat about anything that effected life in Kelowna. He was a master at fund raising and sponsorships and worked tirelessly for many organizations over the years. Personal condolences to Helen, his entire family and many friends.
Wentworth Music has been recognized by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) in Anaheim, California for 50 years of business excellence. The company has played a huge part in the musical journey of many people in the community over the past 50 years. For the past three years in a row, Wentworth Music has also been the recipient of the Top 100 Music Stores and Music Schools in North America awarded by NAMM based on their business activities and community involvement in musical instrument sales, rentals, repairs and lessons. Founded by Walt, Vera and Dale Wentworth in 1966 as a small store in the Capri Mall, the family-owned and operated business now has locations across the valley. The company, consisting of Dale Wentworth (president), Neil Wentworth (v-p of finance), Nori Wentworth (v-p of sales), Noel Wentworth (v-p of education/media) Hedy Wentworth, Lora Wentworth, Joanna Wentworth and a staff of more than 50 talented and diverse individuals, has raised over $136,000 to help children at both KGH and Vernon hospitals, volunteered their time and equipment to countless cultural and community events, assisted families in need and raised awareness for causes like autism, MADD and MS.
Well-known golf professional Bruce Vermee is the new head professional of The Harvest Golf Club. Formerly with Sunset Ranch Golf Club for the past 18 years as director of golf and head professional, Bruce attended the San Diego Golf Academy and started his career in Edmonton. In Kelowna Bruce has worked at The Kelowna Golf & Country Club and at the Golf Range with Irv Taylor. Bruce is replacing head professional Chad Scott who joined The Rise Golf Club in Vernon as director of golf. Gilles Dufort is the general manager/executive professional of The Harvest Golf Club. Call 250-862-3103.
Congratulations to Gary Schlenkar, CPA, CGA who has been promoted and taken on the role of principal with Grant Thornton LLP at #200 – 1633 Ellis Street. Call 250-712-6800.
Long-time lawyer James Paterson has been appointed managing partner of Pushor Mitchel LLP. Call 250-869-1130 or Paterson@pushormitchell.com.
Formerly on Enterprise Way, Heritage Office Furnishings has moved to a new location at #100 – 395 Penno Road with new offices and a 6,000 square foot warehouse. Operated by president Wayne Cooney, when it comes to office space, space matters and Heritage knows what they are talking about. They consistently provide the right office furniture solutions at the right price, with a focus on high-quality sustainable products and processes. The company selects manufacturers based on their ability to provide quality products backed with warranties they can rely on. They represent more than 40 manufacturers and with a crew of eight installers, provide every service needed from planning, design and delivery to installation, repair and relocation, with high-quality sustainable products. Heritage is in the business of creating exceptional interior environments for their clients and a great workplace for their employees with fully integrated services and one-stop solutions. From casual to high design, from sophisticated to hip and traditional to ornate, Heritage has the workspace products and services with quality pricing. Roy Newington is the service and operations manager and Karen Guimond the sales representative. Call 250-765-1150 or visit www.heritageoffice.com.
After 29 years with Interior Health Authority as an X-ray clerk—at KGH for 25 years and most recently at the IHA offices on Ackland Road—Joanne Odermatt has retired. When I asked Glen what Joanne is going to do in her retirement, he said she was going to look after him and their dog with some quilting and sewing thrown in. I guess we’ll have to see how that goes.
Scot Speiser, formerly of the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), has joined Capri Insurance as vice-president of business development at their Hardy Street location. With the BDC, Scot spent the last 11 years in Kelowna as vice-president financing and consulting where he was responsible for BC North & Interior. Call 250-860-1213.
After suffering a life-altering event, Riley Dayne from Armstrong decided it was now or never to live his dreams. At the age of 24 he set out with a film crew to travel the world on a quest to understand what it means to “live the abundant life.” He traveled from New York City to Malaysia on a global quest for answers. What’s the secret to the good life? How can we all live dreams? What’s the key to happiness? Riley sat down and spoke with world-renowned leaders like Bob Proctor (star of The Secret), T. Harv
Eker (New York Times Best Seller of The Millionaire Mind), Shawn Achor (Harvard professor and Happiness Expert) and many more. The movie, The Abundance Factor, takes you on an unprecedented journey into the minds of the world’s most knowledgeable experts on the subject of abundance and prosperity. You can watch the three-minute trailer for free. It will give you a really good overview of the movie at theabundance-factormovie.com and then you can purchase it online. Contact Riley at riley@mapmakerstudio.com.
StarDyne Technologies, one of Canada’s top 25 software companies, has formed a new business group providing their Canadian and US customers with greater choice through an expanded array of innovative products and services. Integrated Customer Solutions is a new business that focuses on providing StarDyne’s customers more expansive offerings. StarDyne continues to invest in R&D and strategic acquisitions to capitalize on these advancements, helping clients deliver on their goals of providing a more seamless and efficient customer experience. Paul Francis is the COO StarDyne GEMS division.
The nomination deadline for the 41st annual Civic & Community Awards is Feb. 12, 2016. The awards recognize the talent, dedication and generosity of our outstanding athletes, volunteers, artists and businesses whose unique gifts have contributed to the city of Kelowna in the year 2015. Visit www.kelowna.ca/residents for information and nomination forms.
The Kelowna-Kasugai Sister City Association’s AGM and election of directors is Monday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, 544 Harvey Avenue. For more information call Chris Jennens at 250-862-2801 or cjennens@telus.net.
Kelowna & District Safety Council is thinking spring and their 2016 motorcycle rider training season promises to be a busy one as pre-season registrations have already started. With a full complement of 23 group training courses to choose from, each Ride Safe Learn to Ride course offers over 32 hours of classroom theory, parking lot training, the motorcycle skills test and in-traffic training. Register online at www.kdsc.bc.ca or call 250-765-3163.
2016 Westbank Photo Contest, hosted but the Westbank Farmers Market, is open until June 17. Categories are Best Landscape Photography; Cutest Pet Photograph and Best Area Historic Photograph The grand prize winner will have their photograph reproduced on a limited edition Canadian postage stamp. www.westbankfarmersmarket.com.
The Towne Centre Mall on Bernard is having a cool promotion for the food bank. They have filled a snowman with non-perishable food. Contestants can guess the number of cans inside the snowman on a free ballot, with the closest guesses being awarded gift certificates of $250, $150 and $50 on Feb. 17. Extra ballots can be purchased for $1 each with all cash proceeds and the food inside the snowman going to the food bank. It’s quite something to see.
The White Sails A Cappella Chorus is offering a thoughtful and unusual Valentines surprise gift for your loved one. For $35 they will serenade your sweetie on Feb. 12, 13, or 14 with a singing valentine. To reserve your preferred time, book early by calling Bettina at 250-212-7621 or adelion@telus.net
I have a great story about The War Amps Key Tag Service. We lost our car keys either in Kelowna or Phoenix over the Christmas holidays. When we arrived back home we were going to order a new key from the dealership. That’s a costly venture, but you really need two sets of keys for a vehicle in case of any emergencies. The very next day the keys arrived in our mailbox from The War Amps. What a relief, as on the key chain were not only vehicle keys, but others as well. Giving The War Amps a donation was well worth the cost of a new key and peace of mind. For 70 years, donations to the Key Tag Service have allowed The War Amps to run their many programs for amputees, including war amputees, adults and children. Children benefit from the artificial limbs and support offered by The War Amps Child Amputee (CHAMP) Program. It has a tremendous impact also on parents who learn they are not alone in raising a child who has an amputation. Big thanks to the person who dropped the keys in the mailbox. Visit www.waramps.ca or when The War Amps Key Tag Campaign is delivered in your mailbox—donate.
Birthdays of the week: Happy 100th Edith Wright, Village at Mill Creek (Feb. 9); Jennifer Long (today, Feb. 3); Oktawian Kobryn, Cactus Club (Feb. 3); Rob Belanger, Arby’s (Feb. 4); Ross Fitzpatrick (Feb. 4); Don Martin (Feb. 6); Sergio Cunial, Ramada Hotel (Feb. 7); Jim Juba (Feb. 7); Darren McClelland (Feb. 7); Karen Erickson (Feb. 7); Bob Brown (Feb. 8); Cathy Wahowski, Rona (Feb. 9); Mark Kapiniak (Feb. 9); Laura Appleby (Feb. 9).