This week’s column is dedicated to a very dear friend. Karl Sauter, along with his family, owned and operated HICA Greenhouses on KLO Road for many years. Every spring I visited Karl and Hildegard to go over my selection of perennials for the season. I always walked away with lots of geraniums, which HICA was famous for. I have missed visiting them since he business closed. Personal condolences to Hildegard, the entire family and Karl’s many friends.
Jenna Skoglund and Nicole McGillis have opened 30 Minute Hit, a new boxing/kickboxing circuit style workout only for women, of all ages.
Located at 269 Lawrence Ave., 30 Minute Hit offers a workout experience in which you can easily burn 500 calories in this high intensity workout by tightening, toning, losing weight and learning self-defense skills. Membership is $49 per month, and it’s free the first time. Open weekdays, except Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Call 778-484-3064.
MacKay LLP Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors has become a member of the Crowe Horwath International Network of Firms. This is not a merger or acquisition situation, but rather MacKay has joined an international network of independent accounting and advisory firms. Crowe Horwath is a network of 167 independent accounting and advisory services around the world. In the field of assurance, Crowe Horwath International ranks among the 10th largest worldwide networks. In Canada, MacKay LLP will be the third Crowe Horwath International member firm, but the only member firm servicing northern and western Canada. The local MacKay office partners are Angela Bailey, Dan Basso, Murray Bye, Mike Crowley, Miles Laing, Ken Laloge, A’Lana Rains, Brian Sanders, Don Turri, Chris White and Lynn Wong. Call 250-763-5021.
Canadian Restaurant Supply opened with four staff and 3,000 square feet in 2000 after Cassidy’s closed its branch in Kelowna. Owned and operated by Mike and Brenda Otter, the couple have recently relocated, moving not very far, from 2602 Enterprise Way to 6-2604 Enterprise Way. CRS is still in the same complex, just one building north. The business,which now has 20 staff and more than 13,000 square feet, offers design, supply, installation and service for food service equipment and small wares in Western Canada. The new location is all on one floor, has a more spacious showroom and display area, a larger and higher warehouse, better customer parking and a test kitchen in which they will be holding regular demonstrations. Andy Stefansson is the showroom manager. Call 250-979-8600; www.canadianrestaurantsupply.ca.
The Prowse family, after 28 years in business, are closing their popular business, Kelowna Grand Prix (Malibu Race Track), located at 911 Stremel Rd., and everything must go. They are having a cleaning-out sale this week with the final two days of car racing this weekend. All the business fixtures are for sale from the kitchen equipment and office supplies to the race cars and video game machines.
After 33 years at Okanagan College, Jane Brooks, director of learning and teaching, is retiring. Brooks is known as “Ms. Business” at the college, as she was instrumental in starting the School of Business at Okanagan College. She has been a professor, a student and also first alumni. Brooks also has her fellowship for the Certificated Management Accountants, which is designated as FCMA, a prestigious designation in the industry. In her retirement, her friends tell me she is going to keep singing, enjoying music and travel.
Yarden Gershony has joined the firm of Rush Ihas Hardwick LLP, which has moved to a new office location at 200-591 Bernard Ave. Recently relocating from Vernon, Gershony is a commercial litigator who has also practiced at Shearman & Sterling LLP, an international law firm in New York City for four years as well as McCarthy Tetrault LLP in Vancouver. He has broad dispute resolution experience in commercial matters. Call 250-868-2313; ygershony@rihlaw.com
Congratulations to the winners of the 26th Annual Business Excellence Awards: Campion Marine Inc. (Green Innovator Awards, sponsored by Interior Savings Credit Union); The View Winery (Hospitality/Tourism Award, sponsored by Tourism Kelowna); Okanagan Home Magazine (Rising Star Award, sponsored by FortisBC); Kylie Sutton, Moksha Yoga Kelowna (Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, sponsored by UBC Okanagan); Secure-Rite Mobile Storage (Small Business Award, sponsored by Prospera Credit Union); Hydraclean Restoration Services (Mid-Size Business Award, sponsored by BDO Canada) and Wentworth Music (Large Business Award, sponsored buy MacKay LLP). And special congratulations to two of my city council colleagues for winning awards: The Society of Hope (Community Impact Award, sponsored by Urban Systems) as councillor Luke Stack is the society’s executive director, and councillor Andre Blanleil, owner of Andres Electronic Experts, who won 2013 Business Leader of the Year, sponsored by Ian Stuart & Associates.
Erin Cram has joined the team at FH&P Lawyers LLP, 400-275 Lawrence Ave. Cram specializes in civil litigation with emphasis in family law. Other areas of practice includes commercial debtor/creditor claims, estate litigation and contractual disputes. Call 250-762-4222; www.fhplawyers.com.
Well-known appliance associate at The Bay, Kam Mann is relocating to The Bay store in Vernon.
Have you ever wondered why you resonate with some people but not others? Or why some environments or some people drain your energy? Why is it that many relationships never work out? Kelowna author and college professor explains how understanding your own energy affects your relationships and your health. Ekahi (Ee-kaw-hee) means One in Hawaiian. While living there, Dr. Brett Wade became aware that our health and relationships were related to one’s own energy (base frequency). He developed a frequency profile which classified people into one of five base frequencies. Learn about this in his book Ekahi Method: Master of the Waves of Life. People who have read it or have seen Wade’s presentations are raving about it. The book is available at Mosaic Books on Bernard Avenue and also the Okanagan College Book Store.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of ringette, a Canadian game that was originally developed for girls. Today, it’s called the fastest game on ice; a fast-paced team sport played on a hockey rink in which players use a straight stick to pass, carry and shoot a rubber ring to score goals. Ringette is played in countries around the world with an estimated 50,000 participants in Canada. There is a well-established Ringette community in Kelowna with players ranging in age from 5 to 20 registered with the Kelowna Ringette Association, which hosts an annual Sweetheart Tournament in February. In honour of the 50th anniversary, Ringette Canada is travelling to 15 cities in 30 days promoting and celebrating the sport and there will be a celebration and game on Sunday, Nov. 3, at Rutland Arena, from noon to 4 p.m. There is a media game from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. as well as Team Maxine DeHart will battle against Team Norm Letnick for bragging rights. There will also be interactive booths, a frisbee toss and the Ringette Canada mascots. Everyone is welcome so please come out and cheer our team on.
The grand opening of Goji Frozen Yogurt is Nov. 2, from 2 to 4 p.m., located at 2080A Springfield Rd., across from Target. Goji will have live music, face painting, a prize wheel and free yogurt, store giveaways and prizes.
Melanie Lyne will host the 2nd annual Holiday Fashion Show Gala in support of the Kelowna Women’s Shelter on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 7 p.m., at 1950 Harvey Ave.(Spall Plaza). Along with wine and cheese, refreshments and door prizes, friends and family will receive a discount of an additional 20 per cent off everything in the store, including already marked down items. Tickets only $10 at Melanie Lyne. Call 250-860-3138.
Cottage Quilting, owned and operated by Meagan Hughes, is hosting a Push Pull Drag event now until Nov 30. Participants are asked to bring in sewing machines, working or not, and they will fix it up, clean it up and then donate it to the Women’s Shelter Thrift Store. The women’s shelter will keep all the proceeds as Cottage Quilting is acting as the facilitator for this fundraiser. Cottage Quilting is also offering a 25 per cent savings on a new sewing machine for those who donate an old one. Call 250-860-1120 or cottagequilting@shaw.ca.
The Okanagan Heritage Society is pleased that several Kelowna residents received provincial recognition at the HBC conference recently held in Burnaby. Those involved with the conservation of the H.D. Riggs House, located at the corner of Ethel and Borden, received an Award of Honour for their care and commitment to conserve this important building. The award was presented to Dave and Donara Krysko along with Dustin Sargent of Davara Holdings and Gordon Wilson of TEAM Construction. Lorraine McLarty received the Ruby Nobbs Award for her outstanding contribution as a volunteer in heritage conservation.
The Bridge Youth & Family Services has relocated to 760 Highway 33 West. Their phone number has remained the same at 250-763-0456.
Congratulations to The Crown Jewels of Canada Society, celebrating four years as one of Canada’s not for profit organizations for women. The society, which offers sisterhood, support and fun was formed in Kelowna by Lynda Millard, the current CEO and president, and now has over 5,000 members from coast to coast. For more information go to www.crownjewelsofcanada.com.
A breast cancer awareness T-shirt has been designed and drawn by Dilworth Safeway’s meat department employee Stewart Geis. This Saturday, Dilworth Safeway will host a charity BBQ and will be selling these t-shirts, all proceeds going to breast cancer research. The shirts sell for $20 and the barbecue is from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. with donations accepted for a hotdog and a drink. For more info Call Brian Cranton at 250-860-4424.
Kickin it Sari Style is a wine fundraiser at Little Straw Winery in West Kelowna to take place Nov. 9, from 4 to 7 p.m. ($20, cash only). There will be a wine tasting, glass of wine and appetizers along with a silent auction. All proceeds to New Light India. Reserve tickets at kickinitsaristyle@gmail.com. If you donate directly on the Kickin it Sari Style website, sign up to receive updates on their blog and purchase tickets, you will be entered in a draw for a trip to India at www.kickinitsaristyle.com.
Got a call asking if I knew if there was a business in Kelowna that rents decorated Christmas trees? If anyone out there provides this service or if anyone knows of someone or a business that rents Christmas trees, please let me know.
Birthdays of the week: Happy 70th Doreen Gray (Nov. 3); happy 55th Paul Thiessen, Diamond Software (Oct.27); Janet McCartney (Nov. 1); George Colpron (Nov. 2); Glen Kunth, Greyhound Courier (Nov. 2); Chrissie Leathley (Nov. 2); Duncan Innes (Nov. 4); Frank Williams (Nov. 4); Terry Hoogewoonink, Premier Salon (Nov. 5); Rick Appleby (Nov. 6); Happy Halloween everyone (Oct. 31).
