KPMG Chartered Accountants LLP has moved to a new office at 200-3200 Richter St. in the Mission Shopping Centre.
The new premises are larger and brighter with lots of parking for both staff and customers. The entire space is more open and fluid with lots of natural sunlight. The office has showers for staff who bike or walk to work, secure bike storage, and a full kitchen and boardroom/classroom. Mountain pine beetle wood was also used in the construction of the premises. The decision to move was simple as the new area is easily accessible for KPMP’s clients. The partners of KPMG LLP are Peter Ranson, Dave Bond and Kelly Watson. Call 250-979-7150.
Royal LePage is celebrating its100th anniversary across Canada this month. The company was founded in 1913 in Toronto by then 26-year-old Albert E. LePage. Royal LePage Kelowna was founded by Don Crompton and Francis Braam in 1999. The current owners, Francis Braam and Wade Webb, have grown the company to now include four offices located in Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country and Big White. The company held a couple of events to celebrate the occasion and recent renovations to the Kelowna and West Kelowna offices. Money raised from a cake eating contest went to the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation, which in turn helps the local Kelowna Women’s Shelter and aids in educating the community about domestic violence.
Inner Haven Decorating has opened at 26-565 Bernard Ave. in the Towne Centre Mall, offering full service interior design and decorating. The company is owned by interior design technologist Maggie Wood. She has been in business for 16 years, but this is her first storefront operation. A Hunter Douglas Dealer Select, Wood offers custom window coverings, carrying a full line of Hunter Douglas products, including automated systems, which have come down in price over the years. As fabric is her passion, Wood also offers custom drapes. The shinier and more glam the better, but she is also very versatile in her designs and helps with home staging, paint and upholstery consulting. Inner Haven carries beautiful ready-made drapery and bedding at very affordable prices and she works with clients to find the correct products and price point. Contact 250-862-8887; www.innerhavendecorating.com.
Dr. Stephanie Gautier has joined the team at iSight Optometry, 4-2070 Harvey Ave., as an associate, in addition to private practice. Relocating from White Rock/South Surrey, Dr. Gautier travels to Haida Gwaii performing eye examinations for the local First Nations community. She is currently serving as a peer assessor with the College of Optometrists of B.C. and was previously a member on the Quality Assurance Committee. Call 250-860-2020.
Downtown Scooters has opened at 264 Leon Ave. in downtown Kelowna, offering scooter rentals by the hour or day. Owned and operated by Buck LaRoche, who also operates Auto Trim Line Detail and Signs and Downtown U-Haul from the same location, he purchased six of the popular European Italian made Saga Scooters, which are the glorified version of the Vespa. He has four doubles and two singles and there is no motorcycle driver’s license required to operate them, just a regular Class 5 license. The scooters are very economical for sightseeing and are 80cc, so they keep up very well with the flow of traffic. Rental rates are $25 per hour, $49 for two hours or $99 per day, including insurance. Each scooter comes with a map and suggested routes for sightseeing. Having three businesses in one location is a great use of this downtown space, which is also very supported by Buck’s landlord, Brian August, who has been very encouraging and accommodating of Buck’s businesses. Call 250-899-5833.
White Spot celebrates 85 years of legendary taste and tradition this year. With more than 12 million guests served each year, the company buys local products and during 2013, 87 per cent of British Columbians who dined out, visited White Spot. The Kelowna White Spot, at 2190 Harvey Ave., was franchised in 1994 with partners Joe Racchi, Brad Kary and Agya Jaswal. If you still have a hankering for their famous original all-time guest favourite classic recipe of Chicken Pick’ns, White Spot has brought the item back and are serving Chicken Pick’ns until July 14.
Grouse River Outfitters has opened its doors in a new, 15,000 square-foot location at 2600 Enterprise Way and Highway 33. Founded in 2008, Grouse River began with a focus on hunting and shooting products and accessories. Over the course of the last five years, it has grown to include camping, hiking, GPS, technical footwear and clothing that caters to all things outdoors. The new Grouse Outfitters location has the singular goal of providing an inspiration and engaging shopping experience for their customers. You will find a much larger selection of clothing, footwear, camping gear and electronics, all in brands that continue the Grouse River tradition of offering top-quality, cutting edge outdoor products. So if your passion lies with camping, hiking, trail running, hunting or just getting outdoors, Grouse River carries everything that you will need with friendly, knowledgeable staff to help you. Glenn Fallis is the president and founder of Grouse River. Contact 250-717-1070; www.grouseriver.com.
After one year in Rutland, Mosaic Books located in the Willow Park Shopping Centre is closing its doors on June 29. Owned and operated by Michael Neill, closing the satellite store won’t have an impact on Mosaic’s main bookstore on Bernard Avenue, which first opened in 1968. The Rutland store is clearing out its stock at bargain prices. The Rutland store customers will received a 20 per cent off coupon to use at the downtown store.
The financial services and communications department of the City of Kelowna has received the prestigious Canadian Award for Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Offices Association of the U.S. and Canada. This award is for the annual report for the fiscal year ended Dec.31, 2011. More significantly, this is the 10th consecutive year the city has received it, representing the high standard of quality reporting provided by a government and its management. Keith Grayston is the director of financial services.
Popular morning radio duo Andy and TJ of 101.5 EZ Rock were honoured with the prestigious Paul Harris Award from the Kelowna Sunrise Rotary. The Paul Harris Award is the highest honour a club can bestow on a person(s) either inside or outside of a Rotary Club. Andy and TJ were recognized for service above self and the tangible contributions to the community through supporting Rotary and other initiatives in the community.
Platinum Personnel and Business Services, owned by Sherri Chapman, have expanded to Kamloops, with Jody Ivancevich-Coolahan running the new office. If you have operations in both Kamloops and Kelowna, Platinum can help with temporary or permanent hires to ensure a smooth transition for local companies. Contact 1-855-668-8868; www.platinumpersonnel.ca.
Dreaming in Colour…a Coloured Water Workshop will be presented by Kelowna artist Alex Fong on July 9,10 and 11, from 10a.m. to 4 p.m., with lunch served each day at the Summerland Waterfront Resort & Spa, 13011 Lakeshore Rd. South. in Summerland. The three days will be filled with demos and one on one instruction. Call Alex Fong at 250-878-7054 for more info and to register.
Congratulations to Walley and Marietta Lightbody, winners or this year’s UBC Okanagan Alumni Community Builder Award. The annual award honours Okanagan-based UBC alumni who have made and continue to make a difference locally, regionally or globally. Also, accolades to student Jennifer Forsythe who received the Rising Star Award.
Kelowna residents can now watch more of their favourite new movies for $1.50 per day. Redbox, the movie and video game rental retailer, has added another new kiosk outside the Kelowna Walmart store, 1555 Banks Rd. With a tap on a touchscreen and the swipe of a credit card, movie and video game lovers can now rent their favourite DVDs for $1.50, Blu-rays for $2 and video games for $2.50 a day. Customers can reserve online at Redbox.ca before leaving the house. Although the kiosk format is new on this side of the border, the response from Canadians has been incredibly positive. One million discs have been rented in just 10 months and the numbers are growing.
Congratulations to Mackenzie O’Rourke, owner of O’Rourkanagan HVAC, and Brittany Light, a unit clerk at the B.C. Cancer Institute, on their June 10 engagement in Las Vegas. Brittany is the daughter of Kelowna Fire Department Capt. Tim Light and granddaughter of Russ Light, a well-known, long-time Kelowna resident. MacKenzie is the son of Mike and Denise O’Rourke, of O’Rourke’s Uptown Market.
The Communities in Bloom Kelowna Beauty Spot was presented to Charlene and Duane Habuza, who live at 763 Bernard Ave. The Habuzas bought the 1910 Muirhead House in 2005 and have restored the Queen Anne style home into their business called Country Cottage Gifts and Décor. Their house enforces the strong heritage character of Bernard and the new use of the house as a small business reflects the neighbourhood changes. The property was landscaped and maintained by Guy Gant and herons and other birds are constant visitors to their pond. Drop by and visit this Kelowna Beauty Spot. For more information on Kelowna Beauty Spot or Communities in Bloom call Doreen Morash at 250-868-2753.
Happy 25th anniversary to Mike (City of Kelowna) and Lani Rout on July 2.
The website for the Spanish lessons I wrote about last week, given by instructors Suzanne and Shawn Bandick, is www.spanishin3days.weebly.com.
Join the The Bay store at Orchard Park Shopping Centre (Harvey Avenue entrance) on July 1 for a charity BBQ to support the United Way from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy a hot dog, chips and a drink for a minimum $3 donation. While there, visit the newly opened outdoor living shop and view the latest styles of patio furniture and seasonal items exclusive to The Bay. The charity event sponsors are Save-On-Foods and Starbucks.
The Kelowna Minor Baseball Association is raising money to cover the cost of the summer baseball all-star season and you can help. On Saturday, June 29, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., bring in all the quality used sports and fitness equipment you are no longer using to Play It Again Sports, 1778 Baron Rd. Let them know you are donating your items to the Kelowna Minor Baseball Association. Used sports gear can be dropped off starting Wednesday, June 26, until Tuesday, July 2. Proceeds will go to support the Kelowna Pee Wee “A” Cubs.
The Stand By Me fundraiser held June 8 at Ex Nihilo Vineyard for Blake Harper, hosted by Dave Ledinski and Darryl Reuter, was a huge success raising $32,000. This will enable the wheelchair-bound Harper to travel to New Delhi, India and undergo a third round of stem cell injection treatments.
I will not be writing a column next week, July 4. See you on July 11 and happy Canada Day!
Birthdays of the week: Happy 70th Donna Good (July 10); happy birthday Canada (July 1); Jacqueline Blaney (June 29); Linda Brandon (July 1); Marlene Trelenberg (July 1); Ann Ellchuck (July 2); Cathy Butler (July 2); Hugh Clemence (July 2); Ralf Rohrlack (July 3); Derrick Johanneson, TAC Solutions (July 3); Finbar O’Sullivan (July 4); Don McArthur (July 4); Robert Caley (July 4); Dr. Iain Allan (July 4); Gladys McCulloch (July 5); Ian Robertson, Kelowna Springs Golf Course (July 5).
