The City of Kelowna Parade Float, managed by float ambassador Clarence Johnson, is covering a lot of miles this summer.
To date, the city’s official float has attended 14 parades since June 15, making visits to Vernon; Vancouver; Osoyoos; Falkland; Abbotsford; Portland, Ore.; and Marysville, Cashmere, Bellingham and Grand Coulee, all in Washington. The float has also participated in three Kelowna parades. The float has traveled more than 6,000 km. The next parade appearances will be in Chewelah, Deer Park and Leavenworth in Washington, along with White Rock, Penticton, Armstrong, Salmon Arm and a Santa Claus parade yet to be determined. Seven awards have been won, with the latest being the Mayors Award in Cashmere. The most prestigious was the Grand Sweepstakes Award in Marysville (Best Overall against 18 other entries). The current Miss Kelowna royalty ambassadors are Miss Kelowna Lady of the Lake, Navjot Takhar, and Miss Kelowna Princess, Jade Cowan. We should all be very proud of our Kelowna parade float.
Richard Lytle has started a new and unique business called Dynamik Detailing—Mobile Interior Vehicle Detailing. This is no ordinary car detailing business. Lytle goes to wherever you are at any time of the day. He will come to where you work, where you play or just about anywhere your car might be for a short period of time. Imagine, having the interior of your car cleaned while you are at work or even at the golf course. No worries about insurance or liability as he does not move the car, just needs the keys to open the vehicle to clean it. He vacuums the seats, floors and trunk; wipes down the leather seats; cleans the floor mats (carpet or rubber); wipes down the windows, console, all knobs, steering wheel and removes garbage. He provides the service in both summer and winter (rain or snow), only uses eco-friendly solutions and is reasonable. It’s just another task that you can mark off your “to do” list. Contact Dynamik Detailing at 250-878-5506 or dynamik_detailing@hotmail.com.
The Lieutenant Governors Awards for Excellence in B.C. Wines has honoured Andrew Peller Limited with three awards this year; Red Rooster 2010 Reserve Syrah, Red Rooster 2011 Reserve Viognier ($29.99 and $21.99 respectively available at the winery and online at www.redroosterwinery.com) and Calona Vineyards Artists Series 2011 Pinot Noir ($15.99 at select retail stores and Calona Vineyards in Kelowna). Howard Soon is the senior winemaker and Sandy Leier the winemaker at Calona Wines.
Pushor Mitchell partner Theresa Arsenault has been elected chair of the UBC Board of Governors. She received the gavel from former chair Bill Levine with our own Brad Bennett the immediate preceding chair. The UBC Board of Governors oversees a budget of more than $2 billion annually.
App-plause! How an app helped one local business thrive. If you do not want to call in to make a hair appointment, just point, click and check-in. Great Clips celebrates the overwhelming success of its Online Check-in, with the interactive short cuts for haircuts. Since Great Clips introduced the app in 2011, 10 million customers have checked in online, with 70 per cent from their cell phone app. With this rate of growth, by the end of summer, the company expects one million customers a month to be checking in online. The company reports the technology’s huge success has contributed to the 34 consecutive months of sales growth and 20 consecutive months of increased customer counts. Great Clips is located at 1876 Cooper Rd. (Cheryl Baker, manager) and 110-1972 Kane Road (Aimee Dunnink, manager).
The Centre culturel francophone de l’Okanagan, at 702 Bernard Ave., has appointed Sabine Demais as its new chief executive officer. Demais has spent the last four years as CEO of the Centre Socioculturel de Saint-Jean-Port Joli (Quebec) and has recently completed her studies in the field of cultural development management. Bruno Cloutier is the president of the Centre culturel francophone de l’Okanagan. Call 250-860-4074.
Congratulations to Sean Parker, who works full time at YLW (Kelowna International Airport) as the commissionaire field supervisor since 2012. He has been an active member in the Canadian military reserves for over 26 years. Parker was recently awarded the Chief of the Defense Staff’s (CDC) Commendation for his exemplary service in Afghanistan from August 2010 to June 2011.
The Central Okanagan Hospice Association has a new board. Congrats to Marion Henselwood (president); Deb Ritchie (past-president); Kevin Cutting (vice-president); Catherine Salhus (treasurer) and directors Chris Penty, Mark Revie, Roy Sinden, Larry Stranaghan, Barbara Ball and honourary director Shirley Jensen. Susan Steen is the COHA executive director.
Also regarding the COHA, the association will sponsor an artist’s marketplace July 21, starting at 10 a.m., at the Okanagan Lavender and Herb Farm in East Kelowna, an event that will also include a variety of artists and musicians in attendance, a kid’s zone, wishing tree, garden art and refreshments. Admission is $5 for those who have not pre-purchased butterflies. At 12:45 p.m. the Butterfly Release Program of songs and music will get underway as purchased butterflies a released in memory of those we have lost. The names of those being honoured will be read as the butterflies take flight. Artists and musicians participating include Lynden Beesley, Alex Fong, Annabel Stanley, Julia Trops, Linda Lovista, Tina and Erica Schnellert, Masha Farrow with solos by Gorden James and Kimberley Kleineberg. Call 250-763-5511; visit www.hospicecoha.org.
It has been 20 years since now internationally acclaimed artist Geert Maas won a provincial design competition to create the coveted bronze Thespian Award for Theatre BC Mainstage, this year celebrating its 60th anniversary. Ever since, Maas has made 18 Thespian Awards to hour Mainstage winners in various categories for the Theatre BC Provincial Theatre Festival. The bronze award represents the mysticism, balance and tension in a performance and the actor’s tenuous hold over an audience. The Geert Maas Sculpture Gardens and Gallery are located at 250 Reynolds Rd. Call 250-860-7012; www.geertmaas.org.
WelcometoKelowna.com has changed its name to KelownaNow.com. This local news and events page has been around since 1998. KelownaNow.com has the city’s most comprehensive events calendar along with an extensive business directory.
Philippe Daigle is a new account manager for CRS Canadian Restaurant Supply Ltd. at 100-2602 Enterprise Way. Call 250-870-7833; www.canadianrestaurantsupply.ca.
Sally Ginter, regional director of the Canadian Cancer Society, is moving to Ontario in August. She has accepted a new position as CEO with Kerry’s Place, the largest provider of autism services in Ontario with four regions and 1,000 employees.
Jessica Vlasveld has joined the firm of Pushor Mitchell LLP as an associate. She will be developing a general litigation practice and doing prosecution work for the director of public prosecutions Canada. Call 250-869-1156; vlasveld@pushormitchell.com.
Congrats to Alice Rees, president of the Central Okanagan Teachers’ Association, who has been recognized for her 37 years of dedication to the students and staff of the Central Okanagan School District.
Kudos to Robert (Bob) Pretti, a School District 23 bus driver, who has been awarded the Driver of the Year Award from the Association of School Transportation Services of B.C. Pretti has been an accident-free school bus driver for the past 33 years.
Accolades to Enzo DeLaurentiis, a teacher with South Rutland Elementary School, who has been recognized by the Central Okanagan Board of Education for his 15 years of organizing the Central Okanagan School District’s Elementary track and field meets.
Congrats to Kayla Dominelli, a teacher with Springvalley Middle School. She has received the Kron Sigal Award for excellence in Holocaust teaching.
Okanagan Garlic has been dubbed the icewine of garlic because of the processes the company uses to plant, grow, harvest and dry their garlic. This year, Okanagan Garlic has grown more than 35,000 garlic bulbs on their farm in Glenmore and the first of their harvest will be at the Kelowna Farmers and Crafters Market. Owner Bill Campbell says they will have five varieties available—Italian (for roasting and baking); German Red and Spanish Roja (for salads and marinades); Yugoslavian (for robust, ethnic dishes where you want to taste the garlic) and Music (for those who do not want to be overwhelmed by the garlicky flavour). Call 250-808-7034.
The Kelowna Pee Wee A Cubs baseball team is holding a tasty fundraising dinner Monday, July 15, 6 p.m., at Olympia Greek Taverna on Highway 33. The cost of $30 per ticket includes meal, taxes and gratuity. There will also be a silent auction and toonie toss. For tickets call 250-300-3192.
The inaugural Carma Project Disc (Frisbee) Golf Tournament is here. It’s frisbee and it’s golf and together it’s the fastest growing sport that nobody has heard of called disc golf. Disc golf started in the 1960s and is now played in more than 40 countries. It will be at the base of Knox Mountain’s Disc Golf Course on Sunday, July 28, 2 p.m. Register today and play and sponsor a basket. Contact bruce@integratirekelowna.com.
The Westbank and District Chamber of Commerce have three small offices available immediately for rent. All tenants can access a meeting room. Monthly rent is $400 (for about 100 sq. ft.) and the largest office $500 per month (about 130 sq. ft.). Perfect if you have outgrown your home office. Contact Karen Beaubier at 250-768-3378.
The Child ID Program is a crime prevention and awareness program designed to provide accurate documentation about your child. This service is provided free of charge and will be held on Thursday, July 25, at the Rutland Community Policing Office, 115 McIntosh Rd., from 9 a.m. to noon. For more info call 250-764-5004.
Congrats to Jason Monteleone (BMO) on acing his fifth hole-in-one at Kelowna Golf and Country Club on #13.
It’s cherry time and if you are looking for some fabulous cherries, Pinnacle Farms owned and operated by Joyce and Dick Prowse, at 3020 McCulloch Rd. above the Harvest Golf Club, picks fresh daily. I understand Joyce hand picks every one! Drop in or pre-order by phone at 250-861-8344.
Birthdays of the week: Sherry Huva, my niece (July 10); Shirley Hutt (July 10); Doreen Ross (July 12); Magda Kapp, BrainTrust Canada (July 15); twins Henry and Bert Willms (July 13); Gerry Moller (July 13); Moni Schiller (July 13); Luanne Chore, SIDIT-BC (July 14); Robert Jay (July 14); David LaHay (July 15); Lil Moller (July 16); Dennis O’Rourke, O’Rourke’s Market (July 17); Linda Yandel (July 17); Bill Jack, Club Waine Tours (July 17).
