This week’s column is dedicated to a very special long-time friend Dave Hobson, who passed away May 12 after battling leukemia. The Hobson and DeHart families have been good friends forever as Dave and my husband Chris have known each other since Grade 1. The service will be Saturday, May 26, St. Andrews Anglican Church, 4629 Lakeshore Rd., at 2 p.m. His passing will definitely create a void in our lives. Personal condolences to Margaret, his entire family and many, many friends.
The Project Literacy Kelowna Society will celebrate a 25th anniversary milestone next month by hosting a gala called “Words and Wine—25th Anniversary Gala honouring Project Literacy Tutors and 25 years of Sharing the Right to Read.”
The event takes place June 8 at the Laurel Packinghouse, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., an opportunity to listen to international recording artist Julie Feeney while dining on a delicious menu and sip local wines and hear learner and tutor stories from the heart and bid on Joyce Quillian’s beautiful Walk the Walk painting. I was actually on the inaugural board of directors for Project Literacy 25 years ago and have many great stories from that experience. Tickets for the gala are $40/person, available at Mosaic Books or call 250-762-2163.
Robert (Bob) Martindale, of The Source, is relocating to Calgary with a company promotion in the new capacity of regional director of sales and operations for Saskatchewan and Alberta effective May 22. Incidentally, his 50th birthday is also that same date.
Monashee Adventure Tours, owned and operated by Edward Kruger, has opened a new bike rental and tour outlet at Manteo Resort, which will be located next to the Eldorado Hotel entrance. Monashee will have 50 bikes, including cruisers, comfort, electric assist and children’s bikes plus two pedi cabs. Bikes will be available for hourly rental, starting at $8/hour. Monashee also offers a daily shuttle to Myra Canyon. Call 250-878-3587
Will Gow, owner of the CBD Network, has relocated to a satellite office in West Kelowna at the Westbank Chamber of Commerce building, 2372 Dobbin Rd. Gow will continue to offer services for career-minded professionals including resume and cover letter development, one on one career coaching, various self-assessments and labour market information. He will also lead a new venture called Ivy Talent HR, its primary focus to establish strategic alliances and business opportunities in Alberta but also to dovetail with local Kelowna job requirements and/or business opportunities. Call 250-717-1821; www.cbdnetwork.com
Jeremy Burgess has joined the law firm of Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP in their litigation group. He is trained in civil and corporate/commercial litigation as a cooperative education and articled student at Farris. Call 250-869-3882
Kate Humphries is a Peachland counsellor who specializes in Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REST). She teaches people how to change unhelpful thoughts, behaviours and emotions. Humphries works with people who struggle with things such as depression, anxiety, fear, rage and relational interactions. Underlying REST is learning to have an unconditional acceptance of self, others and the world. She has a Masters in Counselling Psychology and is trained to treat individuals, couples and children. Humphries is based out of Peachland, but is willing to meet her clients anywhere from Penticton to Kelowna. Call 250-859-4444 or okanagancounsellor@hotmail.ca
There has certainly been considerable talk about the Conservatory development at the corner of Gordon and Summit in recent months. I had the opportunity last week to take a tour of the site. The construction is really coming along and it looks great. New owners Bob Buvyer and Dennis Bigham have a great vision for the property, with all the condo units now being completed for rental housing only. The 16-acre property, which will eventually house both condos and townhomes when built out, are now made up of eight floors of condos that are currently being finished. The units range from 1,200 to 1,400 square feet of living space, including a couple of loft suites as well with a total of 108 units. All suites are beautifully finished with granite countertops, fireplaces, decks, good quality appliances, and a small self-contained suite (bedroom and bathroom only that can be locked off) with each unit, which would be ideal for a care giver or nanny. Exceptionally wide, bright hallways are featured on every floor. A few of the suites have large decks, with many of the units have unbelievable views of the lake and Kelowna Golf and Country Club. Amenities include a huge green roof on the main floor, storage units, security cameras, lots of parking, outdoor pool and fitness room. If you are looking for a rental unit, call 778-484-5847 or drop into the office on the main floor entrance off Glenmore Drive.
The new board of directors for the Kelowna Power and Sail Squadron in 2012 will be Marguerite Berry (commander and historian); Mark Burley (executive officer); Clark Berry (training officer); Ward Willison (assistant training officer); Brenda Cochrane (treasurer) and Debbie Harrison (membership). The squadron has been teaching safe boating courses for 51 years at the Kelowna Yacht Club. Top mark the start of Safe Boating Week at the Yacht Club docks at 11:30 a.m. on May 19, there will be free hot dogs and refreshments for all who wear an approved life jacket. Mustang is co-sponsoring to help inform the boating community that lifejackets save lives. Of note, new statistics released state that fatalities for paddle boats have increased by 56 per cent. This fact is relative to the increasing interest in kayaking and canoeing. Most are men over 45 in isolated areas and early in the season where cold water is a deadly factor. When choosing a life jacket, follow these simple guidelines—choose one that is suitable for the activity, Canadian approved, is the correct size and fits snugly. Visit www.cpsokanagan.ca
There were many long service awards presented to City of Kelowna employees who work in the city yards this past week: Randolph Levere, David Dray and Gary Kam (25 years); Dora Pawlitsky, Clark Yarrow, Wayne Nadasde, Bruce Bunce and Wilfred Wollin (20 years); Nick Fiorante and Scott Isfan (15 years); Ken Mintram, Dave Francis and Brian Zsoldos (10 years).
There has been a change in stride for Linda Abbott-Simons. She no longer is the Canadian distributor for StreetStrider. She will, for the time being, remain as a dealer for the Okanagan area. Call 250-861-5730.
The first of three shipments has arrived from Myanmar and Thailand at Suncity Treasurer & Imports in Orchard Park Mall. Store owners Lyn and Mia Chorney travelled for six weeks to various destinations to source new artisans, taking pride in each item being personally created by an artisan and money supported in fair trade. The Chorneys don’t buy articles from factories or mass production. Some of their new items are large floor lamps made from dried jungle vines, teak carved elephants, teak and concrete spirit houses, temple bells, vases, hand painted rice canteens and Thai cushions. Give yourself lots of time to browse through the store.
A third Crescendo franchise has opened in B.C. One of those outlets is located at Mission Park Shopping Centre, owned and operated by the husband and wife team of Daniel Weber and Elvira Brunner. The new Crescendo franchise will be located at 3030 South Granville St. in Vancouver. The new franchisee is former Kelowna gal Shelley Nicholl, who was a reporter for both the Capital News and Daily Courier and served one term as a school trustee for the Central Okanagan School District before relocating to the Lower Mainland. Crescendo offers premium cask-aged vinegars, award winning fruit vinegars and exquisite oils. The stoe also features more than 60 herbs and spices to choose from. Next time you are in Vancouver, stop by and check out Shelley’s new business. Email her at s.nicholl@shaw.ca or check out the website www.crescendoBC.com.
Raymond James/Johnson Legacy Wealth Management will host an Okanagan Investment Conference with three of Canada’s top portfolio managers on Saturday, May 26, at the Mary Irwin Theatre in the Rotary Center for the Arts, from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. The keynote speakers will be David Burrows, president, chief investment strategist, Barometer Capital Management; Sandy McIntyre, president and chief executive officer, Sentry Investments; and a personal friend of mine, John Priestman, managing director, Guardian Capital LP. You will not want to miss these presentations. We are lucky to have this caliber of portfolio managers come to our city. The event is free, but you must pre-register to attend as seating is limited. Call 250-979-2720; www.okanaganinvestmentconference.ca
Take a drive to the South Okanagan this weekend and stop at the 3rd annual Art, Autos and Architecture event at Sonora Ridge in Osoyoos on May 19 and 20, noon to 5 p.m., with free admission. Enjoy the 2012 BMW show of cars, view contemporary art by Okanagan artists, view two gorgeous Sonora Ridge show homes (Linttell Projects) and taste some wine by Hester Creek. (Lakeshore Drive to 36th Avenue). Call 250-869-0552; www.sonoraridge.ca
The Kelowna Canadian Italian Club dinner is Saturday, May 26. Tickets $20. Call Joe Iafrancesco at 250-878-3619.
The Odd Couple Female Version comes to the Kelowna Actors Studio May 23 to June 9. Also upcoming are the Theatre Summer Camps, the schedule for which can be viewed at www.KelownaActorsStudio.com or call 250-862-2867.
The Pets and People Visiting Society, founded by Marjorie Rutherford, is now in its 17th year. The society’s annual general meeting takes place May 25 at the Kelowna Community Resources Centre, 7 p.m.
The 9th annual FH&P Lawyers LLP/Special Olympics Golf Tournament tees off Friday, June 1, at Kelowna Springs. Chair of the event is Christopher Lown, with Interior Savings. Last year, the Special Olympics softball team won silver while representing Canada at the 2011 World Games in Athens, Greece. This past winter, 18 of their athletes competed at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games as members of Team B.C. They are looking for golfers and additional sponsors. ($140/player). Call Joan Gerhardt at 250-860-7905
Birthdays of the week: Happy 91st Cec (Harold) Vaughn (May 23); happy 65th Wayne Drews (May 22); happy 50th Carrie Metzger, B.C. Sheriff Service (May 20); Graham Bell (May 17); Art Born (May 18); Marg Bernath (May 19); Pam Johnson (May 22); Beryl Itani (May 21); Ken McLaughlin, Re/Max (May 22); Alan Tozer (May 23); Chuck Cey (May 22); Bruce Wilson (May 18).
Maxine DeHart is a Kelowna hotelier. Phone her at 250-979-4546, fax 250-860-3173, email maxdehart@telus.net.
