Flight Centre Mission Park, located at 10-3151 Lakeshore Rd. in the Mission Park Shopping Centre, has just opened.
It is the first new Flight Centre in six years to open in the Okanagan. Manager Danny Jarvis has been in the travel industry since 1998. He has traveled extensively and lived in Australia, New Zealand and England and was even a professional Thai Boxer in Thailand. Business travel is their specialty at the Flight Centre, with local travel management opposed to a call centre in another city. Flight Centre is a full service travel agency who book flights, cruise, hotel, car rental or escorted tours. Meaghan Meyer is the assistant manager while Spencer Jones, Susan Moore and Jennifer Malm are international travel consultants. Call 250-868-8350.
Need technology help? Warren Huxley is the new local franchisee for eGurus Technology Tutors Inc., which specializes in tutoring and supporting older adults and seniors with their needs in computers. Personal PCs, either desktops or laptops, iPads, Android tablets or even getting the most out of smartphones, eGurus is there to help. They come to your home and show you on your own equipment,a nd can also help deal with security issues, viruses and malware removal so you get the most out of the Internet. Huxley has relocated from Victoria and comes here with 27 years of experience in the computer industry. EGurus also has a program to speak to groups about computers and technology. Tudor services are available Monday to Saturday. Call 250-864-8909; online egurus.ca.
Bell Media will host the 12th annual Have a Heart Radiothon on Thursday February 12 at Orchard Park Shopping Centre. Set up at the mall’s Pear Court entrance, watch for 101-5 EZE Rock, 99.9 SUN FM and AM 1150 raising money to purchase lifesaving equipment for sick kids at Kelowna General Hospital. Help them to help the little ones in our community. I will be visiting at 8 a.m. See you there. For more info on how to get involved visit 1015ezrock.com.
Speaking about Bell Media, congratulations to my good friends Andy and TJ of 101-5 EZ Rock. This popular and much loved morning duo celebrated their 12th anniversary on-air together Feb. 3. They have been waking us up since 2003. I was a weekly guest with Andy and TJ for many years.
The United Way have added two new faces to their team. Marianne Dahl, formerly with Bridges.com, is the new marketing and events coordinator, while Bonnie Hall, formerly with the Canadian Cancer Society, is the new community campaign coordinator.
Beadiful Arts, owned and operated by Kristin Butler, has moved to a new location. Formerly located in the Pandosy Village area, Butler has moved her shop to 1191A Sutherland Ave., tucked behind Econo Barber Shop and across from Extra Foods. Beadiful Arts offers a huge selection of beads, supplies, classes, repairs, (that’s how I originally found her) and parties. Butler also makes and designs her own line of copper and silver handmade jewelry, along with teaching the craft of jewelry and beading. Open Wednesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 250-868-1213.
The top five finalists have been selected for the 12th annual Small Business BC Awards, a province-wide competition open to entrepreneurs and small business owners. Congratulations to the following local businesses that have been narrowed down to the Top 5 in their category: CoreHealth Technologies (Best Company); Float Space (Best Emerging Entrepreneur); Nourish (Best Concept); Soul Mate (Best Concept); The Greenery Garden Centre (Best Online Marketers) and CoreHealth Technologies (Best Workplace). Winners will be announced Feb.28.
Nature’s Fare Markets, 120-1876 Cooper Rd., will host a free event entitled “Look Fabulous and Feel Great” with guest speaker Lorna Vanderhaeghe on Thursday, Feb. 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. She will speak about memory enhancement, reducing wrinkles, preventing heart disease, bone loss, muscle and joint pain and more. There will be door prizes, book signing and a 15 per cent discount on merchandise. Seating is limited so you must sign up at the vitamin desk. Call 250-762-8636.
Local company CWMM Consulting Engineers Ltd., 200-1854 Kirschner Rd., has won a Design and Contract Preparation Award for exceptional bridge building at the 11th annual Deputy Minister’s Consulting Engineers Awards. The awards were for briudge and road projects the company was involved with in Fort St. John and Tupper Creek.
The Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission has announced its 2015 advisory board. The executive consists of Larry Widmer, chair (Community Futures); Paul Maarschalk, past chair (Solomon Resources Ltd.); Victor Narynskyyi, vice-chair (Centro Consulting Ltd.); Domenic Vinci; Tony Lewis (Vibrant Vines Vineyard); and Martin Cronin (Helios Global Tracking Ltd.) New to the 40 member board this year are Jim Grant, (Grant Thornton LLP); David McDougall (Blenz Coffee); Kale Wallgren (Levelton Consultants); Sascha Williams (Disney Interactive Canada); Robert Fine (City of Kelowna); Mark Koch, (District of Lake Country); Kevin Taylor (District of Peachland); Matt Vader, (District of Lake Country); Bryden Winsby (District of West Kelowna); Pilar Portela (Accelerate Okanagan); Patrick Van Minsel (Peachland Chamber, of Commerce); Chris Cruze (Greater Westside Board of Trade); and Lynette Keyowski (OK Mainline Real Estate Board).
The Society for Learning in Retirement (SLR) is looking to the community for help. For more than 20 years, the society has offered peer-led, educational programs to over 750 members with topics ranging from archaeology and arthritis to Zen and zoology. The society has now moved to larger premises at the corner of Ethel and Cawston. The move entails tenant improvements, such as furniture, lightings, AV equipment and an elevator to ensure those needing assistance are able to access the course studios. The project budget is $125,000 of which $92,000 has already been raised through grants and donations. A donation to this community-based organization would not only help them achieve their goal, you would be supporting seniors. For more info on the project or to enquire about the courses, call 250-448-1203 or visit slrkelowna.ca. Tax receipts will be issued. Sue Kuipers is chair of the fund raising committee with Judi MacGillivray also on the committee.
The opening of the brand new Rutland Community Market is slated for the Easter long weekend, Sunday, April 5. The market will have a new location at Roxby Road and Highway 33. There will be about 69 vendors at Roxby along with more vendors in the Rutland Centennial Hall, adding an additional 50 booths in total and a wider variety of vendors. A soft opening of the new market will also take place inside Rutland Centennial Hall on March 1.
The Okanagan Heritage Society 33rd AGM and annual Heritage Awards are Wednesday, Feb. 18, 7 p.m., at 2279 Benvoulin Rd. Heritage Week is also coming to Downtown Kelowna as an annual celebration, Feb. 16 to 22. The overall theme in 2015 is “Main Street: At the Heart of the Community.” Heritage Week will be celebrated throughout Downtown Kelowna sharing historical stories that will come to life through fun and interactive events. One of the events taking place is at The Royal Anne Hotel, a historic display on Thursday and Friday (Feb. 19 and 20) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Heritage Week is also being celebrated on the Westside. On Feb. 17, watch for a Bannock and Tea reception hosted by the Sncewips Heritage Museum, 1920 Quail Lane, from 1:30 to 4 p.m.; and on Feb. 19 at Westbank Museum, at 2376 Dobbin Rd., from 5 to 7 p.m. Call 250-768-0100.
The 40th Annual Kelowna Fire Department Chief Officers Awards and Recognition Ceremony were recently held. Fire Service Bars were given for 5 to 40 years of service. Congratulations to Chief Jeff Carlisle, 40 years and Ron Golling, 38 years. Paid on Call Service pins were given for 10 to 40 years, including Tom Watkins, 40 years and Rod Grison 30 years. City of Kelowna Service Awards was given to many with Ron Golling and Laurie Serres receiving 35 year awards. Happy retirement to Dale Calhoun, Ken Jacobson, Laurie Serres, Dan Phillips, Alan Porter and Tom Watkins. The Kelowna Capital News Community Emergency Service Award went to Gayanne Pacholzuk.
Birthdays of the week: Tim Light (Feb. 11); Kasha Lanyon (Feb. 11); Bruno Curatolo and his mother-in-law Rosemary Wilson (both Feb. 12); Laurence Gaymer, Mission Rotary (Feb. 13); Ann Stanley (Feb. 14); Dale McKenzie (Feb. 14); Gary Kreller (Feb. 15); Seymour Zidle (Feb. 16); Rod Warnock, my bother in law (Feb. 17); Philip Patara (Feb. 17).
