Banner Recreation and Marine, located at 819 McCurdy Place in Kelowna, is the Okanagan dealership for the Can-Am Spyder Touring Vehicle.
This roadster is a three-wheeler and offers total comfort and luxury, equipped even with a luggage compartment with matching luggage on some models. The vehicles are made by Bombardier in Quebec and licensing is the same as a motorcycle. These units have anti-lock brakes, traction control, stability control, semi-auto transmission, power steering, reverse and cruise control. It’s a super looking vehicle, easy to get on and off of. I rode with Derek Bannister, owner/operator of Banner Recreation and Marine, as a passenger in the Prostate Ride for Dads last Sunday and what an incredible experience. His dealership was a major sponsor of that event. The ride was very smooth, extremely stable, stylist, street savvy and comfortable. Stuart Gillies is the sales manager and Spyder specialist for Banner. I also received the full-meal deal tour from Gillies before the ride. Except for a roof over your head; it has all the luxuries of a closed-in vehicle. There are several models and colours to choose from and you can even order a colour matched fibreglass trailer for more cargo space. Banner also offers riding gear and helmets. The Prostate Ride for Dad’s had 500 motorcycle participants and raised a whopping $32,000.
Dragon Cards, Games & Collectibles, owned and operated by Randal Peterson at 15-1771 Cooper Rd. in Kelowna, celebrates 20 years in business this month. Peterson originally opened his store in Westbank and then moved to Kelowna in 1997, located initially on Burtch Road before moving to the present location then to their current location at the corner of Cooper and Enterprise in 2000. Dragon sells board games, card games, role playing games, war games, action figures, model kits, die cast cars, puzzles, comic books, trading cards, gifts and collectibles. The store hosts weekly tournaments and holds special events like International Board Game Day. Call 250-860-1770; email dragoncards@shaw.ca.
Entrepreneur Buck LaRoche, owner of Auto Trim Line Detail & Signs, just does not stop growing his business. Located at 264 Leon Ave. in Kelowna’s downtown core, LaRoche now has added a scooter rental business called Downtown Scooterz. These scooters only require a regular class 5 driver’s license with no need for a class 6 motorcycle license. The vehicles are a great way to sightsee through the Abbott Street corridor just a block from City Park or up to Knox Mountain. Cost is $24.95 per hour, including a taxes and gas with helmets and road maps supplied. LaRoche mentioned that he is very thankful for his business friendly landlord, Brian August, for supporting him in all his new ventures. Call 250-899-5833; email atso.autotrim@gmail.com.
Congratulations to Samantha Hill, daughter of Capital News publisher Karen Hill, on completing her business degree at Okanagan College.
A reminder that all the local Mission Creek businesses are open during the bridge and road closure on Lakeshore Road. Many of the businesses have come together to offer special deals to their customers. Construction can be tough on walk-in customer traffic so please make the effort to come and visit these businesses. Go to www.missionbridgedeals.com to see all the coupons for Creekside Pub, Petro Canada, Sunnyside dental, Nari Sushi, Total E’Clips, Starbucks, Super Car Wash, and Ritchcraft Framing. It is worth going on the site and clipping.
David Brown has joined the firm of Pushor Mitchell LLP as an associate lawyer, specializing in the areas of employment and immigration law. Call 250-869-1114; email dbrown@pushormitchell.com.
Had the pleasure of working at Tim Hortons Camp Day at the drive-thru window last Wednesday at the store location at Harvey and Spall. Big thanks to Sara Rampone and Loreey Farmer for “showing me the ropes” and thanks to all the customers who went through the drive-thru early that morning. It was a lot of fun and I saw of ton of people who I knew.
Learn to Scuba Dive with the pros. Tim and Becky Butt have started Kelowna Divers. Tim is a PADI staff instructor and BSAC advanced instructor while Becky is a PADI and BSAC open water instructor. They teach their classes in the lake and offer a full range of PADI and BSAC diver training, which allows you to enter the world of recreational diving easily and in total safety. The structured levels will allow you to master different techniques and skills, enabling you to increase your confidence, ability and enjoyment as you progress through your underwater adventures. Tim and Becky teach Novice, (Open water/Tropical Referral); Intermediate (Adventure Diver/Rescue Diver); Advanced (Dive Master/Assistant Instructor) and Specialty (Boat Diver/Night Diver and Search and Recovery), plus many more types of diving within the different classes. Call 250-215-7871; visit www.kelowndivers.ca.
Lori Burns and Jan Johnson, owners of Tigerlily Fashions in downtown Kelowna, have sold their building at 575 Bernard Ave. and plan to relocate just a few doors down at 541 Bernard Ave. (beside Cruzwear) on July 1. Alleycat Fashions will be phased out and some of the lines will be incorporated into Tigerlily, so there will still be some great pricing and fabulous styles, many of which are Canadian-made. Keep tuned for their grand opening in their new location. Karen Gardner is the manager of Tigerlily. Call 250-860-0849
Barb Douglas has officially started her new business called Corks & Hops, Kelowna’s only hop-on/hop-off wine tour company. It’s designed for you to take your wine tours “your day” and “your way.” There are three regions to choose from—Kelowna Lakeshore, West Kelowna and Bottleneck (Summerland). There is a choice of three pickup/drop office locations and all tours are a minimum of five hours with very reasonable pricing. Stop where you like, for how long you like and then hop on the bus and go to the next winery. It’s a great way of taking wine tours and not driving. Reservations required at 250-767-3371 or book online at www.corksandhopsokanagan.com or info@corksandhopsokanagan.com.
The Downtown Kelowna Association has a new board of directors—Dan Allen (Doc Willoughby’s Public House); Andrew Brunton (Pushor Mitchell LLP); Angie Bricker (Georgie Girl Vintage); Luigi Coccaro (La Bussola Restaurant); Rob Collins (Grant Thornton LLP); Perry Freeman (Colliers International); Yarden Gershony (Rush Ihas Hardwick LLP); Dallas Gray (Newcap Radio); Jan Johnson (Tigerlily Fashions); David Knapp (CIBC); Brent Lobson (Imperial Parking); Dustin Sargent (Streaming Café & Davara Enterprises); Renee Wasylyk (Troika Developments) and Kelowna city councillor Luke Stack, ex-officio (City of Kelowna). Brice MacDermott (MacD’s & MacDermott’s) and Trevor Neill (Mosaic Books) are leaving the board.
Speaking of downtown Kelowna, on Thursday, June 19, the downtown merchants are inviting the community for a “Small Shop at Night” evening event from 4 to 9 p.m. You can walk along the new Bernard Avenue, shop and have dinner. What a great evening this will be.
Congratulations to The Pixie Chicks who entered the Canadian Cancer Relay for Life and raised the most team money for the event, which totalled $12,126. The team captain was Lynn Waller. The team consisted of Angela Pineau, Franki Beaney, Rob Belanger, Becky Butt, Carleen Cook, Vicky Hunt, Becky Logan, Nancy Matthewscyr, Jana Potts, Gordon Raynard, Marg Schleppe, Robert Stewart, Cam Waller and Janice Walters.
The Central Okanagan Retired Teachers Association has elected a new 2014-15 board. Congats to president Rolli Cacchioni, Dr. Alf McLean (vice-president), Val Larson (secretary), Bob Hayes (treasurer), Willie Findlater (membership chair), Sig Ottenbreit (heritage chair), Linda Ben-hamida (historian), John Powell and Michael Stephens (members at large).
The 15th annual Rotary Club of Kelowna/School District 23 Public Speaking Contest was held April 28. Congratulations to Grade 6 students Jenaya McRorie, Rose Valley Elementary School (1st place) and Hailey Lewis, Rose Valley Elementary School (2nd place). Grade 7 students were Isis Darosa, Anne McClymont Elementary School (1st place); Snover Gill, Davidson Road Elementary School (2nd place) and Logan Braun, Davidson Road Elementary School (3rd place).
Art in the Garden, a community event at Okanagan Lavender & Herb Farm, 4380 Takla Rd. in East Kelowna, will host this year’s themed outing: The Chair in the Garden.” They’re inviting entries from the public in four categories—up-cycled barrel and pallet chairs, vintage garden chairs, fairy garden chairs (children’s category) and fairy garden chairs (children at heart category). The exhibition is at the lavender and herb farm on Saturday, July 12, and Sunday, July 13, with music, food, art and judging. Proceeds to benefit Building Healthy Families. For entry information call Andrea McFadden at 250-764-7795 or email info@okanaganlavender.com.
Blakey School of Irish Dance and the Okanagan School of Irish Dance Parent’s Advisory Committee is hosting a golf tournament at Michaelbrook Golf Course on Sunday, June 22. Along with entertainment by the Blakey School of Irish Dance, there will be 18 holes of golf, dinner and tons of prizes including a $10,000 hole-in-one. To register call Patricia at 250-764-9192.
The RCMP Foundation (of which I am a board member) is hosting a 20th anniversary Sweepstakes Grand Prize trip for two to Ottawa to see the RCMP Sunset Ceremonies. The prize includes airfare, two night stay (June 27 and 28), VIP Seats at the RCMP Musical Ride Performance, VIP cocktail reception, tickets to the RCMP Sunset Ceremonies and a $200 gift certificate from The Mountie Shop. For contest details and to enter go to www.facebook.com/RCMPF (Like them) or www.rcmpfoundation.com.
Birthdays of the week: Wayne Judiesch, Macdonald Realty (June 12); Mark Dickie, MacKay LLP (June 15); Brian Tapp, Jamieson Vitamins (June 18); Donna Hannah, Wealthlink Financial June 11); Gerry Mitzel (June 13); Steve Hardy, High Point Realty (June 14); Carol Chapell (June 18); John Nixon (June 17); Jamie Briggs (June 17); Tony French (June 17); Dr. Ian Leitch (June 18).
