This week’s column is dedicated to Gerry Mitzel. We have been long-time friends with the Mitzel family dating back to when they purchased and started M & M Meat Shops in Kelowna. Gerry was a dedicated long-time sponsor of the Maxine DeHart, United Way, Ramada Hotel Drive-Thru Breakfast and I was very grateful for his participation. Personal condolences to wife Donna, Tyler (Jennifer) and Colin (Andrea), their entire family and many friends.
Dr. David Wikenheiser is celebrating his 20th anniversary being licensed as a naturopathic doctor in B.C. with an office at #308-1500 Hardy St. Born and raised in Kelowna, he graduated from Rutland Secondary, then from business programs at Okanagan College and BCIT and completed science courses at Kwantlen College and SFU. He then completed a naturopathic medical degree at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine, with Honours in Research in Portland, Oregon and a Bachelor’s of Science degree through Excelsior College. His six specialties are ozone therapy, acupuncture, chelation, prolotherapy, prescribing authority and advanced injection therapeutics. Formerly being a company spokesman for Natural Factors and Flora Manufacturing, he offers a wide range of Naturopathic Medical Services and has a special interest in using Regenerative Medicine to solve joint pain. He has also brought advanced naturopathic medical treatments to Kelowna, including ultrasound guided injections of platelet rich plasma to solve joint pain. I have known Dr. Wikenheiser for many years and have also used some of his services. He is extremely dedicated to his profession and is always excited about learning, showing and speaking to his patients on new types of treatment. Call 250-762-8900.
Ken Spence has joined Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union as senior commercial account manager. Ken replaces Rennie Wutke who retired on July 31. With 30 years in the industry, Ken started his banking career in Vernon and has worked all over the province from Cassiar to Elkford. Most of his career has been in commercial banking, with 14 of those years as the RBC real estate senior manager in Kelowna. Grant Fletcher is the regional manager, commercial banking for Valley First. Call 250-860-1670.
After 11 years as the executive director of the Kelowna & District Safety Council, Tania Meyer is moving on at the end of Aug.. Tania is off to live and work in China for a year. She has accepted a position teaching English, business and French at Guangxi University in Guilin. What a great opportunity that she is now going to experience one of her lifelong goals. Call 250-765-3163. www.kdsc.bc.ca
The Kelowna AquaJets have a new head coach. Lois Daigneault is a two-time member of the Canadian National Swim Team, an Olympic Trial qualifier and has won 13 All-American awards. She uses her background as a sports medicine/psychology major to enhance her coaching skills. For new and returning swimmers, the 2015/16 season will begin on Sept. 8. Call 778-363-7946 or headcoachkaj@hotmail.com.
Memphis Blues BBQ House has been named one of Food Network Canada’s “12 Great BBQ Joints in Canada” joining the likes of barbecue hot spots from Toronto, Montreal and Calgary. Locally owned and operated by Andre Thomas and located at 289 Bernard Ave., Memphis Blues is literally breaking ground on their second location in Rutland at the corner of Highway 33 and Rutland Road opening in the spring of 2016. It’s a Kelowna ‘gem’ and a top spot where you can find authentic Southern-style BBQ and some smoky, finger-lickin’ good meats remarks Dan Clapson, food writer for Food Network Canada. Call 250-868-3699.
URBA Uptown After Hours is Wednesday, Sept. 2 from 5 to 7 p.m., hosted by WS Accounting Services, in the back parking lot off Roxby Road (Roxby & Hwy. 33). $8 per person and all welcome. Call 250-451-9861 or laurel@uptownrutland.com.
ShopKelowna.com has been launched. Owned and operated by TJ Papp, this online franchised platform to the Okanagan is developed to help give locally owned businesses everything they need to be successful online and also make it easy for consumers to support those local businesses. The trend for some consumers has been to shop at big box stores or online at Amazon. To reverse this trend and keep more money in our local economy, ShopKelowna.com has developed a local online directory and marketplace featuring our great local businesses and the products and services they offer. ShopKelowna.com is an extension of ShopLocally.com, which started in Midland, Ontario by Colin Pape, whose family owned a small business. When the box stores started to come into their town, it really affected their local business. The Pape’s began to focus their efforts online and the store thrived. This prompted him to duplicate the platform across Canada and now into the US and around the world. Businesses who are interested in finding out more details, call TJ 250-863-9617 or tj@shopkelowna.com.
The new phone number for Jordan and Steven Kupidy’s CBI Health Group is 778-313-0104.
Long-time local residents, Frank and Asae Yoshioka, were invited to attend the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Vancouver where Frank proudly had the honour of receiving medals for both his father, Tom Yoshioka and uncle, Happy Yoshioka who were inducted into the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame as members of the Vancouver Asahi Baseball Team. The Asahi ball team came about under the leadership of Harry Miyasaki who was determined to have a team that could win the Terminal League Championship—and that it did. In 1926 the Asahi team won the Terminal League playoffs and was voted most popular team in the City of Vancouver. This began a succession of wins and championships for the Asahi team including a triple championship season in 1938. Now, after all these years, Frank’s family has been honoured by seeing two members of their family bestowed with this honour. The B.C. Sports Hall of Fame and Museum preserves and honours BC’s sport heritage by recognizing extraordinary achievement in sport and have inducted 363 individuals and 58 teams since 1966.
An interesting twist in the fingernail industry. Jenny Gravel has started a new online business called Goldfinger Custom Design Fingernails. She sells solid gold fingernails, which are not gold filled, plated or gold nail polish. They come in three widths Small—10 mm; Medium—11.5 mm and Large—12 mm. They also custom designed to any length or style of nail to fit customers’ likes. Incidentally, Jenny has been wearing her gold nails for 30 years. They can be worn as a full set or as a single nail for a wow effect. Visit www.golffingernails.ca or contact Jenny at 250-317-4523 or jennyjag@goldfingernails.ca.
Happy 18th anniversary to Clarence and Maria Johnson (Aug. 23). Clarence is in charge of the City of Kelowna’s float.
It’s time to dig through those dusty items tucked away in your attic to find out if you might be holding on to a treasure. Professional art and antiques appraiser Peter Blundell will be in town for Treasures from the Attic on Saturday, Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Kelowna Art Gallery, 1315 Water St. It you have ever seen Antiques Roadshow on TV, you will know what to expect during this day-long event. Book an appointment to find out what your items are worth or just join as a spectator (free admission). Peter will be giving opinions on the value of antiques, collectibles and art, including reproductions or prints. Fifteen minute-long evaluation sessions will allow for his viewing of up to three items, depending on the time needed. He cannot appraise jewelry, coins, stamps, guns or wristwatches; however, pocket watches and swords may be brought in. If you wish to have a large piece of furniture assessed, bring in a portion of the piece, e.g. a drawer, along with a photograph and measurements. Cost is $40 for members of the Kelowna Art Gallery and $50 for the public. To make an appointment call 250-762-2226. Payment is required at the time of booking. www.kelownaartgallery.com.
The inaugural Primaris and Orchard Park Charity Golf Tournament is Sept. 17 at The Harvest Golf Club with funds going to the Canadian Mental Health Association. Primaris, along with Orchard Park and their other western based properties have already donated $30,000 to CHMA and they are looking for the community’s support in helping them realize their goal. There is still space for teams or individuals. Valuable swag bags, entertainment, prizes and fun throughout the course. Visit www.orchardparkshopping.com for details. Call Vikki Webster at 250-869-4602 or vwebster@primarisreit.com
On Saturday, Aug. 29, the Kelowna Yacht Club members are hosting their annual Blind Fishing Derby for visually impaired guests along with their guides. They head out at 9:30 a.m., some with fishing gear and dreams of catching the fish that wins the trophy, while others will embark on a narrated lake tour, followed by lunch on the dock. They invite all those with vision loss to participate in this year’s derby. For more details or to register call 250-762-3310 or visit www.kelownayachtclub.com.
The Sandstone community has been hosting charity breakfasts since 1994 and donating food and cash to the local food bank. This year’s breakfast on Aug. 15 raised $1,719 in cash and over 225 pounds of food.
The Kelowna Diabetes Support Group meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 6:30 p.m. at Green Bay Learning Centre, 1441 Green Bay Road in West Kelowna. Participation is free and drop-ins are encouraged. Call 250-575-9291 or gstuerle@hotmail.com.
The Westside Board of Trade is accepting nominations for its Key Business Awards. If you own or operate a business on the Westside you are also able to nominate your business for one or more of the categories. For more information or questions contact Marek Buryska, branch manager, Valley First, Orchard Plaza Branch at 250-980-8964 or mburyska@valleyfirst.com.
Birthdays of the week—Eileen Galarneau, Okanagan Pilates (Aug. 26); Doris Vester (Aug. 26); Tom Light (Aug. 27); Lori Field (Aug. 27); Kim Dorcas (Aug. 27); Debbie Larry (Aug. 28); Madelaine Leslie (Aug. 28); Garry Appleton (Aug. 29); Mark Rogers (Aug.30); Louise Koch, CIBC (Aug. 31); Debra Fletcher (Aug. 31); Rosanne Ting-Mak Brown (Aug. 31); Fran Houston (Sept. 1).
