Summerland’s Your Dollar Store with More is under new ownership. Allan Carter and Catherine Buffie took over the store in December after searching for a retail opportunity in a smaller town in the Okanagan.
The couple have traveled extensively and both have years of customer service and sales experience.
This is their first venture in Summerland and Catherine reports they have been overwhelmed by the warm welcome they have received from their customers: “People in Summerland really take their time to speak with you; they don’t just rush past,”she says.
Awards gala
The 75th Annual Awards Gala and Dinner will be held on Feb. 23 at the Summerland Waterfront Resort and Spa, catered by Local Lounge and Grille. Tickets are available through the Summerland Chamber of Commerce office at 250-494-2686.
Party and dancing after the ceremonies at Local Lounge.
Business receives award
Congratulations to Summerland Tim Hortons manager Simmi Bhardwaj and her team for their recent achievement of a Tim Hortons Platinum award.
The award recognizes the top five per cent of Tim Hortons stores in B.C. based on food safety, merchandising, cleanliness and customer service.
The Summerland store was also among the top scoring stores in Canada.
20th anniversary
Summerland’s A&A Mini Storage and Wine Cellar are celebrating their 20th anniversary in 2013.
Owners Cyril and Lorraine Taylor have built a strong reputation on their slogan “Not the biggest, simply the best!” and are excited to be marking such an important milestone for their business.
Extended hours
Starting in February, True Grain Bread on Main Street will be open six days a week instead of five. Customers can shop from Tuesday to Sunday.
Expanded
service
Summerland IGA wants to tempt your palate at their newly opened Orchard Bistro.
Customers can now take a break from their shopping and enjoy daily lunch specials like lasagne and meatloaf, along with a selection of baked goods and specialty coffees.
New winery manager
Kristina Neilsen is the new Visitor Experience Manager for Sumac Ridge Estate Winery.
A graduate of Ryerson University in Ontario with a degree in Journalism, Kristina’s not so secret passion for the wine industry called her out west where she joined the winery in June of 2011.
Showing great leadership abilities and exceptional customer service skills, Kristina was promoted to assistant manager in April 2012.
She takes over the management role from Jodie Hopper, who left the company late last year to raise her young family.
Fishing boost
Summerland Trout Hatchery is increasing the number of Rainbow Trout that will be released into Agur Lake this spring.
About 1,200 catchables will be released in late May, up from 1,000.
If you would like to follow when the Freshwater Fisheries Society releases fish, Go Fish BC is now on Facebook, and you can also visit their website.
Anti-bullying initiative
A local video production company, ET2media, is working with a group of volunteers to create a video for Summerland Bully Free.
The video is in the planning stages and is scheduled to be released prior to Pink Shirt Day on Feb. 28, 2013.
Several groups and individuals are involved in the project including Stop A Bully, District of Summerland, Summerland Secondary School students and the Summerland Steam hockey team. For more information visit bullyfreesummerland.com
Sophia Jackson is the Membership Services and Events Coordinator for the Summerland Chamber of Economic Development and Tourism.
