This week’s column is dedicated to a good friend, Jim McPhail who passed away just before of his 58th birthday on Dec. 18, after a brief illness. An avid cyclist and racquetball player, Jim will be missed by all his many friends and colleagues. Personal condolences to wife Tammi and his entire family.
This is not your typical Tim Horton’s. Owned and operated by Kevin and Barb Becker and managed by their daughter Jayla Becker, the Tim Horton’s at the corner of Highway 97 and Cooper Road has recently been expanded, renovated and relocated next to their existing Tim Horton’s. The new Tim’s now has 3,400 square feet of modern atmosphere, 75 seats, three tills, (normally two), two TV’s, a fireplace in the lobby, is computer friendly with free Wi-Fi and has a huge community table for friends and others to gather. There is loads of parking and they are open 24/7. I tried the coffee cake, pumpkin and red velvet muffins (not all by myself) and they were delicious. Kevin and Barb have been Tim Horton owners for the past 16 years and are also the owner/operators of the Sexsmith Road location.
Congratulations to the 2015 Board of Directors for Tourism Kelowna. They are: Stan Martindale, chair (Ramada Hotel & Conference Centre); Daniel Bibby, vice-chair (Kelowna Hotel Motel Association/Delta Grand); David McFadden, secretary (Okanagan Lavender & Herb Farm); Thom Killingsworth, treasurer (Four Points Sheraton – Airport); Katie Balkwill (Big White Ski Resort); Nathan Flavel (Kelowna Actors Studio); Donna Markin (Orchard Park Shopping Centre); Rosemary Paterson, (Best Western); Heather Schroeter (Manteo Resort); Penny Gambell (Lake Country Council); Sam Samaddar (YVR); Heather Schaub (Casa Loma Resort); Tony Stewart (Quails’ Gate Winery); Dan Matheson (Okanagan Golf Club); Tanya Stroinig (Prestige Hotel); Kelowna city council appointee TBA. Departing directors are Ian Robertson, Andre Blanleil and Rita Pluta.
Congratulations to Stephanie Light who passed the 2014 Uniform Evaluation (UFE) from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of BC. (ICABC – CPA). Stephanie is the daughter of Darran Light and the granddaughter of Russ Light, a long-time well-known local family.
Mission Hill Winery in West Kelowna has been selected by the public in the B.C.’s Best Buildings Contest by the Architecture Foundation of B.C. as one of the top three buildings in the Interior Region of the province and was also voted the best in all of British Columbia. The contest, which marked 100 years of architecture as a profession in B.C. received more than 450 nominations from around the world. People voted online for their favourite buildings, with over 4,000 people voting. Mission Hill Winery received 1,007 votes. Other area winners were the Empress Hotel, Victoria, (Vancouver Island); The Igloo, Hwy 16, Smithers (Northern Region) and The Wing Sang Building, Vancouver (Southern Region).
Kudos to Darryl Reuter of Royal LePage Kelowna who received the Central Okanagan 2014 Realtors Care Award from the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board.
Nuvue Optometry has opened at 112 – 1950 Harvey Avenue in Spall Plaza (behind I-Hop). Owned and operated by father and son team, Dr. Brad Almond and Dr. Devin Almond, they offer advanced technology with affordable care. With the highest level of patient care, the new clinic offers comprehensive eye exams (includes glaucoma testing and retinal imaging); advanced technology to assess cataracts, diabetes, macular degeneration; precision contact lens fitting (utilizing corneal topography for accuracy) and affordable eyewear packages (includes frame, lens, anti-reflective coating, case, cloth, cleaner). Their advanced technology allows for better triage for ophthalmological referrals with supportive documentation. The optical dispensary is upbeat and fun, with many brands and exclusive lines. Eyewear packages compete with the box stores and their specialty brands allow for unique looks. Often, they can deliver on the same day with their in-house edging lab. Call 778-484-1650 or check out www.nuvueoptometry.ca.
Volunteers Gary Johnston and Sue Hansen were honoured this past week by Cops for Kids Charitable Foundation for their many contributions. Gary has become a spokesman for Cops for Kids at major fundraising events as well as recently creating a brief video on the great work and support that Cops for Kids bring to children in crisis that reside in our region. http://youtu.be/iTH2WEcqF1E. Sue has stepped on board to assist with the administration of the grant requests. As these requests have grown more than two fold, Sue is an integral volunteer and has been able to not only assist at events, but help keep the processing of grant funding on task. Cops for Kids could not operate without the dedicated sponsors, riders, support team and the many volunteers from their photographers in the communities that they touch, to suppliers of meals and accommodations. If you would like to get involved, they are looking for assistance in graphic design, grant writing and on-call volunteers for fundraising events. info@copsforkids.org or www.copsforkids.org.
Dragica Saric, Tom Butterworth, and Mike Smith of BDO LLP have passed the 2014 Uniform Evaluation (UFE). This is a significant step towards becoming a Chartered Accountant in Canada (CPA) in recognition of their hard work and determination.
Crowe MacKay LLP, Chartered Accountants (CPA) have received an award from The Rotary Club of Kelowna, recognizing the leadership and commitment of the company towards community service. A long standing business philosophy of Crowe MacKay has been to have its employees engaged in worthy endeavors to enhance the community’s standard of living and provide support to those in need. The Rotary Club of Kelowna wanted to show their appreciation for all they have done over the years.
While the elves are busy in Santa’s workshop, technicians at Kelowna Cycle, owned by Patrick Rosen, are busy at their winter workshop at 1461 Sutherland Ave. repairing donated bikes. The bikes are destined for local charities and young students who cannot afford a bike at the nearby Raymer Elementary School. In its fifth year, all the refurbished bikes go back into our community ready for spring. Kelowna Cycle would like to put a call out to the community for donations of old bikes. All donations are accepted. The technicians refurbish those they can and will salvage parts from those beyond repair. Bikes go the Kelowna Women’s Shelter, Kelowna Gospel Mission and the Kelowna Branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association. Call 250-762-2453 or patrick@kelownacycle.ca
The Okanagan Masters Swim Club (OMSC) recognized a number of its members and contributors at its 2014 AGM. Congratulations to Conny Stamhuis (82) Swimmer of the Year and Carmelle Guidi-Swan (43) Most Inspirational Swimmer. Top Class age group Ironman triathlete, Cailla Patterson and Greg Coyle earned Most Improved Female Swimmer and Most Improved Male Swimmer respectively. The Elena Dimitrov Award for Courage and Determination went to Crystal Miller for completing the 2014 Across the Lake Swim. Elisa Hoover earned the Volunteer of the Year Award and non-member Volunteer Awards went to Mark Dixon and John Billington. Carol Taylor and Jeanette Hoft both achieved the Million Metre mark. The Hammer Award Floating Trophy went to Phred Martin; the Timing Perfection Award went to Val Newth and Tracey Sutton receiving the Torch Award. Along with newly elected president Neil Wyper, the new board consists of Kelly Imada, vice president; Brenda Balderson, treasurer; Sharon Spring, registrar; Desiree Henke, secretary; Aaryn Wyper, communications and Steve Gubeli, meet manager. Directors at large are Carol Taylor and Jennifer Leach-Trask. www.okmasters.com.
We know a lot more people these days but we know a lot less about them. A new Okanagan-made app plans to fight this “social obliviosity” with engaging game play. The free PopSavvy game was released this week on the App Store. The trivia game develops social awareness by asking players to predict how people will answer interesting questions. The answers come from “The Crowd” a living data base of continuously surveyed people. Head-to-head games are won by those players who are more socially savvy. The game features hundreds of thought provoking questions, each with revealing sets of results. Those results are broken down to show the votes of men and women, differing age levels and differing regions. New questions are added to the game every day. “PopSavvy was invented by our family while sitting around a campfire”, said Doug Manning, PopSavvy’s lead designer. They developed the game to provide a fun way for everyone to become more socially aware. Doug is a former teacher, counselor, entrepreneur and co-founder, president and CEO of Bridges Transitions, a well-known company from the early days of the local tech community. www.popsavvy.com.
Congratulations to the following 2014 retirees from the City of Kelowna. Tracy Lundberg, senior buyer (eight years); John McKay, design technician (24 years); Kerry Solinsky, police services manager (11 years); Ray Seabrook, sewer equipment operator (19 years); Ken Jacobson, fire training/safety officer (27 years); Gary Stephen, long range policy planning manager (27 years); Laurie Serres, Platoon Captain (35 years); Ron Forbes, property manager (35 years); John Goncalves, equipment operator 1 (20 years); Arla Bissell, accounting technician (26 years); Norm Ryder, cemetery manager (35 years); Don Orthner, crime review officer (five years); Jim Paterson, executive director of business development (six years); Dale Calhoun, platoon captain (31 years); Dave Dionne, data processor – police services (23 years); Mike Dalzell, utility maintenance person (24 years); Keith Grayston, financial services director (26 years); Bill Berry, design and construction services director (26 years); John Famenoff, pipefitter (20 years); Lorna Rowland, landscape design technician (22 years); Doug Hawkins, crime review officer (16 years).
Despite being in the middle of a huge construction project (the Sanctuary in the Mission) and being in the process of tearing down their own church and having to operate from a temporary location, the spirit of Christmas and outreach to the community still shines through at St. Paul’s United Church. The church will be presenting two evenings of sacred Christmas music, a tradition that goes back over 30 years. O Sing to the Child is Friday, Dec. 12 and 19 at 7 p.m. at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, 1130 Springfield Road. Call Shawna at 250-762-5443.
A free Kelowna City Band Concert is Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Mary Irwin theatre, Rotary Centre for the Arts. Please bring a food bank donation.
This year, the members of the Orchard Valley Quilters Guild sewed and filled over 100 Christmas stockings for the Women’s Shelter. They also presented the Salvation Army with more than a dozen bags of food and several boxes of toys at their annual luncheon.
Birthdays of the week—Happy 80th Anna Stuart (Dec. 15); Happy 60th Lucy Litz (Dec. 13); Barry Lapointe (Dec. 10); Mel Cooper, Victoria, BC (Dec. 10); Gabriel Giammartino, Via Veneto (Dec. 10); Joe Ungaro (Dec. 10); Mary Jo Schnepf (Dec. 10); Ann Gilbert (Dec. 10); Bob Levin (Dec. 11); Gerry Fraser, RE/MAX (Dec. 11); Anne Marie Kirby (Dec. 11); Toby Tannis Wittmann (Dec. 13); Gloria Sloan (Dec. 13); Ken Firkins (Dec. 13); R.J. Bennett (Dec. 14); Melena Cunial (Dec. 14); Tim Allan (Dec. 14); Frank Richter (Dec. 15).
