News Influencing Thompson Okanagan Business
KELOWNA
Sean Dyer
Sean Dyer has joined the Blucke & Associates at IG Private Wealth Management in Kelowna.
Daniel Winer, the executive director of the Central Okanagan chapter of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association, has resigned.
John Rustad, Leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia, is pleased to announce that Gavin Dew will be the party’s candidate for Kelowna-Mission in the upcoming provincial election.
Northam Beverages, the leading alcoholic beverage brand inventor in BC, has recently unveiled a bold and innovative collection of BC’s most beloved brands in non-alcoholic and de-alcoholized versions: Hey Y’all!, Lonetree dry cider, Cabrón tequila, and Lumette.
Through a campaign called Travel Now to the Thompson Okanagan—On Us, the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, which collaborates with tourism organizations throughout the Interior, is awarding ten $1,000 giveaways and more. To be eligible, entrants must submit a photo or video from their trip to the Thompson Okanagan with a time stamp between the dates of January 2023 and September 2024. A cash prize of $1,000 will be drawn every five days ten times from August 12th to October 1st.
The developer Kerr Properties‘ proposal to rezone the property at 765 Badke Road to urban core rental only was approved by the Kelowna city council.
BC Tree Fruits has recently filed for creditor protection due to liabilities totaling over $58 million.
A development permit for a 451 unit rental complex is being proposed by the owners of property at 825 Academy Way, near UBC Okanagan.
Hexagon Agility, a subsidiary of Hexagon Composites, has been awarded orders for renewable natural gas (RNG) fuel systems from a significant refuse fleet in North America for USD 18.7 million.
The StrongerBC Future Skills Grant offers financial help for over 20 Okanagan College courses and programs, allowing students to improve their abilities, enhance their professions, or explore new activities.
The annual Fancy Pants Golf Tournament, which benefits the Kelowna Child and Youth Advocacy Centre, will be held at Sunset Ranch Golf and Country Club on Thursday, September 5, by the Rotary Club of Kelowna Ogopogo.
From August 17 to 29, the Moonlight Movie Tour will be returning to the Thompson-Okanagan region, organized by Beem Credit Union.
The Move Well Café by Orthoquest is the newest Merrithew® Host Training Centre, located in Kelowna, to offer best-in-class Pilates education and training.
Alaska Airlines will launch daily non-stop, seasonal service between YLW and Los Angeles on December 19, 2024.
Pacific Coastal Airlines now offers three direct routes between Vancouver Island and Kelowna—Victoria, Nanaimo, and Comox—and will launch direct flights between YLW and Prince George, 6 times a week, starting at the end of October 2024.
In January 2025, WestJet will begin operating daily flights between Kelowna and Seattle as part of its collaboration with Delta Air Lines.
Applications for Accelerate Okanagan‘s Fall 2024 cohort programs are currently open and will be accepted until August 23.
A development permit for a four-story building with 107 rental units, including 15 ground units that front onto both Springfield Rd and Wilkinson St., was approved by the council. The structure will encompass four properties located at 2110–2140 Wilkinson St.
KAMLOOPS
Tourism Kamloops is one of three finalists for the Canadian Meetings + Events Expo ‘Big Idea’ Award. This category honours an individual planner or supplier who has come up with and helped to implement an idea that has improved the productivity, profitability, culture and/or operational systems of a specific company/business and has helped in modernizing our industry in the process.
Fernando Medina starting a new position as Environmental Superintendent at New Gold Inc. New Afton mine, Kamloops.
Mark Kim, PMP has been hired as Project Manager at BC Cancer.
The former Tourism Kamloops facility at 1290 Trans-Canada Hwy is being considered by the City of Kamloops and its partners as a potential ESS centre due to its central location.
Seasons Health Therapies‘ pediatric gym space at 292 Fourth Ave. in downtown Kamloops will host a unique eight-week yoga session for autistic children. Classes begin on September 18 and continue every Wednesday through November 6.
The Orange Jersey Project will present the second annual Every Child Matters Hockey Game at the Sandman Centre in downtown Kamloops on September 21.
At this year’s Kamloops Ribfest event, which has raised nearly $1 million for youth and senior programs over the course of its 13-year history, Smoking Outlaws BBQ was awarded the title of Best Ribs, Grizzly BBQ was awarded the people’s choice award, and Prairie Smoke and Spice BBQ were awarded the best sauce and sustainability awards.
PROCAD Designs Ltd. is moving to its new location at 1383 McGill Rd, Kamloops, on September 1st.
Infrastructure BC, Interior Health Authority, Provincial Health Services Authority, and BC Cancer are hosting an in-person Business-to-Business Networking Event on September 23 at Coast Kamloops Hotel & Conference Centre for the Kamloops Cancer Centre Project.
Venture Kamloops is partnering with the Kamloops & District Chamber of Commerce to hold the 3rd Annual Workforce Conference and Job Fair from September 26th to the 27th, at the Coast Kamloops Hotel.
Randyne Astra is now the Terminal Support Coordinator for KAG Canada Kamloops and Jill Petrini has been promoted to Shop Supervisor.
Jaspreet Kaur has joined the Kamloops Women’s Centre as the office manager.
Chelsea Tuyttens is the newest memeber on the board of directors for the Kamloops Symphony Society.
PENTICTON/OLIVER/OSOYOOS
Iasac Gilbert
Ryan Graham was appointed to the Penticton Library Board, while Isaac Gilbert was named a director to the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen.
Amanda Locke, the founder of Wordplay Therapy Services Inc., and Janine Cumberland, the owner of Enchanted Florist and Paradox Tents and Events, were recognized as this year’s Top 40 award recipients by the Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce and Kettle Valley Memorial.
Tangent, Home Décor and Furniture has officially opened at 25 Front Street, founded by Guerard’s Furniture in collaboration with long-term employee and famous designer Agnes Stayanovich.
The director of community services, Kelsey Johnson, addressed the city council that, as of the end of the first half of 2024, a number of significant capital projects worth over $41 million had made significant headway.
Jeff Hancock and Shelby Kostyshen of William Wright Commercial acted as brokers in the recent $1.6 million sale of property at 32 Backstreet Blvd., in downtown Penticton.
The Ministry of Health has announced an incentive program that will allow healthcare personnel in the South Okanagan to apply for job perks including raises and bonuses. This initiative has been expanded to include Osoyoos, Oliver, and Okanagan Falls.
The 2024 Young Stars Classic, which is in its eleventh year, will be held at the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton from September 13th to the 16th. The Vancouver Canucks announced on Wednesday that single-game tickets would go ob sale on August 16th.
A 43-unit complex is currently being built on Osoyoos Indian Band lands. This project is a is a collaboration between the BC Government, BC Housing, the Osoyoos Indian Band, and the Government of Canada. It’s a member project of Roofing Contractors Association of British Columbia, and is protected by a 10-year RoofStar Guarantee.
Stag’s Hollow Winery has recently achieved recertification by the Fraser Basin Council’s Salmon-Safe BC program, showcasing their unwavering dedication to sustainable farming practices.
Council approved $75,000 for initial hotel design at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre and an Assent Voting referendum at the 2026 municipal election.
The work on the North Gateway Central District Future Development continues that would see the following upgrades: Alberni St/Eckhardt Ave and Comox St/Eckhardt Ave intersection upgrades; Arena feasibility study; Opportunity for a new hotel connected to the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre; Social (workforce) housing development at Eckhardt and Comox.
The City of Penticton joined the Canada Community Building Fund, which gives per-capita funds to local governments for infrastructure and capacity-building. Penticton received $1.6 million last year and will receive over $1.7 million for three years and slightly over $1.8 million in 2027 and 2028.
The Council has authorized a five-year extension of the agreement with Interior Health for the use of a portion of City land that is utilized by Moog & Friends Hospice House.
SALMON ARM
Kelly Bennett
Kelly Bennett will be joining SASCU‘s executive team on August 19th as the vice president of strategy and partnerships. She will be taking over from Joanna Markin, who recently started as the VP of people and culture on August 6th.
The council of Salmon Arm has given the go-ahead for the Adams Lake Indian Band and the Neskonlith Indian Band to begin building the West Bay Connector Trail. The Salmon Arm city council approved a motion to have ISL Engineering and Land Services do the trail’s preliminary design at their meeting on August 12.
Revelstoke Rod and Gun Club celebrated the grand launch of their new range on August 10.
Roots & Rascals Children’s Boutique, co-owned by Liz Meyer-Attig and her mom Gillian Meyer, had its grand opening on Saturday, August 3 in downtown Enderby.
VERNON
The Armstrong Spallumcheen Fire Department has appointed Rob Brown as its new interim chief.
The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation has announced the release of a second round of application admissions for the Housing Accelerator Fund, which covers an additional $400 million.
The Allan Brooks Nature Centre in Vernon is introducing the ‘Okanagan Moves,’ a fall fundraiser that will help the centre support its nature education programming and commemorate its love of the outdoors. The event will take place from September 1 to 15.
The City of Vernon announces the recipients of Sustainability Grants for 2024 which include: Okanagan Science Centre, Michelle Mitchell, Kerry MacLeod, Susan Solymosi, Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship Society, Vernon Elks, Deb Humphries, Natalie Appleton, John Rudy – Health Resource Centre Association, Okanagan Regional Library – Vernon Branch and VOICE Society.
Vernon Chamber of Commerce welcomes new members: Coldstream Mechanical, LC Legend Capital and the The Stigman Group.
The deadline for nominations for the Greater Vernon Chamber‘s 40th Annual Business Excellence Awards presented by Kal Tire is 11:59pm, August 26, 2024.
SUMMERLAND
CIMA+ and KMBR Architects Planners have worked together since 2022 to improve Summerland’s Secondary School gymnasium, which opens this autumn with basketball hoops, volleyball courts, and new bleachers.
CenDek Railings Ltd., located in Summerland, is currently hiring for the following positions: Packaging, Mill Shop, and Weld Shop.
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