News Influencing Thompson Okanagan Business
KELOWNA
Ryan Malcolm
Dobrila Braunstein of Sandhill Winery, Laurel Hogg of Rush Ihas Harwick LLP, and Ryan Malcolm of Emil Anderson Group have all joined the board of directors of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce.
Stephen Fleming, the city clerk of Kelowna for the past sixteen years, will retire at the end of March. Deputy clerk Laura Bentley will succeed him as the new city clerk.
UBCO Professor of Political Science Dr. Wendy H. Wong is a finalist for the 2024 Lionel Gelber Prize, and is the only Canadian nominee this year for her book “We the Data: Human Rights in the Digital Age.”
The Kelowna Infiniti Nissan store is looking for a sales manager to join its team.
Rainstick Shower and Apricotton have received an undisclosed financial investment from the Okanagan Women’s Mentoring and Angel Network (OKGN WMAN).
Highstreet, a real estate and development firm based in Kelowna, has made a donation of $1 million to Okanagan College in support of apprenticeships and skilled trade programs.
Norsteel Building Systems Ltd. has been honoured as a COMPASS Select Top Vendor for 2023.
Dragons’ Den Canada is hosting a workshop on Wednesday, March 6 at the Kelowna Downtown Branch in collaboration with the Okanagan Regional Library for small business owners.
Accelerate Okanagan is seeking companies and accredited investors to join the 6th annual Okanagan Angel Summit. Applications will be accepted until March 24, 2024.
Tourism Kelowna has been selected as one of six global recipients for the 2023 Meaningful Tourism Award.
Okanagan College will host an online information session regarding its Tourism Management Diploma program on March 5.
BC Transit is introducing Umo, a new payment method for Okanagan and provincial transit riders.
BC Food & Beverage welcomes its newest member, Okanagan Beverage Co.
NeoTech Metals is excited to share the news of an upcoming grassroots field program at its newly staked Foothills project, located northeast of Kelowna.
Donations totaling $12,553.50 were recently received by the Kelowna Women’s Shelter from agents of Royal LePage Kelowna. These agents generously supported the organization’s programs and services throughout 2023.
A free online tax workshop will be provided in March by Launch Okanagan and Wealthsimple Foundation to address any and all tax-related inquiries prior to the yearly tax deadline.
The operating contract for the Kelowna Regional Transit System, Vernon Regional Transit System, North Okanagan Transit System, and Shuswap Regional Transit System has been extended for another two years by BC Transit to TranDev.
KAMLOOPS
DeDe DeRose
DesDe DeRose, the first superintendent of Aboriginal achievement in British Columbia, has been appointed chancellor of Thompson Rivers University.
Epoch Environmental Consulting Okanagan Limited is expanding with the opening of a new branch office in Kamloops.
The Pulse, a mixed-use project by Total Concept Developments on Kamloops’ North Shore, is set to move ahead after a rezoning application was unanimously approved by the city council during a public hearing.
The BC Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association announced the completion of the Kicking Horse Canyon project, joint venture between Emil Anderson Construction, Aecon Group Inc., and Parsons Inc. to update the road connecting Kamloops and Alberta.
A fifth aboriginal education enhancement agreement has been inked by the board of education of the Kamloops-Thompson school district and the Aboriginal Education Council. This agreement will provide a five-year plan to help aboriginal students.
The City of Kamloops is currently accepting applications for the Community Art Grants until April 5. These grants are intended for non-profit projects that aim to enhance and raise awareness of the arts within the community.
An application to the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund’s 2024 intake has been unanimously approved by the board of directors of the regional district. If the grant application is approved, the TNRD EOC could receive up to $30,000 to upgrade its equipment.
After less than two years in business, Eddies European Bistro, located at 273 Tranquille Rd., is reportedly closing on March 2.
A distinguished Communitas Award in the category of ‘Excellence in Community Service’ has been awarded to the Day One Society’s (D1S) Out of the Ashes (OOTA) Bursary.
PENTICTON/OLIVER/OSOYOOS
The CSSHL Western Championships will take place on March 4-17 at the Okanagan Hockey Training Centre, Memorial Arena and South Okanagan Events Centre, in Penticton.
On April 7, the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre will play host to the 7th Annual TRUE Penticton Tourism Expo, organized by Visit Penticton. The event will feature over fifty different tourism-related businesses and festivities.
Donations will be accepted at Cherry Lane Shopping Centre on March 8th by the South Okanagan Women in Need Society and Bell Media for the second annual Have a Heart Radiothon.
Holy Cross School in Penticton raises $50,000 at its annual fundraiser, doubling the amount donated to the construction of a new outdoor learning facility and outdoor play park.
The Glengarry Skating Club in Penticton has announced that Cloverdale Paint‘s “Under the Sea” theme for this year’s “Ice Parade” will take place at the South Okanagan Events Centre on April 19.
Stu Smith and Sarah Harper are moving their hot sauce company, Stoke the Fire, to Similkameen Valley.
Passholders at certain other BC mountains can take advantage of a new 50 per cent off offer from Apex Mountain Resort, valid until April 1st.
The Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin 2019, a blend of five Bordeaux red grapes grown on the estate’s 80-acre vineyard in the south Okanagan Valley, was named Top Red Wine at the Stampede Cellar Showdown.
The seventeen-unit, three-story Penticton apartment building located at 952 Dynes Avenue was sold on February 1 for $2.67 million, in accordance with the assessed value. Dan Chatfield and Trevor Buchan of Colliers represented the purchaser and the vendor was represented by Marcus & Millichap. Rents set at market rates and renovations have the potential to generate substantial upside.
SALMON ARM
Salli Carter will be the featured speaker at the Insight to Impact: Reflective Practices for Accelerating Business Growth workshop in Salmon Arm at at the Innovation Centre Powered by SASCU on March 22.
The Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail construction is set to start this spring from Kilometre 1.5, moving southwards along Mara Lake, following a new zoning amendment bylaw in Sicamous, proposed to change the residential areas to parkland, allowing for recreational use.
The Westgate Cafe located at 2090 10 Ave SW in Salmon Arm is officially opened.
The CSRD is inviting quotes for the supply and delivery of two new Wildland Type 3 Apparatus Vehicles for the Malakwa and Tappen/Sunnybrae Fire Departments. The deadline is on March 15, 2024.
The CSRD is inviting tenders from qualified Contractors for the removal and replacement of the existing siding and three bay doors at the Eagle Bay Fire Hall building, located at 4445 Eagle Bay Road in Electoral Area C. The deadline in on March 15, 2024
Business leaders, organizations, and city representatives are invited to participate in the 5th Annual Business Walk in Salmon Arm on March 5th, organized by the Salmon Arm Economic Development Society.
VERNON
Norm Crerar, a Vernon resident, has been named the community leader recipient for British Columbia at the Canada’s Volunteer Awards.
R.E. Postill and Sons, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary, has been named the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce‘s Medium Business of the Year.
Vernon has committed an additional $15 million toward the Active Living Centre’s renovations, which aim to incorporate Syilx Culture and water features into the building’s design and to combat the cost escalation that has occurred over the last two years. Along with making sure the new building is accessible and ready to go for net-zero energy use, the funds will also get it Rick Hanson Gold Level Certified.
Yankee Flats Meats, headquartered in Shuswap, will open its very first location in Vernon on March 7 at 2908 31 Avenue B.
Vernon’s Predator Ridge has become the initial private community to adopt SenseNet, an advanced wildfire-detection system. SenseNet, a technology based in Vancouver, provides fast wildfire detection to protect critical infrastructure and properties in high-risk areas.
An official opening ceremony was held on Saturday at the Vernon and District Metis Association Cultural Centre on 30th Avenue, adjacent to the Towne Theatre.
SUMMERLAND
Active Earth Engineering Ltd. has announced the opening of its new office location at 102-9914 Main Street in Summerland.
On March 2, the Summerland Ornamental Gardens Society will be holding an information session at the George Ryga Arts & Cultural Centre. Attendees will get a rundown of the gardens as well as details on any volunteer opportunities that may be of interest.
Volunteers are needed to help clean up the Critteraid Animal Sanctuary in Summerland this spring.
The affordable housing project with a restrictive convenant, spearheaded by Turning Points Collaborative Society, was granted up to $547,000 in funding by the District of Summerland, with unanimous approval. Sixty affordable housing units, a resource centre, and a food bank are being constructed at 13204 and 13214 Henry Ave. by the society, Summerland United Church, and Summerland Food Bank & Resource Centre.
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