News Influencing Thompson Okanagan Business
KELOWNA
Ron Bowles
Ron Bowles has been hired as the new chief administrative officer of West Kelowna.
Steven David has been appointed chief operating officer of RWT Growth, a boutique M&A firm.
Derek Graham has joined Pushor Mitchell LLP as an associate lawyer, specializing in the fields of Business Law, Securities Law, and Real Estate.
Pacific Coastal Airlines will launch service from Kelowna to Prince George on October 28.
Millennial Developers plans to start construction on a micro-suite residential complex on Sutherland Avenue in Kelowna.
Highstreet, a real estate development company submitted an application to rezone a site in Kelowna’s Upper Mission to build townhomes on Gordon Drive.
The city’s Advisory Planning Commission will consider rezoning a seven-acre plot on Gorman Road north of the school next week. This current application by Kerr Properties seeks to rezone the unoccupied property to medium-density residential, with 117 two- and three-story townhouses and duplexes with two, three, and four bedrooms.
A new ICBC driver licensing office has opened at 3731 Old Okanagan Highway, the location of the new city hall in West Kelowna.
Chris Lapointe
Chris Lapointe has been appointed as the KF Aerospace Centre for Excellence Association‘s new executive director.
The 7th Annual Ladies Amateur Two-Ball Golf Tournament will take place on July 22 at Kelowna’s Harvest Golf Club, in partnership with Mamas for Mamas.
Big White Ski Resort ranks among the top 10 per cent of foreign tourist destinations on TripAdvisor.
Accelerate Okanagan is calling on entrepreneurs to prepare for enrolling in its Acceleration Stack, which consists of three subsidized mentorship programs: Venture Validation, Market Ready, and Fundable. These programs will start this fall.
The Dirty Mutter dog obstacle course and race is returning to 2454 Brentwood Road, Kelowna, British Columbia, on August 25 for its fifth year.
KAMLOOPS
Kamal Grewal received formal nomination as the BC NDP’s choice to represent the Kamloops-Centre riding.
A purpose-built rental complex with 27 units has been proposed at Tenth Avenue and St. Paul Street in Kamloops’ downtown.
E-Comm 9-1-1 will continue to route calls regarding fires within TNRD boundaries to Kamloops Fire Dispatch until the end of the year, according to a renewed fire dispatch service agreement between the City of Kamloops and the Thompson-Nicola Regional District.
A gas bar and quick-serve restaurant are anticipated to open this winter at the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc development, which is currently under construction, which will be completed and opened in the coming years at Chief Louis Crossing, a commercial development adjacent to Swelaps Market on the intersection of Highway 5 and Shuswap Road.
ASK Wellness is launching a morning food service for vulnerable Kamloops residents at the ASK Wellness Society location, 433 Tranquille Road, closing at the end of the month, Monday through Friday.
The 28-unit market townhouse development at 1385 Rockcress Dr., a property situated to the southeast of Kenna Cartwright Park, was approved by the council through the adoption of a zoning amendment and the issuance of the necessary permits.
PENTICTON/OLIVER/OSOYOOS
Jeffery Young
Watermark Beach Resort is pleased to welcome Jeffery Young as executive chef at the Osoyoos resort. Young brings a wealth of experience gained over three decades in the hospitality sector, spanning renowned establishments across Canada, including positions at the Four Seasons Hotel and Resorts, Fairmont Hotels, and acclaimed wineries such as Summerhill Pyramid Winery.
The founder of SB Denture Clinic, Josephin Schmitz-Burchartz, and Penticton Women in Business advocate Marlene Trenholm are the most recent winners of the Penticton Chamber of Commerce’s Top 40 Under 40.
The South Okanagan Events Centre (SOEC) in Penticton will host the Vancouver Canucks Training Camp from September 19–22, 2024.
A “VIP open house” will be held at 1704 Government Street, located across from Penticton Regional Hospital, by the Aitkens Group.
The Penticton Men’s Shed is seeking assistance from the City of Penticton in securing a location for its operations.
Up to $7 million in funding has been announced by the provincial government to encourage the expansion of the Okanagan Falls mass timber mill.
SALMON ARM
With the help of SASCU Credit Union, the Eagle Valley Community Support Society is kicking off a new fundraising campaign. The credit union has offered to match all contributions made up to a limit of $16,000.
The Village of Chase is celebrating the grand launch of the Riverstone Community Food Forest in Wilson Park.
Choose Refill Salmon Arm is celebrating 2nd anniversary with a Party and Sale on July 19.
Okanagan Scents & Wicks Ltd‘s products are now available at Artful Hands (Centenoka Park Mall) in Salmon Arm.
The Salmon Arm Chamber welcomes new member – The Cahoots Kitchen.
The Rotary Club of Salmon Arm, in cooperation with the City of Salmon Arm and Shuswap Recreation Society, is planning an official ribbon cutting ceremony for the new walking track at Roger’s Rink on Friday July 19th, from 11 am to 2 pm.
VERNON
The Economic Development and Tourism department of the City of Vernon is proposing to allocate $50,000 towards the implementation of a novel economic development strategy.
The staff at Vernon City Council recommends that the $20,161 in funds for sustainability awards be distributed to all eleven of the applicants in the full amount they have requested: Vernon Elks $1,461; Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship Society, $2,000; Michelle Mitchell, $2,000; Kerry Macleod, $2,000; Susan Solymosi, $2,000; Okanagan Science Centre, $2,000; Deb Humphries, $2,000; Natalie Appleton, $700; Okanagan Regional Library – Vernon Branch, $2,000; John Rudy Health Resource Centre Association, $2,000; VOICE Society, $2,000.
Vernon is included in the Tasting Passport for 2024 map created by the BC Association of Farmers Markets. The map features locations such as the Grey Canal Trail, Planet Bee Honey Farm, Cambium Cider Co., and the Vernon Farmers Market.
A five per cent increase to parks and recreation fees has been discussed and approved by the Vernon city council.
A $66,000 insurance appraisal of Vernon’s properties was approved by the city council with the intention of obtaining better premiums.
SUMMERLAND
Summerland’s pier at Rotary Beach had its grand opening last week.
The first Barker Invitational will be held at the Summerland Golf and Country Club on October 6.
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