News Influencing Thompson Okanagan Business
KELOWNA
Rohan Jacobs
Rohan Jacobs has been appointed as a partner at MNP LLP, located at 600 – 1628 Dickson Avenue.
The BC Restaurant and Food Association has inducted 2024 inductees into the Hall of Fame, including Kelowna culinary chef Jeremy Luypen, who was selected as Leading Employee/Manager for Back of House; Tony Stewart, of Quail’s Gate Estate Winery, as a Supplier; and Chef Dan Carkner, of Modest Butcher, as a Local Champion.
Tracey Beckett, who played a pivotal role as the driving force and co-chair of the Partners for Inclusive Education (PIE) for the past five years, has recently stepped down from her position.
Mark Anthony Group‘s proposed four-story residential-commercial structure for the intersection of Water Street and Lawrence Avenue is progressing as a result of a public hearing with the City Council on June 18.
A fresh Economic Impact Study for the Okanagan Tech Sector is being carried out by Accelerate Okanagan in collaboration with KPMG. The study is seeking tech companies from the Okanagan Similkameen, Central Okanagan, North Okanagan, and Columbia-Shuswap to take part. It will be based on 2023 and quantify important economic outputs like jobs, revenue, and investment. Additionally, it will reveal deeper opportunities and challenges that businesses in the Okanagan region face.
Central Okanagan businesses can benefit greatly from hiring recent graduates through the UBCO Arts Career Apprenticeship Program (UBCO ACAP). The graduate and the business both stand to gain from this initiative, which provides a stipend equal to four months’ salary (up to $10,000) for the successful candidate.
This year marks the tenth anniversary of SweetLegs, a body-positive and inclusive apparel company, founded by Chris and Addie Pafiolis.
Blue Ginger, located at #105 – 2903 Pandosy Street, is commemorating its 15th anniversary in business, while Lily Blue, its sister company, and owned and operated by Debbie and Stewart Scott, is celebrating eight years in business. Both establishments are situated in the Pandosy Village.
The ’90s with the Summer Moon Vintage Market will be held at the Laurel Packinghouse in Kelowna on June 23 to raise funds for the Kelowna Share Society.
Guisachan Heritage Gardens, 1060 Cameron Avenue, will host a Flower Show on June 29, in honour of the Kelowna Garden Club‘s centennial celebration.
On June 13, 2024, the West Kelowna Professional Firefighters Society received a generous donation of $10,000 from members of the Okanagan Wildfire Responders Gratitude Event.
Aspiring high school students showcased their entrepreneurial skills during the 30th annual iGen Challenge Finale, held at the Innovation Centre on June 11.
The new West Kelowna City Hall will hold its grand opening on June 29th at 3731 Old Okanagan Highway.
The West Kelowna city council has granted final approval to a new seven-story building located at 3717 Hoskins Rd, which will be the highest structure in downtown Westbank.
As part of its application to host the 2026 Memorial Cup, the Kelowna Rockets hockey team will be making $3.7 million worth of upgrades to Prospera Place. As part of a 30-year agreement, the city will take over ownership of the 6,500-seat downtown rink in 2029 from arena builder GSL Group.
The six-story mixed-use rental apartment complex near the intersection of Rutland Road and Mugford Road was approved by council in a rezoning proposal.
A Saucier Avenue apartment rezoning application was approved by the City Council, including a four-story apartment on the west side and three-story stacked townhomes on the east side.
Here is a list of B.C. restaurants that have been recognized for their exceptional outdoor dining experiences, as ranked by OpenTable: 19 Okanagan Grill + Bar – West Kelowna; BLOCK ONE Restaurant at 50th Parallel Winery – Lake Country; Earls Kitchen + Bar – Kelowna; Home Block at Cedar Creek Estate Winery – Kelowna; Lakeside Dining Room – Hotel Eldorado – Kelowna; Old Vines Restaurant at Quails’ Gate Winery – West Kelowna and Shaughnessy’s Cove – Summerland.
KAMLOOPS
Two qualified teams—EllisDon Corporation and PCL Construction Constructors Westcoast Inc—have been invited by Interior Health Authority and BC Cancer to take part in the request for proposals (RFP) stage to design and build the new BC Cancer Centre at Royal Inland Hospital. The team that will be chosen will begin construction of the new cancer centre summer 2025.
Telus announces it will invest $18 million in Kamloops this year to improve wireless access and link B.C. homes and businesses to its network.
Kamloops will receive $150,000 from the Local Government Development Approvals Program funds to hire a development approvals process manager and a development clerk.
Blake Mostyk, field surveyor is celebrating 5 years with TRUE Consulting, who specialize in surveying and planning consulting services.
The sustainability office at Thompson Rivers University was presented with the environmental award for the public sector category by the Recycling Council of BC for 2024.
Logan Lake District officials are preparing for Canada Day, July 1, to host a grand opening celebration for their new skateboard park.
Dr. Shane Barclay is retiring after six years with Sun Peaks Health Centre. His patients will be transferred to new doctor, Catherine Nowierski.
Sun Peaks Yoga Studio is closing its doors.
The PayByPhone app is the go-to app for City-owned parking lots. Pay for your parking in seconds, and extend your time from anywhere using your mobile phone.
PENTICTON/OLIVER/OSOYOOS
PACE Electronics Recycling and Computer Sales, a social enterprise that provides employment for people w/ barriers through recycling projects, has begun their summer hours at 105 Martin Street.
Andre’s Electronic Experts Penticton is hosing the next Penticton Chamber Business After Business Event on Thursday, June 20th from 5-7 pm.
Penticton’s Grimm’s Sausage, owned by Kelly and Kelly Grimm, is celebrating 40 years in business.
Wildstone Construction has been given a contract worth over $3.8 million by the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen to work on the Oliver and District Arena.
The B.C. Supreme Court granted Foxtrot Vineyards a temporary injunction allowing them to continue tending to their vineyards, despite a plea from CIBC. The projected expenses for vine management for the rest of the year were between $70,000 and $95,000.
The BC BTAC at Okanagan College has been granted $1.75 million by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada to renew its Technology Access Centre funding. This initiative is part of the College and Community Innovation program.
SALMON ARM
Kelly Bennett
After 11 years working with the municipality, chief administrative officer Kelly Bennett is saying farewell to the District of Sicamous.
Kyllo Homes, a renamed subsidiary of Twin Anchors Manufacturing, offers “Homes with Heart” to its customers.
The Salmar Community Association, which has been running the Salmar Classic for 75 years, is seeking interested parties to take over the city’s original movie theatre, which is listed on the City of Salmon Arm Community Heritage Register.
Brothers Tavern in Sicamous is seeking approval from the Beverage and Cannabis Regulation Branch to extend its liquor service hours.
The local company, Riverside Docks, was awarded the Finlayson floating dock replacement contract with a bid of $58,550, which was half the amount of the competition’s bid.
A mini powwow, Splatsin te Secwepemc Day, will be held at the Splatsin Community Centre outside Enderby on Friday, June 21, in honour of National Indigenous Peoples Day.
VERNON
The Clove restaurant opened its doors in Armstrong at 3495 Okanagan Street. The owner is Autumn White and chef, Georgia McLean.
The new amphibious milfoil harvester of the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) will have a public launch and naming competition at Paddlewheel Park, located at 7813 Okanagan Landing Road in Vernon.
The Bike Park at SilverStar Mountain Resort will be operational for the 2024 season on June 15.
The Upper BX Creek Trail, which extends the current network about five kilometers from Sovereign Lake Road to Forsberg Road, has been formally inaugurated by the Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO).
The Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce is currently accepting nominations for its 2024/25 board of directors. The deadline for submissions is June 28th.
A backup generator is being installed at the Grindrod Water Treatment Plant to keep systems running in the event of a power loss. The Electoral Area F Rural Enderby Community Works Fund, which is part of the Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO), is covering the whole $460,000 cost of the two-month project, which is scheduled to be finished by the end of August.
Summerland
The planned Okanagan Food and Innovation Hub site will partner with LocalMotive Organic Delivery under a memorandum of understanding approved by Summerland council.
Send your business announcements, news, celebrations or new hires HERE