News Influencing Thompson Okanagan Business
KELOWNA
Colleen Clark
Colleen Clark, the former CEO of the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce and president of BC Chamber Executives, has been named acting CEO of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce.
Russell Peters, a Canadian comedian, will be performing at Prospera Place in Kelowna on October 30.
Derrick’s Steakhouse, owned by Ross Derrick, is scheduled to takeover the location of Raudz Regional Table in downtown Kelowna in June. Ross Derrick is also the owner of Globe at Big White and Broken Anchor at Guisachan Village Centre.
In order to monitor for wildfires in British Columbia, cameras powered by artificial intelligence are installed on cellular towers owned by Rogers Communications in the hills above the Okanagan Valley.
Fortune Creek has opened its second location in Kelowna at 231 Bernard Avenue, which was previously known as Jack’s.
New direct flights from Kelowna to Mazatlan, Mexico, will begin on December 13, 2024, and continue until April 20, 2025, according to WestJet Group.
Sumo Robot Competition, a renowned competition for primary and middle school children, returns to UBC Okanagan for its ninth year!
Among the finalists at the 2024 Okanagan Angel Summit are skiKrumb, managed by Penticton’s Keith MacIntyre, and Inhub Farms, run by Armstrong’s Patrick and Isabela Lemieux. The winner will take home nearly $200K investment fund from accredited investors.
Lomi, the world’s first Smart Waste™ food recycler, has received approval from the Gold Standard Technical Advisory Committee for its new, groundbreaking methodology, titled ‘Reduction in Methane Emissions from Landfills Through Decentralised Organic Waste Processing‘.
Childhood Connections is being replaced by the YMCA of Southern Interior BC‘s new toy library in Kelowna.
Smile 24, the second annual dental camp hosted by the East Meets West Children’s Foundation and Access Dental Centre, will be located at 211-1980 Cooper Road, on June 1.
On May 24 and 25, Kelowna’s MNP Place will host the 15th annual McElhanney Cares Charity Hockey and Soccer event, which aims to raise money for Ronald McDonald’s House BC and Yukon.
The eighth annual KGH Day of Giving charity event raised over $900k for the KGH Foundation.
A proposal to rezone property at 380 Bubna Road, which is bordering both Kelowna and Lake Country, to establish a new industrial park has received the approval of the Kelowna city council.
Bell & Gossett’s Little Red Schoolhouse, the leader in HVAC industry education, is bringing its curriculum back to Canada with a two-day hydronics training seminar, to be offered in Toronto. Hosted by Michael Licastro, manager of training and education at Xylem – Bell & Gossett, the two-day Hydronic Training Seminar will take place June 5-6 from 8 to 4 p.m. at the Toronto Airport Marriott Hotel and reflects Bell & Gossett’s larger Building Better Futures mission of preparing the next generation of industry professionals to design and maintain the sustainable building systems of the future.
KAMLOOPS
Wells Gray Tours, an interior travel business owned by Roland Neave, whose head office is in Kamloops, donates $50K for the expansion of Okanagan Lake Provincial Park.
The Okanagan Thompson Legal Clinic has recently opened its doors for business on the third floor of then Kelson Building in downtown Kamloops.
The Merritt Dry Cleaning and Coin Laundry has closed its doors after being in business for over 50 years.
Through a collaboration between the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and the City of Kamloops, North-Wood Environmental, a new household hazardous refuse drop-off facility, has been established in Kamloops at 480 Okanagan Way in the Mount Paul Industrial Park.
The Kamloops Council unanimously voted to request that city staff initiate the statutory procedure for the establishment of a new East Kamloops Business Improvement Area.
The 20th annual Summer Fun Fly will be held at the Heffley Creek runways of the Kamloops Model Aeroplane Society from May 24 to 26.
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District board of directors decided to give West Alliance Construction Ltd. a $1.045 million contract to construct a new firehall at 1257 Hook Road in Monte Creek.
The 26th edition of the annual CFBX Record Fair will take place at Thompson Rivers University‘s campus radio station on May 26.
PENTICTON/OLIVER/OSOYOOS
This week marks the start of safety upgrades to the historic Kaleden Hotel Park by the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen.
Penticton’s S.S. Sicamous, a steamship located on the banks of Okanagan Lake, is celebrating its 110th year.
Train Wreck Comedy will be hosting an evening of entertainment at The Hub on Martin on May 30, featuring the esteemed comedian Tim Nutt. The event will be in support of the Dragonfly Pond Society, with all proceeds going directly to the organisation.
A construction permit for a five-story residential building at 123 Front Street in Penticton has been approved by the city council.
Sponsored by the City of Penticton, The Hub on Martin, Penticton Art Gallery and Amuzing Fun Rentals, the Downtown Penticton Business Improvement Association (DPBIA) is pleased to announce the return Slack Alley, for family-friendly events to the laneway between 200 Main and Martin Street. .
On June 13, Pure Gym & Juicery in Penticton will host their 9th Annual Summer Solstice Yoga Event.
On August 3 and 4, the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, 273 Power Street will host the two-day BIG BC BINGO event in support of the Cerebral Palsy Association of BC and the CGMA, the charitable operators of Planet Bingo.
SALMON ARM
A program run by Yankee Flats Meats in partnership with Salmon Arm’s School District 83 is aiming to provide Vernon families with affordable meat as well.
The Salmon Arm Chamber of Commerce welcomes its newest member, Wisemen Yard Maintenance.
The Shuswap Makerspace has announced the upcoming Repair Cafe on May 25th at the Innovation Center, located at 220 Shuswap St. NE Salmon Arm.
VERNON
Samantha Sewell, who operates the Raising Stars Preschool in Vernon has been honoured with the Courage to Come Back Award from Coast Mental Health.
Predator Ridge Resort, located in Vernon, has announced that The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Okanagan, Predator Ridge, which is owned by real estate development company Wesbild Holdings Ltd., will be released in 2026.
Bryton Marine Group, a family-owned maritime company, was inducted into Canada’s Platinum Club of Best Managed Companies, an awards program for innovative and world-class organizations.
The Fintry Estate Manor House at 7655 Fintry Delta Rd., Vernon, is hosting the Fintry Fusion Art Show, an event put on by the Okanagan Artists of Canada Society. The show will run from June 22nd to the 23rd.
Sunrise Gardens, a residential building located at 3806 24th Ave. in Vernon, was acquired by the province of B.C. for a sum exceeding $3.1 million. The property is currently designated for affordable housing.
The Regional District of North Okanagan Board of Directors was presented with a goose control program by Guardians of our Salish Estuaries, which has already been approved by Vernon city council.
The Regional District of North Okanagan is currently in the process of applying for grants to finance the Greater Vernon Cultural Centre. This funding will be used to cover the architect and consulting expenses necessary to complete the pre-construction services and the design.
On May 26, the Vernon Golf and Country club will host the 6th Annual Charity Golf Tournament & Auction Fundraiser for Camp Winfield.
SUMMERLAND
The Summerland Council has approved an extra $240,000 to finish the Aquatic & Fitness Center‘s aging facility.
Summerland Secondary School’s three new tennis courts were formally opened by the District of Summerland and School District 67.
In partnership with the BC Lung Foundation and Simon Fraser University, the District of Summerland is hosting an air cleaner workshop on June 7 at the Arts Centre, 9525 Wharton Street, to assist remove pollutants like wildfire smoke.
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