News Influencing Thompson Okanagan Business
KELOWNA
Trevor Freeman
Trevor Freeman has been appointed as the new Executive Director of Kelowna’s Gospel Mission, beginning May 5, 2025
Kelowna Airport is seeking for individual to join its team as the Director of Airport Facilities.
Two Okanagan students ($3,500 each) who are pursuing a career in aviation or aerospace are being awarded $7,000 scholarship grant by Kelowna International Airport (YLW). Applications are currently being accepted until May 11.
Bird Construction in Canada has secured more than $650 million in new projects across a variety of sectors, including the Cottonwoods Long-term Care Facility in Kelowna.
SmartStop Self Storage has opened its 40th location in Canada, now serving the Kelowna area at 948 Ellis Street.
The BC Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association welcomes its newest member, Rollins Machinery.
Gatehouse Design And Developments received the development permit for Providence, a 58 stunning townhomes in West Kelowna.
Ledingham McAllister has submitted a development permit application to the City of Kelowna for its four-tower residential project, The Vintage at Waterscapes. The project is situated at 1070 Ellis St., just east of the original Waterscapes site on Sunset Drive.
Kelowna councillors took a significant step forward by approving a development permit for the $242.3 million plan to construct a new Parkinson Recreation Centre in the city.
The Cottonwoods Care Centre rehabilitation project in Kelowna, located at 2255 Ethel St., has awarded a construction manager contract to Bird Construction Group and a prime consultant contract to Stantec Architecture Ltd.
MCW Consultants Ltd. has secured a one-year contract worth $865,634 for electrical engineering services. Meanwhile, Aercoustics Engineering Ltd. has been awarded a one-year contract totaling $770,000 for acoustical engineering services at the Kamloops Centre for the Arts.
The British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) has given the green light to FortisBC Energy Inc. for its Okanagan Capacity Mitigation Project. This project involves the construction of a new liquified natural gas (LNG) storage and vaporization facility at FortisBC’s Kelowna Gate Station, along with the transportation of LNG by truck from the Tilbury LNG facility to the Kelowna Gate Station.
The Gordon B. Shrum Building, the new location for the School of Biomedical Engineering (SBME), was formally opened by the University of British Columbia.
Ask Pablo is Kelown’a newest downtown hangout for cocktails at 269 Lawrence, open Thursday to Saturday.
Loyly Floating Sauna Kelowna is closing for the season April 30th.
Congratulations to Kekuli Café, Merritt Kekuli Café, Kamloops, Westbank, and the team on achieving the prestigious 10-Year Membership Milestone with the Canadian Franchise Association.
The Greater Westside Board of Trade‘s May Business After Hours hosted by NEXT Clinic on Thursday, May 15 from 5 – 7P pm. Registration needed.
The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce May Speaker Series is on Navigating 2025 with Pierre Cléroux, Chief Economist at BDC, who will break down key economic trends and what they mean for businesses in 2025.
KAMLOOPS
Chris Balison, the leading prosecutor at the Kamloops Crown counsel office, has been appointed as a provincial court judge.
Propolis Cooperative Housing Society, a non-profit housing co-operative in B.C., has successfully raised $1.1 million for a new initiative aimed at developing a 53-unit affordable, net-zero housing project in Kamloops. This funding was achieved through the issuance of community bonds to 101 investors.
The city council of Kamloops has decided to hold a public hearing on a development proposal for 1415 Summit Dr. that was put forth by Vancouver-based Cross Developments Inc.
Wawanesa Insurance has donated $75,000 to the Community and Cultural Mapping Research Group at Thompson Rivers University. This funding will be used to examine the factors that inspire the adoption of FireSmart in communities and neighbourhoods.
The Gathering Place by The Mustard Seed located on West Victoria Street, has been granted a temporary use permit by the council to run the day space in 2025.
The Community Fuel Reduction Incentive program, a new initiative introduced by the City of Kamloops, is a new opportunity for homeowners to earn hundreds of dollars for FireSmarting their home. The program’s objective is to reduce the risk of landscape and structural fires by removing cedar and juniper vegetation surrounding homes.
Transition Kamloops received a $9,000 Social and Community Development Grant in 2024 for their Climate Action Fest 2.0 event.
PENTICTON/OLIVER/OSOYOOS
The new owners Mike and Suzie Hartford will hold the grand reopening and ribbon cutting of Mr. Cartridge Printers, Ink & Toner Cartridges at #102 1475 Fairview Road, on May 2nd.
The April Chamber on Tap, a casual evening of networking, will be hosted by the Penticton Chamber of Commerce at WINGS Penticton on April 29.
The Downtown Community Market will resume its run for the 2025 season on Saturday, May 17, in the 200 block of Main Street, Front Street, and Backstreet Blvd.
Owners of commercial real estate or downtown businesses are invited to the Downtown Penticton BIA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), which will take place at The Standard Space on May 7, 2025.
SALMON ARM
The Salmon Arm Chamber of Commerce has welcomed JAN-PRO and Discovery Kids/ABC Lily Pad Kids as new members.
The Salmon Arm Chamber of Commerce‘s Business after Business is scheduled on Friday, May 9th at DeMille’s Farm Market.
The Shuswap Cider Co. is now serving grilled wraps from Pink Cherry Cafe.
Skookum Bike & Ski in Salmon Arm is leading weekly group rides with the Shuswap Cycling Club.
The Shuswap Trail Alliance and Salmon Arm Tourism are set to host an all-ages Spring Trails Celebration on June 07, 2025. The event will feature Five Alarm Funk, with opening band The Shades, marking the 20th anniversary of the alliance.
VERNON
Chantel Wiese has been named the new manager of corporate services for the City of Armstrong.
Shelley Peach will assume the role of president of the O’Keefe Ranch & Interior Heritage Society.
As part of the Drive for a Cause, Vernon Dodge donated $10,000 to the North Okanagan Hospice Society.
“A Party for Marti-Fundraising Carnival” is being hosted by Forever Home Sanctuary (FHS) on April 26 at the Vernon recreation centre to assist animals in need of a new home.
The annual Have a Heart Radiothon is in its 22nd year, and the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation is once again partnering with Tim Hortons to continue to raise money for needed equipment.
The Rural Communities Immigration Pilot is being launched in the region to address labour market needs by Community Futures North Okanagan and Community Futures Shuswap.
SUMMERLAND
A spring sale event is currently underway at Practicals Lighting Summerland, located at 10109 Main Street in Summerland. Selected products in the store are being discounted by 50 per cent.
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