News Influencing Thompson Okanagan Business
KELOWNA
Debra Doucette
Debra Doucette has been appointed as the Chair of Odlum Brown, an investment firm headquartered in Vancouver. Doucette has been with Odlum Brown since 1991 and served as President and CEO for 17 years before becoming Executive Chair and CEO a year ago.
The Lakehouse Home Store is moving its business to the second level, where it will now coexist with the Cooking School at the Lakehouse Kitchen, after more than 15 years at the intersection of Ellis Street and Bernard Avenue.
Velocity Truck Centres, located at 6320 Lapointe Dr., near Kelowna International Airport, celebrated its grand opening on Friday.
Dr. Phone Fix Canada Corporation is proud to announce it has been named Canada’s ‘Sustainable Business of the Year’ award winner at the Canadian SME National Small Business Awards ceremony held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The Company previously received an international business award in Istanbul for ‘Sustainable Leadership’ in Canada and the USA and was named a finalist for a 2024 green award by the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce.
Kelowna ComiCon is set to take place on June 28 and 29 at MNP Place.
Public access to Kelowna’s Kasugai Gardens will be restricted beginning Monday, June 23, for maintenance on the pond, which is anticipated to take until the middle of July.
With a $2 million total estimated budget, the City of Kelowna is seeking a contractor to design and possibly construct a new aquatic complex in City Park. Construction is anticipated to start in the summer of 2026 and be finished by the spring of 2027.
The first Crave Cupcakes bakery in Kelowna, located at 100-750 Vaughan Avenue, has officially opened.
An application for a development permit is being made by the developer of a new townhouse development in the McKinley Landing neighbourhood of Hilltown Drive, which is part of the McKinley Beach Resort CD 18 zone.
The Kelowna city council has approved two rezoning applications—one for an expanded daycare on Hall Road in Southeast Kelowna and another for a new facility on Raymer Road next to Bellevue Creek Elementary in the Lower Mission—resulting in the upcoming opening of dozens of much-needed daycare spaces.
JoeAnna’s House, the home away from home for out-of-town families whose loved ones are undergoing treatment at Kelowna General Hospital, will benefit from the $30,500 raised by Good Lemonade Day 2025.
The Sunset Ranch Golf Course will host the Annual Bubba Open golf tournament this weekend to raise funds for AlleyCATS Alliance and Paws it Forward.
The rezoning of lands at 3577 and 3581 Lakeshore for an apartment complex with a maximum height of six stories was approved by the Kelowna City Council.
New UBCO research led by Dr. John-Tyler Binfet, Professor at UBC Okanagan’s School of Education, and Dr. Christine Tardif-Williams, Professor at Brock University, found that virtual therapy with a dog can lower stress. Expanding the service and improving pet therapy accessibility is possible.
Kelowna Council approved two rezonings for child care establishments at 3466 Hall Road and 4578 Raymer Road. The new centres might add 77 city child care spots.
A long-term framework that would direct investments in public buildings and facilities over the ensuing 15 years was approved by the council. This plan will assist make sure the proper spaces are in the right places to fulfill community needs both today and in the future as the city expands. Setting clear priorities for action, the plan assesses the state of the City’s existing structures and pinpoints areas in need of renovations or new facilities.
KAMLOOPS
Three of the six AI data centres in British Columbia are being built by Bell Canada and iTel Networks, a Kamloops-based company, along with one that is slated for the Upper Nicola Band reserve outside of Merritt.
Josey’s Hair Salon is celebrating their 50th anniversary.
STEPS Community Health Centre on Kamloops’ North Shore recently celebrated their grand opening. STEPS President is the Colin O’Leary.
Throughout the summer, the City of Kamloops‘ IT department and engineering and building development staff will be working on the EPermit Project, which aims to facilitate online applications for building and other development-related permits with the intention of a soft launch in the fall.
A new firehall is almost finished in Monte Creek, according to the Thompson-Nicola Regional District. This will help bridge the service gap between the Pritchard Volunteer Fire Department and the City of Kamloops.
Guided tours can now be booked directly from Tourism Kamloops’ website.
The City of Kamloops, in partnership with BCLC, is thrilled to announce the return of Music in the Park for its 2025 season, which kicks off on July 1.
PENTICTON/OLIVER/OSOYOOS
Interior Health and Penticton Regional Hospital celebrated last week the grand opening of the community oncology clinic, which has undergone extensive renovations and expansions and is now three times larger than its previous space. All four organizations—OSRDH, IH, the British Columbia government, and the SOS Medical Foundation—shared the $22 million expansion budget.
Carls Flower Company has successfully raised $12,035 to support the Salvation Army Penticton.
An anonymous donor recently donated a brand-new bus to Penticton’s Haven Hill Retirement Centre.
The Peach City Animal Hospital, an after-hours veterinary clinic, has recently opened at #102, 402 Industrial Avenue East in Penticton.
The City Centre Health & Fitness in Penticton is celebrating 25 years in business!
Community Futures has granted the South Okanagan Similkameen Health Care Society a major $150,000 donation and a long-term leasing arrangement in a space on Skaha Lake Road to assist the construction of the Colleen Schneider Medical Centre.
To celebrate the world of ham radio, the Penticton Amateur Radio Club is throwing a special event at Skaha Lake Park on June 28.
In honour of its 20th anniversary, the Hooded Merganser at the Penticton Lakeside Resort has undergone a complete makeover and welcomed new executive chef George Perperidis and his team, who are preparing exquisite meals with a Mediterranean twist.
The Vault Liquor Merchants is now open at 201 Main Street, Penticton.
SALMON ARM
The Salmon Arm Rotary Club is hosting its fourth annual Double Your Donation drive from now until July 15. The club has pledged to match donations up to $20,000 in support of two worthy causes: the Second Harvest Food Bank and the Shuswap Area Family Emergency (SAFE) Society.
Starting on July 2, the Sicamous Ferry Society will begin operating a free pedestrian ferry service for anybody wishing to travel between downtown Sicamous and the beginning of the Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail.
The grand stand at the Salmon Arm fair grounds is currently undergoing renovation, and the municipal council of Salmon Arm has agreed to pay half of the $7,500 that was requested to support these efforts.
The Salmon Arm Recreation Society is hosting a ball hockey tournament at Rogers Rink on July 1 to celebrate Canada Day in the city.
VERNON
Kazia Mullin has been appointed as the new Manager of Business Services at Community Futures North Okanagan.
Yankee Flats Meats downtown Vernon shop, which opened in 2024 and has since moved across the street to a bigger location.
Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce is headed Mackie Lake House for their July Business After 5 on Tuesday, July 15 from 5–7 PM.
The Conservative MP for Vernon-Lake Country-Monashee, Scott Anderson, has been named to the House of Commons Standing Committee.
The Municipal Finance Authority of British Columbia is lending Vernon city council $45 million for the $121-million Active Living Centre.
The Downtown Vernon Association is currently in the process of implementing a new boardwalk patio program that will enable businesses to substantially increase their retail and patio presence directly onto the sidewalk.
Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park is marking its 50th anniversary.
Armstrong Regional Cooperative and Otter Co-op make a donation of $32,000 to Vernon’s Okanagan Screen Arts Society.
Vernon City Council supported the application by Wesbild Golf Holdings Ltd. for a liquor primary licence at the Commons Racquet Club, located at 30 Predator Ridge Drive South. If approved the licence would allow alcohol service for up to 30 people, indoors and outdoors, from 9 a.m. to midnight daily.
SUMMERLAND
The Summerland council approved site-specific zoning, which allowed the Penticton Disc Golf Club to open their local disc golf facility.
The Best of Penticton awards have recognized the District of Summerland EV Charging Stations with the Gold Medal for Best Electric Vehicle Charging Stations.
Summerland Waterfront Resort & Spa has been voted Silver for Best Hotel & Bronze for Best Resort at the Best of Penticton awards.
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