THOMPSON OKANAGAN MOVERS & SHAKERS JUNE 5, 2025

News Influencing Thompson Okanagan Business

KELOWNA

Mehrsa Maali, founder and owner of Artful Real Estate, has been awarded the 2025 RISE Awards Spirit Award.

Julian Pellicano has been appointed the new conductor and music director of the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra.

Callahan Property Group has made a generous donation of $200,000 to support the Thrive Here recreation centre fund at Okanagan College.

Ulmus Development‘s initial proposal to rezone a 0.86-acre property at 437 Bay Avenue from the general industrial zone to the UC1 – Downtown Urban Centre zone has been accepted by the City of Kelowna.

BNA Brewing celebrates its tenth year in business.

Rutland’s Plaza 33 mall is listed by Century 21 Coastal Realty for $37.5 million.

A new licensed child care facility with 53 licensed child care spots is set to open in the central Kelowna office district in late 2025, according to a statement released by the YMCA of Southern Interior BC and Stober Group.

Kelowna has accepted bids for the form and character that would allow for the expansion and upgrading to the city’s transit facility, with a 2030 opening date.

The BC Restaurant Hall of Fame will induct Roger Sleiman, the winery chef and culinary director at Quails’ Gate Estate Winery in West Kelowna, and Jon Crofts, the owner of Codfathers Seafood Market in Kelowna, in a ceremony on Oct. 20 in Vancouver.

Mastrius co-founders Julie and Mike deBoer secured the $180,000 investment at the Okanagan Angel Summit Finale in 2025.

Theboxoffice.ca, which originated at the Kelowna Community Theatre and Rotary Centre for the Arts, has expanded its services to meet the growing demand for community-oriented, accessible ticketing options in the Okanagan. Theboxoffice.ca is currently providing support for events at the Apple Bowl, Elks Stadium, and other local facilities. They aid producers in the development of audiences and the improvement of their events by utilizing effective marketing, efficient event administration, and a focus on patrons.

The upcoming Kelowna Chamber Commerce ConneX event, an evening of premier networking, connection, and community scheduled on June 18, is being hosted by Pushor Mitchell and presented by Rogers Business.

Those who pass a screening will be eligible for free dental hygiene services on Sunday, June 22 from Smyl Dental Hygiene, located on Bertram Street.

The Kelowna Women In Business is recruiting new Board Directors.

Alexandra Little, founder and operator of  The Art of Fine Catering, celebrates 20 years of exceptional service and was recently awarded the prestigious La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Medal.

 

KAMLOOPS

Anela Baig, P.Geo, Division Manager at Trace’s Kamloops office, has been appointed to the Board of Directors for BC Environment Industry Association (BCEIA).

Kelli Fox, the new artistic director of Western Canada Theatre, will pay tribute to the company’s history during its 50th season, which formally begins with Women of the Fur Trade on October 9 at the Sagebrush Theatre.

The YMCA Station Plaza Care and Learning Centre was officially opened on June 3, 2025, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the City of Kamloops and YMCA BC.

TELUS wants to build its first Sovereign AI Factories in Rimouski, Quebec, and Kamloops,  putting them at the forefront of Canada’s sustainable and globally competitive AI infrastructure. The Pan-Canadian AI Strategy aims to create a safe and self-sufficient digital economy, and this pioneering effort will provide sovereign, high-performance AI computing resources to fuel the nation’s digital future. TELUS, the first North American NVIDIA Cloud Partner, will install NVIDIA’s latest Hopper- and Blackwell-based supercomputers at these facilities. This summer, TELUS will open its first facility in Rimouski, Quebec, followed by growth to Kamloops.

An expenditure plan totaling $4.8 million has been approved by the SD73 board of education using the ministry’s Annual Facilities Grant.

Avanti CPA LLP (formerly Tenisci Piva) celebrate their grand re-opening.

Total Wealth Concepts has joined Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn!

 

PENTICTON/OLIVER/OSOYOOS 

VINCI Construction has completed the acquisition of Peter Brothers Construction Ltd., a well-established paving company headquartered at 716 Okanagan Ave. East in Penticton.

Bistro Lapin Perdu, a new restaurant located at the Naramata Inn, was recently opened by local restaurateurs Christopher Royal and Michael Ziff.

The Penticton Scottish Festival, which celebrates the Scottish and Celtic culture, will be held at the King’s Park in Penticton on July 4 & 5.

The historic Adra Tunnel on the Kettle Valley Rail (KVR) Trail above Naramata has been officially reopened to the public after five years of hard work by a group of Penticton and Naramata residents.

The planned disc golf course in Summerland’s Lower Trappers will be the subject of an information session on June 7th hosted by the Penticton Disc Golf Club.

The Penticton Beer Run is scheduled for Saturday, June 7th.

TwinCon Enterprises Ltd. delivered the civil works for the Canoe Bay Pump Station, a developer-led water infrastructure project spearheaded by Frind Estate Winery on the shores of Okanagan Lake.

 

SALMON ARM

A vocal jazz and poetry night featuring Darlene Shatford and Rob Ziegler will be hosted by the Salmon Arm Jazz Club at the Nexus at First Community on June 12.

The proposed 6.5-kilometer West Bay Connector Trail, which would stretch west from the Salmon Arm Wharf and offer a safe walking route from downtown Salmon Arm to many First Nations villages along the bay, is estimated to cost $57 million.

Salmon Arm is Promoting Eco-friendly Events Through the MRDT Event Fund Program.

New Greek restaurant, Ambrosia Grill, has opened in downtown Salmon Arm.

 

VERNON

The Greater Vernon Cultural Centre’s Beaux Arts Ball was a success, raising $9,000 to go toward the new facility.

The new medical facility in Vernon, which will serve as the second urgent primary care center in the city, is now under construction. It will be located at Silver Star Gateway Business Park, located at 5000 Silver Star Road.

The recreation center rental fee for Creative Chaos was increased by 32% this year by the City of Vernon, and the event will be relocated to Kal Tire Place next year.

A new 4.5-kilometer section of the Grey Canal Trail is now operational. The Regional District North Okanagan has recently acquired parkland for the trail expansion from Coldstream Ranch Ltd. as part of a collaborative agreement that seeks to balance public recreation with agricultural operations, according to a press release.

Vernon’s Creative Chaos marks its 50th anniversary.

 

SUMMERLAND

The Summerland council approved a proposal to submit a $600K grant application to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) program in order to assist their fire department in developing a new program for community wildfire resilience.

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