PARADISE FOUND

PARADISE FOUND Have you ever heard the expression Paradise Lost?

? Well, this feature is going to take you in another direction... Paradise Found! It has become more and more clear why people refer to the Okanagan as paradise. It has all the ingredients of what people would consider what makes up the term “paradise”. It has warm water for an entire host of water activities, wake surfing, sailing, stand up paddle boarding, boating of any kind, kite boarding, fishing, wake boarding canoeing or even just floating on a giant

inflatable unicorn drinking an afternoon adult beverage! All then while, the wind is softly blowing through shade trees that surround these pristine lakes with sandy shores… you are starting to get the picture.

Next question… have you ever heard the term modus vivendi? That should be the real focus of people trying to attain this paradise concept. Lifestyle, it is all about lifestyle. What if

we all lived in a place that had all the paradise characteristics but also provided everything that we need to simultaneously attain the perfect lifestyle. Well, we know that the Okanagan provides everything that our little hearts desire when it come to being outdoors, absolutely everything at your door step, or at least a short drive away. Now, what if you were able to mesh the concept of living into this so called paradise that provides the perfect lifestyle.

It is possible that this perfect marriage of community and lifestyle has collided on the western shores of Okanagan Lake where West Harbour is nicely located. We sat down with Renee Wasylyk the CEO of Troika Developments to discuss how they are building homes and communities with a purpose. Three of their development communities, West Harbour, Green Square Vert and The Landing at Wood Lake are all built with the Okanagan lifestyle in mind. They are built to “showcase the natural beauty, to enhance the landscape and to give access to all of the amenities and opportunities that the Okanagan has to offer”. Renee goes on to say that “… each project is thoughtfully positioned to maximize the Okanagan lifestyle”

There it is again, Okanagan lifestyle… Now you can have your home (and community) comfortably balanced with your lifestyle. While pursuing this relentless search for the

perfect spot to lay your hat, there are a few key features that can lead you to your specific nirvana. Pin point exactly what it is that you are looking for. For example, if you golf, look near a golf course, if you swim, look near a pool or lake, if you like to walk, try neighborhoods with established walking trails and of course, if you love wine, set up shop near a winery!

Everyone has their own idea of what the perfect spot is and that’s what makes this valley so diverse. Some people love living downtown, some people love living up on the benches of East Kelowna, some people would only live by the lake and some people would only live where they can see the lake, and of course there are lots of people that are just happy wherever they are! The point is that finding paradise in the Okanagan is not a difficult task.

Long before the term “staycation” was ever coined people were enjoying themselves in their own surroundings. For some, the need to take off and travel the world doesn’t exist because they live here for a reason… and that reason is that everything they ever wanted is right here. It is not impossible or even uncommon for people to ski or snowboard in the morning and golf or ride their bikes in the afternoon. People from all over the world travel here, they come to our little slice of heaven and ask “why would you go anywhere else?” Locals go stand up paddle boarding, hike the rail trail, go shopping and then indulge themselves in a winery feast! Sounds like Paradise Found!

Renne Wasylyk feels that everyone should be able to find their paradise right here. She states, “We build for everyone. We look at what the needs are of the community, and then build for those people. There is always housing needed, but getting the right homes, at the right prices, in the right locations is the correct formula.” There is no question that West Harbour has

checked a lot of boxes in regards to what some feel is the ideal lakefront community teeming with amenities, boat dock, hiking and biking and tennis.

As the search for paradise continues, there are two other stand out communities that you should likely explore. Wilden in North Kelowna, stretches from the hill tops to the valley floor. Single family homes and townhouses or buy a lot and build your very own dream property. Surrounded by nature, this is a hikers (and dog walkers) best case scenario. Properties from the top have mind boggling views of Okanagan Lake. Hundreds of families have found their paradise on the slopes of Wilden.

A little further north up the valley is a world class golf course known as Predator Ridge. What many don’t know is that Predator Ridge is also a world class community! You absolutely do not have to play golf to enjoy living here. It is it’s own self contained community. General store, restaurant, hotels… it is kind of like living where people go on vacation… the whole valley is!! We live where people want to visit. There is an active hash tag known as #mlvyv and it perfectly sums up what I am trying to express. It stands for “My Life Versus Your Vacation”.

Now let’s turn south and head towards Summerland. As if people haven’t found their paradise in a town called Summerland!! Directly across Lake Okanagan from Summerland is the Naramata Bench, which has been long since famous for producing some of the finest wines on the planet! This might be one of the most exciting new developments to land in the Okanagan. Grace Estates is a secluded gem in the hills above the warm blue water of Lake Okanagan. If your version of paradise includes a little bit of space between neighbors then you have just hit the honey pot! Grace Estates offers 11 parcels of lands ranging in size from 2.5 acres to 33 acres. Just imagine living among the vineyards and orchards, this is truly

estate living in the heart of wine country. This tract of land on the Naramata Bench can get you to 43 wineries within a 15 minute drive.

All these other people are coming here trying to find paradise, we are already here because we have already found it! The population growth over the last several years indicates that the word is out… people are coming into our paradise in search of their own paradise! That’s why people continue to move up the

valleys, onto smaller lakes and higher into the hills. People are constantly trying to improve their version of paradise. And, let’s face it, as we get older our own versions of this “idea” change over time and our needs and wants become different. When we once needed to live in a mansion on the lake, now maybe we are happier in a townhouse above the city or for some even far off the last gravel road where all they need is a generator, a few solar panels, a creek and a cabin! The greatest thing about living in the Okanagan,

hands down is the weather. The long hot, sunny days allow us to get outside and enjoy that energetic and exciting lifestyle. It could even be said that we can enjoy this kind of outdoor livelihood year round. The Okanagan is not just a summer destination anymore, there are ski / snowboard resorts, cross country ski tracks, heli-ski operations and an endless supply of sledding.

One of the worst feelings is paradise lost, knowing that you have lost your version of true happiness. But… conversely the best feeling is paradise found, when you re-discover something, enjoy it for the first time or go in a completely different direction and grab ahold of your new paradise. The bottom line is, if you chose to live in the Okanagan, in the communities mentioned in these paragraphs you will find paradise, get out there, get exploring and embrace your paradise so that you can enjoy that euphoric feeling of Paradise Found!

Parting Shot