January /February 2019 Business Examiner Thompson Okanagan

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

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SALMON ARM Rupp Metalworks Thrives in Salmon Arm Industrial Park

Drawing On Earth’s Temperature Bank Builds Success For Kelowna’s GeoTility New Earth-Bound Technology Has Ancient Roots

BY VALORIE LENNOX

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INDEX News Update

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Heading up the GeoTility team are (left to right) co-owners Vice-President Stuart Yanow, CFO Lorne Koebel, and President Jim Leask.

ELOWNA - Drawing heat from the earth has made Kelowna’s GeoTility Geothermal Installations Corporation a world leader in geothermal installations, a newly celebrated technology that is as old as human civilization.

Established more than 30 years ago as an HVAC installer, the company shifted into geothermal heating and cooling starting in the early 1990s. At that time, the technology was a new and environmentally friendly way to heat and cool buildings.

Geothermal heating and cooling utilizes the differences in temperature between the air and the earth. When used for heat, it is akin to solar heating in that the

SEE GEOTILITY | PAGE 15

Salmon Arm Manufacturers Build Global Reputation Dinoflex Prides Itself on Innovative, Sustainable Products

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ALMON ARM - Dinoflex Group LP is giving clients something to stand on.

For the last 30 years, this Salmon Arm-based company has been on the cutting edge of its industry, and has been sought out for its rubber flooring, surfaces, tiles, and custom products.

Now a recognized leader in the industry, Dinoflex has shipped its product across the globe, with clients throughout North America, Jordan, New Zealand, Japan,

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What is the company’s main selling point? Their f looring products stay flat.

“Often, large manufacturers will produce this type of flooring in large rolls, cutting off pieces like paper towels,” says Marketing Coordinator Alison Paull.

“Our product uses crumb rubber and recycled tires, pours them into moulds to make blocks, then slices them into mats to make up the flooring system.

“Products like these want to return to their original shape, so flooring that is manufactured on a roll will tend to curl over time. Because our products are cut from flat blocks, they remain flat for their entire lifespan. Our motto is: ‘Made Flat, Stays Flat.’”

In addition to maintaining toptier quality on their products, Dinoflex prides itself on its pursuit of sustainable manufacturing practice.

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the company’s product is made from recycled tires. About 70 per cent of the world’s rubber is used for tires, so company’s like Dinoflex are able to take advantage of the overwhelming supply.

Using recycled tires helps to keep them out of the landfills and saves the company from using natural resources that would result in a higher carbon footprint.

The binding agent that holds SEE DINOFLEX GROUP | PAGE 8

NEWS UPDATE

2 VERNON

deals available for January and through the rest of the season.

Silverstar Mountain Named #1 Ski Resort

NORTH OKANAGAN

It’s been a good end to the year for SilverStar Mountain Resort, taking top honours with USA Today, British Columbia Magazine and Okanagan Life’s “Best of” Reader’s Choice Awards.

For the 7th year in a row, Okanagan residents valley-wide have voted SilverStar the #1 Ski Resort in the Okanagan in Okanagan Life Magazine. Additional “Best of” honours for the resort in the magazine include Best Family Resort, Best Place to Get Married, Best Tourist Attraction, and Best Place for an Adrenaline Rush.

USA Today also ranked the SilverStar/ Sovereign Lake trail network in the Top Ten Cross-country Ski Destinations in North America, and most notably the only Canadian Resort to be named on the list.

British Columbia Magazine also named SilverStar #1 on the Cool List of Top Places to XC Ski in BC. Business Insider ranked SilverStar Mountain the 9th least expensive resort to visit in North America.

“It’s humbling to have people throughout the Okanagan, and across North America, continue to recognize us for the incredible village, terrain and conditions we offer to both Alpine and Nordic skiers from around the world.” said Ian Jenkins, Director of Sales and Marketing for the resort. “Not everyone knows about us, but it usually only takes one visit to realize how special this place is and become a loyal guest” For information on tickets and packages call 250-558-6083 or visit us at skisilverstar.com. Last minute STAR Lodging

Pat Duke Arena Renovation and Expansion Project Update The Pat Duke Memorial Arena is getting an upgrade in order to better serve an increasing number of female participants in hockey and other ice sports.

As part of a community effort that began in 2016, residents and users came together and initiated fundraising to improve amenities in the arena. As a result of these efforts, the Pat Duke Area won Kraft Hockeyville 2016, receiving $100,000 to put towards improving the facility.

“Due to a n i nsu fficient nu mber of change rooms, female ice users have had inadequate facilities during co-ed ice times”, stated Tannis Nelson, Community Services Manager. “The arena also creates challenges for users with mobility issues, and due to its age, no longer meets accessibility standards.”

The Regional District of North Okanagan has held several meetings with stakeholders and users of the arena, and are currently finalizing the draft concept plan and costing for renovations and construction. Once complete, the concepts will be brought forward to the community through an open house anticipated to be scheduled in February.

“T he objective of this project is to achieve four new change rooms through expansion and renovation of the existing building, and two additional change

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rooms through renovation of the existing change room area”, stated Nelson. “The project also includes additional storage, upgraded referee facilities, and a heated lobby and viewing area.”

KELOWNA December’s Residential Market Poses No Surprises Residential sales posted to the Multiple Listing Service for the Peachland to Revelstoke region declined to 324 in December, a 29 per cent decrease from both the previous month and this time last year.

“No surprise, the market is doing what it tends to do this time of year with all indicators pointing to a generalized slowdown,” says OMREB President Marv Beer, adding “Unlike last December, both average price and days on market stayed on trend with average price lower and days on market higher than last month and last year.”

Average price, at $504,581, was 3 per cent lower than November’s price and 3 per cent lower than this time last year.

Average days on market increased to 99, compared to 91 in November and 79 last December. New listings were 426 compared to 465 last December, contributing to an inventory of homes for sale that remains 35 per cent higher than this time last year.

“Looking to 2019, we can expect that the market will continue to moderate, as compared to recent years, with all signs pointing to more balanced conditions where buyers and sellers are benefitted more equally. Demand is dampening as a result of government policies that erode affordability and purchasing power, yet these effects are continuing to be offset by relatively strong economic performance,” comments Beer.

Beer makes note of the impending speculation tax as another shift on the horizon for 2019. While the tax only affects homes in Kelowna and West Kelowna at this time, it is expected to impact about 1800 Kelowna properties and 600 in West Kelowna.

The relative make-up of home buyers in the region stayed constant with those from within the area comprising the largest group at 59 per cent, followed by those from the Lower Mainland/Vancouver Island at 20 per cent and those from Alberta at 11 per cent. Contrary to what many believe, foreign buyers remain a consistently small percentage at just 2 per cent.

“First time buyers continue to be a strong contingent at 17 per cent, just behind those moving to a similar property type at 21 per cent and those moving up at 20 per cent. In terms of family dynamic, couples with children top the list at 30 per cent of buyers, following by childless couples at 24 per cent and empty nesters or retired at 21 per cent,” says Beer.

KELOWNA Medical Cannabis Supply Agreement With Shoppers Drug Mart The Flowr Corporation, through its subsidiary The Flowr Group (Okanagan) Inc., announced recently that it has entered into an agreement to supply medical cannabis to Shoppers Drug Mart on

a purchase order basis. The term of the supply agreement is three years, with a two-year renewal term.

Flowr is a Canadian Licensed Producer of premium cannabis products and will supply Shoppers with its FlowrRx brand of premium medical cannabis products.

The products initially will be sold online only as Canadian regulations currently restrict the sale of medical cannabis in retail pharmacies.

Flowr also announced that Shoppers’ new ecommerce site will be the exclusive direct-to-patient online provider of FlowRx products. Flowr believes this agreement presents the opportunity to significantly increase its sales of medical cannabis products in Canada, a market that Deloitte has estimated could reach C$1.8 billion in sales in 2019.1 Currently FlowrRx products are available online to patients registered via the Company’s website and in select clinics.

“We believe that partnering with Shoppers Drug Mart to provide patients with premium medical cannabis is a gamechanging opportunity for Flowr’s medical business and we look forward to working with their team,” said Tom Flow, Flowr’s Co-CEO. “FlowrRx products are grown in facilities designed to pharmaceutical industry manufacturing standards and using strict processes that should enable us to provide patients with both the high quality they seek and the consistent benefits they need.”

Flowr’s cultivation team employs exacting protocols throughout the growing and curing process seeking to consistently provide medical clients with their desired medicinal benefits. Flowr’s products are grown in the Okanagan Valley in facilities that employ proprietary cultivation systems and are engineered to Good Manufacturing Process standards. Flowr then carefully harvests, hand trims and craft cures its products.

Shoppers, a division of Loblaw Companies Limited (TSE: L), is Canada’s leading drug store retailer with approximately 1,300 pharmacist-owned locations from coast-to-coast.

KELOWNA YLW welcomes Swoop to Kelowna!

Kelowna International Airport (YLW) announced ultra-low-cost-carrier Swoop will begin service in spring 2019.

Swoop will provide non-stop service from YLW to Winnipeg Richardson International Airport (YWG) three times per week, starting on May 24, 2019.

“We are excited to welcome Swoop to YLW,” said Sam Samaddar, Airport Director. “Having an ultra-low-cost-carrier in Kelowna is a great opportunity for the Okanagan as it provides more options for travellers.”

Passenger demand has doubled since the non-stop route to Winnipeg was first launched in 2017, and Swoop will be expanding the service to begin in May and operate until October 25.

“Kelowna is a natural choice as a new destination,” said Steven Greenway, President of Swoop. “The Okanagan Valley is a popular leisure market and the route between Kelowna and Winnipeg provides excellent value for those looking to explore Canada this summer.”

In 2018, passengers totaled a recordbreaking 2,080,372, a 31 per cent increase SEE NEWS UPDATE | PAGE 3

NEWS UPDATE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

NEWS UPDATE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

or more than 486,700 passengers over the last three years. YLW is also one of Canada’s fastest growing airports for domestic travel.

KELOWNA Kelowna Council Grants U-Eight Final Approval Mission Group confirms that U-Eight has received its final approval from Kelowna City Council. U-Eight is the last building in Mission Group’s successful series of condominiums in Kelowna’s University District. U-Seven and U-Six both sold out in a weekend.

The U-Series of buildings are designed with the student in mind by award-winning local architectural firm Meiklejohn Architects. All phases of the development provide a “campus modern� feel with comfortable, open-plan living spaces. Each building offers studio, one, two- and three-bedroom homes. “The University District project was based on a strong demand for housing within walking distance to UBCO.� said Randy Shier, president, Mission Group “Since the launch of U-One in 2014, UBCO’s enrollment has continued to grow and U-Eight is a great opportunity to own in the University District.�

The University of British Colombia’s Okanagan Campus (UBCO) has nearly tripled its enrollment since 2005 and reached 9,945 students this year. The University currently provides 1,676 beds, which is augmented by an additional 1,800 beds built by private developers.

Since opening its doors, UBCO has become a become an important economic driver for the Okanagan region and now contributes $1.5 billion to the local economy. The success of the campus has attracted infrastructure investments like the $54 million upgrade of Highway 97 to six lanes just south of UBCO and a $12 million connector road linking the Glenmore community and UBCO that opened this September.

KAMLOOPS Exciting Acquisition Marks the Latest Step in Gateway’s Growth Strategy Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Limited has acquired Chances Casino Kamloops. Gateway has taken over the day-to-day operations of the Chances Kamloops facility. T he acquisition makes Gateway the sole gaming provider in Kamloops, as the operator of both Cascades Casino Kamloops and Chances Kamloops.

This strategic acquisition marks the latest step in Gateway’s growth strategy which has seen the company expand their footprint and product offering across Canada with their proprietary casino and restaurant brands. With the addition of Chances Kamloops, Gateway now operates 26 properties in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario with approximately 8,600 employees. “This is an exciting day for everyone at Gateway as we welcome Chances Kamloops and their employees to the Gateway family. I’d like to thank the Hart Family for their commitment to the Kamloops communities and we look forward to

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working with them on a smooth transition,� said Tony Santo, CEO of Gateway.

Based in Burnaby, BC, Gateway has made significant investments in the communities where they operate to improve the customer experience, which has brought hundreds of jobs and economic contribution to local economies.

In August 2015, Gateway opened the new Cascades Casino Kamloops – an entertainment destination in Kamloops. The investment features slots and table games, live entertainment, Match Eatery & Public House, Atlas Steak + Fish and The Buffet.

W it h o p e ra t io n s t h ro u g h o u t t h e T hompson-Okanagan, Gateway has also completed a renovation and rebrand in Kelowna to Playtime Casino Kelowna in March 2018. It opened Cascades Casino Penticton in 2017 and established Match Eatery & Public House at Lake City Casino in Vernon in 2014.Â

KAMLOOPS 2019 Okanagan Housing Awards of Excellence applauds Training House For nearly three decades TRU’s School of Trades and Technology has partnered with the Canadian Home Builders Association Central Interior (CHBA CI) to give students hands-on learning experience on the job site. Frequently recognized since the project’s conception with sufficient awards to overflow TRU’s ample trophy case, the partners have again won gold for Excellence in Public or Private Partnership at the CHBA Central Okanagan’s 27th annual awards on January 19 in Kelowna. “We are thrilled that our Training House project, a long-time partnership with Thompson Rivers University School of Trades and Technology and Kamloops YMCA/YWCA, won gold for Excellence in Public or Private Partnership for the 2018 Training House,� says CHBA CI president Kelly Reid. “The fact that our Training House project does well every year is especially gratifying.�

The training house offers first- and second-year TRU carpentry students an opportunity to build many parts of a house between August and December, from foundation to winter lockup. Students are overseen by a TRU School of Trades and Technology instructor and the project by a CHBA CI member contractor. Once students have completed winter lockup, the finishing contractor takes over to get the house move-in ready.

Hank Banga ran the program from the TRU-side for 18 years and explains why this experience is so critical for students: “It’s at the job setting where you really learn what’s needed to be successful in the workplace.�

Once complete, the house is sold to the Kamloops YMCA/YWCA as the grand prize for its Dream Home Lottery fundraiser. A tradition reaching back 22 years, proceeds from the fundraiser go back into the local community through initiatives run by the Kamloops YMCA/YWCA. The project’s partnership has been in the limelight for years, winning both categories it was a finalist in at the CHBA CI’s 2018 Keystone Awards—Best Single Family Home: $350,000 to $500,000 and Best Public/Private Partnership.

Nor is recognition new at the Tommie Awards (this year renamed the Okanagan Housing Awards of Excellence), SEE NEWS UPDATE |  PAGE 4

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with the partnership securing Excellence in Public or Private Partnerships awards over 11 times, and five CHBA British Columbia Georgie awards in the same vein—featured in 2016 for their fifth victory.

“For us, it’s about enhancing the educational experiences by providing on-site experience in addition to classroom work,” says Bryce Coombs, who has taken the reigns from Banga the past couple years.

As winter temperatures drop, it’s back to the classroom for these students. But not before experiencing the full spectrum of outdoor working conditions—from blazing summer heat to blustery sub-zero temperatures. That, after all, is an aspect of carpentry in Canada that just about every builder must come to terms with.

VERNON True Leaf Expands Retail Distribution in Europe T r ue L ea f Med ici ne International Ltd., a global cannabis and hemp wellness brand for pets, announced its True Hemp product line will soon be available in Arcaplanet stores in Italy, expanding its total retail distribution to 1,000 stores across Europe.

T rue Leaf has added A rcaplanet, a leading pet retail chain in Italy, to its list of partners in Europe, which includes top retailers such as Pets Corner UK and Das Futterhaus in Germany.

Arcaplanet has more than 200 stores in Italy and reported revenues of €169 million in a growing pet market with an average of one pet per person or 2.3 pets per family (2018 ASSALCO – ZOOMARK Report on Pet Food and Pet Care in Italy).

True Leaf Pet, a division of True Leaf, pioneered hempbased products for dogs. The Company’s True Hemp line of functional chews, supplement oils, and dental sticks is one of the first hemp-seed pet product offerings to be marketed worldwide.

In November 2018, True Leaf added seven hemp-based products specially formulated for cats to its True Hemp product line in Europe. The new products for cats include five functional treats and two hemp toys.

“True Leaf continues to expand in key markets because our hemp solutions for pets are not only legally compliant, but also safe and effective,” said Darcy Bomford, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of True Leaf. “We are excited to enter the Italian market with Arcaplanet; Italy is estimated to be the number one European country in regard to the number of pets for the population, with a one to one ratio.”

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

A NEW YEAR IS A TIME FOR FRESH STARTS

VERNON DIONE CHAMBERS

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new yea r is a ti me for fresh starts and that’s certainly the case with the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce.

Top of the agenda for 2019 is an exclusive partnership with Do Some Good, a Kelowna based orga n i zat ion t h at con nects charitable organizations and businesses to make a meaningful impact in the communities they serve.

For the Cha mber, bei ng a n active part of the community is important and we recognize that there are numerous nonprofits who are doing great work and could use some additional support. While, in some cases, financial donations are needed, there are also times where an organization requires volunteers or access to a particular skill set. There are many reasons to become a conscious company,

including customers believe business needs to treat society’s interests as seriously as corporate interests. Beyond this, making a positive impact leads to more fulfilled employees and consumers will support businesses involved in good causes.

Our goal is to provide our members with free access to Do Some Good in the hope that they will form a relationship with a nonprofit. The Chamber will also be able to compile the data related to its members’ good deeds and use that information as it lobbies government on matters crucial to business, such as taxation.

T he Chamber is also working with stakeholders on the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) Regional Pilot. The pilot is focused on attracting motivated entrepreneurs from around the world to establish new busi nesses to meet t he community’s specific needs.

These new businesses will create jobs in priority sectors creating exciting new opportunities that keep people in the community. We already have some investors interested in making Greater Vernon thei r home.

A lso on the agenda for 2019 is the inaugural Spring Expo M a rc h 8 a n d 9 at Ve r n o n’s K a l T i re Pl ace Nor t h. Wit h

thousands of people expected to walk through the doors, this will be a tremendous opportunity for businesses in the North Okanagan and farther afield to exhibit their products and services. These one on one relationships will help the exhibitors separate themselves from their competition.

Spring Expo will also focus on the community and what makes Greater Vernon and the North Okanagan such a terrific place to live, work and invest. As part of the community celebration, there will be lots of family fun including face painting, character visits, a bouncy castle and entertainment. For more information or to book your space, call 250-545-0771, email manager@vernonchamber.ca or go to Vernonchamber.ca.

Finally, welcome to the newest members of the Greater Vernon Chamber of Com merce; Ebus, Dean’s Tailor Shop, Avail L eadership, Raine Inc., G et Colour Copies, Simply Sparkling, EXP Realty-Tracy Lauriente, New Horizon Productions, Monashee Rail Corp., Maverick Modular Home Services, Robin Cardew CPA Chartered Professional Accountant, Kyle Goulet-Re/Max Vernon, Randy Wilson-Sun Life Financial and Heather Angel-Royal LePage.

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ard to believe we are already part way through January! We are looking forward to a year of growth for our community and our businesses.

Have you signed up for the Board Governance Workshop 1 March 2019 yet? Designed to inform, educate and assist both volunteer board members and staff about governance best practices and effective operation of a board. Those attending this dynamic and engaging workshop will learn from the best as Deb McLelland, formerly of the Kamloops Chamber, presents this session. Recognized as a leader among chambers for forward thinking and innovation, Deb is also a recipient of the BC Chamber Gerry Fredrick Award recognizing the Executive of the Year and a Council of Excellence Member - Chamber of Commerce Executives of Canada. Spaces available – contact us for more information.

We love partnerships – especially the one we currently have with North Okanagan Community Futures, NEXUSBC, Splatsin

Development Corporation and the Enderby Chamber of Commerce – in planning and hosting our first ever joint Jobs Skills, Employment & Business Fair on March 11.

Thanks to support from the Township of Spallumcheen, City of Armstrong, City of Armstrong and Interior Health, this event promises to benefit both job seekers and employers. For more information contact us. Still a few spaces available.

Community Excellence Awards Saturday April 27! Nomination forms available now!

Nominate a deserving business within Armstrong Spallumcheen for recognition in the following categories: Rising Star – sponsor Chris Heidt Tekamar Mortgages; Micro Business – sponsor VantageOne Credit Union; Small Business of the Year – sponsor Blackwell Building Movers; Mid-Size Business of the Year – sponsor North Okanagan Community Futures; Corporate Business of the Year – sponsor Hub International Barton Insurance; Employee of the Year – sponsor Shepherds Home Hardware; Revitalization & Innovation – Kohler; Hospitality & Tourism – sponsor Township of Spallumcheen; Organization of the Year – sponsor Okanagan Restoration Services; Volunteer of the Year – sponsor City of Armstrong Next Business After Business is February 20 hosted by VantageOne Credit Union Armstrong Branch 5:30 – 7:30 pm.

Patti Noonan is the Executive Director at the Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at (250)546 8155 or manager@aschamber.com

KELOWNA

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

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2019 UNFOLDS: TWO POLICY CONVENTIONS, ONE FEDERAL ELECTION, ONE FORMER PRIME MINISTER VISITING – SO FAR

KELOWNA DAN ROGERS

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good thing we all recharged over the holiday – January and now February are certainly raising the decibel level of debate, discussion, and involvement with our members and the world at large. We’re spending much of January and February preparing our half dozen or so Kelowna Chamber policies for the first policy convention of the year, end of May in Burnaby with the BC Chamber. We’re looking at a range of issues that bubbled to the surface in our fall Member Policy Forum: regional transportation; a couple of agricultural issues; dumping the Spec Tax as unfixable; lots more.

Our staff are working with the BC Chamber policy cohort on these issues, as well as with neighbouring chambers, and driving all is our Board’s Policy Advisory Committee who are deeply involved in researching and writing.

The year is only beginning and we’ve begun entertaining visitors from Ottawa in the run-up to the federal election now only eight months away. It’s always a terrific learning experience as we’re able to sit down in small groups and have substantive discussions around burning local issues, and how the ministerial portfolio deals with, and views these topics which hit us close to home. Reforestation; water quality; mining; all things natural resources were the subject when MP Shannon Stubbs, Shadow Minister for Natural Resources visited with us at the very end of January. These issues are of critical importance to our members and the Okanagan region which is one of the fastest growing in the country.

••• Big news on our March radar is our hosting of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper here in Kelowna. We’ll be putting on a luncheon and welcoming up to 300 guests to a special “In Conversation” moderated Q&A with this leader who has evolved into a senior spokesperson on global issues and disruption in the world marketplace. Harper’s fall 2018 book Right Here, Right Now: Politics & Leadership in the Age of Disruption is not only a great read for those interested in

new ways of understanding how politics, business & technology impact our world, but will also be a gift made to each attendee at this special March 12 Chamber luncheon. We’re fortunate our Chamber network helped make his visit possible.

••• An event coming up early this month at the Chamber is the release of the first-ever Kelowna Economic Scorecard. In this databased study that took 18 months and looked at 17 global cities comparable to Kelowna in size and location. The four partners and 25 task force members poured over reams of data, tossed out non-comparables, and came to conclusions about how Kelowna scores against its comparators in order to meet the City of Kelowna’s stated vision: “to be the best mid-sized city in North America”.

The results are vitally important for businesses, governments and residents as we set policies and establish priorities that will help guide us to a more prosperous future for the Okanagan. We plan to repeat the exercise triennially.

You’ll be able to access the report on our website after February 11.

••• Now I am going to talk about “populations in reverse”. Although we’ve all gotten accustomed to hearing that the world’s population is infinitely growing (UN: 11 billion 2100) newer projections are proving that while world populations will continue to grow until mid-century (eight or nine billion) they will then begin to decline. In fact, by 2100 we’ll be back where we are today (7.7B) and continuing to decline worldwide.

Why? An increasingly urbanized world is leading to lower birth rates globally. “Immigration,” says the Globe & Mail, “and the multicultural ethos it has produced, offers Canada a unique advantage in a world that is about to experience one of the great defining events of the 21st century. In about three decades, give or take, the human population will start to decline.”

Canada must continue to evolve its immigration policies if we are to remain a competitive nation, and Kelowna, already welcoming far more immigrant families, students and workers than ever before, must be right in the thick of that. Canada’s projected population growth in 2056 will be based solely on migration.

Thus, the Chamber is partnering with Kelowna Community Resources to present a half-day symposium titled Ignite! which will draw together speakers and community groups, businesses and government officials to help employers expand immigration roadways into Kelowna and give businesses struggling with a shrinking labour force in the

face of growing hiring demand new options. March 6 is the date of the half-day event, and our keynote speaker is Cicely-Belle Blain, Co-founder of Black Lives Matter Vancouver, who coaches and speaks on equality, diversity and accessibility. This could be a game-changer for local businesses searching for innovative labour solutions.

••• We’re getting ready for a new Board in April, so are currently monitoring the nomination and

election process. Stay tuned for our announcements which will be coming in the March column.

In closing, we are delighted to welcome the new members who joined us over the holiday period and into January. Our newest members are: Impact Events & Project Management; Moxie’s Grill & Bar; Myra Canyon Bicycle Rental and Tours Inc.; Riley Weatherhead – Prime Physiotherapy; First College; Kane9 Animal & Home Care Services; Keltech Environmental Ltd.; LDB

Chartered Professional Accountants; Living Brightside; Lorraine Penfond – Royal LePage; Madge Custom Roofing Ltd.; Reen Rose (Coach); Sanctuary Gardens, Inc.; Gold Business Technologies Ltd.; Sentes Automotive; New Era Nutrition – Solo GI Nutrition; Bargoon Cabinets; Quality Air Care and MTM Waste Solutions Canada. Welcome all!

Dan Rogers is Executive Director, Kelowna Chamber of Commerce

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

AWARD-WINNING VERNON BC HYDRO BUILDING CONTINUES TO SERVE SURROUNDING AREA BC Hydro Vernon Operations Building Recognized at Regional Construction Awards

V

ERNON - Last October, the Thompson Okanagan Kootenay Com mercia l Building Awards recognized Vernon’s BC Hydro Regional

Construction Operations Building as the Office Project of the Year.

The project was completed by Kasian (Architect/Designer), WSP Engineering (Engineer), and Omicron Construction Ltd. (General Contractor).

This post-disaster operations facility features 14 full-sized truck bays, associated warehouse/workshops, various offices, employee amenities and support spaces.

The award-winning BC Hydro Regional Construction Operations Building in Vernon

Congratulations on winning OfďŹ ce Project of the Year!

We are proud to have been a part of the BC Hydro project.

Pre-Engineered Steel and Pre-Engineered Fabric Buildings

866-935-4888 | www.spanmaster.ca 3901 Myers Frontage Road, Tappen, BC

The major component of the facility is the two-storey main bu i ld i ng accom modati ng 41 user groups with 360 full-time employees.

This main building and site were designed to meet LEED Gold and post-disaster standards. Construction was carried out without interruption to operations of the existing facility, and the new facility boasts very high standards in energy conservation, safety, security, technology, and option for future expansion.

I n add ition to the ma i n

building, six pre-engineered structures have also been added to the site serving the fleet services department, fleet vehicle parking, yard storage, hazmat storage a nd secu red storage functions.

The Thompson Okanagan Kootenay gala recognizes the winning efforts of the Thompson, Okanagan and Kootenay regions’ new institutional, commercial, i ndu st r i a l bu i ld i ng, mu lt ifamily, recreational or renovation projects from Kamloops to Osoyoos, and from Revelstoke to Fernie.

In a press release, Kasian stated, “We are proud of our ongoing involvement in public buildings, and are focused on creating exceptional design for people and their communities. We genuinely observe, listen, and analyze to understand the essence of each project while delivering a level of public service that results in better outcomes for the communities they serve.�

Kasian’s team included: Alan Nakaska, Barbara Good, Anabel Urbano, Slobodan Kablarevic, and Stan Zhekov. www.kasian.com

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SALES

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

7

COMMIT TO PROCESS IMPROVEMENT!

SALES JOHN GLENNON

R

yan, a salesperson in his mid-fifties, had hit a performance plateau. His commissions had been flat for the past six months, and he had narrowly missed quota in each of those months. He scheduled a meeting with his manager, Jeannine, to see if, working together, they could identify any steps that would turn this pattern around.

Ea rly on i n the meeting, Jeannine asked Ryan to talk about his “cookbook” – his daily, weekly, and quarterly behavioural plan for securing new business and expanding his existing accounts. The cookbook had measurable targets for specific activities, like dials and voiceto-voice contacts w ith decision makers. Ryan had set this plan up five years ago, when he first started working as a salesperson with the company. And he had followed it faithfully.

Yet Jea n n i ne not iced right away that Rya n’s cookbook had no digital o u t re a c h w h a t s o e ve r.

He was doing exactly the same things he had been doi ng f ive yea rs ago – dialing contacts, showing up at networking meetings, and asking existing customers, during faceto-face meetings, about the possibility of add-on business. In five years, he had made zero effort to generate referrals via

social media platforms.

Jeannine asked, “Can we take a couple of minutes to look at your LinkedIn profile?”

Ryan shifted uneasily in his seat, then admitted he hadn’t set one up.

A “digital immigrant,” he was much more comfortable and familiar with the prospecting and business development routines that had brought him success earlier in his career, primarily phone calls and face-to-face meetings.

Jeannine asked whether these tactics were delivering the same levels of new business for Ryan as they had in previous years, and Ryan acknowledged that they weren’t. He was relying more and more on business from his existing clients … and leaning into prospecting strategies that were less effective than they once had been.

“Maybe,” Jeannine suggested, “it’s time to move outside your comfort zone a bit . . . and update your cookbook.”

Average or Excellent?

Average salespeople continue to do what they have always done. They exhibit the same patterns of behaviour and employ the same strategies and tactics over and over again, regardless of the results they achieve. They don’t stop to consider that the plan that worked for them one, or two, or five years ago may feel familiar, but won’t necessarily deliver optimum results today.

Excellent salespeople, by contrast, recognize that excellent results are only achieved by implementing their well-honed skills within the framework of well-designed systems.

They continually strive to improve and perfect the strategies and processes

S W E

N

they employ. For them, nothing is left to chance.

There are no wasted motions. They have elevated the tasks of initiating relationships, supporting re l a t i o n s h i p s , a s k i n g questions, analyzing customers’ and prospects’ requirements, and crafting and presenting best-fit solutions to an art form.

And they are all about process improvement.

Turning the Corner With Jeannine’s help, Ryan revised his cookbook. He set up a LinkedIn profile that made it easier for decision makers to connect with him. He connected with well over 100 contacts he already knew on the site (he was su r pr i sed at how e a sy that was) and he began setting – and hitting – a weekly target for requesting referrals from those contacts. In short, he ventured outside his comfort z one, a nd brou g ht h i s prospecting cookbook up to date.

T he results were tangible. By the time his next qu a r ter concluded, he had made four major new sales and hit quota for the first time in nearly a year.

With Jeannine’s help, he had turned the corner and made a commitment to excellence . . . by committing to process improvement.

Copyright 2018 Sandler Training and Insight Sales Consulting Inc. All rights reserved.

Owning a Mac does not have to break the bank!

John Glennon is the owner of Insight Sales Consulting Inc, the authorized Sandler Training Licensee for the Interior of British Columbia. He can be reached at jglennon@ sandler.com, toll free at 1-866-645-2047 or visit www.glennon.sandler.com

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

The team at Dinoflex in front of the manufacturing facility

DINOFLEX GROUP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

the recycled rubber together is produced by International Polyurethane Solutions (IPS), a company that is also owned

by Dinoflex. With a production facility located just next door to the Dinoflex plant, IPS polyurethane binding solutions are shipped to the manufacturing facility through a tube which connects the two plants. This further reduces environmental impact by reducing transportation costs.

The Centre of Excellence in Susta i nable Bu i ld i ng Technologies and Renewable Energy Conservation at the Okanagan College Penticton campus, one of

“Products like these want to return to their original shape, so flooring that is manufactured on a roll will tend to curl over time. Because our products are cut from flat blocks, they remain flat for their entire lifespan. Our motto is: ‘Made Flat, Stays Flat.’”

ALISON PAULL MARKETING COORDINATOR AT DINOFLEX GROUP LP

Canada’s most sustainable facilities, utilized Dinoflex product for their build.

CEI Architecture used about 20,000 square feet of Dinoflex flooring on the building, which met the standards of the Living Building Challenge (above a LEED Platinum designation).

CE I P roject m a n ager Robert Parlane stated, “The use of Dinoflex flooring was a great fit for the Centre of Excellence project: a product manufactured locally with high recycled content and no red list materials in accordance with the tough goals of the Living Building Challenge,

and a product that meets the needs of faculty and students to provide a durable, resilient finish without compromising the performance of the radiant flooring system.”

Thanks to the company’s continued growth, they recently announced plans for a major expansion for its manufacturing facility.

In late October press release, CEO Mark Bunz stated, “It gives me great pleasure to announce a $3.5M investment for plant expansion, new equipment and automation in our Salmon Arm facility. The investment includes an additional 10,000 square foot manufacturing footprint, an array of new production equipment to increase our capacity as well

as workstation automation to make our manufacturing process easier, safer and more efficient.”

He added, “The additional capacity will enable Dinoflex to continue to improve service levels to its current client base as well as increase penetration into new markets and new verticals creating the opportunity for more people to experience the Dinoflex difference.”

The investment will enable D i nof lex to ex pa nd its employee base in Salmon Arm and open up job opportunities for a higher skilled and more diverse workforce. Dinoflex is hoping to have full production on line at the renovated facility by this summer. www.dinoflex.com

NAI Commercial Okanagan Ltd. is pleased to announce that Scott Fedec has joined their team. Scott is licensed in Real Estate for trading, rental property and strata management plus a CPA, CMA with a Bachelor of Administration degree.

Scott was the General Manager of a Regina Property Management Company that managed over four and a half million square feet of Office, Retail, Industrial, Residential and Strata properties in Southern Saskatchewan. The organization experienced growth of more than fifty percent over five years under Scott's leadership.

Scott possesses many years of business experience related to project management, operational, financial, international business and human resource management which included being the CFO for an International Telecommunications company for sixteen years that allowed him to participate in many business projects around the globe.

His experience will be transferred to the NAI Okanagan office and clients and we are proud to have Scott representing our firm and clients in the Okanagan market.

Scott Fedec, B. Admin., CPA, CMA Scott.fedec@naiokanagan.ca

www.naiokanagan.ca 250-868-1879

9

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

PUSHOR MITCHELL LAWYERS LLP EARN RECOGNITION

GUEST COLUMNIST MAXINE DEHART

T

hai Terrace Restaurant has opened in downtown Kelowna at 210 Lawrence Avenue across from City Park (former Ric’s Grill). Formerly, the Thai Fusion Restaurant in West Kelowna, the partners of Thai Terrace are Atsawin (Luke) Sumpantarat (general manager), Atchara (Ess) Sumpantarat (Luke’s wife and chef), Kannika (May) Kamlapit and Choncharee (Tik) Phangthunad. The restaurant has been beautifully renovated with 100 seats and a 14 seat patio for summer. Ess, who is the chef along with May and Tik source all the food products locally along with using fresh local spices and import spices that are not available in the area. They also serve local bar products and have a large selection of gluten free and vegan dishes. The menu is extensive with

soups, stir-fry, signature dishes, noodles, curry, share plates and platters. www.thaiterrace.ca ••• Paul Larsen is the new news and station ma nager for Global Okanagan. Pau l is no Paul Larsen stranger to the media business having started onair at CKNL Radio in Fort St. John, BC at the age of 16. He has held many management positions in various markets in Alberta and BC Paul eventually set out to start his own company, Clear Sky Radio, which he grew to five stations in Alberta and BC over the past 12 years. In December, Clear Sky was sold to Vista Radio. Paul has worked and resided in Kelowna for the past six years, cultivating strong contacts within the local media and Kelowna community.

••• RBC has some new leadership faces with Ray Warren, Vice President of Commercial Banking and Courtney Hesse, Community Manager both entering their second year here in Kelowna. RBC is proud to be supporting Kelowna’s youth through RBC’s future Launch program with numerous community donations, including a recent $11,800 donation to the United Way for their CODEanagan program. RBC has a new location

on campus at UBCO which just opened this past fall with the key focus to help students.

••• Pushor Mitchell Lawyers LLP has been recognized as one of Canada’s Top Small & Medium Employers for 2018 for a second year in a row. They received the award for their collaborative spirit, teamwork approach, mutual support, wellness initiatives and work/life balance which are all hallmarks of the firm.

••• I (Maxine) am delighted to be the city representative on the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce appointed by Mayor Basran.

••• The Board of Governors has announced that Kelowna lawyer Geoff White has been elected as chair of the Law Foundation for a two-year term. Geoff’s practice is focused on estate and charity law with offices in Kelowna and Vancouver (Clark Wilson LLP) and has been a Governor of the Law Foundation since 2015.

••• Secure-Rite Mobile Storage Inc. is celebrating 14 years in business. The company was started in March, 2005 by young local born entrepreneur Lucas Griffin when he discovered a growing need for mobile storage in the city. Now the company boasts four locations in BC and Alberta,

eight custom tilt-trucks delivering thousands of containers each year, a well-equipped contained modification facility, 22 employees and an exciting vision for the future. This past year, the company added two new delivery trucks, enhanced their modification shop with cutting-edge tools and added seven new team members. Rebecca King-Jones is the marketing coordinator for the company. www.secure-rite.com ••• Celebrating ten years in business this year, Business Finders Canada, ow ned by Steve Harvey, has moved locations in downtown Kelowna to 1685 Pandosy Street, just across from where they previously were located. The company connects buyers and sellers of businesses and commercial property. Stephen Rowswell has joined the sales team in Kelowna and they have also just opened their first franchise location in Edmonton, Business Finders Edmonton to Regan Brown and Ron Finch. www.businessfinderscanada. com.

••• Advocis i s a well-known Nat ion a l A ssociation of Financial Planners. The local Mike Mervyn chapter board of

Advocis is Mike Mervyn, Wealthlink Financial Services (President). T homas Gaymer, Bob White, Rob Bauml, Kevin Zakus, Layla Caruana, Trevor McTavish, Michelle Aucoin, Ed Granger, Andrew Meyers, Brett Henderson, Sandy McAllister, Ken Thom and Jaide Hatfield. This award-winning chapter invites you to check out www.financialadviceforall. com to see how you can become more financially educated and better positioned to make financial decisions.

••• For the second consecutive year, Refresh Financial has been recognized for rapid revenue growth, bold innovation and its entrepreneurial spirit with a Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Award.

The Fast 50 program honours 50 Canadian technology companies with the highest revenue-growth percentage over the past four years. Refresh Financial Inc. is a Canadian owned and operated Fintech, based in BC. Michael Wendland is the CEO and Mike Penninga the manager of culture and public relations. www.refreshfinancial.ca Maxine DeHart is a Kelowna City Councillor and local hotelier.

Contact her at 250-979-4546 or 250-862-7662; Email maxdehart@ telus.net.

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10

SALMON ARM/KAMLOOOPS

Discover the REAL in real estate!

THE UNVEILING OF OUR NEW LOGO!

SALMON ARM My market area includes the entire North Okanagan. The areas I specialize are Bella Vista, Turtle Mountain, Middleton Mountain, East Hill, Mission Hill, Coldstream, the city of Vernon, Adventure Bay, Armstrong, Silver Star and Predator Ridge Resort Community.

www.louisacochrane.com Office: 778.475.1089

| Cell: 250.550.6561

louisa@realvernon.ca

Louisa Cochrane & Company (Personal Real Estate Corp)

I strongly feel that a realtor is your partner in selling or buying a home and should be determined, enthusiastic and trustworthy. I guide my clients through the process, from initial consultation to presenting the keys, with genuine respect and friendliness.

My knowledge and experience provide answers and peace of mind. I believe in building customer relationships, one client at a time, by providing full personal service. As my client YOU are my first priority.

Royal LePage Downtown Realty 4007 - 32nd Street, Vernon, BC V1T 5P2 Office: 250.545.5371 | Owner : Monty Davis (Jr)

VERNON’S BEST ROOFERS - SINCE 1994

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

CORRYN GRAYSTON

T

his new word mark aligns with the branding that recently finalized for the City of Salmon Arm. Other organizations that have embraced the new brand are Salmon Arm Economic Development and Downtown Salmon Arm. We are excited about the plans that are being formulated as part of our new brand for Salmon Arm and the Chamber!

Starting this year, the Chamber is rolling out a new networking program for our members. “Member Mixers” will be held on the last Thursday of e ach mont h f rom 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm at various locations throughout the city. Our members wanted more occasions to network and with others so these Mixers are a perfect scenario for marketing mem b ers’ pro du c t s or services. Check out our website www.sachamber. bc.ca for more i n fo on

where the Mixers will be held each month. Chamber members have been invited to host a Mixer at their place of business to maximize their marketing opportunities.

T he 2019 Ch a m b er Member su r vey is a lso underway as part of our member outreach program to build upon our 2019/2020 work plan. The survey is located on our website www.sachamber. bc.ca and the results will be presented at our 2019 Annual General Meeting.  The Prestige Harbourfront Resort is pleased to welcome Jeff Lee as their new General Manager as well as Jessica Oderkirk as t hei r new A ssista nt Ma nager. T he P restige Harbourfront is one of our premier hotels that offers beautiful suites and room as well as their impressive conference facilities.

Located on the shores of Shuswap Lake and right

by Marine Peace Park, the Prestige Harbourfront is a highly popular location for weddings, conferences and places to stay in the Shu s wap. G o to w w w.

prestigehotelsandresorts. com and select Salmon Arm as your location.  O n Ja n u a r y 3 0, 2 019 the Chamber hosted our signature annual event featuring Mayor Alan Harrison as our guest speaker.

We had a sold-out event with 87 business and community members join us to hear Mayor Harrison share his, and Council’s, v ision for Sa l mon A rm over the next four years and beyond. Great plans are in place for our amazi ng com mu n ity a nd we look forward to continuing to support these initiatives as they progress.  February 13, 2019 is the next Chamber luncheon and we are pleased to have Mel Arnold, M P, North Okanagan-Shuswap as our guest speaker. Go to www. sachamber.bc.ca for more details.

Corryn Grayston is the General Manager at the Salmon Arm Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at (250) 832-6247 or admin@sachamber.bc.ca.

LET’S CONNECT, COLLABORATE AND CELEBRATE BC IN 2019 For all your Flat or Pitched Roof needs

Community Roofing Ltd. is a locally owned and operated roofing contractor that is based in Vernon and Salmon Arm and provides professional roofing installations for customers throughout surrounding areas in the Okanagan / Shuswap area. Whether you are looking for commercial, residential or industrial roofing our skilled technicians can get the job done promptly and at a competitive price.

FREE CONSULTATION Quality materials for commercial and residential roofs.

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Vernon 250.549.4500 | Salmon Arm 250.832.5770 communityroofingltd@shaw.ca

www.communityroofing.ca

KAMLOOPS ACACIA PANGILINAN

T

he Kamloops Chamber of Com merce has released its full list of programming, events, and professional development opportunities for 2019. This year the Chamber is focusing on creating connections, fostering collaboration, and celebrating our province.

Build your roster at one of our networking events,

develop yourself or your business with our industry leading seminars, workshops a nd con ferences jam-packed full of great content to help your business grow in 2019. Finally, let’s celebrate the best of BC at the Made in BC Expo on Saturday, September 28 at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops.

The Made in BC Expo is hosting FREE information sessions throughout the month of January and February to any business that is interested in participating in the show. Made in BC showcases the people, businesses, and organizations that ma ke ou r province special. Space is limited for this one of a kind, provincial showcase.

E a rl y-b i rd ra te s a n d registration information c a n b e fou nd at w w w.

madeinbc.net We are so happy to welcome the following new members to the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce; Ebus, Moccasin Trails, TRU Conference Centre, Vivid Orthodontics and Mastercare Janitorial.

If you are intrigued about being a part of our vibrant Chamber of Commerce, contact us at 250.372.7722 o r w w w. k a m l o o p schamber.ca.

Acadia Pangilinan is Interim Executive Director at the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at acacia@ kamloopschamber.ca.

t

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o o e st a s e d -

al y. e r e e e o

e d al

15 GREEN SHEET

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

SIMONE SUNDERLAND

KAMLOOPS

GREEN SHEET BUILDING BRIEFS

211 Andover Cres – Self LOCATION Storage – Warehouses

PROJECT STATUS Rezoning application approval anticipated February/19 ARCHITECT GTA Architecture Ltd – 243 1889 Springfield Rd, Kelowna 250-979-1668

250-868-9278 DEVELOPER Pathways Abilities Society – 123 Franklyn Rd, Kelowna 250-7634837

KELOWNA

OWNER SIMONE SUNDERLAND LOCATION

BC Housing Management Commission – 1701 4555 Kingsway, Burnaby 604433-1711

DEVELOPER PROJECT TYPE A & T Project PROJECTMulti-family new Developments – 102 PROJECT treatment facility - the dis1339 McGill Rd, New water New townhouse developtrict is currently several methKamloops 250-851-9292 ment – 13testing structures –

KAMLOOPS LOCATION

parking

610 Academy Way – Townhouses – Academy Ridge

CENTRAL OKANAGAN REGIONAL DISTRICT

KELOWNA

PROJECT TYPE Multi-family new

SALMON ARM

ARCHITECT Meiklejohn Architects Inc (Kelowna) – 233 Bernard Ave, Kelowna 250-762-3004 GENERAL CONTRACTOR Watermark Developments Ltd, Inc No BC0642787 – 106 975 Academy Way, Kelowna 250-763-8840

OSOYOOS LOCATION

PROJECT New townhouse develLOCATION sf to 2,200 sf units – opment – 28 structures 555 Fuller Ave – PROJECTpark STATUS 175PROJECT Kokanee Way - Ramada Hotel TYPE and kids play area – 3 storeys – 155 units Condominiums Industrial new Design underway - Tender call forPROJECT TYPE PROJECT TYPE – 1,400 sf to 2,200 PROJECT STATUS PROJECT General Contractor anticipated Rezoning application and Multi-family new sf units – 3 bedrooms commercial new New warehouse develOCP amendment applicaPROJECT – double car garages, July/14 - construction completion opment – 2 structures tion at final reading New condominium devel- tandem and side by side PROJECT LOCATION anticipated late 2015 – Building 1, 13 bays, opment – 1LOCATION structure – 5 – fiber cement, wood 6810 Park Hill Rd NE ARCHITECT Newapprox Ramada 1,797Hotel sm – in the Campbell storeys – 68 units – stuinfill and stack CONSULTANT – Residential – SFDs – Pacific West Architecture 2241 Springfield Rdpanels - Mission Building 2, 16 bays, dio, 1 and 2 bedroom Creek industrial park - 4 storeys board exteriors – overPark Hill Inc – 1120 1200 W 73 Knight - 255 1715 units – approx 6,686Westside approx sm – 1 stoCrossing 3,780 sm 2,232 - 80 rooms - restaurant - pool Opus Dayton sized windows – flat and Ave, Vancouver 604PROJECT TYPE sm – u/g parking – metal off set sloping shingle rey – surface parking – Dickson Ave, V1Y 9G6 250-868-4925 616-7892 with waterslide elevators concrete PROJECT TYPE Subdivisions siding – textured conprecast concrete – metal roofing OWNER GENERAL CONTRACTOR crete – coloured glass new construction - roof with overhead and man articulation doors commercial Hamilton View PROJECT panels PROJECT STATUS porte cochere - asphalt shingles - 98 District of Sicamous– 92 - 1214 Contracting Ravine New residential subdiPROJECT STATUS PROJECT PROJECT STATUS Construction start Dr,Ave, Coldstream 250-308vision – 131 SFD lots – surface parkingunderway stalls Foundations Riverside Sicamous V0E 2V0Rezoning application anticipated spring/19 4245 New commercial urban lifestyle approx 14 hectares – to for both Buildings as of and development permit 250-836-2477 – development permit PROJECT STATUS be built in Phases January/19 – construccentre - 6 buildings - 2 to 7 storeys application submitted approved tion completion anticiConstruction start anticipated lateSTATUS PROJECT MANAGER GENERAL CONTRACTOR - retail commercial at ground level PROJECT APPLICANT pated fall/19 ARCHITECTS Site servicing to start 2014 MHPM - 550 555 W 12th Ave, with office units above - underground ASK Wellness Society Distefano Jaud spring/19 ARCHITECT Vancouver V5Z 3X7 604-714-0988 parkade 80 above ground short ARCHITECT – 433 Tranquille Rd, LOCATION Architecture – 3 1331 Rick Balbi Architect – DEVELOPER 1028 to 1044 Coronation Ellis St, Kelowna Kamloops 250-376-7558 term parking stalls 1A St SW, Calgary Construction DF 5917 Architecture Inc - 1205 Homecraft 4871 Shell Ave – Townhouses 403-253-2853 PROJECT STATUS Ltd – 33677 Arcadian Rd, Richmond V6X 3Z6 604-284-5194 AGRICULTURE • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL PROJECT TYPE Way, Abbotsford 604GENERAL CONTRACTOR Development permit application Multi-family new 853-3778 DEVELOPER Stretch Construction submitted PROJECT Ltd – 72 27211 Hwy 12, LOCATION Prism Ventures Inc 3571 Barmond New townhouse develLacombe County 403ARCHITECT opment – 2 -structures Ave,704-4618 Richmond V7E 1A4 604-338-4656 To Be Determined Ice Facility – 3 storeys – 10 units – Ekistics Town Planning - 1925 Main OWNER PROJECT TYPE approx 1,777 sf units – 3 AGRICULTURE • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL St, Vancouver V5T 3C1 604-739-7526 LOCATION bedrooms – roof decks DELTA IRRIGATION PRODUCTS LTD. Prism Hotels and Resorts - 3903 80030 St – Rowhouses institutional add/alter – central courtyard – u/g DEVELOPER 14800 Landmark Blvd, Dallas Texas parking – fiber cement, AGRICULTURE COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE • INDUSTRIAL • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL PROJECT TYPE • PROJECT R366 Enterprises Ltd - 4870B Chute, 75254 214-987-9300 wood accent and conMulti-family new New ice facility for the Greater Kelowna V1W 4M3 250-764-8963 crete exteriors PROJECT Vernon area to replace the aging New multi family develPROJECT STATUS GENERAL CONTRACTOR Everything Water LOCATION opment – rowhouses – Arena Civic 4,000 seats may be Rezoning application AGRICULTURE • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL 5050 Valley Dr, Sun Lambert and Paul Construction Ltd approx 11 units – 2 stoand to development permitor the ansome addition Kal Tire Place Peaks – Condominiums – reys – 2 bedrooms, application submitted 300 2000 Spall Rd, Kelowna V1Y 9P6 Elevation Sun Peaks with dens – wood Priest frame Valley Arena or construction of 250-860-2331 LOCATION construction a new iceARCHITECT facility PROJECT TYPE GTA Architecture Ltd – 451Multi-family Shuswap St - SD 83 North Okananew PROJECT STATUS PROJECT243 1889 Springfield Rd, STATUS ganPROJECT Shuswap Administration Building Rezoning application Kelowna 250-979-1668 AGRICULTURE • Feasibility COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE • INDUSTRIAL • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL study and cost analysis approval anticipated New tourist accommoPROJECT TYPE February/19 studyPRODUCTS anticipated shortly - LTD. the DELTA IRRIGATION DELTA IRRIGATION LTD. PRODUCTS dation – 2 structures

ods including membrane technology 65 units – approx 1,350

11

KELOWNA

17808 103 St – Winery – Warehouse – Tasting Room – Rental Suites PROJECT TYPE Mixed-use dev PROJECT New winery buildings – 3 structures – Building 1, 2 storeys, tasting room, offices, approx 700 sm warehouse, approx 200 sm terrace – Buildings 2 and 3, two 45 sm suites PROJECT STATUS Agricultural Land Reserve application submitted – rezoning approved DEVELOPER Osoyoos Larose Winery – 17808 103 St, Osoyoos 250-495-4027

VERNON

VERNON

THOMPSON NICOLA REG DIST

Everything Water Specializing in:

SALMON ARM

AGRICULTURE • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL

KELOWNA

institutional new – 4 storeys – 80 units

Greater Vernon Advisory Committee ARCHITECT – approx 645 to 1,162 sf Lunde Architect Ltd – decide in June whether or not to will PROJECT units – 1, 2 and 3 bedLOCATION in November/14 3904 31st St, Vernon hold a referendum New administration building on the room units – u/g parking 2025 Agassiz Rd 250-503-3000 to fund a–new ice facility Condominiums – - location, oldPROJECT JL Jackson school site 2,640 sm STATUS GENERAL CONTRACTOR Supportive Housing – design and estimated Rezoning application 2 storeys - 75 parking stallsHamilton View preliminary Agassiz Road BC Housing cost to beProject determined approval anticipated Contracting – 92 Ravine PROJECT STATUS February/19 Dr, Coldstream 250-308Everything WaterEverything Water OWNER PROJECT TYPE 4245 SiteAPPLICANT work underway AGRICULTURE • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL Multi-family new48th City AGRICULTURE of Vernon - 1900 Ave, Sun Peaks Resort – 1280 ARCHITECT Vernon V1T 5E6 250-545-1361 PROJECT Alpine Rd, Sun Peaks New supportive housMQN Architects - 100 3313 32 Ave, 250-578-7222 ing development – 1 Vernon V1T 2E1 250-542-1199 ARCHITECT structure – 4 storeys – David Eaton Architect approx 52 to 54 units, OWNER Inc – 1690 W 2 Ave, LOCATION studio, accessible units School District 83 - North Okanagan Vancouver 604-6082749 and 2769 Shannon and units to accommo0161 - 220 Shuswap StLake date couples – surface Shuswap NE, Rd – Townhouses

WEST KELOWNA

Salmon Arm V1E 4N2 250-832-2157

PROJECT MANAGER

DISTRICT OF WEST KELOWNA

OKANAGAN SIMILKAMEEN REGIONAL Everything Water DISTRICT Specializing in: Everything Everything Water Water LOCATION Specializing Specializing in: Falls -in: Vintage Boulevard, Okanagan AGRICULTURE • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL DELTA IRRIGATION PRODUCTS LTD.

Everything Water

AGRICULTURE • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL

Vintage Views

PROJECT TYPE subdivisions

PROJECT New subdivision - 30 SFD lots

PROJECT STATUS Construction start anticipated

Photo Credits: Delta, www.fotosearch.com (rfcansole, zoomzoom, Planpraz, aorlemann, Alekss)

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

MUNDEN VENTURES REMAINS FAMILY-OWNED AFTER OVER 50 YEARS Kamloops Business Develops Booming Maintenance Wing

K

AMLOOPS - Now over 50 years old, Munden Ventures Ltd. is branching out.

The family-owned and operated company has been operating in the Kamloops area since 1966. Under the third-generation leadership of Greg and Kim Munden, the company has grown to provide services in four main areas: transportation, commercial vehicle maintenance, forestry, and tank truck manufacturing and repair.

“We’ve traditionally been a log hauling business in the Kamloops region, and that is still a core part of our company, serving a variety of interior-based forest products companies, ” says Greg. “In addition, we’ve developed other divisions, including our growing commercial repair business.”

Munden Ventures provides scheduled and unscheduled commercial vehicle maintenance to fleets of all sizes and to individual owner operators. Their 10-bay maintenance facility in Kamloops has the longest business hours in the Interior, open seven days a week and until midnight every evening.

“I’ve been on full time with the business since 1989,” says Greg.

“One of the goals I always had was to diversify our company. We were traditionally a log-hauling business by nature, and I wanted to become less dependant on any single line of business.

“We started doing some outside service work in the early 2000s.

We had a shop, facility, and people for the purpose of looking after our own equipment, so we were approached in 2008 to begin offering commercial vehicle repair and service work to a fuel hauler in Kamloops.”

At that time, the forestry industry was in one of its downcycles, so the team began to pursue that line of business. They took steps including insurance and training

“We come from a trucking background, so we have the same experiences and frustrations that other trucking customers have - trying to find service when they need it, trying to find a fair rate, and trying to find an honest company. We look at this business from a bit of a different perspective for that reason. We have a lot of empathy for what a truck fleet or driver is going through, and we know how important it is for them to get back on the road quickly.”

(Left to right) Jim, Greg, and Nolan Munden represent three generations of the Munden family

GREG MUNDEN OWNER OF MUNDEN VENTURES LTD.

to begin offering these services to Kamloops and the surrounding area. According to Greg, this has been the company’s single largest area of growth over the last few years.

“We come from a trucking background, so we have the same experiences and frustrations that other trucking customers have - trying to find service when they need it, trying to find a fair rate, and trying to find an honest company,” he says. “We look at this business from a bit of a different perspective for that reason. We have a lot of empathy for what a truck fleet or driver is going through, and we know how important it is for them to get back on the road quickly.”

Munden Ventures was one of the region’s first companies to SEE MUNDEN VENTURES LTD. | PAGE 13

A Ford service truck working on a dozer

Congratulations to Greg and the team at Munden Ventures!

1395 Battle St, Kamloops, BC V2C 2N9

P: 250-374-4488 • lordco.com

Congratulations to Greg and the team at Munden Ventures!

945 Notre Dame Dr, Kamloops, BC P: 250-374-6887 kcc.ca

13

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

Tank truck manufacturing and repair is one of the four main divisions at Munden Ventures

A loaded K010 in front of the Munden shop

After 50 years, Munden Ventures still maintains a strong presence in the forestry industry

MUNDEN VENTURES LTD. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

build a well-equipped drivers’ lounge for its customers. The lounge includes a comfortable room with couches, TV, wifi, and a bathroom with a shower.

“We know from our experience that few repair shops cater to the needs of the driver,” Greg conti nues. “We u ndersta nd he’s probably having a bad day, pa r ticu la rly i f he’s come i n unexpectedly.”

The company’s experience in trucking was also behind their decision to extend their work hours for both their parts and service departments.

“A lot of customers really value that,” Greg rema rks. “T hey

usually want to be on the road during the day, so they would usually prefer to schedule service on evenings or weekends. We’re one of the few shops that are open on Sundays, and we have mobile service trucks, which are available during these same hours.”

Alongside the growing commercial vehicle maintenance division, Munden Ventures continues to operate one of the largest fleets of state-of-the-art log trucks providing both long and short log transportation services in the BC Interior. They use vehicles that are GPS equipped, working with customers to share data and develop mutually beneficial solutions. All of Munden’s drivers use electronic log books and have been for almost 4 years.

“We try to be early adopters of technology and support initiatives that advance the industry, particularly if they support reducing driver hours, help to attract and retain professional drivers to the industry, and level the competitive playing field,” says Munden.

The company also has a thriving tank division, which operates out of a registered Transport Canada Dangerous Goods Facility. They provide manufacturing, modification, repair and inspection of highway tanks and portable tanks in accordance with CSA B620 regulations.

According to Greg and Kim, the company’s 50 years of success would not have been possible without the support of a loyal team.

“As a family, we’ve always placed a lot of importance on the staff that we have,” says Greg.

“We’ve always been really lucky to have such a consistent amount of work in an industry that typically has a lot of turnover and volatility.

“We have a very small turnover rate relative to the industry, and we spend quite a bit of time fostering these relationships and trying to provide our people with a good place to work. Work-life balance isn’t typically strong in this industry, but we’ve found ways to make it work - we still have more work to do.

“We’ve been really blessed with great dedicated and loyal longterm staff. We attribute our ability to weather those storms to this team. We’ve got people who do a great job, do it safely, and value the customer. They own any success we’ve had.”

Today, Greg (President) and Kim are supported by Glenn Haywood (Operations Manager), Don Wyness (Shop Manager), and Nick Scott (Service Manager), Todd Arden (Tank Manager), Brenda Haggart (Administrator) and Glen Savard (Parts Manager).

Some of their employees have been with the company for decades, working with previous generations.

Originally founded by Craig and Louise Munden, Munden Ventures was passed on to their son Jim and wife Linda, then to Jim’s

son, Greg. Through the years, many family members have been involved, with some starting their own complementary businesses (some of which continue to work with various Munden Ventures operations). Greg’s brother Chad, and his wife Alea, own logging and road building equipment and supervise their joint forestry operation, Peak Forestry Ltd. Recently, Greg’s son Nolan came on full time with the company.

“Nolan recently started back with us,” says Greg. “All of us grew up in the business, with many of us spending time working around the shop when we were younger.

“Part of our succession plan was to ensure that if our kids wanted to become involved, they had to have their eyes wide open. If they gravitate toward the business, they need to work outside the company for a period and complete accreditation of some kind.”

Nolan returned home to Kamloops after a period with Inland Kenworth in Kelowna, where he acquired his Red Seal Commercial Truck and Trailer Mechanic’s license. Should he decide to continue with the company, Nolan will represent the fourth generation of the business. The couple’s daughter, Janessa, is currently pursuing a career in Health Care as a Care Aid worker...but you never know. www.mundentrucking.ca

Congratulations to the team at Munden Ventures!

Call our logging and transportation industry specialists

250-869-3810 • www.capricmw.ca Insurance that keeps you on the road

14

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

RUPP METALWORKS IS ALWAYS UP FOR A CHALLENGE Family-Owned Business Thrives in Salmon Arm Industrial Park

S

A LMON A R M - Familyowned Rupp Metalworks has been creating customized solutions for over 23 years Owned and operated by Tony Rupp and Colleen Cody-Rupp, the metal fabricators bring decades of experience in metalworking and blacksmithing to contractors, manufacturers and homeowners alike.

“I completed a metalworking apprenticeship in Switzerland, building stainless steel tanks, primarily for the chemical industry,” says Tony. “During this time, I did a lot of blacksmithing on the side, and I developed a bit of a passion for it.”

After several years in Switzerland, he decided to move to Canada, first working on a farm in Ontario, then moving to BC. While visiting various towns in the interior, Tony decided to move to Salmon Arm, where he spent some years at a company building log homes.

In 1995, he founded Rupp Metalworks, combining his skills in metalwork, blacksmithing, and construction. Today, the team includes Tony, Colleen, and three skilled tradesmen. They are always up for a challenge, especially when it comes to custom metalwork projects.

“Tony works really well with clients who need unique solutions for their projects,” says Colleen.

“He doesn’t just give a quote on a client’s project. He looks at it critically, giving input for the best possible solution. He’s always looking for ways to improve the concept, whether it’s for a homeowner or somebody building parts for a new marina system. He’s always looking to make projects the best that they can be.”

As the company’s reputation for customized metal projects has grown, clients throughout

A custom driveway gate, curved to follow the client’s retaining wall

A beam band for a timber frame structure, custom made by Rupp Metalworks

“Tony works really well with clients who need unique solutions for their projects. He doesn’t just give a quote on a client’s project.

He looks at it critically, giving input for the best possible solution. He’s always looking for ways to improve the concept, whether it’s for a homeowner or somebody building parts for a new marina system. He’s always looking to make projects the best that they can be.”

COLLEEN CODY-RUPP CO-OWNER OF RUPP METALWORKS

BC and Alberta have sought out their services. At one point, the company was hired to build hidden doors, railings, and other

custom metalwork for a client in New York.

“With everything we do, we pay attention to details to make the

best possible product,” says Tony.

In 2010, the company moved from the Rupp’s home property into the Salmon Arm Industrial Park, which is home to 81 unique businesses. This move meant that the business was closer to its clientele and this enabled Rupp Metalworks to develop strategic partnerships with neighbouring companies.

“Since we moved to the industrial park, we’ve developed a nice network of trades in our area, including businesses that offer powder coating, machining, water jet and plasma cutting, and more,” says Colleen.

Tony, Colleen, and the team work closely with several companies in BC’s Interior, including European Timberframe Corp., International Timberframes Inc., Landmark Solutions and Pacific Timber Frame.

“We met Chris Pickard from Pacific Timberframe around 2006 when we worked with him on a project of his in New York,” says Colleen. “We’ve developed a strong relationship with him, and now he regularly works with us drawing up designs, assisting with design processes, and more.

Neither Tony or I have computer drawing capabilities, but Chris does. He understands the construction process as a timber frame builder, and when we work with him on designs, he just gets it. Our complimentary skills benefit both businesses.”

Congratulations to Tony and the team at Rupp Metalworks!

DESIGN BUILD MAINTAIN

High Def Plasma Cutting.

Forming. Rolling. Saw Cutting

1111 Industrial Drive Armstrong, BC

P: 250-546-6825 alex@titanprocessing.ca

titanprocessing.ca

Though the company began with a heavy focus on the residential market, it has grown to include industrial and commercial projects, as well as manufacturing several products for sale (including the Mongolian Grill and the Out West Fire Pit BBQ). “We’ve made a shift,” Colleen remarks.

“Residential work used to be most of what we did, but now, it’s roughly 30 per cent. We’re working more in industrial areas, for example, taking on projects with our timber frame associates for institutional structures in BC and Alberta.”

“Moving forward, we want to diversify even more, taking on more industrial jobs,” says Tony.

“Recently we did some work for BC Hydro, building a generator shed in Revelstoke. Because we are certified with CWB (Canadian Welding Bureau), we are able to get jobs like that. We are certified to CSA Standard W47.1 in Division 2 in the welding world, and have a welding engineer on retainer, so we are capable of taking on some substantial projects. We’re also working with a sawmill manufacturer, building some of their components.”

Tony concludes, “We value precision and craftsmanship. We surround ourselves with likeminded people who care about what they do every day, and I think that’s why we’re continuing to thrive after 23 years.” www.ruppmetalworks.com

landmark-solutions.ca

5350 46th Ave SE - Salmon Arm, BC 250.804.0332

Congratulations to Tony and the team at Rupp Metal Works!

Thank you for assisting Landmark with our commercial marine projects.

OFF THE COVER

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

An artist’s rendering of George Lucas’ Museum of Narrative Art conveys the impact of this $1.5 billion dollar project, now under construction in Los Angeles. Kelowna’s GeoTility Geothermal Installations Corporation is installing geothermal heating and cooling for the complex

GEOTILITY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

earth is warmed by the sun. A geothermal installation captures that heat and conveys it into the building.

“It’s the oldest futuristic technology in existence,” says Lorne Koebel, Chief Financial Officer.

He has been with the company for a decade and is also a shareholder.

He notes that geothermal heating pre-dates heating by wood, oil, electricity and gas.

Humans who dwelt in cave homes and relied on sun-warmed rock for warmth were utilizing geothermal energy. So were those who burrowed into the earth and built homes with sod roofs, akin to Tolkein’s mythical hobbit holes, or those who lived in thick-walled adobe homes.

GeoT ility installations are

a more efficient way of drawing on the earth’s temperature bank. Heat wells are drilled 200 to 300 feet into the earth, with the number and size determined by the size of the installation.

Coils bearing a food-grade liquid, called ground loops, are inserted into the wells. The liquid running through the coils is cooler than the earth temperature and is warmed as it flows through the well.

This warmth is circulated back into the building using a heat pump.

“We’re just transferring the heat. We’re not creating it. The heat comes from the sun,” Koebel explained. Unlike heating by oil or gas or wood, which consumes the fuel to generate heat, geothermal captures existing heat and conveys it into the home.

When the weather is warn, the

process is reversed. The liquid in the coils is warmer than the earth, so that liquid is cooled when it passes through the well and then returns to cool the house.

Energy efficient, environmentally clean, and operationally cost effective, geothermal was initially an expensive option to install.

However advances in construction techniques, materials, and technology have reduced installation costs, so the cost is now only slightly more expensive than traditional fuel-based heating.

Advantages are the addition of cooling in summer, a tiny environmental footprint and low, ongoing costs for both heating and cooling. One of GeoTility’s projects is a housing neighbourhood in Kelowna which is entirely warmed and cooled using a shared geothermal installation.

Homeowners can pay for the geothermal installation up-front or sign onto the neighbourhood utility, which gives them the service for a low, fixed monthly fee that will never increase.

Given the advantages, demand for geothermal is soaring. It is now often the first choice for schools and public buildings. As a heating and cooling solution, it is green, carbon neutral, offers a fixed price, and is adaptable for any climate change caused by global warming.

The company’s website displays an impressive list of projects, including an installation at the world’s busiest border crossing in San Ysidro, California, the international award-winning Alexandra District Energy Utility project in Richmond, BC, and an exchange system constructed seven stories underground in

15 Vancouver, BC. A current high profile project is George Lucas’ Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles, a $1.5 billion development for which GeoTility is creating one of the largest geothermal fields in California – and possibly in the U.S. The museum is expected to draw millions of visitors and will rely on GeoTility’s wells, ground loops, and pumps to keep them comfortably warm or cool. For GeoTility, it is a multi-million dollar project that started in September 2018 and is expected to be completed by March 2019.

GeoTility also gives back to the community and to its industry.

In Kelowna, it employs more than 60 people. Among its employees are many who started as first year apprentices and are now experienced journeymen who have been with the company for a decade or more. The company also participates in the ministry’s Work Experience Program that prov ided hands-on trai n i ng for 17 residential construction students from UBC Okanagan/ Okanagan College on the Wilden Home of Today/Home of Tomorrow project.

As a result, GeoTility is a finalist for a BC Small Business Award for offering the best apprenticeship program in the province.

The awards will be presented February 21 in Vancouver.

Apprentices with GeoTility are accessing one of North America’s leading geothermal installers.

The company has two divisions in Kelowna plus an office in Seattle, all of which support its growing reputation.

“The portfolio for GeoTility is probably one of the largest in North America,” Koebel said.

“We can install geothermal just about anywhere.”

COMMERCIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT YEAREND OPERATING COST RECOVERIES

SCOTT FEDEC

J

ust like your 2018 personal and business tax filings, it is that time of year that commercial landlords will be calculating their 2018 operating cost recoveries for all of their tenants that currently occupy space in their buildings. Typically, the tenant has paid monthly rent throughout the year which includes a base rent amount per month per square foot and then an amount for property taxes, operating costs and insurance per square foot (Triple Nets) based on a budgeted amount at the start of the year for the property. At the end of the year,

all Landlords are required to complete a reconciliation of the triple net costs which summarizes the actual costs for the year incurred for the property compared to the budgeted amount each tenant has paid for the year on a square foot basis. Upon reconciliation, a tenant will either receive a credit for their triple net costs paid for the year or are required to make an additional payment if the budgeted triple net costs did not cover the actual expenses incurred for the property.

Key points all landlords should keep in mind when completing the operating cost recovery reconciliations; A. Review all tenant leases to understand the operating costs that are recoverable and not recoverable for each tenant.

B. Review each lease to understand the administration/property management fee that is recoverable. The fee is usually based on market rates but some leases have indicated the calculated amount.

C. Ensure you have properly accounted for all expenses related to the property for the year, properly categorized them and have the appropriate backup to supply to the tenant, if requested.

D. The Property Tax amount to be recovered should equal the property tax notice received and issued from the City or Regional District for that property.

E. Review square foot area allocation for each tenant and the overall square feet of the building.

Upon receiving the operating cost recovery reconciliation statement from the landlord, tenants should complete these key activities; A. Tenant should review their lease so they understand the operating costs they are responsible to pay based on their proportionate share of the overall square feet for the property.

B. Tenant should receive a statement for the operating cost recoveries from the Landlord that identifies the annual

operating costs for the property used in the operating cost calculation and the amount allocated to the tenant based on the tenant’s proportionate share.

C. Review the square feet of leased premises against the square feet used in the tenant operating cost recovery calculations and the operating costs to ensure the current year expenses are properly reflected in the statement.

D. Complete a year over year analysis of the actual operating costs of the property to see if there has been any significant changes and variances over the previous annual statement. If there is a large variance regarding an operating cost, landlord should provide the backup regarding that expense to identify why there was such a large increase for this expense category. Also, request the property tax notice from the Landlord to validate the property tax amount used in the operating cost recovery calculations. Tenants have the right to request the details

from the landlord regarding supporting documents for all expenses and calculations.

I n s u m m a r y, a re v i e w o f the signed lease for both the landlord and tenant is always the first step in ensuring that operating cost recovery calculations are correctly completed and agreed upon between both parties. Determining operating cost recovery calculations can be complicated if a landlord or tenant is not familiar with these standard processes and unique lease obligations.

If you are a landlord or tenant that requires assistance or information in completing or reviewing your operating cost recoveries, please contact NAI Commercial Okanagan. Our team has many years of experience in operating cost recovery calculations which we continually offer all of our clients.

Scott Fedec, B. Admin, CPA, CMA, Managing Broker with NAI Commercial Okanagan in Kelowna

16

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

KELOWNA

Introducing the Monashees Loyalty Program Get 50 points just for signing up

Receive a complimentary appy on your birthday! [up to $13 value]

200 accumulated points go toward $5 off menu items at The Kal Periodic days to earn double the points

www.monashees.ca 250.545.5800

We are more than just pool tables. We have ping pong, darts, shuffleboards, bubble hockey, foosball, air hockey and games room furniture (pub tables, bars, barstools).

We can restore old tables (re-felts and re-rubber) as well as move them or crate for movers.

Sales 250.862.4580 | Service 250.862.4570 info@kelownapooltables.com www.kelownapooltables.com

O n J a n u a r y 15 t h , t h e Greater Westside Board of Trade (GWBOT) held their Annual General Meeting at The Cove Lakeside Resort, a n nou nci ng thei r new Board of Directors for 2019. Craig Garries, owner of PostNet West Kelowna is leading as President, with Calvin Barr, owner of EverClear Window Cleaning and Luxury Lake Tours, ser v i ng a s Vice-P re sident. This year’s executive also features: Debbie Dupasquier, outside sales with Bluestar Coachlines – Second Vice President, Sarah Sabo, owner of Aries Accounting – Treasurer, Ray Kandola, owner of City Furniture – Secretary, and Bobby Gidda, President of Volcanic Hills Winery – Past President. Serving as directors are: Ed Stephens, Senior Manager of Airport Development at Kelowna Internationa l A ir por t, Sean Shepherd, owner of Nucleus Strategies, Brad Shave, ow ner of Kel ly O’Bryans Restaurant, Robert Mellalieu, owner of F1 Computer Services, Amber Hall, Senior Regional Marketing Manager at Telus, and Andrea East, lawyer at Pushor Mitchell LLP. Phoenix Stretch Ceilings celebrates their fifth anniversary in business w it h European Stretch Ceilings and LED lighting solutions.

The Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board (OMREB) recently presented 2018 REALTORS Care Awards to deserving professionals who are making a difference in their respective communities. This year Jane Hoffman of Kelowna, Maggie Garvey of Vernon, and Jim Grieve of Salmon A rm received the prestigious award. All three recipients contributed extensively through volunteer initiatives, fundra isi ng for cha rity a nd contributions to various causes in their areas.

Kelowna has been listed as No.12 for U-Haul’s Canadian Growth City in Canada for 2018 according to

Craig Garries, President of GWBOT

Calvin Barr, Vice President of GWBOT

their data analyzing Canadian migration trends for 2018. U-Haul calculates their growth cities by the net gain of one-way trucks entering a city versus leaving that city during a calendar year. T he data is compiled from more than 2 million one-way U-Haul truck sharing transactions that occur annually in the U.S. and Canada. Kelowna arrivals of one-way UHaul trucks were down 5 per cent while departures were down 11 percent from the city’s 2017 numbers.

Arrivals accounted for 51.3 percent of all one-way UHaul traffic in Kelowna to make it the No. 12 city for netting do-it-yourself movers. Kelowna had not made an appearance on the top 25 growth list in recent years. Visit www.myuhaulstory.com or www.uhaul. com/locations for further information.

The Train Station Pub has officially come on board as the title sponsor for The Great Okanagan Beer Festival (GOBF). This has been the perfect match si nce 2015 for elevated drink, people and environment. David Lindsay, Conductor of the Train Station Pub says “we simply had to be the title sponsor this year and provide a forward thinking beer festival in the Okanagan”. The Train Station Pub will be onsite at GOBF and will also be hosting the GOBF 2019 Official After Party.

The Festival takes place May 9th to 11, 2019 with the main event happening on May 11th at Waterfront Park from noon to 5:00 p.m.

Along with a vast selection of craft beer and ciders, the event hosts live music, food trucks, interactive games and exhibitor booths. Tickets are on sale now online at gobf. ca and are at an advanced rate for a limited time.

T h e K e l ow n a D ow ntown Library Branch has some new exciting things planned for 2019. They are getting set to open a Maker Space, which is a project room for making and doing for all ages with a focus on technology and the arts.

The library has been actively fundraising for several revitalization projects.

They have been gaining moment u m so hop e to have the new space open sometime in March. On Saturday, February 2nd at 3:0 0 p. m . a u t h o r Dorje Dolma is touring and present i ng her book “ Ya k Girl” at the library and will be speaking about her life and growing up in a remote area of Nepal. All ages are welcome to attend. Christopher Stephenson is the head librarian.

Kelowna teen Priyaali Kanti is a f inalist at the M iss Teen Ca n ad a Pageant in Quebec. She is a performing arts enthusiast and aspires to be an actress. Priyaali is an active community member, dedicated student and a pa ssion ate p er for mer, p er for m i n g at ch a r it y events and fundraisers.

P r i y a a l i w a s c ro w n e d Miss Teen BC, Interior in July, 2018 and is now the finalist for the Canada pageant. Vote for her on-line at www.misscanada.org/ priyaali-k.

A l ist of f i na l ists has been announced for the SEE MOVERS AND SHAKERS | PAGE 17

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

World Tourism Organization (UN WTO)’s 15th annual UNWTO Awards, and the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) is in the running for an award for the Non-Governmental Organization category. TOTA was selected among the finalists from applications from 71 countries. The awards celebrate NGOs and both public and private organizations that contribute to sustainable improvements in the tourism sector globally.

SALMON ARM The provincial government will be opening a cannabis retail outlet in Salmon Arm, a B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch (BCLDB).

The new store is proposed for a f utu re bu i ld i ng located i n the west side of the city, near Dollarama on the SmartCentres site. The proposal is moving th rough the City’s approva l process, and the building construction could begin in the fall of this year.

Jen Zielinski, the new Bureau Chief of BC Interior South Division of Black Press Media, announced that Lachlan Labere has joined the team at the Salmon Arm Observer as their new Editor.

The Shuswap Food Action Society (SAFS) has plans to coordinate a new farmers market in Salmon Arm’s downtown area.

SAFS would work together with City Council and Downtown Salmon Arm to bring plans to life.

The market would begin June 22 nd , happening every Saturday at 8am-1pm until September 21st, at the Ross Street Plaza.

Hardie Home Decorating, located at 303 – 251 Trans Canada Highway NW, in Lakeshore Village, celebrates its 17th anniversary in business this year.

Debbie Shoucair Proznick is the new owner of Gondwana Gallery, which will soon be reopened as Gondwana Gallery & Gifts, at 110 Lakeshore Drive. The shop will now also sell metaphysical products, in addition to jewelry and other home and gift items.

KAMLOOPS 4th Meridian Auctions & Vintage Shop now buys antiques

and vintage items, including consignments of fine art. The shop and showroom is located in the Connery Trade Centre at 104-1475 Fairview Road.

Dr. Perry Vitoratos has joined the staff at Sunny Shores Dental, located at 1-1222 Tranquille Road, and is accepting new patients. Dr. Vitoratos has moved to Kamloops from Williams Lake and brings with him 20 years in the family dentistry field.

The team at Emsland Insurance, located in the Cityview Shopping Centre near Cora’s Restaurant, at 605-1801 Princeton H ig hway, welcomes Ada Mogge to the team. Ada brings with her more than 40 years of experience, specializing in business, farm, ranch, liability, homeowners, travel, auto and fleets insurance.

Pen ny P i nchers K a m loops celebrated the grand opening of their expanded showroom, located at the corner of 8th and Tranquille Road.

T he Okanagan Housing Awards of Excellence recognized Thompson Rivers University and the Canadian Home Builders Association Central Interior with a gold award for their training house.

Jude De Jong is the new owner of the Classy Cuts salon and spa at #11 – 111 Oriole Road.

T he tea m at Melon Hair Lounge, at 4-860 8th Street, welcomes Michelle on staff as a new stylist.

L oc a l compa ny T wo Story Robot is working to help First Peoples’ Council improve their FirstVoices website, upgrading their language software. FirstVoices helps to pass on indigenous cu ltu ra l k nowledge a nd languages through online language learning resources.

PENTICTON Peter Weeber, Chief Administrative Officer to the City of Penticton, has chosen to leave his position with the City for an opportunity in the private sector. Weeber began his position in 2016 and has served his community faithfully during his time as CAO. Together with City Council, he will be working on a transition plan before his departure.

Okanagan College’s Women in Trades Training now offers an 11-week course, Gateway to the Building Trades for Women, in which participants can try out a variety of different skills. This June, the 1000th female participant will begin the session to explore the building trades.

On February 5th, the program is hosting an information session at the Okanagan College Penticton campus, from 5-6pm in room PC130.

A new #PentictonFirst campa ig n has been lau nched by the Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce to support buying local. Those participating in the campaign by shopping local may enter to win prizes, drawn each quarter. On April 5th, the first prize draw will take place—for a one night’s stay in Chute Lake Lodge for two, complete with an outdoor adventure activities package, valued at $320 and provided by Hoodoo Adventure Company.

Freedom Mobi le h a s e xpanded into Penticton by securing a telecommunicat ion s tower at 1953 Dartmouth Road. T h is i nstallation is one of si x pl a n ned cell tower sites in Penticton, in order for Freedom Mobi le to fully service the city.

T h e S e e Ya Later Ranch w i ner y continues to support the South Okan a g a n S i m i lkameen branch of the SPCA i n Penticton, with t hei r most recent donation cheque of $1,100.

Funds are raised through the sale o f t h e i r w h i te wine, Jimmy My Pal, which was named after the dog b elon g i n g to Major Hugh Fraser. 50 cents are donated from each bottle of Jimmy My Pal for the SPCA. Je n Z i e l i n s k i

has been appointed as the new Bureau Chief of the BC Interior South Division of Black Press Med ia. She w i l l b e resp onsible for overseeing digital and print editorial throughout the division.

Chief Clarence Louie of the Osoyoos Indian Band has been inducted to the Canadian Business Hall of Fame. He joins three others for the 2019 Class of Companion Inductees, in celebration and recognition of the significant contributions to Canada and their respective business communities.

A new space for creatives, the Idea Forge Maker Studio, initiated by Manda Maggs, general manager of the Shatford Centre, is now open. The studio is located in the basement of the Shatford Centre, and offers a space, tools, resources and training for those who wish to use their creative skills. Monthly memberships can be purchased for $50 for an individual, $85 per month for two, and drop-in fees are $15 per visit.

an Official Community Plan to accommodate the subdivision plans. The proposal is currently in the concept stage, and will need to be presented to the Agricultural Advisory Committee, as well as the Advisory Planning Commission as the next steps in the approval process.

The Summerland Credit Union raised $948 in donations for Discovery House in Penticton, as part of the October – December cycle of their Comfort for a Cause Campaign. Each Friday, staff members wear jeans and make a donation towards the campaign.

Last year, efforts raised $3,452 SEE MOVERS AND SHAKERS | PAGE 18

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Lark Enterprises Ltd. recently filed a development application for a 38-lot subdivision in a location at 13610 Banks Crescent.

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As December 31st marked the expiry of a license with Trio Marine Group, the City of Penticton is seeking a new temporary operator for the Skaha Marina. T he contract would span two years, covering responsibility for the facility while planning and community engagement is facilitated regarding the Skaha Lake park lands.

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18 MOVERS AND SHAKERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

which went to four local deserving non-profits.

Summerland Guardian Pharmacy, at #100 – 13009 Rosedale Avenue, is now an Ideal Protein independent authorized centre offering weight loss consultation and products. For more information, contact Jean at 250-494-0531.

The Kettle Valley Steam Railway donated more tha n 300 kilograms of food items, as well as cash donations to the Summerland Food Bank. Donations were given by those riding the Christmas train, as the railway encouraged passengers to bring donations to help those in need over the holidays.

Nominations are now open for this year’s Summerland Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards. These awards mark the 81 years of recognizing excellence in businesses and organizations in the community.

There are 12 categories of recognition, and nominees will be invited to attend a reception on February 21st at the Summerland Waterfront Resort Hotel. Winners will later be announced at an awards gala on March 30th.

VERNON

Johnston Meier Insurance, located at 3923 32nd Street.

T he City of Vernon has announced that Sue Saunders and Cody Grier have joined the team at Vernon Fire Rescue Services (V FRS). Saunders will serve as Coordinator for the City of Vernon’s Emergency Program, including Emergency Support Services (ESS), while Grier will serve as a frontline firefighter.

Okanagan Springs Brewery has struck up a partnership with Skevik Ski Co for a promotional contest. Skevik has provided five sets of locally-made skis adorned with local references. Customers who wish to have a chance to win a pair of skis may enter the contest at one of five locations: Silver Star Liquor in Vernon, Vernon Square Liquor, Mission Liquor in Kelowna, Big White Liquor Store on Big White, and Sundance Liquor Store at Sun Peaks.

Local business Farm Bound, owned and operated by Jaye Siegmueller, has chosen to open up a new zero waste store in Vernon.

The store’s goal is to reuse and recycle every product so that no trash ends up in landfills. Farm Bound is open on Thursdays from 12-7pm and Saturdays from 103pm, located at 1935 11th Avenue.

Brad Thorlakson, President and CEO of Vernon-based company Tolko, has been appointed to represent Canada West on the U.S. Softwood Lumber Board.

Canada East will be represented

by Keven Edgson, CEO of EACOM in Montreal.

The team at Vernon Veterinary Clinic, located at 805 Kal Lake Road, welcome Dr. Will Rotenberg on to their staff.

Stephanie Heng has joi ned the Home Insurance Team at

A new Chopped Leaf location has opened up in Vernon at the Vernon Square Mall. Tracey Toutant has recently joined the franchise partnership to make this location a reality. Chopped Leaf serves a variety of soups, wraps and salads, with vegan, gluten-free and vegetarian options for customers.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

Vernon Masonry & Supplies at 4403 25th Avenue, Penticton Building Centre & Supplies, and Kelowna Masonry & Supplies.

They are in the process of liquidating store inventory, with the sale conducted by Maynards Liquidation Group.

store, located off of highway 6, is run by donations and provides funding to organizations such as the Horse Protection Society and other animal rescue groups such as: the Animal Emergency Lifeline Response Team and A Kind Lady Lives Here.

Vernon has a new one-stop health shop, The Health Nest, run by Carrie Sizer, that has recently opened at 3117 32nd Street on January 14th. The location offers acupuncture, midwifery, massage therapy, physiotherapy and counselling, with specialists in women’s health and prenatal care.

SilverStar Mountain Resort received a number of new recognitions this year after an exceptional season. Okanagan Life Magazine’s “Best of” Reader’s Choice Awards again named them the Number 1 ski resort in the Okanagan, with Best Tourist Attraction, Best Family Resort, Best Place to Get Married, and Best Place for an Adrenaline Rush. USA Today also labeled SilverStar / Sovereign Lake trails in their Top Ten cross-country ski locations in North America—as the only Canadian resort destination on their list. Business Insider named SilverStar as the ninth least expensive resort destination in North America, and British Columbia Magazine put SilverStar as their number 1 choice on the Cool List of Top Places to XC Ski in the province.

Derek Powers, Kylie Walman, and Krystin Kempton have recently joined the Partnership at Nixon Wenger LLP Lawyers, providing quality legal services to their clients.

T he Haugen Com munity Healthcare Society in Armstrong is in search of another physician to join their staff this year. Their clinic manager has opted to move to Australia with her husband and will be leaving an open spot to be filled.

Forge Valley Storage will have a new home in the former R. H. MacDonald & Sons Packing House location, thanks to brothers Aaron Luprypa and Zao Luprypa. The brothers and owners have been revitalizing the old facility, while keeping the charm of the building, to accommodate the storage business.

OK Builders Supplies Ltd. has chosen to close down all three of their locations in the Okanagan:

T his month, Vernon’s first Animal Auxiliary Thrift Store was opened by Gena Barzan. The

January 18th marked the opening of Fairways Bistro at the Royal York Golf Course in Armstrong. The location offers updated breakfast and dinner menu options, in addition to bringing back Prime Rib Fridays.

PLANNING AHEAD FOR YOUR BOARD AND AGM

PENTICTON KIM KIRKHAM

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he last months of winter in the Okanagan can often fill up our calendars with annual general meeting for both business and non-profit boards,

as terms and fiscal years come to a close.

Much preparation goes into AGMs, from financial reports to bylaw reviews to recruiting new board members. There is, of course, the necessary filing of paperwork for organizations so they comply with provincial and industry regulations, but much like we set goals for our personal health at the start of a new year, AGM time is great for an organizational check-up.

First, does your constitution need a review? Often this critical document goes unnoticed till something becomes out of date, and this includes bylaws as well.

If there have been changes or

questions about these documents reflecting the current goals of your organization, it’s time for a read-through.

And speaking of goals, when was the last time your mission statement was reviewed? Does it encompass what your business or association is all about? Does it inspire confidence?

Reviewing your mission statement, plus a vision statement or key messages, is a task that can be done at the board level to start, then brought to staff or members to engage them in a discussion.

This might be a great way for a fresh board to begin working together.

Of course, an AGM may bring

transitions to your board. Some m e m b e rs m a y b e c o m p l e ting their terms or moving on to other priorities, or wanting to step up (or down) from leadership roles. In the weeks leading up to an AGM, identify upcoming vacancies along with cultivating potential board members who can fill certain roles or bring new skills to the table.

Be clear when talking to new “recruits” on the commitment needed, and have a good discussion on how they may be a good fit as well as what kind of position they may be interested in, and what they are passionate about.

When planning an AGM, be sure to engage your stakeholders,

members, and staff in the process, so they understand the value of your organization. They are, indeed, the force behind it and the reason you exist, and your most valuable asset.

Above all, celebrate the end of another great year in business, and give a heartfelt thank you and congratulations to everyone who has helped out. See you at the Pentiction & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting on March 7.

Kim Kirkham is Executive Director at the Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at 778-476-3111 ext. 102.

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GREENDP PROVES IT DOESN’T UNDERSTAND THE BASICS OF ECONOMICS

MARK MACDONLD

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upply and demand.

These are the two basic e s s e n t i a l s re q u i re d to understand economics.

If both supply and demand are up, the economy is brisk. If both are down, the economy slows.

If supply is up and demand is down, prices drop. If supply is down and demand is up, prices rise. It’s a real-life teeter-totter, something that even kids at the playground get before they jump on.

All politicians should be mandated to enroll in a required course that makes it crystal clear how fundamental these two words are when dealing with anything regarding the economy and government finances. It is painfully obvious that the current edition of government in this province, the GreeNDP axis, just doesn’t get it.

The most glaring example is

their shameful treatment of the real estate and development industry. They’ve crimped both ends of the hose, by introducing punitive taxes that have scared off foreign buyers and purchasers of second homes and artificially decreasing demand, while at the same time their municipal farm teams thwart development of new product at the civic level, decreasing supply. Sensing a slowdown in the market, otherwise eager sellers decide to stay put and keep what they have, further limiting the number of options for buyers.

The foreign buyers tax affects everyone in the real estate market, as sellers of properties to foreigners can downsize and purchase less expensive properties lower in the market, bank the rest and retire, and so on . . .

It’s a n i ncred ibly juven i le attempt for the GreeN DP to ach ieve t hei r stated goa l of making housing more affordable, and it has made absolutely zero impact. T hus far, it has only increased the cost of housing. Not only that, but housing that lower income individuals could normally afford, namely apartments, is slow coming to market, due to ever-increasi ng development reg u latory obstacles.

Developers who have the w h e re w i t h a l to b u i l d s u c h

projects have been ta k i ng a hard second look at doing so, due to the GreeNDP’s introduction of the new “luxury taxes” that aim directly at individuals who might want to purchase units for rental and secondary income. W hen the GreeN DP went ahead with its ill-advised secondary residence taxes in the fall, several larger rentalbased projects were immediately shelved on Vancouver Island and in the Okanagan.

To summarize, the GreeNDP policies have drastically reduced sales and simultaneously driven up prices. With no more affordable housing on the immediate horizon.

Another factor that must be i ncluded is the federa l gover n ment’s ch a n ge to mor tgage qualification rules that have made it much tougher for first-time buyers to get into the market. It has reduced their pu rchasi ng power by 20 per cent, and those buyers typically target the less expensive end of the market.

Call it a government trifecta: Ottawa targets first time buyers, Victoria takes aim at outof-prov i nce pu rchasers a nd investors, and municipal govern ments ever y where ma ke it increasingly difficult to increase the amount of supply.

Sales numbers plummet.

The numbers don’t lie.

Victoria Real Estate Board figures show sales of properties dropped 20 per cent in 2018 from 2017 – to 7,150 properties sold from 8,994 the year before.

In December 2018, 375 properties sold – 18.8 per cent less than the 462 sold in the same month in 2017, and 24.7 per cent less than November, 2018. The benchmark value for a single family home in Greater Victoria rose 3.2 per cent to $858,600, from December 2017 to December, 2018.

Year-end statistics from the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board show sales decreased 19 per cent in 2018 from 2017, including a whopping 24 per cent in Nanaimo and Port Alberni/ West.

Single family home sales slid 48 per cent.

At the same time, prices rose 10 p er c ent ye a r over ye a r, ju mpi ng 26 per cent i n Port Alberni West alone. The average sa les price for 2018 was $512,005, up from $465,036 the year before.

The volume of sales and increase in prices took place in every city and region.

Whilst the GreeNDP bruised itself with multiple backslaps while trotting out pre-Christmas budget results, surely there must be someone, somewhere in

the government that recognizes that real estate and development has been the mainstay of the provincial economy for over a decade.

Obviously not.

While the NDP’s typical class warfare-style governance takes aim at those that “have”, i.e. rea ltors, developers a nd i nvestors, it really has its most negative impacts on those they feign to help – those at the lower end of the market and renters.

High income individuals and companies are better situated to ride out a downturn in the market, and besides, the hikes in taxation that adds to the cost of the end product is borne by the purchaser.

Even though the NDP’s policies are clearly misguided and ill-conceived, they have thus far only served to pump the brakes to slow the market, instead of bringing it to a screeching halt.

But it has carved some serious flesh from the province’s golden goose - the real estate and development industry - with its t i n ker i n g of s upply a nd demand.

It’s a terrible pity that those on the government side of the leg islatu re appa rently ca n’t recognize the damage they’ve done yet.

INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES SHOULD TAP INTO THE MEDICAL TOURISM MARKET The James Smith Cree Nation Could Create What Would Be Saskatchewan’s First Private-Pay MRI Facility JOSEPH QUESNEL FRONTIER CENTRE FOR PUBLIC POLICY

A

First Nation community about 70 kilometres southeast of Prince Albert, Sask., hopes to generate profit within five years from a private MRI clinic.

The James Smith Cree Nation could create what would be the province’s first private-pay MRI facility. This became possible when the Saskatchewan government passed legislation in 2016 allowing for such facilities as a way of decreasing wait times.

A Regina Leader-Post news

story from 2016 points out that the Saskatchewan Medical Association opposed private MRI facilities, while some doctors continued to refer patients to out-of-province MRI clinics for needed tests.

For Indigenous communities, such businesses could generate new revenue streams. W hile this would help medical patients of the communities and the province, it could also tap into the lucrative medical tourism industry.

The Medical Tourism Association says that “Medical tourism is where people who live in one country travel to another country to receive medical, dental

and surgical care while at the same time receiving equal to or greater care than they would have in their own country, and are travelling for medical care because of affordability, better access to care or a higher level of quality of care.”

First Nations could expand beyond MRI services into other diagnostic services and elective surgeries, such as knee and hip replacements.

Many First Nations are exploring the economic opportunities created by legal cannabis.

However, some I nd i genou s communities aren’t as enthusiastic about this market or are concerned about the ill effects on their communities, which are already dealing with addiction problems.

Allowing for-profit medical services on reserves could also help First Nations develop economic opportunities outside of the problematic casinos and VLTs. The distinct legal situation of First Nations could make these

opportunities possible.

James Smith isn’t the first Indigenous community to explore delivering private health services to Canadians. Westbank First Nation, near Kelow na, BC, planned a high-end private health-care facility of about 200,000 square feet and 100 beds in its first phase.

Chief Robert Louie told Windspea ker i n 201 2: “It w i l l be equivalent to a private hospital.

The centre will provide all the services of a typical health-care institution without the emergency department, obstetrics unit and psychiatric ward.

“The private clinic will provide major organ surgeries, joint replacements and cosmetic surgeries. It’s pretty wide open as far as a hospital goes,” Louie said.

Hea lth Ca nada sa id that such a private hospital would be allowed only if it catered to non-Canadians.

Some constitutional experts said the proposal would test Indigenous self-government.

Louie claimed the band didn’t require approval from Health Canada to build and operate a private hospital on their land.

Unfortunately, the hospital was never bu i lt. L ou is, who was the driving force behind the project, was defeated in the 2016 election.

T he federa l a nd prov i ncia l go ve r n m e nt s n e e d to wo rk with Indigenous communities that want to provide medical services to other Canadians.

The MRI clinic at James Smith Cree Nation in Saskatchewan needs to be replicated across the country.

First Nations deserve more opportunities to develop revenue outside of gambling and cannabis.

At a minimum, Indigenous communities should be to allowed to take advantage of the medical tourism industry.

Joseph Quesnel is a research fellow with the Frontier Centre for Public Policy.

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