Business Examiner Thompson/Okanagan - August 2016

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AUGUST 2016

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KELOWNA Innovative Marketing Helps Win Silver Tommie

Thompson/Okanagan WWW.BUSINESSEXAMINER.CA

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KELOWNA Iconic telephone

Westbank First Nation Setting Torrid Pace Chief Robert Louie leads WFN to economic development success and prosperity

company gets rebranded

BY MARK MACDONALD Business Examiner Thompson Okanagan

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INDEX News Update

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TOTA

3

Vernon

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Hiring Guru

4

Kelowna

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Enderby

14

Movers and Shakers 21 Kamloops

24

Penticton

24

Greensheet

28

Opinion

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Contact us: 1-866-758-2684

EST KELOWNA – Westbank First Nation has become a beacon to First Nations in Canada.

It has a vibrant, growing economy, headed by strong commercial and residential construction, directly attributable to the introduction of Land Title Insurance.

Forestry operations. The restoration of a sockeye salmon fishery from Okanagan Lake. Two underdevelopment wind power generation stations. The possibility of a private health care facility.

All this without having a completed treaty with federal and provincial governments.

Like most things in life, strong leadership spawns success.

The transformation of West Kelowna is a shining example of that, as it has everything to do with Chief Robert Louie and his team of councilors.

A University of Victoria law graduate, Louie’s first tenure as Chief ran from 1986-1996. He has served in the position continuously since returning to office in 2002.

Westbank First Nation Chief Robert Louie While disappointing, the 1996 electoral defeat allowed Louie time to work Key, transformational legislation affecting First Nation management that has allowed WFN to propel forward, including self-government framework.

Combined with his time as Chief, Louie has gained approval of a WFN Self-Government Agreement

with Canada, successfully implemented the WFN Land Code and property taxation, and WFN brings forth continual annual budgets and profits.

The heavy lifting that allowed WFN to make such substantial forward progress. His legal background and negotiating skills were invaluable, particularly as he realized that WFN desperately needed infrastructure before any significant development could take place.

During his first term as Chief, Louie focused on putting state-ofthe-art water and sewage systems in place during his first term.

WFN installed its first water system in 1988, after wells on reserve land went dry.

Frustrated that WFN, nestled beside Okanagan Lake, even had water and sewer issues, Louie dug in.

“We made a decision to exercise our inherent right to have access to Okanagan Lake water,” Louie notes. “Once we put the water rights in play, hooking up to the Regional District sewage system wasn’t a problem.

“I recall threatening that we would be creating a deep-lake (sewage) outfall. When they heard that, they said ‘why don’t you tie

into our system?’ So it worked,” he said.

“Also, access was needed for Highway 97, which ran through two major reserves. So we put that into our starting negotiating positions. It couldn’t be built without WFN being accommodated, one way or another. And it has.”

Once that infrastructure was in place, it brought attention to developers who saw WFN lands as an attractive location to build and invest in.

LAND TITLE INSURANCE One of the game changing moves Louie made that has helped thrust WFN forward was the introduction of Land Title Insurance.

Prevalent throughout the United States, Land Title Insurance provides certainty for developers and investors from any possible “rogue” councils tearing up existing agreements for political reasons.

“Ours was the first in Canada, and set the standard that this is possible,” Louie says. “It protects investors from subsequent councils, regardless of who the Chief

SEE WESTBANK| PAGE 9

OUR 8TH YEAR

SICA Commercial Building Awards Deadline Approaching Canadian Publications Mail Acct.: 40069240

K

ELOWNA - The nomination deadline for the 8 th Annual Southern Interior Construction Association Commercial Building Awards competition is fast approaching.

New institutional, commercial, industrial building, multi/single family, recreational or renovation projects located w ithin these regions and completed

between July 31, 2015 and July 31, 2016 are eligible for a Commercial Building Award, with the Gala Celebration set for October 13 at the Coast Capri Hotel in Kelowna.

This event recognizes the winning efforts of the Thompson, Okanagan and Kootenay regions’ new institutional, commercial, industrial building, multi/single

For information or a free quote contact admin@tdbenefits.ca or visit www.tdbenefits.ca

Tel: 250-861-8834

family, recreational or renovation projects located from Kamloops to Osoyoos, a nd f rom Revelstoke to Fernie.

T he deadline for accepting nominations is September 2, however, they can be submitted prior to that date, providing the project is completed by July 31 this year.

“These events are all about

celebrating the best of the best in commercial and industrial construction and the people behind the scenes that make them happen,” says Mark MacDonald, President of Business Examiner T hompson Oka naga n newspaper, which coordinates the SEE SICA| PAGE 29

2 KELOWNA SunRype Commemorates 70Th Anniversary SunRype has launched a Special Edition Hard Cider to commemorate its 70th anniversary; made with 100 per cent BC apples pressed in Kelowna. SunRype Brand Okanagan Apple Cider contains seven per cent alcohol and is fermented in small batches to create the signature crisp and dry apple cider flavour.

The retro design is an adaptation of the original SunRype logo. The amber bottle features a photo of early century apple pickers in the Okanagan Valley orchards to celebrate the rich fruit growing history of the area.

In the 50’s SunRype launched Canada’s first cider; BC Sparkling Cider which was bottled and processed by the Caribou Brewing Company in Penticton. Today, the cider industry has grown immensely, hence the launch of their special edition cider.

SunRype is an iconic Canadian brand but has continued to innovate to stay relevant with modern consumers with the launch of a variety of food and beverage products.

The locally produced cider is available in 650ml bomber-style bottles at select private liquor stores in BC. Dave McAnerney is the president and CEO of SunRype Products Ltd. at 1165 Ethel Street.

OKANAGAN Interprovincial Agreement Benefits Wineries Okanagan wineries can now sell their produce more efficiently in Ontario and Quebec thanks to a new interprovincial trade agreement. The new trade agreement permits BC winery owners to list their products with private distributors in those provinces.

Previously, sales to other provinces were required to be conducted through government-owned liquor control boards. The government said the change is an example of modernizing liquor laws intended to promote more wine sales between provinces.

There are currently 320 wineries in BC employing over 10,000 people, with the industry having an economic impact of $2 billion annually.

KELOWNA Federal Jobs Program Helps Kelowna More than 200 students will now be working in Kelowna this summer through the Canada Summer Jobs program. The federal government announced recently that 203 summer jobs have been approved for 93 projects in the Kelowna-Lake country region.

The federal government has committed to funding 70,000 summer jobs each summer until 2018. This year alone, the government has provided funding for 77,000 jobs. Of those 77,000, 7,779 are in British

NEW UPDATE Columbia.

The Canada Summer Jobs program will cover the full wage for summer employees for not-forprofit organizations. Public sector and small businesses will be funded up to 50 per cent of the cost of wages, provided the business has less than 50 employees.

KAMLOOPS Site C Dam Project Moves Forward The start of the Site C dam is shaping up to be a promising alternative to trades workers affected by the oil and gas standstill and those awaiting liquified natural-gas export projects.

Energy and Mines Minister Bill Bennett said there are 1,547 people now working at Site C, the third hydroelectric dam on the Peace River - and nearly 80 per cent of workers are BC residents.

The project is slightly ahead of schedule and on budget, with over $4 billion in contracts let to build the main civil works and the turbines and power facilities.

The project’s completion date is set for 2024, after the river is diverted near Fort St. John and the earth-filled dam and powerhouse are constructed in the riverbed.

A growing population and economy, plus a push to shift to electric cars and other fuel reduction strategies, are all dependent on increased uses of electricity, Bennett said. He also noted that one of the remaining risks to the project budget and local employment is if the rest of the economy improves and competition for skilled workers increases.

BC Hydro CEO Jessica McDonald said it has proven to be “an ideal time” to build Site C, with workers available nearby due to downturns in petroleum and mining industries and with interest rates at historic lows.

VERNON Vernon Construction Projects Increase Construction is on the up and up as the number of building permits issued in the City of Vernon have more than doubled since this period last year.

The city has issued $88.8 million in building permits this year as compared to $44.3 million from this time last year, according to the quarterly update on Economic Development and Tourism activity.

Manager of economic development and tourism Kevin Poole noted that we are only halfway through the year and housing starts are already third highest on record with 386 new units started this year.

The most noticeable shift from 2016 and 2015 is the type of building that is taking place. Commercial building is up $15.8 million, institutional is up $20 million and residential building is up $8.4 million, according to the update.

KELOWNA Hello Kitty App Made In Kelowna Kelowna-based video game developer Hyper Hippo has created the first app featuring Hello Kitty and her gang in unison with Hello Kitty parent company Sanrio Inc. of Japan. The app, named Hello Sanrio: Say Hello; was launched recently at Comic-Con in San Diego to hype and rave reviews.

“The introduction of Hello Sanrio marks an exciting evolution in Sanrio’s history - a history that’s rooted in fostering social communication, connecting people and nurturing friendships,” said Jill Koch, Sanrio’s vice-president.

Sanrio and Kelowna-based Hyper Hippo hooked up this past fall and began discussing possible collaborations.

Hello Sanrio is the first of a number of lifestyle apps Hyper Hippo will develop for the company. Hello Kitty and related products have graced 50,000 different branded items sold in 130 countries.

Hyper Hippo is the four-year-old company founded by Club Penguin co-founder Lance Priebe after he and two partners sold the online playground for kids to Disney for $350 million.

Hyper Hippo builds games for smartphones, the web, tablets and soon, video game consoles. Hyper Hippo’s other game projects include capitalism simulator Adventure Capitalist and RuneScape Idle Adventures.

The company’s offices are located in the tech-building at the corner of Bertram Avenue and Leon Avenue downtown.

BRITISH COLUMBIA New Dam Regulations Take Shape In BC Following the dam breach in 2014 at the Mt. Polley mine in the Cariboo, the provincial government has stepped in to change BC mine regulations with the goal of preventing another tailings pond failure.

Dirk van Zyl, professor of mining and the environment at the University of BC and one of three outside reviewers of the Mt. Polley failure noted that the changes to BC’s Mining Code meets recommendations made by engineers who inspected the failure.

Energy and Mines Minister Bill Bennett said the changes to water management, construction and inspection should not be expected to prevent every small release of water from a mine tailings pond in heavy rainfall. But he is confident the new regime will prevent major failures, even when unknown factors like the weak layer beneath the Mt. Polley dam exist.

The new code requires every existing BC mine with a tailings pond to have an independent tailings review board in place by the end of 2016,

AUGUST 2016

with annual reports posted online.

Al Hoffman, BC’s chief inspector of mines , stated the new code has specific requirements for inside beaches to reduce pressure on the base of tailings dam, the number of motion detectors on the dam, the height of the water allowed and the frequency of inspections.

KELOWNA Construction To Begin On Sunset Drive After a number of attempted starts it appears that the 21-storey oft-delayed condominium tower at 1151 Sunset Drive will finally take shape. Construction is set to begin this month with a completion date planned for the fall of 2018.

The story of the high-rise began in 2007 when Kelowna construction was in full swing and a Calgary firm started marketing a tower with 92 luxury suites. Pre-sales were promising and the underground parking and foundation was constructed.

Then the 2008 recession hit, construction was at a standstill and the project fell into receivership. In 2012, Chinese owned firm Jingon (based in Richmond), bought the property out of receivership for $3.8 million and announced it would build “Grace” in partnership with Ledcor. The project proposed more and smaller suites to make the project viable.

Jingon now has joint ventured with Chilliwack-based Kerkhoff Construction to build 1151 Sunset Drive with 117 one-two-and-threebedroom view condos and seven townhomes at the base.

A sales centre is expected to open this month.

Kerkhoff is a 45-year-old business that’s built a lot of highrises, residential and commercial projects in Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.

KAMLOOPS Venture Kamloops: Economic Indicators Employment: The number of people employed in the Thompson Okanagan Region increased from 245,100 in May 2016 to 251,300 in June 2016. Simultaneously, the number of people in the labour force rose slightly from 265,900 in May 2016 to 270,100 June 2016. Overall, the employment rate decreased slightly from 61.1 per cent in May to 57.7 per cent in June. Last month, employment rates were 60.8 per cent in BC and 61.5 per cent in Canada, while the Thompson Okanagan Region was 57.7 per cent. The unemployment rate in the Thompson Okanagan Region changed slightly from 7.8 per cent in May to 7.0 per cent in June. (Source: Statistics Canada LFS) Airport Passenger Volume: 24,205 passengers moved through the Kamloops Airport in June 2016, which is down slightly from the 25,045 passengers recorded in June 2015. The month of June continued a fall off of the Northern Alberta market as the economic consequences

are seen from both the wildfire in Fort McMurray and the downturn in the oil and gas sector. This is expected to correct over the summer as reconstruction demands skilled labour from outside the Northern Alberta market and should see a return of commuting workers to that region. Year to date, numbers are still higher in 2016 when compared to 2015 thanks to a strong start in the first part of the year. Source: Kamloops Airport Authority) Real Estate: In June 2016, a total of 378 residential units were sold in Kamloops, up from 336 total units in June of the previous year. New listings were also up from 653 in June 2015 to 666 in June 2016, and the total value of residential units sold increased from $106,608,442 (2015) to $130,619,643 (2016). The average home price in Kamloops was $410,000 in June compared to the BC average of $694,925, and the Canadian average of $503,301.

(Sources: Kamloops and District Real Estate Association, BC Real Estate Association, and Canadian Real Estate Association) Housing Construction: There was a surge of 106 new housing starts in Kamloops in June 2016. This is in comparison to 27 starts in June 2015.

The 106 housing starts represented $21,955,170 in construction value, compared to $8,256,105 in construction value for the 27 housing starts in June of the previous year. (Source: City of Kamloops; Statistics Canada) Building Permits: In June 2016, the City of Kamloops issued 57 residential building permits valued at $22,723,613 up from the 44 permits issued in June of the previous year at a value of $8,720,145. A total of 14 commercial building permits were issued in June 2016 with a value of $1,061,554, up slightly from the 10 permits issued in June 2015 with a value of $1,432,000. (Source: City of Kamloops) Business Licenses: Kamloops received 49 new business license applications in June 2016, down from 67 the previous year. (Source: City of Kamloops)

PENTICTON Nissan Dealership Coming to Penticton Indian Band Lands The south Okanagan’s first Nissan auto dealership will open at the Penticton Indian Band’s Satikw Crossing development, recently announced by Chief Jonathan Kruger and John Kot, owner of Nissan Penticton. The facility will boast a state of the art 16,000 square foot building with Nissans New Image program.

More than 30 full-time jobs are expected to be created at the dealership when it opens in mid-2017, and more jobs during construction. Infrastructure work by the Penticton Indian Band to service the site is expected to start within 60 days. The interest and inquiries for the Satikw Crossing development, also known as the Channel Lands, has steadily increased since the completion of the bridge as there has been a number of businesses who have already

KAMLOOPS

AUGUST 2016

contacted thePenticton Indian Band Development Corporation.

The recently completed Satikw Crossing bridge, meaning “river crossing” in the Okanagan Sylix language, spans the Okanagan River Channel at Green Avenue in Penticton. The new five-lane bridge was financed by the Band to open up access for the first time to more than 140 acres (60 hectares) of prime development land adjacent to Highway 97 and the Penticton Regional Airport for residential, commercial, industrial and recreational uses.

BC Have Your Say On Cpp Expansion The Government of British Columbia is engaging the public to help ensure residents understand the impact of the proposed Canada Pension Plan (CPP) enhancement.

Pensions are the cornerstone of a family’s retirement savings — a strong pension system lets families plan for retirement with confidence.

The proposed CPP enhancement is meant to balance the needs of business owners with those of employees. British Columbia is committed to engaging with stakeholders in advance of ratifying the agreement in principle.

Once approved, the enhancement would start in 2019 and be phased in over seven years until 2025.

The proposal has two key elements.

First, the income replacement rate

will be increased from one-quarter to one-third of insured eligible earnings. This means that workers who retire after contributing to the enhanced system will see their monthly CPP benefits increased.

Secondly, the upper insured earnings limit will be increased to $82,700 in two steps in 2024 and 2025, an increase of about 14 per cent from its projected level in 2023. For workers earning above the current maximum, this means that more of their income will be covered by CPP and they will receive increased CPP benefits when they retire.

The contribution made by employers on behalf of their employees will increase modestly. For example, each employee earning an average salary of $54,900 will require an additional employer contribution of $7 to $8 per month for each of the first five years of the phase in. In years 2024 and 2025, there will be no additional contribution for employees at this level.

For a small business with five employees, the total monthly increment will be about $37 per month in this case.

For a small business with ten employees, the total monthly increment will be about $75 per month in this case.

For a small business with 20 employees, the total monthly increment will be about $149 per month in this case.

To learn more about the proposed changes, and to provide your feedback, visit the following link: engage. gov.bc.ca/canadapensionplan.

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THOMPSON OKANAGAN HAS NEW ABORIGINAL TOURISM SPECIALIST

THOMPSON OKANAGAN TOURISM GLENN MANDZIUK

T

he Thompson Okanagan To u r i s m A s s o c i a t i o n (TOTA), together w ith t he Aboriginal Tourism Association of British Columbia (AtBC), is pleased to announce the addition of a Regional Aboriginal Tourism Specialist to the team.

Greg Hopf will be responsible for developing a cultural tourism strategy in alignment with TOTA’s Embracing Our Potential and AtBC’s The Next Phase plans. Embracing a rich history filled with traditional stories and beliefs, the endeavour is to develop economic opportunities and progress Aboriginal tourism business within the region.

G r e g i s f r o m t h e Ye l l owknives Dene First Nation, born in Yellowknife, and raised in Fort Simpson. After attending the University of Augustana in Camrose, AB, Greg has had extensive experience implementing both sport and cultural programs at a community level.

He has worked for Dene Nation, ma naged a n Aboriginal-owned tourism company, worked as a cultural/community liaison for Diavik Diamond Mines, and has spent the last ten years at Aboriginal Sports Circle, most recently as their Executive Director.

Aboriginal tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in the BC tourism industry, with one in four visitors interested in adding an Aboriginal cultural experience to their trip.

AtBC studies report the value of the provincial Aboriginal tou rism i ndustry grew from $20 m i l l ion i n 2006, to $ 42 million in 2012.

With the development of a cultural action plan, they expect annual revenue to generate $68 million by 2017. By cultivating credible relationships with the 32 First Nations communities throughout the Interior, Greg looks to address

Greg Hopf is TOTA’s new Regional Aboriginal Tourism Specialist c o n s u m e r d e m a n d fo r A boriginal tourism experiences, whilst maintaining respect and cultural authenticity that will exceed visitor expectations.

Alongside strategy implementation, Greg will be analyzing and addressing the strengths and weaknesses of Aboriginal tourism, planning Aboriginal cultural events in gateway locations, and acquiring unique stories for marketing ventures.

Glenn Mandziuk is President and Chief Executive Officer of Thompson Okanagan Tourism Region. He can be reached at ceo@totabc.com.

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VERNON

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AUGUST 2016

HEADLINE:

VERNON DAN ROGERS One of the most important roles any Chamber of Commerce plays in their community is that of advocate for members and the business community.

T here is no other grass roots business organization that is as active in as many communities in the Province as Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade.

It was in that capacity that representatives of the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce traveled the short distance down highway 97 to Kelowna last month to raise a number of issues with members of the Federal Liberal Caucus.

A mon g t he item s t he Chamber noted was the need to review the service sta nda rds a nd sta ffi ng levels for CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) in Vancouver. The issue was raised by a Chamber m e m b e r i n t h e m a n ufacturing sector that has been waiting weeks for his container of parts to be inspected in Vancouver.

The small business ow ner noted t he del ay in inspections was creating angry customers, impacting his orders and was likely to result in a reduct ion i n h i s op erations. The Greater Vernon Chamber called for a review of the situation and its impact on small business.

Security is an issue we should all be concerned with and the Chamber appreciates that due diligence is required when moving product through the country’s points of entry but that security must be ba la nced w ith the efficient flow of goods that allow for our manufacturing sector to grow and be competitive.

T h i s i s pa r t icu l a rly

important for small businesses that do not have the resources that larger companies have to manage orders, inventory, and cash f low that all come i nto play when dea l i ng with variables related to such delays.

Other issues ra ised by t he Greater Ver non Chamber included: ■ The need for a national housing strategy to address affordable and attainable housing.

■ Support of the Canadian A irports Council i n w o rk i n g to m a k e Canada’s airports more competitive and air travel more affordable.

■ T he need for conti nued suppor t of Local Immigration Partnership Counci l s i n helpi n g to cre ate a welcoming community for i m m ig ra nts a nd refugees.

■ The need for federal government infras t r u c t u re f u n ding for the region’s Master Water Plan

and for the development of t he Okanagan Rail - Trail initiative.

■ T he p otent i a l for g row t h a lon g t he Highway 97 corridor from Washington State th rough the Okanagan in order to grow business and cross border trade.

■ T he need for f u rther due diligence in preventing Zebra and Quagga mussels from entering Canada and destroying B C ’s f r e s h w a t e r lakes.

“It was a g reat opportunity to meet with federal government representatives and be able to convey some of the important issues that our members and the commu n ity have broug ht to ou r attention,” says T ra c y C o b b-R e e v e s , Greater Vernon Chamber president. zzz I n other news from the North Okanagan, the City of Vernon continues what has turned out to be a robust year for

development. The most recent quarterly economic update noted that from January to June the City of Vernon issued $88.8 million in building permits, that’s up from $44.3 million for the same period a year ago!

“This is shaping up to be one of the strongest yea rs on record, especially in the residential sector where we have seen 386 new u n it s s t a r te d this year,” stated Kevin Poole, the City’s manager of Economic Development and Tourism in a prepared release. He added, “We are just halfway through the year and housing s t a r t s a re a l re a d y t h e third highest on record.” zzz It may be a great time to rel a x a nd enjoy t he hot su m mer su n i n the Ok a n a ga n but t here i s no slowing down for the Greater Vernon Chamber which is gearing up for a couple of major events in the fall. The 2 nd Annual Top 20 under 40 Awards Program w i l l accept nominations until the end of August.

The program recognizes

and celebrates some of the brightest young leaders in the North Okanagan with all of them being recogn i zed du r i ng a sp eci a l celebration event to be held during small business week in October.

The other major event is the second annual Chamber Fall Golf Classic scheduled for October 6th. Participants and sponsors for the networking event are now being finalized with a few spots sti l l open. A nyone i nterested in having a blast while building their network should contact the Chamber office. zzz Finally the Greater Vernon Chamber welcomes its newest members; Kim Hutton Inc., Cattlemen’s Club Restaurant, T he Room Collection, Vernon Yacht Club, Farm Bound Orga n ics, a nd F la m a n Fitness.

Dan Rogers is the General Manager at the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce and can be reached at manager@ vernonchamber.ca

WHY THE LITTLE THINGS MATTER

CUSTOMER SERVICE LUCY GLENNON

W The average employee TURNOVER RATE is

49%

For employees with an intellectual disability or Autism Spectrum Disorder, it’s only

7% Inclusive Hiring Works www.readywillingable.ca

hat do you look at as great customer service? Most likely it’s not something huge, but some set of little things. Or it may even be just one little thing. Why are those little things so important?

When you look at your little things that matter, they really all have to do with expectations. And when it comes down to it that has to do with past experiences.

Whenever we have experiences, we keep a mental recording of them. And from that point forward, we’re always comparing against similar situations.

That’s how we come up with our expectations.

I f we’ve ex p er ienced r e a l l y go o d c u s t o m e r

“If we’ve experienced really good customer service, that can become our expectation with a particular business, or even an entire industry.”

service, that can become ou r ex pectation w ith a particular business, or even an entire industry.

A nd if we have a really bad experience, we may avoid the place altogether because our expectation is that it could easily happen again.

Depending on what you do, your clients may or may not have any past experiences to compare you to.

But does that mean they won’t have expectations?

Of course not. They’ll still be based on experiences. But they’ll either

be based on experience of others, or their own experiences with something they believe is similar.

You may have been out to eat at a restaurant for the first time, and you were absolutely blown away by the service. What were you comparing it to?

If you go to a high-end steak house, you are probably expecting a different level of service than you would at a fast food restaurant. But if you go to a restaurant with similar prices to the high-end steak house, you probably do expect the same level of service.

Most of the time, that’s not even a conscious thing!

But if you pay attention to what your clients say and how they act, and you ask them questions about those things, you can change some of the small things that will make a huge difference to them.

Lucy specializes in customer service training and recruitment and hiring. She can be reached at 866-6452047 or lucyg@hireguru.com. www.hireguru.ca

KELOWNA

AUGUST 2016

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BUSINESS SUNSHINE AT THE KELOWNA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE our key business areas.

Business building and support is a growing business concentration in the Kelowna CMA. And Helmut said that everyone always wants to hear about housing: where are we, where is it going, will it continue to expand?

Certainly there is a cyclical upturn in residential sales in the Kelowna CMA – numbers are up in 2015, and median sales price is up.

And the market continues to rise, according to the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board: MLS residential sales up, and the average sales price, up. This is accompanied by a shrinking inventory of product for sale; just ask any Kelowna-based Realtor, and you’ll hear the same story. Lots of buyers; not a lot of product.

A final note from Helmut’s presentation, and that is on the economic and housing forecast for the Kelowna area: Helmut showed us a forecast through 2018: ■ Employment up 1.5% to 2% ■ Unemployment dropping from today’s 7.0% to 5.5% ■ Population, up by 4% ■ Housing sales up by 5%, a healthier percentage than this year’s 15.8% ■ Housing starts up by 20% We were all delighted that Helmut could take the time to bring us the Kelowna Economic snapshot at our luncheon.

On other topics: We were pleased to be invited to present local issues at the Federal Liberal Party of Canada’s Pacific Caucus western meeting at the end of July – a solid opportunity to make our voices and our issues known to the federal governing party; issues of importance to Kelowna, and the Okanagan. Topics we covered included Kelowna Airport Funding; Invasive Mussels; Credit Card Merchant Fees; Convention Centre; Temporary Foreign Worker Policy; and the Organized Crime Tax Force. We also revisited the Inter-provincial Sales of 100% Canadian Wine; and Addressing the Doctor Shortage. (It was a very full agenda!)

Later this month, the Kelowna Chamber is hosting delegates from Kasugai, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. In April, our Chamber visited Kasugai, along with six other cities across central and southern Japan as part of a partnership/tourism/business trip cosponsored by the Kelowna-Kasugai Sister City Association.

This reciprocal trip only lasts three days, but the 17 delegates are all “home-staying” with local families, to get a true flavour of life here in the Okanagan. (Our 40 delegates all home-stayed for three days in Kasugai in April.)

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KELOWNA TOM DYAS

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t’s been a busier summer so far than we anticipated – it must be human nature to believe that because school is out and the sun is shining – weakly at times, through the summer rains – that business takes a breather.

On behalf of all our business members, and we have 1300+ of them: we are delighted that the economy is buzzing. Certainly Kelowna streets and highways and beaches reflect good visitor numbers, and locals are getting out and about, too, which means good retail and good news for the service industry.

Speaking of the service industry, we hosted the Chief Economist of Central 1 Credit Union – Helmut Pastrick – at our last Chamber luncheon before taking a summertime break.

Central 1 is the financial trade association for the BC credit union system. Helmut gave us a very lively and informative commentary on the national and local economic recovery prospects. A few days after he spoke to 120 of our members and non-members here in Kelowna, he presented at the annual Bay Area Economic Summit, in Burlington, Ontario.

He has the national view.

Helmut highlighted Kelowna numbers for our crowd, which was really useful, as so often much of our information is skewed to Vancouver and Toronto. I’ll just touch on a few highlights here, thank you in advance to Helmut: ■ Employment Trends – recent gains higher in Kelowna than Vancouver or all of BC. Overall, employment remains an issue, as the numbers could be more robust.

■ Population growth: Kelowna remains the leading CMA (Census Metropolitan Area) in population growth in Canada for three years in a row.

■ The three top CMA industries in Kelowna over the past year showed up as Construction; Accommodation and Food; and Information, Culture, and Recreation. That aligns perfectly with

Many of the delegates are associated with Chubu University, and our Chamber Day will feature a tour of one of our two postsecondary institutions here, the University of British Columbia Okanagan. Dr Phil Barker, Associate Vice President Research at UBC Okanagan will host the afternoon tour.

Morning will see some golf at The Harvest Golf Club, a walking tour of Kasugai Gardens and the downtown cultural district and waterfront. We’ll have business presentations over a lunch at the Chamber. After our afternoon tour of UBC, we’ll tour the BC Fruit Packinghouse, and have a taste of their new Broken Ladder cider (John Shreiner says “they hit it out of the park with taste and aroma”).

Finally, an outdoor BBQ in the sunshine back

at The Harvest Golf Club.

There is a lot more going on, but that’s probably enough about us, for now. We remain busy with event planning for fall, continuing membership growth, and our always great back-and-forth conversations with our many members. We’re also encouraging staff to take a bit of time off while things are “quieter.”

Myself? I’m planning on getting in an extra golf game or two. See you on the course!

Tom Dyas is the President of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce. To find out more information about the organization please visit www.kelownachamber.org.

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AUGUST 2016

INNOVATIVE MARKETING HELPS WIN SILVER TOMMIE Company is created to focus solely on new developments

K

E L O W N A — Fo r t u n e Marketing recently won the 2016 Canadian Home Builders’ Association Tommie Award for ‘Excellence in Marketing’ underscoring the Kelownabased firms unique approach and success at selling homes.

Its innovative strategy has the company working exclusively for the developer to create and implement a complete marketing and sales strategy from brand and webpage to close of sales. “The company was formed because there was no one focusing solely on new developments,� said Don Warkentin, managing partner. “The developer does what they do best - build the property - and we do everything else.�

Warkentin has put together a strong team of marketing professionals able to collaborate on picking a name, designing a logo and strategizing over the best way to connect the right homebuyers with the development. “We take care of every aspect of marketing the property including signage, social media, renderings, floor plans, site maps, feature sheets and brochures.�

Culligan Okanagan 1950 Windsor Road Kelowna 250-860-6733 okculligan.com

Fortune creates the complete marketing package including renderings CREDIT:FORTUNE MARKETING

He said Fortune’s job is to help the homebuyers picture themselves in the development, as in many cases there are no show homes to view. “With a presell, buyers get a better deal. We make it as easy as possible to make a decision to buy.�

It’s a format that’s working.

Gellatly Place has a total of three phases of condo buildings. The first, which is currently under construction, is already 60 per cent sold. The Grove, a townhome complex in North Glenmore, was sold out in six months before the ground was even broken, and Lakeview Terrace, another development in West Kelowna, has only one unit left. “The original sales team of Lakeview wasn’t having success in selling the property so the developer hired us to take over,�

Warkentin said. “There were 40 units already built so they were easier to sell.�

Winner of the Tommie ‘Excellence in Townhome Development’, L a kev iew Ter race at Peak Point is made up of semidetached homes with stunning views. Each unit has a rooftop terrace that according to Warkentin makes you feel like you’re

The Fortune team at Global TV donating to the local SPCA with office mascot, Dexter CREDIT:FORTUNE MARKETING

Course. Warkentin feels that sales of the 12 units, anticipated to begin in August, should be brisk as these a re lu x u ry homes starting at an affordable $500,000. “Sticks & Stones of Kelowna designed the interior and exterior and put in all the bells and whistles. These are millionaire homes with exceptional views from the inside living area and

in your own little world. “Because we work for the developers, if a client doesn’t buy, we don’t show them other developments. Our focus is on bringing the right buyers to the development and keeping them there.�

Currently, Fortune is putting together the marketing strategy for Haven Villas, a gated community of townhomes overlook i ng Sh a n non L a ke G ol f

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He said the real estate industry has changed over the past few years, especially when it comes to the buyers. “Around 2008 it was investors who were buying property so homes weren’t in solid hands.

Today, it is real people buying units they will be living in or using as a holiday home while they live elsewhere.�

Warkentin said that buyers in the region run the gamut of ages, from the middle aged looking to downsize within town to those looking to retire to Kelowna from Alberta or elsewhere. It also includes young people looking for a smaller community to raise a family.

However, he noted, there is also a new demographic of people with the common motivation to move from the expensive Vancouver market and find a reasonably priced home in a city with amenities and a small town feel. “We see people who bought a house in Vancouver for say $350,000 in 1990, who can now sell it for $2 million. They can bring that money to Kelowna, buy a luxury home for $500,000 and live quite nicely on the rest.

Some of that demographic is also looking for a home that serves as a retreat from the hustle and bustle of the big city.�

He pointed out that when supply is low and demand high, the price of homes goes up, a nd currently in Kelowna there is a lot of building activity and growth.

The appeal of the region is a huge draw, he added, not just for great house prices but also because it has the amenities people are looking for, including an international airport, large hospital, university and rich arts and culture scene. “People have to live somewhere; why not where they can get a nice piece of real estate at great mortgage rates in a city where it takes about ten minutes to get downtown.�

The Fortune Marketing Real Estate Gallery is at 305 Lawrence Avenue in Kelowna www.fortunemarketing.ca

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AWARD WINNING RESORT OFFERS CORPORATE RETREATS A BIT OF MAGIC Environment at ranch and spa is ideal for think tanks and team building

C

LI N TON – Na med the Best Boutique Hotel in the Americas, Echo Valley Ranch and Spa sits at the base of the Marble Mountains in BC’s pristine Cariboo region.

Located just north of Clinton, the guest house and cabins are part of Norm and Nan Dove’s 160 acre working ranch.

Opened 21 years ago, the ecofriend ly resort has ea rned a G old Green Tou rism rati ng, and has become a destination for corporate retreats and think tank sessions.

“People can work in complete peace,” said Kerstin Auer, marketing and sales manager of the resort. “The environment encourages people to connect and work together as a team without distractions.”

It of fers cor porat ion s a nd groups the opportunity to have a business retreat hosted for two or more days, with smaller groups staying at the guest house and larger groups booking exclusive use of the entire facility.

“Meeting collaterals are available in the meeting rooms including projectors and sound system.”

Guests can also take advantage of some of the team building activities the ranch offers including horseback riding, roping, flyfishing and hiking, as well as in-house spa services. The resort also partners with local companies for even more options like white-water rafting and allday fishing excursions. “ We c r e a t e a n i t i n e rary for the group that covers YOUR BUSINESS CONNECTION TO:

Echo Valley in the Cariboo is a working ranch with a five dog welcoming committee

Visitors claim the luxury ranch and spa is magically peaceful and relaxing CREDIT:EVRANCH

CREDIT:EVRANCH

“The environment encourages people to connect and work together as a team without distractions.”

KERSTIN AUER MARKETING AND SALES MANAGER ECHO VALLEY RANCH AND SPA

transportation, either via Kamloops airport and then by car or by arrival at our private airport,” Auer explained. “It’s also only a few hours’ drive from Vancouver.”

The preplanned packages allow retreat participants the opportunity to relax at the end of the day with a soothing massage, hydrobath treatment, pedicure or manicure.

Auer said that the ranch can accommodate business groups up to 20, single occupancy, or up to 40 sha red occupa ncy, w ith ever y th i ng needed located on site, including three meals a day of farm fresh, organic food grown right at the resort.

They’ve hosted a variety of business and public interest groups and events including government agencies, real estate

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AUGUST 2016

WESTBANK CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

or council is, and it provides clear procedures that must be followed.

It recognizes existing agreements, and a new rogue council can’t change things willy-nilly.�

Louie sees it as a pivotal point in WFN development. “Our message got out to developers and they started contacting us,� he says.

Today, Louie proudly states “We have more development here than on any reserve in Canada.�

Westbank First Nation has 840 band members, which is an average size for a B.C. First Nation. There are now 10,000 residents living on WFN land (most non-native) and 4,500 homes, along with over 400 businesses and close to 1.4 million square feet of shopping centre space. “We have constant activity, seven days a week, 365 days a year, on our WFN lands,� Louie says. “In the past 10 years, WFN has issued a half billion dollars in development permits. Out of 162 municipalities in BC, WFN is rated the 61st largest in terms of property assessment.

Our GDP is a half billion dollars a year, and since 2009, over $80 million in taxes has been raised from WFN lands in GST and PST. There is plenty of construction taking place on WFN lands, which means local jobs. “I see opportunity here because of what’s happening in Alberta (the current downturn) and on the Coast (rising real estate prices), and

it doesn’t look like it’s going to slow down any time soon,� he says.

management,� he says. “That’s a huge game-changer.�

PRIVATE LAND OWNERSHIP

HEALTH CARE OPPORTUNITY

Another advantage WFN offers is the opportunity for band members to own their own land and homes.

It is a well-known fact that homeowners are more attentive to upkeep of their properties than renters, and some believe this opportunity alone will bring significant change to First Nations housing throughout the country. “Different bands have different viewpoints on land,� Louie notes, adding some prefer for the band to hold all land title, while others see the benefits of individuals having personal ownership of property. “The way we see it is we have people looking towards the future, that want to own their own, and they want to pay. It’s real property for them and it brings a sense of pride,� he says.

A drive through WFN lands demonstrates this clearly. Louie says one cannot tell which homes are owned by First Nation members or non-aboriginals. “You won’t be able to tell the difference between on-reserve and off-reserve housing,� says Louie. “We have sidewalks and street lights everywhere, and it’s getting better all the time. Compared to how it was 30 years ago, it’s night and day.�

Louie views governance control and decision-making power as vital ingredients for forward progress. “I know what can happen with government control and land

WFN has been working for years on building a private health care centre on its land.

Initially announced as a partnership with well-respected John Hopkins University of Baltimore, Maryland, the hospital project has stalled. Litigation with the original partners in the project, Dr. Lyle Oberg and Mark McLaughlin of Ad Vitem Health, is close to being completed, meaning a search for another major investor can get underway.

The project had over 93 per cent approval from WFN members, some of whom are disheartened about the fact it hasn’t been able to proceed yet. Louie is confident it will happen, and adds it needs to happen. “The cost of health care in Canada is escalating, and the balance that is needed is privatized health care that complements the existing system,� he says. “That is the future, and it has to happen.�

Louie maintains a two-tiered health system is already in place in this country, via plastic surgery and other procedures. A private health care clinic on First Nations land could be allowed to circumvent the Canada Health Act due to its economic benefits to WFN, while allowing Canadians who have the financial wherewithal to “jump the queue� and obtain health care here that they’ve demonstrated they’re willing to travel to the United

States and beyond to obtain now.

It could lessen lengthening weight times for patients, create well paying jobs in the health care sector, and just by virtue of its existence, apply competitive pressure to Canada’s existing system that could spur dramatic improvement.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS WFN is currently working towards creating two wind farms through partnerships, one near Pennask Lake off the Coquihalla Connector towards Merritt, and another between Summerland and Peachland. Together, they are expected to create 15 megawatts of power, enough to power up to 4,000 homes.

WFN also has a timber license that allows for an annual allowable cut of 100,000 cubic metres, creating more jobs.

A project Louie is especially excited about is the restoration of sockeye salmon stocks to Okanagan Lake. 10,000 salmon fry have been released into the lake by the eightmember Okanagan Nation Alliance, which includes a band based in Colville, WA. The fisheries building in Penticton, which won a Southern Interior Construction Association Commercial Building Award last year, is home to 15 biologists and close to 90 staff. “It will be the largest inland fishery for First Nation peoples in Canada,� he says. “We have a first-rate team that is absolutely phenomenal.

“In four years, we expect to have salmon back in Okanagan Lake system,� he adds. “Fisheries can be a major component of our economy for years to come.�

ASSISTING OTHER FIRST NATIONS Louie, along with Osoyoos Indian Band Chief Clarence Louie (no relation), are acknowledged frontrunners when it comes to First Nation leadership, particularly in regards to economic development.

Robert Louie summarizes it by noting that First Nations need three things to enable them to move forward: Infrastructure, government structure and community will.

He notes that he gets several inquiries each week from other First Nation groups across the country with questions about what they’ve done and how they can get things done. “We open our doors willingly,� he says. “We don’t charge a fee. If we can help them, we do. And they have ideas for us, too. We’re always learning and that is very valuable.�

WFN continues to work towards final treaties. “We’re upping the ante with other First Nations in the Okanagan, and we feel we’ve been making huge strides,� he says. “It could lead to land claims settled in the not so distant future.� “I see it happening. Either through negotiated settlements, or going to court and settling with litigation,� he says. “It will get settled in the foreseeable future.�

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AUGUST 2016

AIRPORTS BC Air Traffic Numbers Stimulate Growth And Expansion Marketplace optimism, increased capacity and reliability are key to increased use of air travel

In August Kamloops Airport will see the addition of low cost carrier New Leaf Travel CREDIT:KENT WONG

BETH HENDRY-YIM

V

ICTORIA — Surging numbers of airline passenger traffic in BC has stimulated growth and expansion in major airports across the province.

The reason for the increased use according to Lindsay Cotter, manager of marketing and communication at Prince George Airport (YXS), could be stronger marketplace optimism, while Mike Hooper of Nanaimo’s YCD believes that part of it could be due to major improvements in capacity, reliability and safety.

Though fluctuations in numbers from month to month occur, the general consensus across BC’s larger airports is that more people are taking to the air as a fast and easy alternative for traveling across the country and to international destinations.

Fred Legace, general manager of Kamloops Airport (YKA), said that air travel got more affordable in his community with the introduction of New Leaf Travel, a low cost carrier with biweekly flights between Kamloops, Edmonton and Victoria.

“We are seeing retirees from across Canada, settling in Kamloops and regularly flying back to visit family as well as family coming to visit Kamloops.”

He added that being able to offer New Leaf as an alternative opens up opportunities for those that may not have considered flying.

Although he explained that

A 25,000 square foot warehouse is 60 per cent occupied by Rosenau Transportation Ltd. CREDIT: PRINCE GEORGE

traffic numbers showed a 3 per cent increase, the number was skewed by what he called the ‘Fort McMurray Effect’.

“We have quite a few people who live in Kamloops and work up north. We’re just starting to see that traffic growing again.

Those lower numbers were balanced by our incredible winter snow season. We saw people flying in from places like Australia, New Zealand and the United States, taking advantage of the low dollar and ski conditions. Sun Peaks had its best season ever.”

He added that because of projected increases in passenger numbers the airport is concentrating its efforts on efficiencies and an improved customer experience.

SEE AIRPORTS | PAGE 11

“We are seeing retirees from across Canada, settling in Kamloops and regularly flying back to visit family as well as family coming to visit Kamloops.”

FRED LEGACE MANAGING DIRECTOR, KAMLOOPS AIRPORT

Lindsay Cotter said that increased passengers numbers could be due to marketplace optimism CREDIT: PRINCE GEORGE AIRPORT

AIRPORTS

AUGUST 2016

11

The 419 squadron with CT-155 Hawk trainer jets arrived in Kamloops to celebrate the airports anniversary CREDIT:KAMLOOPS AIRPORT

KELOWNA KELOWNA KELOWNA

Prince George airport’s mascot, Amelia Bearheart, has been a hit at the airport and special events CREDIT:PRINCE GEORGE AIRPORT

AIRPORTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

“We’re putting $3.5 million into reconstructing an apron, currently out of service, to allow larger aircraft, like the Q400, more space for parking.” In addition, he said that YKA has added more food

services, modernized the waiting area and redid the front entry landscaping.

At Y XS, Cotter said its focus, after last year’s record breaking numbers, is through community outreach and finding ways to connect with its community

SEE AIRPORTS | PAGE 12

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AUGUST 2016

AIRPORTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

as a great corporate citizen. It recently, launched a new website with better tracking options and a virtual tour of the airport.

It also saw the introduction of a marketing campaign unique to airports in North America by creating a mascot, Amelia Bearheart. Celebrating the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean and an iconic animal symbol of the north, Bearheart, the brain child of Cotter, is part of YXS’ desire to improve passenger experience and build brand awareness in a unique, engaging, energetic way. The results far exceeded expectations.

“We wanted to increase our exposure in the public eye by having Bearheart attend special events and greeting passengers on a regular basis. She has become so popular that we are getting requests for her to appear at events.”

On Vancouver Island, Victoria International Airport (YYJ) and (YCD) are continuing to see passenger numbers climb and are marking out long term goals to accommodate its steady growth.

“After 32 months of consecutive growth at the YYJ we are working hard to meet the demand for expanded facilities.” said James Bogusz, vice president operations and development.

Last year, the Victoria Airport Authority (VAA) announced its plans for a 10 year, $160M phased

YKA celebrated its 75th anniversary with an open house CREDIT:KAMLOOPS AIRPORT

capital program to expand its facilities and meet the growing demands of the community. The VAA is currently expanding its main apron, that serves over 1.7 million passengers, to provide additional aircraft parking and allow for expansion of its lower passenger departure lounge.

Sensitive to environmental matters, and the apron expansion, VAA will also include a new glycol (aircraft de-icing fluid) capture area.

In addition, enhancements to the main customer parking lot are underway and include the addition of electric vehicle charging stations and 325 new spots being paved in the long term lot.

YYJ is also celebrating new air service. In April, Delta Air Lines began service to Seattle 3 times per day and NewLeaf Travel will be welcomed on July 30 when they commence non-stop service to Kamloops and Winnipeg.

Hooper said that, Nanaimo airport’s 20-year plan is also a reflection of its substantial growth and includes an approximately $43 million expansion that will see a larger boarding lounge, improved security line for checking baggage and carryon luggage, increased car rental space and paid parking lot area and a larger apron.

“We are still getting record breaking passenger numbers

month after month,” he pointed out, adding that in three years, numbers went from 1 million passengers to 2 million.

“Our demographic includes a significant amount of international students attending Vancouver Island University, and business people who live here while working elsewhere.”

Rick Reed, general manager of Prince Rupert Airport (YPR) said that although passenger numbers have consistently sat at approximately 65,000 for the past decade, those numbers will change when an announcement is made in September concerning LNG. “When the LNG plants go in our passenger numbers could increase

to over 300,000,” he said.

YPR is ready for the increased traffic, it’s just invested $19 million into restructuring the airfield, asphalt apron and taxi way, as well as completely revamping the air terminal.

“The original terminal was built in 1961,” Reed said. “It needed a makeover. We saved the post and beam structure, but redid everything else, including electrical and plumbing.”

As the gateway to BC’s northwest, YPR has direct and connecting f lights to Vancouver and like airports across BC is prepared to continue helping its passengers see the world and serve the business community.

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E L O W N A – I mmediately after the end of the Second World War the City of Kelowna recognized that if it were to take its place among the great communities of the province it had to be home to a modern and efficient airport. With that goal in mind work began on the Kelowna Airport in 1946. Flash forward 70 years and the airport is now the third largest and busiest in the province (11th in Canada) with more than 1.6 million passengers passing through its terminal in 2015.

“We currently see about 66 com merci a l f l ig hts occur each day. Despite the activity we expect to grow at a rate of about six per cent this year,” explained Airport Director Sam Samaddar.

The airport’s main terminal building is a modern structure covering more than 76,000 square feet “Kelowna is blessed in hav i ng a fa i rly d iverse economy, so slow-downs in one sector can be offset by improvements in another.

Our tourism product for example makes our area a four season destination, with skiing, summer sports and the local wineries as attractions depending on the time of year.”

To better prepare for an expanding economic future the Kelowna International Airport h a s embarked on the creation of a development vision for both the near and long term future of the facility. “We’re calling it our ‘Master Plan 2045’ to take us out to the year 2045. One of the goals we have is to

become the best mid-sized airport in North America,” Samaddar stated.

Home to flight operations

by WestJet, Air Canada, Air Canada jazz, Alaska Airlines, Central Mountain Air, Pacific Coastal Airlines, Air North and New Leaf the airport is both a significant regional and international air hub, connecting the province to the rest of the world.

“We’re envisioning an annual growth of about three percent yearly in terms of passenger traffic, which translates into something like 3.6 million passengers per year by 2045. Expansion will definitely be part of our future.”

14 COMMUNITY IN

AUGUST 2016

ENDERBY Chamber Membership Takes Big Jump A strong business base, big community spirit and meeting specific business needs is key to growth

When the revitalized main street opened up, Chamber members came out to offer help and support CREDIT:ENDERBY & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

also wanted to do it with as little money as possible. “ T h e Ch a m b er wa s a ble to con nect the col lective w ith t he la rge Shuswap Tou r ism

BETH HENDRY-YIM

E

N DER BY — I n the past four years, Enderby’s local Chamber of Commerce has almost doubled its membership, from 88 to 160. That’s a big jump for a small town of only 2900.

Corinne Van De Crommenacker, general manager, claims it’s the city’s strong business base and community spirit that has its ranks growing.

“We have a good mix of businesses within the city with retail and professional services and a large manufacturing base like North Enderby Timber, OK Fertilizer and Armadillo Trailer; contracting firms that include Intrigue Cabinets and Millwork; and a strong tourism component that includes Bed and Breakfast businesses, hotels, wineries and restaurants.”

She added that being a part of the Shuswap Simalkameen region with close proximity to plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities, tourism plays a large part in the city’s economy and in its membership.

The attraction comes from the town’s location on the Shuswap River, easy access to back country roads, and the festivals and events it hosts annually like

association and provide information on topics from maximizing SEE ENDERBY | PAGE 15

Corinne Van De Crommenacker became General Manager after a restructuring of the organization CREDIT:ENDERBY & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Music by the River, BC Rivers Day, the Grindrod Garlic Festival and the Enderby Arts Festival.

“We have a large artisan presence in our town. In fact, Courtyard Gallery is a poster child for how the chamber and its members work together as a team,” she said.

Formed four years ago, it is a collective of volunteer artists who wanted to create space for their art. The group initiated fund raising events and utilized all the services the chamber provides.

“They wanted to learn how to create a gallery that would draw tourists into our town to a central art-focused location. They

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AUGUST 2016

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Rossworn Henderson LLP Chartered Professional Accountants - Tax Consultants The Courtyard Gallery is a ‘poster child’ for the success of the Enderby & District Chamber of Commerce CREDIT: ENDERBY & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

ENDERBY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

the efficacy of social media to financing.

“The gallery has been extremely successful, with some impressive talent including award winning painters and those who have shows in other larger centres like Vancouver.”

Education is a major component the Chamber provides its members and, according to Van De Crommenacker is part of the reason for its growth.

“At our yearly business walk a common theme was around the challenge of

marketing and the fact that most businesses didn’t know how to go about using it effectively.”

She acknowledged that connecting consumers with a business service or product is challenging. It’s more than creating an advertisement, its knowing your demographics and understanding how they are best reached.

“We are currently running a two-part marketing workshop – “Back to Basic Marketing”- and will be running the second part in September followed by a social media

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SEE ENDERBY | PAGE 16

We’re here when you need us!

Home or business insurance renewal time?

See us for your free quote.

We also insure farms of all sizes and rented dwellings.

See us for your Off-Road Vehicle registration and insurance needs.

Call toll free 1-888-838-7302

www.jmins.com HOME • BUSINESS • FARM AUTO • TRAVEL • RV • BOAT ENDERBY: 250.838.7333 | enderby@jmins.com 801 George Street (Driver Licensing) The Chamber runs workshops for its members on relevant topics, bringing in special speakers CREDIT: ENDERBY & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

SALMON ARM: 250.832.8103 | salmonarm@jmins.com 140 Alexander Street NE

ENDERBY

16

AUGUST 2016

ENDERBY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

workshop and a sales workshop in October and November. We bring in speakers whose expertise is in varying fields, and charge our members a small fee for the venue.”

She explained that many of their shops are small mom and pop establishments that find it challenging to get away without closing up the store.

“We are working with them to find solutions on how they can run their businesses and at the same time invest in themselves.”

Van De Crommenacker, who first began working at the Chamber as coordinator, stepped into the managing position a year later, when the existing executive director stepped down. Since that time, the board of directors has restructured the organization and instead of an Executive Director, they now have Van De Crommenacker as General Manager.

“The new designation fit the board’s vision and mission of an open door policy and underscored the importance of working one on one with members, learning what information was relevant and what wasn’t.”

She said that in a small community, the personal approach just makes better sense adding that the wide variety of members, including not-for-profit, church groups and home based businesses, demands unique and specialized services.

The Enderby & District Chamber of Commerce also runs Enderby Tourism, Recreational Services and the River Ambassadors programs.

CREDIT: ENDERBY & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

“Deep Creek Tool Museum is run by curator, Herb Higginbottom, and lays claim to having the largest Reel lawnmower in the world. The owner knows everything there is to know about tools and sees visitors from as far away as Europe.”

She pointed out that what he needs from the Chamber as a member is different than what the real estate or construction company requires. Fine tuning its programing allowed for these very special

members.

Multitasking and considering specialized services also has the Chamber running the Summer Visitor Centre, Enderby Recreational Services, the River Ambassador program and is the organizer and supporter of municipal, provincial and federal election All-Candidates forums.

“We all work well together,” she said. “It’s a good functioning office with dedicated staff for each area

Built to Last!

coming together to brainstorm and support each other.”

She added that community support is what sets the Chamber apart and the main reason for its rapid growth.

“We couldn’t function without our membership,” she said.

“When a call goes out for help, they answer.”

Recently, after upgrades to downtown main street were complete, a celebration of its opening was held.

“We put a call out to our membership to come and help and attend the street opening. They came running,” she said. “Not just to support the Chamber but also their fellow businesses.”

This year marks the 37 th anniversary of the Enderby & District Chamber of Commerce and, with its members continued enthusiastic participation, will see ongoing growth in its unique brand of personalized member care.

RECREATIONAL TRAILER MANUFACTURER UPDATES A CLASSIC Armadillo Trailer Manufacturing Opened At The Beginning Of The Year

“You don’t have to jeopardize luxury by having a small space.”

JASON JONG CO-OWNER, ARMADILLO TRAILER

E

ARMADILLO TRAILER MFG. LTD.

205 Brickyard Road, Enderby, BC V0E 1V2

250-838-2615 • www.armadillotrailers.ca

NDERBY – It’s a classic look, updated for a new century. Enderby’s Armadillo Trailer Manufacturing has brought back the timeless elegance of the 13’ fiberglass recreational travel trailer.

For Jason Jong, the coo w n e r a n d fo u n d e r o f Armadillo Trailers, building recreational vehicles (RVs) is a family tradition.

H av i ng worked for RV builder Bigfoot Industries for more than 20 years (his father Allan had worked for Kenkraft for 46 years), working in all areas of production during that time, he learned the intricacies of RV manufacture from the ground up.

Acquiring the historic / vintage molds for the units in 2015 he and his brother Mike launched Armadillo Trailer in January. “I grew up doing RVs my whole

MANUFACTURING

life,” he explained. “Most of my manufacturing education comes from Bigfoot, while there I learned a lot about basic structure and design.”

The units produced by Armadillo (the company is currently building its tenth trailer) incorporate a classic design (capable of

sleeping four) in a rugged package that can be towed by a small family car. “Because of the two-piece shell these replicate more like a boat than an RV, so with that philosophy I’m going for more of a nautical theme, with portholes and other features,” he said.

Expansion is in the future for Armadillo Trailers including the hiring of additional staff and the planned construction of a new production facility.

As part of the company’s long term expansion plan it is also expecting to become a licensed dealership in addition to being the manufacturer of the trailers.

Noted for its structural strength (incorporating high density foam), lightweight design, excellent fit and finish and superior ease of functionality, Armadillo’s updated trailers are the perfect RV for a small family. “You don’t have to jeopardize luxury by having a small space,” Jong explained.

For more in formation visit the firm’s website at: www. www.armadillotrailers.net

ENDERBY

AUGUST 2016

17

ENDERBY DENTIST HAS BEEN SERVING THE REGION SINCE 2005 â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a terrific opportunity for me to get established there.â&#x20AC;?

Enderby Dental Centre: Dental Practice With A Family Focus

DR. NATASHA GARNETT OWNER, ENDERBY DENTAL CENTRE

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NDERBY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; For Dr. Natasha Garnett, DDS, opening her practice (Enderby Dental Centre) 11 years ago was very much like coming home. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was born and raised in Kelowna. My family is in the area so I ultimately wanted to return to the North Okanagan,â&#x20AC;? she explained.

Dr. Garnett took her undergraduate dental training at the University of British Columbiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (UBC) Okanagan Campus. She then followed this up by earning her dental degree (Doctor of Dental Surgery) at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 2004. After graduation she began her career in a uniquely Canadian way by practicing dentistry in Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s High Arctic.

Working in Nunavut, she served as a type of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;flying dentistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; being airlifted into remote villages and isolated communities to bring dental services to patients that would otherwise go underserved. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would go into the local health centre in the different communities and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be in for a couple of weeks at a time to take care of all of the dental

work there,â&#x20AC;? she remembers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So I was flying around the Arctic quite a bit in 2004.â&#x20AC;?

Seeking something more permanent, and wishing to return to her home territory, she moved south and took over operation of the Enderby Dental Centre in early 2005. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Enderby was an opportunity for me. It was close to home, the office was available for sale and it was a terrific opportunity for me to get established there,â&#x20AC;? she said.

In the intervening 11 years Dr. Garnettâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s practice has grown and flourished. Today it regularly serves more than 2,000 patients who come to the clinic from all across the region. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have patients from Enderby of course, but we also have patients who from all across the North Okanagan and Shuswap areas.â&#x20AC;?

With a focus on general family dentistry the clinic features Dr. Garnett, an in-house Denturist, a Receptionist, two Assistants and a pair of Dental Hygienists.

With a busy future in mind the office (located at 510 George St.) was

recently renovated and had much of its equipment updated to provide patients with the latest in dental technology.

Dr. Garnett is also a big believer in personal improvement, not just technological upgrades. Continually taking courses to keep abreast of the latest trends, sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a regular participant in dental Study Clubs, which are essentially gatherings of dentists who routinely meet and share insights and information to help collectively move their profession forward. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s usually a group of specialists who will host the sessions. During the event a group of dentists will meet together and learn about different skills sets. I also attend different conferences, where you always learn something new,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Looking toward the future Dr. Garnett has recognized that contemporary dental trends, such as dental implants ultimately taking the place of removable dentures, will become increasingly important parts of her practice. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the future there will be continued expansion and upgrades to the office to help us serve the community better,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a friendly, compassionate and modern office. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking to help people and to serve them.

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re here to help, to work with people to provide the best treatment possible.â&#x20AC;?

LOCAL INSURANCE BROKERAGE COMBINES 85 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE Local company designs individualized products for a wide range of industries

E

NDERBY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Shuswap Insurance Brokers have deep roots in the Enderby area. Operating since the 1930â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, the brokerage was purchased by Elmer Halvorson who ran it successfully for decades.

In 2003, he sold the business to Chuck Melanson, who began his career in insurance in 1968.

Arne Chaddock joined Melanson in 2010, becoming a full partner.

Between the two brokers there is a combined 85 years of experience in the industry. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our staff also have impressive credentials and expertise,â&#x20AC;? said Chaddock. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Several have been with Chuck since day one.â&#x20AC;?

He added that the longevity of the company and staff brings a high level of knowledge and stability to the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s products and services which are as diversified as the clients they serve. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have programs and products for manufacturing, farming, and construction, retail and professional, as well as specific coverage for residential homeowners and tenants and for vacant,

WE PROVIDE PEACE OF MIND FOR YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS! seasonal and under construction properties.â&#x20AC;?

He added that the brokerage is even able to provide Contractor Bonding through its connections with large bonding carriers and product liability, as well as Directors and Officers liability insurance for non-profit groups.

For individual needs Shuswap Insurance also provides individualized travel insurance packages and specially designed recreational products for snowmobiles, watercraft, ATVs and travel trailers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our products are customized to fit our clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs,â&#x20AC;? said Chaddock. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because we are a local business we are on hand to properly assess each of our clienteleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personal and/or professional insurance needs. You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get that over the phone or by text message!â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Most importantly,â&#x20AC;? he added. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are local and we care. When there is a loss we are ready to meet with the client and the adjuster whenever and where ever.â&#x20AC;?

PERSONAL INSURANCE OPTIONS: â&#x20AC;˘ Homeowner Insurance â&#x20AC;˘ Marine & Boat Insurance â&#x20AC;˘ Condo Insurance â&#x20AC;˘ Mobile Home/RV Insurance â&#x20AC;˘ Tenant Insurance â&#x20AC;˘ Family Insurance â&#x20AC;˘ Medical Insurance â&#x20AC;˘ Travel Insurance â&#x20AC;˘ Car Insurance â&#x20AC;˘ Life Insurance â&#x20AC;˘ Town House Insurance

Your one stop insurance brokerage firm!

Because Life happens.

INSURANCE FOR BUSINESSES: â&#x20AC;˘ Commercial Insurance â&#x20AC;˘ Liability Insurance â&#x20AC;˘ Non Medical Insurance â&#x20AC;˘ Home Based Business Insurance â&#x20AC;˘ Commercial Automobile & Auto Fleet Insurance â&#x20AC;˘ Commercial Liability Insurance

Ph: 250-838-7707 | Fax: 250-838-7737 | Toll Free: 1-888-838-7707

www.shuswapinsurance.ca 604 Cliff Avenue, Enderby, BC Serving all communities within the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Shuswap and Okanagan Regionsâ&#x20AC;?

18

AUGUST 2016

ICONIC TELEPHONE COMPANY GETS REBRANDED Adding IT services OK Tel offers wider variety of products and services

K

E L OW NA â&#x20AC;&#x201C; T h i s ye a r O k a n a g a n Te l e p h o n e Company celebrates thirty years of service to the Thompson Okanagan and West Kootenay regions. Since 1986 it has provided telephone services to a wide range of businesses, from professional offices to manufacturing , school districts and the hospitality industry. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Businesses stillneed reliable phone service,â&#x20AC;? said Troy Scha l m, ma nag i ng pa r tner. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With all the different forms of communication these days an

â&#x20AC;&#x153;OK Telâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reputation is constantly reaffirmed by our more than 2000 clients. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s part of the reason why I felt confident in buying the business.â&#x20AC;?

TROY SCHALM MANAGING PARTNER, OK TELEPHONE

Tel provides deliverables to businesses that, once in place, put the onus on his company to ensure the communication networks stay up and running smoothly.

Over the years, OK Tel has ea rned a stel la r reputation.

Schalm said that a survey of their clients put them at the very top

As communication needs changed OK Tel brought in IT specialists like Shane.

OK Tel understands that businesses need reliable phone service. Brent Hoffman maintaining Sun Peaks Grand Hotelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s phone system.

CREDIT:OKTEL

CREDIT:OK TEL

actual conversation is more important than ever.â&#x20AC;?

Schalm, who began working with the company in 2000 as a field technician and then purchased the company with two partners in 2011, said that OK

in both service and customer satisfaction. â&#x20AC;&#x153;OK Telâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reputation is constantly reaffirmed by our more than 2000 clients. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s part of the reason why I felt confident in buying the business.â&#x20AC;?

A s com mu n ication needs changed, in 2007 OK Tel added IT services to its line-up of products, enhancing its already wellrespected service. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our core business is and has been our telephone systems.

When our clients began connecting more to the internet we responded to the need and added our IT branch -Connect IT - and brought in full time specialists to create products that made sense to our clients.â&#x20AC;?

In the summer of this year, the company decided to change its well-recognized and known brand to better reflect the companies expanded range of services and products. Connect, an OK Tel IT Company, will retain the

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19

AUGUST 2016

Connect, an OK Tel IT Company, will retain the iconic OK Tel symbol and colours as well as its services CREDIT:OK TEL

OK TEL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

iconic OK Tel symbol and colours as well as its services.

“We morphed into a full service IT firm, seeing incredible growth in this branch with more and more of our clients and new businesses interconnecting devices. Now between both of our divisions we provide seamless and solid communication solutions for our clients.”

The majority of the core businesses the company serves are small to mid-range, which have the same general needs of phone and internet service, computers, a server and reliable email service.

“The average is between 5-50 workstations,” Schalm added.

“Many of those clients also require a web presence so we also provide web hosting, and a fully hosted email exchange.”

As most businesses rely heavily on web traffic and email communication, Schalm underscores the importance of businesses utilizing email to its fullest. He said that many businesses don’t realize that there is more to this kind of communication then just sending and receiving.

“Email history is digital memory support. It’s important and we can archive years of email, keep them safe with multiple layers of security, and remotely fix and repair things if something goes wrong.”

Security is also important.

SEE OK TEL | PAGE 20

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Troy Schalm began working at OK Tel as a field technician. He now co-owns the company

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CREDIT:OK TEL

business.panasonic.ca

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Digital/IP Phones

Windows® Tablet Softphones

Communication Assistant

SIP Phones

IN-OFFICE COMMUNICATIONS EXPERIENCE WITH ANYWHERE-OFFICE MOBILITY The KX-NS700 network communication platform.

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20

AUGUST 2016

OK TEL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

Malware has evolved, he expla i ned, add i ng that pa rt of Con nect’s ongoi ng supp or t includes education in how to recognize and respond to online threats.

“The latest problem is with ransom ware,” he explained.

“It comes in via an email attachment launching an

executable file onto the computer which will attempt to lock every file that is accessible.”

Once the ra nsom wa re has been installed on the computer the user receives a ransom note asking for money in exchange for an unlock code.

“T he on ly way to beat th is form of ma lwa re is th roug h k n o w i n g w h a t to l o o k fo r, not open i ng the attach ment and having a secure back up

service.”

Schalm said that any business connected to the internet should have a disaster recovery system in place that is readily accessible and understood by the business owner so they can identify the threat and begin the recovery protocol as soon as possible.

Part of Connect’s support service includes monitoring regular on and off site backups. This

OkTel’s core business is making sure their clients phone systems stay up and running CREDIT:OK TEL

A survey of their clients showed OK Tel at the very top in both service and customer satisfaction

Proud partner of CONNECT Okanagan Telephone

Canada’s best choice in cloud and disaster recovery services 1.877.889.0515

whipcord.com

dilutes the threat and ensures Connect’s technicians can get things up and running quickly.

“Back ups have changed a lot; we no longer require a taped drive that is regularly copied, ejected a nd then stored i n a locked box at the end of the day.

Business data can now be stored and easily accessed through incremental backups synchronized both off and on site.”

“Your data is your business!” he said. “It has to be protected and well looked after. There are not many businesses that could recover from a major data loss.”

OK and its staff are big believers in allowing their clients’ busi nesses to focus on what they do best and then outsourcing the rest. In other words, avoiding becoming a slave to technology and instead, using it to save or make money.

“The break/fix model doesn’t work,” he said. “It can cause companies to spend more time reacting to problems and less ti me on doi ng busi ness. We take a proactive approach making sure the system is online a nd r u n n i ng a nd stays t h at way.”

Okanagan Telephone is a long standing Authorized Channel Partner of NEC Canada Inc. They were awarded the “Canadian Channel Partner Award” for their many achievements in 2015.

Congratulations on the award and the 30 years from NEC!

Authorized Dealer

www.meraki.com

NEC Canada, Inc

Proud of our partnership with OK Telephone & IT

“I f somet h i ng goes w rong w i t h y o u r c o m p u t e r, h o w long does it ta ke to fi nd the problem and fi x it?” Schalm asked. “If you have a certain amount of knowledge, you may think it won’t take you long.

But an hou r working on fi xing the problem means an hour away from serving clients and building your business. Our technicians, especially with remote access, can go in and fi x the problem qu ick ly a nd efficiently.”

Schalm added that, in the early stages of adding IT services, his company made a decision to keep all clients’ data in Canada.

In fact, all cloud hosting, backups, cloud servers and email data is kept in Canada. For professionals where confidentiality is a strong issue, keeping the data in Canada, where privacy legislation is more stringent, tra nslates to ex tra layers of confidence and protection.

“It’s more work for us but our decision benefits our clients, and that’s our priority.”

OK Tel has offices in Kelowna, Penticton and Kamloops. www.oktelephone.com

MOVERS & SHAKERS

AUGUST 2016

KAMLOOPS MNP LLP will merge with Bruce Martin & Associates LLP, a Kamloops-based accounting firm with offices in Clearwater and Fort St. John effective September 1, 2016. The merger will add two new offices for MNP in Kamloops and Clearwater while adding more resources to MNP in Fort St. John.

The tire team of Alan Hay and Mike Donaldson will be joining forces under the banner of Integra Tire and Auto Centre. The company is also celebrating their 50th anniversary.

Reality Check Studio recently opened for business in North Kamloops at 618 Tranquille Road. Reality Check is a new virtual reality gaming business that offers customers an opportunity to play virtual reality games.

Aberdeen Mall will celebrate their 35th anniversary on August 5th. For more information on the celebration, go online at aberdeenmall.ca. The mall opens at 9 am.

Pat Davis is the new vice-president of business technology and CIO of the BC Lottery Corporation headquarters in Kamloops. Pat has been with the corporation since April 2003. He has been interim vice-president and CIO since April.

Following a vehicle crashing into the side of the building, the Domino’s Pizza at Highway 1 and Oriole Road will be closed for most of the summer while the site undergoes repairs. Calls to the Domino’s branch have been rerouted to the North Shore Domino’s branch at Fortune Drive and Eighth Street.

Colin O’Leary, manager of business retention and expansion at Venture Kamloops has attained his certified economic developer designation. The designation is held by only 257 EDAC professionals in Canada.

The Cineplex Odeon movie theatre in Aberdeen was recently renovated to accommodate new D-Box technology. The new technology is touted as allowing viewers to sit in a motion seat designed to move along with the movie.

CML Properties has taken over space at the corner of Landsdowne Street and Third Avenue. CML was previously located on the second floor of the Morelli Cherkow building on Seymour Street.

Baristas in seven Starbucks locations across Kamloops will begin preparing Starbucks food and beverages through mobile order and pay. The new service allows Android and iOS users to place orders in advance through the Starbucks app, part of a rollout that will see the technology used by 90 percent of the cafes across the country.

The Keg in the historic CN Railway Station building in downtown Kamloops will be closing for business permanently following a branding dispute.

VERNON Vernon Optometry owners and optometrists Meghan Ashton and Tanner Udenberg recently unveiled their new building to the public at their grand-opening located on 39th Avenue close to the Civic Arena.

The Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Jamie Morrow

has joined their team as Sales and Business Development Manager. Morrow was previously with Okanagan College School of Business for the past decade.

MLA Eric Foster will be the Liberal candidate for the riding of Vernon-Monashee riding in this next year’s provincial election. The former mayor of Lumby has successfully run twice for the Liberal party. He was first elected in May 2009.

Minds Eye Entertainment; a TV-movie production company is expected to drop $2 million into the North Okanagan economy over a six-week period, according to a City of Vernon official. The Regina-based company is using the former Far West Industries building 1701 Kosmina Road as a studio.

Yvonne Paulson is taking over the reigns as the new general manager of the Interior Provincial Exhibition. Paulson brings with her a wealth of experience from the agricultural fair industry, having spent 20 years with Telus heading event planning and sponsorship marketing. Paulson will be replacing Bryan Burns who announced he was leaving the organization earlier this year.

MotoVida Cycle at 1254 Ellis Street has acquired the rights to be the local Moto Guzzi dealer. Produced in Mandello del Lario, Italy since 1921, Moto Guzzi is the oldest Italian manufacturer of motorcycles.

Relocating from Sun Peaks Resort where he was the executive chef for several years, Darren Kashin is the new club chef at the Kelowna Yacht Club. Former chef, Ryan Swaby is relocating to Calgary.

Kelowna City Manager Ron Mattiussi has received the Local Government Management Association’s Distinguished Member Award. The award recognizes above and beyond contributions of a member to the association or to a local government or organization. Ron celebrates his 10th anniversary as city manager and was previously director of planning for the City of Kelowna for 11 years.

A Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections (ABCHI) one of North America’s fastest growing home inspection businesses has grown into West Kelowna. Local resident, Al Brown has launched ABCHI’s operations along with the support of the company’s regional office in Port Coquitlam as a franchisee.

21

The Rotary Club of Kelowna - Okangan Mission has awarded two Paul Harris Fellowships to two locals, Dr. Stan Valnicek, Plastic Surgeon (Chief Medical Officer) and Kim East, RN (Head Care Coordinator) of Restor International Inc. The Paul Harris Fellowship is awarded by the Rotary Foundation to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to their community.

Kettle River Brewing Company has opened at 731 Baillie Avenue in the north commercial end of town. Owned and operated by partners Ross Higgs, Brandon Amond and Chris Dedinsky, the Nano brewery focuses on brewing small batches of a variety of beers with a focus on barrel aging.

Congratulations to Okanagan residents who received the Medal of Good Citizenship, the province’s newest honour presented by Premier Christy Clark. Marion Sallenbach, a resident of Lake Country was honoured for her years of volunteerism within the community. Troy Becker, a resident of West Kelowna was honoured for contributions making his community a safer place and helping to create opportunities that build confidence for people with disabilities.

Brian Stephenson has joined the firm Pushor Mitchell Lawyers LLP at 301-1665 Ellis Street. He will be practising in the areas of business law, real estate, wills, estate and trust.

Summerhill Pyramid Winery has won a gold medal for their Cipes Blanc de Blanc at the Wine Align Notational Wine Awards of Canada.

The Rotary Club of Kelowna recently

KELOWNA As of September 5th, Natasha Girard is the new executive director of the Central Okanagan Hospice Association (COHA).

Natasha has been the director of Hospice Kingston for over 10 years and has focused on sustainability, organization growth and planning for a capital project to build a residential hospice.

DunnEnzies Pizza has opened a second location at 1886 Dayton Street (Landmark 6).

Owned and operated by Deb Dinnigan and Karyn MacKenzie, the original DunnEnzies at 1559 Ellis Street just celebrated their 6th anniversary on July 1.

Okanagan Pharmacy Remedy’sRx is a new independently-owned and operated pharmacy run by Orysya Fetterly and Chelsea Argent. They are located at Unit 24 - 5500 Clements Crescent in Peachland.

Total E’Clips Salon and Spa located in the Spall Centre has been sold. The salon was owned and operated by co-owners Linda Russell (who has since retired) and Kathie Jones. The new owners Garry Chalmers and Asmaa Barkouta will retain the original name for the short term until later this year when they plan to change it to a new name.

The Total E’Clips Salon and Spa Lakeshore location at #107 - 3957 Lakeshore Road is still under the ownership of Kathie Jones.

Lake Okanagan Resort owned by the Liu family for the past few years has made recent staff changes. Both relocation from Edmonton, Philip Caragannis is the new food, beverage and recreation manager and Chef Paul Gareau is the new executive chef.

Philip and Paul both have experience in the food and hospitality industry.

Sales Bootcamp Spend the day with us to gain knowledge on selling fundamentals, or to sharpen your selling skills with new strategies and techniques.

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

22

inducted district governor Vern Nielsen and installed the new 2016/17 board of directors. They are Rick Potter as president, John McIntyre as past-president, James Kay as president-elect, Raghwa Gopal as vicepresident, John Walker as secretary and Dick Dumond as treasurer. Other directors include Kim Dorcas, Kathy Butler, Karyn Schueler, Lyle Isenor, Michael Dorsel, Dave Cullen, Sheldon Paulger and Stuart Dickson.

Sue Wheeler has joined the City of Kelowna as their new social development manager.

Recently, Sue held the position of Director of Community Services with the City of Maple Ridge. Â The Artful Hand has opened in Orchard Park near Best Buy and next to Quarks and Le Chateau. Owned and operated by Sharon Page, this unique gift store is filled with handcrafted items made by over 60 gifted local artisans. Â Hannaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on the Waterfront is back as an event venue for private parties, corporate events or weddings. After being leased out for a one-time six-month contract to the Grand Hotel, their team is now back on track along with well-known chef Stuart Klassen.

Talking Tree Nails & Spa and the Talking Tree Diner has opened at 1655 Westgate Road. Both companies are owned by Sako and Russel Boris. Â The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce celebrated their 110th anniversary recently.

With only a few members, the Chamber started as the Kelowna Board of Trade in 1906 with Daniel Sutherland as their first president.

After 22 years in the autobody industry, Pat,

Garry and Jolene Grigg have sold their family business, Springfield Autobody at #100 - 1765 Springfield Road. Â Kelowna Airport Manager Sam Samaddar has been elected as vice-chairman of the Canadian Airports Council. The Canadian Airports Council represents over 100 airports of all sizes across the country. Â The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) together with the Aboriginal Tourism Association of BC (AtBC) has added Greg Hopf as regional aboriginal tourism specialist to the team. Â Dr. Brad and Dr. Devon Almond of Nuvue Optometry at 112 - 1950 Harvey Avenue have added the Sunglass Cove to their office. The Sunglass Cove is an optometry retailer located in select professional offices. Â Cloud SFY, a cloud solutions provider which was started in 2000 in Kelowna will be opening in Landmark 5 on August 1st. Â Echo Early Learning Centre, a childcare centre will open on September 1st at 1605 Sutherland Avenue. Â Jeff Cameron is retiring after nearly 40 years as the manager of Buckerfieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

Mark Schaeffer will be taking over as the new manager, while Jeff stays on in a parttime capacity to help with the transition.

Afterwards, Jeff will be moving on to help Buckerfieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s with some special projects. Â Brian Greekas is the new general manager of Perkins Restaurants and Bakery located at the Ramada Hotel and Conference Centre, 2170 Harvey Avenue. Â

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BC Bin Wash is a new locally owned and operated company launched this spring

by Nicole Knight. The company provides a curbside residential bin cleaning service to homeowners from March to November. Â Art director Brazen Edwards has opened Ellis Art Studios, a new and innovative 6,000 square-foot artist facility at 1021 Ellis Street. Â Ground was broken recently on the Central Okanaganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest car dealership, Porsche Centre Kelowna. Located at Finns Road and Stremel Road, just off Highway 97 and right beside a Ford dealership, Porsche Centre Kelowna will feature a 23,000-square-foot building complete with a showroom and shop with 10 bays. Â NewLeaf has launched their first flights from British Columbia beginning with a flight from Winnipeg to Kelowna. NewLeaf is a new ultra-low-cost air travel company headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Â The retail outlet at Grizzli Winery; a new $30-million winery in West Kelowna is now open. The 60,000 square-foot winery has been under construction since August. Â Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty is opening a new Art Gallery and luxury real estate lounge in the Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort. The space will be open for visitors and local clients to meet a real estate agent in a relaxed and special setting. A grand opening will be held on August 11th, with the official ribbon cutting at 5 pm. Â Nesters Market, a new 13,500 square-foot store will anchor the Airport Village shopping centre opening in December. The 40,000 square-foot shopping centre is across from the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel on Highway 97.

PENTICTON The Penticton and Wine Country Chamber of Commerce (PWCCC) is pleased to announce open nomination for the 29th Annual Business Excellence Awards up until September 15, 2016. The Excellence Awards aim to recognize excellence in local Penticton and area businesses, and will be held on Saturday October 15th at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre. The Chamber also has a new location at 102 Ellis Street in Penticton. Â The South Okanaganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first Nissan auto dealership will open at the Penticton Indian Bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Satikw Crossing development. More than 30 full-time jobs are expected to be created at the dealership when it opens in mid-2017. Â The Downtown Penticton Association has chosen Lynn Allin to replace Kerri Milton as executive director. Lynn comes to the business organization from the Penticton Arts Council, where she held the role of executive director for the past three years. Â Gordon Ferguson has opened Patio Burger & Ice Cream in Lakawanna Park on Lakeshore Drive. Â Scott Mayhew has joined Chase Valley Construction as vice-president. Mayhew has had his own firm since 2003. Â Denis Labelle is taking over the role of branch manager of Raider Hansen in Penticton. He takes over from Brian Curtis

AUGUST 2016

who led the office for many years.

Play Estate Winery has opened in the Skaha Hills development on the Penticton Indian Band.

SUMMERLAND Two local wineries were recognized at the Decanter World Wine Awards in June. Sumac Ridge Estate Winery was awarded silver for its Black Sage Vineyard Merlot, and bronze medals for its Black Sage Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Shiraz, Zinfadel, Cabernet Sauvignon and for their Stellerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jay Brut. Lunessence Winery and Vineyard was awarded silver for its Lunessence Reserve Merlot Icewine, and bronze for both their Lunessence Sauvignon Blanc-Muscat and Riesling Icewine. Â Keltec Design and Drafting is relocating from Kelowna to 14607 Biagioni Avenue in Summerland. Â Belton Hearing Clinic moved to 17-13604 Victoria Road in the Sungate Plaza. Â Okanagan Crush Pad launched their new Canadian merchandise selection, featuring products including spice mixes, jams, dressings and cotton candy. They are located at 16576 Fosbery Road in Summerland. Â Congratulations to the Friends of the Summerland Gardens who are celebrating their 25th anniversary this year. Â Happy House Chinese Restaurant is opening their doors for business in Summerland downtown on Main Street. Â Barn Owl Gifts owned by Laurie Weir and Terry Fries hosted their grand opening celebration for their store on Main Street. Â Dirty Laundry Vineyard celebrated their 10th anniversary under the current ownership. As part of their anniversary they are holding an Anniversary Party on August 20th, including a four-course wine paired dinner, live entertainment and special guests. Â Dennis Grant, recipient of the 2013 IFFF Lifetime Achievement Award for Fly Casting Instruction has started Okanagan Fly Casting School, offering private lessons for new to advanced casters. Â Back Door Winery opened its doors last month to showcase its new look patio and welcome Creperie Oolala to their winery. Â TH Wines, known for their unique urban location and by hand practices in winemaking, recently welcomed a new member to their team. Kat Nyman, the sales and marketing manager, has come onboard to spread the word about the popular local winery.

SALMON ARM Village West Urban Market is now open at 1035 Lakeshore Drive in Southwest Salmon Arm. Â Salmon Arm Save On Foods located at 1151 - 10th Avenue now has a pharmacy. The new pharmacy has the staff of: Wilson Kwok as the pharmacy manager, Sarah Lettinga as pharmacist and Sara Gach as the pharmacy assistant. Â Salmon Arm Roofing and Sheet Metal owned

by Kurt Kuzek recently opened their doors for business. They specialize in Shingles, Snap Lock, Bolt On and Standing Seam roofing systems and can be reached at 250-253-2080.

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AUGUST 2016

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24

OPINION

AUGUST 2016

IS IT FALL ALREADY? START PLANNING NOW

KAMLOOPS DEB MCLELLAND

T

hrough the warm, sunny, long days of summer, it can be easy to spend more time thinking about your next weekend get-a-way instead of the busy days that Fall often brings with it.

But as business people, focusing on the future, knowing what you want to achieve and how you are going to realize it, is critical to your business success.

Rather than worrying about your business during your next family camping trip, here are a few helpful tips to help you

successf u l ly sta r t pla n n i ng ahead.

1. Set action-oriented goals early1 Goal setting should be part of your daily and weekly routines, and should not be based on a calendar year, month or season. Instead, set goals today that will help you plan out the year and seasons ahead, and that will keep you from stressing about what to do to get ahead during your vacation.

2. Understand disruptions in your industry and how to make them work for you2 Are the summer months when you make the most in your business? Or are they the months when things slow down, allowing you to catch up on back-logged work that gets put aside during 1 Adapted from â&#x20AC;&#x153;Planning Ahead: 5 Steps to Dominating in Business in 2014â&#x20AC;? by Lewis Howes, Contributor to Entrepreneur Magazine https://www.entrepreneur. com/article/229642 2 Adapted from â&#x20AC;&#x153;Planning Ahead: 5 Steps to Dominating in Business in 2014â&#x20AC;? by Lewis Howes, Contributor to Entrepreneur Magazine https://www.entrepreneur. com/article/229642

your busy season? Whichever the case, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crucial to understanding the ebb and flow of your industry and to plan accordingly.

Mappi ng out what you ca n likely expect through your year based on the average of your past business years, can give you the background you need to set appropriate goals and timelines for your business.

3. Schedule time to help you achieve your business goals You know that you need to make some new business connections to grow your business and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve set a goal to attain a new client each month and grow your presence in a certain industry. One of the ways you have decided you can achieve this is by attending more networking events, industry specific luncheons etc.

But when the ti me comes to leave your office and head to the event, you decide that you are too swamped and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll â&#x20AC;&#x153;make it next timeâ&#x20AC;?. Sound familiar?

While there are times when you need to make the call to spend

that extra hour in the office, there are many times when that work could wait until the next day and when prioritizing your goals is more important.

To help ensure you set yourself up to successfully achieve your goals, schedule them into your calendar. If you know of a networking event a few months or weeks down the road, put it into your calendar right away. If you hear of a luncheon at which you will be able to meet someone from your target industry, purchase a ticket right away so that you will be more inclined to actually attend than when you plan on just getting a ticket at the door.

Blocking off time in your calendar and sticking to it, whether for specific event or important tasks in the day, will help ensure you spend time specifically focusing on your goals rather than sifting through emails or scrolling through social media.

Hopefully these tips will have you mapping out your business plans so far in advance, you can

take a few extra days with family or friends to enjoy those lazy summer days. â&#x2013; â&#x2013; â&#x2013; CON N ECT 2016 is com i ng soon! Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss out on our annual business tradeshow on September 21st! â&#x2013; Wednesday September 21st | 4PM â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7PM â&#x2013; Coast Kamloops Hotel & Conference Centre | 1250 Rogers Way â&#x2013; FREE admission | Open the public â&#x2013; Over 60 exhibitors | Networki ng w ith over 300 attendees â&#x2013; Tons of prizes to be won â&#x2013; Cash bar Register to be an exhibitor (chamber members only) and learn more at www.kamloopschamber.ca.

Deb McClelland is the executive director of the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached email at deb@kamloopschamber.ca.

CHERRY LANE SHOPPING CENTRE â&#x20AC;&#x201C; GIVING BACK TO PENTICTON ONE STORY AT A TIME

PENTICTON BRANDY MASLOWSKI

W

hen you stroll through the Cherry Lane Shopping Centre in Penticton and consider t he employ ment oppor tu nit ie s, t h e s u r rou nd i n g re a l estate development a nd the community interaction it creates, you ca n be cer ta i n the mall brings clear benefits to the community.

With a la rge focus on shop loc a l i n recent yea rs, much voic e i n t h e new s h a s b e en given to the independent shop ow ner or t h e lo c a l fa r m ers m a rk e t , w h i c h t r u l y b r i n g g re at va lu e to t he b u si ne ss culture of Penticton, but we cannot ignore the gentle giant at our cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s core.

I f you look at where developers wa nt to bu ild more housing, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s often near a mall that can support that growth.

W h e n y o u c o n s i d e r t ra n sportation, the ma l l is easi ly a c c e s s i bl e o n a m a i n t h o roughfare. If you are looking to shop for groceries, clothing, electronics, shoes, food and more, all at once, in the sa me place, wh i le shoppi ng local, Cherry Lane Shopping

Centre is a great choice.

W hen it comes to community support, Cherry Lane has been putting on the bu rners in recent years to give back.

Spea k i ng w it h Cher r y L a ne M a rket i ng D i rector A nd rea Davison itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clear, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have a focus on g iv i ng back each year to sponsor charities and events throughout the commu n ity,â&#x20AC;? she says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not someth i ng we a re rea l ly known for. We just do it.â&#x20AC;?

With that touch of modesty, I wa s comp el le d to do a bit more digging to see what Andrea was really talking about and I found that Cherry Lane of fers f ree space for tables, b o o t h s , d i s p l a y s a n d m o re to dozens of local registered non-profit orga n i zations to raise money or sell tickets for their cause. These organizations have i ncluded SOVAS, SOWINS, the MS Society, BC Cancer Society, the Heart & St roke Fo u n d at ion a n d t h e Penticton Chamber of Commerce, just to name a few.

At the risk of sounding too â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; l i s t y â&#x20AC;&#x2122;, l e tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s r a t t l e o f f t h e com mu n ity events Cherry Lane has supported over the yea rs. T heyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve sponsored t h e P e n t i c to n P e a c h Fe s t ival, Challenge Penticton, the G r a n fo n d o, P e n t i c to n Ja z z Festiva l, a nd t he Elv is Fest iva l , p l u s 3 h o c k e y c l u b s; the Penticton Vees, Osoyoos Coyotes and the Summerland Steam.

But getti ng back to the e n t i re p o i n t o f t h e t a g l i n e â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one s tor y at a t i me â&#x20AC;&#x201C; t he m a i n ch a r ity of choice t h at Cherry Lane Shopping Centre

has committed to for the next 5 years is the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new hospital tower.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s called the Stories Buildi n g S to re y s C a m p a i g n a n d you can find out info on how to share your story at Cherry Lane from now until 2020.

T he key points of the camp a i g n a re to c re a te a w a reness, recog n ize donors, sti r up com mu n ity spi rit, act as a showcase for the cause and offer space for the community to gather thei r suppor t. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a brilliant idea that will go a long way to create awareness for the hospital tower project.

T he nex t t i me you wa nder by the line up of several dozen families waiting patiently for thei r moment w ith Sa nta i n the mall, know that the mall ta kes noth i ng. Ever y pen ny f r o m C h e r r y L a n e â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s s h a r e we nt to t h e h o s p it a l to we r project a nd it tota l led more t h a n $1 2,000. D o you wa nt to save money and wrap your holiday gifts yourself?

Every dollar of Cherry L a neâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ch r i st m a s Gi f tw rap Prog ra m, ma n ned by the Penticton Hospital Auxiliary fo r t h e C h r i s t m a s s e a s o n , helps t he hos pita l tower a s wel l a nd they ra ised over $7,000 in 2015. Cherry Lane has committed these funds to the tower for the next 5 years so give yourself a break from wrapping and lay your change on the table.

T he Penticton & Wine Cou nt r y Ch a m b er of Commerce is proud to have businesses like Cherry Lane Mall as a long time chamber

member and Cherry Lane is a huge sponsor of over $3000 for t h e up c om i n g B u si ne s s E xcel lence Awa rds t h i s fa l l to bring guests a champagne reception, a Cherry La ne shopping spree giveaway and more.

For more information about the Cherry Lane Shopping Centre Stories Building Store y s C a m p a i g n , v i s i t w w w. c h e r r yl a n e .c a a n d c l i c k o n

â&#x20AC;&#x153;More I n for m at ionâ&#x20AC;? t hen â&#x20AC;&#x153;Giving Back.â&#x20AC;?

Brandy Maslowski is the executive director of the Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached email at director@ penticton.org. To connect with the thriving business community in Penticton, visit the Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce at www.penticton.org

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SUMMERLAND

AUGUST 2016

Custom Software Package A Boon For Construction Industry

25

TOURISM PLAYS MAJOR ROLE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT “Increasingly we also

Key Business Solutions BC Provider Of The Spectrum® Software System

understand that tourism isn’t just fun for fun’s

BY DAVID HOLMES

sake, but instead it’s a

C

tremendous leverage for

OQUITLAM – The work carried out by the construction industry can be complex – with project management, change management, payroll, equipment maintenance, accounting needs and a host of other factors to be considered on a daily basis. Simplifying that process, freeing industry operators to focus on their jobs rather than administrative duties, was the catalyst that led to the creation of the innovative Spectrum® Construction Software package, being marketed in BC by Coquitlam’s Key Business Solutions Ltd. (KBS).

“We are the reseller of a construction accounting software developed by the Seattle based sof twa re compa ny Dexter + Chaney ca l led Spectru m®,” explained Kena Campbell, a coowner of KBS. “This software was created specifically for the construction industry and is a cloud based system that includes modules tailored for individual accounting needs, such as inventory, equipment, payroll, purchasing, materials and more.”

K BS, which was founded in 2013, is the exclusive British Columbia distributor of the software. Dexter + Chaney has been in the construction software development industry since 1981, but only with this latest version of Spectrum® has the end user had the ability to access the system from a cloud-based source, providing user flexibility never before available.

“Spectr u m® is a complete software platform for construction accounting, including job costing, project management, equipment management, operations management and more. To date Dexter + Chaney have more than 1,200 companies using the system across North America,” Campbell said.

The strength of the software, aside from its all-in-one accounting functionality, is that it can be accessed online from anywhere that has an Internet connection, with any type of device.

Cloud based not system-based, Spectrum® offers real time instant access to information, even from remote locations in the field. Once the user purchases Spectrum® and installs it on their server, they will have ready access to the package wherever the jobsite is located.

“This software is designed for mid to larger sized companies, it is a very scalable software and

resident attraction and

SUMMERLAND CHRISTINE PETKAU

One advantage of the Spectrum® software is that is can be accessed remotely with any device

The software package includes a large number of integrated modules, such as one for equipment maintenance

The Spectrum® package was designed for industry by the Seattle-based firm of Dexter + Chaney

“This software was created specifically for the construction industry.”

KENA CAMPBELL CO-OWNER, KEY BUSINESS SOLUTIONS

adaptable for just about any sized company. One of our clients for example is the award winning Traine Construction in Kelowna,” she explained.

Current users of the software include excavating companies,

general contractors, developers, civil contractors, electrical contractors and more. Cloud based, user friendly, adaptable and noted for its seamless integration of data, Spectrum® increasingly has proven itself as the right choice for users of construction industry accounting software.

“In British Columbia there are over 80 companies currently using this unique web-based software, but we obviously see where this could be the solution for any number of companies. It’s a great product and we’re very exciting about marketing it,” Campbell explained.

For more information visit the firm’s website at: www.constructionsoftware.ca

In the Okanagan region tourism is a dynamic force in our local economies. Here in Summerland the Thompson Okanaga n Tou rism A ssociation estimates that tourism contributes as much as $50,000,000 to our local economy each year.

Increasingly we also understand that tourism isn’t just fun for fun’s sake, but instead it’s a tremendous leverage for resident attraction and investment.

People visit communities and enjoy the amenities, then decide to relocate, bring their families, buy homes and start businesses.

A g re a t w a y to i n t ro d u c e people to ou r com mu n ity is through festivals and events.

A nd t h rou g h t hose event s, visitors are seeking authenticity and an experience. T his September there are three new events in Summerland that deliver on all fronts and will make a wonderful introduction to our community.

T he first of these events is the new Marginal Arts Festival, September 1 – 4, created by the Ryga Festival Society.

The festival honours the work of Canadian playwright and author, George Ryga, who lived in Summerland from 1963 until his death in 1987.

T he we ekend w i l l i nclud e professional workshops, readings, concerts, a variety show, and performances in many art forms. A homecoming concert will be performed by 3-time Juno Award winner, Campbell Ryga and his band.

S W E N

investment.”

That same weekend there is a new wine event being held that w i l l celebrate ou r w i neries and cider companies as well as the history of the Kettle Valley Steam Railway (KVR).

The Grand Sommelier Express is being hosted by the Bottleneck Drive Association and will feature a reception, a ride on the historic KVR with an all onboard wine tasting and a three course wine-makers’ dinner served at the railway station and accompanied by live music.

More feasting will be available t he fol low i ng weekend at the inaugural Summerland Feast of Farms. The feast will be presented under the stars, complete with musical entertainment, at Dickinson Family Farm, Summerland, BC. Locally produced w i ne, cheese, a nd bread sa mpl i ng w i l l be followed by a seated, family-style, ‘long table’ chef prepared, meal for 100 guests. This event is a fundraiser for the expansion of a Summerland community garden and the purchase of gardening tools for shared use.

We’re looking forward to all of these new events and expect them to be a wonderful introduction to our beautiful community. For information about these events and many more in Summerland, please visit: www.summerlandchamber. com/events/calendar.

Christine Petkau is Executive Director at the Summerland Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at cpetkau@ summerlandchamber.com.

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26

AUGUST 2016

ARE YOU A SALES POODLE? “When push comes to shove, the Sales Poodle acts in a manner that reinforces the customers belief that he is more

SALES

important.”

JOHN GLENNON

D

o you have a customer or prospect who treats you like a some sort of Sales Poodle?

A Sales Poodle believes that his job is to satisify the customer. The customer is king is a core belief of the Sales Poodle.

When push comes to shove, the Sales Poodle acts in a manner that reinforces the customers belief that he is more important.

■ A Sales Poodle is not respected by his customer ■ A Sales Poodle is expected to run and fetch ■ A Sales Poodle is expected to wag his tale after been given the ‘run araound’ ■ A Sales Poodle i s not considered a business Equal ■ A Sales Poodle can never be a trusted advisor 10 ways to k now i f you r

customer sees you as a Sales Poodle (score yourself 1 point for each statement that is true for you) 1. Yo u a w i l l i n g to d ro p everything to meet with a prospect (usually at the first date and time that they suggest) _ _ _ 2. You invest time in writing sales proposals that you didn’t create _ _ _ 3. You allow your prospects to determine the rules of your selling interactions (whom you can speak to, wh at you c a n d i scu ss, etc.) _ _ _ 4. W hen you bring up the topic of money and your prospects fobs you of f with a “we don’t discuss money with vendors” – you just continue_ _ _ 5. You thank your prospect for their time at the start of a call or meeting _ _ _ 6. You work hard for your customer, then they don’t return your calls or emails 7. You consider their money more important than your time _ _ _ 8. You take work home _ _ _ 9. You check you r ema i ls when on holidays _ _ _ 10. You accept behavior (i.e. showing up late) from a prospect that they would

not accept from you _ _ _ How did you score?

Score 0-3 – well done!, sometimes you have to show a little f lex ibi l ity, it’s not a sig n of weakness Score 4-6 – you’re running about average. Average is never good. Nobody ever remembers; ■ an average day ■ an average sunset ■ an average meal ■ an average song ■ an average kiss ………….average is bland Score 7-10 – “yap, yap, yap” Being a Sales Poodle is not a strategy. It stems from a failure to plant your feet and assert your rights.

10 tips to avoid the poodle trap 1. I m a g i n e y o u h a d $10,000,000 on deposit in the bank every time to engage with a prospect 2. Keep i n m i nd t h at you have the solution – the prospect has the problem (if you are thinking that the prospect has the money and you have a target, see tip #1) 3. Don’t forget that the prospect will not invest unless he is getting a good return for his investment – so he always get the better end of the deal 4. R e s i s t a n y u r g e o r

pressure to discount. Get the price right first time.

5. Never give a concession unless you get something of equal or greater value in return 6. Don’t give into the temptation to justi fy a h igh price. This is something your prospect has to do (and is well capable of ) 7. R e m e m b e r t h a t to ge t wh at ot hers don’t you have to be willing to do what others won’t 8. The fact you feel uncomfortable is exactly why you should do it (whatever ‘it’ is) 9. Have clear and unambiguous goals. If you’re not part of your own plans, you’ll be part of someone else’s 10. K now you r r i g hts a s a salesperson. No need to wea r t hem a s a bad ge.

Just take them out when necessary Cou rtesy: Pau l La n iga n: Sandler Training Dublin Ireland John Glennon is the owner of Insight Sales Consulting Inc, an authorized Sandler Training Licensee. He can be reached at jglennon@sandler.com, toll free at 1-866-645-2047 or visit www.glennon.sandler.com.

ROOTS & BLUES FESTIVAL COMING TO SALMON ARM

Joanne Iormetti Senior Marketing Advisor

SALMON ARM CORRYN GRAYSTON

PUT YOUR COMPANY IN THE SPOTLIGHT In the life of every business, certain events always stand out: t A grand opening t A brand new building t Completing a major project t Landing a major contract t Celebrating a milestone anniversary Spotlights are your opportunity to spread the word about your firm to the entire region of the ThompsonOkanagan.

Contact me today to have your business featured in our publication.

To market your firm in the Business Examiner contact Joanne Iormetti at 1-866-758-2684, ext. 122 or joanne@businessto.ca

S

almon Arm is “fine-tuning” itself in preparation for the immensely popular 2016 Roots & Blues Festival which takes place at the Fairgrounds from Friday, August 19 – Sunday, August 21. Roots & Blues is a three-day event offering audiences multiple stages and diverse choices of musical styles. Daytime workshops are renowned for delivering high voltage performances and the festiva l is compl i mented by the variety of culinary delights from an international food village, a dance stage, a fun zone for children, an artisan market place featuring handcrafted Canadian-made originals, a nd a tra nqu i l ca mpi ng site within earshot of the festival.

This year’s headliners feature Shaw Colv i n & Steve E a rle,

Whitehorse, Matt Anderson, kLoX, Delhi 2 Dublin, Jarekus Singleton and many other talented artists from around the world. For festival details and artist line-up, visit www.rootsandblues.ca ■■■ Owners Dennis & Carol Beaulieu, who recently purchased ViewPoint RV Park & Cottages have been busy refreshing everything for the many tourists who come to visit. Their campsites are situated among beautiful pine and cedar trees with a large grassy area for recreation.

Picnic tables and a central fireplace with free firewood, are available for guests. Your children will enjoy the swings, slide, toys and basketball hoop. The cottages are bright, spacious and completely self-contained with bedroom, living room, kitchen and bath. Direct dial phones, cable T V, wired and wireless Internet and queen size beds are standard. The futons in the living room make it easy to accommodate up to 4 persons per cabin. The kitchen is equipped with dishes, cutlery, pots & pans and microwave. Coffee, tea, sugar and creamer are provided in each cabin as well. Dennis & Carol look forward to hosting your next vacation and invite

you to visit www.viewpointrv. ca for more information and reservations.

■■■ T he 2 n d a n nu a l Yoga in the Park event takes place on Saturday, August 27th in downtown Salmon A rm at Marine Peace Park – by our picturesque Salmon Arm Wharf. This very popular event starts at 10:00 am with a yoga class suitable for all ages and abilities and is followed at 11:30 am by a session with crystal singing bowls.

Our charity of choice for 2016 is the BCSPCA – Shuswap so we encourage everyone to bring either cash or a can (of wet pet food that is) to help support this very worthwhile organization.

Yoga in the Park is a free community event and we hope to see everyone on August 27th!

Remember to bring a yoga mat, a water bottle, maybe some sunscreen and either a can or cash for the BCSPCA. For more info call the Chamber at (250) 8326247 or Downtown Salmon Arm at (250) 832-5440.

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

27

AUGUST 2016

SWAGMAN CARRIER BIKE RACKS SOLD TO A GLOBAL MARKET Company Builds Rack Systems For Bicycles, Kayaks, Canoes & More

“Everyone who works here is definitely an enthusiast.”

MEG DIMMA SALES AND MARKETING COORDINATOR, SWAGMAN

P

ENTICTON – What began nearly 30 years ago as the vision of a pair of bicycle ent hu si a s ts who wa nte d to create a better way to transport thei r prized mach i nes, has evolved into an industryleading firm in the specialized field of recreational transport and storage systems. Penticton’s Swagman Carrier Systems & Accessories is today one of North America’s premier designers and providers of both f i xed a nd veh icle-mou nted racks to hold bicycles, kayaks, canoes and more.

“While our roots are here in

CARRIER SYSTEMS

the Okanagan Valley we sell product across North America and beyond,” explained Meg Dimma, the firm’s Sales and Marketing Coordinator.

Founded in the early 1990’s by husband and wife team Jim and Jan Morris (who still own

Swagman bicycle racks are sold in Australia and across North, Central and South America part of the company) Swagman was created out of a personal desire to provide bicycle owners with a better way to transport their bikes. Drawing from Jan’s Australian heritage (hence the Swagman name) the company began designing and building upgraded versions of the systems pioneered by bicycle enthusiasts Down Under.

While the company’s headquarters is located in Penticton the firm maintains warehouses in Quebec and in the United States to distribute its products to clients worldwide. As a tribute to the quality and features of the systems Cycling Ca nada h a s adop te d Swa gman systems to transport the

Ca n a d i a n Nat ion a l B ic yc le Team’s equipment.

“Our prime focus is certainly on cycling. We find the need in the retail marketplace, design the product to meet the need and then have it made and distributed,” explained Director of Sales Dave Michael.

Most of the systems sold go to clients living outside of the i m me d i ate Ok a n a ga n a re a .

Regionally located but servi ng a g loba l m a rket, Swa gman anticipates a bright and expanding future. “Everyone who works here is definitely an enthusiast,” Dimma stated.

To learn more please visit the company’s website at: www. swagman.net

The centerpiece of the company’s product line is its range of vehicle mounted bicycle racks

BDO IS PROUD TO WORK WITH SWAGMAN Assurance | Accounting Tax | Advisory David T. Braumberger, CPA, CA Partner Penticton 250 492 6020 www.bdo.ca

The Penticton Swagman crew has been a key part of the company’s success right from the beginning

OPINION

28

AUGUST 2016 A division of Invest Northwest Publishing Ltd. Thompson Okanagan Office #210-347 Leon Avenue, Kelowna, BC V1Y 8C7 Toll free: 1.866.758.2684 Fax: 1.778.441.3373 Email: info@businessexaminer.ca Website: www.businessexaminer.ca

PUBLISHER/EDITOR | Lise MacDonald, lise@businessexaminer.ca SALES | Joanne Iormetti – joanne@businessexaminer.ca, Thom Klos – thom@businessexaminer.ca, Josh Higgins – josh@businessexaminer.ca WRITERS | Julia MacDonald, John MacDonald, Beth Hendry-Yim, David Holmes, Linda Wenger, Kristin van Vloten WEBSITE | John MacDonald

BUSINESS DEMONIZATION CONSISTENT IN THE MEDIA AND THE CLASSROOM It’s just an acknowledgement that the general naïveté about business and what it takes to operate a successful one is so MARK MACDONALD

widespread

W

hen was the last time we saw a positive depiction of a business or corporation on television or film – other than through a paid-for advertisement?

T h e re’s c e r t a i n ly a l o t to choose from in terms of movies about “big business” being exposed for a problem, scandal, or both. That’s entertainment, one supposes, because good news is a toug h sel l to the marketplace. It would be a stretch to envision a lineup at the local theatre to watch a film “exposing” a company lending a helping hand, or reaching out to make a difference in the lives of the downtrodden.

Roll through the Rolodex of your mind, and you could easily come up with at least a handful of scenes from movies about small groups of determined individuals digging in to oppose

a development of some size or shape. T he classic David vs.

Goliath scenario is played out over and over again: It’s up to regular citizens to stand up to corporate behemoths whose sole goal is to, as Joni Mitchell put it: “Pave paradise and put up a parking lot.”

It’s not much d i f ferent i n many schools, either pre- or post-secondary. That’s not surprising, either, as many teachers a re, by a nd la rge, either union members or lack business experience. It would be more surprising if they could keep their personal views out of classes about business, or refrain from painting business as much of what is wrong with

society. Corporate greed is the obvious villain, students are often told.

A good business education is worth its weight in gold, and young people today must have some type of post-high school degree in order to make a comfortable living for themselves.

Students will learn important principles that can help them chart a clear path for the future.

But students need to fi lter some of the perspectives they are presented in the classroom, as per vasive, a nti-busi ness ideals can still be clenched and disseminated by well-meaning, but ill-informed teachers. Just because they teach about business doesn’t mean they’re successful operators themselves, or even understand all that is required to succeed in the business world.

Even in the political sphere, there’s nary a politician who will run on a real “pro-business” platform, knowing that business owner/operators comprise a small fraction of those who actually cast votes. It’s much more politically palpable to espouse job creation under the ba n ner of econom ic development than to suggest that incentives to encourage people to invest and build companies are necessary to spur growth in the economy.

It’s also interesting to watch pol iticia ns a nd the med ia demonize certain businesses to make them look “evil”. Think “sin taxes” like alcohol, cigarettes and now, anything oil and gas-related. It’s like a mini-war, where the worst of the opponent is magnified to justify financial attacks on a particular sector.

While it may just be a clever way of extracting more revenue from companies, these levies can come across as punishment, and therefore necessary, helping the collective good.

The standard political mindset is something like this: Business is a “necessary evil”, but should be supported only because it creates jobs. But they sure should be taxed, because, after all, anyone in business is rolling in dough and can simply pluck fifties and hundreds of f t he money t re e i n t hei r backyard.

Successful businesses spend a lot of money on advertising and promotion to craft and sustain their image. They must, as the mainstream media isn’t going to offer them any freebies in case they appear like they’re being “bought”, other than to note they’ve opened their doors or offer some type of out-of-theordinary, story-worthy product or service. This is certainly not to suggest that the media’s

mandate is to primp business.

It’s just an acknowledgement that the general naïveté about business and what it takes to operate a successful one is so widespread.

Recently, I attended a Fraser Institute forum aimed at educ at i n g jou r n a l i sts f rom across the country about how to report on economics. It was i nteresti ng, compel l i ng a nd invigorating.

And at the same time, it was shocking. It was easy to tell that most of those attending held strong opinions like those expressed above, and clearly were hearing some important economic truths for perhaps the first time. Even though they had undoubtedly written about the economy many times prior to the seminar. The purpose of the event was to educate writers in hopes of having more accurate depictions of economic principles, trends and analyses in the media, and one hopes it is successful in that regard.

That would be a good starting point. Maybe that would get the attention of the movie industry.

But maybe they don’t want to tell the other side of the story.

T h at i s, t h at bu si ness i s a vital, integral, important part of our society, and there are plenty of good stories to tell, if one wants to.

NOT ALL INCOME AND WEALTH INEQUALITY IS EQUAL FRASER INSTITUTE

C

A N A DA - I n e q u a l i t y has become an animating issue for much of the political class. The Canadian federal government, in its recent budget, devoted an entire section to inequality. Unfortunately, almost no analysis todate has considered the manner in which income and wealth are earned as a crucial element of the inequality debate.

How income and wealth are earned, and thus the underlying explanation for inequality, matters a lot.

Individuals, entrepreneurs, a nd busi nesses ca n become successful (earn profits and accumulate wealth) by providing goods or services to people at a price and quality they demand.

In these circu msta nces, not only do individual businesses benefit, but so do consumers.

T he prere q u i site for s u ch

c i rc u m s t a n c e s i s a n o p e n , competitive market where new players are free to create entirely new products or enter existing markets with better products. In either case, the key is that business competitively provides citizens things they want and are willing to pay for.

A Canadian example of this wo u l d b e Ch ip Wi lson , t h e founder of Lululemon, who has an estimated net worth of $2.2 bi l l ion. A s a n entrepreneu r, Wilson took enormous risks to innovate and develop a line of products that consumers wanted and were willing to pay for.

In doing so, he benefitted millions of customers by providing them with something they valued that didn’t exist before.

T here a re, however, ot her methods to “earn” income and accumulate wealth that don’t provide such social benefits.

One way is th rough “cronyism,” whereby individuals earn income and amass wealth by securing special privileges and

Taylor Jackson: “Senior Policy Analyst, Centre for Natural Resources”

Jason Clemens: “Executive Vice President”

protection from government.

While often legal, inequality resulting from cronyism imposes large costs on society while enriching a favoured few.

Consider the case of Mexico’s Carlos Slim, who at one point was the richest person in the world. To a large degree, Slim ac c u mu l ate d h i s we a lt h by using special privileges granted by the Mexican government that reduced competition and allowed his businesses to have

monopoly powers.

S p e ci f ic a l ly, t he Mex ic a n government placed barriers to competition in the telecommunications market, allowing Sl i m’s compa n ies to cha rge consumers higher prices than would otherwise have been the case. It’s these protections, rather than competitive success, that explain Slim’s extraordinary wealth.

Income and wealth can also be amassed through outright corruption, which again imposes enormous costs on society for the benefit of a select few. For example, Indonesia’s former President Suharto, who ruled from 1967-1998. During his tenure Suharto is estimated to have embezzled between US$15 and $35 billion from the Indonesian people.

Simply put, not all inequality is the same. Inequality that results from cronyism or corruption can impose large costs on society wh i le benef it i ng few. These types of inequality

should seriously concern politicians, policymakers and the general public.

But i nequa l ity that resu lts from entrepreneurship and innovation provides enormous benef its to cit i zens. Mer itbased inequality serves not only the people behind the wealth, but more importantly the consumers and people they serve, who buy and use their goods and services. This is something both politicians and the Canadian public should consider when thinking about inequality.

Ta y l o r Ja c k s o n a n d Ja s o n Clemens are coauthors of the report How Income and Wealth are “Earned” Matters in Understanding Inequality. The Fraser Institute is an independent, non-partisan research and educational organization based in Canada, with offices in Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. © 2016 Distributed by Troy Media

SUBCRIPTIONS | $45 PER YEAR (12 ISSUES), $80 FOR 2 YEARS (24 ISSUES), SUBSCRIBE ONLINE: WWW.BUSINESSEXAMINER.CA. DISTRIBUTION: FOURTH WEEK OF EACH MONTH VIA CANADA POST AD MAIL. The publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited submissions. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. Produced and published in British Columbia. All contents copyright Business Examiner Thompson Okanagan, 2016. Canadian Publications Mail Acct.: 40069240

GREENSHEET / OFF THE COVER

AUGUST 2016

SIMONE SUNDERLAND

GREEN SHEET BUILDING BRIEFS

KAMLOOPS LOCATION 2815 Tranquille Rd - Animal Shelter - BC SPCA PROJECT TYPE Institutional PROJECT New BC SPCA animal shelter - indoor and outdoor kennels spay and neuter clinic - outside areas for dog walking - outdoor communal areas for cats PROJECT STATUS Development permit application submission anticipated fall/16 - construction start anticipated February or March 2017 - rezoning approved ARCHITECT Meiklejohn Architects Inc - 233 Bernard Ave, Kelowna V1Y 6N2 250-762-3004 OWNER BC SPCA - 1245 E 7 Ave, Vancouver V5T 1R1 604-6817271

VERNON LOCATION 2307 43 St - Redevelopment of Howard House PROJECT TYPE Institutional PROJECT Redevelopment of the John Howard supportive housing and emergency shelter facility

SICA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

event for SICA. “The quality of buildings in the region continues to get better each year, which is a testament to the companies and talent involved in each project.

We expect another great competition this time around.”

Each submission will be judged by a team of independent judges on the categories noted below, using the following criteria: ■ Does it complement the surrounding properties and area?

■ Is it esthetically pleasing?

■ Are there unique architectural features?

■ W hat is the level of fini sh (choice i n con st r uct ion materials)?

■ Does it answer a specific development need within the community?

■ D o e s it c ont r i b ute to a healthy, sustainable community?

■ Does it have any environmentally friendly or green elements for possible consideration?

- approx 3 storeys - approx 40 to 50 units - 10 boarding rooms with community kitchen - administrative offices PROJECT STATUS Tender call for development consultant anticipated shortly - construction start anticipated spring/17 ARCHITECT Philip MacDonald Architect Inc - 326 Uplands Dr, Kelowna V1W 4J7 250-764-4157 DEVELOPER John Howard Society of the North Okanagan Kootenay (JHSNOK) - 102 3301 24 Ave, Vernon V1T 9S8 250-542-3555

LAKE COUNTRY LOCATION 17101 Terrace View Rd - 50th Parallel Estate Winery Events Centre & Bistro - Phase 2 PROJECT TYPE Commercial PROJECT New Events Centre and Bistro - beautiful glass events space - 1 storey - approx 10,800 sf - kitchen - Lake to Sky tasting room - wine cave - outdoor patio with unique seasonal wood fire forno bistro PROJECT STATUS Construction start anticipated shortly

The categories for this year’s awa rds i nclude a new one for Civil (roads, bridges and infrastructure).

Other categories are: ■ Mixed use (commercial / residential) ■ Community Institutional includes Church/ Schools/Government Facilities ■ Retail/Shopping Centres ■ Office ■ Community Recreational ■ Senior’s Housing ■ Industrial ■ Multi Family / Single Family ■ Hospitality-Hotels/Motels ■ Recreational/Resort ■ Commercial renovation/ Restoration ■ Green For further information about the event or sponsorship, contact Mark MacDonald at Business Examiner Thompson Okanagan at mark@businessexaminer.ca Nomination forms can be obtained by visiting www.sica. bc.ca or www.businessexaminer. ca/events

ARCHITECT Sahuri & Partners Architecture - 201 123 Forge Rd SE, Calgary T2H 0S9 403-228-9307

PROJECT TYPE Mixed-use development

GENERAL CONTRACTOR Sawchuk Developments Ltd - 486 Adams Rd, Kelowna V1X 7S1 250765-3838 OWNER 50th Parallel Estate Winery 17101 Terrace View Rd, Lake Country V4V 1B7 250-766-3408

KELOWNA LOCATION 1449 Velocity St - Acoustic Sound Control Panel Production Facility

PROJECT STATUS Building permit application submission anticipated fall/16 - construction start anticipated late 2016

PROJECT TYPE Industrial

ARCHITECT Garry Tomporowski Arch - 243 1889 Springfield Rd, Kelowna V1Y 5V5 250-979-1668

PROJECT New industrial building - 1 storey with 2nd storey mezzanine - warehouse, 2,463 sm - office, 307 sm - 56 parking stalls PROJECT STATUS Building permit application submission anticipated August/16 tender call for general contractor anticipated mid August/16 ARCHITECT Distefano Jaud Architecture - 3 1331 Ellis St, Kelowna V1Y 1Z9 250-868-9278

LOCATION 2149 to 2189 Pandosy St Commercial - Condominiums Collette Manor Wellness Facility

GENERAL CONTRACTOR Sawchuk Developments Ltd - 486 Adams Rd, Kelowna V1X 7S1 250765-3838

KELOWNA LOCATION 644 Lequime Rd – Rowhouses PROJECT TYPE Multi-family new

OWNER Geometrik Wood Acoustical Ceiling and Wall Panels - 1285 Stevens Road, West Kelowna V1Z 2S9 250-769-1500

KELOWNA

PROJECT New mixed use development - 4 storeys - 35 residential units - 1,312 sm commercial space at ground level - partial underground parking podium - flexible wall systems, radiant heating, antibacterial flooring, edible nontoxic landscaping, antimicrobial countertops - seeking WELL Certification of the Medical Centre portion and for WELL Core and Shell Compliance for the core, shell and base systems of the residences within the development

PROJECT New rowhouses - 3 storeys - 18 units - approx 1,250 sf to 1,775 sf - 3 and 4 bedrooms - fiber cement siding and board & batten exterior with cedar shakes - double garages, 4 surface parking stalls PROJECT STATUS Building permit application submitted - construction start anticipated upon approval of building permit - tender for sub trades

29 anticipated September/16 - project anticipated to be a 18 month build out GENERAL CONTRACTOR D Gervais Contracting - 73 54403 Range Rd, Sturgeon County TH5 0B5 780-993-5155

OKANAGAN SIMILKAMEEN REGIONAL DISTRICT LOCATION 1406 Maple St, Okanagan Falls Fabrication Warehouse - Offices - Unit Electrical Engineering Ltd PROJECT TYPE Industrial PROJECT New fabrication and warehouse for Unit Electrical Engineering Ltd - 1 storey - approx 32,000 sf fabrication - offices - prefinished metal siding with painted fiber cement exterior PROJECT STATUS Footings and foundations underway - construction completion anticipated spring/17 ARCHITECT Landform Architecture and Design Build Ltd - 205 301 Main St, Penticton V2A 5B7 250-2764106 GENERAL CONTRACTOR Greyback Construction Ltd - 402 E Warren Ave, Penticton V2A 3M2 250-493-7972

We’re here when you need us!

Home or business insurance renewal time?

See us for your free quote.

We also insure farms of all sizes and rented dwellings.

See us for your Off-Road Vehicle registration and insurance needs.

Call toll free 1-888-838-7302

www.jmins.com HOME • BUSINESS • FARM AUTO • TRAVEL • RV • BOAT ENDERBY: 250.838.7333 | enderby@jmins.com 801 George Street (Driver Licensing) SALMON ARM: 250.832.8103 | salmonarm@jmins.com 140 Alexander Street NE

30

AUGUST 2016

MUSIC STORE HITS THE TOP 100 CHARTS IN THE WORLD Wentworth family company reaches the top by creating great stories

K

ELOWNA – How does a fifty-year-old music store in Kelowna become one of the top 100 music stores in the world? According to third generation Vice President of Education, Noel Wentworth, you get there by, amongst other things, creating great stories.

“Our number one asset is the stories people tell about the community activities we are involved in,” he said. “I like to think of it as our unique brand of unmarketing.”

It isn’t just its customers that create the Wentworth story, however; the family has a history that is rich with them.

Traditionally the music business is a fickle industry and Wentworth Music has experienced its ups and downs. It is a story that begins in the 60’s when the store was created by Wentworth’s grandparents, Walt and Vera, after he finished a Top Secret career as an electrical engineer in the Canadian Airforce working on jets like the Arrow and Tudor.

“My grandfather was very secretive about what he did, and we kids were always intrigued by the possibilities.”

When the couple settled in Kelowna, Walt purchased the Capri House of Lights where his son Dale, taught guitar lessons in the backroom. Dale convinced his father to bring in a few guitars and display them in the front of the store. They sold well. So well that Walt and Dale continued bringing in more guitars and then other instruments.

“Eventually, the family conver ted t he l ig ht i ng store to Wentworth House of Music,” said grandson, Noel. “In time, my father became president with mom helping out keeping things organized. Today, my brothers

When the Wentworth family gets together music becomes the language spoken CREDIT:WENTWORTH FAMILY

“Our number one asset is the stories people tell about the community activities we are involved in.”

NOEL WENTWORTH VICE PRESIDENT OF EDUCATION WENTWORTH MUSIC

This year’s concert raised over $10,000 for the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation SEE WENTWORTH STORY | PAGE 31

CREDIT:WENTWORTH MUSIC

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AUGUST 2016

The 20th Anniversary Tribute Concert performed by Wentworth students played to a sold out crowd CREDIT:LEWIS MACDONALD

Starting first as the Capri House of Lights, a few guitars in the store window turned into a dynasty of three stores throughout the Okanagan

Wentworth students fulfil their dream of playing in a rock concert

CREDIT:WENTWORTH FAMILY

CREDIT:DANIELLE SALISBURY

WENTWORTH STORY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30

and I manage the day-to-day running of the store while mom tries to get dad to retire.”

Brother Neil acts as vice president of finance and other brother, Nori acts as vice president of sales.

“Each one of us specializes in different areas of the business.

We stay out of each other’s way and let the others do what they do best.”

Noel said that in the music industry you don’t have to look far for interesting stories. Recently, his parents visited Nashville for a convention and had the time of their life. No doubt, as they ended up meeting and being taken out for lunch by Vince Gill, after accidentally walking into a room where well-known country singer was holding a press conference.

But those ups and downs also add a certain flavour to its story.

In the 80’s when interest rates were high, business took a turn,

forcing the Wentworth family to downsize.

“We almost lost everything,” Wentworth said.

But during the recession of 2008, the family chose to do something a bit different and expanded their market and eventually purchased a store in Vernon

and then in Penticton.

“We knew things would turn around, so when the owner of the Vernon store approached us about selling, we said yes.”

He added that owning one store is hard with low margins, but with the expansion they have stronger purchasing power and

can offer their customers better prices.

Between the three locations Wentworth said they carry a full line of every name possible. And when it comes to guitar straps, he said if you can’t find one at one of their stores, you won’t find one you like anywhere.

By far the biggest story Wentworth has to tell is through its music studios and lessons. In the Kelowna store it recently expanded to hold 21 studios with three receptionists.

Ken Infanti, British Columbia’s district manager for Yamaha Canada, said Wentworth Music’s dedication to education is what sets it apart in the retail music industry.

“For the music store, it isn’t just about customers buying a musical instrument, it’s about students developing such a love and understanding of music that it becomes a permanent part of their life.”

Wentworth explained that the education component is a huge operation, and is also part of the biggest story yet. Every year, the studio produces and performs a sold out concert made up of Wentworth Music’s students. This year marked its 20th anniversary.

“I don’t know any other retail music store that invests so much time and energy into their students and community through the production of a concert of this magnitude,” said Infanti.

“We are now turning away more than 200 people because it’s so popular. This unique form of community involvement is one of the reasons why we feel we hit the Top 100,” added Wentworth.

The event mirrors a regular rock concert, with large stage, special effects, lighting, choreographed dancers, bands, lead singers and incredible talent all from the Wentworth studios. All proceeds benefit the children’s ward of the local hospital. “ T h i s y e a r i t ra i s e d o v e r $19,000, but to-date it’s raised more than $156,000.”

“Music is more than taking lessons and playing in recitals,” Wentworth said. “It’s about getting excited about the new language you’re speaking, being up on stage and experiencing the dream of being a rock star and feeling the thrill of knowing the people in the audience are screaming for you!”

From top secret to top store, now that’s a story worth singing about.

Wentworth Music Stores are in Kelowna, Penticton and Vernon www.wentworthmusic.ca

Congratulations to

Wentworth Music in celebration of

MNP Congratulates Wentworth Music On 50 Years Of Success and Accomplishments

50 Years of outstanding service to Canadian Musicians!

Contact Geoff McIntyre, CPA, CA, at 250.979.2574 or geoff.mcintyre@mnp.ca

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