Progress 2015 by Okanagan Life

OKANAGAN BUSINESS STORIES OKANAGAN BUSINESS PEOPLE

2015 edition

Real Estate Outlook PROGRESS 2015

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Publisher/editor J. Paul Byrne Senior editor Laurie Carter Creative director Robert Biron Administration Wendy Letwinetz Graphic design Champagne Choquer

Contributing writers Natalie Appleton, Bruce Kemp, Laurie Carter, Patti Shales Lefkos, Yvonne Turgeon Contributing photographers M. Byskov, Digital Dean, Michael Hintringer, Darren Hull, Lipsett Photography Group

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ISSN 08405492 (Okanagan Life) / ISSN 11803975 (Okanagan Business). Okanagan Life magazine is a member of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, City and Regional Magazine Association (CRMA) and Circulation Verification Council (CVC).

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For interactive content, download the Junaio app and scan to access Okanagan Life’s channel. Okanagan Life is available at Mosaic Books in Kelowna or at our oﬃce: 814 Lawrence Ave., Kelowna. © 2015, All rights reserved. Opinions and perspectives expressed in the magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the ownership or management. Reproduction in whole or in part without the publisher’s consent is strictly prohibited. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40028474 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO BYRNE PUBLISHING GROUP INC. 814 LAWRENCE AVENUE KELOWNA, BC V1Y 6L9 email: info@okanaganlife.com

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PROGRESS 2015 Okanagan Life Magazine

C O U N C I L

CONTENTS in their own words

Feature 8

REAL ESTATE Local experts and national stats help us crystal ball the regional market for 2015. What’s hot and what’s not when it comes to that ﬁnal buying decision

Bohemian Café & Catering

Lakeside Financial Planning

Boyd Autobody & Glass

Lakestone Estates

Country RV

MNP LLP

Crowe MacKay

Okanagan College

DermMedica

Peacock Sheridan

Harmony Homes

Pinnacles Suite Hotel

Harvest Golf Club, The

Royal Anne Hotel

Herbal-Health Centre, The

Shuswap Lake Estates

Hillside Winery • Bistro

Hunter Douglas

Jane Hoffman Group Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty

35 41

SkyTrek Adventure Park/ The Enchanted Forest

Swan Lake Nurseryland

The View Winery

Kekuli Bay Cabinetry

TomTar Roofing & Sheet Metal

Kelowna Actors Studio

Trestle Ridge: The Edge

Kelowna Cycle

Westwood Fine Cabinetry

Knifewear

Plus 6 46

PAUL’S VOICE Keeping score: who’s winning today’s capitalist game

REARVIEW It’s in the bag: a weight watcher’s airline rant

On the cover: Tommie Award-winning West Harbour development. Cover photo contributed; top photo by Lipsett Photography Group; bottom photo contributed.

okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2015

PAUL’S VOICE Keeping score We’ve extended our field of play. No, we haven’t moved the goals posts, just added a few more readers to our roster. The magazine you are reading is now serving the stunning Thompson region of our province—again! Since 1988, Okanagan Life has been engaging readers’ from Osoyoos to Salmon Arm with local profiles and community stories. We’re now returning to Kamloops, not as Thompson Life (published 2006–2010) but as Okanagan Life. I guess you could say, “read us again, for the first time.”

In 2012, Alberta collected a mere $4.04 per barrel of oil royalties; the Norwegian taxpayer raked in $46.29. With Kamloops now in our league, do we need to worry about the famed Kelowna-Kamloops rivalry? People do love to talk about the differences that exist between these two great cities. For this coach, I believe we share far more similarities than differences. In fact, you’ll find a lot of similar stripes on these two team uniforms (and home field advantages). Home to Western Hockey League teams, both Kelowna and Kamloops hold impressive records (not to mention dedicated fans). While the Kamloops Blazers boast three Memorial Cups

PROGRESS 2015 Okanagan Life Magazine

since 1981 to the Kelowna Rockets’ one (since 1995), all eyes are on the southern team this year. Ranked as one of the top teams in Canada, the Rockets have posted “Ws” for all eight head-to-head meetings against the Blazers (at time of writing.) A quick look at the scores shows some healthy competition on the ice. Scores: 6-1, 6-4, 4-2, 6-4, 2-1, 5-3, 5-2, 11-4 But what happens when competition becomes humiliating, unfair or degrading? Let me take you south to California to a recent girls’ high school basketball game. Quite justifiably, the coach was suspended after his team obliterated and belittled their rival school. Score: 161-2 Fair-minded people cringe at the ridiculousness of lopsided games and the humiliation the losing players, parents and schoolmates experience. Unfortunately, there are people among us who revel in running up the score.

Personal pangs of guilt

As a teenager some 40 years ago in Lethbridge, my lacrosse team outmatched our Calgary opponents so badly, that with five minutes left in the game, we found ourselves leading 43-0. Everyone in the rink seemed dejected, confused or bewildered. We called a time out to discuss running out the clock to put an end to their misery and embarrassment, then one of our players did the math and blurted out, “If we could score 17 more goals, we could average a goal a minute.” How quickly the kindness plan was usurped in favour of an enticing, yet uncharitable one. The same players who were just lamenting a disingenuous game were now hoarding the lacrosse ball, further running up the score and in so doing pouring salt in the wounds of a dejected squad. A meaningless metric aided by testosterone, turned sweating adoles-

cents into cruel and vindictive fools. Today, the embarrassment is mine. Score: Lethbridge 61 vs. Calgary-0 While young hockey, basketball and lacrosse players might be forgiven for running up the score because they are still maturing and learning, what should we do about the adult players in the game of commerce? What would happen if we kept score in politics like we do in sports? Let’s have a go at it, shall we?

Oil night in Canada

Recent articles tell of a nirvana-like economy up north where every citizen in Norway has become a millionaire. This is due to their ability to negotiate with cash-rich oil companies. By contrast we head to Alberta, where, shockingly, its citizens are on the hook for $7.7 billion of debt. That’s right, Norway, a “socialist state,” is running a surplus of almost a trillion dollars from oil revenue while the Harper government’s market negotiators have failed Canadians in the most miserable of ways. In 2012, Alberta collected a mere $4.04 per barrel of oil in royalties while the Norwegian taxpayer raked in $46.29 per barrel on their petroleum production—more than 10 times as much. It’s like we traded away a thousand Gretzkys for a javelin thrower with a Victoriaville Straight and one skate. Score: Norway $1 trillion vs. Canada −$7.7 billion Canadian small businesses and citizens have been sold out to the oil conglomerates and huge multinational corporations thanks to extreme right wing ideology operating in our nation’s capital. I’d like to ask Mr. Harper how Norway’s elected officials managed to gain 10 times more cash for their citizens than his negotiators did for ours. Perhaps it is the same reason that by 1:11 p.m. on January 2 of every year, the average Canadian CEO has made as much

I’d like to ask Mr. Harper how Norway’s officials gained 10 times more cash for their citizens than his negotiators did for ours. money as the average Canadian worker will make in the entire year. Incompetence, or are we still testing that Reaganomics-trickle-down theory in Ottawa? Score: Canadian CEO $7.96 million vs. Canadian worker $46.6 thousand The shell game here is that studies by leading neuroscientists and cognitive psychologists are telling us that the average CEO is just that—average. Their brilliance has been in their ability to bamboozle the rest of us into believing they are geniuses and, therefore, deserving. Important to understand that we all see ourselves as more intelligent than we are, but CEOs have just ramped up and doubled-down so many times because of their narcissistic behaviours; the result: offensive overcompensation. Where are those referees? How bad has income inequality become? In 2012, the top 0.1 per cent in the US held 23.5 per cent of all of America’s wealth. Today, the richest 85 people in the world have more wealth than the world’s poorest 3.5 billion. Score: 85 richest vs. 3.5 billion poorest The mighty rich even have their own farm team: offshore bankers stashing yet more of their cash. Score: $32 trillion offshore vs. $0 tax collected

Sea squirt economics

Let’s now travel to the ocean where we find the lowly sea squirt, a creature as interesting as it is extreme. After wiggling around the ocean for most of its life, the sea squirt affixes itself headfirst to a rock and then it does something amazing—it eats its own brain. There is a theory that this same phenomenon happens at the Chicago School of Economics when a new faculty member joins its ranks.

At first pass, the monetary theory of one of their most famous, Milton Friedman, seemed like a good idea; at least that’s how I bought in back in 1980 when I began life as a businessman with Lethbridge Magazine. Reaganomics was a new economy with few rules and no referees to slow down profits. Friedman directed Reagan and Thatcher and Mulroney to fire all the referees, incinerate the rule book, empower oligarchic corporations, minimize small business values and cut taxes for the wealthy; they ingested their own brains. Friedman’s notions about money, economics and politics have caused near irreparable damage to the earth’s climate, the public sector, regional economies, small business and the people this simple idea promised to empower. Trickling down never happened. Friedman’s notion of a wideopen, no rules, free market system that advocates privatization of everything is really nothing more than the simplest … and stupidest idea ever conceived. By contrast, money is probably the most powerful, complex tool the world has ever known, so money cannot be understood, managed or organized by such a naive, one-size-fits all, Chicago School theory. And while Friedman’s economic theory might also be the worst idea of all time; many of us embraced it, myself included. Milton Friedman was a one-goal wonder whose only idea was celebrated—not for its innovation, but for its simplicity. How did societies benefit with 35 years of no referees, rules or order? Score: By 2016 the 1% will own more that the 99% combined.

unsavory, unsportsmanlike behavior by monopolies, multinational corporations, Wall Street-funded websites and billionaires? Milton Friedman’s single laissez-faire idea empowered corporations to become the tyrannical monsters they are today. The middle class is dying, folks, because our government pays the wealthy—to get richer. Norway didn’t. Instead, the Harper regime ridicules the public sector and handcuffs small business. We can get out of this mess with critical thinking, empathy and the basic understanding that most human behaviour is driven by the subconscious, emotional brain regions that are just out of reach from our conscious awareness. Understand that the complexity of money is no match for the human brain, if we use it. There are about 100 billion neurons in the adult human brain and each neuron can connect to 1,000 to 10,000 other neurons. Doing the math, the number of permutations and combinations of brain activity exceeds the number of elementary particles in the Universe. Score: All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. Edmund Burke Think critically, spiritually, subconsciously and emotionally about the world’s biggest and most abhorrent problem: income inequality. Deep down everybody knows it is wrong. When a sports team loses most of its games, they fire the coach. Hmm, when was that fall election again?

Who is looking out for Canadian small business?

Nobody! If you are a small business person, let me know how you feel? What is your gut telling you? Do we need our elected officials to get in the game, realign the goal posts and stand up to

John Paul Byrne publisher/editor paul@okanaganlife.com

okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2015

Real Estate Outlook

Bright Future By Bruce Kemp

PROGRESS 2015 Okanagan Life Magazine

Immigration and land availability are just two factors poised to impact our regional real estate market

Mill Creek development by Argus Properties.

Photo by Bruce Kemp.

okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2015

Real Estate Outlook

“

A lot of people have been sitting on their hands since 2008, waiting to make a move...”

epending on how you read the statistics, the glass is either half empty or half full when it comes to forecasting real estate in our region. Traditional construction is no longer the norm, with prices hitting the high end of the tolerance scale for singlefamily dwellings, but a growth spurt in multifamily units, like townhouses, is looming on the horizon. According to a recent Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) forecast for all of BC, and comparing current trends to the rest of the country, real estate markets will see a gentle quarter-to-quarter increase of slightly better than one per cent throughout the year, though predictions for the first quarter of 2016 indicate a drop of three per cent in building starts for single-family units and

—Curt Jansen Vice-president, sales & marketing Skaha Hills

two per cent for multifamily dwellings. Overall starts in Kelowna and the surrounding Central Okanagan in 2015 are predicted by CMHC to stay on par with 2014, but going into 2016 a modest downturn in sales can be expected. Many of the reduced numbers that will be seen this year come from comparison with 2014, which was a robust year for sales in real estate. There was a lot of product available for development. In 2015, the amount of raw building land is beginning to be balanced off. Penticton sales felt this, almost flatSkaha Hills is being developed by Greyback Construction in partnership with the Penticton Indian Band.

lining until Greyback Construction and the Penticton Indian Band partnered to create Skaha Hills. Phase one was opened for sales last year with 47 of the 600 homes in the 550-acre project. Expectations were that it would take two years to sell this phase; it sold out in two-and-a-half months. Phase two of the project is under way with six more phases to go. Approximately 55 per cent of the buyers were already situated in the Okanagan, 30 per cent were from other areas of BC and the remaining 15 per cent were from Alberta and overseas. “We hadn’t even started marketing in Alberta. The sales that came from there were from word-of-mouth,” says Curt Jansen, VP of sales and marketing for the project. “When we did our homework, we tried to think as conservatively as possible. We believed 15 to 20 homes would sell in the first year.” There are a number of reasons Skaha Hills has taken off. Ironically, at a time when economists see First Nations land claims as a stumbling block to foreign investment in our country, the involvement of the Penticton Indian Band positions Skaha Hills owners “strategically for tax benefits—no G.S.T. or transfer taxes,” according to Jansen, which can save buyers up to $50,000 on their purchase. Although Jansen credits the tax benefits and the development’s lake

Opening spread photo by Lipsett Photography Group; Skaha Hills rendering contributed.

PROGRESS 2015 Okanagan Life Magazine

access, winery and golf course with much of the success, he says that most importantly it’s due to the fact that this is the first new property available in the Penticton area in recent years. “A lot of people have been sitting on their hands since 2008, waiting to make a move,” he says. “Now, they want to retire in the Okanagan so this development offers them a property at a reasonable price.” In looking at his clientele, Jansen sees a bright future for upcoming stages of the development. One group he sees expressing interest is the soon-to-retire segment of the population. “Some people are five to seven years from retirement and are taking advantage of the availability and pricing to buy now, maybe rent it, and move in when they finally retire fully.” Many of the Okanagan buyers tell Jansen that a driving factor in their

decision is their memories. “I’ve had a lot of clients tell me about spending their summers at Wright’s Beach Camp and that’s one of the main reasons they’re buying here.” But another important part of the equation is the energy efficiency of these new homes. Skaha Hills has been recognized as the most energy efficient housing development in Canada. It won the 2014 Tommy Fortis Award for Building Energy Efficiency, presented by the Okanagan chapter of the Canadian Home Builders Association. “People want lower operating costs. It costs a little more to build an energy-efficient home, but when you try to re-engineer an older home for better efficiency the costs are huge and it almost cannot be done. People buying an energy efficient home will pay for it relatively quickly in their savings on utilities.”

Above & below: West Harbour on the shores of Okanagan Lake, opposite Kelowna, is an example of Valley lifestyle development.

Photos contributed.

okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2015

Real Estate Outlook

Commercial developments like this building by Callahan Property Group on Penno Road in Kelowna make a design statement all their own.

To the north in Kamloops, construction and real estate have a slightly different complexion. “We can’t tell if the downturn in the oil patch is starting to effect our sales yet,” says Ingrid Pfeiffer, president of the Kamloops Real Estate Association. “Last year prices went down and it’s still a buyer’s market here. Multi-family dwellings make up the bulk of sales. They’re selling for $280,000 to $320,000. A lot of boomers are now downsizing. “This is good for the market because we’re seeing houses further out from the core, in neighbourhoods like Westside and Brocklehurst, offering some good deals on single-family detacheds with larger yards. One house with three bedrooms up and one down just sold for under $320,000.”

PROGRESS 2015 Okanagan Life Magazine

Dee Crinion, sales manager at Shuswap Lake Estates, says they’re having a great year with 12 new home starts. These aren’t huge houses; they run around 1,500 square feet per floor. Shuswap buyers used to be mainly retirees, but now they are younger

“

families seeking to raise kids in a “cottage” atmosphere. Others are 50-somethings who can work from home, and there are still a few snowbirds buying. “The drop in oil prices isn’t apparent yet,” said Crinion, “except that people are being more cau-

Small industry commercial property is looking good and development for the hospitality business is strong with more tourist accommodation being created.” — Tim Down Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty

tious about buying—not so quick to jump into buying a lot.” Oil is the bogeyman under the bed. For months, daily news sources have been trumpeting prophecies of doom and gloom. But the CMHC paints a different picture if you take the time to read. According to its Housing Market Outlook, British Columbia Highlights report released last month: “Projected population growth is expected to add approximately 30,000 households annually from other countries. [With BC’s average household standing at 2.5 people, that amounts to 75,000 new residents.] While people moving to BC from other countries will be the main source of population growth, people moving to BC from other provinces will add to the population as well. Net interprovincial migration turned positive in 2014 and increased through the third quarter adding almost 7,500 people to the province’s population, compared to net outflows in 2012 and 2013.” In short, many of these new Canadians will flood Vancouver, the Lower Mainland and Victoria. When the density becomes so great and pricing too extreme, we can expect to see a migration inland from the Coast and the Okanagan will be a prime destination. The study’s predictions through 2016 see most of BC as almost stagnant with the majority of building occurring in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna. Oil is seen as having less of an impact on provincial building stats than the mainstream media indicates with its disaster-du-jour

Above & below: The Edge, a new phase of the Trestle Ridge development in Kelowna’s Upper Mission, takes advantage of sweeping panoramic views with window walls in bold modern designs.

approach. Immigration will be the largest factor (barring something unforeseen like a catastrophic war or a change in government immigration policy.) What this means is that prices will continue to go up as the demand increases and the supply of housing and building space diminishes. Trying to second-guess the markets is difficult. A quote often attributed to the 19th century British Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, goes, “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” Century 21 realtor Amanda Westrheim knows this and points out that even little things can skew the numbers so you have to be careful. “If people are looking at January 2015 as an indicator, they need to take a closer look at what went on. We had the big snowstorm in January that brought everything to a standstill.

Nobody was going out and nothing was selling, so comparing it to the same time period in 2014 is the wrong thing to do. If you look at February 2015 compared to 2014 you’ll see our sales are up. So you have to be careful when you read the stats.” Because of blips like the snowstorm, Westrheim tries to take as many factors into account in her assessment of the market place as possible. What she sees makes her optimistic. “This isn’t blind optimism and it isn’t because I make a living selling real estate, but I think we’re going to see growth of at least five per cent over the coming five years in all sectors. Single family and multiple family units will experience this.” She isn’t worried about losing Alberta oil money. As she points out, there is other business going on in Alberta and those people still want

Opposite page photo by Michael Hintringer; this page above and panoramic photo contributed.

okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2015

Real Estate Outlook

This Glenview Court home in Kelowna’s Bridges at Glenview Pond development illustrates current design trends inside and out.

CONSTRUCTION COSTS Cost estimates for new building projects in the region run from $150–$250 per square foot depending on the quality of the project. Pricing starts around $400,000 in the Central Okanagan, but deals in the low $300s can be found in Kamloops and the Shuswap.

to come here when they buy a vacation home or retirement place. The real danger is with the Valley workforce that commutes to the northern part of BC and Alberta for big wages. As the oil patch reduces its output—even temporarily —these people who have purchased properties that would generally be considered above their pay grade, will have a tough time making the payments. “Most of them won’t have a problem for a little while, but it’s the low interest rates that are saving them. If the rates go up, there will be a lot of foreclosures.” One factor Westrheim sees as a counterpoint to this possibility is that influx of new Canadians. “We’re starting to feel the impact of the offshore money as it lands on the Coast and Photos contributed.

PROGRESS 2015 Okanagan Life Magazine

makes its way inland. Kelowna is becoming more and more diverse. My company, Century 21, was one of the first to recognize the importance of this when they translated their website into Mandarin alongside English.” Jane Hoffman, whose group was this year’s top team for Coldwell Banker Canada and number six in North America, agrees with Westrheim on the oil downturn. “It’s not being felt yet,” says Hoffman. “We thought it would slow us down. But when I talk to my clients in the business—the oil executives I deal with—they aren’t too excited about it because they know oil is a cyclical business that goes up and down and they plan for it.” In the first six weeks of 2015 Jane sold more lakeshore property than at the same time in 2014. “Sales right now are not a true representation of the situation,” she says. “There’s less inventory in all ranges because of a strong 2014. Back in December I was concerned about the market, but now I’m pretty optimistic.” Hoffman points out that housing in the $400,000–$700,000 range is moving nicely and that multifamily units are a good value in this market and will only strengthen with time because of possible supply issues. Every realtor we spoke with voiced the same concern: product is at a premium. Westrheim noted, “For the first time in my career, I couldn’t find something to sell a client.” Tim Down, another Coldwell Banker realtor working in both residential and commercial sales, says, “The oil downturn won’t impact the Okanagan, because the demand for real estate strengthened and the supply didn’t. We’re working on a limited supply of building land, but residential sales will stay strong because nothing has changed to alter the conditions dictating why people move to the Okanagan.” The 27-year veteran of the real estate wars covers the region from Salmon Arm to Osoyoos. His focus is on investment real estate, which gives

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Real Estate Outlook

Waterside at Lakestone, a new development in Lake Country, provides lake views from every building lot.

better cash flow than the financial markets at the moment. What he’s seeing on the investment side is raw land being acquired by investors, with demand for multifamily rental property staying strong because it gives such

“

healthy returns. The Okanagan has worked its way through the foreclosure issues of recent years, but speculative buying by individuals is down. Single-family units could cause some problems in the future, accord-

I think we’re going to see growth of at least ﬁve per cent over the coming ﬁve years in all sectors. Single family and multiple family units will experience this.” — Amanda Westrheim Century 21

ing to Down, because the supply is shrinking while present owners are sitting tight. “Right now it’s death, debt or divorce that triggers sales.” Down says it’s time to start building new multifamily product. Not the monster condo developments that have given the area a lot of grief. He sees smaller projects like four-unit buildings as excellent investments and ideal for this point in time. “The banks are more comfortable with them because they’re easier to get out of the ground and easier to market.” For buyers, he says townhouses are a good investment both financially and in terms of lifestyle. Prices are on the rise, running Photo contributed.

PROGRESS 2015 Okanagan Life Magazine

between $450,000 and $600,000. The CMHC analysis backs him up on this. Their numbers indicate that last year single-detached building starts fell by 1.1% in Kelowna, but multiple unit starts were up by a considerable 14.4%. Down admits he doesn’t know whether an interest rate hike will hurt the market, but a lot of investors have gone long so he’s confident there is no worry for the next 12 to 24 months. Still, volatile employment figures have the potential to cast a long shadow over the longer term. As he sees it, “in BC the concerns are: where is the employment and where is the money.” CMHC’s assessment of employment over the past two years shows the raw unemployment rate (seasonally adjust numbers are not available for Kelowna or Kamloops) is down by 3.3 points in Kelowna and up by 0.3 in Kamloops. One axiom in the real estate business is that commercial development always follows residential. “Right now,” Down says, “small industry commercial property is looking good and development for the hospitality business is strong as well, with more tourist accommodation being created.” Sales of general retail space are down, but commercial retail coupled with multi-family residential is good. Locally he doesn’t see a demand for office space. In places like West Kelowna the market was flooded. Vineyard properties, often thought to be prized investments, were slow, but demand is now picking up for turnkey operations if priced right. A lot of wineries were heavily leveraged and run on a shoestring. They need to be recapitalized. “The Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) land has always been a concern,” says Down. “The Okanagan will protect its farmland at all costs.” But he sees farmland close to the city coming out of the ALR within the next 20 years because the city needs the taxation, so it will side with those who wish to pull land out of the reserve for projects that will generate greater revenues.

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Real Estate Outlook

DESIGN It’s a given among builders and realtors that younger people want higher-end product while older folks go for pricing. 18

eople who are buying new or building are more inclined to build as green as they can,” says Amanda Westrheim, when talking about construction and design trends. “Even in a house as new as 10 years old the utility bills can be shocking and as far as interior trends go, people are really into gadgets these

days. Buyers want heated floors and soft close drawers. Stainless appliances and hardwood flooring are still in, so is granite or quartz countertops. If a property is lacking in these, it can hurt the listing.” Jane Hoffman says, “The trend in architecture is a more contemporary look with cleaner lines, flatter roof lines, more glass, three-car Photo contributed.

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garages, improved outdoor living spaces including outdoor kitchens. Pools are back in demand. Quality built craftsman homes are selling well. In the interior, open concepts are still the big deal. Granite and quartz are preferred materials for countertops. Not so much polished cement, but polished cement ﬂoors are gaining a little more popularity. However, the main favourites are traditional wood and tile.” Diana Vona, owner-manager of the high-end Casa Bella Bedding Boutique in Vernon, is seeing a big change in decorating trends when it comes to people’s colour choices. It used to be grey and beige, now people are going to a more colourful, but still a neutral pallet to give their décor longevity. She ﬁnds the younger generation leaning toward the disposable,

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2015-03-06 3:44 PM

Real Estate Outlook

Clockwise from above: U-One 2nd bedroom with ensuite; master bathroom West Harbour; outside kitchen Bridges at Glenview Pond; kitchen pantry vertical drawer; U-One ensuite; kitchen by Kekuli Bay Cabinetry .

PROGRESS 2015 Okanagan Life Magazine

but her young middle-aged to senior clientele still go for quality like St. Genève and Revelle bed linens or the Canadianmade Cuddle Down products. Kelly Kennedy at Westwood Fine Cabinetry sees a change in cabinet design this year. Where there used to be a lot of traditional style, shaker and flat slab door fronts, new home buyers are leaning more toward paint and coloured lacquers— white and grey—the Euro look. Hardware is becoming sleeker and thinner, while drawer pulls are either small or non-existent. The Euro style touch latch is very popular or drawer fronts with integrated finger pulls. Crown moulding on cabinets is considerably flatter this year. Exotic woods are starting to replace the traditional oak, cherry and maple. Mahogany is making a return, but the use of bamboo is dropping off and Kelly says he is seeing a growth in the demand for exotic woods like hickory, black walnut and lyptus, a Brazilian hardwood. The most popular countertops are highly polished quartz set in resin. There are a few polished cement countertops being installed, but as popular as they are in Europe, they haven’t caught on here. In the bedroom, chests of drawers have given way to inlands with built-in drawers in the walk-in closet. Also, says Kennedy, he’s seeing more banks of drawers in place of cupboards.

thehubkelowna.ca BEST RED OF THEM ALL

Bruce Kemp is an Okanaganbased writer and photographer

A perfect blend of Okanagan business and residential readers.

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who contributes to national and international media.

paul@okanaganlife.com 250.861.5399

Fridge photo by DIgital Dean; other photos contributed.

okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2015

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21 PM

Unparalleled Lake Country living Waterside at Lakestone What makes Lakestone special? Well, how about unobstructed views of Okanagan Lake from each and every door. Or the serenity and beauty of living in a home tucked into a sloping Lake Country hillside in the shadow of granite outcrops and ponderosa pines. Or perhaps it’s the golf courses, wineries, hiking trails and international airport all less than a 15-minute drive away. Oh, did we mention that, starting at $200,000, these lakeview lots are an incredible value, and you could work with one of Lakestone’s preferred builders or choose your own builder; and that the residents-only $3.5 million Lake Club will offer everything from hot tubs and a pool to a fitness centre and outdoor kitchen? Yes, Lakestone is exceptional. This 550acre master-planned community is the work of Macdonald Development Corporation, the same group that brought neighbouring resort community The Outback to the eastern shores of Okanagan Lake. Here, for generations to come, residents will have the chance to experience the developer’s vision for Lakestone, which is to use the best remaining parcel of lakefront land this side of the water to give buyers an exceptional place in Lake Country to call home—a home that offers a stunning backdrop to truly enjoy the outdoors as well as the restaurants, shows and shopping of the nearby and vibrant Kelowna. Even here in the Okanagan Valley, renowned for its lakeside resort communities, Lakestone seems to have it all, and more. Of course, it starts with the lake. In fact, the community’s tag is: Come home to the lake. Thanks to a sloping landscape, each of Lakestone’s fully serviced home sites is either lakefront or lake view. Living rooms, bedrooms and decks perched on this special property all offer breathtaking views of the water. But, unlike some communities, at Lakestone, you’re only footsteps from the beach and the dock, so it’s easy to dive in or just dip your toes. In front of Lakestone’s private dock is a quiet water area

“Lake Country’s best remaining parcel of land on the east shore of Okanagan Lake offers buyers incredible value and exceptional amenities.” where residents can swim, sail or paddle, protected from powered watercraft. For those that prefer more gentle, temperature-controlled waters, welcome to the Lake Club. At this exclusive and shared amenity, residents can swim laps in the outdoor pool, relax in a hot tub under a starlit sky, barbecue steaks, or break a sweat in the state-of-the-art gym. The Lake Club even has an outdoor kitchen and a place to store your kayaks and paddleboards.

Of course, you’ll have to reserve energy for wine-trailing, golfing and hiking. A prime Lake Country location brings residents within walking distance of ever-popular wineries such as Gray Monk, Arrowleaf Cellars and Ex Nihilo. Two hiking trails await at your back door: Okanagan Centre Road West and Long Road. You’d only have to drive minutes north on Highway 97 to take in four more trails, two of which offer pristine views of Okanagan and Kalamalka lakes. Golfers find their own bliss at championship tracks of spectacular views and impressive fairways, just down the road. This is Lakestone. The door to its sales office opened in the fall of 2013. Today, the first four phases—of private home sites near the shore—are already 85 per cent sold. The fifth and sixth phases, featuring lots starting at $245,000, are now available. This summer, vacationers and locals alike will also be able to buy one of the 18 semi-detached villas being released for sale. Only a single question remains: which one is your dream home? To learn more about this exciting home ownership opportunity in Lake Country, visit www.lakestoneliving.com or call 877.766.1213.

okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2015 23

New concept in the Upper Mission Trestle Ridge: The Edge Think of it as a home with ample space for the luxury toys of the well-heeled family. Not just any space but a special spot to park your collector cars, an ATV or two, perhaps a cabin cruiser on a trailer or even space for your own personal squash court. The concept is one being marketed in a new upscale neighbourhood in Kelowna’s Upper Mission. Called The Edge, the hillside zone of oversize strata lots will be part of a gated, private community. This exclusive community is part of a larger development called Trestle Ridge. The lots, ranging up to more than half-an-acre in size, command stunning, unimpeded views of Okanagan Lake, the bridge and the mountains beyond. Perched above the Village of Kettle Valley, this brand new neighbourhood of Trestle Ridge offers all the amenities and community features celebrated in the Upper Mission, with a new era of architecture and unparalleled views. The development guidelines incorporate the latest styles of transitional architecture designed to maximize the modern homes desired by today’s buyer while blending with the spectacular natural setting of creeks, mountains and miles of hiking and biking trails. Portions of the oversize strata lots in The Edge are dedicated to home sites and are located on one side of an access lane that runs through the parcels. On the other side are the accessory sites, on which owners will have the option to build as large as a two-storey structure up to about 1,500 square feet. The concept of a special place to house one’s adult toys is unique to the Okanagan, but is not without precedent. A version of it was recently marketed in Calgary and sold out right away, says Melody Santos, controller and development manager for Trestle Ridge. The developer is confident the concept will prove popular with buyers who are increasingly viewing the Okanagan as a recreational playground. “We see this as a unique opportunity to accommodate people

PROGRESS 2015 Okanagan Life Magazine

“A unique opportunity for people with all the recreational toys— ATVs, RVs and boats— but nowhere to store them … or a workout facility, squash court or man cave.” in that upscale category who have all the recreational toys—ATVs, RVs, and boats— but nowhere to store them,” said Santos. “The Okanagan is kind of special in that we see a lot of NHL players live here in the off-season,” Santos said. “This could really appeal to them in that it could be used as a workout facility, or a squash court, anything for recreational needs. Or it could be set up as a garage/man cave combo with a loft designed for a big screen TV and lounge

area overlooking a luxury car collection.” The developer offers an open builder program, which allows owners to choose a designer and builder to construct the home and accessory structure, said Santos. For more information on Trestle Ridge and The Edge, drop by the sales centre and brand new show home, located at 5730 Mountainside Drive, or register online at www.trestleridge.ca.

Horizon looks bright for trades Okanagan College When Okanagan College announced plans to renovate and expand its trades training complex—a $33-million project—with the goal of creating one of the most sustainable post-secondary education facilities in North America, the College knew that support from the community would be crucial. The Okanagan College Foundation launched the Bright Horizons, Building for Skills Campaign in October 2014 to help raise the $7 million ($5 million for capital costs, plus another $2 million for equipment and program support) needed to top up the provincial government’s commitment of $28 million. The response to the campaign in its early stages has been overwhelming, says Okanagan College Foundation president, Alf Kempf. “We’re only a few months into the campaign but so far the support we’ve seen from the community has been remarkable,” explains Kempf. “From big organizations to families, it’s a true cross-section of our community, and we think that shows the breadth of support there is for Okanagan College.” “It also shows that our community understands and appreciates the value of trades and the role tradespeople play in our economy,” adds Kempf. As the new three-storey trades complex tower takes shape along KLO road, donors have shared messages of encouragement, support, and excitement about what the building will mean for the future of Okanagan College, its students, and for the community as a whole. “Our goal is to help the College build a foundation for future growth,” explains Barry Carter, whose family has donated to enhance study space in the new complex. “Getting people into trades is perhaps more important now than ever before.” “The best possible trades training will only further promote the apprentice’s future, opportunities for local business and ultimately the province of British Columbia,” says Jason McCormick, vice-president – operations and partner of Westwood Electric; the company’s donation will help power up a new electrical controls lab.

Okanagan College President Jim Hamilton and members of the Okanagan College Students’ Union tour the Trades Training Complex under construction after the students announced a $100,000 donation toward the project.

“I believe that people who have done well in this region should give back,” says Barry Lapointe, owner of Kelowna Flightcraft, who announced a $500,000 donation to the campaign in December. “And we feel strongly about supporting post-secondary education.” “Industry support, from people like Barry, from the automotive sector, from companies like Westwood Electric sends a message to would-be tradespeople that validates their career choices,” explains Bright Horizons, Building for Skills campaign chair Dennis Gabelhouse. What began as a construction project has become one of the most important community-building experiences in Okanagan College’s 51-year history, says Okanagan College president Jim Hamilton. “This new facility will provide our students with the very best; it will be a cutting-edge environment that matches the quality of instruction students are receiving,” explains Hamilton. “But even more importantly, it will unite them. Our students will have a facility that they can take pride in because they helped to build it.” When it announced its $100,000 donation, the Okanagan College Students’ Union acknowledged that they were both prompted by

the community support they had seen and the hope that their contribution would spark additional support from others. “When the opportunity arose for us to play a part in supporting the rejuvenation of the trades training complex here in Kelowna, we wanted to show in a bold way just how important we feel it is for students to have a learning environment that is ahead of the curve, vibrant, and that reflects Okanagan College’s commitment to sustainability,” explains Grisch. “We are very proud and appreciative of the fact that our students have chosen to invest in the future of their college,” says Hamilton. “The fact that we have such strong support from inside the college and from the community, we believe, is a reflection of the way in which Okanagan College is plugged into and works with the community.” “We appreciate the community’s support as we work to address the province-wide skills gap projected in trades, and train the young apprentices that will play a key role in our regional and provincial economy.” The Okanagan College Foundation is inviting the community to learn more about the project and support the Bright Horizons, Building for Skills Campaign by visiting www.okanagan.bc.ca/campaign.

okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2015 25

Celebrating 35 years of building excellence TomTar Roofing & Sheet Metal You’ll find the stunning workmanship of TomTar Roofing & Sheet Metal at the new downtown marina along Kelowna’s waterfront. Specialists in fabrication, the team at TomTar fashioned the elegant curved roofing for structures along the new public pier. Heading up Highway 97, TomTar’s expertise is showcased at a number of the city’s new commercial properties: in the sleek industrial design of the new Kelowna Keg restaurant, and the roofing, metal cladding and ceramic tile rainscreen on the Marshalls store. Further north is the Glenmore Landfill Office complex that serves as staff offices and hosts a visitor gallery where school groups can learn the benefits of recycling. TomTar installed both the roof and the building’s zinc metal cladding. “Our services are much more than just roofing and sheet metal,” says general manager Robert Greenough. “We are a building envelope company, from insulated wall panels to full assemblies with liner panels, to rainscreen systems with vapour barriers, insulation and any type of exterior cladding.” TomTar operates the most technologically advanced architectural sheet metal shop between Vancouver and Calgary. Stocking a large metal inventory, including exotic copper and zinc, ensures any required metal is in stock and in nearly every colour on the chart. With a state-of-the art CNC table router, TomTar has the capability to produce aluminum composite materials (ACM) panels in house at a fraction of the regular lead time.

Tom Greenough and son Robert.

PROGRESS 2015 Okanagan Life Magazine

Kelowna’s Downtown Marina.

Celebrating 70 Years of Expertise Over the years, TomTar has been involved in nearly every major commercial roofing project in the Okanagan Valley, from Prospera Place and the Vernon Multiplex to an extensive portfolio of commercial projects, shopping malls and hospitals. The Greenough family has been operating the business since 1945 when Harold, a superintendent for Barr & Anderson in Vancouver, moved to Kelowna to manage a new branch. He later bought the franchise. This year marks the 70th anniversary of Barr & Anderson and TomTar’s 35th, an Okanagan business that has been family run since opening its doors. Tom joined Barr & Anderson very young; his first task was sweeping the shop. He rose through the ranks working in all divisions and finally settled in to manage the roofing/ sheet metal division in his mid-twenties. By his late twenties the decision had been made to create a new roofing and sheet metal company, over which Tom would have full ownership and control. In January of 1980 TomTar Roofing & Sheet Metal was born. Tom’s son, Robert joined the company in 2001 and is the current general manager. “We pride ourselves on being the company you can count on to do what we say we will do,” says Robert. “You can’t purchase a reputation, it’s earned, and we strive to be the best. We stand by our experience, integrity, our employees and our record of past projects.” Employing 50 people, the company recruits high quality people in both skills and character. Today, TomTar’s crews work across

BC, Alberta and into Saskatchewan. They are currently working on a 550,000 sq. ft. building in Edmonton, one of the largest buildings being constructed in Canada this year. Although primarily a commercial company, TomTar also has a residential division where they apply their vast experience to a range of innovative and custom jobs. “We just like to remind owners that your roof and wall system is protecting your entire investment,” says Robert. “The investment into a quality contractor will pay for itself. We’ve seen too many roofs start failing after a year or two, offered by the guys working out of their pickup trucks, and even some of the larger companies who’s trucks you see around town. Ensure that the company is certified and has journeyman on staff. When in doubt call a certified roofing inspector or RCABC (Roofing Contractors Association).” TomTar Roofing & Sheet Metal is located at 199 Pinto Road in Kelowna. Visit www.tomtar.ca for more information.

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okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2014

Local experience, international reach Jane Hoffman Group Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty

The shoe fits The View Winery People light up when they come in the door of The View Winery. Maybe it’s the authenticity: a wine shop surrounded by the sights and smells of winemaking in progress. Maybe it’s the rustic elegance: rough-hewn timbers and vintage brickwork accented with red stiletto shoes and chandeliers. Certainly it’s the friendly staff, enthusiastic to share with visitors all there is to share from a place that’s truly special. “I love to surround myself with positive people,” says The View president Jennifer Molgat. “And the people in our wine shop, cellar and vineyard all possess this quality.” The View Winery is minutes from downtown Kelowna, nestled between rolling orchards and vines on land that has been in the family for five generations. The cellar and wine shop are in a distinctive 1920s vintage apple packinghouse. True to the terroir, the main grape varieties are a collection, primarily of aromatic whites, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Ehrenfelser and newly planted Pinot Gris. And they also feature Pinotage, which is a vibrant, fruit forward red with a hint of spice. While visiting you may also want to sample their line-up of Wards apple cider. The View’s tasting room and wine shop is open weekdays noon–5pm until May 1st, then 11am–6:30pm, 7 days a week until October 15. Visit www. theviewwinery.com for details and drop by the winery for a taste at 1-2287 Ward Road, Kelowna. Just look for the red shoe!

The accolades poured in this past year for Jane Hoffman and her team of seasoned real estate professionals. Awarded #1 Team for Coldwell Banker Canada and #6 Team for Coldwell Banker in North America, Jane Hoffman Group was also recognized as the #1 Team for Ultimate Service. Now these are the Realtors® you want working for you. Whether you’re new to the market, finding an investment property, or searching for your perfect dream home, they have the expertise to help you find the perfect fit. Start at www.janehoffman.com with an online tour of the redesigned website where you can take your time exploring Kelowna’s most exquisite luxury and waterfront estates, homes and properties in the Valley. Browse homes by price (with categories ranging from under $499,000 to over $4 million) or by property type: choose from investment opportunities, condos and townhomes, lakeshore, residential farms, lots and acreages. You can even browse by the features you are looking for, like three-plus garages, equestrian facility, boat dock, sandy beach or penthouse. This website is visited by locals, buyers across Canada and around the globe. Complimenting the website, blog and social media presence is Jane’s exciting new Signature Video and the newly launched exclusive GALLERY Magazine, a full colour publication highlighting all of the real estate for sale by Jane Hoffman Group in the Kelowna area. Available on-line as an e-zine or via hard copy, GALLERY is produced each season showcasing their impressive and extensive selection of real estate. Direct mailed to selected households and businesses across the country, GALLERY is just one of the many ways Jane Hoffman Group is looking to introduce Kelowna to buyers across Canada and around the world.

Global reach is one of the reasons Jane Hoffman Group is so successful. Jane has partnered with Coldwell Banker Previews® International for the global networking and marketing opportunities this prestigious organization brings to their clients. Jane Hoffman Group offers international visitors the insight, knowledge and world-class service they deserve. Jane’s team of experts includes associate broker and business partner, Kristy Huber; licensed Realtors® Sherrin Stewart, Lora Proskiw, Dean Simonelli, Carole Coleman, Sherry Truman, Greg Dusik, and Melissa McAfee; and three support staff. Contact Jane Hoffman Group through the quick response form online at www. janehoffman.com, on facebook, through email at jane@janehoffman.com or call the office at 250.860.7500. The office is located at #14-1470 Harvey Avenue in Kelowna. Photo: darrenhull.com

PROGRESS 2015 Okanagan Life Magazine

Design for living Westwood Fine Cabinetry Today’s open-concept homes demand integrated cabinetry for a unified look throughout. Whether you’re building your custom dream home or rejuvenating a family treasure, the sales designers at Westwood Fine Cabinetry have the knowledge and experience to get your ideas off the drawing board. “We work with customers to develop their layout just the way they want it,” says designer Kati Knorr, “and all this is done free of charge.” Great showrooms are part of the package, allowing you to see current trends and appreciate the full range of styles and finishes from traditional to contemporary. When your plan is complete, Westwood’s dedicated team of professional installers and service staff will ensure your job is done to the highest industry standards. Regardless of budget, Westwood has options to fit your needs from custom-finished exotic woods for the most discerning tastes to stock built cabinets for eager do-it-yourselfers. And when a whole new layout isn’t required, Westwood offers the environmentally-friendly option of cabinet refacing. With its reputation for quality, Westwood is the first choice of both homeowners and fine homebuilders. See their award-winning designs at showrooms in Kelowna, Vernon, Salmon Arm and Coquitlam. Learn more at www.westwoodfinecabinetry.com.

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2015-03-06 6:42 PM

Question and answer with the accounting firm of Crowe MacKay LLP Q: What makes Crowe MacKay different from the other large accounting firms? A: Our unique local office focus, as part of a regional firm network, allows us to be quick on our feet to meet the growing demands of Okanagan businesses. Q: How do I know which Crowe MacKay advisor is best suited for me? A: Every client is a client of the firm, and we will work with you to connect you with the right team of advisors based on your individual situation. Q: What is Crowe MacKay’s competitive advantage? A: With 10 full-time tax practitioners we have the leading tax practice in BC’s interior. We are the ones that other accountants go to when they have tax questions. Q: Where can I find out more about Crowe MacKay? A: Read more about us at www.crowemackay.ca or you can follow us on Facebook (crowe. mackay), Twitter (@CroweMacKay) or LinkedIn (crowe-mackay-llp).

Strong on service Country RV Ready to make your next getaway the best ever? We carry the top brand RV lines in North America like Cougar, Montana, Hideout, Bullet, Leisure Travel Vans, Pleasure-Way and more. We always have a good selection of used trailers, fifth wheels and motorhomes, and our full service department and large parts department have everything to keep you rolling. With 15 years in the business, Country RV has a reputation for being built on service.

We proudly support our community through Cops for Kids, Boys & Girls Club, Local High Schools, Crime Stoppers, plus many other local charities. Let us show you how we take the same care of our customers. With dealerships in Kelowna and Winfield, we’re here for you.

Better at the Boh Bohemian Café & Catering When you’re an icon, it’s hard to ramp up your game. When everybody knows you offer breakfast and lunch in a funky downtown setting; your menu features fabulous, freshlyprepared food using organic and local ingredients; your staff wrote the book on team effort; and you’ve been doing it all for 24 years—what could possibly top all that? How about opening an exciting new patio to give regulars and visitors alike a

chance to soak up our famous Okanagan sun, to see and be seen in the heart of Kelowna’s revitalized downtown. We’re open Wednesday to Sunday at 524 Bernard Avenue or we can cater your event anywhere in the Valley. Check out www.bohemiancater.com for details. ROYAL ANNE HOTEL

City central Royal Anne Hotel With a fantastic location in the heart of downtown Kelowna, the Royal Anne Hotel is a city landmark and one of Kelowna’s shining, nostalgic treasures. A favourite “home away from home” for corporate travellers wanting the convenience of Kelowna’s thriving downtown core and for vacationers seeking fun in the sun on the nearby shores of Okanagan Lake. Just steps from specialty stores, popular attractions and a vast selection of restaurants, beautiful boutique-style accommodations await your

arrival. Corporate meeting, reception or special event? No problem! Our elegant banquet facilities can seat 10–150 people with professional catering and personalized service available. We’re here to ensure the success of your event. Backed by great Special Reception or Corporate Event? value, superb quality and remarkable customer service, the Royal Anne Hotel is the perfect choice for your stay in Kelowna. Conveniently located in downtown Kelowna, the Royal Anne Hotel is a ‘home away from home’ for corporate travellers and vacationers seeking fun in the sun on the shores of nearby Okanagan Lake. Just steps from specialty stores, popular attractions, and many restaurants, our full-service banquet and meeting facilities are the perfect choice for small to mid-sized meetings, receptions and events, with 4,084 sq. ft. of space.

The whole package The Harvest Golf Club

PROGRESS 2015 Okanagan Life Magazine

World-class views and the Okanagan flavours of Chef Michael Miller’s Harvest Grille menu combine to make The Harvest Golf Club a top choice for every occassion from casual lunch to business dinner, family birthday to oneof-a-kind wedding. The seasonal menu offers delectable selections to tempt every palate and diners can enjoy the patio for breakfast, lunch or dinner. For newlyweds, the gardens and waterfall provide a picturesque backdrop for perfect photo memories. But let’s not forget

the golf. Repeatedly voted among the best courses in the Okanagan, its multiple tees challenge every player while wide Chef Michael Miller fairways and nearby orchards contribute to a unique character. The Okanagan’s largest practice facility and Harvest Golf Academy round out unmatched facilities.

Harold Greenough, pulled out of the office to show the crew how itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s done, circa 1940

A cut above

Knifewear & Kent of Inglewood “Cooking should be the best part of your day,” says Knifewear’s Mark Puttick, “and you can fall in love with your kitchen knife.” Why put up with a blunt, awkward knife that makes cooking a terrible chore? Knifewear knives are lighter, more nimble and made with harder steel. They’re extemely sharp, stay sharp longer, and give you that “shooooo” feeling when you glide through food, giving you the chef experience at home. Chefs across the Okanagan will tell you Knifewear is where they shop for top shelf knives, cookbooks and gadgets. Our “chef wall” is crowded with photos of hundreds of happy chefs from the Okanagan and all over Canada. One reason for their loyalty is our commitment to serious service. Buying any high quality product can be daunting; our staff invites you to test drive sample knives on tomatoes and potatoes so you can choose the perfect knife with confidence. As well, the first time the knife needs resharpening we’ll do it by hand—for free. We want

to help you find the perfect knife and help you get the most out of it all the time. “Cooking is the new rock ’n’ roll,” says Mark, explaining the company’s success. In the last three years Knifewear has expanded into Kelowna, Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa with Vancouver coming next year. Knifewear is also a proud supporter of Growing Chefs (growing-chefs.ca). By donating $2 from every knife sharpening, we’re helping to teach children in local schools about where food comes from. Knifewear is full of sharp ideas including a Kent of Inglewood kiosk exclusively for men and devoted to the art and artistry of shaving. “Shaving with a straight razor lets you feel like a gentleman and a bad-ass at the same time” says Dylan, one of Knifewear’s original employees. Kent of Inglewood, Canada’s shave shop, thinks men are cool and gives them permission to look and smell great. This one-stop men’s shop offers straight razors,

Mark Puttick

safety razors, shaving brushes, pocketknives, cocktail gear and even handmade Swedish axes along with a full line of classic grooming items from shave soaps to ultra manly colognes. Our staff is here to guide and educate you to the perfect choice. Visit the shop at 2983 Pandosy Street or online at www.knifewear.com and www.kentofinglewood.com.

Community support, customer care

The perfect marriage of food and wine

Boyd Autobody

Hillside Winery • Bistro

When you get your vehicle We’re proud of the work we do, repaired at Boyd Autobody & too. Whether you need colliGlass, you not only get excepsion work, glass repair or glass tional work backed by a lifetime replacement, bring it to Boyd; guarantee—you help us support our staff will ensure it’s done your community. Every year right. Not only can you feel good we donate a portion of every about your car again, you can customer’s invoice to charity. In feel good about partnering with addition, all our proceeds from Boyd to help your community. our annual Father’s Day Car Show go to our charity of choice. Last year we raised over $11,000 for JDRF, while this year’s proceeds will be going to the YMCA. Over the years our team at Boyd has been eager to support local charities and it has shown with our donations to various organizations in the Okanagan; these donations have Methal and Jason Abougoush with Gail surpassed $350,000! Harrison: celebrating our community.

For more than 30 years, Hillside has been producing handcrafted wines dedicated to the very special terroir of the Naramata Bench. Believing that great wines start in the vineyard, winemaker Kathy Malone uses only the best quality fruit available from the 20-acre vineyard surrounding the winery and from select vineyards on the Naramata Bench and in Oliver. The gristmill-style winery is uniquely designed to allow for small batch fermentation to maintain the character and integrity of each grape and vineyard. Even the 72-foot tower serves a purpose, helping to cool the wine cellar, though most visitors just notice the stunning visual of a rustic tower set among gracious gardens, alive with blossoms from early spring to frost.

PROGRESS 2015 Okanagan Life Magazine

Make Hillside Winery the backdrop for your special day.

Completing Hillside’s perfect marriage of food and wine, Chef Rob Cordonier presents exquisite local fare, served by lively staff and paired with Kathy’s awardwinning wines. No wonder Hillside is such a popular venue for vineyard weddings with its upper patio to dine, dance and romance the night away. Call 250.493.6274 to book an event. Details on wines, hours and more at www.hillsidewinery.ca.

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Stripes are earned.

KNV and MNP merger to benefit Okanagan marketplace MNP

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British Columbia’s KNV Chartered Accountants LLP has merged with MNP LLP, creating one of the largest accounting and business consulting firms in the province. The merger, effective February 1, brings two of the province’s most experienced and diverse firms under one banner in the largest merger in MNP’s history, making it the third-largest accounting and consulting firm in BC. In Kelowna, KNV’s team of 15 will join MNP’s existing team, with the firm’s partners and staff in Vancouver and Surrey joining MNP’s 15 offices across the province, including Vancouver Island, the Cariboo, the Okanagan, and the northeast. “We are excited about the local impact of this merger. Our firms share similar values and culture as a rewarding work place. Both firms were looking to grow and to combine our expertise and leadership to help our clients across the Okanagan achieve their growth targets,” said Tim Dekker, MNP’s, Okanagan regional managing partner. MNP and KNV, which have serviced clients in BC for 40 years, deliver a broad range of accounting, consulting and tax services, including enterprise risk, corporate finance, valuation and litigation support, investigative and forensic accounting, crossborder taxation and more. “Joining MNP’s nationwide operations was the right fit to ensure we continued to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said Alix Larsen, Kelowna-based KNV partner.

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Furniture-quality cabinets for your home

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Kekuli Bay Cabinetry upgrading our equipment every year.” You can proudly buy Canadian and support BC manufacturing at Kekuli Bay Cabinetry, 1794 Baron Road, Kelowna (behind Costco) and in Vernon at 8111 Highland Place (north of Swan Lake). Visit online at www.kekulibaycabinetry.com.

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For a kitchen or bath that is truly your own, look to the custom cabinet manufacturer whose Okanagan family roots date back to 1984. Their 10,000 sq. ft. Kelowna showroom is the place to visualize how a distinctive custom design will actually look in your home. “The Kekuli Bay Cabinetry experience always starts with you,” says owner Ed Huber. “We can help you create any style of cabinetry from modern and contemporary to country and traditional, or something that is uniquely you.” To make that individual statement, Kekuli Bay Cabinetry draws on a wide selection of natural woods: maple, oak, pine, alder, cherry, hickory, beech and bamboo. And as one of the few companies in the industry that manufactures its own doors, the design possibilities are endless. Kekuli Bay Cabinetry is the only showroom in Western Canada that features custom cabinets and furniture made in the same factory, a 30,000 sq. ft. facility right here in the Okanagan. “Each handcrafted cabinet is built using the finest of raw materials and our design staff will work with customers through each step of creating a new kitchen or bathroom, from design through to installation,” says Huber. Kekuli Bay Cabinetry takes great pride in being a “green” company. All wood products are carbon compliant and Kekuli uses finishing products that emit very low volumes of volatile organic compounds. On-site, a high tech boiler system has been installed to burn waste sawdust. “The wood boiler system burns cleaner than natural gas and provides all the heat we need,” says Huber. “It’s allowed us to invest the gas savings in

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New standard for medical cannabis The Herbal-Health Centre Health care practitioners have been prescribing cannabis for thousands of years. The science behind its effectiveness is finally starting to be better understood and the use of medical cannabis has evolved significantly. In the Okanagan Valley, The HerbalHealth Centre provides advice on the healthy, sustainable use of medical cannabis. They recommend products that offer benefits without associated psychoactivity—feeling “high.” Charlotte’s Web and Hayley’s Comet are examples of these non-psychoactive products that have provided well-documented, positive results in cases of Dravet syndrome, an intractable seizure disorder in children. (For more, see Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Charlotte’s Web online.) Since becoming a part of the Vernon community, The Herbal-Health Centre has developed a reputation for excellent service and the finest medical cannabis products available.

L-R: Ben Hunt (manager) and Imre Kovacs (founding owner/partner).

Staff members are keen to talk about the appropriate application of every product. Their selection of 30 cannabis strains is complimented by edibles (including juice from immature plant leaves), concentrates (oils, budders), and topical applications (creams, salves, balms). State-of-the art supporting hardware (vaporizers, etc.) complete the product line-up.

You’ll find a bright, sophisticated and professional environment at the Centre, where staff is knowledgeable, helpful, warm and welcoming to all. As cannabis patients themselves, they relate easily to other members. Customers who enter the members’ area often find their scepticism melting away, experiencing hope in place of fear and relief where there was pain. The Centre is a place for community, where the compassion and support is palpable. Already serving more than 1,400 members, whose personal results keep them coming back, the numbers speak for themselves. The Herbal-Health Centre is conveniently and discretely located in Unit 46 of the Alpine Centre at 100 Kalamalka Lake Road, in Vernon, with plenty of parking and wheelchair access. To find out more, call 778.475.3398 or visit www.thhc.ca.

Lifestyle attracts buyers of all ages Shuswap Lake Estates With breathtaking lake views retirees and is gaining popularity and the backdrop of the Cowith increasingly younger people lumbia Mountains, this Blind looking for a lifestyle change. Bay community surrounds The “Highlands” Phase 2, is an 18-hole championship golf the newest release of properties course. Originally touted as from Shuswap Lake Estates, the “British Properties of the offering 74 fully serviced Shuswap,” the community now panoramic lake, mountain and hosts families of all ages. golf view home sites priced Unique for its low stress from $119,000–$169,000. atmosphere, residents enjoy hiking, cross-country skiing, tennis, pickle ball, a 600-metre airplane landing strip, community centre, local shopping, marinas and sandy beaches. With two nearby elementary schools, it’s easy to see how Shuswap Lake Estates appeals to families as well as Great views, great golf, great outdoors.

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How to enjoy a luxurious staycation Hunter Douglas Staycations have a lot to recommend them. There’s no lengthy travel involved with all its attendant annoyances, it’s less expensive than a standard vacation and it’s much easier to plan. In fact, done right, a staycation can physically and mentally rejuvenate you more than a regular one. Like an ordinary vacation, staycations are all about you. Sally Morse, director of creative services for Hunter Douglas, explains how to design yours for an experience you’ll cherish forever, and hopefully try again. Organize Once you decide on a staycation, select the dates and begin putting it together. Pull out those clippings of all the interesting things you’ve been meaning to do within a 100-mile or so radius for the past couple of years. If you haven’t done this, buy a good, up-to-date guide to your area. Create a formal itinerary just as a travel agency would, being sure to allow for unexpected adventures. Details are key. Make reservations for everything requiring them and buy tickets in advance so you don’t end up standing in a lengthy line or being disappointed because a show is sold out. While you’re home, you can also plan for some small projects to rejuvenate your space. Adding such things as new towels, velvety robe and an iPod docking station quickly manifests a hotel’s spa mood in a master bathroom. To ensure total peace and quiet as well as privacy while you’re luxuriating in the tub, install sound-absorbing Duette Architella honeycomb shades, which can be

operated from the top-down, so that you can have privacy as well as light and a view. If some meals at home are part of the plan, order them now or cook and freeze them. Stock up on snacks so that frantic, lastminute runs to the market aren’t required. Decorate Rather than searching for a hotel, make a few subtle alterations to your home, such as those mentioned for the bathroom, to turn it into a more hotel-like, gracious and comfortable space. For example, designate a bureau or tabletop in the bedroom for everything required for breakfast in bed such as a mini coffee maker and your best china, glassware, linen and silver for the food you’ll be enjoying. Two of the most cherished aspects of any vacation are a nap in the afternoon and a good night’s sleep. If you love the bedding at a particular hotel, check the company’s website; chances are you can purchase it. If not, department stores and specialty shops abound, as do a multitude of online brands. As for those meals you anticipate having at home, set a formal dining table complete with centrepiece. Enjoy Whether taking your staycation alone, à deux or with a larger group, put yourself first, relax and enjoy. It’s bound to be one of the best gifts you’ve ever given yourself. More information at www.hunterdouglas.ca. Sound-absorbing, energy-efficient Duette Architella honeycomb shades from Hunter Douglas can operate from the top down for privacy with light and a view.

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White knights on wheels Kelowna Cycle It would not be overstating the case to say that Kelowna Cycle is a business that changes lives. The city’s oldest bike shop has been a pillar of the community for decades, witnessing many great eras of cycling from from the CCM bike company through to the advent of the BMX and mountain bike. They stock road, mountain, BMX, cruisers, comfort and hybrid cycles, along with all the biking accessories you need to make your ride safe and enjoyable. In the winter months, Kelowna Cycle continues to promote a healthy lifestyle by carrying and servicing an incredible line of cross country ski equipment. Their dedicated and knowledgeable staff doesn’t just sell equipment, they actually bike and ski all year round; they know their products based on their own experience. They generously share that knowledge with their customers, but the service and caring doesn’t stop there. Owner Patrick Rosen believes in

empowering his people to make decisions like repairing a tire for a young paperboy, so he could complete his route—no charge. Patrick saw an even bigger opportunity with customers and the public who wanted to get rid of old bikes. “We decided to take the bikes, refurbish them and give them to people in need.” Kelowna Cycle has given away more than 50 bikes, first to kids in schools, then in a joint effort with Kelowna Gospel Mission,

providing bikes for homeless people to help them get to interviews or jobs. Patrick has now further expanded the reach to include the Kelowna Women’s Shelter and the Canadian Mental Health Association. Bike donations are all put to good use. Located in the heart of Kelowna’s Mission District, Kelowna Cycle continues to provide expertise, knowledge and service for the biking enthusiast to the little child who just wants a bell for his first tricycle.

Exceptional relationships build exceptional homes

Financial independence and peace of mind

Harmony Homes

Lakeside Financial Planning

Since 1975 Harmony Homes has been creating custom homes to meet the needs of new home buyers throughout BC. Our inhouse draftsmen and designers, project managers, site coordinators and administrative staff provide a one-stop home building experience: turn-key, lock-up or anything in between—Harmony can accommodate your needs. From the initial concept design to the final construction drawings, our design team and project managers incorporate “design equity” and ensure nothing is overlooked—providing you with peace of mind, knowing you’ve made a sound investment with lasting resale value. With over 40 national, provincial and regional awards for excellence, Harmony has a reputation as one of BC’s most

Over a long-term relationship we lead our clients through a comprehensive process, helping them to better manage their financial affairs and providing a road map for better decisions. With our disciplined our team of experts, we have the Drop by our newtooffi ce location approach, together we will assess proven expertise provide you at 221– 550 West Ave. Kelowna or call 250-712-1131 your overall picture, analyse your with comprehensive investment, arrange anand appointment to meet with: options and continuously monitor toinsurance financial advice. progress towards your goals. We We help youB.A, manage your income, Mike Waller, CFP, Investment Advisor don’t just promise follow-up, increase your wealth, and identify IPC SECURITIES CORPORATION we’ve got the sytems to deliver. and realize your financial goals. www.wallerfi nancial.com Whether you’re a business If you believe experience is too ® Doug Knight,try CFPletting , Certifian edamateur Financial Planner owner, executive, professional expensive, Kent Littleton, BA, Branch Manager or entrepreneur, we’ll coach manage your financials. Financialon Advisor and guide you through the ForDavid moreChase, information development of a strategy, howINVESTMENT we can help you make IPC CORPORATION www.lakesidefi nancialplanning.com both offensive and defensive, your dreams reality, let us and help you to build the right arrange an initial consultation. Securities available through IPC Securities Corporation, a habits. With over a century ofmember of Call or visit the250.712.1131 Canadian Investor Protection Fund. combined experience among lakesidefinancialplanning.com.

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recognized custom home builders. And with the proven experience of a third generation builder and 150plus years of combined experience, we’re always up-to-date with the latest trends. Exceptional customer service and complete satisfaction drive our people. Clients tell of a passionate team dedicated to creating timeless, quality homes while building lifelong friendships. Whether you’ve built before or this is your first time; allow us to explain what makes Harmony stand alone and how we bring your new home dreams to life!

PROGRESS 2015 Okanagan Life Magazine

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okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2015 39 Edited and Formatted only by Gary Leung 2014 604 267 2113

New chapter for Silver Star icon

Original lodge.

THE PINNACLES SUITE HOTEL When Silver Star Mountain opened for the 1957-58 ski season, all the talk was the new day lodge, a two-story A-frame structure tucked in the upper village just off a run now known as Chalet Alley. From almost anywhere on the hill, you could see smoke billowing above its snow-capped triangle rooftop. Inside, skiers warmed their woolsocked feet by the fire, played a round or two of canasta, and ate ham sandwiches wrapped in parchment paper. Life at “The Star” was good. Nearly 60 years later, that day lodge has become one of the most popular places to stay at Silver Star, in part because The Pinnacles Suite Hotel still captures the spirit of the early days. You see it in the exposed wooden beams. You feel it in the rock fireplace of Suite 5. You hear it, the eager skiers of yesteryear, in your toes. Thirty years after it was erected, a group of ski patrollers bought the day lodge as the resort was building a new one in the centre of the village. Over the next three years, the building was converted to a handful of suites that now make up the Central Lodge. Over time, an east wing of executive townhouses, the Pinnacles Slopeside, was added, and then a three-story west wing made up of three- and four-bedroom townhome style suites. People came from near and far to stay at The Pinnacles, partly because it offered cosy, authentic, ski-in, ski-out lodging, and partly because of a man named Warren Burgess, a founding partner and the hotel’s only general manager until his retirement in 2011. Year after year, generation after generation, families made their annual journey to Pinnacles because of Burgess’s hospitality. Today, with a new format of individuallyowned suites, the landmark hotel still strives to be unlike most hotels. At The Pinnacles, you get to know people’s names. You don’t get charged for parking or coffee. You can pull board games like Monopoly or old movies like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation from the shelf in the lobby. Barley, your Bernese mountain dog, is welcome to stay (and they’ve even got extra doggie bags). While The Pinnacles also offers all the

Nearly 60 years later, the original day lodge has become one of the most popular places to stay on the hill.

amenities of modern hotels—wireless Internet, gourmet coffee and DVD players—it’s the chalet charm and unique location that usually turn first-time guests into annual visitors and even owners. From your sundeck, you can soak in views of the vast Monashee Mountain Range, including the Pinnacles peaks after which the hotel is named, or catch the last shadows of skiers casting down slopes as they meet just outside the hotel. In all but three of the 18 suites, you can soak those leg muscles in your secluded balcony hot tub or just bask in the serenity of Silver Star, so far away from it all. Some are lucky enough to call The Pinnacles home for a week, some are even luckier. Four two- and three-bedroom suites are still available for sale through RE/MAX realtor Don Defoe, each with the option to live year-round, lock and leave, or rent for extra income. Resident general manager and

artist Destanne Norris oversees these suites. “I love this hotel and Silver Star Mountain life,” says Norris. “I so enjoy getting to know our guests, working with a great team, having stellar suppliers as well as suite owners, and being a part of the Silver Star community.” Will you stay for the weekend or for years to come? Learn more at www.pinnacles.com.

Photos (middle/bottom) courtesy of M. Byskov

PROGRESS 2015 Okanagan Life Magazine

Sky-high opportunity SkyTrek Adventure Park Rocky and Juliet Ehlers know how to adapt. They first got into the business of captivating visitors at their Enchanted Forest on the Trans Canada Highway near Revelstoke in 1988. At the time, the goal was spending more time with their three children, which was working out well until a massive wind storm four years later left their forest in a tangle. Where many people would have seen nothing but disaster, while working in the treetops to clear the mess, Rocky saw opportunity—and the couple adapted again. “We realized that if people only knew what it was like, this is where they’d want to be,” he says. “So we decided to put people right in the forest, to touch and feel the inside of a giant cedar stump, to be in a bear’s den. Our giant tree house doubled admission.” And Rocky didn’t stop there. Next he wanted to build a canopy walk. By the spring of 2007, he and Juliet were in the aerial trekking adventure business, one of the

only parks of its kind in Western Canada. But this was a business they knew nothing about, so they hired Veronika Stevenson and SkyTrek Adventure Park was born. “That is the story of how SkyTrek got started,” says Rocky. “We just jumped over the cliff together and, with faith and good will, SkyTrek has become a well-oiled machine that works in tandem with The Enchanted Forest to thrill people with good old healthy exercise and adventure in the treetops, just as we set out to do so many years ago.” Which has brought Rocky and Juliet to a new threshold in life. The couple now longs to adapt once more, this time to retirement. They’re looking for new owners to carry their hugely successful business into the future. SkyTrek Adventure Park is a thriving turnkey operation just waiting for its next dedicated owners. If this sounds like the adventure you’re looking for, contact Steve Daschuk at 250.550.4380.

North Okanagan’s go-to garden & produce centre Swan Lake Nurseryland When it comes to gardening in the North Okanagan, locals know they can trust the expert advice of Swan Lake’s knowledgeable staff. Our full retail garden centre features soils, fertilizers, seeds, trees, shrubs, flowers, and lawn and garden tools, while our landscape division provides commercial and residential landscape design and installation. We’re the go-to place for fresh produce year round, including organic, locally sourced in season to support Okanagan growers. Don’t

miss our bakery and deli for fresh baked goods and daily lunch specials, and stop by our floral shop. We’re proud of our history as a locally owned independent retailer since our start as a small roadside stand in 1959. And we’re committed to our community with contributions including the beautification of the highway entrance to Vernon, donations to service groups, winter carnival, and more. Visit us at www.myswanlake.com and stop in at 7920 Highland Road, just north of Vernon.

Rocky Ehlers tackles the treetops.

Learning and loving live theatre Kelowna Actors Studio Voted best performing arts group every year since the company took to the stage in 2003, Kelowna Actors Studio (KAS) produces the world’s best-loved Broadway productions. This season’s lineup features The Addams Family: The Musical and August: Osage County. And tickets for the 2015/16 subscription season, featuring perennial favourites like Mary Poppins, are now on sale. KAS is equally proud of its mission to present fun, challenging and enriching learning experiences for students of all ages. In addition to regular programming, watch for news on the Actors Studio Academy for Grades 10–12, starting in September 2015. Learn more about our theatre productions, with traditional performance or popular dinner

theatre formats, arts education, and our new Orchard Park Mall community box office and concierge service at www.kelownaactorsstudio.com.

Mac Mackay (Jinx) in the smash hit Forever Plaid.

Swan Lake Nurseryland staff will help you to find everything you need.

okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2015 41

New home for insurance and investment firm PEACOCK SHERIDAN GROUP Peacock Sheridan Group, a local independent insurance and investment planning firm, has moved to a new location in downtown Kelowna. When partners Brent Peacock and Grant Sheridan bought into the new SOLE Kelowna development at 1290 St. Paul Street, they were excited about the opportunity to design a space where their growing team of specialists and support staff could work together to provide the very best client experience. Peacock Sheridan Group is a wealth management and insurance firm that builds strategic wealth, business and estate plans for business owners, incorporated professionals and successful families. Their team of respected financial advisors, including Rusty Bracken, Greg Carter, Allan Hryniuk, Doug Deschner and Marc Gaucher, follow the simple but important philosophy of identifying and understanding the client’s situation (their issues, problems and opportunities) before offering any advice. “The partners of Peacock Sheridan are business owners and entrepreneurs,” says Brent. “We have a great ability to assist others, in part, because we share with our clients the same drive and determination to build our business and help push ourselves to the next level.” With an eye to the long term, Peacock Sheridan Group’s focus on planning gives clients a strong foundation. “We know that a client’s needs will evolve over the years, but with solid financial direction, one can respond effectively to challenges and opportunities as they present themselves,” says Grant. “We help our clients to clarify and crystallize their financial objectives, as well as their life and family goals. With this high level of understanding, we are better positioned to identify and recommend the resources and solutions that ultimately matter most.” This same attitude extends to the company’s long-standing support of the community at

PROGRESS 2015 Okanagan Life Magazine

Grant Sheridan (L) and Brent Peacock (R).

large, providing sponsorship for the Kelowna Rockets, Kelowna Chiefs Hockey Club and other local sports teams. PSG is proud to have sponsored the Kelowna General Hospital’s Heart of Gold Gala, and believes in our community and supporting the endeavours of other non-profit organizations. A similar winning attitude extends throughout the team of advisors and among the staff of Renata Irvine, Michelle Muhlbach, Tracy Turcotte, Darcy Letendre, Joanne Valcourt and Sasha Carter. We consider it a privilege to be a trusted resource for our clients, and look forward to expanding our services and areas of expertise in our new space. We look forward to seeing you at our new location, 314-1290 St. Paul Street in downtown Kelowna. To learn more, please call 250. 869.1451 or visit www.peacocksheridan.com.

Inside the new SOLE location.

Master builder unveils Tower Ranch special

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Dilworth Homes “Recognized as one of the top builders in the Okanagan by readers of Okanagan Life Magazine, Dilworth Homes is a consistent winner of Tommie Awards.”

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Leading edge care for the health of your skin DermMedica A lot can happen in twenty-one years. Twenty-one years ago, the BC Junior Hockey League Interior Championship was taken by the Kelowna Spartans; OJ Simpson surprised the world with his infamous car chase; and gas cost us an (at the time, startling) 50 cents a litre. There is no question that 1994 was an exciting year, and it was also the year that the Kelowna Vein Clinic and Laser Centre first opened on Tutt Street in Kelowna. Fast forward twenty years, and the Kelowna Vein Clinic and Laser Centre has changed just as much as the rest of the world. Now called DermMedica, the practice has developed in many ways, including through a move from its old location to a new one right in downtown Kelowna. For the last six years, DermMedica has had Dr. Craig Crippen at the helm. Dr. Crippen has bolstered the clinic’s reputation and utility to the community by pioneering and adapting some of the most exciting new treatments available. A family physician by trade, Dr. Crippen chose to devote his time to medical as well as cosmetic vein and skincare treatments for the people of the Okanagan. With degrees from the University of Ottawa, the University of Western Ontario, the University of Manitoba and Cardiff University in Wales, Dr. Crippen’s extensive training shows in his meticulous work and his dedication to his practice and patients. “Something that sets DermMedica apart from other BC skincare clinics is that it is a true medical facility,” notes Dr. Crippen, who is licensed by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia. Dr. Crippen has achieved a significant amount of additional expertise in the areas of venous disease, laser medicine, aesthetics, and skin cancer. Some of Dr. Crippen’s more recent training includes the American Board of Laser Surgery (ABLS) and Primary Care Skin Cancer Surgery (University of Queensland). In addition to this ongoing training, Dr. Crippen also sits on the Dermatology Committee as the BC and Alberta representative at the College of Family Physicians of Canada. This committee was formed to help

PROGRESS 2015 Okanagan Life Magazine

DermMedica’s state of the art medical facility.

Dr. Crippen performing a laser treatment.

“Something that sets DermMedica apart from other BC skincare clinics is that it is a true medical facility.” promote dermatology education for other family physicians across the country. DermMedica has been at the forefront of many medical innovations over the last few years. This year alone, Dr. Crippen has been advocating the effectiveness of CoolSculpting and the Vbeam laser platform. CoolSculpting is an alternative to liposuction that assists in the removal of stubborn fat pockets on the body. This frees patients from any postprocedure downtime and offers a painless option to get rid of unwanted fat, allowing patients to say goodbye to stubborn “muffin tops” and “love handles” that a proper regime of diet and exercise cannot sufficiently combat. The gold-standard Vbeam laser

treats common conditions like visible veins, birthmarks, rosacea and other skin disorders more comfortably than ever before. Dr. Crippen certainly isn’t slowing down on innovative new treatments, and has just recently started Live Well Kelowna, a lifestyle blog which is aimed to get more people in Kelowna interested in their overall health and skincare by offering tips, tricks, and resources. You can visit the new blog at www. DermMedica.ca/lifestyle, or Dr. Crippen at his conveniently-located clinic at 1626 Richter Street, suite #200, in Kelowna. New patient appointments and consultations are always welcome.

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37 okanaganlife.com PROGRESS 2015

REARVIEW By Patti Shales Lefkos

It’s in the bag Whether you travel for business or leisure, you’re bound to get a sense of “been there, done that,” from this story

“W

hat do you mean I’m only allowed one bag?” I asked the check-in counter clerk at the Cathay Pacific counter in the Hong Kong airport. “The website said two bags, fift y-five pounds each.” “I’m sorry, madam. The Dragon Air flight to Kathmandu allows only one bag per person,” she said. “My second bag is full of school supplies for Nepali children in a remote village,” I countered, in my best authoritative former elementary school principal voice. “I’m taking it and I’m not paying extra.” “One bag only,” she repeated. She paused and looked straight at me, her frustration evident in her wrinkled brow. I politely but firmly stared her down. “One moment, please,” she said and walked away from the counter. My mistake: stopping over for three days in Hong Kong. Apparenty Dragon Air, the Cathay Pacific affi liate I was flying to Kathmandu, only permits two bags on immediately connecting flights. No stopovers allowed. Who knew? Not me. Nowhere was it mentioned on the website. I waited, worrying about how I’d get the school supplies to Kathmandu on time for my two-week volunteer English-teaching stint in Nepal’s Ratmate village. The clerk finally returned to the counter. Without a word of explanation or request for my Visa card, she checked both bags. “Enjoy your flight,” she said, and I did, despite guilty thoughts around the possibility of my extra bag dragging down the plane somewhere over the Himalaya. Who makes these rules, anyhow? Are they

PROGRESS 2015 Okanagan Life Magazine

ever followed? Apparently it’s sometimes a judgment call, and sometimes it’s who you know. Several months later, leaving Kathmandu for the return Hong Kong stopover, I was helped by a new friend, who happened to be the airport services manager for Dragon Air. “Come with me,” he said, taking my arm and escorting me out of the economy class lineup. Not only did he check in both my heavy duﬄe bags, souvenirs and gifts now fi lling the gap left by school supplies, he bumped me to business class. Apparently rules are made to be broken. No complaints or worries this time. Recently at the Kelowna airport I stood behind a gigantic man the size of an NFL linebacker. His large duﬄe bag was judged to be just under the allowed weight limit and he was ushered ahead. I waited, all 110 pounds of me, nervously fidgeting because I thought my checked bag was five pounds overweight. As it happened, I also narrowly passed the weigh scale test. But then my sense of justice kicked in. At a rough guess, I’d say the linebacker and his bag outweighed me and my bag by three times—and I bet his pockets were full of heavy stuff, too: change, iPhone, you know, guy stuff. Was any of that taken into consideration? I have a proposal for airlines. Weight allowances should be based on the total weight of passenger and bags. No exceptions. And don’t even get me started on carry-on.

At a rough guess, I’d say the linebacker and his bag outweighed me and my bag by a good three times.

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PHASE 2 RIDGE LOTS 75% SOLD OUT

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