A solution to UBCO safe cycle access problem? p3
UBCO’s Student Newspaper
There’s a motion to impeach 3 student executives... p4
October 7th, 2013 | Vol. 25 Issue 4
Good clean fun since 1989
INTRODUCTION TO KELOWNA WELCOME TO THE CITY p13 DOWNTOWN STUDY SPOTS p14 WEST KELOWNA p19
QUICK FACTS & City landmarks p18 YE OLDE MAP OF KELOWNA p14-15 PAndosy & rutland p16 &17
KELOWNA statistics p18 YOGA STUDIO PRICES p15 LAKE CoUNTRY p20
NEWS
NEWS
Features
Club Day finally arrives p3 There’s a motion to impeach 3 execs p4
Your intro to Kelowna p13-20
life
Arts
New solution proposed to fix the lack of cycle access for campus
briefs
The Well recently adopted a number system because they were having “too many thefts” with the name call system, according to one worker at The Well. You now get your metal number plate and they call you by number instead of by name.
Shaving in rez is a pain p6 Kelowna’s Farmers Market is huge p9
Culture Crawl p23-24
Opinions
Sports
An illustration of the proposed cycle route
Academy Hill’s reply to our article p11
Editor-in-chief
David Nixon eic@thephoenixnews.com
Room 109 University Center 3333 University Way Kelowna, BC Canada V1Y 5N3 Phone: 250-807-9296 Fax: 250-807-8431 thephoenixnews.com Cover images by Kelsi Barkved
Managing Editor
Alex Eastman ads@thephoenixnews.com
Creative Director
Heat thrown to WolfPack p24
Life Editor
Maranda Wilson life@thephoenixnews.com
Interim News Editor
David Nixon news@thephoenixnews.com
Arts Editor
Cameron Welch creative@thephoenixnews.com
Laura Sciarpelletti arts@thephoenixnews.com
Interim Art Director
Interim Sports Editor
Cameron Welch artdirector@thephoenixnews.com
Photo Editor
Kelsi Barkved photo@thephoenixnews.com
Alex Eastman sports@thephoenixnews.com
Opinions Editor
Matt Lauzon opinions@thephoenixnews.com
Staff Illustrator Asher Klassen
Columnists
Katie Jones & Curtis Tse & Naughty Librarian
Copy Editors
The Phoenix is the UBCO students’ free press. Editorial content is separate from the University of British Columbia Students’ Union Okanagan (UBCSUO) and from the UBC institution at large.
Katie Norman & Lauren Wintle copy@thephoenixnews.com
The editorial staff encourages everyone to
Staff Photographer
right to withdraw submissions from publication
David Nixon Editor-in-chief On Wednesday October 4th a petition was published on change. org that proposed an option for safe cycle access to campus. UBCO has no safe access available for those that wish to bike or walk to campus. Curtis Road, which accesses the back of campus from Glenmore, is now illegal for the majority of campus. The other option is the highway overpass, but there is no cycle lane and anyone who uses it will be inches away from 80km/hour traffic. “It verges on the degree of acrimony,” said biology professor Paul Shipley, who has biked to campus “all year, every day”, even in winter, since 2001. Shipley mapped his proposed route with GPS and says it’s the same grade and distance as Curtis Road. It takes cyclists and pedestri-
ans out past the recently purchased university endowment lands and around the north side of Robert’s Lake. Shipley only asked for a packed gravel path. University administration is now aware of the petition. “We’ve just met with the City of Kelowna about this yesterday, I believe, and we’re working with the city to develop how the consultation process will proceed,” said Paul Marck of UBCO Media Relations. The proposed route faces its own unique difficulties. Marck’s estimation puts seven stakeholders in the mix: the City of Kelowna, the Central Okanagan Regional District, the Ellison Improvement District, residential neighbors, the endowment land’s agricultural land reserve status, a farmer who is currently leasing the endowment lands, and the university itself.
They won’t have any idea about timelines and feasibility “until we sit down together and discuss what everyone’s needs and concerns are,” said Marck. “UBC realizes this is an extremely important issue for students, faculty and staff and we want to work on this as soon as we can.” Depending on how those negotiations fare, the petition could offer a solution in less than two years. The other potential routes are facing too much trouble to safely say they will provide a solution earlier. A pedestrian overpass was supposed to have been built over the highway this fall, but that $13.5 million project was delayed indefinitely when Kelowna Pacific Railway, a stakeholder in the project, went bankrupt. There is also a project to connect Glenmore from John Hindle Drive, which currently stops at
Academy Hill and Aberdeen Hall. Marck says that the construction date is set for 2016, however. Shipley’s petition has caught on quick. It had 627 signatures as of October 4th. A quick look at the comments shows how outraged many in the community are about the lack of any safe access to campus for pedestrians and cyclists. “[The] bridge is clearly not an option,” concluded Shipley, “I’d hate for it to be a fatality to teach us that lesson.” Check thephoenixnews.com for a link to the petition and for updates about this developing story. Comments from the petition can be found in Opinions.
for any reason. “Any reason” could be material
Staff Writers
publish materials which condone, promote, or
deemed to be sexist, racist, homophobic, or of poor taste or quality. The Phoenix will not
Torin McLachlan & Sasha Curry & Stephanie Wise & Emma Partridge writer@thephoenixnews.com
express actions which are illegal under current
Contributors
controversial subject (e.g. legalising marijuana).
laws. This does not include articles which provide an in-depth examination of both sides of a
The Phoenix is published, in part, by the UBCSUO and is an active member of the Canadian University Press
After a long consultation process that began last year, the UBCO Senate has followed in Vancouver’s footsteps by giving professors the option to publish the numbers from their student evaluations. They also voted to require that all data and comments included in those evaluations go to department heads, whereas before professors got to pick and choose which comments they would show. “It’s true most professors take the evaluations seriously, but I want all professors to take them seriously,” said Jan Cioe, Head of Psychology, during the debate. Top: Photo by David Nixon; Bottom: flickr
submit material to the Phoenix but reserves the
Ali Young, Jahmira Lovemore young@thephoenixnews.com
Kolton Proctor & Nathalie Notz, Laura Reyerse, Katie Barkved, Jesse Shopa
Illustration by Asher Klassen
On our radar Course Unions
The course union policy is going through revisions just like the club policy. There was a lot of blowback from clubs, but it may not be the same with course unions.
pub & grocery store
UBCO students will soon be in walking distance of a grocery store, pub, and multiple take-out restaurants. Phase III of Academy Hill includes commercial leases. They are still negotiating and Academy Hill has not released the names of the tenants.
UBCSUO byelection
UBCSUO is holding a byelection for the four vacant positions on the board of directors. Two directorat-large positions are available and one advocacy representative is open.
Know something that should be on our radar? Have a tip about these stories that are already on our radar? Email us at news@thephoenixnews. com
4
October 7th, 2013
October 7th, 2013
ON THE WEB
5
EVENTS
thephoenixnews.com
Oct 9 Updating UBC’s Master Plan
10:30am-1:30pm / ADMIN building foyer
Yet another motion for impeachment is being proposed for the upcoming UBCSUO AGM. Last year it was against Nick Dodds. This year it is against three executives: all except the financial coordinator Rocky Kim. The introduction reads: “As students have recently expressed extreme concern with the UBCSUO and have felt disenfranchised with their elected executives.” To be impeached, an executive must operate “grossly” outside of policy/bylaw. Check thephoenixnews.com on Monday October 7 to see the full motion and the beginning of our coverage.
The arts co-op has been suspended, and its future is uncertain. Co-op is a program that links students up with jobs to spend one or two terms working and gaining experience in their fields. Find out why it happened and what it means for arts students online on Tuesday October 8.
Top: Illustration by Asher Klassen; Bottom: Illustration by Laura Reyerse
The consultation process is beginning that will inform future development needs all the way to 2030. You can also participate online at planning.ubc.ca.
Emma Partridge
Photos by Ali Young
Staff Writer
Club Day draws students, but many clubs still concerned over changes Club Day
On Wednesday October 2, the UBCSUO hosted their annual club day a month after it usually happens. The UBCSUO has faced widespread criticism for delaying the recruitment-focused club day, which led to student leaders organizing their own recruitment event called Involvement Day earlier in September. The official Club Day still drew many students, but clubs continue to voice concern over how it will affect their year. “The first years expect it to be in September,” said Brittney Brant, member of the Anime Club, “the beginning of October is a bit late.” “Students need to feel that they have time to get orientated with a club, whereas now students are already into midterms,” said Jared Kevesten, President of the Varsity Outdoors Club Okanangan (VOCO).
A representative of the International Justice Mission at club day also pointed out that the earliest a club can start an event is now October, since they may not know how many members will be involved. Club executives have been told Dodds’s decision to push club day back is a move he believed would improve the organization and accountability of clubs, and allow them to adjust to the new paperwork requirements that the new club policy brings in. Dodds maintained that the event “worked out well”. While he did admit that overall there might have been fewer people, he attributes this to having to do it indoors. Because of weather concerns, club day was hosted inside the EME building. Allne Freufa, also of the Anime Club said “the only reason I found out about games clubs is because [club day] was outside”.
Policy changes
The other changes to policy have also received criticism from students. They included a mandatory membership fee, an increase from 4-5 to 15 for minimum members of a club, and extensive paperwork and filing requirements. “I can see what Nick Dodds is doing with it, as far as making more clubs a little more accountable,” said Kesteven, “but a major complaint is that all the club reports that we have to do this year, before we can renew or apply for funding, are a waste of club resources.” The paperwork is significantly more than clubs were used to in the past. “Last year it took an hour to do everything…now it takes forever,” said Brant. Some clubs believe the extra paperwork is not even beneficial to the quality of clubs, as it was intended to be. “Considering we’re talking about a volunteer club where all your members and exec leaders are busy students at the same time, it takes a lot of time and effort to work on somewhat empty and useless re-
ports, rather than actually planning club events,” said Kesteven. Also new to this year is a mandatory membership fee. This rule has caused some upset, but it has not proved a substantial obstacle since many clubs are charging the absolute minimum fee of one dollar. “Most clubs are only charging people a dollar,” said Jenna Smith of The International Justice Mission, so “people are finding ways around it.” The additional concern with membership fees is that club funding from the UBCSUO is based off of how much students are charged to join a club. It is unclear how this will affect clubs further on in the year. But they now have the opportunity to apply for project funding at any board meeting instead of just once, which should allow clubs more flexibility. Some clubs are more critical than others, but those that we spoke to just want the best for their clubs. Nikita Gush of the BC Young Liberals was more sympathetic towards the UBCSUO’s efforts.“It’s a big job for Nick Dodds...we just want to help him help us.”
Photo by Kelsi Barkved
A recreation of the board after a student wrote his “joke” up on it
Student’s bad joke shows exactly why SARA week is needed David Nixon
Sexual Assault and Rape Awareness (SARA) Week volunteers were appalled to see a student write “pillage” on their community board while they were tabling in EME the week of September 30. “He takes his phone out, takes a picture of the board, starts laughing, and saying ‘who just says this stuff, like “be strong”, what the hell,’” said Lauren Gaudet, one of the founders and organizers of SARA week. The community board was put up to help make the table interactive. People could write messages of support for those who have experienced sexual assault or other messages of a similar nature. The student in question illustrated exactly why this sort of campaign is needed. Gaudet began the project two years ago as a legacy project for the PATH leadership program,
with her friend Kylie Dillon. She was motivated by a personal experience. “I was assaulted in second year. I was assaulted on rez,” said Gaudet, “but I’ve always tried to take the bad experiences in my life and turn them around into positives.” “There’s a lot of shame around it… it’s the most vulnerable you can make someone feel,” said Gaudet. At the time she had tried to bring the problem to the Kelowna RCMP but she says she was victim blamed and they made the experience worse rather than trying to help. A year later, she decided to do something about it herself. So when a student wrote “pillage” on their board, Gaudet and the other volunteers were understandably upset. They kept their cool though. “None of his friends laughed,” she said, and the student apologized and left look-
ing ashamed. One of his friends stayed and erased it afterwards. The campaign is focused on defining ‘consent’ and encouraging students to “be that person” who makes healthy choices and speaks out against rape culture. Gaudet has heard people say to her that they didn’t want to sleep with someone but they were drunk so it was okay. “That’s not okay,” said Gaudet, “you can’t give consent if you’re drunk or high.” She has also spoken to many first years who were completely surprised to know that it could happen on campus at all. The unique preventative and educational campaign is well timed in light of the recent frosh chant controversy. The Sauder chant went like this: At UBC we like ‘em young, Y is for your sister, O is for ‘oh so tight’, U is for underage, N is for no consent, G is for go to jail.
Editor-in-chief
UBC’s president, Stephen Toope, has said they are looking for ways to prevent this from happening in the future. As a result, Gaudet and her team have proposed their SARA Week to Toope’s office now, and they hope it will become a much bigger movement on campus. The SARA Week team has had help from all different parts of campus and over 50 volunteers have participated this year. They hope to cement ties with orientation groups and Residence Life to get SARA into the first two weeks at school and pamphlets onto the desks of all first years on residence. “It’s so cool to see the whole campus working together to get the story out,” said Gaudet, “I’m hoping this campaign can help prevent the problem… of course I don’t want anyone to have to experience this.”
Oct 10 UBCSUO Board Meeting 5:30pm / UNC105
Propose a motion in advance, come speak, come listen, come learn where your student money is going.
Oct 12 March against Monsanto
11AM / Parkinson Rec Centre In conjunction with GMO awareness month, this is a global family event that protests the GMO giant Monsanto.
Oct 15 Open forum for Chief Librarian search 1pm-2pm / ADM101
Interested in giving the committee info on what we need in a Chief Librarian? Hell yeah. Get in there.
UPCOMING
LIFE
Country Night Well Wednesday 8pm / The Well
No cover. The real cowboys won’t stop here, they’ll wake up and head to The Corral for Thursday night.
Oct 10 Way of life ski & snowboard film premier
7pm / Landmark Cinemas downtown Teton Gravity has another film. So there.
Booyah Thursdays: Wild Son, Paperboy, Honest Woods
Living in residence in my first year, I struggled with shaving my legs. The shower was, unsurprisingly, tiny, and being 5’8”, my legs are not short. With barely any room to move, shaving was a hassle, usually ending in cuts or puddles of water everywhere. Going from a full sized shower/bath back at home, to a stand up shower stall measuring roughly four square feet, the change affected my shaving routine. I often avoided outfits that showed off my legs, due to my inability and reluctance to shave. However, after a year of experimentation, I can now proudly say that in my second year in residence that I have finally mastered a method of shaving that works for me. To all the ladies still struggling, this is for you.
The Teen Angst Because having to shave your legs is just another reason to hate the world. Pros: Minimal effort required. Cons: Hopefully you don’t mind sitting on limescale.
Photographer:
Kelsi Barkved
The Captain Morgan Shave ‘em legs - Captain’s Orders! Pros: Easy access to ankles and knees. No bending required. Cons: Some flexibility is required. Expect a nasty gash if your leg slips off the wall.
| The Phoenix
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Campus Style On the weB
The art of shaving in a four-square-foot shower Maranda Wilson Life Editor
Oct 9
October 7th, 2013
Leg model:
thephoenixnews.com
Kayti Barkved
The Flamingo Everyone wants to be a skinny, pink bird. Pros: No flexibility required, the pose is straightforward, and is the ideal way to shave the front of the quads. Cons: Gets tiring to hold the leg up.
The Venus Commercial Yeah, baby, she’s got it – a face full of water. Pros: Most instinctive way to shave, and what is most commonly done in the Venus commercials Cons: Prepare for Niagara Falls in your face.
Check out this issue’s DIY online, which shows you step by step how to make a teacup candle from things you probably already have lying around!
Sarrah Hohmann (4th year Psychology)
“My style is a little bohemian. Flowy, loose, light.” Hair Feathers: Kelowna Farmer’s Market Purple ring: From Ali for her birthday
Ali Duncan (4th year History Major, English Minor) “My style is laid back.” Jacket: From her trip to England in the summer
Haylee Sonnenberg (2nd year Engineering) “This isn’t a purse, it is actually my lunch kit… it’s from Costco!” Haylee is a fan of the site “Urbanog”, where she bought her boots for forty dollars.
Nikki Wilfort (4th year Psych)
“As long as I’m comfy; nobody can study when they’re uncomfortable.” Boots: From Denmark Bag: Lululemon Scarf: Crocheted own scarf
Alex Huizing (2nd year Engineering)
“I love sweaters -I have quite a large collection, actually.” He thrifts all his sweaters; this one is from Value Village
8pm / Habitat
BETWEEN THE LINES AND BETWEEN THE SHEETS
I hope you don’t like snowboarding/skiing AND good music because you’re in for a stressful night.
Oct 25 Greek life Toga Party
8:30pm / The Well and UNC 200 Find a friend who knows how to wrap a blanket around you and come down: $8 for entry at The Well and $6 for all ages in the Ballroom. All proceeds go to Kelowna Women’s Shelter & Heart & Stroke Foundation.
with
The Shave ‘n Tone (a.k.a The Wall Sit) Shave off the pounds while shaving off the hair. Pros: Get your daily workout in. Cons: It’s bad enough when you cut yourself, let alone the quad burn. Ouch.
The Multitasker: Morning Rush Because you only have 10 minutes before a midterm… Pros: If you don’t know anything on your midterm, at least your legs look good. Cons: Sweatpants are acceptable on midterm days…
The Multitasker: Pregame Rush Because you only have 10 minutes before catching the bus to Flashbacks… Pros: Get drunker faster in the shower. Cons:Hopefully you make it to Flash.
The Chair The Tree Pose Suggested by a guy. For all the Yogis out there. Pros: “You can chill.” Pros: Access the inner calf Cons: Who puts a chair in and thigh. the shower? Cons: Balance required.
Oct 26 UBCO MUN World Soccer Tournament 10am-7pm / Nonis Soccer Field
It’s a fundraiser! $5 per player. 6 players plus goalie, 3 or more subs. Choose a country. Then beat other countries. Because the world is a competition. And you’re gonna win.
Legs-Up-The-Wall Another yoga-inspired pose Pros: Legs are straight. Cons: Impossible to reach the shins (unless you’re super flexible).
The Wolverine Why use only one razor when you can use three?? Pros: Cover more surface area. Cons: Proceed with caution.
The Spiderman While on the superhero theme… Pros: Everyone wants to be like Spiderman. Cons: Shaving is already hard enough.
The Origami Yoga on steroids. Pros: It’s impressive. Cons: It’s freaky.
So there you have it. Fourteen positions, which may, or may not, make your shaving experience a whole lot easier. If all else fails, hey, that’s okay! With cold weather approaching, trash your razor and embrace the winter legs.
Dear Naughty Librarian, Here is my dilemma: I recently broke up with my boyfriend of a year and a half. Mutual interests [and] friends [has] meant I have historically been able to have great friendships with my exes. However, emotional withdrawal from someone I spent so much time with, opportunity of us being in the same place, and alcohol are a messy combination. Yes, we hooked up and then hooked up again about a week later. He is the best sex I have ever had, and the whole kinky shebang, so I would really like to find myself in a position (innuendo!) where we can continue to have sex. We broke up because of his inability to take ownership for the things he did and said. We came to an agreement the second time we hooked up: I can do whatever I want on the condition that I tell him about the relationships I am having with other people, and if I have sex with them he “might not” want to have sex with me. Basically it seems like he wants exactly what we had before but without any strings for him. What do I do? Mercy! - Early 20s bisexual female with issues. Darling Issues, Before examining the specifics of your situation let me state that I believe all bisexual people should have some sort of hall pass when they are in a single partner relationship, because (except in extremely rare cases) your partner is only going to have one set of the genitals you like to play with. Some special occasions to get that alternative itch scratched need to be negotiated from the start of the relationship. Now in your particular quandary, Issues, a pre-existing relationship is being tentatively resumed but with new parameters; moving from a monogamous (closed) relationship to a more sexually based open relationship. Your new favorite word: boundaries! In open relationships that are successful the acceptable limits of behavior are clearly defined; and what’s green lighted for one partner may not be allowed for the other and that’s ok. Everybody is unique in their needs and desires; what a Naughty
The Naughty Librarian
Librarian wants from her relationships is not going to be the same as what you want, Ms. Issues. However, because of this essential disparity all parties must be able to identify what it is they want, a skill that you yourself may need to develop further. Your less than ex seems to be willing to let you do exactly what you want to do; that is see other people. He just wants to be kept informed and have the option to opt out; that’s a pretty reasonable demands if you ask me. If that is indeed what you want then take yes for an answer and enjoy! You are getting the best of both worlds now, not having to deal with the things that brought your to the break up point while getting the smoking sex that brought you back to his bed. There are two other critical components of working open relationships: communication and respect. Pretty obvious where these come in but remember that it isn’t possible to set rules in stone for this kind of thing, needs and wants are going to vary for each person and change over time. There needs to be space to speak up and say “Hey, this isn’t working for me anymore. Can we try...” While you are off flirting and fucking keep in mind that when you are playing with multiple partners there are higher health risks, and not just for yourself. The payoff is worth the increased risk if you play safe. This means that everyone involved should be getting tested regularly, every three months minimum and be very devoted with your prophylactics, especially during oral play when it is very common for men and women alike to opt out of the barrier that keeps infections at bay. As for the unfortunate possibility of someone pulling the short straw, adopt a ‘non-nuclear’ policy on the subject: that is no-one is allowed to blow up at the messenger since, after all, they are giving you vital information you want to have. This way any unpleasant microbes can be stamped out post haste! Issues, you need to speak clearly and carry a bunch of condoms; everyone else, write to the Naughty Librarian of your woes and wonderings at sex@thephoenixnews.com.
We’ll be posting Campus Styleand People of UBCO roundups a couple times a week on our website, twitter, and instagram. We promise it won’t always be just Simon Bullock.
This issue’s dinosaur column is online, and it blows some assumptionis about t-rexs out of the water. Did you know they had feathers? Yup. Who would have guessed.
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October 7th, 2013 | The Phoenix
October 7th, 2013
a Wholesome hunger
October 7th, 2013
CITY
CITY
Photos by
Jack’s country music can be heard throughout the market
Urban farming at Green City Acres Words and photos by
Words by
Cam Welch Creative Director
Photos by
David Nixon
Jeff Bulmer and Connor Mclosky
Bike Shop Cafe still rolling after 16 years Words and photos by
Katie Jones Contributor
Green City Acres is a small urban farming company that strives to achieve a sustainable way to grow and produce healthy food. This week I’ve chosen to highlight one of my preferred vendors, Green City Acres, who I regularly include in my Saturday morning market routine. The City of Kelowna has quickly become one of my favorite places in the world. When I arrived last summer, being the foodie I am, I fell in love with the surrounding orchards, local growers, and most of all, the farmer’s market. This particular type of farming, called SPIN (small plot intensive) farming, utilizes the space in the backyards of Kelowna residents to grow and distribute food locally. This company has an amazing mission: “to foster social and environmental change through the production of local organic food and to help, teach, and empower people to start.” Curtis Stone started Green City Acres four years ago, beginning with only one growing site, and has now expanded to six agricultural sites. These plots supply top restaurants and local businesses such as Raudz, Waterfront Wines, Mission Hill, and Quail’s Gate with seasonal produce. Urban farming is a cost-efficient venture, especially without the primary cost of land. Curtis also effectively decreases the home owner’s energy output for lawn care, and pays them with a full supply of seasonal vegetables. Curtis grows over 50 different varieties of vegetables including salad greens, root vegetables, tomatoes, and sprouts, just to name a few. Among my favorite things to buy are the sprouts: bean sprouts, broccoli sprouts, and sunflower sprouts are all included in the microgreens family. Sprouts have an increased vitamin content and a concentrated energy value as a result of storage within the seed previous to sprouting. Additionally, sprouts contain an estimated 100 times higher enzyme content than mature uncooked fruits and vegetables. To conclude, starting May 17th-October 25th 2014 Green City Acres will be participating in a Cooperative CSA Veggie Box Program, which makes a 100 mile diet affordable and convenient for families, students, and even just eating for one. I know I’d totally be down for local, seasonal fruits and vegetables delivered to my door on a regular basis next year. For more information visit greencityacres.com or contact info@greencityacres.com . Go get your sprout on, and visit Green City Acres on the 12th of October!
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The Birdhouse Lady
Love it Again Vintage
Kelowna Farmer’s Market one of BC’s largest
The real-life Room of Requirement inside Lois Lane
Lois Lane’s chair-filled second floor
Local treasure trove Lois Lane A businessman in a shiny grey sit suit and a purple dress shirt and tie walks in asking about wooden window frames, and Connor Mclosky folds up his WWII gunner’s seat to go show him where they are. Mclosky is the operator of Lois Lane Retro Sales, a warehouse packed with aisles of glassware, children’s dolls, aged baseballs, vintage comics, 70s loveseats, bespoke coffee tables, a refurbished pay phone, and a hog skull. Outside the entrance is a tower of apple crates, a rusted bathtub, and a church pew. The second floor, an attic full of dozens of chairs from floor to ceiling, is being used for a music video next week. Connor took over the warehouse earlier this year from his mother, interior designer Lois Mclosky, who originally began Lois Lane as a place to display the pieces she found to use for clients’ houses. The job is partially running the daily operations, partially creating new and combined pieces, and partially knowing the market for everything from china sets to pieces of old farmhouses. Sometimes Mclosky is helping an artist or homeowner find material for a project they have in mind. Other times he’s moving in new material, or fielding offers
from people looking to sell the contents of their basement, or helping the customers who come in looking for something interesting. A lot of the customer base is wealthier folks who want specific artisanal pieces for their décor. But Lois Lane’s customers also include regular folks just hoping to find something unique, event planners looking for a standout piece, and artists in search of materials to work with or photograph. The latter two groups often use Lois Lane’s rental program so they don’t have to buy an expensive item just to use it for a few nights. Rentals allow the store to generate revenue from its big-ticket items that are still waiting for a permanent buyer. This summer the purple couch near the entrance paid for itself touring through various shows, plays, and weddings. Beyond housing thousands of old things, Lois Lane also creates new things, either by combining found items or building pieces from scratch. Mclosky has begun work on expanding that side of the business by developing in-house lines of similar pieces so that customers can come to expect the store to have certain products. The current line is a series of tables made from old, heavy barn wood.
“You can tell a lot about a town by its farmers’ market.” This is the opinion of Jenica Frisque, who spent the summer of 2012 visiting local markets as a researcher for the British Columbia Association of Farmers’ Markets. With over one hundred vendors and an estimated impact of around $10.7 million injected back into the local economy over the course of the year, the Kelowna Farmers’ and Crafters’ Market is one of the largest and most vibrant across the province. The outdoor market is open from 8-1 on Wednesdays and Saturdays from the beginning of April to the end of October, and continues indoors two Saturdays per month during the winter. Wares range from locally grown produce, fresh baked bread, free range eggs and meats, and valley grown and milled organic grains to hand made and reworked vintage clothing, herbalist tonics, laundry detergent, jewelry and bird feeders built out of reclaimed wood. The Saturday market has been running for 18 years and it started operating year round in 2011. With
the diversity of products available over the summer months it is possible to get most of your groceries from local farmers, many of whom are certified organic – with many more using organic practices without being certified. As Amanda Poon, a vendor and farmer with Green City Acres, explains “the local food movement is about building social connections and trust,” and one of the best things about the market is that you get to know the people growing your food so they can tell you face to face the methods they are using to practice responsible farming, rather than being forced to rely on government regulations and standards. Since the market is located atop a parking lot between two busy roads and across from the mall, there is not a lot of space for gathering but it truly is a meeting space for likeminded people within the Kelowna community. Although there is a strict policy of no canvassing or leaflets, Ms. Poon believes that “basically everybody who has a stand at the market is kind of an outsider, doing what they do because they don’t want to be part of
Dawn Petrin
Features Editor
the system. Generally everybody wants to be doing something different, not working a 9 to 5.” The profile of a market vendor is just as varied as the profile of the average shopper: many of the vendors are young entrepreneurs who have recently gotten into farming and are passionate about the local food movement, while many others have been farming for decades and generations. The community is vibrant, and although there are many families and seniors who shop at the market, there has been a proliferation of young people who have become regulars over the last couple of years, and the market is a brilliant place to meet a friend for brunch, a wander and some social discourse. So, if you can tell a lot about a town by its farmers’ market, then Kelowna is a progressive community of activism and awareness housed amidst and hidden within the conservative institutions of the dominant culture. For a full list of vendors and things you can find at the market, go to thephoenixnews.com
Ali Young Contributor
The Bike Shop Cafe and Catering Co. is “the quintessential mom and pop shop” according to Darren Ansley, co-owner along with his wife Kim Ansley. At ages 25 and 23, the couple who met doing their cooking apprenticeship founded The Old Bike Shop Cafe in Kelowna. Over the last 16 years, the business has grown (along with their family, now consisting of three children), changed locations, and expanded to become the now extremely popular Bike Shop Cafe and Catering Co. on Ellis St. Let’s start with the name, which has to do with the store’s initial location on Doyle Avenue that many newcomers may not know about. The original venue literally used to be a bike shop, “It used to be the Kelowna cycle location for many, many years”, explains Darren. The decor in this previous location, much like the setup of the cafe today, consisted of many old bicycles hung on the walls. Darren continues, “it was a community connection…there was lots of conversations generated about it.” Darren, Kim, and the Bike Shop Cafe staff team have continued to foster this community connection and personal relationships with customers for nearly two decades. “Our mission statement here is we provide a fresh product, you know, we started out 16 years ago and we’ve never strayed from it at all,” Darren discusses why they gather so many “regulars”. “We’ve just always stuck to our core values…and that’s I think what keeps people coming back here everyday.” The wide variety of cliental- up to 300 customers a day- is Darren’s favourite aspect of his job; from studying students to RCMP officers and bureaucratic officials. When asked about the most interesting thing and/or crazy experience that has happened at the cafe, Darren couldn’t pick just one. “Sometimes I think you could do a show about the everyday goings on at a cafe. there’s so much that happens here throughout the day.” The Bike Shop Cafe also frequently caters community events and has worked with UBCO many times. For more information regarding catering, visit www.bikeshopcafeandcatering.com. So, if you find yourself in downtown Kelowna craving a fresh and healthy lunch, or in need of a coffee, stop by the Bike Shop Cafe. A few staff and customer recommended menu items include the favourite turkey club salad, the ABC wrap, and the decadent Rolo latte made with chocolate, caramel, and steamed milk. Tuesday nights at The Bike Shop Cafe are now open mic comedy nights starting at 9:00pm, featuring up and coming and headlong acts. Oh, and did I mention they are fully licensed?
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October 7th, 2013
CITY
Top: Local musician Darian Saunders trying out a lemon peach hookah. Left: Mattar enjoying from an orange fruit shisha bowl
Words and photos by
Laura Sciarpelletti Arts Editor
First local hookah lounge pushes cultural growth Café Sahara’s owner on the lounge’s one-year anniversary and misconceptions about shisha Café Sahara, a hookah lounge and restaurant and one of downtown Kelowna’s newest businesses, has already made itself known as a friendly spot with exceptional service. The venue is ready to enter the fall and winter months in style. As the café celebrates its one-year year anniversary, owner Rick Mattar agreed to sit down with The Phoenix and explain his business and hopes for the future.
Misconceptions Mattar has found that many people in Kelowna have some popular misconceptions about hookahs and their background. And it’s not just the older population, it’s the youth as well. “Who can blame them,” said Mattar. “The truth is people here grow up without culture. We don’t really have big communities here of really anything. No large communities of Asians, Middle Easterns, Indians. The people here aren’t exposed to this. It depends on the populace of a place. Kelowna has a little bit of everything, but not a lot of anything.” Having a restaurant that is the first of its kind in a community can be a challenge, but Mattar is always making plans to expose Kelowna to more culture. “Not a lot of Arabs here [are] exposing peo-
ple, through their lives, to shisha; and the food and the music and the things that we do in our lives, the dancing. I’m still breaking down those walls. I had a young guy from Kelowna come in today, and he’s still under the impression that we’re smoking weed. We have to [break down those walls] one person at a time. Break down those misconceptions.” When it spread to the Middle East, smoking shisha became a very popular social activity. So what are the differences between tobacco and herbal shisha? “It’s virtually the same thing,” said Mattar. “It’s mostly shredded tea leaves covered in a naturally flavoured molasses. It makes your endorphins flow because it’s delicious. Think of it like smoking your dessert.”
Approaching City Council Cafe Sahara became licensed to open on September 15th , 2012, only five weeks after first applying. This time period included meeting with the city, finding the Lawrence Ave. location and renovating it. They officially opened their doors on October 20th. “When we first approached the city council, they didn’t know what hookah was,” said Mattar. “[We] wrote a proposal that explained the cultural significance [of shisha], how it
gets filtered through water, and what exactly is burned in the pipe.” The council didn’t want to allow the opening of Cafe Sahara, even after they understood what a hookah was. It is, after all, still smoking. Feeling that this was not a solid reason to turn them down, Mattar went back to the council with another proposal featuring a new approach. The new idea was to pitch the venue as a traditional Middle Eastern cafe. “Tobacco or herbal. That’s what it came down to. [Shisha] is a tobacco-like product. [So we] focused on measures on how to clear the smoke out of room,” said Mattar, pointing to the numerous different fans on the ceiling. “We explained how [we would] reduce smoke in the room, and they gave us the green light. The city isn’t a big bad wolf. They’re not. They just didn’t understand. People always fear what they don’t understand.” Despite the obstacles, Mattar and company were able to bring a new kind of culture to downtown Kelowna, further proving that we’re Kelowna is moving away from the crippling conservatism we’ve we have been familiar with in the past. The owner uses his discression, stating a 19+ general rule, but allowing parents to share with their kids if the situation calls for it. “It’s the same experience you would have
if you went to Turkey with your family. We’re just trying to share that experience here,” said Mattar.
Eat, Drink, Smoke and Relax The opening process was speedy, and talking with Mattar, it was easy to see why. The business owner is always excited about new ventures and taking on challenging projects. “We don’t wait for anything,” said Mattar, laughing. “I came [last] July. My sister and mother were opening a bakery in Rutland, and I was going to help them with that business. I left Vancouver, and was so sure I was going back to live in Calgary that I even kicked my tenants out!” Customers of Cafe Sahara can expect to experience a nice clean smoke. Mattar boasts that many of his customers also smoke shisha at home, and tell him that Sahara has the nicest, cleanest smoke. The café often hosts parties with belly dancers and Arab guitar performers, as well as DJ Wednesdays. Mattar hopes to host smaller solo hip hop acts, acoustic shows and comedy nights in the future. For upcoming events and menu information, visit Café Sahara’s Facebook page www.facebook. com/CafeSaharaKelowna.
UBCOCIAL MEDIA
OPINIONS LETTERS
Government says no to our library
Academy Hill responds to last issue’s article
ON THE CYCLING PETITION To follow-up from our story on the petition for a new cycle route along Robert’s Lake (pg 3), here are some select comments from the 654 people in the community that have signed the petition so far.
Mary Forrest: I need a safe way to cycle to work, I have two children that I do not want to leave motherless.
David Jefferess: The university promotes itself as a sustainable campus and a leader in the community, but there is no safe access to the campus by bicycle other than the current Curtis Road access. A multi-use path in this same area is an important aspect of making it possible for cyclist and pedestrian access to the campus.
Matt Shipley: Every month when I go to school 5k away, I restrict myself to 5 bus rides per month. It would be awesome if I could keep that going when I go to UBC O when I get old enough. I also need safe bike access whenever I attend a summer camp there, which I do fairly often. LEGAL access.
Paula Leowen: Access to the campus by bike has been an issue since the campus was built almost 20 years ago. It is past time to create a real solution.
Delaney Johnson: Our campus prides itself on being healthy, yet riding bikes to school literally puts your life at risk.
Re: September 23rd article “Apartment delay leaves students homeless,” by Sasha Curry. The article started with “the Ramada hotel on Highway 97 is full of students who still have no place to call home.” This is far from accurate. In fact, Academy Hill has secured 6 rooms in the 140 room hotel (far from “full”) to accommodate students that will be residents of Academy Hill above the UBCO campus. The reporter states the “opening date for Academy was August, then September 1 and now October 15“. There has never been a suggestion that the building would be ready for occupancy in August. It was Academy Hill’s goal to provide occupancies in September to correlate with the academic year. However, it specifically states in the development disclosure statement that the developer has to December 31st to provide occupancies. The reason for the December provision is very simply construction is weather dependent. We have enjoyed a beautiful summer in Kelowna which has washed away the memory of the heavy snows we experienced in the latter part of December and January. The weather conditions and other factors contributed to a 45 day delay in turning over the suites to the new owners. The article implied that we had not given adequate notice to purchasers about the coming delay. Notice that the September 1 target date had been moved to October 15 was sent out on July 11, which was more than adequate notice. The construction crews have worked overtime and weekends to get the project completed. The reporter goes into a lot of detail about the math on staying at the Ramada Inn, quoting it would cost the students $2,250 for the six weeks. Implying this would be an extra cost to the students. Again, this is far from accurate. She fails to make the comparison of the rent, power, heat, strata fees for a two bedroom and den suite (the majority of the suites in the building) would bear a comparable cost. Although we were under no obligation to do so, Academy Hill searched out and negotiated a discounted rates and subsidized the room rates at the Ramada because the majority of purchasers are from out of town and it would be difficult for them to secure temporary accommodations for their students and renters. Academy Hill is a project built to help ease the shortage of affordable living accommodation for students in close proximity to the UBCO campus. To suggest that Academy was intentionally causing students to be homeless is at best, sensationalized journalism; at worst bending the facts to make things appear worse than they really are. Rob Hager, President Tactx Project Sales & Marketing Inc. John Hertay, CEO Academy Apartments Ltd.
Editor’s Note: The Phoenix corrected the incorrect August date (referenced in the third paragraph) in the online version of the article prior to this letter. We regret the error.
Curtis Tse
BoG representative
Curtis is the Board of Governors (BoG) Representative for UBCO’s students. He also blogs at www.votecurtistse. com, where he addresses issues that affect UBCO students) The BC provincial government has said no to funding our library. Every year the various BC Post Secondary Institutions are asked to submit a list of capital projects to the provincial government that they believe to be their priorities. These days with the huge budget cuts that are happening around the province from the BC government, it is looking like our projects aren’t a priority. This year the board has approved its submission, which includes a capital investment into the library. Unfortunately our library is pretty low on the list. There are a lot of contributing factors as to why Minister Amrik Virk would not consider this a priority for the province, however I don’t think he sees the struggle that we as students have in order to find study space around campus. Minister Virk was at UBCO on the 27th of September to meet with students and listen to our concerns. Surprisingly, the External Coordinator of the UBCSUO was not present. According to bylaws the External Coordinator is responsible for communicating with all levels of government, and since the minister himself was on campus I would expect our External Coordinator to be present and ready. Regardless, while the Minister was here, he made it pretty clear that UBC is rather well off compared to other universities, and that the BC Liberals have a mandate to focus on trades. In other words, funding for colleges is going to be on the rise, and universities are being encouraged to look and see where they can find efficiencies. The reality is that there is a labor shortage in trades, and an excess of teachers and accountants graduating. However the point that I was unable to make during the Ministers incredibly short visit, was that the government made the decision to bring UBC to Kelowna and drastically increase the student population, and now we are struggling with having enough space. Although the BC government is responsible for managing all of the concerns of everyone in the province and acting in the best interests of the province, it is bad policy to go and expand a university and not provide it enough funds to house the expansion. In the absence of the External Coordinator, I was left as the lone wolf in advocating for a library expansion.
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October 7th, 2013
Minute Reviews
Matt Lauzon Opinions Editor
Weekly reviews on anything. ANYTHING!
L-shaped couches L-shaped couches, the superior relative of the staple lounging furniture we know as the couch, have been gaining popularity in homes over the last decade, and that’s no surprise. Their design allows for a variety of relaxing positions and viewing angles, and their use of right angles allows for optimal coffee table alignment – right in the nook, which is unquestionably the most comfortable section of the L-shaped couch. The only downside to the L-shaped couch is that it is not as easily moved from room to room or house to house, so nomads and vagabonds, you’re out of luck!
Bacon Sushi
Public Info Session - October 9 Updating UBC’s Okanagan Master Plan
Over the next 18 months, UBC’s Okanagan Campus is updating its Master Plan. Since 2005, UBC’s Okanagan Campus has experienced construction of major facilities, such as student housing, academic buildings, public outdoor spaces and recreational facilities. Now having reached the target student population set out in the Campus’ current plan, it is time to update the Master Plan to address future development needs to 2030.
So if you haven’t already gorged yourself on a double-order of these, Koi Sushi in the UNC sells Bacon Rolls. Yes, you heard that right. Sushi with bacon. My…research has determined that these are california rolls with bacon instead of avocado, which is only a downgrade if you’re a vegetarian. But then, why would a vegetarian eat a California Roll in the first place? It’s a win-win. Sort of. Bacon rolls are more expensive than standard Cali rolls, and when every penny matters to us broke, penny-pinching students, just the image of something that costs more kind of is a put-off. Also, I suppose if you’re a part of the evil 1% of the population (veganipeskitarianans aside) who don’t actually like bacon, well, this obviously ain’t for you.
REALLY?!
with Laura and Dave
Join us on October 9 to learn about the process to update the Master Plan and give us your thoughts and ideas on the next phase of campus development. Planning staff will be on hand throughout the Public Information Session to answer your questions.
Date: Wednesday, October 9, 2013 Time: 10:30am – 1:30pm Place: Foyer of the Administration Building, 3333 University Way UBC’s Okanagan Master Plan guides physical growth and change on the campus. It also outlines general planning and design principles, and identifies buildings, facilities, and infrastructure. Can’t attend in person? You can still participate and learn more about UBC’s Okanagan Master Plan process online from October 3 – October 17 at planning.ubc.ca. For more information on the Public Information Session or about online participation, please contact: gabrielle.armstrong@ubc.ca
Really?! with Laura and Dave is a print, and video segment inspired by Seth and Amy from SNL. Seen something dumb UBCO has done? Let us know at opinions@thephoenixnews.com!
Dave
UBCO your internet is like a child - it has temper tantrums for pretty much no reason, and when it falls down it just puts its arms out spread eagle and waits for its mom to pick it up. Well, to be fair it’s partly because of the building blocking out signals. But really, at LEAST don’t call it UBCSecure when it keeps booting us off. Really. And c’mon. I can’t seem to call anyone from inside any building. Is that on purpose so I can’t use my phone in classes? Really?! ‘Cause all it does is make me storm out of buildings desperately trying to picking up service when an important call comes in. It’s the 21st century, cmon.
Laura
Really Green Thread? Tofu salad…WHERE ARE YOU?! The salad bar this year is the worst. Last year, despite the steep price, I frequented the salad bar because the salads were delicious and there was a great selection. The fried tofu sweet chili salad was particularly wonderful, and was often the only thing I would buy on campus (besides coffee of course). And I know it was popular because the bowl was always being emptied and refilled before others. So why has it been taken away? Really. This week I have walked into Green Thread, wandered around, and left empty handed almost every day. Cmon Green Thread.
Features
The Ogopogo statue in Kerry Park.
Your introduction to the city
The Queensway clock tower, the Sails, the Dolphins, the Bear, and the new pier. Photos by Jahmira Lovemore
If you grew up in Kelowna, you know that the gentleman doing the Miley Tongue in the photo above is Ogopogo, the serpent who lives in Okanagan Lake. But what if you’re one of the many students from out of town, out of the province, ot out of the country? You might not know that “Kelowna” means “grizzly bear” in the Okanagan language, or that the city was incorporated 108 years ago, or that the whole place almost burned down a decade ago. In this issue of the Phoenix, we’ll be introducing newcomers to the city and re-acquainting longtime residents. On page 19 we’ve got a rundown of the main Kelowna landmarks (seen here on the right) and some stats on the population. Then in the middle spread we have a map of Kelowna’s neighbourhoods and sidebars on the best study and yoga spots downtown. On page 16, 17, 19, and 20 we have rundowns of some of the key areas in and around Kelowna. On top of that, our main sections throughout the issue are focused on the city: On pages 8 to 10 are profiles of local businesses, while Arts has coverage of the recent Culture Crawl downtown and Sports introduces you to Kelowna’s minor-league teams. We’ve also got a host of web-exclusive content that we will be publishing every day throughout the next two weeks to supplement the feature. Check out thephoenixnews.com for expanded versions of all the articles in this issue as well as additional content on local areas, local history, and what it’s like to live here.
Quick History Facts Sasha Curry Staff Writer
Chinatown
The Floating Bridge
Kelowna’s Chinatown was formerly designated to a block between Leon and Harvey called Eli Avenue. Today the only remains of the historical area is a building located in the Kelowna Heritage Museum. The small building, shortened to fit in the museum, was formerly owned by the Wong family and used as a convenience store in the early 1900s. The Wongs lived in the upstairs of the wooden building that was their business. Kelowna’s Chinatown only recently received heritage recognition in 2010, which is surprising considering that in 1911, 15% of Kelowna’s population was of Chinese origin (today only 1% of the population is of Chinese origin).
Before there was the curved W. R. Bennett Bridge, there was the floating bridge. This bridge, completed in 1958, spans approximately 1300 meters. Its floating pontoons allowed it to weather high winds and the rise and fall of lake levels. The lift portion of the bridge was capable of rising to 265 feet to allow enough space for large ships to pass underneath. At the time that the bridge was first built, there were only two others like it in the world. It was replaced by the $144-million Bennett bridge in 2008. Check out the rest of our Kelowna Quick History online this week at thephoenixnews.com
October 7th, 2013
ye olde map of
Coffee shop study spots Sasha Curry
Staff Writer
The UBCO library is packed with students chatting or watching YouTube videos sans headphones. The cafeteria is bustling with first years eating Well pizza and the SU blasting dubstep at their table. With a growing student population, and not a lot of on-campus study spots, where is there to study these days?
OK
AN
AG
AN
Pulp Fiction
1598 Pandosy Free wi-fi, yummy paninis (think portobello mushroom and cheese) and quiet as the UBCO library should be, Pulp Fiction is the perfect place to concentrate on schoolwork. Its décor consists of vintage prints and loads of old novels. The atmosphere and background tunes are reminiscent of the 1940s-1950s. This café’s bakery selection includes options that are gluten free (a rarity in chain coffee houses) and a to-die-for chai latte.
October 7th, 2013
B
E K LA
eo r a
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pen
er fs
ew
Kelowna O
M N
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UBCO
Arts Editor
Bikram Yoga Kelowna
555 Lawrence
PANDOSY Here there be yuppies
387 Bernard This coffee shop’s biggest asset is its large tables – perfect for group study dates. This coffee house is busy and noisy, so you don’t have to worry about bothering anyone around you. Although not the best place to study solo, or read a book due to the noisiness, its location is central and a block from the bus loop–a convenient trek for on-campus commuters. Obviously, Starbucks’ seasonal drinks (peppermint mochas, pumpkin spice lattes, etc.) are unbeatable, as well as their vast array of “skinny” drink options.
EL
Drop in: $15 / Student drop-in: $12 Lunchbox drop-in: $10 One month unlimited: $125 5 class pass monthly: $45 5 class card: $65 10 class card: $120 20 class card: $200 1 month unlimited: $77 or $55 for full time students under 25
Kelowna Yoga House 1272 St. Paul
f
the
THE MALL
so t e e str
Drop in: $17 per class, students $15 per class Punch card: 10 classes for $150, student $120 Trial package: introductory one-month unlimited classes $90 Sessional package: 3 month unlimited $300, students $240 1 class per week: $168, students $132
D N A L T
RU
Moksha Yoga Kelowna 2900 Pandosy #206
Single class: $20, students $18 5 class card: $70, students $63 10 class card: $130, students $117 20 class card: $220, students $198 1 month unlimited: $140, students $99
Mission Creek Greenway
Starbucks
1835 Gordon As the quietest coffee house I’ve found in Kelowna yet, the Bean Scene is a small, comfy place to open your books and drink a hot latte. Their bakery selection is made from mostly local, real ingredients, and they bake their products themselves. Meal options include homemade pasta salads, and quiches, along with other yummy entrées for reasonable prices. Wi-fi is free with the use of the Bean Scene’s password.
LI SO
N
to KE WE LO ST W N A
109-1289 Ellis
Bliss Bakery’s chic atmosphere is one of a kind. Although it is not exactly suitable for group study sessions, due to its small size, this cozy café is a pleasure to read in during rainy days, and has a beautiful little patio for sunnier afternoons. This bakery is a nice place to escape for some private studying or writing. Be sure to try Bliss
Bean Scene
Laura Sciarpelletti
The Hot Box Yoga
DOWN TOWN
Bliss Bakery
1380 Ellis For some free study space (no coffee purchase necessary), don’t forget about the public library on Ellis Street. There are always lots of free tables, and wi-fi is accessible without a pass. The only downside–the Kelowna library closes earlier than most coffee houses..
We compare the prices of downtown Kelowna’s yoga studios
223 Bernard
2823 Pandosy This Blenz location is my favorite in Kelowna. In the evenings the music is loud enough to mask the chitter chatter amongst customers in the coffee house. It differs between jazz, the Gypsy Kings, and other study friendly tunes. The bakery selection always appears fresh (including its enormous muffins) and the atmosphere is generally warm and pleasant. My absolute favorite type of hot chocolate can be found here: belgian milk hot chocolate. Wi-fi is free, with a pass, and although the tables are small, there are two additional bar tables that you can sit at. Additionally, Blenz is open late, seven days a week.
Kelowna Library
Getting your yoga fix
Drop in: $20 10 classes: $139 20 classes: $239 50 classes: $499 1 month unlimited: $99, students $69 First timer intro special: $29 two weeks unlimited
you are here
Blenz Coffee (Mission)
Bakery’s coconut matcha latte for a taste of heaven, as well as one of their amazing croissants. They also offer gluten free options, and wi-fi is free with a pass.
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Oranj Fitness 529 Lawrence
THE
N O I S IS
M
CRAWFORD
Drop in: $19 5 punch pass: $80 10 punch pass: $145 20 punch pass: $260 1 month unlimited = $195, students 20% off unlimited passes
EAST KELOWNA
Here there be orchards
to BLACK MOUNTAIN
Kelowna Hot Yoga Studio 1443 Ellis
Drop in: $15, students $12 Weekday noon drop in: $12 10 class card: $130, students $99 20 class card: $240, students $180 1 month unlimited: $120, students $99
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October 7th, 2013
October 7th, 2013
Pandosy Village by the lake
Hidden Gems
Darcie Rudyk
Lakeview Market
Guest Art Director
Peppered with family run businesses and noticeably void of big box chain stores, the idyllic Pandosy Village provides a small-town, neighbourhood feeling. It’s hard not to fall in love with the area. It’s not just the food, or the coffee, or the shopping, or the beer. It’s the neighborhood itself, and the people who populate it. It’s something you have to experience yourself, like being inside of a community within a city. This stretch of Pandosy street is located between K.L.O road and Raymer Ave, just a block away from the South Kelowna shoreline. Pandosy Village is usually full of people walking around, drinking coffee, and wandering back and forth. Unfortunately, the street is also used as a connection to the highway for people living in the mission and in Kettle Valley. Though the area is saturated with crosswalks, it is very rare that people actually stop for them. As people speed through the area, pedestrians have to be very careful, and patient, while crossing the street. If you do get hit, don’t worry, the hospital is only a few blocks away.
3033 Pandosy Street
Opened in 1946, Lakeview Market has become a cornerstone of Pandosy Village. Many staff members have worked there for decades and some employees boast over thirty years of loyal service. The friendly staff and quality produce ensure that this modest market is sure to become a weekly habitand so will the fresh doughnuts.
3110 Pandosy
Craft beer enthusiasts and casual drinkers alike will enjoy the newly opened Mission Taphouse. With over twenty options on tap, choosing the right beer can be difficult, but the knowledgeable staff will let you sample a few kinds to find the perfect pitcher. The relaxed atmosphere is perfect for catching up with old friends. Sit on the couches in the corner and feel like you’re having your own private party.
SOPA Fine Arts 2934 Pandosy
Working with local and international artists, SOPA provides a fresh outlook on contemporary art, sculpture and assemblage. With a new exhibition starting on the first Thursday of each month, SOPA is a great place to experience art that you’ll actually be interested in.
Pandosy Coffee House 2949 Pandosy
Renowned for free live music every Friday and Saturday night, Pandosy Coffee House provides the perfect atmosphere for a lowkey weekend. During the day, their student-friendly atmosphere means you’ll meet other people working just as hard as you.
PANDOsY
Mission Taphouse
Abbot Street
When you need a break, wander a block down to Abbot Street to check out the bike path. This time of year, as the leaves are turning, this pathway is gorgeous and peaceful. There are plenty of sparsely populated beaches to enjoy and a few parks. It’s always fun to pick out your dream home in Kelowna’s nicest area, surrounded million-dollar mansions and heritage houses. Try not to walk directly on the bike path though there is a sidewalk right beside the pathways and bikers do get pissed off if you’re in their way.
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Shopping
Dining
The Wardrobe
SOY
This boutique is stuffed to the rafters with hats, shoes and clothing. I’ve worked there for a few years now and love to help people find treasures in our everchanging store. Even if your student budget doesn’t leave much room for shopping, all the girls who work here are friendly and love to chat about the store, Pandosy Street, or anything at all. Owner Laura Ann is proud to provide the city with vegan friendly, nonleather boots, handbags and jackets.
Walk into SOY and the first thing you’ll notice is the clean, minimalistic atmosphere. You might not notice Chef Takeshi Ishizaka, because she’ll be in the kitchen, making art with food. This is my personal favorite restaurant in Kelowna. Try the Korean beef, or the grilled Thai chicken, or the most amazing fish burger in the world. Then come back the next day and try something new. Fresh ingredients and healthy menu options mean SOY is one addiction you won’t regret.
2987 Pandosy
101-2900 Pandosy
Worldly Accents
Hector’s Casa
If your favourite smells include patchouli and sandalwood, you’ll feel right at home in Wordly Accents. Stocked primarily through merchandise imported from India, you’ll find colourful fabrics and shambhala-style clothing. This is the place to visit if you’re looking for henna, zills, incense or a bindi.
If you’re into authentic Mexican food, you need to meet Hector. This excellent proprietor is there almost every evening, and will be sure to introduce himself to you. If the weather is still warm, have a margarita on the patio. The terra cotta walls will make you feel like you’ve taken a mini vacation.
2999 Pandosy
Cranberry Junction 2995 Pandosy
If you’d describe your style as pretty and feminine, you’ll love the clothing from Cranberry Junction. Clean, white, and filled with furniture and gifts, this is the best place to find adorable decor for your apartment.
2911 Pandosy
Zaab
3009 Pandosy
Traditional Thai dishes are offered here and many are vegan friendly! Recently opened by veteran restaurant owner Mon Chowchong, Zaab lives up to it’s name, which stands for ‘tasty’ in Thai. Visit during lunch hours for more affordable menu options.
Blue Ginger 2903 Pandosy
Buy gifts for your mom here.
Photos by Kelsi Barkved
Rut. Lund. Cam Welch
RUTlAND
Photo by Hanss Lujan
Creative Director
You’ve probably heard tell of Rutland. People use “Rutland” here similar to how young folks elsewhere use “ratchet”, but there’s also a Rutlandness to Rutland that can’t be translated. Sometimes this Rutland is imagined - at least half the areas in Rutland are just regular neighbourhoods. But other times this Rutland more than delivers. There are folks in Rutland you can’t find anywhere else. People under 35 wear what middle-schoolers and/or white rappers wore in 2004, and people over 35 wear either workwear or wolf shirts and sweatpants or just have idiosyncratic personal styles I can barely begin to describe. Fur coats with cowboy boots and snakeskin vests, that sort of thing. The commercial core of Rutland, which stretches along the highway from 7-11 to Value Village, is the best place to bear witness to this Rutlandness... at least until the city starts its planned Rutland Town Centre Revitalization (TM) next year. Overall, Rutland is very blue collar and very Rutland, but it’s a charming place in its own right. I get almost Stuart-McLean-y about it. It’s one of the few areas in town that has an actual character. Yeah, there are folks at the bus stop who talk to themselves and/ or every stranger they encounter, or who yell across the street, but this kind of thing isn’t usually sketchy like it is downtown. It’s mostly just weird. Honestly, Rutland can provide you with a lot of great entertainment if you just let it into your heart. Rutland’s actual history: Settled in 1890 by John “Hope” Rutland of Australia, who planted fruit trees and orchards on the vacant land there. Once an irrigation system was established, a syndicate bought the land from him and subdivided it. Until Orchard Park was built in 1971, Rutland remained a rural area on the outskirts of the city.. Rutland then incorporated with Kelowna in 1973.
Get to know Rutland
Dining
Plaza 33, the liquor store, McDonalds, Value Village, the Cadillac Lounge, Ben Lee, and 7-11 are pretty much the main attractions. If you skateboard, there’s the outdoor park at Ben Lee (which also has tennis courts and a waterpark) and the city’s only indoor skatepark at The Bakery. There are many nice orchards in East Kelowna and Ellison. The Cadillac lounge, Rutland’s strip club, is sleazy in a Rutland way like how Cheetah’s is sleazy in a downtown way. A few summers ago a couple of my friends from high school thought it was funny to have have birthday dinners at Cadillac. We ended up seeing a lot of people we knew from high school either waiting tables there or eating there after working construction. Apartment complexes in Rutland are always catching on fire. They have a fair a few times a year in Centennial Park that everyone in Rutland goes to. At Centennial Hall next to the park they host events like municipal election forums and amateur wrestling. There’s a half-km stretch on 33 with five pizza places and four thrift shops. So if you want, you can spend your afternoon systematically moving from one end of this area to the other just consuming pizza and buying second-hand clothes. I’ve done this before.
McDonalds, obviously Both the inside and outside are usually occupied by packs of roving teens.
Olympia Greek Taverna 145 Highway 33 West
Burger Baron
140 Rutland Rd North
Both have been there forever and are true institutions. My dad ate at Burger Baron decades ago when it was called Tastee Freez. At Burger Baron you can get three burgers for $5. Sometimes my friends and I would get five bucks each and just load up on McDonalds or Burger Baron burgers and get wild in Rutland.
Casual Cravings Café Plaza 33
Based on the name I’ve always just assumed that Casual Cravings Cafe is a front for a swingers club or something.
Latin Fiesta, Pakora Palace, Post Haus Pub, My Neighbourhood Restaurant, etc Along highway 33 mostly
Rutland has several cool ethnic food places and local businesses.
Shopping
The Rutland thrift loop
Value Village
190 Aurora Crescent
Huge and full of stuff / people. Prices are higher than the other places, and it’s a chain rather than local business, but it’s a key Rutland destination all the same. They have a big Halloween section in the store starting in like July, and every few months they have a 50% off sale day that becomes absolute chaos. I’ve seen things there that you people wouldn’t believe. Kids sitting in shopping carts yelling at the clothes in there with them. Adults trying to change in the middle of aisles. I watched a Vietnamese man fill his cart up with almost two dozen pairs of shoes.
Hospital Auxillary 140 Dougall
One of the best thrift places in the city. Really good prices, frequent sales, and a solid assortment of 80s / 90s jackets, shirts, and hats despite the store’s small size.
MCC
125 Roxby Run by Mennonites who use some of the money for various charity stuff and sell sausage out of the store. In addition to clothes, MCC has a decent selection of furniture, household items, and sausage.
Salvation Army Plaza 33
Has a truly next-level VHS collection that includes a dozen copies each of The Lion King and Aladdin, as well as a few copies of Wild Wild West starring Will Smith, which my friend Jeff calls “the most steampunk mainstream movie ever made.” They also have a consistently hilarious t-shirt selection. I found one with an illustration of Rod Stewart standing in front of geometric shapes, and a reversible baseball jacket for Celine Dion’s year 2000 concert tour.
Best things I’ve seen in Rutland •
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“Loved by many. Hated by some. Feared by all.” -words on back of hoodie worn by a stout middleaged woman who sat in front of me on the bus. A man driving down Rutland road in white ‘70s cadillac convertible with a husky the size of a panda in the passenger seat. A guy excitedly ditching his mountain bike and parkouring his way through the last 20 metres between himself and the medical marijuana dispensary. A teenage boy riding a small yellow atv in circles in his front yard. A guy and his dad getting off the bus, picking up their (too-small) bikes, and yelling “Beer Time!” at each other at 3 p.m. A pack of teens on mopeds driving down Rutland Road en masse, hooting and hollering at every pedestrian. A group of teens in the library with spirit hoods and wolf tails making fun of their parents’ religiousness and pretending to do sword attacks from video games. A 93-year-old man who told me about his stove and his friends’ deaths for a good 25 minutes while we waited for the bus. A girl wearing a cape and dog collar and Anime Running (where you don’t move your arms and just let them trail behind you) across the 7-11 parking lot. A shirtless man in sweat pants carrying a 24pack of beer in each hand on his way back home. A girl describing how she met her new man: “He was wearing ripped sweatpants and a wifebeater and I thought it was hot so I asked him for a lighter.”
18
October 7th, 2013
October 7th, 2013
Local Landmarks
19
Kelowna’s most famous statues, sculptures, and infrastucture Darcie Rudyk Guest Art Director “Rhapsody” Located next to the Delta Grand Hotel and Hot Sands Beach, these massive fibreglass dolphins have become a quintessential photoop for any Kelowna tourist. Artist Robert Dow Reid has always drawn inspiration from aquatic themes and sea life, which would seem more appropriate if Kelowna was located on an ocean shoreline. These happily frolicing dolphins have been a part of Kelowna since 1993. “Spirit of the Sails” Weighing in at 4000 pounds and boasting an impressive 40 ft of height, the “Spirit of the Sails” iss so large that it needed to be transported by helicopter and took artist Robert Down Reid over two years to create. Installed in 1977, this fibreglass sculpture has become one of Kelowna’s most easily recognisable landmarks and most reliable place to meet up with your friends downtown. Apple Arguably Kelowna’s most popular beach, Gyro is large, busy and crowded with teenagers. After a long day of burning your feet on the sand, the apple is the best (and only) place to go for overpriced ice cream and greasy hot dogs. The apple serves as a bright red landmark to break up the monotony of lakeshore views, clean sand, and tanned bodies.
WEST KELOWNA “Bear” Overlooking Stuart Park from high upon his pedestal, the Bear is a tribute to Kelowna’s settlement on the shores of Okanagan Lake. Best viewed at night, this steel framed bear contains small symbols representative of Kelowna’s history. Created by artist Brower Hatcher, the bear is one of the city’s most recently erected landmarks, unveiled in 2010.
William R. Bennett Bridge Opened in 2008, the bridge an essential connection from Kelowna to the Westside. Approximately 50,000 vehicles a day pass over this bridge, many of them daily commuters. At its highest point, 60 feet above the water, the bridge provides a gorgeous view of Okanagan Lake. Since most people coming to or driving through Kelowna cross over the bridge, it has become a symbol of the city.
Dayton Street Overpass Officially opened in 2010, this pedestrian walkway is a convenient way to cross the highway and provides access to the 97 Express bus stops. Lately, the overpass has also been used to stage protests raising awareness about genetically modified food, teacher salaries and marijuana referendums. Easily accessible to wheelchairs, bikes, and pedestrians, the design and functionality of the overpass is worth the $2.5 million spent.
“Zephyr” Ever noticed the hunk of scrap metal elevated off Kelowna’s shoreline just south of the bridge? That $200 000 piece of artwork was installed in 2010 and designed by artist Cheryl Hamilton and scientist Michael Vandermeer. It’s meant to represent the breezes off Okanagan Lake, but is often overlooked. Most people drive right by without noticing it, and the few pedestrians in the area can walk underneath without paying it any attention. The city has a plan to move this “under-appreciated” artwork into City Park - which will only cost a further $15 000.
Photos by Torin Mclachlan
W.A.C. Bennett Memorial Courtyard & Clock Tower Dedicated to William Andrew Cecil Bennett, B.C.’s longest running premier, the clock tower features twenty columns, representing Bennet’s twenty years in office. Despite respectful intentions, since construction in 1981 it has dwindled in popularity. This is largely due to the fact that it is located across the street from Kelowna’s biggest bus stop, Queensway, and is most often used as a place to get high while waiting for the bus.
Kelowna by the numbers Cam Welch Creative Director persons per square km
% of residents age 65+
250
% of non-white residents
courses per 10,000 people
Kelowna population
+11.2%
24.8
+9.7% 19.2
96,288
1.7
15.7 15.7
117,312
107,035 BC population
6.2
62
CAN
KEL
Kelowna’s density is 61.9 persons per square km, while the average Census Metropolitan Area in Canada is 249.6 per square km.
BC CAN KEL Almost one fifth of Kelowna residents are senior citizens (age 65+).
BC
KEL
The percentage of visible minorities in Kelowna’s population is only a quarter of the provincial average.
0.7
0.8
BC KEL NAM There are at least 30 golf courses in the 180,000-person Kelowna Metropolitan Area. The comparable Nanaimo area has 12 courses and 146,600 residents.
+7%
+5.4 %
3,907,738
4,113,487
2001
2006
4,400,057
2011
With 180,000 people, the Kelowna metropolitan Area (which includes West Kelowna, Lake Country, and Peachland) is the 3rd-largest in BC, and the 22nd-largest in Canada. It continues to grow at one of the fastest rates in the province. It also had the highest crime rate in the country last year, stemming mainly from property crime.
West Kelowna Let’s get acquainted!
“Fun”
Torin Mclachlan
West Kelowna has lots of flat surfaces. Go down by Gellatly Beach (in summer hit the sand volleyball court here) or hike around Mount Boucherie (not so flat) with your dog. If you don’t have one, buy one. Can’t afford one, then borrow one from your old man. If you don’t have an old man, then find a drunk, trade him for his.
Staff Writer
Welcome to West Kelowna, the worst place in the world according to Canada’s first Parliamentary Poet Laureate George Bowering. From 1811 to 1848, we were known as MacDonald’s plain in the colonial tradition, an orcharding community established around a fur trade outpost, and from 1901 to 2007 we were quaint old Westbank. Here you’ll find a lot of retirees, cookie cutter department stores, and tons of trees. Student life in West Kelowna is terrifically lonely, and you’ll often find yourself across the bridge trying to find somewhere to sleep other than a tear-stained pillow at your parents’ house. Transit to campus is a bit of a pain, and the commute is at least a half an hour by car. We have precious few bars/pubs, teenagers hunt the highways in sordid packs of four or five, and it takes ages to get to your friends’ places. A few years back we were called Westbank, and nobody is really sure what we are now; although in 2007 we got our first mayor, Rosalind Neis (now Doug Findlater), the concomitant name change referendum which incorporated eight separate communities under the West Kelowna title passed on a 5,924 to 5,582 vote, and opinions as to our identity remain split. Recently, a premium new movie theatre (Landmark Xtreme) with eight screens went up just off the highway near bridge hill, which has been a total world changer. Whew. In fact, there’s a whole shopping and amenities complex that’s still in construction around the theatre, and a brand new overpass which has caved in a few times since being installed, which generally screwed up traffic for more than a year. The Westbank First Nation is set to erect a 100bed private luxury hospital for medical tourists – the first of its kind in Canada, and actually a pretty exciting prospect, if you’re rich. On a brighter note, things are really beautiful here, so as humdrum as things can get at times, you’re never more than five minutes from the sublime. Please visit us.
Walking
Swimming
You can find the lake where the land ends.
Hidden Gems Rose Valley Regional Park Access via Westlake Road (turnoff near Rose Valley Elementary
250 hectares of sweet sweet West Kelowna (man-made) nature. The park boasts extensive hiking trails up down and around the Reservoir, and is quiet/large enough to get after some valuable introspection. Ask yourself “Why me?” as you leash your dog, leave only pictures, take only footprints, and enjoy our rocky remnant of a supernova. Watch for bears!
Skating/Biking
Gellatly Nut Farm
Behind the Johnson Bentley Aquatic Centre sits a cute little skate park. Wheel or roll over and kill some time.
Settled by Scottish immigrants the Erskines in 1900, Gellatly Nut Farm is now a 4 hectare heritage farm which boasts almost 800 nut trees and shrubs. A stroll around the park is highly educational, and the grass and beach area boasts a playground with plenty of extra space for sunning, funning, and badminton (a zero-fun sport). Picked nuts are purchased nuts, so don’t forget to stop at the Gellatly Heritage House on your way out, you potential nut thief, you.
3737 Old Okanagan Highway
Eats Kekuli Cafe
#505-3041 Louie Dr. “Don’t Panic… We Have Bannock!” And it tastes amazing. Kekuli was featured on the Food Network’s “You Gotta Eat Here” in September 2012, and for good reason. The traditional fried flatbread will kick your taste buds when they’re down – in a good way. Don’t hesitate to grab a cup, have a sit down, and enjoy the local artwork as well. Pepper Pot Grill 1822 Bylands Road Open only for breakfast and lunch, but even paradise has eating restrictions. This place will crush a hangover and have you back to the Enterprise in no time. The portions fill the plates, the coffee is hot, and the place is only 10 minutes from downtown Kelowna. Try the Philly beef sandwich, or try another sad bowl of oatmeal at home. Your call.
2375 Whitworth Road
19 Greens
2050 Campbell Road
Okay, so 19 Greens isn’t so secret. It’s smack-dab on the side of the highway, just after the bridge on the West side. But for its location, it’s pretty quiet (besides the traffic). 19 Greens boasts one natural grass twisty, hilly monster putting course, and a baby brother 18-hole Astroturf mini-golf deal. The bridge hill situation offers up a unique view of Kelowna, and you can’t go wrong with some family/ friend time. There is nothing else.
Pubs Riley’s Pub
1751 Ross Road
Many TVs, meaty dishes, beer and pool. The food here is seriously good. And well-priced. Try the steak sandwich (get it spicy), or do some wings with buds. They have karaoke every Thursday, and you can always bet on finding a few old dudes at the pool tables who will whip your ass and then buy you a drink to entertain the fantasy that they’re still fun-loving and charismatic. Best pub in West Kelowna, with a beer and wine store attached. Get in.
Whiski Jack’s Pub 2442 Drought Road
I’ve never been here, so I’ll speculate. It’s a little old, a little dingy, but clean and well-lit. Your friends are drinking, laughing, and your future spouse is looking forlorn at the bar as you nurse a nut brown ale and pluck up the guts to make conversation. Bliss awaits, your fate is smiling. Don’t spill your beer.
Friends Pub
2210 Boucherie Road
Just off the highway, a little past the overpass, with a perturbing plastic gentleman leaning from the balcony. Friends has a gigantic 20 foot HD projector screen that’s always playing some manner of sports or sports highlights, and they always screen dat UFC bout. Really comfortable atmosphere, liquor store attached, quick and friendly service. Lovely beef dip.
Study/Romance The Guitar
End of Fenton Road in Glenrosa
A dead end where teenagers come to do illicit things and the cops are often waiting to have a friendly chat. One of the best views in the universe, and usually a pretty safe bet for some alone time with your notes or your petite ami. If you find it occupied, clear out for half an hour and return for secluded transcendence.
Starbucks
2231 Louie Drive
You know the drill. Come chat with me as I throw milk around and try not to spill your drink, then settle into some studying or a coffee date.
The Wilderness
It’s all around you, it senses your presence, and you can’t escape it.
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October 7th, 2013
Lake Country Lake Country or Winfield?
Hidden Gems
Stephanie Wise
Kangaroo Creek Farm
Staff Writer
Even residents struggle to define where/what Lake Country is exactly. Is it a community? Is it a region? Is it beside Winfield? Is Winfield a part of it? As it turns out, Lake Country is a district that begins at Winfield (approximately) and extends past Oyama. It covers the area between the airport and Vernon. This area includes four distinct neighborhoods, (Oyama, Winfield, Carr’s Landing, and Okanagan Centre) as well as all the area betwixt and between. This area also encompasses parts of three lakes, Okanagan Lake, Wood Lake, and Kalamalka Lake. These four neighborhoods are also known as “wards”. They were amalgamated to Lake Country in 1985. Before this, the four communities were small villages of their own autonomy and functioned as service providers for the farmers in the area. Today the population of Lake Country is approximately 12,000 and is one of the fastest growing regions in the Okanagan due to the proximity to the university and the coinciding growth of services demanded and provided in the area.
Downsides to Winfield Transit / Commute While definitely better than Vernon for number of buses daily and space availability, route 23, the ‘Lake Country Loop’, is lacking in the number of stops in the evenings and number of buses compared to Kelowna. If you use the public transit in Lake Country you are guaranteed to have to walk 15-20 minutes to reach your destination. If one is looking to go clubbing while living in Lake Country it is important to know that the last bus from the university back to Winfield is at 1 a.m. Monday to Friday and 12:18 a.m. on Saturdays. It is also worth noting that the bussing schedule is far less reliable in the wintertime and definitely questionable even in warmer months. Taxis are the only other option in the Lake Country area and cost close to $35 for a 10-15 minute ride.
3193 Hill Road Located at the junction of Hill Road and Main Street off highway 97 in Winfield, this farm offers one the chance to walk among kangaroos for a minimum $5 donation. The farm staff is knowledgeable on kangaroos and happy to talk if you are interested in learning. The farm is currently the home of an emu, peacocks, fancy chickens, goats, parrots, a baby albino wallaby, baby kangaroos, a pair of capybara (the world’s largest rodents), and potbellied pigs in addition to the numerous kangaroos and wallabies in residence.
Winfield Bakery’s Apple Fritters
#12, 10017 Main Street These treats are what make Winfield Bakery great. Usually all sold out by noon, they have just the right texture, flavor, and price to make it all worth getting up in the morning.
Kaloya Park in Oyama
16199 Trask Road On the closest end of Kalamalka Lake to the University, just off Oyama Road, this small park and beach is much more secluded than any in Kelowna. The park and beach offer beautiful natural scenery with the unique color of Kalamalka Lake as a backdrop to the greenery. In the fall this park is even prettier because of the orange and yellows create a dramatic setting for a picnic or outing to study with friends.
Seca Marine
11410 Petrie Road Just off highway 97, Seca Marine is a fun place to shop for summer or winter clothes and also a good place to go beg for old advertising posters if you’re into the beach life and your residence room is looking a little sparse. Also if you are into water sports or boating, the staff is more than helpful to get you going with new equipment, rentals, or lessons from pros.
Dining Chantana’s Thai Food #17, 11852 Highway 97
Club/Bar Scene (or lack thereof) The ‘Turtle Bay Pub’ 2850 Woodsdale Road
Located in Lakewood park mall (the strip mall behind the Tim Hortons off highway 97) this small restaurant offers many affordable choices and the Tom Kah Gai soup is particularly good. Good cure for the student hangover. Available for takeout.
It’s the most highly touted venue for drinking in the Winfield area, but it remains more of a restaurant with a great view and food reviews have gone drastically downwards in the previous year.
L’Isola Bella Bistro
Woody’s Pub
This cozy and quirky Italian restaurant is located on Berry Road across from Winfield’s police station. The portion sizes here are massive and fairly priced. The recommended food choices are the linguine Neptuno, medallion, or the tortellini. The complementary salad is also delicious. Ideal for going out with out of town friends or enjoying a night out off campus. Available for takeout as well.
Less well-known than Turtle Bay Pub. This restaurant has received stronger reviews although the atmosphere is slightly rougher.
3250 Barry Road
Riccardo’s Mediterranean Grill
415 Commonwealth Road Ricardo’s is not cheap, but the atmosphere is really neat and on Thursdays they have live jazz. Some say that the gelato alone is worth a visit to Riccardo’s (definitely a more cost-effective option than going for an entire meal). For girls, it is a great excuse to dress up and for guys it is a good place to really impress a date.
9882 Hwy 97
Fun activities Paddle-boarding
3756 Lakeshore Road Rent a paddle-board and cruise around Woods Lake or Kalamalka Lake, getting good exercise and seeing the scenery in a new way.
Beasley Park
Reiswig Road It’s a large and usually empty field where one could play a casual (or serious) game of soccer or frisbee. If the weather is really nice it’s also good for a beach day.
Skatepark
At the end of Bottom Wood Lake Road
Lake Country photos by Stephanie Wise
ARTS Words and photos by
Laura Sciarpelletti Arts Editor
Current Swell shows Kelowna a swell time Current Swell is no stranger to Kelowna, and Kelowna certainly loves Current Swell. While a friend of mine was waiting in line to get into Flashbacks, he overheard many people excitedly talking about their favorite songs and how great the group was at Keloha this summer. “Keloha was lovely actually because the [Sandbar Stage] had just closed and everyone made their way over to see us all at the same time,” said lead singer Scott Stanton. I sat down with singer/songwriter duo Dave Lang and Stanton, and was promptly shown an Instagram video of Lang balancing on a rolling speaker box, and a picture of his mangled finger. “I cut my finger washings dishes,” Lang said, laughing. “I wish I could say [that] this Hell’s Angel guy was like….fuck you, give me some weed….or something like that. But I cut my finger. And now that you’re shocked at how tough I was, you can continue on with your awesome questions.” Current Swell has enjoyed years of touring various countries with their friends, and getting into minor
disasters along the way. “Our first tour ever we called the Hottie Patrol Tour,” said Stanton. “We were like 21 and our van broke down. One time we were opening for the Beautiful Girls, and our van broke down in Chase. This lady fixed our transmission for a case of beer.” “And we made the gig!” said Lang. Current Swell has gone through four albums, a few different band members, and a slew of memorable road experiencwes. One that stood out to Lang and Stanton was a show in Edmonton about six years ago. “We almost got killed by a gang of like 13 or 14 year old methed out kids in Edmonton,” said Stanton. “They came out with chains and just wanted to kill someone. And Crispy, our drummer at the time, had never been on tour before and he was so stunned. They chased us to the van and [were] beating the windows with chains and trying to get in.” “All the while my brother had offered to be designated driver that night and he had never driven
the van before,” said Lang. ”I was yelling, square key, teeth down go pump it, pump the gas!” “Tires were spinning, dudes were going flying and the kids were swinging chains and we peeled out of there,” said Stanton. One of Current Swell’s first songs, “Young and Able” was very successful on Youtube, and helped open a lot of doors for the band. People who like the group’s style of music, with its nature vibes and blues riffs, really resonated with the song’s music video. “Honest Man,” a track from their most recent album Long Time Ago, is particularly well done, with fantastic guitar work and lyrics by Lang and Stanton. “So I Say was so fun because Scott and I wrote 90% of album just [sitting] down together and speed writing,” said Lang. “That was when we lived together. This year we spent almost all summer just working on songs together. We’d sit down with just a riff, [a] blank canvas, since early July.” “Yeah it was an awesome summer of writing,” said Stanton. “We
almost returned to our roots in terms of writing and arranging. It makes you feel a lot more connected as brothers and partners.” Another track on the new album, “I Wanna Bird,” was inspired by blues artist Taj Mahal. His sound holds true to old deltastyle blues, and has been a particular inspiration to Stanton, who really shows the influence when performing on the slide guitar. “Taj Mahal has this song “Corrina,” and it’s about a bird,” said Stanton. “I wanted to do a call and response kind of thing. I [wanted] to write a song about a bird. It’s a kind of a—if she doesn’t want to be with me, she’ll just fly away—type idea. We lay that down every night.” Current Swell and Jon and Roy both agree that they tend to feed off of each other. “I think we started off on a very same wave musically, but now we’re splitting off slightly,” said Stanton. “Playing with [our friends] all the time is kind of a dream.”
BRIEFS
Kamloops band Van Damsel released their Sunshine Girl EP on Oct 1st and are working on a full-length while competing for $100,000 in the Peak Performance Project. “The EP is a good representation of our fun side: girls, parties, beaches,” explained drummer Matt Barron, “It’s pure escapism. But our full-length album will be a bit more reflective and sombre at times. It’s a lot like life -- you want the majority of times to be exciting and fun, but you also need those moments of struggle, because in the end it makes you greater.” As part of Peak, the boys will be completing a series of challenges in the next 3 weeks including writing a business/marketing plan, partnering with a charity, and creating a new merch item and viral video. The Van Damsel’s boys play Habitat with Windmills on Oct 24th.
Local three-piece Rabbit Hole just released their first EP online and are debuting the physical CD with an Oct 19th show at Fernando’s. “[The CD] will be by donation, so whatever they want to give to the band,” lead singer James Greenough explained, “Handshakes, props... preferably money.”
The band mixes 90s alternative rock with prog-rock dyanmics, jams, and solos, but they try not to get too proggy to handle. “There’s a lot of odd time signatures and stuff [in prog] which we utilize a bit in our songs but nothing crazy that you can’t tap your foot to. ... You don’t want it to be so-called musical masturbation where it’s just for yourself.”
CITY
CITY
CULTURE CRAWL UPCOMING Oct 8 Dora the Explorer
3:30pm and 6:30pm Kelowna Community Theatre Hit the show right after your afternoon nap!
Oct 11 Kill Paris
10pm / Level Night Club But Kill Paris tho!
Oct 17 Roman Danylo
8pm / Kelowna Community Theatre
Kelowna Culture Crawl premieres Friday, October 27th marked Kelowna’s first official involvement in Culture Days, a nationwide weekend of shared culture and art that was originally founded in 2009. Organizer Jolene Mackie, a resident artist at the downtown heART School, has high hopes for the continuation of the event, and also hopes to draw in more business participants throughout the next month in order to continue the crawl. The Culture Crawl is nonprofit and is dedicated to building culture and art in the community. Participating businesses this time around included the Alternator Gallery, Kelowna Art Gallery and Studio 113, which premiered exhibit sneak peaks and artist greetings. Downtown coffee shops such as the Bean Scene and Blenz displayed art pieces, and local vintage consignment store Georgie Girl held a speakeasy prohibition party night. Meanwhile, Streaming Café hosted musical artist Andy Shauf.
“I think that [the crawl] makes things more accessible, which has really been lacking in Kelowna,” says Mackie, whose work will be on display at the Bernard Starbucks and Marmalade Cafe. “In the cultural district, it’s easy to see the big buildings and be a little intimidated. I think it’s an idea that’s been brewing in the community for a while and it hasn’t taken root yet. But I think once the space has been created, people will become more comfortable with getting involved with artists and the events.” Mackie is a full time artist who specializes in painting and graphic design, works at the Kelowna Art Gallery and teaches art at the heART school. She’s had a lot of support in planning the event, and hopes that the Culture Crawl will become a monthly occurrence. “The concept isn’t new,” says Mackie. “I lived in Vancouver, and things like this would [allow] you entry into spaces you might not
necessarily have an opportunity to go in. Galleries studios, shops. It opens those doors.” The heART School, which served as the base for the crawl and featured a poetry reading and harp performance, was created by owner Carrie Harper in the summer of 2012, and serves as a gathering space for artists to pursue their craft and mentor others in the process. It is an environment for art, learning and collaboration and always fills Bernard Ave. with the sound of music. “The best perk of living in a small community is that it’s lovely that you can go to event and see the same faces,” says Mackie. “The Kelowna [art scene] is quite nurturing. I’ve worked with a woman who works for the culture and recreation part of the city. So she was able to nudge me in the right direction so that I could [align] with Culture Days. I put a lot of legwork
Photos by Laura Sciarpelletti, Jahmira Lovegrove, and Nathalie Notz
Arts Editor
7-8:30pm / University Theatre by bus stop
To go or not to go, that is the question.
Left: In Thank You For Sharing, on at the Alternator Gallery, UBCO students Lucas Glenn, aka art company Lucas Glenn Co., collaborated with local artist Jeff Ellom to replicate web pages using entirely cutout found images.
Oct 19 Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival
7pm / Kelowna Community Theatre You’ll probably like it
Photos by
Nathalie Notz Contributor
“The rain slid through the lights of a burgundy Rolls-Royce as it rolled up to the Gentleman’s Club. It was days like those that gave George Green the creeps...” Our series of creative writing from UBCO students begins this week with “A Night To Remember” by Alexander Levstik.
Mr. Milkcrate and his vinyl Culture crawl at the gallery
Theatre 26 The Shakespeare Show by Monster Theme
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into spreading the word and generating interest and buzz and getting people to work together.” The crawl had a modest showing, but it’s the hope of both Mackie and Harper that the event will become a staple in the community. “What I’m really hoping is that we’ll set the stage for long term monthly Culture Crawl,” says owner Harper. “I just think tonight will set the stage for something bigger. Our town has been amazingly culturally rich for a hundred years, and the culture is starting to pull together and by doing that there’s power in numbers and we’re rising to the surface. Now we’re being seen. When you operate as little fragmented pods, [finally] working together makes our voices louder.”
Laughing time is now.
Oct 18
On the weB
Laura Sciarpelletti
Right: A Culture Crawler stands underneath the anvil in the Kelowna Art Gallery’s Saturday Morning Cartoons installations.
A look at the birth of a local record store Milkcrate Records owner Peter Jeffrey was “lead astray” in 1969, when his brother took him to a Chuck Berry concert in Buffalo. Jeffrey was sixteen years old, and the trip both got him addicted to music and marked the first of fourteen Berry shows he would attend. “That led me to this,” Jeffrey said. “My kids came along later, and they grew up listening to my music. Then they would introduce me to their music and my tastes grew.” The vinyl-enthusiast’s kids later formed a band called Kingdom Cloud, and Jeffrey adopted the role of roadie, taking them to Habitat for gigs. Before opening Milkcrate Records in March 2012, he was in-
volved in the restaurant business, but his real love was always music. He began doing record shows as “Mr. Milkcrate” on the side. “In the 70s and 80s people kept records in milkcrates because they used to fit,” said Jeffrey. “The idea is that you kept all your best stuff in there. It’s an iconic symbol.” His background is in marketing and franchising. After thinking about the business for a while, Jeffrey did a great deal of research and traveling, visiting numerous record stores. “When I was taking the kids to Habitat for gigs, [I noticed[ that all these bands were on vinyl. I got to know the girls at the pizza place next door [Dunn Enzies] and they
Laura Sciarpelletti
alerted me to this space. We renovated it, and it’s long and narrow, perfect for record store layout. Milkcrate’s relationship with Dun Enzies has been neighborly and positive, and they have also generated good relationships with other local businesses such as Pulp Fiction, The Grateful Fed and Fernando’s. Jeffrey is launching his “Mr. Milkcrate” DJ persona again, and hopes to continue doing vinyl nights at Fernando’s and begin doing ones at the UBCO Well also. Jeffrey feels good about the past business year. “It’s been all about relationships with our customers and getting to know the regular vinyl lovers,” said Jeffrey. “We get a good feel of
Arts Editor
what we’re going to sell. Tourists want to check us out, and people want to sell their records.” Jeffrey believes that the downtown scene is great for students, as there is broader social diversity. As far as the local music scene goes, Jeffrey thinks a lot of the growing talent has to do with education. “High school band programs are really strong,” said Jeffrey. “They are generating interest in music, and [now] kids in grade twelve are just cranking out good quality and really polished work.” Keep an eye out for “Mr. Milkcrate” this semester. You may just hear your next favorite album.
More from the Current Swell at Flashbacks, including our full interviews with Current Swell and fellow Victoria-based tourmates Jon & Roy.
Plus check out full photosets for the events covered here, new music and film reviews every week, and profiles of UBCO Fine Arts students.
UPCOMING
SPORTS
On the weB
thephoenixnews.com
Oct 11/16 Kelowna Rockets home game 7:05 pm Prospera Place
Check out the article on the Rockets on the next page!
Oct 12/13 Heat Women’s Soccer vs Kwantlen/Douglas 1:00 PM/12:00 PM Woo Heat yeah go Soccer!
Oct 12/13
Heat Men’s Soccer vs Kwantlen/Douglas 3:00 PM/2:00 PM Heat! Awh yeah, Soccer woo!
Oct 20 Heat Men’s Bball vs Vancouver Island 1:00 PM UBC Okanagan
Exhibition action for the Heat before a tournament to end October.
Travis Barr watches professional Golf. On TV. He explains why anyone should ever do such a thing. Kirsten Dodds and the Heat couldn’t tame the TRU Wolfpack
Donald Straith and the Heat had a rough second half vs TRU Photos provided by UBCO Heat
Heat didn’t win
Heat lose game
Eaten alive by WolfPack
Damn that WolfPack
Jesse Shopa Heat Writer With the history between both programs, Saturday’s rematch of the 2012 PACWEST Provincial Final between the Heat and the WolfPack was expected to be a low-scoring, defensive, grind-it-out type of game. However, it proved anything but that, as the WolfPack handily disposed of the Heat 5-2 at Hillside Stadium in Kamloops on the 5th. About the only thing that played out as expected was the physicality. Both teams went right at each other from the first whistle, battling for position every step of the way. This slowed the ‘Pack attack until the 41st minute when Alanna Bekkering (5th year, Kamloops, BC) broke through to score the first goal of the game and put the WolfPack ahead 1-0. “We had a great first half controlling much of the play and being very threatening,” said Heat head coach Claire Paterson following the game. “But [TRU] broke out quickly just before the first half and notched one against us.” In the second half Bekkering would add an assist to her stat line, helping Marlie Rittinger (Ashcroft, BC) put one away in the 55th minute to push the lead to 2-0. Michelle Smith (3rd year, Vernon, BC) responded just a short time after the Rittinger goal to bring the Heat within one, 2-1. However, two goals from Jaydene Radu (Calgary, AB) would extend the ‘Pack lead to 4-1. Haylee Lakovic (1st year, West Kelowna, BC) scored her fourth goal of the season so far to cut the lead to 4-2 in the 76th minute, but Thompson Rivers answered back with another in the 82nd minute to put the game out of reach at 5-2. “We had a few good chances today,” added Paterson. “We just didn’t have any luck finishing, and they [TRU] were on point. I don’t think the final score was indicative of our play, but all credit to TRU. They buried their shots and that is what we will need to do tomorrow.” With the loss, the Heat fall to 5W-4L-1D, while the WolfPack improve to 9W-0L-1D.
Jesse Shopa
Heat Writer
The UBC Okanagan Heat and the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack saw four lead changes and a 2-2 tie after 45 minutes, and the Heat went into the second half feeling confident about their chances versus the top team in the PACWEST. However, two unanswered TRU goals in the 63rd and 83rd minute put the game out of reach for the Heat, who were unable to topple the ‘Pack in a 4-2 loss on Saturday the 5th. The WolfPack came out of the gate flying, scoring in the 8th minute off a header by Corey Wallis (3rd year, Enderby, BC) on a nice ball in by Justin Wallace (4th year, Kamloops, BC). However, the Heat would respond shortly thereafter in the 27th from an own goal by TRU after some heavy Heat pressure in the box. Enzo Paal (1st year, Coldstream, BC) was credited with the goal - his fourth goal so far this season. TRU came right back at the Heat, however, with Justin Wallace adding a goal in the 35th minute to push the lead to 2-1 for TRU. Not even five minutes later, Dylan Abbott (3rd year, Salmon Arm, BC) tied the game at 2-2 on a beautifully-taken free-kick from 30 yards outside of the penalty area. After all the goal-scoring action in the first half, both teams headed into the locker rooms deadlocked at 2-2. Undisciplined play would cost the Heat a goal and ultimately the game as a foul committed by the Heat allowed Corey Wallis to set up the free-kick inside the Heat area. His attempt hit the post, the rebound falling onto the foot of Mike Harvey (1st year, Calgary, AB). Logan Ellis (2nd year, Calgary, AB) miraculously made the initial save on the rebound, but Dion Gouldsborough (2nd year, Summerland, BC) found the rebound off of the Ellis save and buried it in the net to put the ‘Pack up 3-2. Gouldsborough would add another in the 83rd minute to solidify the 4-2 victory. With the loss the Heat fall to 4W-3L-2D, while the WolfPack improve to 7W-1L-1D.
Things are Heating up for the CIS teams - exhibitions, tournaments, and more!
Fitness under $20: Alex confesses his love of the word “swagger” as it applies to hockey goalies, is no longer with the times. He then reflects on an athletic past with his goalie workouts.
October 7th, 2013
City A look at Kelowna sports teams Alex Eastman
Kelowna Rockets
Kelowna is home to three notable developmental-league sports franchises. The most well-known, no doubt, are the Rockets, who play hockey out of Prospera Place near the heart of downtown Kelowna. The Rockets moved from Tacoma, Washington prior to the start of the 1995-1996 seasons, which explains the cacophony between their name and their logo, which represents the Ogopogo. The Kelowna Rockets compete in the Western Hockey League, a part of the Canadian Hockey League, the premier development league for draft-eligible players and NHL prospects, all aged 1620. For those that know the NHL, the Rockets could be considered comparable to the Boston Bruins, with a long string of playoff appearances and their penchant for a strong team defense. The Rockets enjoyed their best years from 2002-2009, when they set a CHL record for the most appearances at the Memorial Cup, a four-team playoff between the host city, WHL, Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for the title of CHL champion. The Rockets captured their first and only Memorial Cup in franchise history in 2004, and have only failed to qualify for the WHL playoffs once (2006-07) since moving to Kelowna. If one were to look at a list of NHL players who are Kelowna Rockets alumni, the defensive focus stands out. A defense corps comprised entirely of ex-Rockets would rival that of any NHL club, with big names including Norris Trophy winner Duncan Keith, and standout blueliners Shea Weber, Alex Edler, Luke Schenn, Tyler Myers, and Josh Gorges, all of whom are amongst the top four defenders on their own teams.
Okanagan Sun
Somewhat overshadowed by the success of the Kelowna Rockets are the Okanagan Sun, Kelowna’s local football team and a member of the BC conference of the Canadian Jr. Football League. Founded in 1980, the Sun have enjoyed tremendous success as a franchise, posting a winning record nearly every season, highlighted by a 25-year streak of above-.500 seasons from 1982-2006. The Sun won the Canadian Bowl, which is the trophy awarded to the CJFL champions, in 1988 and 2000. You can find the Okanagan Sun on the corner of Burtch and Lawrence near downtown Kelowna.
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Sports Editor
Kelowna Falcons The Kelowna Falcons are the city’s baseball team, and they play out of Elks Stadium, which is a short ways down Richter past Clement. They’re a summer collegiate baseball team, one of the only two Canadian franchises in the West Coast League, which operates from June to about mid-August, making them strictly a summer attraction. The Falcons have yet to win a league championship, but have a name among the pitching and the batting leaderboards most every season.
Kelowna’s #1 Student Party Place College Night Every Thursday Night Burger & Fries $4.00 Sleeves of Beer $4.00
Prizes Red Bull Fridge $1000 Education Scholarship See Facebook Page for Details Hosted by DJ Thistle 2006 REDBULL Thre3style champ
We Host Student Fundraisers Contact us at info@rosespub.com
The Rockets and Vancouver Giants do battle in the WHL
Photo by Miss Barbanov(flickr).
Monday Wing Night 25¢ after 4:30 DJ Thistle Thurs to Sat Sunday Night Jam With Colt 45 Facebook.com/roseswaterfrontpub
1352 Water Street Kelowna BC
UBCSUO pages
UBCSUO pages NOW FOR THE EXCITING STUFF
WELCOME BACK UBCO! And welcome to all of our new students. The UBCSUO (University of British Columbia Students’ Union Okanagan) has been working hard all summer to improve your student experience. Before I get started with those changes, let me briefly explain what exactly this thing is that we call the “Students’ Union”. First of all, who is the Students’ Union? The Students’ Union is every single student at who paid UBC-Okanagan tuition, which includes your Students’ Union fee. If you are one of those students then you are a “Member” of the Students’ Union. But why do all these Members want to Unite? For you new students, you will quickly realize that being a student is full of a number of obstacles from balancing paying the costs of living, making time for academics, and staying sane; to being treated fairly by profs and accessing the resources you need.
Not surprisingly, students at the same school run into the same obstacles, so we pool our resources like fees, as well as talent and our collective student voice, to better be able to address those common concerns. The next questions then are usually “who are those people that sit in the offices in the UNC?” or “how does it all work?” Well the answers to those questions are the same. The Students’ Union uses the world’s most successful decision making strategy: representative and deliberative democracy. Basically what that means is that students are elected to represent the student body in decisionmaking, and those decisions are made through a process of discussions, questions, and approval through voting. Specifically the people voting are elected members of the board of Directors. They are the people who sit in the office, along with Staff who keep the gears turning.
Improvements You Can Look Forward to Seeing
External Coordinator: Alex Gula
Services Coordinator: Nick Dodds
Financial Coordinator: Rocky Kim
Executive Chair: Nick Dodds
is responsible for advocating on behalf of the student body to the Institution (UBCO) and our Union. This role includes taking student complaints about internal issues, keeping the Board of Directors up to date on the activities of the Institution, assisting students with grade appeals and other disciplinary committees, and ensuring that the student voice is heard by both the board and the Institution.
is responsible for advocating on behalf of the student body to bodies outside of campus. This role includes taking student complaints about external issues, keeping the Board of Directors up to date on the activities of municipal, provincial, and federal government as they relate to students, addressing students needs with regard to eternal bodies, and to build relationships that benefit students with external organizations.
is responsible for addressing student’s needs that cannot be met by internal or external bodies and must be provided through a Student Union Service. This role includes coordinating events, assessing and improving current services, overseeing Clubs and Course Unions and working on their development and success, and developing new services to address unmet needs.
is responsible for overseeing all financial matters of the Student Union. This role includes drafting the budget for their term, maintaining that budget throughout the year, oversee the financial operations of our services, develop strategies and practices to most efficiently use student’s money, and work with the internal and external coordinator to develop partnerships.
is resposible for ensuring that the will of the Excutive Committee and Board of Directors is carried out by the executive. Their duties include chairing executive meetings, deligating tasks to executive members, follwing up on progress in the UBCSUO’s projects, and reporting to the board of directors on the activities of the Executive Comittee.
The executive have identified 5 top priorities for this year that, upon approval of the Board of Directors, will be the focus of the Board and executive’s efforts.
HEALTH AND DENTAL INSURANCE: The UBCSUO has Changed Insurance plan and now uses “I Have a Plan” to Broker their insurance policy. The New Insurance becomes effective for all students on September 1st and for those that do not require this insurance plan, you can opt out ONLINE. Go to www. ihaveaplan.ca.
LIBRARY EXPANSION:
NEW FOOD SERVICE CONTRACT:
THE WELL STUDENT PUB IMPROVEMENTS: The Well has undergone a number of improvements including Infrastructural upgrades in the kitchen, a few new items on the menu, and a %5 reduction in price across the board, and outlets along the bench in the bar for those of you who like to study with a brew.
Four positions make up the Executive of the Board of Directors. Each of these positions requires a minimum of 25 hours of work on Student Union Business per week (and it’s almost always more than that). It also requires a cap on course load of 3 classes per semester. Executives are compensated a maximum of $1350/month in honoraria and hold a vote in Board of Director and Executive meetings. Those positions include:
Internal Coordinator: Shaman McLean
is responsible for chairing all Board of Directors meetings (what a surprise!). Their duties include collecting agenda items, drafting agendas, establishing meeting times, and preside over Board of Directors meetings.
Grad Representative: Robyn Giffen is tasked with advocating for the interests of graduate Students on our campus and working on projects and events to address their needs.
are tasked with assisting the Services coordinator with projects and events. Their duties include managing projects and events that are delegated to them, assisting in the execution of all UBCSUO projects and events, developing projects and events to address student’s needs, and a wide variety of miscellaneous task for the Union.
Advocacy Representative: Oliver Eberle Sarah Rylander Thomas Macauley are tasked with ensuring that all student voices are heard. Their duties include working with the resource centers, developing projects to address the needs of minority groups, soliciting the input and feedback from students about our student community, assisting the internal coordinator, and receiving and addressing student concerns.
All returning students will notice a complete face lift of the store, and it’s not just aesthetic. A new point of sale system has been installed to make purchases faster and more efficient, saving you time and saving your union money. And a merchandise section has been added, as well as expanded text book/lab manual and stationary selection.
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTINUITY:
An extensive revision of club policy has laid out a clearer structure for clubs, as well as a explicitly stating responsibilities and privileges for clubs. We hope to see this empower clubs to achieve their potential. A similar revisions for Course Unions will be drafted in September.
FILLING VACANT POSITIONS: Vacant positions will be filled by an appointment of the Board of Directors. Persons interested in being considered for these positions should email a resume and cover letter to info@ubcsuo.ca. These positions are great opportunitties to learn more about the Students’ Union and the University as a whole, as well as develop a knowledge and skills to work in a dynamic and democratic organization that are invaluable for future pursuits in almost any field.
At the end of this year UBC’s Food service contract with Aarmark expires, opening up the opportunity for significant student input in changes to the Food Service that’s provided to us on our campus. The UBCSUO will bring forward the concerns of students in discussions with a consultant hired by UBC to make recommendations for the new contract. The UBCSUO will be pushing for lower prices, greater variety, and food catered to special dietary needs. Feel free to provide input by emailing any suggestions on improvements to Rocky Kim at Financial@ubcsuo.ca.
GREEN TEXT AND MORE USED BOOKSTORE:
Nine other members complete the Board of Directors, each of which is in one of 4 possible positions. Each of these positions requires a minimum of 5 hours of work on Student Union Business per week (and it’s almost always more than that) and hold a vote in Board of Directors meetings. There is no cap on course load and Board of Directors member are compensated a maximum of $155/month in honoraria. Those positions include:
Director at Large: Sarah Wahedi Alejandra Garcia Layne RIchardson VACANCY
To address the need for greater study space, the UBCSUO has been in discussions with the University about teaming up to use student investment to prompt investment by private donors and the provincial government.
STUDENT ASSOCIATION STRUCTURES:
CLUB POLICY REVISION:
Meeting Chair: VACANCY
SO WHAT’S NEXT Improvements Moving Forward
Beyond the completed Club policy revisions, Revisions to the Course Union policy will follow, along with the development of a structure, which will allow Course Unions at the Faculty level to easily collect fees and have a closer relationship to their faculty. This is in order to empower course unions to put more weight behind their advocacy for students academically and better address the needs of students in specific faculties.
In stepping into these new roles in May, the executive quickly realized that very information was available to orient them to the new positions. Though every executive comes in with a mandate that is likely different from their predecessor, there are often many things that are the same and without adequate information we found ourselves vulnerable to making the same mistakes that have been made in the past. To avoid this in the future our Internal Coordinator will be working on creating procedures and documentation from the current executive for the future executive so that the sustainability of the UBCSUO is not dependant on institutional memory of re-elected members.
PROPOSED BUDGET CHANGES:
EVENTS:
This year the executive of the UBCSUO have continued to look for ways of saving money in the UBCSUO’s operations in order to provide more funding directly to students. In the budget to be proposed to the Board of Directors for Recommendation to the Annual General meeting, the General Student Life Budget has been increased by 45% and the Club and Course Union Budget has been increased by 29%.
Every bodies favourite. We’ve increased the General Student Life budget line by 45%, and developed incentive programs for Student Associations to host events by providing sponsorship for events that meet our specific stipulation (Meet booking deadline, advertise in advance and in an effective manner, agree to a specific price point for tickets or cover). In addition we have developed a Well events committee structure that should prove to produce events that will appeal to the full diversity of students on the UBC-Okanagan Campus.
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October 7th, 2013