Special Features - Best of Kelowna 2016

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S P O R T S

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D I G I T A L

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O T H E R G O O D S & S E R V I C E S

B E S T O F K E L O W N A 2 0 1 6 | 3

DOG DAYCARE & BOARDING

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All the amenities of home including televisions and custom made pet furniture

Enhanced climate control including in floor heating and air filtration system

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24 hour security and monitoring

Fully staffed and all staff are pet first aid certified

Thank You Kelowna for your vote once again

!Kelowna for your vote once ag

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250.765.81005830 Old Vernon Road, Kelowna, BC V1X 7V2

[email protected]

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WINING & DINING 611

DIGITAL 23

HEALTH, BEAUTY & STYLE 1315

LOCAL GOODNESS 2527

OTHER GOODS & SERVICES 2938

SPORTS 1718

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 2021

Bakery Best place to eat at Big White Breakfast Brewery Burger Caterer Cheap Eats Chinese Coffee Ice Cream and/or Frozen Yogurt Indian Japanese Local Chef Mexican Patio Pizza Buy Wine, Beer or Spirits Pub Romantic Dinner Sports Bar Steak Thai Vegetarian Vietnamese Winery

High-tech Company Instagram Account Local Social Media Personality Local Website Overall Facebook Page Start-up Company Twitter

Chiropractor Dentist Fitness Trainer Group Fitness Facility Hairstylist for Men Hairstylist for Women Health Practitioner Manicure or Pedicure Make Up Artist Mens Clothing Personal Coach Place to Buy Jewelry/Accessories Salon Spa Spa Resort Womens Clothing Workout Facility Yoga Yoga Instructor

Campground Community Dog Park Event or Festival Hiking Trail Kelowna Citizen that Deserves Recognition - Female Kelowna Citizen that Deserves Recognition - Male Local Charity Local Elected Official Local News Reporter Local On-Air Personality Middle or Senior School Place to Take a Date Private School Retirement Residence Staycation Spot outside of Kelowna but within 250 km Waterfalls Wedding Venue

Automotive Service/Mechanic Boat Dealer or Services Electrician Car Wash Development Electronic Store Equipment Rental Event Planner/Designer Event Rental Financial Services Flooring Company Florist Funeral Home Furniture or Home Decor Home and Garden Store Home Builder Home Renovations Home Services Hotel or Resort Interior Decorator Landscaper Large Business Employer Luxury Car Dealer Medium Business Employer Membership Organization Motel Motorcycle/ATV Dealer - Off Road New Car Dealer Outdoor Gear Store Pet Boarding or Kennel Pet Groomer Pet Services & Supplies Photographer Place to Buy a Gift for a Girl Place to Buy a Gift for a Guy Plumber Pool and Spa Company Realtor Realtor Team Retail - Small Business Retail - Large Business Roofing Company RV Dealers Small Business Employer Tattoo & Piercing Shop Tire Store Used Car Dealer Veterinarian Wedding Planner

Bicycle Shop Female Athlete Golf Course Male Athlete Ski & Snowboard Shop Minor Sports Team

Arts Company/Organization Local Artist Local Band or Musician Music Venue Nightlife Venue Theatre Group Wine Event

KELOWNA

CATEGORIES

2 0 1 6 B E S T O F

This year marks the fourth annual Best of Kelowna contest.The creation of Jim Csek, founder of the KelownaNow website,

added media support for the popularity survey comes from the Kelowna Capital News and the three Kelowna radio stations under the Bell Media flagship99.9 Sun FM, 101.5 EZ Rock and AM 1150. Csek has said from the outset of the contest, he wanted to provide a contest with online voting access that had credibility, not one where someone can sit and vote repeatedly from their computer or Smartphone for their favourites.Weve all seen those types of contests in the past where someone sits at a computer all day just casting a vote by hitting a keyboard button, Csek has said.As in past years, the one vote, per category, per person mandate was adhered to, as a registered user (email registration) of the voting site or with a Facebook account. Any attempt to exceed the required allowance of voting meant those votes would be disqualified.Some people complain about the voting limitations but I wanted it to be a legitimate vote, so to come out on top in a given category has a legitimate meaning.

That makes the results this year all the more heartening for the KelownaNow team as that website was first in the overall Twitter, overall Instagram and Facebook categories, and second for best website. As well, the Csek Creative marketing agency was third for best high tech company. As in past years, Csek is hopeful the feedback in the survey will translate into a positive marketing bump for not only the winners, but others who found support in the various category rankings. I think there is interest from the public in these kinds of things, and it might help convince someone to try out a business or service just to see, he said, adding then its up to that business to ensure those customers will keep coming back. So, as you look through the voting results for the 2016 Best Of Kelowna contest, you will see some familiar names, past category winners, and there are some newcomers added to the poll results. Cseks hope is for the contest to continue its community feel-good approach, to be a project that is fun to participate in and be beneficial both to local consumers and businesses, and to tourists who arrive here for a vacation and are looking for direction about entertaining things to see and do.

PUBLISHERKaren Hill

MANAGING EDITORBarry Gerding

PRODUCTION DIRECTORTessa Ringness

ADVERTISING MANAGERKaren Hill

PRODUCTION DESIGNERSShayla Graf

Lana GregsonFatima Hartmann

Nadine KrahnTiffany LarkanLaura Millsip

Greta SnodgrassKelly Ulmer

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVESTracy Cole

Jim CoulterTeresa Huscroft-Brown

Sheri JacksonRick Methot

Christine MouldMegan Munro

Wayne Woollett

EDITORIALMike Strauss

Barry Gerding

FRONT PAGE PHOTOBrent Crozier

Distributed free to select households in the Okanagan Valley of

British Columbia. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. The publisher cannot be responsible for unsolicited

manuscripts or photographs.

BEST OF KELOWNA is published by Black Press

2495 Enterprise Way, KelownaPh. 250-763-3212Fax. 250-862-5275

[email protected]

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BC Liquor Stores

Metro Liquor

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Latin Fiesta

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Dawett Restaurant

Chutney Cuisine of India

Made in India Restaurant

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DunnEnzies Pizza Co.

Bordellos Italian Pizzeria

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Mon Thong Thai Restaurant

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Starbucks Coffee Co

Tim Hortons

Blenz Coffee

BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Thank youOkanaganitesfor all of your support,

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WINING & DININGBROUGHT TO YOU BY: 2 0 1 6 B E S T O F

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The Chopped Leaf

Naked Cafe

Mad Mango Cafe

LOCALLY FOUNDED FRANCHISE SERVES UP AWARD-WINNINGVEGETARIAN FARE

BY MIKE STRAUS

It only took Rhonda OGrady, one visit to Kelowna to realize that she wanted to live in the Okanagan.After working in sales at CTV in Saskatchewan for 23 years, she visited a colleague who had retired in Kelowna and instantly started looking for an Okanagan-based business to buy.The CTV general manager retired in Kelowna, and when I came to visit him, thats when I knew I wanted to live here, OGrady said. His wife knew I was looking for a business here, so she introduced me to (Chopped Leaf founder) Blair Stevens. I knew the fresh, healthy trend would be a popular option because its the way Ive always eaten.

OGrady bought the Kelowna location from the founders, who had originally opened the business at the Cooper Road locationand she quickly went to work learning the ins and outs of the restaurant industry.It was a very steep learning curve, coming from sales. After fi ve years I fi nally feel like I have a handle on the restaurant industry. And I now have staff who are well equipped in the customer care domain.OGrady said it took quite some time for her to learn how to manage inventory, as every restaurant has diff erent ingredients it needs to buy each day. But thanks to her background in sales and her tenacious personality, she committed to learning the industry and is now successfully keeping the kitchen well stocked.

Health-conscious foodies have declared The Chopped Leaf in Orchard Plaza to be Kelownas Best Vegetarian Place to Eat.

Rhonda OGrady and her Chopped Leaf sta lead the way in fresh and healthy fare.

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Phone: 250-862-3517www.bohemiancater.com

524 Bernard AvenueDowntown

Kelowna, BC

Heres Breakfast!...

Heres Lunch!...

and We Cater!...

Come experience our beautiful new patio

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BNA Brewing Co.

Train Station Pub

Brandts Creek Neighbourhood Pub

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Tree Brewing Beer Institute

BC Tree Fruits Ltd.

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Quails Gate Estate Winery

RauDZ

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Summerhill Pyramid Winery

Mission Hill Winery

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Wood Fire Bakery

Bread Co.

Another big challenge was keeping good staff . I now have a team that really cares and that has bonded to each other. It frees me up to take on the next challenge.The core concept behind The Chopped Leaf is simple yet elegant: a build-your-own-salad bar with fresh, healthy ingredients. Over time, the restaurant expanded to off er sandwiches and wraps, but the salad has always been the star of the show.Blair and his wife Karla came up with that idea, and I thought it was genius. Its so simple. You pick your protein, the lettuce, the cheese, the toppings, the dressing. Theres lots of choice, which is great for people with allergies and dietary restrictions.The Chopped Leaf is home to a variety of light dishes, including a unique invention called the Stuff ed Cupa layered cup consisting of fresh vegetables, rice, and dressing. OGrady anticipates the Stuff ed Cup will be a summertime

hit, and shes already invested in a food bike of sorts to sell the Stuff ed Cup around Kelowna.Its old worldno power but human. Eventually I want to have a whole fl eet of bikes. Were the fi rst Chopped Leaf location to be doing thiswe introduced it to head offi ce, and theyre going to be watching.OGrady is also working hard to bring online ordering to the Kelowna location, which is something that several other Chopped Leaf franchises already off erand something that can keep The Chopped Leaf at its award-winning best.When we won the Best of Kelowna Award in 2014, I got stickers put on my car, OGrady said. I feel awesome about winning again this year. I feel so grateful that I found this place and that we have people who come to the restaurant and support us every day. Its the most amazing feeling. Its an honour to serve so many people.

from page 7

This year, Best Winery and Best Romantic Dinner are both awarded

to Quails Gate Estate Winery.

1876 COOPER ROAD 778-436-8102

WWW.CHOPPEDLEAF.CA

*SunshineSalad

Proud to be Kelownas top

Vegetarian restaurant!

We cater to the most amazing people!

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ROSES WATERFRONT PUB A LONG-TIMEFAVOURITE ON KELOWNAS SHORELINE

BY BARRY GERDING

While Kelownas nightlife scene is changing, Roses Waterfront Pub remains a long-time fi xture in the city. Nominated this year in multiple categories, Roses remains the only true pub fronting on the Okanagan Lake shoreline, as it has been for more than 20 years since it opened. Our location right on the water has certainly been a contributing factor to our success, noted Andrew Neville, general manager of Roses. Back when we started, ourselves and The Pier were the only two options in town for having a drink near the water.

Built as part of the original Grand Hotel convention centre development, Roses has endured many changes in the pub scene, from the evolution of the drinks to the healthier ingredient menu options to traditional pub food fare.The quality of service and pricing are also important factors which, when all taken together, have formed the foundation of the business, Neville said.

continued on page 10The view from Roses Waterfront Pub is still a major draw.

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Thank You!! Karyn & Deb

w w w. d u n n e n z ie s.c o m 2 5 0. 7

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Watch for Our 2nd Location

Opening July 1st

1886 Dayton Drive

(Next to Landmark 6)

TO OUR VALUED CUSTOMERS FOR VOTIN

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GTO OUR VALUED CU

STOMERS FOR VOTING


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D U N N E N Z I E S T H E B E ST P I Z ZA I N

TO W N !

Thank you! 6

4 YEARS in a row!

1559 Ellis Street Kelowna,

BC

Mon-Wed: 11-11pm | Thurs-Fri: 11-3:30AM |

SAT: NOON-3:30AM | SUN: noon-11pm

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Five Guys Burger & Fries

Central Kitchen & Bar

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Hectors Casa Authentic Mexican Cuisine

Latin Fiesta

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Snowshoe Sams Pub

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Globe Cafe & Tapas

Roses was started by a number of partners, but for many years the most visible of the group was Rose Sexsmith, both as a local business leader and someone who was active in the community supporting local charitable eff orts. Neville said Sexsmith has stepped away from the daily running of the business, but her personality and engagement in the community have been a big part of the pubs success. Neville said pubs today have evolved in diff erent ways, from taking on more menu diversityRoses now has a full-time chef on staff and widened its selection beyond grilled or deep fried foodsto the changing habits of its customers. We have always been a kind of pre-place where people stop before heading off to the nightclubs, but that rush for us has been getting later and later, Neville said. The nightclubs used to start seeing their business coming in the door between 10 or 11 p.m., but now its closer to 11:30 and midnight, which leaves them less time to make their money because people arent there as long.He said the announced closure earlier this month of Flashbacks, a long-time nightlife venue in Kelowna, is indicative of that trend.

from page 9

Runner-up in Best Burger, Central Kitchen & Bars burger gave Five Guys Burgers & Fries some serious competition.

Come relax and enjoy!

Open Year Round | quailsgate.com | 250-769-2500

3303 Boucherie Rd. West Kelowna BC

250-763-8000www.mekongrestaurant.com 1030 Harvey Avenue, Kelowna

Thank you Kelowna

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Proudly serving Kelowna for over

29 years.

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Mad Mango Cafe

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The Canadian Brewhouse

BNA Brewing Co.

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Pulp Fiction Coffee House

Bean Scene Coffee Works

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Bohemian Cafe & Catering

The Jammery

Coras

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Rod Butters at RauDZ Regional Table

Mark Filatow at Waterfront Wines

Ben Pallett

Winner in Best Fine Dining, RauDZ recently received an interior face-lift.

TO BUY WINE, BEER OR SPIRITSCHEERS TO OUR SUPPORTERS

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Thank you for taking the time to vote for us.Thank you for taking the time to vote for us.

B E S T O F K E L O W N A 2 0 1 6 | 13

HEALTH, BEAUTY & STYLEBROUGHT TO YOU BY: 2 0 1 6 B E S T O F

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Okanagan Health & Performance Inc

Dr. Todd Penner

Dr. Christian Brix

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Ward Willison - All Body Care

Okanagan Health & Performance Inc

Dr. Mandy Wong - Restore Vein and Skin Care Centre

INTEGRATEDHEALTHCARE

SERVICES MAKE FORGREAT MEDICINE

BY MIKE STRAUS

At the Okanagan Health and Performance chiropractic and wellness center, treating chronic pain and other complaints is a collaborative endeavour. With chiropractic, acupuncture, massage therapy, kinesiology, and naturopathic medicine services all under one roof, OHP is developing an integrated practice guided by proven medical science.OHP co-founder Dr. Michael Schmidt said he and his wife were fi rst inspired to build a multidisciplinary practice after seeing the benefi ts fi rsthand while working in Australia.My wife and I are both chiropractors, he said. I graduated in 2001, she graduated in 2000. We were both working in Australia, and we had a great experience in a multidisciplinary practice. There were chiropractors working alongside naturopaths, massage therapists and acupuncturists. We saw how well it worked for patient care, and when we moved back to Canada, we decided to do something similar.Schmidt said having a variety of practitioners from diff erent disciplines in the same offi ce makes it easy to collaborate on diffi cult cases and create more eff ective treatment plans. This collaborative element is just one part of an approach designed to foster healing and a sense of well being rather than simply curing diseases.

We dont just take the Band-Aid approach to fi x the pain, Schmidt notes. We look beyond that at what the actual cause is. Sometimes its obvious, but sometimes its not. It could be anything from emotional trauma as a child to nutritional make-up to stress. Its important to consider the whole person.

Thanks to a focus on integrated care, Okanagan Health and Performance has been chosen as Kelownas best chiropractor and second best healthcare practitioner.

Okanagan Health and Performance founders Dr. Donna McAllister (left),Dr. Rob Mutch and Dr. Michael Schmidt.

A little of everything and a lot of your votes winsOrah Spa Salon the title of third Best Spa.

continued on page 15OK

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Thank You Kelownafor your votes!

Serving Kelowna Since 2005

855 Rowcliffe AveKelowna, BC250.808.0489namastespakelowna.com

Specializing in...BrazilliansEminence Organic Skin Care & FacialsPrivate Therapeutic Foot CareShiatsu Massage

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from page 13

Managing an integrated practice has improved patient outcomes, but it hasnt always been easy for the team involved. Dr. Schmidt said that human resources management is one of the early challenges that an integrated practice posed.Right now we have an amazing team that works well together and communicates clearly, but its taken a lot of eff ort and a very proactive approach to make that happen. A lot of it is about eff ective communication and opennessletting the people who work here know that we want to help, that we want people to be happy.

This approach seems to be paying off , and the teams cohesive dynamic has helped the practice to thrive. Thanks to the organizations hard work, commitment to quality care and integrated approach, OHP has been named Best Chiropractor and second best healthcare practitioner at the 2016 Best of Kelowna Awards.Schmidt said that being recognized serves as validation that the practice is eff ectively meeting patient needs.Were very honoured to have been chosen. All the practitioners here put their hearts and souls into their work, and seeing people get better keeps us motivated to keep coming back. Being recognized always feels good.He notes that the wellness center has now developed a strong sense of priorities, and going forward, he and his team will continue to provide the quality care for which they are known.Whats next for us is more of the same. More quality care. In the past we were always trying to build and grow and strive for more. Were at the point now where weve realized that were doing a great thing, and maintaining that great care is important to us.

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lululemon athletica

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kelownarestore.com

to everyone who voted for Dr. Mandy Wong at

Restore Vein and Skin Centre Best of Kelowna

Healthcare Practitioner!

to everyone who voted Dr. Mandy Wong at Restore Vein and Skin Care Centre

Best of Kelowna Healthcare Practitioner!

thank you!

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Tyson Baillie

Bruce Cook

Matt Dwyer

PASSION REMAINS THE KEY FOR ATHLETES

BY BARRY GERDING

Tyson Baillies popularity with local Kelowna Rockets hockey fans emerged with his prominence as the leading scorer for the club this season. The 20-year-old Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., native was selected to the Western Hockey Leagues Western Conference fi rst all-star team for the 2015-16 season, posting career highs for goals (46), assists (52), and points (95) to lead the Rockets in all three categories. It helped place Baillie at the top spot for male sports personality in the Best of Kelowna contest this year, an honour he shared with the top female sports personality, Olympic ski cross silver medalist Kelsey Serwa. Having just completed his fi fth WHL season, Baillies emergence as a key off ensive contributor to the Rockets came as no surprise to Lorne Frey, the Kelowna Rockets assistant GM. We projected a couple of years ago that if he was still here as a 20-year-old, hed be right up there with the top guys in the league, Frey told the Capital News earlier this year. (Tyson) has always been a scorer, hes been in the league a long time, and hes just gotten better every year. I dont think a lot of us with the team are surprised at all.

With his WHL career now behind him, Baillie sets his sights on developing into a pro hockey player, having already attended a free agent camp for the Calgary Flames last season. While his skating style has drawn his share of detractors, Baillie has used the criticism as motivation to advance to the next level in his hockey career. There have been naysayers and there still are, but thats what drives me and motivates me, Baillie told Capital News sports reporter Warren Henderson earlier this season. I feel like I have a passion for the game, a passion to score goals and to win, so I think thats what the keys are for me.

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Roz Huber

Kierra Smith

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continued on page 18

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Okanagan Sun Football

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5

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Kelowna & West Kelowna for voting us the

Were proud to be your pets family doctors!

BEST VETERINARIANS

2015 2016

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SPORTS2 0 1 6 B E S T O F BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

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Two Eagles Golf Course & Academy

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When it comes to passion for her sport, Kelsey Serwa takes a backseat to no one. She overcame serious injuries and ski cross race fi nish setbacks to earn a silver medal at the 2014 Sochi Olympics and continued her career on the World Cup circuit this past winter.

Growing up in Kelowna and skiing on the slopes of Big White, where her dad was one of the ski hills founders, Serwa had stepped away from competitive racing after the 2014 Winter Olympics to pursue her human kinetics degree at UBC Okanagan.The time off allowed her body to heal suffi ciently, after undergoing two knee surgeries in as many years before the Olympics.

But she was happy to return this past season to World Cup ski cross racing as part of Canadas national ski team. Its a familiar environment. I am so grateful to be back on the road with my team and racing on the World Cup ski cross circuit again, she said.

from page 17

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If you ever get over the jaw dropping views Two Eagles Golf Course & Academy, voted Best Golf Course this year, o ers great play for golfers of all skill levels.

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For your support in voting us one of the Best Car Washes

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT2 0 1 6 B E S T O F BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

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Alex Fong

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WestJet Wine Tastings

Okanagan Wine Festival Society

Devour Kelowna

LOCAL ARTISTREFLECTS ON LIGHT, COLOUR, AND ALIFE OF ART

BY MIKE STRAUS

Self-taught artist Alex Fong has worked hard to provide for himself and his family through his art, a feat that few can say theyve accomplished.Its his creativity, passion for art, and dogged determination that have

kept him gainfully self-employed as an artistand that have garnered him the title of Best Local Artist in the 2016 Best of Kelowna Awards.Fong has loved art since his childhood, but it wasnt until his college days that he discovered watercolours and began developing his unique style.Being Chinese, my mom didnt encourage me to be an artist. It was doctor, dentist, or lawyer for me. I agreed being an artist would be a tough gig. But when I went to Douglas College for interior design, I fell in love with watercolours. The interior design program at that time focused strongly on the environment, Fong said, and his early paintings were refl ections of nature intended to convey the importance of environmental conservation work. After a full year of studying traditional oriental art and the contemporary acrylic paintings of Diana Kan, Fong experimented with the two stylesand his trademark method emerged.37 years later, Fong loves being able to say hes a professional artist.It hasnt always been easy, but the last 10 years have been great. Nowadays, half my work is commissions, whether thats a family portrait or a landscape. They say that only the top fi ve per cent of artists make a living off their art. I havent had a job in 37 years.

Now 37 years into his art career, Kelowna watercolourist Alex Fong continues to paint the joyful and whimsical scenes hes known for.

Kelowna knows how to pick em!Best Wine Event, the WestJet Wine Tastings at the Rotary Centre

for the Arts, 2016s second Best Arts Company or Organization.

kelowna.ca/theatre

Thank you for making us the Best of Kelownas #1 Music Venue again!

Never miss a great performance! Sign up for our e-subscribe newsletter

Volunteers Always Welcome

programs@ rotarycentreforthearts.com

Come Play With Us!

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENTBROUGHT TO YOU BY: 2 0 1 6 B E S T O F

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Fong has embarked on a number of artistic endeavours over the years, with his most recent work including commissioned art for wine bottle labels for Nighthawk Vineyards. Hes also produced commissioned works for hospices as well as private buyers. But even with commercially commissioned art, Fongs joy shines through.I try to make people happy (through art), he said. Theres a lot of bad news in this world, and I want to be one of the people who shares good news.Fong said that earning a living through art isnt easy, and that young artists who want to pay their bills by selling artworks need to develop a thick skin and learn to accept rejection.

Way back when, the Vancouver Sun did a nice write-up about my workbut then a few years later, the woman who wrote it looked at my newer works and she didnt like the new style. My style was evolving at that time, and I didnt want to quit. I wanted to prove that this wasnt the way my work was going to stay. When I fi rst started painting, I showed my works in the malls in Vancouverand when you go through that, you have to learn to take the good with the bad.Refl ecting on his career as an artist, Fong said he couldnt be happier. It feels good (to be named Best Local Artist). The last thing any artist wants is a lack of visibility. It feels like Im not invisible.

Alex Fong concentrates on a painting in his Kelowna studio.

Newcomer this year, BNA Brewing Co. won several categories.

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LOCAL REALITY STAR TAKES TIMETO FOCUS ON REALITY

BY BARRY GERDING

Jillian Harris has forged a media career for herself since she made her television debut on The Bachelor in 2009. She fi nished in third place and was later the husband chooser for Bachelorette, where she chose and became engaged to contestant Ed Swiderski before they broke up in 2010.Since then, the 36-year-old has become a Canadian television personality combining her on-air personality with her interior decorating

skills. Harris worked at Caban interior goods store when she was younger, which introduced her to interior decor design, something she followed up by earning a certifi cate in design from BCIT in 2006. That combination has also proven attractive to her social media followers in Kelowna, being named the top social media personality in the Best of Kelowna poll for 2016.She appears on the series Love It or List It Vancouver, which airs on the W Network in Canada and on HGTV in the U.S. under the title Love It or List It Too. The reality shows sees her working each episode to redesign a familys home in the hopes it will convince them to stay in the home, while her co-host, a realtor, tries to convince them to buy another house. Leading up to Love It or List It, Harris was a contributor to a similar program, Extreme Makeover:

Home Edition in 2010. She also did a stint in 2011 as host of the Canadian TV show Canadas Handyman Challenge. Harris is originally from Peace River, Alta., but has seen her parents move to Kelowna while she settled in Vancouver. Earlier this year, Harris announced online that she was expecting her fi rst child with longtime boyfriend Justin Pasutto. She has her own brand of interior decor items and an e-vintage webstore, Charlie Ford Vintage.As an expectant mother, Harris said she is looking to curtail her media personality career to fi nd a work/life balance.I think Im just saying no more, resting more and just picking my battlesIm trying to enjoy these next few months and not overwhelm ourselves, Harris said.

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Stephen Fuhr

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KELOWNAS MAYOR SAID HEHAS HIS DREAM JOB

BY BARRY GERDING

For someone who was born and raised in the Okanagan and has a passion for politics, Colin Basran said he has a dream job as the mayor of Kelowna. Ive always loved politics since I was a kid, Basran said, and now that Im involved in it as an adult, my love for politics is not lessening, but just getting greater.I thought being a television journalist here was the pinnacle, but Ive gone well beyond that now as mayor.The love of what hes doing is probably refl ected in Basran earning the most votes in the Best of Kelowna 2016 contest for favourite elected offi cial. Basran said he is fl attered by the notoriety and the people who voted for him, but he also realizes for politicians, what ultimately matters at the end of the day are elections, when voters go to the polls and make their choices. What I always try to do is make decisions that I believe are in the best interests of the community, said Basran, an attitude shared by the other members of council, he said.I may make people upset or angry at times. That is not done purposely, but just as a result of trying to make our city better. I try to make decisions keeping the whole community in mind and that is the philosophy I live by.

Basran feels this is the most exciting time to be serving on council in Kelowna in many years, mainly because of the economic optimism evident across the city and a new surge of younger families who are moving here in unprecedented numbers. There is an air of excitement and optimism in our city that Ive never felt before, said Basran who, before winning the mayoralty race in the last municipal election, had served one term as a councillor. He said signs of younger people fl ocking to Kelowna rather than leaving to fi nd jobs or lifestyle opportunities elsewhere marks a signifi cant change for the city.Basrans popularity can perhaps also be attributed to his activity on his Twitter account, something he does on a daily basis, part of a network of expressing this thoughts and opinions and hearing feedback from his friends and other Twitter followers.I like to communicate and have always been a social person. I think I would be on Twitter regardless of what job I had. I was involved in social media growing up in my generation and its something that just comes naturally to me, Basran explained. Its something I just enjoy doing. Its not extra work, but rather a natural part of my day when I have downtime, although that is something I dont have a lot of these days.

Besides the task of being mayor, Basran has a young family and is learning how tough it is to balance work life and home life, something he said can be a constant challenge. Im learning a lot more since I became mayor about how to manage my time, he noted. While Basran is one of four people on council who have had a journalism career or media profi lethe others being Kelowna Capital News business columnist Maxine DeHart, former CHBC television reporter Mohini Singh and former journalist and current Kelowna Capital News columnist Charlie Hodgethe 39-year-old feels his former profession isnt the natural lead-in to politics that some people might think. Personally, I am so far removed from my days as a journalist that I dont think that enters into the equation for me. It helps from the standpoint of being comfortable with public speaking and interactions with the media, but beyond that the relationship between politics and journalism is not something I have given a lot of thought really.With two and half years until the next election, Basran said there are no guarantees in politics, so he wants to make the most of his current job as mayor. I love my job right now and Im really having a good time, so if this will only last for four years I want to make the most of it.







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THANK YOU!To all of our loyal customers in Kelowna and West Kelowna for voting us your top service provider.

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B E S T O F K E L O W N A 2 0 1 6 | 27

KELOWNA SPCA CONTINUES100-YEAR TRADITION OFDEFENDING ANIMALS RIGHTS

BY MIKE STRAUS

Since its fi rst formal meeting in Ashcroft in 1896, the BC SPCA has worked to advocate for humane treatment of animals all across the province. And now, over 100 years later, the same issues that led to the creation of the BC SPCA are still driving the organization to continue its advocacy work.A hundred or so years ago, there were a lot of issues with farm animalshorses in particular, said Kelowna branch manager Suzanne Pugh. The animals were being used for transportation and farming, but at that time the winters were a lot worse, and some of those animals were tethered out in the poor weather. So a group of concerned individuals formed the BC SPCA.Pugh said the Kelowna SPCA takes in about 1,500 to 1,800 animals each year, either as strays, abandoned pets, or pets owners surrender when they are no longer able to care for the animal in question.Every domesticated animal is given a medical exam and treated if necessary. These animals stay in our care until we feel theyre ready for adoption. The best environment for an animal is a loving home, so we try to keep them in the shelter for as short a stay as possible.The Kelowna SPCA is also home to the Central Okanagans animal cruelty

investigations team, which receives more cruelty calls than any other shelter in the province. But Pugh said thats because Central Okanagan residents are more educated on the subject of animal cruelty and are therefore more likely to report animal cruelty than other B.C. residents.Weve driven home a lot of awareness. We also off er education in the humane treatment of animals. We believe the best way to prevent suff ering and neglect is through education. We have a qualifi ed full-time teacher who is responsible for a wide range of programs, and a great team in Vancouver that generates educational materials. The Kelowna SPCAs spring break workshops and summer camps allow children of all ages to learn about topics relating to the proper treatment of animals. The most popular workshop, Bite Free, teaches children and adults alike how to reduce incidences of biting.We also have a program called Compassionate Board, where we work with individuals in domestic violence situations, or individuals who might be going into social housing or the ICU, who need care for their pets.Pugh said that winning the Best of Kelowna award for Most Popular Local Charity is a welcome validation of the organizations mission.

Ive always said that animals are our priority, but its all about the peoplethe people who volunteer, who donate, who adopt. For our staff and volunteersand the animals themselvesto be recognized, thats signifi cant.The Kelowna SPCA is currently redesigning its program in order to more effi ciently make use of its 400 volunteers, which includes recruiting a new staff member to better manage that essential workforce.But for Pugh, the SPCA is just one part of creating a more humane community. When children abuse animals, its a sign that theyll likely go on to commit more serious off ences later in life. Thats why were invested in

working with school districts to improve education regarding the care of animals. We believe itll improve society as a whole.

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Kelowna SPCA assistant manager Kaylyn Robinson (left) and branch manager Suzanne Pugh with puppy Maggie in the SPCAs classroom.

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Art Knapp Plantland & Florists

Bylands Garden Centre

PAST RELOCATIONREMAINING FRUITFUL FOR THE GREENERY GARDEN CENTRE

BY BARRY GERDING

When The Greenery Garden Centre relocated from Rutland to the Dilworth area 20 years ago, it took awhile for people to get used to the new location. The Dilworth residential area was not well established at the time, and the Longhill Drive location seemed off the beaten track. But in the years since, The Greenerys location has become a local landmark as the area population has grown, and continues today to be a thriving business for Tell Segler and his family. In the 2016 Best of Kelowna poll, The Greenery was named the Best Home and Garden Store.

The Greenery is a family-owned operation open to the public for the four spring months of each year. For the past 32 years, The Greenery has grown one of the largest selection of garden plants at its Okanagan nursery. With more than 3.2 acres of greenhouse capacity, The Greenery inventory is all produced in-house.Segler said its important for them to grow their own plants right here in the Okanagan. It not only improves plant quality and availability, but also saves on long distance trucking costs.

When it comes to cool season varieties and perennials, The Greenery is able to adapt them to our local climate during the growing process, allowing customers to purchase a hardened-off plant better suited to the local climate. Segler said The Greenery is currently in the midst of the intense part of its season, starting in January with preparing plants for the start of spring garden planting, which he said seems to start earlier with each passing year.


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TD Bank

Royal Bank of Canada - Main Kelowna

CIBC

Thank you to all of our customers & vendors for their

continued support!

Weddings Corporate Events Private Functions Movie Productions Festivals & More

Come see us for all your event rental needs! or view our catalogue online:

www.avalonrents.com

#2 - 1660 Powick Road 250-861-1575






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Winn Rentals Ltd

Home Depot

Nor-Val Rentals Ltd

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Just 4 Fun Playcentre Inc

Scooters Ice Cream

Mavazi Apparel

We had to be ready this year by mid-April because of the weather. It got a lot warmer earlier than usual, and people wanted to get out in their gardens and start planting, he said. The Greenery off ers an array of plant choicesmore than 20,000 hanging baskets, wall bags and planters, thousands of diff erent annuals, basket stuff ers, vegetables, herbs, berries, perennials and grasses. Along with an extensive collection of garden plants, The Greenery also off ers a

wide selection of various gardening tools and needs that includes potting soil, soil amendments, peat moss, fertilizers, seeds and lawn care supplies.And with an acre of retail space to browse around, Segler said the store set-up creates a unique shopping experience in itself, with a showplant system that allows customers to view most plants in a mature blooming state, to help with those tough decisions about colour options and style.

from page 31

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BNA Brewing Co.

Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs

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Milkcrate Records

GetintheLoop

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BCAA

Kelowna Yacht Club

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Best Buy Electronics

Andres Electronic Experts

London Drugs

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Dockside Marine Centre

Rayburns Marine World Ltd

Scrub Captain

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Country RV

Voyager RV Centre

Traveland RV Supercentre Kelowna






[email protected]

Kelowna

Thank you Kelowna for voting us

Kelownas Best Realtors for the

YEAR IN A ROW. We are honored

to serve you.

4th

B E S T O F K E L O W N A 2 0 1 6 | 33

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Blue Ginger Trading Company

Funktional

lululemon athletica

BLUE GINGER BUILDS ON PASTSUCCESS WITH NEW OFFERINGS

BY MIKE STRAUS

When Deborah Scott moved to Canada from the United Kingdom, she knew that she wanted to start a businessand she didnt waste any time in pursuing her dream.She and her husband quickly acquired a local gardening supply store on Pandosy Streetand in 2009, the store became the areas newest fashion shop. Now, with two stores under their ownership and new products coming in almost every day, the Scott familys Blue Ginger has been named the Best Place to Buy a Gift for a Girl in the 2016 Best of Kelowna Awards, and second in the Best Place to Buy Jewelry/Accessories category. This isnt the fi rst time Blue Ginger has been nominated for an awardthe store was a fi nalist for the Readers Choice Award in the Best of the Okanagan Awards for 2013 and 2014. But Deborah said that she couldnt have been so successful without help.Were very blessed to be considered in these competitions. I think part of our success has to do with the Pandosy Village area itself, which is quite unique. You can wander from shop to shop and theyre all diff erentthere arent any chain stores. But its also a mix of having great staff , great products, a well designed store, and a lot of dedication.

Deborah and her team invest a lot of time into Blue Ginger behind the scenes, in the form of acquiring new products, cataloging merchandise, and staying on top of the latest trends.Finding the next hot product really is a guessing game. You can have something fl y off the shelf, and then something else wont. I use it as an opportunity to stay up-to-date on whats new and exciting.When it comes to determining what new products to bring in, Deborah said she relies on a mix of trade shows, social media, and learning what sells. And although stocking her two stores with hit products isnt easy, its not the biggest challenge shes faced.

It was a huge challenge to start a new store up from nothing and steer it in the right direction. I think the way to manage that is to simply fi nd the balance. When you can fi nd the balance between work and play, thats the victory.Deborah said that with the Ginger Lily store only a year old, there are still innumerable possibilities for where it could go.Ginger Lily is a new baby, and its still fi nding its feet. Id love it if people could visit the store and just give us some feedback. Pandosy Village is a great place to shoppeople should come take a look.

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Man + Woman

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lululemon athletica

Home Sense

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Orchard Park Shopping Centre

Grouse River

Best Buy Electronics

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Dont Look Down Tattoo

Gas Pedals Tattoo

Bertram & Co Tattoo

2565 Main St. Hwy. 97 South, Westbank 250.768.8870103-1889 Spring eld Road, Kelowna 250.860.2346

Thank You for taking the time to vote us as one of the top

Pet Service & Supply Stores in Kelowna

Thank You for taking the






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OTHER GOODS & SERVICES2 0 1 6 B E S T O F BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

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Rykon Construction Management Ltd.

Mission Group

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Wieners Plumbing & Irrigation

Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Kelowna

Vision Mechanical Ltd

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Jillian Harris

Sticks + Stones Design Group Inc.

Lavish Design

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Superior Interiors Kelowna

Start To Finish Construction

MS Budd Construction

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Real Deals on Home Decor

Superior Interiors Kelowna

Dom-Tech Appliance Repair

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Pinnacle Roofi ng

Ryder Roofi ng

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Nufl oors Kelowna

End Of The Roll Discount Carpet & Flooring

Dannburg Flooring & Interiors

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Wilden

McKinley Beach

Village of Kettle Valley

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Creative Roots Landscaping

Soil to Sod Landscaping & Irrigation

Tiger Landscaping

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Home Sense

Lakehouse Home Store

Alchemy

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Sunshine Pools and Spas

Valley Pool & Spa

Beachcomber Home & Leisure

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Krueger Electrical Ltd

Horizon Electric Inc

Houle Electric Kelowna






Objects of desire

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345 Bernard Avenue, Kelowna778.478.4111 alchemykelowna.com

B E S T O F K E L O W N A 2 0 1 6 | 35


BARK N FLY GIVES TRAVELING PET

PARENTS A FRIENDLYALTERNATIVE TO

KENNELSBY MIKE STRAUS

Dog and cat owners alike know that keeping the family pet happy and comfortable is a big priority.Thats why Norm Melnichuk and his wife Tasha opened Bark n Fly in 2010, after visiting existing kennels and feeling unimpressed.My wifes mother was looking for a place to keep her dog, Norm said. We looked at a few of the kennels in town, and we thought we could do better. So we bought a piece of land that used to be an apple orchard and built our facility.Norm said the Melnichuks knew from the start that they wanted to off er a high-end luxury option for pet owners who want the best. Building their $650,000 facility from the ground up, the designs included a variety of sleep suites for the pets, plus a large outdoor yard, an indoor play area, and a separate cattery for feline guests to enjoy luxurious pampering.

We hadnt really given cats a lot of thought, but when we built the facility, we realized there are a lot of families out there with both a dog and a cat. So we fi gured wed give people a one-stop shop where they can drop off the dog and the cat. We designed the cattery to be double insulated, so the cats cant hear the dogs barking. Its thoroughly ventilated, and it features scratch posts and cat toys as well.Norm said that on average, the cattery hosts four to fi ve cats at any given timebut around the Christmas holidays, Bark n Fly may play host to as many as a dozen cats.Aside from caring for pets while owners on vacation, Bark n Fly also strives to help owners better train their pets. The facilitys puppy and kitten daycare is designed to give pets a safe environment in which to socialize with other animals and learn how to play.


Kelownas Best Pet Boarding Facility, as voted by the citizens of Kelowna, o ers a climate-controlled building, friendly interaction with other dogs and cats, and ve acres of fenced outdoor play areas for pets to enjoy.

Tasha (left) and Norm Melnichuk with their dog in the passengers seat.

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Bosleys Pet Food Plus Kelowna

Buckerfi elds

Petsmart

from page 35Some dogs dont meet other dogs until later in life, and it can be a scary experience for them. We take puppiesobviously we give them special care and we let them play with other dogs. They might play for 45 minutes, go into the kennel for a nap, and then come back out again. Its the older dogs that need to train these puppies on how to interact. Its also good exercise for the dog, which is great for high-energy breeds.

Bark n Fly prioritizes safety above all else, and off ers separate play areas for large and small breeds, an extensive network of security cameras, and a 24-hour monitoring system for burglary, fi re and carbon monoxide alarms.Not looking to board your pet? You can also take advantage of professional dog grooming by appointment at the luxury bathing facility.

For the Melnichuks, the upcoming dog days of summer are going to be busy.Were thinking about putting together an events crew to spread the word at dog parks and beaches, he said. Were also working on expanding the play fi eldwe have about four acres fenced in, but we have access to another six acres wed like to use.

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Bark N Fly Dog Daycare

Kelowna Pet Resort

The Spotted Spa Retreat

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Bone Appetit - Glenmore

The Yuppie Puppy

Petsmart

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Rose Valley Veterinary Hospital

Fairfi eld Animal Hospital Ltd.

Tri Lake Animal Hospital

By far the biggest selectionat the lowest grower prices!

www.thegreenery.cawww.facebook.com/greenerykelowna

Thank youfor voting us

the

Best Home & Garden Centre!

5






With great appreciation, we thank you for considering us one of Kelownas best local charities of 2016!

Kelowna 250-763-7161

West Kelowna 250-768-1559

www.cofoodbank.com

We couldnt do it without you!

B E S T O F K E L O W N A 2 0 1 6 | 37


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Springfi eld Funeral Home

Everden Rust Funeral Services and Crematorium

First Memorial Funeral Services

CREATIONS BYMOM & ME

BY BARRY GERDING

Receiving acknowledgment for longevity in business is nothing new for Creations By Mom & Me. Started 23 years ago as a fl oral business in the then-fl edging Guisichan Mall on Gordon Drive in Kelowna, the mother and daughter business has thrived over time. Our longevity is something we are proud of, to stay in this crazy business for that period of time, said Edithe Ross, who started the fl oral shop with her daughter Patti Custaloe.She said the crazy aspect comes from dealing with weddings, of which they probably service the most fl ower requests in the city, and fl ower orders for things such as birthdays, funerals or last minute events that come with little notice. A lot of people in our business have come and gone since we fi rst opened, but we credit (our logenvity

with) the fact weve always had the best staff . In any business, its always the peopleyou have to have a good staff and watch whats going out the door.Our fl oral designers are artists in what they dowhen people look at a fl oral arrangement and without knowing otherwise can tell it came from us, thats such positive feedback for what we do.She said past business awards have helped to build a word of mouth buzz about Creations By Mom & Me that have given the business a longer-term stability. The fl oral shop started as an idea with a slightly ominous tone in that Ross and her daughter signed the lease with the shopping centre on Friday, Nov. 13, and by Dec. 2 the store was painted and ready for business.

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Creations By Mom & Me

Art Knapp Plantland & Florists


Thank You Kelownafor voting us

6

BEST DOG GROOMING

Proudly Canadian and Locally Owned

PET STORE/DOG GROOMING SALON

Thank You KelownaThank You Kelowna

111-1940 Kane Rd.,Kelowna

Glenmore location 250.862.2663






38 | B E S T O F K E L O W N A 2 0 1 6


The complex then was just an empty shell with the promise of what was to comeno other businesses none of the residential that is here now. There was just ourselves, a produce store and a travel agency back then, Ross recalled. But we did our homework and we could see this was an area where our customer base would grow, where Gordon Drive would become a high-traffi c road as development grew. Christmas was our goal to be open by that year and by Dec. 2 the store was painted and ready for business.Today the family connection to Creations By Mom & Me has extended to Ross great-granddaughter working at the shop. The retail business always goes up and down over the course of the year. It can be nerve racking at times but its also been fun. And we started as a family business and we still are a family business today.

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Vintage Origami - Vintage Wedding & Event Rentals

The Wedding Cafe

Jenny McAlpine Weddings

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Vintage Origami-Vintage Wedding & Event Rentals

The Wedding Cafe

Holly Dober - Social Magnet Productions

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Avalon Event Rentals

The Tickle Trunk

All Occasions Party Rentals Inc

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Barnett Photography

Darren Hull Studios

Sharla Pike Photography

from page 37

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For an event to remember, look to Vintage Origami - Vintage Wedding & Event Rentals, voted Best Wedding Planner and Best Event Planner/Designer for 2016.

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B E S T O F K E L O W N A 2 0 1 6 | 39

ThankYOUKelowna!

We appreciate all your support - nominations,votes, social media sharing and conversation!

Congratulations to all of this years Best of Kelowna winners

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Directed by Randy Leslie with Musical Direction by Roslyn Frantz & choreography by Jennifer DaviesBased on the stories by P.L. Travers & the Walt Disney Movie | Original Music & Lyrics by Richard & Robert Sherman

Book by Julian Fellowes | New Songs and Additional Music by Geroge Stiles & Anthony Drew

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Special Features - Best of Kelowna 2016