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Kelowna Toastmasters is celebrating their “50th Anniversary”. On April 26th they are hosting the Division “C” International Speech and Evaluation Contests and celebrating the anniversary at the Ramada Hotel. Toastmasters were organized on March 18th, 1958 by Walter Laurie. Charter Officers were president, Don MacGillivary; J. Arnold Teasdale; Ed Boyd; Walter C. Laurie and Bob Taylor. Charter members were W. Barclay, G. Bishop, J. Burch, E. Boyd, J. Cowan, P. Coburn, G. Gaucher, W. Crooks, V. Gregory, J. Horn, J. Holmes, J. Ladd, W. Laurie, R. Lemmon, A. Marsden, N. Murray, D. MacGillivary, R. Perry, L. Snowell, J. Smith, S. Steinhauer, B. Taylor, J. Teasdale, B. Thompson and G. Young. Club Officers for 07/08 of Club 2796 are Marian Gushue-Geiger (president); Laura Bot (VP-Education); Theresa Chang (VP-Membership); Sharleen McBlain (VP-Public Relations); Sonja Peters (Secretary); Elaine Jensen (Treasurer) and Colin Parker (Sgt. of Arms). If you are an existing or former member who wishes to attend the event, contact Elaine Jenson at 768-3902 or Theresa Chang at 717-8736 by April 19. I was honoured to have received the “Communications Leadership Award” from Toastmasters in 2003 when the conference was held in Kelowna.
Leitha Cosentino is the new campaign manager for the United Way. Call 860-2356.
Well-known radio guy, Dallas Gray, Kelowna’s general sales manager for Astral Media Radio (SUN FM, 101-5 SILK FM and 1150 News, Talk Sports) is moving on. He is joining his father, Walter Gray, who is the president of Sun Country Cablevision, the company that recently obtained CRTC acceptance for a new FM Classic Rock Radio station, “96.3”. Dallas will be the new general manager and general sales manager for the new station that is expected to be up and running in about six months. dgray@radio.astral.com 868-4704.
Chef Judith Knight has joined the Vineyard Terrace Restaurant at CedarCreek Estate Winery. Judith was formerly with Quails’ Gate Old Vines Patio Restaurant and before that was executive chef at Bishop’s Restaurant in Vancouver. The Vineyard Terrace is open daily from 11:30am - 3:30pm from June 13 to September 14. CedarCreek Estate Winery is owned and operated by the Fitzpatrick family. Call 764-8866.
The final three golfers have been announced to attend the 2008 TELUS World Skins Game at Predator Ridge in June. Canadian favorite Mike Weir, young rising PGA Tour star Camilo Villegas and eight-time European Tour Order of Merit winner, Colin Montgomerie have been added to the field, joining Fred Couples and Greg Norman. Tickets go on sale April 14. www.telusskins.com
Lots happening at Pushor Mitchell Lawyers LLP. Well known lawyer and partner Paul Mitchell, Q.C. has been appointed Queens Counsel. Paul was chosen by an advisory committee that makes recommendations for Q.C. appointments to Attorney General, Wally Oppal. Patent lawyer Richard Okimaw, formerly of Benson Edwards has joined Pushor Mitchell and brings a broad range of experience in intellectual property law, including filing national and international patent and trade-mark applications, as well as domain name and copyright law. Lawyer Theresa Arsenault has been appointed to the Board of Governors of UBCO, joining members of the UBC Board, Jim Eccott, Barry Lapointe and chair Brad Bennett. Call 869-1103.
The Okanagan Sun Football has a new executive. They are president, Les Weiss, 1st vice-president Lloyd Congdon, vice-president-finance Lorne Ettinger, 2nd vice-president Rick Keller and general manager Derek Malinchuk. Keep tuned, Lorne tells me there much more news to come.
10 year-old Chandra Schuett of Quest Martial Arts Academy took home two Gold in sparring and one Silver medal in forms at the Tiger Balm International Tournament held in Vancouver. Will Pratt, Lindsey Tetlock, Loren Kuich and Maliki Suppin also competed bringing home a total of six medals. These five competitors plus Jon Zaleski and Kelan Cornfield are members of Team Canada who will be traveling to the World All Styles Combat Organizations Championships being held in Italy in May. Chris Rowe is the program director of Kelowna Martial Arts, home of Quest Martial Arts. Call 869-0111.
This was one of the most fun and enlightening visits I have ever had. Last Saturday, local businessman/owner of Sun Valley Window Cleaners, Martin McDermott, brought to Canada, six young men from Jamaica to work in his window cleaning business. Earnest Stewart, Garfield Johns, Balvin Service, Andrew Sital, Oscar Stephenson and Ian Bailey arrived to our “not so warm” climate on March 29 and I am proud to say that these polite, clean-cut, courteous, young gentlemen are now my friends. They are very happy to be in our country and city and were excited to begin their new jobs. They were rarin’ to go to work, having already been trained by Martin in Jamaica. I also had the pleasure of meeting Bertram Barrington Bailey, Deputy Chief Liaison Officer for the Jamaican Liaison Service and Becky Parisotto, Bertram’s assistant. Jordon Tappin is the supervisor of Sun Valley. They clean windows, awnings, eavestroughing, blinds and pressure wash and through our own experience, do an excellent job. I hear the guys are having a little trouble adjusting to the climate this past week. So am I! Call 718-7341 or 868-7341.
Happy 50th Anniversary Barb and Vern Martindale (April 8).
The “Crackman” is celebrating one year in business. That is, Mitch Haines, who owns and operates the franchise “Crackman - Visual Impact Concrete Renewal” is celebrating. The company is concrete restoration specialists, which means they specialize in concrete crack and control joint repairs for driveways, walkways, patios and pool decks; stamped, exposed aggregate, brick paving stones and broomed concrete, custom tint and recolouring; decorative garage floor upgrades; swimming pool deck restorations; strata property management packages; raising sunken concrete; complete concrete services removal and replacement and anti slip applications. All and all, don’t replace your concrete, restore it and save some dollars. If you’re all cracked up, give Mitch a call. The company is also a member of “Shell Busey’s Home Smart Referral Network”. Call 317-8408. 764-7645 or crackman.ca
The “Uptown” Rutland Business Association, 101-200 Dougall Rd. N. (Penty & Co. building) has a new board. The president is Todd Sanderson of Sanderson and Co., C.A.’s. Directors are Dave Willoughby (Old Town Farm Market); Wendy Nelson, Nelson Associates; Joyce Van Norman, Hollywood Shoes; Joe Ianfresco; Jennifer Warawa, Dreamscape Business Services; Dave Donaldson, Maxwell Realty; Susan Rayner, Interior Savings Credit Union; Kevin MacDougall, Community Police Assoc.; Mary-Ann Graham, Maggie’s Café; Nicholas Aubin, Notary Public; Ray Menard, Royal Bank; Tony Russo, Mara Lumber and Rose Shawlee, Benson & Co. Deborah Guthrie is the executive director. The association is also developing a new brand with UBCO management students helping them design banners and a new logo. Changes in the community are starting with $50,000 worth of streetscape improvements along the Highway 33 business district including, colourful banners, flowers and signage. Call 470-8236
This is going to be a neat event. Most people that know me, including Wayne and Julie Evans and artist Rod Charlesworth know that, by no means, do I have an artistic bone in my body. They do know, however, that I like to have fun doing new things. On April 26, noon to 4pm, The Evans Gallery, 571 Lawrence Avenue, is hosting an artist/celebrity/media/VIP painting event with proceeds going to KGH, Infant Care Nursery. All artists and their partners will be painting unique wooden keepsake boxes and the public is invited to come out and watch. All the completed boxes will be auctioned off in a silent auction with the proceeds going toward purchasing stethoscopes, which cost $150-$175 each. The goal is to raise enough funds from each box to purchase one stethoscope. Opus Framing Supplies and Michaels are also sponsors. Stay tuned. A list of artists and their partners will be announced in upcoming columns. Call Wayne or Julie at 861-4422 for more info.
The Ukrainian Catholic Church, 1091 Coronation Ave. is hosting DAMIEN on Friday, April 25 at 7pm. The story, by Aldyth Morris, is played by Fr. Edward Evanko and is of a Catholic missionary who devoted his life to ministering to the lepers on the Hawaiian Island of Molokai. Fr. Edward Evanko is a Broadway actor and singer who became a Ukrainian Catholic Priest and now serves the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Richmond, B.C. Before his ordination to the priesthood in 2005, Evanko had appeared in more than 200 musicals in Canada, the U.S. and Japan. In the 1960’s he hosted his own Canadian national TV series, The Ed Evanko Show. This is a play you definitely won’t want to miss. The cost is only $20 including a wine and cheese reception afterwards. Call 860-7295 as tickets are limited.
Pioneer County Market is now open for the 2008 season. Along with their homemade items, such as pies, cinnamon buns and donuts on Saturdays, they are now offering take-home frozen entrees such as lasagna, mac and cheese, shepherd’s pie and cannelloni to mention a few. They are also introducing their new “lunch to go”. Just drop in or call 762-2544.
There are a lot of charity walks these days, but this one will interest families. On Sunday, May 4, more than 50 communities across Canada will participate in a walk to raise money to support “Kids Help Phone”. Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24 hour, free phone and web-counseling service for kids. It is anonymous, confidential and free, but the operation of it is not. Every dollar raised through the Bell Walk will help assure that professional counsellors can always be there with the support and hope that kids need. The statistics are startling. In 2007 there were 18,723 contacts made from the Thompson Okanagan Region. Across B.C. there were more than 188,000 contacts. You can help by registering to walk in the event and invite others; raise sponsorship money or choose to sponsor someone who is walking. You can also sponsor the event by providing financial or volunteer support through your organization. Registration begins at 10am at “The Dolphins” downtown and the walk begins at 11am. For more info call Colin Parker at 868-1431 or www.bellwalkforkids.ca or colin@abovetheherd.com
The 4th Annual Heirloom Linen and China Sale is April 17-19 sponsored by the Central Okanagan Hospice Assoc. This year, the sale is at St. Paul’s United Church, 3131 Lakeshore Road. They are now looking for donations of heritage linens, lunch cloths, placemats, napkins, pillowcases and fine china until April 15. Donations can be dropped off at St. Paul’s United Church Monday-Friday from 9am to noon or you they will pickup in some areas. Call 763-5511
Had a good chat with Susan Steen, former CEO of the United Way. She is in her new digs in Squamish and her official title in her new position is “Vice-president, Operations, Squamish - West Coast Railway Heritage Park. The park is 12 acres of Railway Heritage, open seven days a week and she has 13 staff. Her e-mail is vpsquamish@wcra.org or call 604-898-9336.
Quote of the week – Consider how hard it is to change yourself and you’ll understand what little chance you have of trying to change others. (Jacob M. Braude – Submitted by Phyllis Litz).
Birthdays of the week – Happy 60th Bob LaCroix, Mazda Motors (April 4); Happy 55th RCMP Inspector Cam Forgues (Mar. 28); Happy 81st Don Alexander (Apr. 8); Rose Klingspon (April 8): Gordie Abougoush, Boyd’s Auto Body (Mar. 31); Bob Drunkemolle, Rykon Const. (Mar. 29); Claudia Amos (Apr.1).
Maxine DeHart is a Kelowna hotelier. Phone her at 979-4546, fax 860-3173, E-mail maxdehart@telus.net and web-site www.welcometokelowna.com (click on Business) |
