Tree planting
They are venture capitalists, property managers, contractors, loan money to build good credit, make corporate wellness software and aquatic recreational equipment.
They are the Okanagan companies that made Profit Magazine’s fastest-growing lists.
Kelowna-based Strawhouse, which invests in rapid-growth businesses, is No. 1 on Profit’s start-up company list.
5 Point Operations of Kelowna, a contracting and property management firm, was No. 5 start-up.
And Kelowna-based Refresh Financial, which loans money so people can build good credit, is No. 19 on the start-up list.
The Profit 500 list tracks high-growth companies that have been in business longer.
No. 303 on that list is Highstreet, the developer of the 280-unit rental apartment complex called Mission Flats on KLO Road across from the Central Okanagan Regional District headquarters.
Corehealth of Kelowna, makers of corporate wellness software, is ranked No. 337.
And last on the list at No. 500 is Kelowna-based Waterplay Solutions, a provider of aquatic recreation equipment for playgrounds and waterparks across the world.
Speaking of hyper-growth lists, Kelowna’s Csek Creative made Business in Vancouver magazine’s list of the top 100 fastest growing companies in B.C.
The web design and marketing company was ranked No. 27 for its 339 per cent revenue growth over the past five years from $693,000 in 2012 to $3 million in 2006.
Along the way it’s helped 1,000 clients and acquired companies in Kamloops and Salmon Arm.
By the way, the fastest-growing company in B.C. is Vancouver’s Jostle Group, which has a successful employee intranet platform.
In 2012, it had revenues of $74,000 and in 2016, $4.4 million.
Ford Lincoln
Kelowna Ford Lincoln is running out of room at its current home at 2540 Enterprise Way behind Home Depot.
So, it will move a little farther west on Enterprise Way and build a new dealership at the corner of Dilworth Drive as part of the yet-to-be-built IntraUrban Enterpirse Business Park.
The business park will cover the eight acres at the former Enterprise Steel site and Kelowna Ford Lincoln will occupy half the space.
The other half will be flex-units with bay doors, big windows and mezzanines measuring 2,700 to 4,200 square feet that can be used for light industrial, office or retail.
The IntraUrban development is billed as commercial condo because businesses can buy the space.
“We are really excited to work with Kelowna Ford Lincoln and include them in our highly successful IntraUrban business park brand,” said principal Garry Fawley.
“We are working together to re-imagine this trophy site into a beautiful, modern industrial park, unique to Kelowna.”
Old Enterprise Steel buildings on the site will be demolished in the next couple of weeks so construction can start.
The industrial park is expected to open spring 2019.
Big White boom
More construction is expected at Big White Ski Resort this season than in the past 10 years combined.
Staff accommodations are being finished at Black Forest.
Phase three of Stonegate condominiums is underway, as are duplexes at Grizzly Ridge, ski-in/ski-out cabins at Monashee Ridge, townhouses at Sundance Resort and private single-family homes on Feathertop Road, Rock Ridge and White Forest Estates.
Big White last boomed 2003 to 2006 when the economy was good and Stonebridge, Aspens, Copper Kettle and various units in Happy Valley came on stream for international and local buyers after the ski-in/ski-out lifestyle.
The recession of 2008-09 and the resulting excess of inventory meant there hasn’t been much development at the hill in the past decade.
That’s changing now as the economy remains strong, demand increases and the alpine lifestyle beckons.
“Big White represents amazing value,” said Royal LePage realtor Gary Turner.
“You can’t buy ski property in Europe. Americans love the exchange rate and Australians love the snow.”
A small army planted 450 trees and bushes this week to the sound of school children pounding Aboriginal drums.
The kids are from Westbank First Nation’s Sensisyusten School and planters put in maple trees and Saskatoon, blackberry, blueberry and raspberry bushes along Sneena Roads.
The area had previously been stripped of greenery during Highway 97 widening and reconfiguration approaching the Bennett Bridge.
It was the sixth annual collaboration between Westbank First Nation and TD Canada Trust’s Friends of the Environment Foundation to re-green Aboriginal lands.
Two of the VIPs to take part were Westbank First Nation Chief Roxanne Lindley and TD district vice-president Dale Safinuk.
Across the country, TD also partnered with five other Aboriginal nations to plant trees and shrubs this fall.
Over the life of TD Canada Trust’s Friends of the Environment Foundation, 24,000 environmental initiatives have been supported.
The foundation is funded by a voluntary, small monthly fee taken from customers’ accounts and a $1 million contribution by the bank every year.
Sunrise Records
Get your vinyl fix this weekend during Sunrise Records’ grand opening at Kelowna’s Orchard Park mall.
Sunrise took over 80 former HMV locations to sell not just records, but CDs, DVDs and music-and-entertainmentrelated merchandise.
Sunrise knows the music industry has been taken over by downloads, but is carving a niche for itself by serving those that appreciate the tactile feel of a record or CD and enjoy the richness of sound, particularly from a record.
In conjunction with grand openings across the country, Sunrise is launching its Local Artist Contest.
Bands and singers can enter their music online to be voted on by the public.
The top 10 vote getters will be judged by a Sunrise panel and the grand prize winner will have their music pressed on 500 LPs and 500 CDs for distribution nationwide in Sunrise stores.
Sunrise will also sell, on consignment, records, CDs and cassettes by local artists who don’t have label distribution.
Steve MacNaull is The Okanagan Weekend’s business and wine reporter and columnist. Reach him at steve.macnaull@ok.bc.ca.