Great places to work in the Okanagan
These workplaces are productive, fun, inclusive, innovative and and geared to employee satisfaction. As such, they have also made the 2017 list of Canada’s best workplaces compiled by the Great Place to Work Institute.
Nine companies with offices or outlets in the Okanagan are on at least one of six category lists.
On the list of large companies, those with 1,000 or more employees, is Joey Restaurants, Royal Bank, TD Bank, Cactus Club Restaurants, Bank of Montreal, Connect Hearing and Scotiabank.
On the medium list, for companies with 50 to 999 workers, is Capri Insurance.
Capri, with its head office in Kelowna, is the only Okanagan-based company on any of the lists. Capri was lauded for its employee share options and volunteer opportunities for employees.
On the best workplaces for women list there was Royal Bank, Grant Thornton Accountants, Joeys and Cactus Club restaurants.
Joeys, Cactus Club and Grant Thornton were also on the best for part-time workers list along with Royal Bank and TD.
Boat show
It will be boats — and people — galore this weekend at the 22nd annual Kelowna Yacht Club Boat Show.
Ten thousand people are expected to descend on the club today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to check out the 150 boats on display by 50 exhibitors.
Most of the boats will be in the water in club slips so people can wander the docks and check out the vessels.
To help commemorate the country’s sesquicentennial, the club has been chosen as one of the locations to fly the Canada 150 flag, a special edition banner featuring a more geometric multi-coloured maple leaf.
The flag raising ceremony, complete with music from a bagpiper and cannon salute, will be just prior to the opening of the boat show today.
The clubhouse lounge and patio, normally only open to yacht club members, will be open to the public during the show for lunch.
Young gun
Jay Dowhaniuk, who works with the Johnson Legacy Wealth Management team at Raymond James Investments in Kelowna, has made the 2017 Young Guns list.
The round up of the top 25 financial advisers under the age of 35 who are making their mark in the industry was compiled by Wealth Professional Canada magazine.
“Making one’s mark as a young financial adviser has never been more challenging,” said Wealth Professional editor David Keelaghan. “The advisers on this list are passionate about their work. Their drive and dedication is exactly what earned them a place on this list.”
Architectural finalists
A big curved-roof bus station and an ultra-modern cantilevered house are the Okanagan entries on the list of finalists for the Architectural Institute of B.C. Awards.
The Queensway Transit Exchange, designed by VIA Architecture of Vancouver, is cited for its eye-catching way of providing shelter while waiting for the bus downtown. The Friesen Wong House in Coldstream, designed by Vancouver’s D’Arcy Jones Architecture, is a contemporary residence made of glass and charred wood overhanging a rocky knoll.
The 11 finalists are vying for five awards, which will be handed out at a banquet on May 10 in Vancouver.
Onesie
Is it acceptable to wear a onesie — you know, those fuzzy one-piece-with-the-slippers-built-in pajamas — to work or school?
Why, yes, it is, especially on Monday when it will help raise money for Mental Health Week.
Teresa May of Hiilite Web Design and Marketing in Kelowna is challenging people at local businesses and schools to wear a onesie on Monday and collect a $1 donation every time they give someone a hug.
“It is simple and fun to participate,” said May. “Everyone loves to give a hug to someone wearing a warm fuzzy (onesie).”
Participants are also urged to upload onesie photos at Facebook.com/MyKelowna.ca.
Donations can be dropped off at Hiilite at 1690 Water St. and May will pass them on to the Canadian Mental Health Association for programs to raise awareness of mental health and how to tackle mental illness.
Steve MacNaull is a business reporter and columnist with The Okanagan Saturday. Reach him by email at steve.macnaull@ok.bc.ca.