TOTA nominated for global award
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association is one of nine nominees from around the globe for this year’s UN World Tourism Organization awards, which recognize inspirational projects that made an invaluable contribution to advance sustainable tourism.
TOTA is one of three nominees in the non-governmental organization category for its project, “Embracing Our Potential.”
Also nominated in the same category are “Amuse Project” from Spain and “Treadright Foundation Heritage Initiative” from Switzerland.
The UNWTO Awards recognize the contribution of public and private institutions, as well as NGOs, in the development of a more competitive, responsible and sustainable tourism sector that works towards achieving the 2030 sustainable development agenda.
For the 15th year of the UNWTO awards competition, a total of 190 applications from 71 countries were received in the three categories: public policy and governance, enterprises, and non-governmental organizations.
The awards will be at a later date, to be announced.
Two Okanagan realtors were recognized by the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board with the “Realtors Care Award,” presented to those who make a different in their community.
Jane Hoffman of Kelowna contributed extensive fundraising efforts for a host of charities, including Central Okanagan Hospice Association, Make a Wish Foundation, BC Cancer Foundation, United Way of the Central and South Okanagan/ Similkameen and Kelowna General Hospital.
Maggie Garvey from Vernon has spent nearly 20 years helping organize local realtor-driving community and charitable events. Additionally, she volunteered at the Interior Provincial Exhibition for Cedar Hall Ranch.
Award candidates must have made a noteworthy contribution that broadly benefits a community organization, which can be a society, sports team, charity, town or district society or organizations dedicated to benefiting the community.
Recipients are nominated by members of the public and their professional colleagues. OMREB represents 1,300 realtors in 89 offices between Peachland and Revelstoke.
Marjorie King is the new judging manager with the BC Wine Cider and Spirits Festival.
For the past 22 years, King has been renowned for her skills and demonstrated ability to plan and execute judging competitions. King is a past recipient of the Founders Awards, presented by the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society and Okanagan wine guru Harry McWatters.
“We are thrilled to not only announce that Marjorie will continue working with our team, but actually be granted the privilege to do so,” BC Wine Cider and Spirits Festival founder and general manager Katherine Bramall said in a news release.
“Marjorie has developed and executed the province’s most credible judging competitions including the Best of Varietal, BC Wine Awards, British Columbia Lieutenant Governors Wine Awards; and we are honoured to be able to say that she will be exclusively working with our team moving forward.”
The BC Wine Cider and Spirits Festival is member-based, and is open to all British Columbia wineries, cideries, breweries, and distilleries.
“I’m pleased to continue working with Katherine and our team,” King said. “They have some innovative and creative events planned that I think will support the entire wine, cider, beer, and spirits industry and highlight what this young and exciting industry has to offer. I look forward to being involved with the broader industry of alcohol beverages”.
The change hasn’t been noticeable at all, but Dragon’s Den Art Supplies, Cards and Gifts in downtown Penticton is under new ownership.
Jeanette Beaven, the general manger for the past 32 years, has added the title of “owner” to her list of responsibilities, officially buying the store from her mother, Jill.
“Everything is still the same. Mom did such a wonderful job building up the business, it would be silly to make any changes,” Jeanette said. “Mom is still in the store just about every day.”
The Beavens are only the second family to have owned the business, which is now 100years-old. They purchased it from the old Stock’s Camera Shop, which was located in the 200 block of Main Street. Jill Beaven and her late husband bought the present building at 12 Front Street in 1986. Built in 1911, it was originally the site of a hotel.
Dragon’s Den will continue to specialize in art supplies, greeting cards, paper goods, First Nations giftware and CDs by local artists.
The store is also dog friendly as mother and daughter bring their pets to work.
One new thing which Jeanette introduced is a Facebook page for the store, something she confesses was always overlooked.
Nominations for the 81st annual Business Excellence Awards from the Summerland Chamber of Commerce are now being accepted. The winners this year will be determined by an adjudication process. The awards in 12 categories will be presented March 30.
Nomination forms are available online at: summerlandchamber.com or by contacting the Chamber office at 250-494-2686. How’s this for customer loyalty? Regulars with Canoe Coffee Roasters in Kelowna have opened a GoFundMe page following a break-in at the new business that’s located at 984 Laurel Ave. Property was damaged and several expensive items were stolen. More information is available at: gofundme.com/6oh7dqw.
Sydney Teichroeb, a Grade 12 student at Mount Boucherie Secondary School in West Kelowna, will intern in the Daily Courier’s newsroom for the second semester.
She visited The Daily Courier in November as a job shadow and was impressed with the operation. Her duties will include enhancing The Courier’s presence on social media, as most local stories from throughout the week will be posted at kelownadailycourier.ca. The Courier is also posting far more frequently to Facebook and Twitter.
The Courier and Penticton Herald have seen great success with their interns advancing to full-time careers in media. Recent interns who are now working in the field include: Melanie Eksal of Penticton (Penticton Herald); Bryan Eneas of the Penticton Indian Band (Prince Albert Now); Tiffany Goodwein of Oliver (CJD-CTV television in Dawson Creek); and Andrea Peacock of Kelowna (The Daily Courier).
Even though Clancy’s Pub, Grill and Pizza in Penticton is under new management and ownership, one thing that’s remained consistent for years in server Bonnie Birch.
“Bonnie is a totally awesome and amazing individual,” said general manager Ryan Graham, part of the new management structure which took over the lease on Nov. 1 from Bill and Brian Gipson.
“Bonnie is great with customers, knows everybody and is just a very friendly and inviting person,” Graham said.
On Monday, Birch is celebrating her 25th year to the date with the downtown pub, tucked out of the way behind the liquor store on Martin Street and beside the side entrance to Charles Manor. Staff and regulars will be acknowledging her with a cake.
She was hired by former Penticton Inn manager Bruce Judd in 1994.
Meanwhile, the pub is officially launching its new menu in about two weeks followed by a ribbon cutting with the new ownership sometime in February. Clancy’s is also the site for horse racing wagering in Penticton. Here are a few upcoming events to report: • Urban Development Institution (UDI Okanagan) is hosting a luncheon featuring guest speaker Andrew Ramlo, vice-president of Market Intelligence, Rennie Group and president of the Planning Institute of B.C., at the Coast Capri Hotel on Thursday, Jan. 31 from noon - 1:30 p.m.
His presentation is titled, “What lies ahead for the development industry in the Okanagan in 2019?”
The cost is $45 for members and $65 for nonmembers. The event is sponsored by Farris, Vaughan, Wills, Murphy LLP. For ticket information phone; 778-478-9649 or visit the UDI Okanagan’s website.
• The Greater Westside Board of Trade is presenting a two-part workshop series titled, “Marketing 101: The Smart and Savvy Way to Grow Your Business in 2019.”
The sessions will be facilitated by Nikki Csek, CEO of Csek Creative, one of the largest agencies in the Southern Interior. Originally a home-based business, it now has offices in Kelowna, Kamloops and Salmon Arm with 40 employees and more than 1,000 active clients.
Topics will include why certain marketing doesn’t work, developing an effective marketing plan tailored to your business and how to implement a new plan, track and results and see the growth.
Sessions will be held at The Cove Lakeside Resort at 4205 Gellatly Rd. in West Kelowna on Wednesday, Jan. 23 and Wednesday, April 17 from 3-5 p.m. both days. The cost is $28 plus GST and may be purchased online.
• The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce is presenting a luncheon and the topic will be auto insurance in B.C. The guest speaker is Aaron Sutherland, vice-president of the Insurance Bureau of Canada (Pacific). His talk, “How private insurers can help improve the affordability of auto insurance in B.C.” will be held Monday, Jan. 28.
For tickets and further information, visit the Chamber’s website.
James Miller is managing editor of the Kelowna Daily Courier and valley editor and director of content for Okanagan Newspaper Group. He is filling in for regular business columnist Steve MacNaull who was away for most of this week. To contact the writer, email: james.miller@ok.bc.ca