Sarah Howe is the product of a supportive, innovative, and entrepreneurial community, having been a resident of the Central Okanagan for most of her life (with university and career stints in Victoria and Vancouver). She has been a contributor to the Daily Courier as a digital marketing columnist, and a long-standing member of West Kelowna's Okanagan Business Excellence networking group. For the past six years, Sarah has worked as the project manager at Navigator Multimedia Inc. connecting the team of designers, developers, marketers, and administrators together as players within the projects they build for the clients they serve. As a leader it is Sarah’s job to set the tone for optimism, innovation, and kindness, and encourage learning, curiosity, and confidence in the valued team.

Sarah is also the newest board member serving The Bridge Youth & Family Services, a Central Okanagan-based non-profit providing services within our community, including recovery and addictions services, family counselling, youth group for LGBTQ2+, support programs and more. Sarah hopes that with her communications background she can bring value to the board as The Bridge connects further with the media over the coming years to meet their goals.

Prior to her current role with navigator Multimedia Inc., she established a book of clients in Vancouver as a freelance web writer and wrote for music magazines for fun. Writing has been a passion of hers; at one point, Sarah had a column with UBCO's newspaper, The Phoenix, without even being a student! Sarah believes one of her biggest accomplishments was having an essay she wrote about her experiences with insomnia in the Globe and Mail. She received comments and emailed messages from readers expressing their connection to the essay as feeling finally not alone. She felt it was rewarding and satisfying to have put her communications background to work for an issue that was within her experience, and to help others.

Sarah has a Bachelor of Arts majoring in English Literature, from the University of Victoria (2006-2010).

Q&A with Sarah Howe:

How are you approaching the current situation?

Tenderly, and with determination. I take our B.C. health officials’ updates seriously. I’ve been out of the house only for runs, walks, and one grocery shop over the past nine days. Am I going a bit batty? You bet. That’s where the tenderness comes in. Routines have never felt more vital. I let myself feel what I want to feel. I say thank you for what I do have in this day. I hug my husband again.

Where are you now? Are you still working, at home or at work? How is the business you own/work for currently?

The Navigator Multimedia team is working from home, so I’m currently perched at the dining room table while my little dog Deiter sleeps in the sunlight. The transition to remote work has gone well and we’ve been running at full force to support our clients through COVID-19 related updates to their websites, including e-commerce integration, and other digital marketing channels.

What is your favourite quote?

“Set wide the window. Let me drink the day.” - Edith Wharton

Manik is a seasoned, reliable and resourceful entrepreneur offering substantial experience in all areas of entrepreneurship, stakeholder engagement and business management through his background with multiple ventures and volunteerism. He completed his education in Operations Management at a young age, allowing him to work in the private sector in several executive positions, before coming an entrepreneur at 26. Manik moved to Kelowna in 2013 when he acquired Hollywood Market, a commercial real estate plaza. Ensuring the involvement of the community in promoting local business, the plaza grew from 1 business with 2 employees, to now 3 successful local businesses with 17 employees; another 2 local businesses are forecasted for 2020.

Manik is also the managing director of Epitome Holdings Inc, where he is responsible for purchase and sale of assets, project management and delivery for properties throughout BC. In his latest venture, he co-founded Rentolio, a cloud based property management application, addressing pain points in key areas of a landlord/tenant relationship, providing access to services that simplify the rental and payment process. Passionate about making a difference in our community, he donates his time by volunteering on the board of directors for Rotary Centre for the Arts as well as an Ad Hoc member on the Finance committee for the KGH Foundation.

Manik strongly believes that people are a major component in the success a business or organization attains, and believes in empowering his team members by giving them the tools and resources they need to be successful. Manik has seen continuous improvement through involving education in his life, which is why it’s imperative that his organizations offer learning opportunities to all team members.

Manik has his Masters Degree in Management from UBC Okanagan, his Post Grad Diploma in Applied Project Management from SFU and Graduated with Distinction in Operations Management - Industrial Engineering from BCIT. Manik was recently featured on the Convenience Store News Canada as a cover story in March/April 2019 Issue.

Q&A with Manik Dhir

How are you approaching the current situation?

My portfolio consists of commercial real estate as well as active retail businesses so needless to say this is a challenging time for landlords and business owners. From a landlords perspective I’m trying to work with my commercial tenants as I understand the challenges faced by small businesses and this pandemic will affect their livelihood.

How is your business doing in the current climate?  

For my retail business portfolio we are closely monitoring the situation and reacting accordingly. For example Hollywood market has tweaked its hours of operation to capture those customers that cannot make it to the grocery stores. Since the store carries dairy, bread and other essential everyday items it is imperative that we be there for our community during this time when people want to refrain from visiting bigger grocery chains due to social distancing. To ensure the safety and well being of our staff and customers we have also implemented social distancing tactics like limiting 5 customers in the store at any given point as well as have become diligent with wiping down counters, door handles and debit terminals every hour. I think being one of the oldest businesses in Kelowna we want to ensure we do our part in providing people with everyday essentials without compromising their safety and well-being.

I’m in a unique situation as I can both empathize with landlords as well as business owners during this unprecedented times. I hope that we stand together as a community and a city during this time and come out of it stronger and united.

What is your favourite quote?

“If you believe it will work out, you will see opportunities. If you believe it won’t, you will see obstacles.” — Wayne Dyer

Adam Relvas grew up in the South Okanagan and gained a passion for food through food-focused family events. Adam moved to Kelowna in 2004, enrolling in the Culinary Arts Program at Okanagan College. After graduating, he joined the team at Waterfront Wines as a line cook. Following that, Adam moved on to be the Sous Chef at both Ricardo’s Mediterranean Kitchen in Lake Country, and later the Hotel Eldorado in Kelowna. He then became the Executive Chef at Monashee’s Bar and Grill and The Kal’s Sports Bar in Vernon B.C. for 5 years. Currently, Adam is the Chef and Owner of Relvas Catering and The Sandwich Company by Relvas Catering. Adam is a certified Red Seal Chef.

Through his experience running different kitchens throughout the valley, he has had the chance to work with and train up young chefs. Many of these young chefs have gone on to become chefs and managers in kitchens across BC.

For nine years Adam has head up the kitchen for the Christmas Day Dinner at Parkinson Rec Centre hosted by Victory Life. Every year he coordinates 40+ community volunteers to execute serving 400 plus hungry guests. Adam has had the privilege of being a part of many different charity events across the city from the Dream Rally raising money for Ronald MacDonald House, Food Bank fundraising dinners, events for Kelowna Hospice, Joanna’s House, Back to School Bash and Easter Pancake Breakfast events with Victory Life. If a fellow chef is passionate about fundraising for a cause Adam is always willing to step up, lend a hand and help support a worthy cause.

While working in Vernon he was voted Top Chef in the North Okanagan by Okanagan Life Magazine Best Restaurant Edition in both 2013, 2014 and 2015. Relvas Catering was voted as one of the Top 3 Caterers in the Central Okanagan in the Okanagan Life Magazine Best Restaurant Edition in 2017. Most recently Adam was voted Chef of the Year for 2018 by the Okanagan Chef’s Association.

Q&A with Adam Relvas

How are you approaching the current situation?

Right now we feel that it is vital to stay positive, safe and to think of not only ourselves but how we can support our friends, family, neighbours and fellow small business owners during these difficult times.  The best way for us to get through all of this is together, supporting each other.

How is your business doing in the current climate?  

I am the chef and Owner of Relvas Catering and The Sandwich Company by Relvas Catering in Landmark Tower 3 in the Landmark District.  We are currently doing our best to adapt to the ever-changing demands and requirements of COVID and doing our best to stay positive through it all.  We have transitioned from a la carte service to pre-made meals that guests can pick up and take home to have at a later date.  We thought with the craze in grocery stores and limit of available products and thought, why not try and provide something that allows people to have restaurant quality food in the comfort of their own home whenever they want to?  Catering is non-existent at this time with gathering restrictions but we look forward to working with our amazing clients when this is all over and being there to cook amazing meals for all their parties, weddings and celebrations.

What is your favourite quote?

I cannot be defeated and I will not quit!

Derrick Ross moved to Kelowna once he realized such a beautiful place existed in Canada. Soon after he arrived, he was Opening Executive Chef for Globe Tapas at Big White, soon followed by Sun Peaks. In 2010, Ross was offered the position of Opening Executive Chef of Sparkling Hill Wellness Resort where he focused on using products from the region and North Okanagan. With a strong focus on understanding and using local and sustainable products, he was able to develop meaningful relationships with producers in the valley. After Sparkling Hill, Ross had a brief tenure as Sous Chef of Delta Grand Okanagan, before he moved on to open his own small businesses, The Table Cafe and The Broken Anchor Food Truck and holds the position of General Manager - Codfathers Seafood.

Being so involved as a Chef in the Okanagan has really allowed Ross to volunteer for a huge variety of organizations and fundraise using his skills. Whenever the opportunity comes up, Ross is quick to volunteer in whatever way he can. Some of the events he has volunteered with have been; Earth Wind Fire for Nature's Trust, Feast of Fields for Farm Folk City Folk, Heart of Gold and the Victory Life Christmas Dinner.

A big focus for Ross has been promoting mental health awareness. Ross has implemented "Sauce for a Cause" in his restaurant, and during the opening day of his Food Truck they donated 100% of the proceeds to The Foundry Kelowna. Ross is very proud to support Canadian Mental Health Association and The Foundry, his company has also done events with The Bridge Youth & Family Services.

Ross has his Professional Culinary Arts Diploma with Enriched Cook Apprenticeship.

Ross was honoured with the Okanagan Chefs Association Member of the Year 2019.

Q&A with Ross Derrick

How are you approaching the current situation?

This situation is quite difficult for many reasons. Many in my industry have been laid off and businesses closed. 

We are focusing on the good that we can do right now. We initiated a 'Pay It Forward" program in which public can buy health Care Workers lunches and dinners. 

They can do this online via our website or at the shop.

We have switched our focus to take away and delivery, but with alot of heart into it. Focusing on what we can still do for our community.

What does your working look like right now?  

I am mostly working remotely (at my kitchen table yelling at my dog to stop chasing squirrels), catching up on long overdue paper work, but also developing a plan on what we are going to do when we come out of this. This is an interruption, not a forever. We will be back in full force at one point, and stronger. We are keeping staff low and based on who wants to work. And I am ensuring our staff who are working are getting full hours, or whatever hours they want.

Sales are down over 75%, but we are working smart, and have good support from our community. 

I believe kindness is currency, and right we're lucky to be receiving a lot of it.

What is your favourite quote?

"Once the storm is over, you won't remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won't even be sure whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won't be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storms all about." -- Haruki Murakami 

Brandt started his career as an Athletic Performance Coach based out of Kelowna. Prior to being an athletic performance coach, Brandt was an Internationally ranked sprinter and had represented Canada multiple times, competing in the European circuit as well as the World Junior Championships.

Brandt began his athletic performance company, Nitro Velocity in 2008 and currently sponsors over 1,200 local youth athletes/teams annually, while working with over 3,000 different athletes from many different sports including Football, Track and Field, Hockey, Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, rugby, lacrosse, field hockey and more. These athletes range from Local, Developmental, Amateur, Provincial, National, International, Semi-professional and Professional. Brandt has assisted over 125 athletes to obtain full and partial scholarships and compete at the highest levels of sport, including: NHL, CFL, NFL, NLL, IFBB, World Championships, and more.

In 2014 Nitro Velocity expanded further and created another division of itself, called PRIME Physiotherapy and Performance. PRIME was comprised of a small physio clinic and a boutique gym with only one athletic Performance coach. Within two years of starting PRIME, Brandt expanded the company into a multidisciplinary, specialty medical facility where physicians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, kinesiologists, clinical counsellors, psychologists, pain specialists, pharmacists, surgeons, fitness and nutrition experts as well as other allied healthcare practitioners come together to serve one incredible need; for one extraordinary demand; with one exceptional purpose; and one phenomenal mission - to unlock human potential through integrative and enhanced healthcare models centred around the greatest inpatient care.

PRIME provides sideline and injury assistance as well as provide medical support and physical training at practices and games for TOFC Soccer (all ages, entire league), KSS Football (grades 9 - 12), Kelowna Minor Football (league), T2 Volley Ball (club league), Shockers basketball Academy as well as other teams and individuals and tournaments who may need assistance throughout their season in Kelowna Minor Hockey, and Kelowna minor Baseball as well as several of the men's / women's rec soccer leagues. PRIME is passionate about donating hundreds of hours a year in their own commitment of time as well as making financial contributions to these leagues and associations to help cover costs for kids who need assistance to play the sport they love.

PRIME was awarded the Consumers Choice Award as an exclusive group of companies recognized as one of the best in our field across Canada - "Pain and Rehabilitation Therapy "

It is a lot of learning curves, re-learning how to treat and diagnose but it is progressing and improving daily and we are all adapting as fast and quickly as possible.

Favourite quote?

"The most important thing is to be able at any moment, to sacrifice everything of what you are for what you could one day become." 

Dustin studied Civil Engineering, completed his diploma and then moved to Alberta to work in the Surveying/Engineering Field. While doing this Dustin was also studying stock trading, real estate investing and business operations and marketing. After advancing through his positions with an engineering firm, Dustin moved back to Kelowna in 2005 and started providing financial advice to business owners. In 2014 he founded Serviss Wealth Management, which has since won numerous awards for client service and most importantly, having a history of successfully helping our clients hit their goals.Dustin manages a team of 3 internal staff and co-ordinates approximately 15 staff outside of the office. Past leadership roles have included teaching Entrepreneurship seminars to both School District 23 and the Universality of British Columbia Okanagan.

Serviss Wealth Management has conducted do it yourself investment seminars for non-business owners and non-high net worth families. In 2018 they focused on raising awareness around families who have experienced in vitro Fertilization struggles. Events held led to the donation of a Full Treatment to a Kelowna Family needing the support to try to make having a family a reality. His current volunteer efforts are around teaching finance to people who are interested but may not have a million dollars to invest. Dustin has also provided support via the fertility community in speaking with couples who need conversations, with people who have overcome the having a baby road block. Dustin never shy’s away from an opportunity to take a friend's, client's or colleagues' child for coffee and teach about life, money and business.

Dustin has a Civil Engineering diploma and currently holds 3 of the highest respected credentials in the financial advice industry: CFP - Certified Financial Planner, CLU - Chartered Life Underwriter, CIM - Chartered Investment Manager

Recent awards and accomplishments include: 2017 - Top 10 Wealth Builder of the Year - IPC Financial, 2018 - Micro Business of the Year Finalist - Kelowna Chamber of Commerce and 2019 - Micro Business of the Year Winner - Kelowna Chamber of Commerce.

Q & A with Dustin Serviss

How are you currently approaching the current situation?

Day-by-day and trying to manage cash flow and see the light of making new sales and breaking even.

Are you still working, at home or at work?<>

Working from home, staff are at home and clients seem happy to meet on the phone and virtual

Favourite quote?

"Just do it."

Melanie leads more than a thousand participants worldwide in daily fitness with her company HIITit.ca. Melanie’s goal is to be a positive leader who can encourage women to enjoy fitness and be self-motivated to stay strong, all the way through life, not just with flash diets or one-year gym memberships.

Through daily social media posts, Melanie's passion is to encourage women to not give up, to work out when it doesn't feel good, and to reach for the stars in their life whatever that may look like; she believes so much positivity, energy and drive comes from an individual being physically healthy and strong. Melanie loves leading senior groups with this same mentality, as it brings her joy in seeing older adults continuing to live a healthy, and active lifestyle.

Over the years Melanie has volunteered with the Teen Youth Program at Trinity. Melanie and her business partner Chelsea also volunteer within Kelowna schools leading fitness and nutrition classes at the elementary, junior high, and high school levels. They have also hosted a food-drive fundraiser at Stuart Park where they raised over 300lbs of food for the local Food Bank. Most recently Melanie spoke to a group of high school students about the benefits of daily activity and then led a food class creating healthy, delicious after school snacks.

Melanie has her Personal Training & Weight Training Certification along with an Architectural Technologies Diploma, Digital Animation & Small Business Certification.

Melanie has most recently been recognized in the Kelowna Now Good Stuff. Her company HIITit.ca has been recognized numerous times in news and print.

Alyssa Farr’s career began in communications. She briefly served as a Microsoft Office Trainer, then spent 3 years as Communications Director. Her passion for entrepreneurship and system creation lead her to pursue contract work consulting on marketing, communications, and event management. Eventually, she started pursuing larger opportunities focused on business strategy and operational efficiency. For over 7 years Alyssa has owned a small remedial construction company servicing brands such as Prospera Place, Sun-Rype, and Andrew Peller on technical coatings and building envelope projects. In the last 2 years, Alyssa has focused her practice on coaching non-profits and charities as an Entrepreneur-In-Residence with local social enterprise accelerator, Purppl. She has also started a tech company called TasteAdvisor, which makes product recommendation algorithms for the alcohol industry. Both of these initiatives are Alyssa’s efforts to use her professional capacity to have a greater impact on the local community.

Alyssa has had the fortunate opportunity to lead in a variety of organizations throughout that Okanagan thanks to her career as a business coach. She has lead teams up to 100 people, and teams of all ages and skill levels. In recent years her leadership experiences have focused more on capacity development and fostering strategic alignment between staff and management. 

Alyssa has a passion for supporting and integrating marginalized people which has informed much of her volunteer work. For over 4 years she has volunteered at the Metro Community, serving people facing homelessness, mental health, poverty, addiction, and incarceration. From this volunteer role, she went on to hire people with barriers in her construction company, supporting recovery through employment. Alyssa has also served as a youth leader in several organizations mentoring at-risk middle and high school students, where she leads a three-month global citizen program through Vernon school district for 20 high school students, which included 6 weeks in Panama. Alyssa also runs marriage workshops and founded Change-Up, an annual social impact pitch competition that builds awareness for local charities.

Alyssa has an undergraduate degree in Business Management from the University of British Columbia Okanagan and a graduate certificate in Enterprise Architecture from the University of Toronto. 

During Alyssa’s undergraduate studies, she was awarded the Millennium Excellence Award, given to only 100 Canadian students, for academic achievement, innovation, leadership, and community service. Alyssa also graduated as an honours student, receiving annual awards for the top 5% of students in her area of study.

Q & A with Alyssa Farr

How are you currently approaching the current situation?

To me, the pandemic represents disruptive opportunity. I am approaching my circumstances an opportunity to review my health, my pace, my finances, my perspectives, my strategy, my relationships. I spend some of my extra time reflecting on how to honour myself with a different rhythm going forward. 

Where are you now? Are you still working, at home or at work? How is the business you own/work for currently?

Currently I work from home. I continue to coach my clients from Purppl, many of whom are facing unique challenges to grow and change during these times; and I continue to grow my company TasteAdvisor, which is in a positive position to scale because of the pandemic. My team and I are grateful to be support Canadian wine regions during such unprecedented times.

What is your favourite quote?

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.” Theodore Roosevelt

Originally from Winnipeg, Chris has been living in the Okanagan for the last 12 years. Chris worked in a variety of sales and management roles until five years ago when he founded Twirling Umbrellas, a digital marketing agency based here in Kelowna. In that time, the company has become one of Kelowna’s fastest-growing marketing agencies. Twirling Umbrellas now employs twelve people out of the Kelowna Innovation Centre and works with over a hundred clients ranging from entrepreneurs to large publicly-traded enterprises. Chris also teaches at the Centre for Arts and Technology, participates in UBC's Capstone program, has presented at OK College, and provides internships to local students interested in business, marketing, and design. Twirling Umbrellas is also involved in the community, having sponsored local non-profit organizations and run events for The United Way, Creative Okanagan, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Artsco, Cops for Kids, BrainTrust, and Elevation Outdoors.

Over the years, Chris has worked in a variety of management positions. Chris started his career in auto service and by 24, managed a busy 10-bay repair centre. At 27, Chris chose to move to Kelowna just before his eldest son was born and got a job as a Sales Manager at a local flooring store managing a team of up to 10 people. He was responsible for managing schedules, training, and mentoring. Chris has used a lot of this experience in helping to select amazingly talented creatives, he is extremely proud of the team he has helped build in his agency and the accomplishments they've made.

Chris is happy to have had the opportunity to start his business within the community of Kelowna. As a busy entrepreneur and single father of two young boys, Chris has found the best way he can contribute is by teaching, sponsoring, and working with other organizations in the community. For local students, his company has helped organize tours of the innovation centre and designed art and marketing projects for local elementary and middle schools; they have also provided internships for post-secondary students.

Chris graduated high school in Winnipeg but dropped out of university to start his first business (an automotive website and media company) in the early 2000s.

In 2018, Twirling Umbrellas was chosen as a top 5 marketer and are up for 2020’s Best Company in the Small Business BC Awards.

Q & A with Chris Stephens

How are you approaching the current situation?

It certainly is a unique time, that's for sure. We're pretty lucky as we've had a lot of work on the go for this year and we're still quite busy, so it hasn't yet made a dramatic impact on our business. Our team is working from home of course, but that's fairly easy in digital marketing. It hasn't been too big of an interruption to our own business and we're mainly just trying to help clients who are dealing with some pretty big challenges (retailers selling online, etc.).

My favourite quote has always been "Nothing Ventured. Nothing Gained

Steven has been working in Kelowna at Farris LLP since moving back home from a law firm in Calgary back in 2016. Steven is a general solicitor lawyer working with numerous local businesses, both small and large, as well as many larger regional, provincial, and national companies. As a general solicitor lawyer, Steven works with not only corporations and businesses, but also with local residents in their personal residential real estate matters and wills and estate planning. Working with our local sole proprietorships, companies, and entrepreneurs, Steven is fortunate enough to be a member of the team that helps local businesses grow and thrive. In working with some of the cities largest developers, Steven has been provided with the opportunity to understand the important infrastructure, agricultural, geographic, community, and development benefits and needs of the Central Okanagan. Through this, he has been able to work with all sectors and industries to help the Central Okanagan grow while retaining the core characteristics of the Okanagan Valley.

Currently Steven serves on the board of directors for both YMCA of Okanagan and United Way Southern Interior B.C. Through his board experience, volunteer work, and leadership experience, Steven has been privileged to have made strong connections with a vast array of individuals and business in the Central Okanagan and is able to provide additional connections and resources to his clients to with the success of their ventures.

Steven considers himself a leader as an advocate for an inclusive and diverse Central Okanagan and for mental health and work/life balance. He organizes and leads the Farris LLP United Way Bus Pull team and YMCA Cycle for Strong Kids, as well as organizing and leading the November Project teams for both. Steven has helped lead the November Project Swinging with the Stars team to fundraising over $12,000 for the Central Okanagan Hospice Association while taking home the trophy for Judge’s Choice Award. He feels he provides leadership in the community through encouraging active, healthy lifestyles as leader of November Project Kelowna, as a lululemon ambassador, and leading a local free and inclusive run crew.

Steven grew up between Vancouver and Kelowna and settled in Kelowna, attending UBC Okanagan and playing on the Heat Men’s Varsity Basketball team, serving as captain for 2 years and winning many team and individual awards over the years. Steven serves as a member of the advisory council for alumniUBC, giving a voice to UBC Okanagan at the council meetings with alumniUBC board. He also volunteers over 10 hours/week as co-leader of November Project Kelowna, a free fitness group workout that encourages the community to be active, healthy, inclusive, and supportive while organizing social events and participating in numerous charity and volunteer events/initiatives. Steven leads a free run crew every Saturday morning, and through his fitness involvement, he has become one of two local lululemon ambassadors supporting the local community with fitness, mindfulness, and connection. Steven recently acted as a committee member for the Okanagan College Basketball program where they worked to bring a college-level basketball program to the Okanagan to compliment the university-level program at UBCO and help keep local student-athletes here in the Okanagan so that they can help shape the future of our region.

Steven has a Bachelor of Management with honours from the University of British Columbia, graduating from the local Okanagan Campus, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Alberta, Faculty of Law.

In 2019 Steven was nominated and selected by the City of Kelowna as a Fred Macklin Memorial Award Man of the Year 2018 finalist. He was also selected by Mayor Colin Basran to act as the Mayor’s celebrity guest at the Sugar Plum Ball in 2018 showing support and acting as an ally to the LGBTQ2+ community.

Q & A with Steven Morrison

How are you approaching situation?

Currently I am approaching the evolving situation and changing landscape of our personal and business landscapes with compassion and understanding that I am in a more fortunate position than many right now as I am not on the front lines and I am not without work or normal income. I am opening my perspective and mindset to see how I can continue to serve our community in my role as a lawyer, and even more so as a community leader. I am inspired to see people in our local community and in our greater global community using their leadership roles, both vocal and non-vocal, to provide people with connection, balance, and community in a time where we need it the most.

Where are you now? Are you still working, at home or at work? How is the business you own/work for currently?

I am still working full-time, remotely from home. There are some essential client meetings that are required for essential legal services in which I need to attend to our offices, but our firm has implemented policies and procedures to ensure we are practicing social distancing and that we have equipped our lawyers and staff with the ability to work remotely.

Favourite Quote?

I am always a sucker for a good motivational quote. Right now one that hits home is a excerpt from a larger poem ‘Our Deepest Fear’, and for me right now it is a reminder to myself and everyone else to stay true to you, use your gifts and skills to shine and inspire others, and whenever possible to always enjoy life with the heart of a kid. My current quote to leave you with is “We were all meant to shine, as children do[…] It is not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And, as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

In 2013 Nathan attended Thomson Rivers University in Kamloops and completed his law degree. After graduation, Nathan articled with Pihl Law and subsequently joined the firm as a litigation associate. In his time at Pihl, he has appeared before both the BC Provincial Court and the Supreme Court of BC. Although Nathan has continued to assist clients in multiple areas of the law, his main focus and passion remain on construction litigation. His unique background knowledge and hands-on experience have allowed him to easily understand complex issues while offering practical insights to both contractors and owners. 
 
In addition to his legal work, Nathan is a director on the board of two construction associations, the Southern Interior Construction Association (since September 2018) and the British Columbia Construction Association (since September 2019). Through his involvement with these organizations, he has been able to provide insights and assistance in shaping the construction industry locally, provincially, and nationally.

During law school, Nathan was a founding member and treasurer of the TRU Lawggers Hockey Club, which allowed students both an outlet to de-stress and an opportunity to network with other law students. The club has continued to thrive in the TRU community since its inception. He has volunteered his time as an assistant coach with the West Kelowna Minor Hockey Association. Nathan has also spends time teaching legal courses to construction industry professionals, providing presentations to numerous professional groups, and attending panel discussions for contractors and workers alike.

Nathan has a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Urban Land Economics from UBC. After running his own business for over 10 years, Nathan returned to higher education at TRU in Kamloops and obtained his Juris Doctor. 

Nathan believes his greatest achievement to date is receiving his law degree in his 30’s while being a husband and father of two young children. Nathan was awarded the Dean’s Course Prize in both the Bankruptcy & Insolvency Law and Creditor’s Remedies courses as the top student.

Q & A with Nathan McDermott

How are you currently approaching the current situation? 

Taking it day by day, but also capitalizing on the additional time with my family. Although working from home comes with its challenges, I am certainly spending more quality time with my wife and children. We have also been spending more time outdoors with the change in weather.

Where are you now? Are you still working, at home or at work? How is the business you own/work for currently? 

Our entire staff are currently working from home via remote access. Although business has slowed with the court closures, we are seeing and expect to continue to see increases in business in a number of areas of our litigation practices as a result of the changes in the economic climate. •

What is your favourite quote? 

“There’s a difference between knowing the path and walking the path.” Morpheus

Jillian considers herself as one of those rare individuals who was born and raised in Kelowna. After completing her BBA at Okanagan College, she fell in love with the hospitality industry while working at the iconic Fairmont Empress in Victoria and Fairmont Palliser in Calgary before returning home to Kelowna. Jillian then spent 7 years working at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort in Event Management, Sales & Marketing before starting her entrepreneurial journey. In 2017 her (now) husband, Chad, and their best friends, Jon & Jessica De Bruyne, founded Kelowna Concierge Ltd. which is the Okanagan Valley's premier provider of local experiences, corporate event planning and transportation services. Kelowna Concierge operates the official Hotel Airport Shuttle, Wine & Beer Tours as well as Destination Management Services.  

Jillian’s first major managerial role was the Food & Beverage Administrative Manager at the Fairmont Empress. She was part of a leadership team that oversaw six food & beverage outlets with over 200 unionized employees. Over the past three years of developing and growing Kelowna Concierge, Jillian has learned the importance of leading by example and demonstrating to her staff the exceptional level of guest service that they expect daily at Kelowna Concierge.  
 
Editors Note: Jillian’s application was submitted and judged prior to March 11th. 

Jillian’s next big project was set to be the Event Manager for the May 2020 Memorial Cup Presented by Kia, which has now unfortunately been cancelled due to the current global pandemic. Jillian was extremely honoured to be the Event Manager, she became part of the Bid Committee in September 2018 and worked closely with the City of Kelowna, Tourism Kelowna, Festivals Kelowna and the many other incredible companies & organizations that were supporting the 2020 Memorial Cup.   

Jillian has a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from Okanagan College. 

Jillian and her team at Kelowna Concierge were honoured to receive the first ever "Excellence in Tourism Award" presented by Tourism Kelowna at the 2019 Business Excellence Awards by the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce. During her career in hotels, Jillian successfully planned and managed high-profile groups & events such as the Canadian Culinary Championships, Skate Canada, WestJet VIP Client Events, and Nature Trust of BC’s Annual Earth Wind Fire Event. Jillian was also recognized as one of the top 20 Conference Services Managers in Delta Hotels for achieving 185% of her rooms revenue goal and achieved a prestigious “Star of the Month Award” at the Fairmont Palliser. 

Q&A with Jillian Haller

How are you currently approaching the current situation?  

This situation has given me the gift of time after an incredibly busy last 3 years. I've found a new daily rhythm that has allowed me to rest, reset and recharge.  As a small business owner, I love to see small businesses being supported and put in the spotlight during this challenging time. My hope is that once it is safe for business to re-open that we truly support local and rejuvenate those companies that need it most!  

Where are you now? Are you still working, at home or at work? How is the business you own/work for currently?  

I am one of the Co-Owners of Kelowna Concierge and before COVID-19 hit, I was also the Event Manager for the 2020 Memorial Cup (which was understandably cancelled). Kelowna Concierge has suffered from drastically reduced business levels, so we had to lay off all of our amazing staff in March and it's now just our four owners operating the company. We are mostly working from home and have implemented new cleaning and social distancing practices in all of our shuttle vehicles to stay safe. 

What is your favourite quote?  

"The secret to getting ahead is getting started." - Mark Twain 

After achieving a red seal carpentry certificate and starting his career on the lower mainland, Randy relocated Candel Custom Homes to the Okanagan in 2004. Randy invested in developments in Kelowna that include; The Ridge at Quail Ridge, The Peaks at Capistrano and Panorama Peaks in West Kelowna. In 2010 Randy received a concept from the City of Kelowna’s 2010 Affordable Housing Initiative to develop a five-unit row home building that is non-stratified, which is now known as the Manors at Mountainview in Glenmore. As of 2016, this was the first development of its kind in the Okanagan. This project paved the road for other developers to build comparable units of similar concept. Candel Custom Homes is known throughout the Okanagan for its superior quality homes and developments, along with innovative design and efficient use of space. At Lakestone, in Lake Country, Candle constructed The Villas at Waterside which led to regional and provincial awards while becoming one of five builders in Lakestone’s preferred builder program. 
 
In addition to building multi-family projects as well as commercial/industrial developments, Randy has built multiple units at the Airport Business Park development. Randy demonstrates loyalty in supporting local businesses and is proud to be involved in the growth of the Okanagan. 

From an early age Randy held a leadership role, starting as an assistant captain on his minor hockey team. Although he started as a partner, Randy became the boss and owner operator of his first company at the age of 18. Now at the age of 38, he has locally employed people ranging from sub contractors and direct employees, his team has reached as many as 15 members for in-house framing, finishing, foundation and management. Additionally, they have hired upwards of 50-60 sub contractors across the Okanagan. Randy’s leadership extends past his daily ownership duties and flows into his personal life with sports coaching within minor organizations. 

Randy personally volunteers his time throughout Kelowna, some of these but not limited to are; the Kelowna Father Daughter Dance, where he has been the head sponsor for the last five years and counting, while also in attendance, he has donated to his children’s elementary school to contribute to playground development, he has provided multiple sub-division developments with playgrounds, fields and outdoor recreational areas and volunteers weekly with the Kelowna Minor Hockey Coach.  

For the last 2 years Candel Custom Homes has provided the Grand Prize option for the Hometown Heroes Lottery. Ticket purchases raise funds for specialized adult health services and research for all British Columbians. Donors drive innovation and sustainable health care at VGH, UBC Hospital, GF Strong Rehab Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute and Vancouver Community Health Services. Funds also support programs of the B.C. Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund including the annual Burn Camp for young burn survivors. In 2019 they also provided the Grand Prize option for the Choices Lottery, with all funds benefiting the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. 

Randy has his Red seal carpentry ticket from BCIT and partakes yearly in continuing professional development. 

Over the last few years, Candel Custom Homes has been awarded 4 Gold and 17 Silver, Okanagan Housing Awards of Excellence (previously known as The Tommie Awards, Regional Builder Awards). In 2019 they were 2 time Georgie Awards Finalist (Provincial Builder Awards). Candel has been recognized by government officials for local and provincial building awards which has led to various newspaper profiles. 
 

 Q & A with Randy Therrien

How are you currently approaching the current situation?

I am Approaching the current situation with an open mind. These are unprecedented times that are changing daily if not hourly. My team and I have made adjustments to almost every aspect of our daily operations. People are our most valuable asset and it is of the upmost importance that we maintain proper policy and procedure through these times so that everyone we work with stays healthy and safe  

Where are you now? Are you still working, at home or at work? How is the business you own/work for currently?

I am working from our office daily but we are closed to the public and our admin staff are working from home. We have been very fortunate that our business has been able to continue through these times. Being in the construction sector we are able to maintain social distancing safely at all of our projects. We have had to adjust build schedules to accommodate having less people on our sites at a time but really with some adjustments in our daily routines we are full speed ahead .   

What is your favourite quote? 

“ There is hardly anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price only are this man’s lawful prey “ – John Ruskin 

James’s first career was with the BC Dragoons Army Reserve Regiment, he joined at 18 as a Private and retired 14 years later as a Captain. As a reservist, James was put on alert after 9/11, served as the liaison officer for the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps and twice for visits by the Chief of the Defence Staff, deployed for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, and served on the Standard party for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee visit in 2002. 
 
In 2012, James started working for the Okanagan Basin Water Board, taking over management of the valley-wide control program for invasive milfoil. The program – started in the 1970’s – was facing increasing pressures from environmental regulations, old equipment and increased shoreline development, creating operational challenges that needed to be solved. Around 2013, OBWB also became highly concerned about the threat of invasive zebra and quagga mussels. As the “staff lead” on this file, he worked to form partnerships with other organizations, lobby senior governments for more funding and create Action Items for all levels of government. 

Much of what James has helped to accomplish in the management of the milfoil program and the prevention of invasive mussels has come by helping to develop strong relationships and partnerships, which James consider a part of leadership. This was most apparent to him when, after several months of work, developing partnerships and meeting with provincial staff and ministers, the Premier came out and announced improvements to the invasive mussel prevention program, which were almost point for point, were the action items called for by his board and their partners. 

In the Canadian Forces, as an officer, James held several formal leadership positions during his career. The most prominent position was as the Operations Officer for a 200-person company during the Vancouver Olympics. This meant leading a small team of specialists to ensure that the troops had the resources and communications to maintain security for an Olympic venue. 

James is a member of the British Columbia Dragoons Regimental Council Society and served as their Treasurer through 2019. He also represents the Okanagan Basin Water Board (advocacy) on the BC Water Funders Collaborative Steering Committee and as a Board Director to Environment Funders Canada - a national network of philanthropic foundations and other organizations that support efforts to transition toward a more sustainable world.  
 
In early 2019, at a meeting of the BC Water Funders, James advocated for the first ever, Western Canada AquaHacking Challenge to be brought to the Okanagan. He is now the Project Manager for the Challenge, engaging post-secondary students and young professionals from across Canada to solve Okanagan-focussed water issues. James believes one of the best ways to advocate for the community is to raise the profile of this beautiful place and highlight the work that is being done here. 

James has a Master of Arts degree from UBC Okanagan looking at Local Government Sustainability Policy. He also has a Bachelor of Arts from UBCO with a double major in Human geography and Political Science, and a Certificate from Capilano University in Local Government Administration. James is continuing his education and is currently working on a Diploma in Local Government Administration through Capilano.  

In 2012 James also received an Undergraduate Research Fellowship from UBCO. 

James is a recipient of the Canadian Forces Decoration.  

Q&A with James Littley

How are you currently approaching the current situation?  

I believe we all need to be flexible and adaptable in this time when members of our community all need to help each other. I am following public health guidance, helping my kids learn from home, and trying to buy local as much as possible when I do make a purchase. 

Where are you now? Are you still working, at home or at work? How is the business you own/work for currently?  

Local government workers are listed as essential worker as we provide ongoing services to the public. While I am working from home as much as possible, I still go into the office weekly to process invoices and conduct other administrative tasks, and to run complex online meetings from a secure and reliable network.  The Okanagan Basin Water Board has mostly transitioned to working from home, while our field employees continue to control the growth of milfoil in valley lakes for water quality and public safety, once people are allowed to return to the beaches. This is also an important program to make sure our water-based tourism industry is supported during the recovery. We continue to monitor the water supply so that we can help to communicate about any risk of floods and droughts. 

What is your favourite quote?  

The most profound quote I have heard recently came from a student participating in our BC AquaHacking Challenge about public engagement. “The public want to be the protagonist of change, not just the subject of change.”  Keyvan Khadem – UBC Okanagan 

Sarah’s research career began in 2007 as a clinical research coordinator in the Massachusetts General Hospital, Center for Addiction Medicine where she worked with adolescents in outpatient addiction treatment and was part of a research project examining pathways to recovery for youth. Sarah then began her graduate education at Tufts University, which included working with the Massachusetts Healthy Families Evaluation study, a mixed methods research project focused on coping among at-risk young mothers. These experiences lead her to pursue her doctoral degree, which culminated in her dissertation examining resilience among children experiencing maternal depression. 

Sarah is currently an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at UBCO, where her research explores positive adaptation in the context of adversity and the interplay of risk and protective factors. In the Central Okanagan, she is working on a number of projects including co-leading a SSHRC Insight Grant with Dr. Susan Wells, that is focused on the organizational climate, approach to practice, and outcomes for youth involved with delegated Indigenous child welfare agencies. Additionally, Sarah is co-leading a CIHR grant that is partnering with a local school district to better understand how programs and polices can reduce vaping among youth. These projects are aimed at providing actionable evidence that can be used to improve efforts that support effective practice supporting youth. 

Sarah currently co-leads a major SSHRC and CIHR grant, under which she provides mentorship to multiple undergraduate and graduate students. In addition to this, Sarah supervise/co-supervises three graduate students on various projects and is involved on two additional thesis committees. As an assistant professor, Sarah has had the privilege of teaching two MSW graduate courses at UBCO, where she led two cohorts of 30 students to better understand the importance of research and evidence-based practice. One student reported: “Prof Dow–Fleisner is an excellent teacher and a passionate researcher. Her high expectations were refreshing and motivating. I learned so much (by doing, rather than observing) in this course. This allowed me to generate work I can feel proud of, and to feel more confident in my ability to read and apply research to my future practice” As a leader in the classroom, Sarah’s goal is to provide a foundation from which students can take ownership of their learning and strive to become autonomous, life-long learners. 

Sarah currently sits on the Canadian Underage Substance use Prevention (CUSP) Trial Local Advisory Group, a group which provides feedback for a CIHR funded study to prevent adolescent risk behaviours that can lead to drug and alcohol misuse. She also part of the UBCO Centre for the Study of Services to Children and Families, which is a CFI funded centre that is dedicated to identifying the differential effectiveness of child welfare interventions for diverse Canadian populations and supporting the implementation of these services. 

Finally, as part of the UBCO School of Social Work, Sarah volunteers for a number of community projects, including a yard revitalization for a local recovery center in Kelowna. Along with students, staff, and other faculty, they reach out to a local center and help to refinish a patio deck, plant new trees, and provide landscaping. 

Sarah holds a PhD in Social Work from Boston College, a MA in child development with a focus in clinical developmental psychology from Tufts University, and a BSc in child development and a BA in psychology from Colby-Sawyer College.  

Q&A with Sarah Dow-Fleisner

How are you currently approaching the current situation?  

As a social work researcher, I’ve turned to the evidence to manage the current situation. While our knowledge of COVID19 is constantly emerging, the research on positive adaptation, or resilience, in the context of disaster has a lot to offer. Maintaining social connections, establishing routines, and engaging in positive health behaviors, like hiking or baking, are important for ongoing health and wellbeing. This means I spend quite a bit of time videoconferencing with family and friends, eating a lot of homemade baked goods, and enjoying the Kelowna hiking trails. 

Where are you now? Are you still working, at home or at work? How is the business you own/work for currently?  

As an assistant professor at UBCO, the work has not slowed, and I continue to work daily from my home here in Kelowna. It took some time to adapt to a strictly virtual working community, but I have an amazing administration and colleagues who’ve supported that process. My current program of research focuses on positive adaptation in the context of adversity, including child maltreatment and intimate partner violence. Importantly, self-isolation and school closures will likely lead to an increase in the number of incidences of family violence, many of which will go unreported. This has pushed me to think about how to best support children and families during and after the pandemic.  

What is your favourite quote?  

One of my favorite quotes relates to my working examining adaptation in the context of adversity, but also fits well given the impact of the pandemic.  

“An abnormal reaction to an abnormal situation is normal behavior.” – Viktor Frankl 

As a visible minority, Navjot acknowledged that she was different and set out from a young age to inspire other youth to have confidence. Navjot feels very fortunate that her parents chose Kelowna to settle down and begin a family, where she was born and raised! Navjot’s parents began the family business of Evergreen Building Maintenance Inc. over thirty years ago. Evergreen operates in various municipalities throughout BC and Alberta and employs 234 individuals. Navjot is proud to be furthering their vision as an Accounts Manager and oversees client relations within the corporation. She has seen her parents go through a great deal of struggle to build the foundation of this company, and later saw her brother play a significant part in growing their vision. After graduation Navjot became more involved with her parent’s company and is grateful to be a part of a company that contributes to the community and local charities.  

As a previous Miss Kelowna Lady of the Lake and British Columbia Ambassador, Navjot has had the opportunity to truly immerse herself in community service and learn from people from all walks of life. Through these platforms she was able to use her charisma to inspire the youth demographic to pursue post-secondary education and set their goals into plans. Navjot was proud to be the first BC Ambassador from Kelowna to take home this provincial title. 

Navjot played in both indoor and outdoor field hockey leagues during high school and wanted to give back as a leader. She was a volunteer field hockey coach and taught the Grade 7 girls team at Chute Lake Elementary School. The importance of teamwork and working cooperatively are skills that she was happy to teach young athletes.

Navjot began volunteering at the age of 15 at KGH, where she has documented over 550 hours working in several departments. The closest to her heart was the “patient tea and delivery cart”. This was a service implemented in the Dementia ward. It was heart breaking to experience how the aging demographic is neglected, often the patients’ only social activity in the day would be seeing the volunteers drop in with tea and a newspaper. Because of her hard work and dedication, Navjot was selected to be in the promotional KGH Auxiliary video and recruited many peers to give back. 

The roles of Miss Kelowna and BC Ambassador entailed extensive volunteer work in various charities including helping out at fundraisers, walks and retirement homes. Since high-school, Najot has been a math tutor, field hockey coach, science kids camp leader and orientation leader at UBCO to give back her time. Being a part of Evergreen has also allowed her to give back. Evergreen provides numerous scholarships to several different universities through COBBS. They are also proud to financially support several charities each quarter, including the BC Cancer Foundation, United Way, and the BC Children’s Hospital to name a few. 

Navjot has a Bachelor of Science from UBC Okanagan, where she majored in Microbiology and Immunology. Navjot received the Chancellor’s Scholar Designation and the Deputy Vice Chancellors Scholarship during her four years of studies. Navjot hopes to further her education by obtaining her Doctor of Dental Medicine. 

Navjot has received various awards; the British Columbia Ambassador where she was the first to win from Kelowna, the Civic Community Leader Awards for Top Youth Honour, Miss Kelowna Lady of the Lake and the Rotary Youth Leadership Award. 

Q&A with Navjot Takhar

Tyler went to the University of Saskatchewan on a football scholarship in his early 20's. Now he has been pursuing his passion for the cannabis industry for the last decade with a focus on research and development, proprietary extraction processing and life sciences. Tyler's forward-thinking mentality took what was originally going to be a cultivation facility in 2013 to an extraction-focused operation by 2017. This was a crucial shift in strategy; as while waiting for their license to come through, Tyler saw the space was getting flooded with producers and recognized there was an opportunity for a niche business in the extraction sector. Knowing the hardships and intricacies of the extraction process, he had a hunch that companies would need to outsource these types of services. Positioning Valens as the clear leader in the space.  

Tyler’s success is rooted in his humble approach. He is very reflective and is well attuned to recognizing his shortcomings and areas in which another individual could complement his skillset to get the right balance of talents to get organization to the next level. Building a strong and complimentary team around him, creating an environment in which everyone can thrive and feel enabled to shine is one of Tyler’s greatest strengths. The autonomy and sense of ownership that Tyler instilled right from the get-go, be it to an employee on the production floor or a senior director, plays a pivotal role in how the company operates and enables others to carry the vision. One of the key elements of Tyler's culture is family and team-mentality, and for Tyler it’s not just a concept, but a reality that he lives by every day. No task is too small or “unfit for his title”, he is always ready to lend a helping hand and a listening ear to anyone in need. Such approach not only unified the employees around the shared vision but enabled Valens to reach all its operational milestones to date. This transitions into his daily life also. 

Tyler is always looking for ways to contribute to the community, while there are currently strict regulations on what Valens can do as an organization in terms of community outreach events etc., Tyler continuously donates to local charities from a personal side. These include: August Motorcars Toys for Kids (2016,2017), KGH Christmas toys for sick kids (2016), supports local families through a local church to supply Christmas dinners (10 families each of the last 3 years), Gibsons Gala financial support (2016,2017,2018), Okanagan Sun financial aid (2016 - present), various community sponsorship donations. Pays for scholarships for OK Sun (2016), Donates to RSS Football Program (2015-present), Foodbank donations (2014), SPCA (yearly) and Children's Hospital. 

Tyler's highest level of education achieved is his Bachelor of Science. Tyler has also kept up to date with trends, technology and information in the industry by taking several courses and supporting training. 

Mr. Robson has been recognized as Top 100 Healthcare Leaders in the world for 2019 presented by the Intentional Forum on Advancements in Healthcare. In 2019, Tyler was recognized as Young Entrepreneur of the year and Large Business of the year by the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce. Tyler was also honored as "TOP 50 Most Influential Canna Chief" of 2019. 

Q&A with Tyler Robson

How are you currently approaching the current situation? 

We acted quickly upon government and public health officials’ recommendations and immediately removed all non-essentials employees from our facilities, prohibited visitors and staggered employee shift times to limit contact. These physical distance precautions are in addition to the already robust measures of sanitation that are always in place at our production facilities, being a Health Canada approved and GMP compliant facility.  

We have also taken a very proactive approach to provide relief where we can. Immediately after this crisis began, we shared all available gloves, gowns and sanitizing wipes with our local health centres and have put in another order of vital PPE that we look forward to donating soon. Our production teams also quickly pivoted to begin producing hand sanitizer that we have begun donating to health centres, community organizations and essentials services across Canada. We are doing our best to contribute as much as we can as a company to help alleviate the situation.  

Where are you now? Are you still working, at home or at work? How is the business you own/work for currently?   

I am currently working from home, as are many members of our team. As cannabis has been deemed an essential service in BC, our production facilities are still working to deliver high quality cannabis extracts to our customers, with the addition of the above physical distancing procedures and community outreach efforts in place.  

What is your favourite quote?  

 “If it were easy, everyone would do it.” 

After earning his Business Degree in from Wilfrid Laurier University, Russ started working in the Insurance industry, but quickly realized it wasn't for him. Prior to moving to Kelowna and working at Gallagher’s Canyon, Russ started his career in the golf industry at Whitevale Golf Club in Toronto as an Assistant Golf Professional. Russ then accepted the Head Professional position at Black Mountain Golf Club where he was promoted to the General Manager position in 2014 at the age of 32. Russ is now entering his 7th season as the General Manager at Black Mountain GC, where they were awarded the 2018 PGA of BC Golf Facility of the Year. Russ is also the co-commissioner of the Interior PGA Tour, which is a small Professional Golf Tour for PGA of Canada professionals in the Thompson-Okanagan. 
 
Golf is a huge part of the Tourism Industry, and Russ is proud to be a part of it. He is also extremely proud of the amazing management team he has helped put together. When you're in charge of everything, you're not really in charge of anything, so you need to have great staff in each department who can get the best out of their respective staff members. Russ attributes his leadership style to ensuring he puts all his staff in a position to succeed, then sit back and let them do their thing. It's important that your staff enjoy showing up to work and working for you, as that positive attitude will increase their productivity and will be passed on to the customer. 

Melcor and Black Mountain Golf Club support countless community fundraising events, by donating rounds of golf and hosting charity events. They also host 20+ golf events, in which the main purpose is to raise money for certain charities where they help raise $100,000+ every year. 

Russ holds an Honours Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University. 

Black Mountain Golf Club was awarded the 2018 PGA of BC Golf Facility of the Year, in which Russ proudly played a large part in securing along with his team. Russ has also won 4 professional golf events and has placed well in many others. 

Q&A with Russ Latimer

Kate’s entire legal career has been spent at Doak Shirreff Lawyers LLP (“DS”). While she attended law school in Edmonton, AB, she was born and raised in the Okanagan and knew she would return home to practice here. Kate began as an articled student at DS in 2009, in 2018 she joined the partnership and somewhere in between she had two incredible children, who are now 5 and 8.  
 
When Kate first started at DS she was practicing primarily in litigation focused practice areas, when the chance to practice in estate and incapacity planning and estate administration came up, she jumped at the opportunity. This area brought together the two aspects of law that she enjoys most - interacting with clients and drafting documents. The subject matter can be really heavy, but Kate is passionate about making sure that people have their estate and incapacity planning in place so that their loved ones' grief is not worsened by situations that could have been avoided had their affairs been in order. Kate is also passionate about educating individuals on issues related to Wills and incapacity planning, to achieve this, she enjoys partnering with other professionals to deliver seminars on the topic. 

When she is not delivering seminars, Kate enjoys her position on her firm’s in-house marking committee and has been a member of the board of Directors for the Kelowna Estate Planning Society since 2017.  

Kate is a past member of the board of Directors for the MS Society of Canada, Okanagan Chapter and has been involved with the not-for-profit organization Mamas for Mamas since it was a small grassroots organization back in 2014. Kate is extremely proud of the national charitable organization they have become in such a short period of time. Kate also provides pro-bono legal services to Mamas for Mamas on an ongoing basis, both as a not for profit organization and to the Mamas in our community who reach out through Mamas for Mamas and are in need of legal advice or services. Mamas for Mamas is doing incredible work in their fight against poverty, in our community and beyond, and she is grateful to be even a little part of their huge success.  
 
Doak Shirreff strongly supports local community initiatives and fundraising, for the firm's 50th Anniversary they ran a 50 Good Deeds campaign, where they gave back to the community in 50 different ways over the course of 2018. Kate also volunteers her time as both a volunteer and a participant in numerous community events, including the MS Walk, Sugarplum Ball, Cycle for Strong Kids, and various Mamas for Mamas fundraising events. 

Kate has a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in psychology and a minor in Sociology from UBC Okanagan and a Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB) from the University of Alberta. 

Kate loves being a mom. While it might sound cliché, being a mom to two wonderful kids is her greatest achievement, she doesn't know that there is any greater honour than being called "Mom". 

Kayla was raised in the Okanagan and co-runs an award-winning financial planning practice with her mother. Kayla holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business (BBA) specializing in finance, is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and at the time she wrote the exams she was the youngest CFP at IG Wealth in the country. She is a Registered Retirement Consultant (RRC) and is enrolled in the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation trending to become the one of the youngest CLU’s in Canada. Kayla gives back to the community through her advocacy work with the Financial Advisors Association of Canada (Advocis) as well as her work with the Lake Country Rotary.  

Kayla and her mom (her business partner) run seminars in the community for financial literacy for seniors. They were recently honored by the not for profit Women In Leadership (WIL) and in November of 2019 they spoke at a WIL event on the topic “Women in Wealth” that empowers women to take control of their finances. Kayla has also spoken to the Women in Science and Engineering students at UBCO where she talked about financial literacy to over 150 female students. Kayla is apart of the leadership council at IG Wealth Management. She was chosen (as well as 15 others in the country) to be interviewed by the Senior Vice President of IGM on her thoughts on the industry, the IG Wealth Management’s direction, and what they can improve on. In 2019 Kayla was named Young Entrepreneur of the Year by the Lake Country Chamber of Commerce and was United Way’s honoree at the philanthropy day lunch that recognizes donors who make an impact in the community. 

The industry uses a lot of paper which Kayla finds quite wasteful, so she created a sustainable initiative where when she takes on a new client, she plants 2 trees. Kayla is the 2021 President Elect for her Rotary Club in Lake Country. Kayla currently sits on the board for United Way's GenNext as past chair. She has been working with the United Way since 2010 where she was Miss United Way that year. She currently runs a yearly golf clinic called “Ladies Swing Away for United Way" that draws nearly 40 women, the event donates over $3000 to the United Way each year. Kayla also works with United Way on their strategic charitable giving and was on the panel to help choose who would receive the Youth Initiative Grant from the Okanagan Foundation. Kayla is also on the board for Advocis as the Advocacy director, her role entails a lot of traveling to Victoria, Saskatoon, Toronto and Calgary to rally the BC government to get behind protecting the title “Financial Planner” as currently in Canada there are no rules around the title and anyone can use it. She wants to raise the bar for the financial planning industry to hold everyone to a higher standard in educating themselves before giving financial advice as consumers are confused on who they can trust with their entire life savings.  

Kayla has achieved the distinguished Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation. The process in which it takes to complete the CFP typically takes 3-4 years, whereas Kayla finished in 2 years and became the youngest CFP at IG Wealth in Canada and 22nd youngest in the industry. 

Kayla has won 6 awards in her first 2 years of business. In her first year she won the “Practice Growth Award” twice, that is given to a tenure Year 1- 4 consultant. She also won a “Spirit Award” twice that was voted on by her peers. This award is given to the person who helps grow the culture within the workplace and Kayla has shown tremendous leadership and has stuck to her values in doing so. Her team this year was #1 in British Columbia. 

Q&A with Kayla Caruana

Alex graduated from UBC Law in 2012 and after a year of clerking with the B.C. Supreme Court he joined Farris Vaugh Willis & Murphy LLP in Vancouver. When Alex’s colleague Leisha Murphy decided to open her own law firm, Connect Family Law, he jumped at the chance to join her as their views on family law firmly aligned. Connect believes family law is not just a legal dispute between two people, it’s a life-changing event, and they treat it as such. The philosophy behind Connect Law is looking at the whole person, and the whole picture, to find solutions suited to the unique needs of every family. 

Shortly after Alex started his own family, the opportunity to join the Kelowna Office of Connect came up and they jumped at the chance again. Alex was attracted to the lifestyle Kelowna offered, with hiking and skiing nearby, a change in seasons and not to mention the short commute to work. Alex and his wife knew it was the perfect mix of urban and the great outdoors and that it would be a perfect place to raise their family, which has now grown to two children. 
 
Family law is incredibly important to Alex, he tries to help people through a very difficult time by offering excellent representation, compassion and empathy, and by ensuring they have the support networks in place to help them through the process. When Alex first joined the Kelowna office of Connect Family Law, he was the second lawyer at the firm. Connect has now have grown to three full-time lawyers and they expect to continue growing. As the senior lawyer, Alex is looked upon to provide guidance and mentorship to the other lawyers and to the support staff. Despite having a busy practice, Alex always makes time for the other lawyers when they have questions or want to bounce ideas off him. He also helps plan out-of-office events to ensure the team grows strong relationships on a personal level. While most decisions in the office are made communally, Alex often leads the discussion regarding what organizations they should support in the community and what events they attend to ensure they are part of the community they are working in.  

A large part of Connect Family Law’s philosophy is believing in collaborative solutions, solutions that aren’t just about legal rights and obligations, but also look at the mental health and welfare of everyone involved, including spouses and children. In support of that philosophy, Alex sits on the board of the Okanagan Collaborative Family Law group, a community of professionals in a variety of professions, including lawyers, financial planners and counsellors, who work together towards making separation and divorce as collaborative, and stress-free, as possible. 
 
Alex spends approximately 50 hours a year doing pro bono work, largely representing people who are about to lose their children, or people who are desperately in need of a lawyer but don’t qualify for legal aid. In the case of Nadim v. Hakim, 2018 BCSC 1999, Mr. Justice Myers expressly thanked Alex in his written reasons for taking on the case, assisting the respondent when he could not afford legal counsel, and for assisting the court in understanding the issues. “The only way the case was comprehensible was through [Mr. Boland’s] efforts and he acted with total fairness [to the applicant],” Justice Myers wrote. 

Alex received his Juris Doctor from the Faculty of Law at the University of British Columbia in 2012 after receiving a BA in political science, also from UBC. During law school he won 11 different awards, including awards for excellence in advocacy, community involvement and outstanding achievement (highest mark) in various courses. After law school Alex was chosen to be a law clerk with the B.C. Supreme Court, a position considered to be one of the most prestigious obtainable by a recent law graduate.  

In 2019 Alex was named one of the top three best-rated divorce lawyers in Kelowna by ThreeBestRated.ca which uses a 50-point inspection list, including reviews, and reputation to choose its top three. 

Q&A with Alex Boland

"In the past months, hundreds of healthcare workers and first responders responded quickly and willingly to the unprecedented challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.  They have had to change their daily routines and time with their own families, cancelled vacations and other plans, and missed out on activities at home with their loved ones, homemade meals, and a sense of normalcy. While many of us are staying safe and healthy at our own homes, we are thankful for our frontline workers who are confronting new risks from this virus at work, while keeping our community safe and sound. We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to all of our frontline workers, both under and over 40, you are our saviors and thank you so much for serving our community and protecting us. Your sacrifice is greatly appreciated." - DR. Eric Li, Associate Professor, UBCO, and past Top 40 under 40 Honouree

Jorge Angel-Mira

Born and raised in New Westminister, Jorge Angel-Mira’s background and culture helped to shape and inform his research and career in the healthcare field. Jorge completed his BA at UBC Vancouver in 2011, his MA at UBC Okanagan in 2013, and upon graduation started his career with Interior Health in 2013. As he joined Interior Health, Jorge was also a Research Assistant at UBCO; his project funded by an operating grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Now the Manager of Medical Device Reprocessing, Operating Room Equipment and Supplies at Kelowna General Hospital, Jorge enjoys knowing that the work he and his team does every day has a direct impact on peoples lives.   

Jorge’s career has not only led him to make a difference in Canada, but also in Central America. Jorge’s parents immigrated from El Salvador in the late 1980s during the civil war. These roots compelled him to take a volunteer opportunity at an orphanage in Central America. The experience helped to inform his thesis focused on the political, economic, and health impacts of mineral extraction in Central America with a focus on the Central American Free Trade Agreement. Jorge’s findings later informed government policy in El Salvador.

Throughout his life and career, Jorge has been incredibly focused on sport, particularly soccer. He has played at a high level for Canada Youth Soccer Teams, the 2007/2008 season with Whitecaps Men’s Soccer Team, and in 2012 he was invited to El Salvador for the U-23 Olympic Team camp. He has also won 2007 UBC Rookie of the year, 2007 Canada West Rookie of the year. Furthermore, Jorge holds his Canadian National B license Soccer Coach. He has coached the Kelowna United, and the Thompson Okanagan Football Club.

Jorge has one younger brother, Camilo, and was married in 2017 to an incredible, loving, supportive partner, Melissa. Their daughter Lucy was born in March 2019. Melissa and Jorge love taking her to the park, enjoying their breakfast sandwiches together, and watching her chase the ducks.

Q&A with Jorge Angel-Mira

What started your career in healthcare?

My interest in healthcare started with a volunteer opportunity at an orphanage in Central America. I witnessed the inequality and limited access to healthcare resources. At UBC I majored in sociology and international relations and became specifically interested in health policy and access to health care services. My interest further developed during graduate school where I examined the interconnectedness of health, economics, and politics within the international context. Upon graduation I was fortunate enough to work on applied social and public health research within Canada and later started working at Interior Health.

What part of your job do you enjoy the most?

I am motivated knowing that our teams have a direct impact on the lives of people and their families. I also enjoy and appreciate working with great people and the leadership team at KGH.

"In the past months, hundreds of healthcare workers and first responders responded quickly and willingly to the unprecedented challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.  They have had to change their daily routines and time with their own families, cancelled vacations and other plans, and missed out on activities at home with their loved ones, homemade meals, and a sense of normalcy. While many of us are staying safe and healthy at our own homes, we are thankful for our frontline workers who are confronting new risks from this virus at work, while keeping our community safe and sound. We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to all of our frontline workers, both under and over 40, you are our saviors and thank you so much for serving our community and protecting us. Your sacrifice is greatly appreciated." - DR. Eric Li, Associate Professor, UBCO, and past Top 40 under 40 Honouree

Housekeeping Services Manager, Jackie Marsh, started her career with Interior Health 23 years ago at the Kelowna General Hospital. She began as a casual housekeeper in 1997, and from that point forward accepted every offer to expand her knowledge, leading to a deep learning and understanding for emergency and intensive care cleaning procedures and best practices. In 2001 she accepted a supervisory role, which she continued for ten years until she began her role as educator for the department in 2011. At this time, Jackie realized more education was required to teach new and existing staff. From that realization, she created the Housekeeping School to help develop a greater understanding of best practices and practical skills for all staff within her department.  

Continuing to pursue a challenge and learning opportunities, Jackie went on to take on various roles within her department as a Coordinator in 2016, and Manager in 2018; these moves allowed her to continue building her knowledge and develop relationships with other leaders at KGH. Jackie now manages a team of 285 staff, including housekeepers, material porters, a coordinator, and multiple supervisors. A total of 120 positions sign into work each day within her department. Her role requires her to ensure effective communication with all departments and staff within KGH, including external vendors. In addition to this the department completes cleanliness audits quarterly to ensure standards are kept at a high level. She participates in regional standardizations and projects, as well as various committees within KGH.

This tireless team looks after cleanliness of all patient rooms, operating theatres, emergency rooms, intensive care, treatment and common areas, as well as the removal of all waste from the site. She is incredibly supportive of her department and continues to highlight the great work of her team, “Our team is dedicated to ensuring that patient safety is always kept at the forefront. My team of supervisors are committed to supporting all staff with guidance, coaching and mentoring. This amazing group of people are dedicated to patient safety, and I couldn’t be prouder of this team.”

Jackie has lived in the Okanagan most of her life and feels grateful every day to live in such a beautiful place. She enjoys hiking or kayaking with her family on the Westside or in Peachland, as well as gardening in her yard. She is looking forward to exploring local this year, hiking Spion Kop, or adventuring to Revelstoke. She has been married to her husband Glen for 29 years, with two sons, Nolan (27) and Travis (19), as well as  two beautiful grandchildren.

Q&A with Jackie Marsh

What started your career in healthcare?

I started as a casual housekeeper in 1997, thinking it was just a good paying job. I soon realized how very important cleaning in a hospital setting is. Cleaning in healthcare became my passion. In 2011, as the housekeeping educator at the time I developed the “Housekeeping School” to ensure all housekeepers were properly educated and up to date with all procedures and processes. In 2018 I accepted the manager position. I still love all aspects of this very integral part of healthcare. We now have a team of over 250 staff members.

What part of your job do you enjoy the most?

I especially love the people. I enjoy working with all of the other disciplines within the hospital and realizing how we all work together as a larger team.

In the past months, hundreds of healthcare workers and first responders responded quickly and willingly to the unprecedented challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.  They have had to change their daily routines and time with their own families, cancelled vacations and other plans, and missed out on activities at home with their loved ones, homemade meals, and a sense of normalcy. While many of us are staying safe and healthy at our own homes, we are thankful for our frontline workers who are confronting new risks from this virus at work, while keeping our community safe and sound. We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to all of our frontline workers, both under and over 40, you are our saviors and thank you so much for serving our community and protecting us. Your sacrifice is greatly appreciated. - DR. Eric Li, Associate Professor, UBCO, and past Top 40 under 40 Honouree

Amy (Amanda) Dixon has been a pillar of the Kelowna General Hospital family since 2006. Part of the first graduating class from UBC Okanagan’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Amy moved quickly into a role with KGH shortly following graduation. She is now a Registered Nurse and is the Patient Care Coordinator of the geriatric medical unit at KGH.

Amy has worked full-time at KGH since May 2006 in various roles, mainly in a leadership capacity. She has served the hospital in many positions; from frontline renal-medical nurse, patient care coordinator of various units, hospital shift coordinator, and unit manager. Through all of these positions, she has shown a true passion for patient care and personal development. She loves to push herself professionally and try new roles when the opportunity arises, “I feel like it’s important in life to push ourselves out of our comfort zone and try new tasks and have different responsibilities. It has helped give me insight into all the hard work that occurs on so many levels here at KGH.”

When the COVID pandemic escalated in Kelowna, Amy was requested by the hospital’s administration to step out of her current role and assist with various COVID site operations. She helped to develop, implement, and supervise KGH’s COVID entrance screening stations, central supply of personal protective equipment, and re-deployment of hospital staff during this critical time.

Amy has lived in the Kelowna area for close to 30 years, now residing in the beautiful neighborhood of Lakeview Heights with her husband and two young daughters. She enjoys being able to share the neighborhood with four generations of her family. Her elderly grandparents have lived in the area since the 1960’s, and her parents moved to the area in 1990, and now her children get to grow up in the same area. “It’s really a blessing for all four generations of my family to be in such close contact and be able to support one another as we do.”

Q&A with Amy (Amanda) Dixon

What started your career in healthcare?

When I was applying for university programs, I really wanted to focus on entering a program that had in-demand and guaranteed employment upon completion. I was happy to get accepted to UBCO (Okanagan University College at the time) and I didn’t have to move away from the Okanagan to attend.

Upon completion of the program I was able to secure full-time employment at KGH. Nursing was the perfect fit for me as I consider myself to be quite a caring, calm, and practical individual (personality skills that are a good fit for a nurse!). I am so lucky to have attended nursing school with such a great group of people and some of these relationships have turned into everlasting friendships. Nursing means working long, challenging hours that can make one feel isolated at times, but with the support of these long-time nursing school friends, work colleagues, and family, I face any obstacle.

What part of your job do you enjoy the most?

I love working with patients and their families to support them through their health challenges. My patients have inspired me in so many different ways. Nursing is one of the most inspiring career paths one can take, filled with people who, despite their disease, injury or condition, are able to stay strong and fight disease regardless of circumstances. Being a nurse is such a challenging, yet rewarding career - I am always learning new skills that have transformed both my work and personal life. Nursing is an ever-growing career path, filled with opportunities to advance in seemingly countless ways. I also really love to mentor and coach junior nurses who are just entering their careers.

In the past months, hundreds of healthcare workers and first responders responded quickly and willingly to the unprecedented challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.  They have had to change their daily routines and time with their own families, cancelled vacations and other plans, and missed out on activities at home with their loved ones, homemade meals, and a sense of normalcy. While many of us are staying safe and healthy at our own homes, we are thankful for our frontline workers who are confronting new risks from this virus at work, while keeping our community safe and sound. We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to all of our frontline workers, both under and over 40, you are our saviors and thank you so much for serving our community and protecting us. Your sacrifice is greatly appreciated. - DR. Eric Li, Associate Professor, UBCO, and past Top 40 under 40 Honouree

For the past sixteen years, Dr. Anthony Kwan has been an Emergency Physician at Kelowna General Hospital. Following his university education at the University of Guelph, he attended medical school at the University of Toronto. After this, it was on to Queen’s University where he completed his residency in emergency medicine. It was a month of training that he completed at KGH during his time in residency where he fell in love with the Emergency Department at KGH and was offered a position at the hospital. The Whitby Ontario native then moved to the Okanagan and joined the hospital in 2004.

As an emergency physician, Dr. Kwan uses his training to assist patients in need of acute, and sometimes life-saving care. It is the pace, variety and immediacy of the job that drives his passion for emergency medicine. He notes that the KGH Emergency Department has been blessed with strong and effective leadership in the sixteen years since he first joined the team. The mentorship and support he has received from the career emergency department physicians and nurses has been invaluable in his development as an emergency physician. In particular, he wants to acknowledge Dr. Shawn Spellicy and Dr. Mike Ertel for the roles they have played in making the department what it is today. He paints a bright picture for the future of the department, with a focus on education and quality improvement and is excited to see what direction our young leaders take the department in the future.

Outside of work Dr. Kwan enjoys skiing, mountain biking and cooking. Particularly, he enjoys exploring Crawford, Gillard, and Smith Creek on his mountain bike, and skiing locally with the family at Big White and backcountry skiing in the Selkirks.

Q&A with Dr. Anthony Kwan

What started your career in healthcare?

Jeez that’s tough. I guess I just always knew I wanted to be a physician like my dad. In medical school after spending a summer in rural Ontario working at a hospital, I really gravitated towards emergency medicine.

What part of your job do you enjoy the most?

The best part of my job is the teamwork and the camaraderie that develops from dealing with challenging situations. 

Q&A with Ester Pike

How are you currently approaching the current situation?

I am doing my best to have a well-informed approach to the current situation surrounding COVID-19. I do have loved ones who are immunocompromised, so I know how hard it can be to navigate our new realities, but I want to make sure that I have a proactive mindset. It will take a community to get through this so my focus is on doing my part to help stop the spread.