LEVEL U P CENTRAL OKANAGAN BUSINESS REPORT Mar 2021
The Modest Butcher Chef Dan Carkner chefs 3 profiled Farm to Why does that winery Table look like a Why Kelowna is a ruined culinary destination castle?
Wind farm sells The okanagan’s Wine bottling and for $100 million priciest real beer canning on estate sale the go Wind farm
Sells for a whopping $100 million LEVEL U P 19 CENTRAL OKANAGAN BUSINESS REPORT
Now a monthly magazine ARTICLES Also on KelownaNow.com
Crown & Thieves Leading the way 02 The theme for an eclectic winery 15 Kelowna has the lowest unemployment rate in the country 04 Kirschner Mountain After all, who doesn’t like brighter, Macklin-Shaw, who also shares the The biggest real estate sale in 16 On the road Welcome lengthier days and milder recipe for his famous triple-cheese Kelowna’s history For mobile wine bottling Letter temperatures? fondue on page (6). 05 Icewine 18 Silver Spring marks rebirth all around, We also put a spring spin on a Those frozen grapes are picked and pressed Should you buy some of the precious buoys people’s spirits and fosters bunch of other stories including metal? optimism. mobile wine bottling, page (16), 06 Boddie Macklin-Shaw Can you feel that? Big White’s new executive chef The Modest Butcher eclectic new winery Crown & 20 As this issue of Level Up Thieves, page (2), mobile beer Chef Dan Carkner explains who he is Every day now, the earth is tilting Pathways demonstrates, spring amps up canning, page (12), and the new a little closer to the sun as spring 08 Can help you hire someone with the Okanagan’s Farm to Table president of the Kelowna Hotel Buy local arrives, the days grow lighter and diverse abilities 23 Why isn’t the provincial government credentials as chefs and home Motel Association looking forward to longer and the weather warms. doing it? cooks alike tap the Valley’s bounty better times, page (14). Pay cut 10 for magical meals. Are MLAs willing to take one in these Astronomically speaking, spring Faster Of course, as the pandemic drags COVID times? 24 Is what the vaccine rollout has to be arrives in the Northern Hemisphere Cover boy and chef at The Modest on and hits the one-year mark, we this year on Saturday, March 20 at Sudsy Butcher restaurant at Mt. Boucherie can also use spring to be optimistic 12 Mobile beer canning line fills a niche Farm to Table 5:37 am. 27 It’s a tasty trend Winery in West Kelowna, Dan about a quick vaccine rollout, page Carkner, shows us how he does it (24), so we all get back to normal as Optimistic That’s when the sun crosses the on page (20). the weather brightens and warms. 14 New president of the hotel association The economy equator heading north, creating 28 Is headed in the right direction what’s called the spring equinox or Likewise, chef and sommelier Mark Happy spring. the vernal equinox. Filatow from Waterfront Wines Restaurant & Bar in Kelowna To really geek out about this, spotlights some of his favourite fresh equinox is Latin for ‘equal night’ and dishes and explains the Okanagan marks the first day of spring when origins of Farm to Table on page (27). day and night are of equal length as you measure the amount of light Cover photo sales and advertising Finally, there’s still spring skiing at and no light. LEVEL UP Chef Dan Carkner [email protected] Big White, thus we check in with the Steve MacNaull (250) 862 8010 resort’s new executive chef, Boddie Editor and journalist, managing editor Whether or not you understand this, or NowMedia Group ISSUE NO. 8 Steve MacNaull Contributors care to understand this, what it means Steve MacNaull Sydney Baerg is spring is here. That’s something we PUBLISHER Taylor siemens Jorden Puzzella can all get on board with. 16 flights publishing house Jim Csek Josh Duncan - a division of NowMedia Group Ellen Schwenkedel
1 CROWN & THIEVES Written by: Steve MacNaull IS AN ECLECTIC The four-storey facade of Crown MISH-MASH & Thieves Winery in West Kelowna is new, but made to look OF ERAS, like the crumbling remains of a Jason Parkes has outdone Of course, it’s also oh-so Wench white blend ARCHITECTURE 400-year-old castle. himself. Instagrammable and Crown & named after Parkes’ wife, AND DECOR. Thieves has become a social Hickenbothom Chardonnay, The punk rocker and rebel media darling as a result. Scoundrel’s Punch and Dimber winemaker of Jason Parkes Damber red blends, Crybaby Customs just opened Crown “People are always after what’s Malbec, Roussanne, Chenin & Thieves in West Kelowna, a exciting and new and being blanc and Gewurztraminer. winery that defies explanation. exciting and new during Located in a vineyard just off COVID, when people have Architect Kimberly Fuller of Brown Road, the winery rises little else to do, really helped Lake Monster Studio in Vernon four storeys and resembles the launched us,” said Forgues. designed the winery and ruins of a 400-year-old castle. Bronag Contracting built it. Yet inside, the vibe and decor Crown & Thieves was a wine Both firms also worked on is Prohibition-era speakeasy brand for years out of The Black Swift Winery. Crown & Thieves is the brainchild of avant garde and haunted mansion parlour. Hatch. winemaker Jason Parkes of Jason Parkes’ next project is under- Parkes Customs. Parkes’ other properties But Parkes deemed it was time construction, The Hatching are also unconventional, Crown & Thieves had its own Post microbrewery in West including The Hatch and Black bizarro digs to perpetuate the Kelowna, which will be Swift wineries, also in West ‘made by scoundrels, sipped similarly quirky with a Wild Kelowna, and Truck 59 Cider, by kings’ motto. West facade and theme. next door to Crown & Thieves. The scoundrels are the Jason Parkes Customs also But Crown & Thieves has ‘thieves’ who steal from tanks makes wine for Indigenous upped the ante. and barrels to make wine and World Winery in West the kings are the ‘crown’ or Kelowna, Burnt Timber Winery “It was a dream of Jason’s to the customers that drink the in Kelowna and consults with The view of the tasting bar from do this concept,” said tasting vintages. Lakeside Winery in Osoyoos. the mezzanine. room manager Shannon Forgues. Crown can also refer to Crown & Thieves has limited the ruined castle theme openings right now because of “We just opened and let it get and thieves a nod to all the COVID. For tours and tastings, crazy.” mugshots of 1800s criminals they are 11 am to 6 pm, on the walls. Thursdays through Mondays. The building is so eye- It’s all well and good to have a Why does this catching, cool, off-beat, gimmick, but the wine has to Post-pandemic, the winery eccentric and unconventional be tasty, and it is. will make full use of its West Kelowna that it caused a sensation as basement speakeasy bar, main winery look like soon as it opened last month The winery has a line up floor tasting room and wine The main floor tasting bar is set with people clamouring to get that includes a Winemaker’s shop and terrace, third floor in a Prohibition-era parlour. a ruined castle? in for a look and a taste. mezzanine and rooftop deck.
2 3 THE HOUSING $22-million Kirschner DEVELOPMENT Ice wine Mountain sale a SITE HAD BEEN Written by: SOLD TO A grape Steve MacNaull record-breaker MANITOBA BUYER. harvest Written by: Josh Duncan BRRRRR...THE -18°C was late OVERNIGHT DURING THE WEEK OF FEB. 8 WAS WELL this BELOW THE -8°C REQUIRED FOR PICKING FROZEN season GRAPES FOR ICE WINE Numerous wineries throughout the Okanagan started harvesting frozen grapes for ice wine Feb. 9 as the temperature plunged to -17°C.
There was no doubt Feb. 9 that it That means the vast majority of The resulting ice wine has residual was cold enough to harvest frozen the 300 tonnes of frozen grapes sugar levels of around 220 grams grapes for ice wine. expected to be harvested in the per litre, 100 times more than the 2.2 Okanagan this season came in over grams per litre in a dry white wine. In the darkness of a polar vortex, the five days Feb. 9-14. the temperature plunged as low The key with well-made ice wine The $22-million sales of the Kirschner as -18°C throughout most of the Pickers are put on standby when is that it maintains lively acidity to Mountain housing development site set the forecast calls for a deep freeze offset the sugar, so while the nectar a record as the biggest sale in the history Okanagan, much more frigid than of the Association of Interior Realtors the -8°C minimum required. and then bundle up and get to work, is undoubtedly sweet, the drink is (the merged entity of the Okanagan clippers in gloved hand, usually in delicious, luscious and balanced. Mainline Real Estate Board and the South “Wow, this is a cold snap,” said the dark of night, to bring in the Okanagan Real Estate Board). Wine Growers British Columbia precious commodity. It can be drunk on its own as an (formerly the BC Wine Institute) aperitif or dessert or paired with communications director Laura While ice wine production was strong cheese, spicy, salty or rich Kittmer. pioneered in Germany, Canada has foods or fruit-or-chocolate-based Even though it was being members work, is growing at In 2003, the family established become the world leader. desserts. marketed during a pandemic, the remarkable rates,” said George Kirschner Mountain and the first “Picking really started in earnest in Kirschner Mountain development Greenwood, CEO of AIR. four phases of single-family lots the early morning hours and will The Great White North is a unique Relying on fickle Mother Nature, attracted interest from people all were completed by the time the continue all day in the sun, which place in the world where summers limited quantities and high cost across Canada. Boppre and Carbone co-listed property went up for sale in 2019. is really nice, because the daytime are warm enough to produce grapes of production means ice wine is the property in late 2019 and “We’re excited to see what temperature won’t go above -10°C.” for wine, yet also cold enough in expensive by the time it gets to It’s now been sold for a successfully marketed it during the future holds for Kirschner In fact, conditions, both overnight the winter to freeze some of those market. whopping $22 million to a buyer COVID-19, which led to the Mountain and are extremely and daytime, Feb. 9-12, were cold grapes. from Manitoba. record sale. proud our family is part of the enough for ice wine grape harvest. Generally, ice wine comes in heritage and legacy of our The first ice wine grape harvest of While Canada produces the most smaller 375ml bottles and can cost Sold by local realtors Mark “The Century 21 Assurance community” said Alan, the eldest the season was actually Dec. 23, ice wine, it is still a small-production anywhere from $50 to $100. Boppre and Max Carbone, the Commercial Group is proud to of the Kirschner brothers. 2020, when two tonnes of frozen niche product that is exported more monumental sale is the largest have brokered this historic deal grapes were picked in vineyards in to Asia than it is consumed at home. For example, the 2017 Stag’s Hollow MLS property sale in the history on behalf of the Kirschner family,” The remainder of the property a frost pocket in the Garnet Valley Vidal Ice Wine is $55 and has heady of the Association of Interior said Carbone. is slated for more residential outside of Summerland right around Grapes left to freeze dry out and aromas and flavours of peach, the water and sugars in the fruit apricot, candied pineapple, honey Realtors (AIR). and commercial mixed-use the cutoff of -8°C. Allan, Don and Gordon Kirschner development. concentrates so that when it’s and caramel. “Transactions such as this are owned the project, but it was Then two more tonnes were picked at at least -8°C and pressed, Yum! proof that demand for property their father who started it all harvested Jan. 24 in West Kelowna the juice is incredibly sweet. in Kelowna, and the surrounding when he bought 640 acres of and Keremeos, again close to the communities where our land for a ranch back in 1958. minimum of -8°C. 4 5 BODDIE MACKLIN-SHAW IS THE “I was head chef at a restaurant in As chef du cuisine he oversaw all “But, I’ll be sure to make time for the NEW EXECUTIVE CHEF AT BIG Australia where my sous chef and food and beverage operations in the kitchen and be the first to slice and WHITE SKI RESORT. bartender left to do a season at Big resort-owned establishments and dice, wash dishes, mop the floor, White, as many Australians tend to cooked in their kitchens as well. empty the garbage or do anything do,” he said. else that has to be done, just as I “In my new role, I’ll miss being always have in the past.” “They loved it and I followed.” in the kitchen as much because Ski, I’ll be focused on staffing, menu At Big White, Macklin-Shaw worked development and developing new innovate, in many kitchens and was promoted concepts,” he said. to chef du cuisine under executive cook, eat chef Rob Walker, who recently moved on. Written by: Steve MacNaull
Essentially, Boddie Macklin-Shaw’s life comes down to having fun and cooking.
“Definitely,” said Macklin-Shaw, who was recently promoted to executive Boddie Macklin-Shaw has worked at Big White Ski Resort for six years and was recently Chef Boddie’s triple-cheese chef at Big White Ski Resort. promoted to executive chef. fondue at The Woods Restaurant is a fan favourite. “I moved here six years ago from Australia and traded the sand for the snow so I could ski and have fun The Woods is the quintessential ski Macklin-Shaw is tight-lipped about and work in kitchens. I love it.” resort eatery and bar. what that will be.
As Big White’s executive chef, he is It’s located in an imposing chalet “We’re excited a vaccine is on Chef Boddie’s triple-cheese fondue responsible for menu development, right in the village centre, has high- the way, so post-COVID we can staffing and new concept innovation ceilinged, rustic interiors and an introduce new concepts at our core Ingredients: for all of the resort-owned outdoor beer garden in the snow establishments,” he said. food service operations - The with ample bonfires. “It’s all about finding the right niches 400 ml dry white wine Woods Restaurant, Kettle Valley and appeasing customers.” 1 tablespoon cornstarch Steakhouse, Clocktower Coffee Co. It’s also home to a diverse menu 800 grams cheese blend (1 part cantonnier, 2 parts gruyere, 2 parts gouda) in the Village Centre Mall, the Happy so you can have a burger and Macklin-Shaw has been cheffing Valley, Black Forest and Gem ridge brew in the beer garden or pair the it up since the age of 18, first at a Method: daylodges and Squawk Box chicken chef’s famous triple-cheese fondue variety of small, fine dining and hotel delivery. (see accompanying recipe) with a restaurants along the Queensland 1. In a stainless steel pot add the dry white wine and bring up to a light simmer. signature cocktail or Okanagan wine coast of Australia and then Big 2. Add cornstarch and mix until dissolved. “It’s a bit of a culinary empire,” said in the dining room. White starting in 2015. 3. Add cheese mixture and fold in with a spatula. Macklin-Shaw with a laugh. 4. Once it has combined, use a whisk to mix. Due to the pandemic, Kettle Valley 5. Keep on medium heat for 7-8 minutes stirring every 30 seconds. “There are multiple outlets and Steakhouse is closed this season, 6. Serve into a fondue skillet and dip any sides you desire, such as roasted carrots, brussel sprouts and different concepts. It allows me to but will reopen next season with a cauliflower, fingerling potatoes, chorizo sausage and chunks of fruit and bread. play around and use my creativity.” new name and concept.
6 7 How hiring individuals with diverse abilities is a win-win for all
Written by: Jorden Puzzella
If your organization could benefit situation where the employer from adding new talent, you have has been inclusive in their hiring an opportunity for an employment practices and gains a dedicated developer to determine your employee who is excited and needs, create a customized role positive about their employment for an individual with diverse opportunity. abilities and boost your workforce and morale. Look around your organization and evaluate if any duties, The employment developer works tasks and jobs are not being with Pathways Abilities Society, completed. Even if you don’t see which sets out to create a more the opportunity, Pathways may be inclusive community where job able to identify something you’ve seekers with diverse abilities are overlooked. The goal is to not able to secure customized paid- take jobs away from others. It is to employment that is rewarding and customize new ones based on the showcases genuine commitment needs of each organization that and independence. identifies a role not being filled, then provides equal opportunities Partners In Employment was to people with diverse abilities designed to encourage local that best fit their skills. and boost your organization businesses and organizations to by providing an individual with support the efforts of Pathways to When a job description is diverse abilities an opportunity create employment opportunities customized, a job coach will to secure employment? Contact for those with diverse abilities. support your new employee Pathways Abilities Society about The program can assist your with on-site coaching to ensure Partners In Employment. They organization by addressing everything is smooth until they’re will assess and customize an your employment challenges comfortable on their own. Should employment opportunity, create while giving a job seeker in our you ever desire the assistance a balanced schedule and work community something that is of the job coach or wish to add with you to grow your inclusive often difficult for them to secure a new opportunity for your workforce while following on their own — a customized job employee, the job coach can be Canadian employment standards. description that fits their skills contacted to return and create and abilities. The Partners In a new training program that If you believe your business or Employment process begins by ensures nothing but a seamless organization might be a potential customizing a job description, transition. The employment candidate for employing a person followed by introducing a job developers at Pathways will with diverse abilities, contact seeker with the required skills and always work in between — so Pathways by email at em@ abilities. This results in a win-win you may comfortably ask for pathwayskelowna.ca or phone at assistance anytime. 250-763-4837 Extension: 125.
8 Are you ready to be inclusive 9 Are Kelowna MLAs willing to take a pay cut?
WE ASK THE QUESTION AS AN ONTARIO POLITICIAN INTRODUCES A PRIVATE MEMBER’S BILL THAT PAY BE A CERB-LIKE $500 A WEEK DURING COVID RATHER THAN THE REGULAR $2,250 A WEEK.
Written by: Steve MacNaull
“I WOULD Of course, this is completely “But private member’s bills rarely ALWAYS BE hypothetical, but two of Kelowna’s get introduced, let alone passed. I WILLING TO MLA would consider a pay cut as Renee Merrifield Roman Baber Ben Stewart don’t think a pay cut would be very TAKE A PAY part of a COVID we-are-all-in-this- constructive. MLAs have a heavy CUT IF IT WAS together act of solidarity. workload.” THE RIGHT THING TO DO.” The question was asked because Stewart is a co-owner of Quails’ to the premier that called provincial Baber’s bill suggested MPPs make It received 2,800 likes, was Ontario Independent MPP (member Gate Winery in West Kelowna. pandemic lockdowns “deadlier than the equivalent of CERB as a way of retweeted 1,200 times and garnered - Renee Merrifield of provincial parliament) Roman Merrifield is CEO of development COVID.” relating to regular people who have 315 comments. Baber introduced a private company Troika in Kelowna. Baber’s private member’s bill was lost their jobs, taken pay cuts and Comments ranged from praise, member’s bill Feb. 17 asking MPP’s Kelowna-Lake Country Liberal MLA denied by Government House seen their livelihoods disintegrate salutes, “good luck” and “in Roman salaries be slashed to $500 a Norm Letnick could not be reached Leader Paul Calandra in Ontario on because of strict COVID lockdowns we trust” to the odd scathing week, an amount equal to the for comment. Wednesday afternoon. in Ontario. reaction. pandemic-induced CERB (Canadian BC’s restrictions haven’t been as emergency response benefit). Baber’s initiative would apply only to Then Calandra introduced a motion harsh. One of those included: “When your Ontario MPPs, not BC MLAs, so the to cut Baber’s pay, but Baber bill is rejected, of course, you will “I would always be willing to take pay-cut issue in this province is a remained silent for fear or conflict of Barber’s bill also recommended volunteer to have your pay reduced. a pay cut if it was the right thing to theoretical discussion rather than a interest. the MPP pay cut lasts until all Thank you for this episode of do,” said Kelowna-Mission Liberal potential reality. “...I DON’T emergency orders in Ontario are political theatre.” MLA Renee Merrifield. THINK A PAY If Baber’s private member’s bill had lifted, expect those relating to Baber, a lawyer who represents CUT WOULD passed, it would have seen MPP pay hospitals and long-term care homes. “I didn’t become a MLA for the pay the Toronto-area riding of York BE VERY cut to $500 a week from $2,250 a or the pension, but to serve,” said Centre as an Independent MPP, was CONSTRUCTIVE. week, based on the basic MPP pay Baber is also a fan of lifting the bulk Ben Stewart, the Liberal MLA for member of the Ontario Progressive MLAS HAVE in Ontario of $117,000 a year. of lockdowns immediately. Kelowna West. Baber’s notice of the private Conservative caucus of Premier A HEAVY member’s bill on Twitter caused a Doug Ford until Jan. 15, when he W O R K LO A D.” The basic MLA pay in BC is $111,000 “(A pay cut) might get some support was kicked out for writing a letter a year, or around $2,130 a week. bit of a sensation. for a period of time,” he said. - Ben Stewart
10 11 1. Craig Snider bought the mobile canning line to help local craft breweries that can’t afford to buy their own canning facilities.
2 & 3. Okanagan Canning has done work for Rustic Reel (pictured), Vice & Virtue, Shoreline and Copper breweries and Scenic Road Cider, all in Kelowna, and 1 Tailout Brewery (pictured) in Castlegar. Being a commercial banker, Snider 20-foot-long, five-foot-tall, three- Shoreline, Rustic Reel, Vice & Virtue; did a skookum business plan for foot wide wonder of conveyor belts, Kelowna cidery Scenic Road and Okanagan Canning and found many pistons and pumps. Tailout Brewery in Castlegar. craft brewers were desperate for Mobile canning line is da bomb affordable and effective canning Okanagan Canning also provides “Of course, I’m on the lookout for solutions. the cans, plastic rings to hold more business,” he said. OKANAGAN CANNING’S MOBILE LINE TRAVELS FROM CRAFT BREWERY together four-and-six packs and “When I broached the idea with cardboard flats. “I’m talking to breweries in Penticton TO CRAFT BREWERY IN THE OKANAGAN, THOMPSON AND KOOTENAYS brewers they almost jumped into and more in Kelowna and I want to my arms they were so grateful,” said The mobile line can fill about 20 expand more into the Kootenays, Written by: Steve MacNaull Snider. to 25 cans per minute, a lot more Vernon and Kamloops, too.” It truly was one of those light-bulb So the light clicked on and Snider than the little hand-filler units some moments. suddenly realized he needed to “I’m the only local mobile canning microbrewers use at a rate of two Snider also sees an opportunity to become a mobile canning line line. The closest other one is in cans a minute. do work for wineries, which, more Craig Snider of Kelowna loves beer. entrepreneur. Abbotsford and it can’t get to the and more, are looking at packaging Okanagan enough to meet demand.” Generally, craft breweries need some of their production in easy-to- Yet, whenever he dropped by a “I’d been a commercial banker with Okanagan Canning one or two days cart-around and easy-to-chill cans. liquor store, he could rarely find Bank of Montreal for 15 years, so this So, Snider bought a $150,000 a month to fill 355ml and 473ml local craft suds in a can. was a big leap of faith for me,” said mobile canning line from CASK cans. “I can just see myself travelling Snider of Okanagan Canning. manufacturing in Calgary. around BC, hanging out at breweries That’s because most of the With numerous brewery clients, the and wineries and doing their microbrewers can’t afford their “Even though it meant going out on For towing behind his SUV, the line mobile canning line has become an canning,” he said. own canning facilities or have such my own in a COVID market, it feels breaks into three parts and can fit in essential shared resource. limited canning the brews can’t be pretty good.” a 10 foot by six foot trailer. “It’s my very own business and I’m 2 3 widely sold. Upon arrival at a brewery, the line So far, Snider has done canning for definitely not in an office everyday.” is unfolded and assembled into a Kelowna microbreweries Copper, 12 13 Hotels have reason for optimism
Natalie Corbett of NEW PRESIDENT OF THE KELOWNA HOTEL Accent Inns and ASSOCIATION IS LOOKING FORWARD TO A Hotel Zed is the new president of the STRONG SUMMER. Kelowna Hotel Motel Association. Written by: Steve MacNaull
Kelowna is a desirable work-live-play city with an low jobless rate of 4.6%. Natalie Corbett has decided the Kelowna emerged a star with Burnaby, Victoria and Tofino, she glass is half-full rather than half- 90% hotel occupancy as tourists used this COVID time to institute the empty. sought out the city’s stellar weather, technology for contactless check-in beaches and watersports, wineries, with mobile keys and a guest text The new president of the Kelowna restaurants and outdoor and indoor message system. Kelowna has the lowest Hotel Motel Association admits the activities. industry has been through its most She’s also working on customer unemployment rate in Canada brutal winter ever, but there’s reason Corbett hopes for the same this service improvements and updates for optimism going into the summer summer if travel bans are eased and to room layouts and amenities. DESPITE THE PANDEMIC, THE CITY IS DOING RELATIVELY WELL. and beyond. a vaccine is rolled out. After all, her title is director of Written by: Iain Burns “We are looking forward to a strong “Kelowna can recover faster continuous improvement. summer 2021, but it will likely take because it’s a phenomenal three or four years to fully recover destination,” she said. Before starting that job recently, Kelowna has the lowest Lockdowns haven’t been as severe Remember, the unemployment rate to the peak of 2019,” said Corbett, she was general manager of both unemployment rate of all of here as they have been in Alberta, only counts people who don’t have who is the Kelowna-based director “Kelowna is a great place for the Accent Inn and Hotel Zed in Canada’s largest metropolitan Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes, a job and are actively looking for of continuous improvement for the growth.” Kelowna. areas. which allows the economy to one. eight Accent Inns and Hotel Zeds in operate at near capacity. BC. The Kelowna Hotel Motel Before that, she spent 10 years with New data from Statistics Canada If someone, for instance, is jobless Association represents 31 properties Fairmont Hotels at the Chateau released last month shows the Plus, Kelowna has seen an influx because of COVID, or any other Corbett estimates hotels and motels in the city with 3,200 rooms. Whistler and Pacific Rim in Kelowna census metropolitan area of people from other parts of the reason, and have given up their this winter have only been about Vancouver. (CMA) had an unemployment rate country to live and work here. search, they are not counted. 20% full, thanks to strict COVID While times are tough now, Corbett of 4.6% in January. Some figure if they are going to be travel restrictions. estimates there will be demand for A stint running the 1,500-room working from home, they might as Some cities in Ontario and Quebec more hotels to be built in the city Suncor oil-and-gas workers lodging That puts it at the bottom of the list well do it in Kelowna rather than had relatively low unemployment Usually in the winter, Kelowna when the economy is firing on all in Fort Hills, northern Alberta is of 37 large CMAs tracked by the Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton or rates, such as Belleville at 4.8% and hotels and motels average at cylinders post-COVID. when she met the man who would national statistics agency. Toronto. Quebec City at 4.7%. 50-60% occupancy. become her husband. However, other Ontario For now, the association is That guy was also from Kelowna, The unemployment rate for the The trend has helped keep communities had steep jobless However, without groups on tours, concentrating on helping hotels thus the eventual move to Kelowna. Kelowna CMA – which includes consumer spending up and the rates with Barrie at 14.2% (the sports teams in town for games with resources for government West Kelowna and Lake Country housing market hot. highest in the country) and and tournaments, skiers and aid, training, liaison with Tourism “When I worked for Fairmont, I lived – is now back at levels similar to Peterborough at 12.8%. snowboarders, business travellers Kelowna, Thompson Okanagan in Squamish, so the Sea to Sky those seen in the months before Kelowna’s employment rate, and convention delegates, hotel Tourism Association and Go to lifestyle was pretty hard to beat, but COVID-19 struck. however, declined slightly – from Kelowna is now performing better stays have been slashed by up to HR and preparing for the post- Kelowna has beat it,” said Corbett. 62.9% of the labour force to 62.1% – than the other BC CMAs tracked by two-thirds. pandemic world. Kelowna is considered to be doing between Dec. 2020 and Jan. 2021. Statistics Canada with Vancouver “We live in Black Mountain, which is fairly well economically, despite the and Abbotsford-Mission each at 7.8% Last summer, there was still a In Corbett’s own job, with the eight handy to both the city and Big White pandemic. unemployed and Victoria with 5%. pandemic, but people were allowed Accent Inns and Hotel Zeds in Ski Resort.” to travel within BC and Canada. Kelowna, Kamloops, Richmond, 14 15 “My parents were instrumental in helping me launch my business,” Wine bottling says Zarina.
on the go “Everything I know about machinery, and bottling specifically, I learned YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR ZARINA RANDHAWA from my dad (he worked in mobile OWNS AND OPERATES A MOBILE WINE bottling for a decade). He is a wealth BOTTLING LINE, SERVING WINERIES of knowledge with a versatile skill THROUGHOUT THE OKANAGAN. set. Although I studied business One of the wineries management, my mom is who I turn A few clients: Betza Bottling does work for is Ex Nihilo to for business and finance advice. She knows the tips and tricks of the • Volcanic Hills, West Kelowna Written by: Steve MacNaull in Lake Country. trade and acts as a sounding board • Ex Nihilo, Lake Country for new ideas. I guess you can call • Covert Farms and Vin Amite, her my business guru.” Oliver How does such a little girl operate The mobile line Zarina owns and • Lang and De Silva, such a big machine? operates was manufactured by GAI Naramata Bench. in Italy and she bought it from a US “I get asked that all the time, usually distributor. by middle-aged men,” says Zarina Randhawa with a laugh. Her clients, to name a few, include “When I first talk to them on the wineries Volcanic Hills in West “I don’t take it personally. I just let my phone, they assume I’m the secretary,” Kelowna, Ex Nihilo in Lake Country, work speak for itself.” she says. Covert Farms and Vin Amite in Oliver and Lang and De Silva on the The work of which she speaks is “I just take it with a grain of salt.” Naramata Bench. Zarina Randhawa is the only women to own owning and operating Penticton- Zarina’s job is towing her equipment a mobile wine bottling line in Canada. based Betza Bottling, a mobile wine in a 46-foot-long trailer behind a Zarina likes the seasonality of bottling line. Dodge 5500 heavy-duty truck to She generally used the down time in mobile bottling with busy stretches wineries up and down the Okanagan December, January and February to March-April and June-September. She’s the only woman in Canada to to set up the mobile line and bottle travel, a perk that disappeared this own such a business. up to 1,000 bottles of wine every 20 year with COVID restrictions. minutes. To bust more stereotypes she’s doing Zarina is also co-owner of Green so as a young entrepreneur (Zarina is “The primary operator is me and I Light Cannabis, which has stores in 25 and started the business when she also have a secondary operator,” says Penticton and Okanagan Falls, with was 20) and a minority (she’s Punjabi Zarina. her sister Esha, a pharmacist and Indian). young entrepreneur herself at age “ABSOLUTELY, “My business plan showed there was 32, and brother, Ajay, 21. “Absolutely, many wineries are a need for a mobile wine bottling line MANY WINERIES surprised I’m female and young,” she in the Okanagan because there are ARE SURPRISED By the way, Betza Bottling says. so many smaller wineries here that I’M FEMALE AND incorporates the initials of everyone need bottling but don’t want to make YOUNG. IT’S in the family, mom Bira, sister Esha, “It’s definitely a male-dominated field.” a big investment in their own line.” DEFINITELY A dad Ted, Zarina and brother Ajay. MALE-DOMINATED Zarina also has to deal with such Zarina did her business plan after FIELD.” assumptions when potential clients studying business management in call in for information. Toronto.
16 17 Should you Okanagan Wind farms sold buy silver? for reported $100M
THE ANSWER IS YES, AND NO. In a blockbuster deal estimated to The two farms are side-by-side “We look forward to working with be worth $100 million, the two wind near the Pennask Summit off the the team at Okanagan Wind, as well Written by: Steve MacNaull farms visible from the Okanagan Okanagan Connector highway, 50 as the community and First Nations Connector highway between West kilometres west of Kelowna. partners,” said Goodmanson. Kelowna and Merritt are being sold to a business unit of Hong Kong The wind at the high-elevation Okanagan Wind has an impact billionaire Li Ka-shing. blustery sites turns the 10 huge benefits agreement with local First OK, let’s start by saying this is going Since silver is an attempted short In an attempted short squeeze, silver hit an eight-year high of US$30.35 on Feb. 1 and by turbines and harvests power that is Nation communities to provide to be complicated. squeeze that quickly fizzled, it might mid-day Feb. 2 was down to US$26.89. “We are excited to be acquiring turned into electricity. access to job opportunities, annual be wise to leave silver alone right CK Group’s first renewable energy benefit payments to the community, With silver prices soaring to an now. project in Canada,” said CEO Derek In fact, the two Okanagan Wind funds to support scholarships and eight-year high of US$30.35 per “People should only invest what they Goodmanson of Calgary-based farms generate about 15 megawatts environmental monitoring. ounce on Feb. 1 in an exciting short The silver exhilaration started Jan. can afford in blue-chip stocks like Canadian Power. of electricity a day, which is enough squeeze, it begs the question: 27 when an anti-establishment Canadian banks, an equity metal to power 7,000 to 10,000 homes per Canadian Power’s parent CK Should I be getting in on the action? sub-Reddit message board (Wall fund or exchange-traded fund.” Canadian Power is a subsidiary of year. Group also has renewable energy Street Bets) turned its attention to CK Group, a business unit of Hong investments in Australia, Europe The answer is yes, and no. the precious metal in an effort to A local silver stock option could Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing, who The combined capacity of the two and China, including wine, solar, create a run on the price like it did a be Copper Mountain Mining in has a diverse empire of real estate, farms is 30 megawatts a day. hydrogen and municipal waste Kelowna-based market watcher and week earlier with a short squeeze on Princeton. port, retail, energy and technology projects. president of Goldcliff Resource Corp. GameStop, AMC Entertainment and interests. The electricity generated by George Sanders is of those two BlackBerry stock. Although, as its name indicates, Okanagan Wind is sold under an Canadian Power also owns the minds. the company is mining copper, Canadian Power purchased inflation-linked electricity purchase Meridian Cogeneration Plant (gas- The price of silver popped 21% byproducts are gold and silver. Okanagan Wind from Toronto-based agreement with BC Hydro. fueled electricity with by-product “Silver isn’t just in jewelry, coins and from US$25 per ounce on Jan. 27 to InstarAGF Asset Management, steam used by industry) in bars, but as a highly conductive US$30.35 on Feb. 1, just five days. In fact, in the nine months ended which coordinates real estate There’s 37 years remaining on that Saskatchewan and has a stake in and non-corrosive precious metal September 2020, Copper Mountain projects for institutional investors. agreement. four power generation plants in it’s also in so many electronics from Over the weekend in between, there mined 54 million pounds of copper, Alberta and Ontario through its smartphones and tablets to laptops was also a run on silver coins with 247,560 ounces of silver and 20,208 Okanagan Wind comprises Pennask That’s what makes the Okanagan 49.99% interest in TA Gogen Limited and circuit boards and it’s also an dealers running out. ounces of gold. Wind Farm and Shinish Creek Wind Wind so valuable. Partnership. important part of all solar panels,” Since, the price softened to $28.89 Farm, which each have five huge explains Sanders. in mid-day trading Feb. 2. Company stock on Feb. 2 was wind turbines. It generates a lot of electricity and The deal, which comprises of cash trading at $2.20 and over the past They are the only wind power has a guaranteed buyer for that and debt assumption, is expected to “So it has strong fundamentals and But still, it’s significantly more than year has been as high as $2.64 and facilities located in the Okanagan. energy for decades. close by the end of June. as such could go up in the future the US$11.79 silver was valued at in as low as 28 cents. so an average investor could buy a March 2020. silver ETF (exchange-traded fund) or stock in a silver producer such as A short squeeze is a convoluted To get a piece of the action, you could buy a silver exchange-traded fund or stock in (Vancouver-based) First Majestic, process of essentially borrowing a a silver mining company, says Kelowna- Coeur Mining, Wheaton Precious stock you think is overvalued at a based George Sanders, president of Goldcliff Written by: Steve MacNaull Metals, Hecla and PanAmerican reduced price and hoping it goes Resource Corp. and Direct Royalty. CANADIAN POWER PURCHASED Silver.” down in order to make money. THE 10-TURBINE FARMS AT THE PENNASK SUMMIT OFF The purchase includes the Pennask Wind Farm and Shinish Yet, Sanders also urges: “Do yourself “I don’t think the average investor THE OKANAGAN CONNECTOR Creek Wind Farm which have five turbines each at high- a favour and don’t go looking for should bother trying to understand elevation locations near the Pennask Summit visible from HIGHWAY FROM INSTARAGF the Okanagan Connector highway. short sales (short squeeze).” short sales,” says Sanders. ASSET MANAGEMENT.
18 19 “PEOPLE HAVE STARTED CALLING The Modest Butcher ME THE MODEST BUTCHER BECAUSE I’M THE CHEF HERE, CHEF DAN CARKNER COOKS UP FAMILIAR FOOD BUT HE IS ACTUALLY DONE DIFFERENTLY AT THE RESTAURANT AT A REAL PERSON, MT. BOUCHERIE WINERY IN WEST KELOWNA. ISADORE BOUCHERIE, ONE OF THE FIRST Written by: Steve MacNaull SETTLERS OF WEST KELOWNA (IN 1888).” It’s literally seasonal ‘things on toast’ Now that Dan Carkner has finished priest, Boucherie proclaimed himself from the the dish-of-the-decade cheffing for President Barack the greatest wine drinker in the smashed avocado on toast, or Obama, Prime Minister Justin Okanagan. maybe mushrooms, or carrots, or Trudeau and Chancellor Angela asparagus or tomato with balsamic Merkel he’s free to cook for you. Father Pandosy apparently said with a slur: “Well, aren’t you the modest vinegar and olive oil. That’s right, Carkner fed some of butcher.” The charcuterie comes with a yada- the world’s most famous politicians yada-yada explanation because it during his four years, 2014-18, as a And the nickname stuck. consists of the typical cured meats, Parliamentary Dining Room and pickles and mustard. special events chef at the House of Isador’s name was applied to nearby Commons in Ottawa. Mount Boucherie, the 417-metre-tall remnants of a 60-million-year-old The bestseller smoked steelhead trout in ‘leftover white wine cream But the allure of the Okanagan volcano, and also inspired the name sauce’ truly consists of wine that’s pulled Carkner away and he’s now for Mt. Boucherie Winery. been open a while at the bar. the chef at The Modest Butcher, the restaurant that doesn’t take itself too So, it only makes sense that the The accompanying recipe is one of seriously at Mt. Boucherie Winery in restaurant with a spectacular Carkner’s favourites and staple on West Kelowna. vineyard, Okanagan Lake and mountain views in the winery’s new the menu. “The modest part is threefold,” says multi-million-dollar building is called Braised beef poutine(ish) is a riff Carkner modestly. The Modest Butcher. off Quebec’s famous dish of French fries smothered in gravy and cheese “People have started calling me the It’s also modest in that the curds. modest butcher because I’m the restaurant’s vibe is laid-back and chef here, but he is actually a real welcoming, perfect in equal parts The Modest Butcher’s interpretation person, Isadore Boucherie, one of for apres ski, golf or wine touring or is fingerling potatoes drenched the first settlers of West Kelowna (in a special occasion. in braised beef shreds and gravy 1888).” The personality The Modest Butcher with smoked gorgonzola cheese crumbles. As the embellished story in the is a little goofy and self-deprecating. restaurant’s menu goes, Boucherie And we can’t forget the $125, two- raised cattle, made gourmet As such, the restaurant’s mantra is pound tomahawk (which feeds up to charcuterie and grilled a mean ‘eating and drinking with reckless four) is one of the steak options. steak. abandon.’ The Modest Butcher takes a After a day of imbibing with The menu is playful with ‘things on wine-first approach, meaning all Kelowna’s first white settler, Father toast’ listed in the appetizer section. the dishes were created with Mt. Jean-Charles Pandosy, a Catholic Chef Dan Carkner doesn’t take himself too seriously, but takes cooking very seriously. Boucherie wine pairings in mind.
20 21 Provincial BRAISED government not BEEF ‘buying local’
POUTINE(ISH) VICTORIA DOESN’T FOLLOW ITS OWN ‘BUY LOCAL’ FROM THE KITCHEN OF: ADVICE AND SPENDS 81% OF BC RECOVERY PLAN’S THE MODEST BUTCHER MEDIA BUDGET WITH DIGITAL MULTINATIONALS by: Chef Dan Carkner LIKE FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.
Kelowna-Mission Liberal MLA Renee Written by: Steve MacNaull Merrifield says the government INGREDIENTS PROCEDURE should spend more with local media BRAISED BEEF BRAISED BEEF outlets for COVID-related messaging. Beef Chuck Flat | 1 kg Tomato Paste | 4 tsp 01 Chop vegetables The provincial government seems to Liberal MLA Renee Merrifield, who “Spending money locally makes Bay Leaf | 1 leaf be ignoring its own ‘buy local’ credo. is also the Official Opposition’s sense. Local media deserves to be Season Beef with salt and pepper. Sear Peppercorns | 1 tsp health critic. considered.” Red Wine (one you like) | 4 Cups 02 in hot pan until deep golden brown on In some cases, Victoria is Carrot | 1 all sides. Remove from pan and set aside Celery | 1 Stock spending four times as much “It should designate it to local media He also advocates balance between Onion | 1 large 03 In the same pan, saute vegetables, add with multinational conglomerates instead.” digital and local advertising. Garlic | 3 Cloves tomato paste. Saute for 5 mins, then add Facebook and Twitter as it does with Rosemary | 1 sprig herbs and deglaze with wine. Add stock local media. However, Merrifield conceded Almost all citizens, businesses, Thyme | 4 sprig and bring to a simmer. some money should be spent with organizations and governments Beef Stock or Broth For instance, to reach hard-hit Facebook and Twitter because in BC are touting ‘buy local’ and enough to submerge beef 04 Combine all ingriedents into a roasting small-and-medium-sized businesses “that’s where people are” looking, ‘spend local’ as strategies to keep DUCK FAT FINGERLING POTATOES pan and cover with a lid or tin foil. with its BC Recovery Plan message, too. companies and their employees Fingerling Potato | 1 kg the government set an advertising in our own communities alive Coarse Salt Cook at 300F for 3 hours or until meat budget of $154,000, according to the Merrifield says the non-local and dollars circulating in regional Duck Fat, or Olive Oil 05 starts to fall apart - Once cooked remove Ministry of Finance. advertising spending reminds her economies. enough to cover potatoes beef, allow to cool completely and dice of when the BC government bought GARNISH into small pieces. Approximately $128,000, or 81%, out-of-province hand sanitizer early Yet, there are certainly hypocritical Smoked Gorgonzola | 1 tbsp per serving was allotted for digital advertising in the pandemic when Okanagan lapses when the government Rough chopped parsley + thyme 06 Strain braising liquid into a pot, reduce by with social media giants such as distilleries were producing hand buys outside the province and 60%. Taste for seasoning. Facebook and Twitter. sanitizer. businesses and individuals order online from US-and-international- PREP TIME DUCK FAT FINGERLING POTATOES Prep | 30 mins That left, 19%, or $26,000, for “The BC government is spending based e-commerce mammoths like Cook | 3.5 hours Melt Duck fat and place in oven safe pot local media, mostly print such as so much money, it’s like a blank Amazon, Apple and Walmart.com. newspapers.. cheque,” she said. Ready in | 15 mins 01 (olive oil is an alternative) Serves | 4 As a Kelowna-based local media The BC Recovery Plan provides “The province is facing a $14-or-$15- company, NowMedia Group has a Cut potatoes in half length wise and fully grants for qualifying small-and- billion deficit.” vested interest in this subject. 02 submerge in fat or oil medium-sized businesses who have Kelowna-West Liberal MLA Ben By way of disclaimer, NowMedia has Cover pot and cook in 300F for 1-2 hours been negatively impacted by the Stewart is also worried about received no provincial government TO SERVE 03 or until tender pandemic. provincial advertising spending. advertising nor funding. Place warm potatoes in serving bowl and “But, I don’t see the spending pour the warm braising liquid & beef on Remove potatoes from fat, sprinkle with “The NDP government is spending changing,” he said. NowMedia isn’t crying foul for itself, top of fingerlings. Garnish with crumbled 04 salt and allow to cool. Duck fat can be a ton of money on COVID-19 but for all local media in BC. gorgonzola and chopped parsley. Enjoy! saved (refrigerated) for months. messaging,” said Kelowna-Mission 22 23 24,354 PEOPLE IN BC HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST THEIR We need way FIRST DOSE. more vaccine, fast, says health critic
KELOWNA-MISSION LIBERAL MLA BC’S Even if Canada did develop its own the Yukon at 25% and Nunavut with WANTS MORE ANSWERS FROM VACCINATION vaccine, the country doesn’t have 17%. THE BC NDP GOVERNMENT. PROGRAM the means and facilities to produce SEES it in the quantities needed. The US and UK, two countries that Written by: Steve MacNaull RESIDENTS badly mishandled the pandemic, are Merrifield is shocked by the now doing a good job rolling out OF LONG- numbers. vaccine much faster than Canada. TERM CARE HOMES AND BC received no COVID-19 vaccine BC’s vaccination program sees Kelowna-Mission Liberal MLA and Everyone knows Canada has to be FRONTLINE the week of Feb. 1. residents of long-term care homes health critic Renee Merrifield is vaccinated in order for society, the HEALTH and frontline health workers getting absolutely sounding the alarm bell. economy and travel to go back to WORKERS The next week the province got jabs first. anything resembling normal. GETTING JABS about 200,000 doses, yet what we “The vaccine rollout is much slower FIRST. really need is 600,000 per week However, there doesn’t seem to be than we’d hoped,” said Merrifield, Merrifield admits we can demand to get everyone vaccinated by the a clear outline and timeline of what the former president of Troika faster rollout out all we want, but it optimistic summer deadline. categories of people and age groups Developments in Kelowna, who was will likely do no good because it’s a will get the vaccine in the coming elected locally in the October 2020 federal supply issue. As of Feb. 24, according to the months. provincial election. COVID-19 Open Data Working “Canada is a wealthy nation, we Group, 224,354 people in BC have “Right now, the government seems “There needs to be more data, more should have procured the right received at least their first dose. secretive about it because they transparency, more clarity and more amount sooner,” she said. don’t want to create conflict,” said answers.” The second dose is ideally injected Merrifield. Generally, Canada is considered to 21 to 28 days after the first, but BC’s Initially, governments promised have been caught flat footed when it lag is stretching to 42, and possibly “But, by the very fact of not everyone who wanted to be comes to a vaccine. 50, days, which is still considered releasing a timetable, it’s creating vaccinated against COVID-19 would safe and effective, but not ideal, conflict. There needs to be more be by the end of the summer. The country has had to stand on according to Merrifield. communication.” the sidelines as other countries “But, at the rate we’re going, BC developed vaccines and instituted In BC, as of mid-February, 2.89% of As close as Merrifield can ascertain, won’t be fully vaccinated until 2022,” quick roll outs. the population had received at least people in their 40s in BC will get she said. one dose, a percentage in keeping their first dose sometime between Canada hasn’t developed its own with most other provinces and the August and October, which doesn’t “The federal government didn’t vaccine, meaning it’s certainly not national average. meet the deadline of all being fully procure the right amount fast front of the line for vaccine supplies vaccinated by the end of summer. enough.” created in other countries. However, the territories were well ahead as of mid-February with 30% That means older people will of those in the Northwest Territories hopefully get vaccinated before that vaccinated with at least one dose, and younger citizens after.
24 25 Farm to Table is not a cliche THE OKANAGAN IS A CULINARY DESTINATION FOR ITS ASTOUNDING COMBINATION OF FARM-FRESH PRODUCT, CHEFS, RESTAURANTS AND WINERIES.
Written by: Steve MacNaull
When Mark Filatow started The Okanagan’s Farm to Table movement started in earnest about 20 years ago, according to chef With 220 vendors and three-times-a- wandering the Kelowna Farmers’ Butters currently has four eateries Mark Filatow of Waterfront Wines Restaurant & Bar. week markets, the Kelowna Farmers’ and Crafters’ Market two decades in downtown Kelowna -- Raudz and Crafters’ Market is the ideal place to begin any Farm to Table ago he was the only chef in the Regional Table, Micro Bar+Bites, journey. crowd. The Okanagan Table and Sunny’s Modern Diner. “No other local restaurants were In all, Waterfront Wines now deals Thus, the Farm to Table, Farm to Fork, from Harmony Farms in Creston, The two met while working together sending chefs to the market to with 40 different farm suppliers. Field to Fork, market-driven, farm- sablefish from the West Coast and at the Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino, pick anything up and connect with If you consider Western Canada as fresh, slow-food and re-imagined vegetables from Green Croft Farms which is considered a provincial farmers,” said Filatow who is now ‘local’ then Waterfront Wines’ menu concepts are relatively new. in Grindrod. Farm to Table leader. the chef, sommelier and co-owner at is 95% local in the summer and 65% Waterfront Wines Restaurant & Bar local in the winter. Yet, such foodie phrases run the Waterfront Wines is one of 18 Filatow also gives credit to chef in downtown Kelowna. danger of losing all meaning because restaurants, seven farms and Grant de Montreuil as a true “We consider any Okanagan fruits, they are bandied about so much. orchards, six farmers’ markets and Okanagan Farm to Table founder. “Compare that to now and there’s vegetables, meat, honey, eggs, wine many wineries, breweries, cideries been a big revolution. Many and cheeses local, as well as West That’s why the proof is in the pudding, and distilleries on Tourism Kelowna’s His De Montreuil’s in downtown restaurants, hotels and wineries Coast seafood and Alberta beef,” said so to speak, at Waterfront Wines. self-guided Farm to Table Tour. Kelowna in the 1990s sought have jumped on the Farm to Table Filatow. out local produce when most bandwagon.” “We celebrate Farm to Table on our Other restos include 19 Okanagan other restaurants were ordering Man started as hunters and gatherers menu everyday,” said Filatow. Grill, Basil & Mint, Block One at from distributors who carried an In fact, the influx of chefs, and progressed to farmers when 50th Parallel Winery, Bohemian international array of supplies. restaurants and wineries that agriculture became mainstream. “When servers approach every table Cafe, Gulfstream, Home Block at have embraced this doctrine have So essentially, Farm to Table has been there’s talk of where the food is CedarCreek Winery, Raudz Regional By the time Filatow opened transformed the Okanagan into a around for millenia. from and how it’s prepared. We also Table and the Lakeside Dining Room Waterfront Wines in 2004, he culinary destination where a meal showcase it on Instagram.” at Hotel Eldorado. had curated a network of farmer laden with local ingredients paired But in modern times, before this suppliers who were willing to deliver with a Valley wine is revered. century, most restaurants relied on Currently, on Filatow’s menu he’s to the new restaurant. big distribution and supply companies particularly proud of the chicken When Filatow first moved to to deliver products with little thought from Silver Springs Farm in Falkland, “Farm-fresh deliveries are amazing Kelowna and started showing up to origin. beef from Okanagan Centre, lamb at the farmers’ market 20 years and it was a real game changer,” ago, he was working at Fresco with said Filatow. chef Rod Butters, who can also be considered a Farm to Table pioneer in the Okanagan.
26 27 “There is hope on the horizon” The indicators:
CENTRAL OKANAGAN ECONOMIC INDICATORS ARE A MIXED BAG, BUT THE OVERALL TRENDING IS POSITIVE. • At the end of the year, the • Home construction starts of all Central Okanagan’s population types (single-family, townhouse, Written by: Steve MacNaull was 222,748, up from 217,229 on condominiums and apartments) Dec. 31, 2019. was down 19.4% to 1,794.
The 1.9% hike makes the Building permits were issued for Kelowna Census Metropolitan construction valued at $837.7 Area (Kelowna, Lake Country, million in 2020, a 33% plunge West Kelowna, Westbank First from $1.3 billion in 2019. Nation and two other Central Okanagan electoral areas) the While construction has slowed, fastest growing in BC and the sales of homes on the Multiple fourth fastest in Canada behind Listing Service spiked in 2020 Oshawa at 2.1% and Halifax and as the pandemic prompted Kitchener-Waterloo with 2% people to move to bigger and each. better places after lockdown dissatisfaction in a smaller Kelowna was actually tied home and lifestyle seekers for fourth with Calgary and moved from Vancouver, Calgary, Kelowna, which now has a population of 222,748, is the fastest growing city in BC. Some of its other economic indicators aren’t so hot. Saskatoon, which both also had Edmonton and Toronto to 1.9% growth rates. Kelowna. Home construction, building permit The statistics, recently released • Job postings down 28.7% year- • The median price of a new values, job postings and airport Monday, track nine key indicators over-year, a reflection there home was down 7.7% to passengers are way down, yet that show where the economy has were job losses and little hiring $877,500. the number of business licenses, been, where it is now and where it’s during COVID. population and average apartment headed. Yet, average selling price of rent is up. The number of employed in the pre-owned homes on the “As the economic and job market Central Okanagan at the end of Multiple Listing Service were The Central Okanagan 2020 indicators demonstrate, the region 2020 was 100,458, down from up in January with single-family year-end economic indicators continues to grapple with the 105,358 at the same time in homes 14.4% higher year-over- are a jumbled mess befitting the impacts of COVID-19,” said Mallory. 2019. year at $752,900, townhouses pandemic. up 11.2% to $512,700 and condos “But, there is hope on the horizon... as However, the unemployment edging 3.4% to $401,500. “What we have to remember about we continue to navigate immediate As the pandemic eases and a vaccine is rate shows the job market rolled out, there’s reason for optimism, these numbers is they are for the impacts and position for recovery.” improving with a December • The average monthly rent for entirety of 2020,” explained Central according to Central Okanagan Economic Development Commision jobless rate of 4.7%, a marked a two-bedroom apartment in Okanagan Economic Development In fact, the current optimism is manager Krista Mallory. improvement from the 9.6% in Kelowna was up a marginal Commission manager Krista Mallory. based on infection numbers steadily lockdown May. 0.4% to $1,368. “The region had a good two-and-a- declining, talk of restrictions being half months at the start of the year eased and the vaccine being rolled • Despite talk of pandemic- • As expected with harsh travel before COVID hit, and then there out, albeit slowly. caused business closures, restrictions, the passenger count was the lockdown from March to shutdowns and failures, the at Kelowna International Airport May, when it got really bad, and number of licensed businesses freefell 64% in 2020 to 737,467. then there’s been some recovery in the Central Okanagan is since. It’s certainly better now than it THERE IS 14,535, up 4.7% from 13,882. was in the spring.” HOPE 28 29 L EVE L U P CENTRAL OKANAGAN BUSINESS REPORT
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