Norm Gardner Owner/Artist Bobbi Farrer Co-owner STORIES THAT INSPIRE Success from one industry to the next 16 FACES PUTTING A FACE TO & the stories THE ORGANIZATIONS behind them IN OUR COMMUNITY Editor’s Letter Interviewing each and every newcomers alike, Kamloops’ one of them reinforces what business community is vast we’ve all known for decades. and diverse and includes the Kamloops is a special place. businesses you’ll read about A place where the vibrant in the upcoming pages -- business community supports Denali Landscaping (page 14), and shapes society and vice Sweet Spot Cupcakes (page versa. 10), Martin & Martin Lawyers (page 28), Jones Brothers Yes, the city has a spectacular Construction (page 24), location at the confluence Psychocity Tattoo (page 08) of the North and South and River City Nissan (page 30). Thompson rivers, nestled in mountains with enviable All the other leaders, weather. But, it’s the people, businesses and organizations businesses, government, profiled in these pages also organizations, institutions contribute to the fabric of and community groups Kamloops in their own special that make Kamloops a way. community. A community with an outstanding standard of After all, as I’ve already said, living and quality of life full of Kamloops is a special place. opportunities, recreation and YOUR STORY amenities. We all know why we live here. IS OUR BUSINESS And others want a piece of the You’ll be inspired as you action. That’s why as people read about the people in reflect on their lives in other the next 30 pages of this cities, some come to the Steve MacNaull magazine. conclusion they too want to live Editor and journalist, in Kamloops and be part of the NowMedia Group All of them are leaders magic. in their respective fields ARE YOU READY TO TELL from construction, It’s a phenomenon that’s even Let’s Connect counselling, selling more prevalent as people cars and cannabis from Vancouver, Edmonton, YOUR STORY? to veterinary and Calgary and Toronto flee the naturopathic medicine, big city for the promised land. MediaGroup.ca (250) 862 8010 landscaping, tattoos and To support this growth, and Now cupcakes. serve long-time residents and Divisions of FACES OF KAMLOOPS 1 Kamloops Vision Therapy Optometry Table of Contents DR. TAMSYN SITLER VETERINARY MEDICINE 04 CANNABIS 06 Vol 2. TATTOO ARTISTRY 08 BAKING 10 WINE BARREL FURNITURE DESIGN 12 LANDSCAPING 14 FACES OF KAMLOOPS 2021 COUNSELLING 16 LEATHER, VINYL AND PLASTIC REPAIR 18 PUBLISHER 16 Flights Publishing House VISION THERAPY 21 A division of NowMedia Group HOME DESIGN 22 MANAGING EDITOR Jim Csek CONSTRUCTION 24 NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE 26 CONTRIBUTORS Taylor Siemens LAW 28 Steve MacNaull Ellen Schwenkedel AUTOMOTIVE 30 Andrew Nash Laina Burton REAL ESTATE 32 Taylor Field Sydney Baerg STORYTELLING 34 Copyright © 16Flights Publishing House 2 FACES OF KAMLOOPS “Pets adore you, relieve stress, are incredible companions and enrich our lives so much... I became a veterinarian because I strive to provide the best service and care for pets and their humans” Tranquille Road Animal Hospital VETERINARY MEDICINE VETERINARY DR. SHARMA r. Sharma believes every Humans are required to After working in Abbotsford Dhousehold should have give the background and for a few years, he moved a pet. The veterinarian is perspective. And then a to Kamloops in 2010 to probably a little biased due physical examination and establish Tranquille Road to his profession and because various diagnostic tests can Animal Hospital, as the sole he loves cats and dogs. determine exactly what is proprietor. THE FACE OF THE FACE wrong with the pet. However, there’s science Since then, Dr. Joshi and and sentiment behind his Tranquille Road Animal others have joined the declaration. “Pets adore you, Hospital is a general practice. “Dr. Joshi went to relieve stress, are incredible veterinary practice that the same vet school in India companions and enrich provides emergency care, that I did,” added Dr. Sharma. our lives so much,” said routine medical care, various Dr. Joshi has since moved on Dr. Sharma, the owner of soft-tissue and orthopedic to open his own clinic. Tranquille Road Animal surgery, vaccinations, Hospital. “I became a and spay and neutering, Dr. Sharma says he wouldn’t veterinarian not just because preventative health care, be where he is today without I love dogs. I became a dental care and veterinary the tremendous amount of veterinarian because I strive prescription diets. personal and professional to provide the best service support he’s received from and care for pets and their Dr. Sharma was born and family, friends and customers. humans.” raised in India, where he had a pet dog. He earned his Dr. Sharma’s plans include After all, veterinary medicine PhD in veterinary medicine constantly growing and is almost as much about in India and moved to improving Tranquille Road humans as it is about Abbotsford in 2004. “There Animal Hospital by hiring animals. “That’s right,” said were better prospects in more veterinarians and Dr. Sharma with a laugh. “You Canada,” said Dr. Sharma. extending hours beyond its have to talk to the humans “And in Canada there are already extensive seven-day- first to help find out what the more pet dogs and cats a-week openings. problem is because pets can’t and my veterinary medicine speak.” interest has always primarily been dogs and cats.” 4 FACES OF KAMLOOPS FACES OF KAMLOOPS 5 ill Anderson considers (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the Whimself more of a tour psychoactive compound that guide than a sales guy. And produces the high sensation. Casey Paulsen is a budtender, a riff off the bud part of the plant The gig as budtender is the that most cannabis products “best job ever,” according to are made of. Casey. “For 10 years before this I worked as a registered The two work at The Shore veterinary technologist and Cannabiz Shop at 399 was feeling burnt out,” she says. Tranquille Rd. in Kamloops, “This job at The Shore is so where unconventional job titles good for me because I’m still are encouraged and supported. working in a care industry, but After all, this is recreational with people who I’m helping cannabis retail, which while navigate what they are looking now legal, is still based in fun, for, be it flower, pre-rolls, irreverence and sub-culture. vaporizers, concentrates or edibles.” “Definitely, I don’t consider myself a salesman,” says Will Casey is also The Shore’s with a laugh. “I’m more of a resident chalk artist responsible tour guide, the guy who chats for an ever-changing rotation with you to find out what of blackboards featuring experience you’re after in order images that incorporate to suggest the options for you cannabis products. to make a decision.” For instance, the celestial scene Order of appearance: Beau Jardine, Caitlyn Childs, Will Anderson, Casey Paulsen and Anthony Moreau-Coulson promotes the Moonbeam In fact, if customers are happy, strain, the chimpanzee Will’s happy. Will’s official title smoking a doobie highlights is assistant manager. “I like the Monkey Glue strain and the nothing better than someone astronaut carries a cup full of coming in and saying: Deep Space cannabis-infused THE FACE OF CANNABIS You nailed it with that last beverage. recommendation, man,” says Will. The Shore is Kamloops’ first private cannabis store and is Such an approach is required family owned and operated because The Shore Cannabiz by Chris and Nadine Lyth and “I like nothing has a clientele that ranges from their daughter Danielle. “We nervous and shy first-timers, truly are a Mom and Pop shop better than white-collar connoisseurs and where we focus on training The Shore someone coming housewives to skaters, blue and education for our staff so collar recreationalists, hard- they become well known in the in and saying: core partiers and seniors after city for their knowledge and You nailed it some therapeutic CBD. customer service,” says Chris. Cannabiz Shop with that last By the way, cannabidiol “The staff has really built the (CBD) is the active ingredient popularity of the store. They recommendation, in marijuana with non- listen to customers and match WILL ANDERSON AND CASEY PAULSEN man.” high, calming and healing them to the right product at properties, while THC the right time.” 6 FACES OF KAMLOOPS FACES OF KAMLOOPS 7 and lawyers with full sleeves to the Tournament Capital and drove early every morning for and tattoos all over. Tattooing set up Psychocity Tattoo here five weeks to Kelowna for his might have started for sailors in 2013. They knew two people radiation treatments and then and prison inmates, but it’s in the city than and have built straight back to Kamloops so definitely mainstream now.” the business based on great he could put in a day of work at customer service. Psychocity. The reasons are myriad. “Your body is a canvas that can be Norm is so dedicated to his Norm’s been cancer free for decorated,” explained Norm. craft that when he had throat over five years now. “It’s personal. It’s an expression cancer in 2014, he and Bobbi of your personality. Tattoos can be a roadmap of your life, TATTOO ARTISTRY TATTOO depicting your loves, your kids, your parents, your travels or just something you simply like.” Norm Gardner OWNER/ARTIST As such, getting a tattoo and wearing it the rest of your life is an experience. “Quality is the “NORM” in the industry now,” Bobbi Farrer said Norm. “We don’t just sell CO-OWNER tattoos, we sell trust. We set THE FACE OF THE FACE ourselves apart by providing a quality product and great experience.