Okanagan Mission Residence Association

2 Okanagan Mission Review | Winter 2012/2013

Okanagan Mission Review | Winter 2012/2013 3

The Okanagan Residents Association wants to help make Kelowna better. Your board is working hard at improved plan-ning so that we can do a better job for you.

I want to thank our advertisers who make it possible to create and distribute this publication. I encourage you to con-sider their businesses when you make your business products and service selections. I also want to thank my board and volun-teers who are working towards making this publication consistently better. Your board is working to have an improved web-site (www.omra.ca) including an on-line

Review indexed for an easy search. This publication will now provide more con-tent on what’s new in the community. I would like to encourage you to send us your contact information including your e-mail so that we can forward Association information to you directly.

I have been meeting with the presidents of Kelowna’s other community/residents’ associations with a focus to have joint meetings. In this way we can more effec-tively understand common issues options and resolutions.

I believe that community associations

From the President | by Mark Thompson

Mark Thompson

can contribute a great deal to the quality of life within the city. The Okanagan Mis-sion Residents Association sees its role in part to be a catalyst for new ideas and bet-ter communication and good debate about community issues, options and solutions.

I would like to ask you again if you have an expertise that you could volunteer to help the association. We would greatly ap-preciate additional assistance and ideas.

In closing, Merry Christmas or Seasons Greetings as the case may be and may you all have a prosperous New Year.

k

Let’s Make 2013 a Banner Year

Okanagan Mission

Residents’ Association


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OMRA Directors 2012 - 2013

PresidentMark Thompson 250-764-9357

Past PresidentKerry Lomax 250-764-8892

Vice PresidentMark Ranger 250-764-7187

SecretaryBrenda Sbrozzi 250-808-5221

DirectorsRon Erickson 250-764-3217Ron Hallick 250-764-8697Melissa McCall 778-214-1265 Wanda McMechan 250-450-6595 Kelly Roth 250-764-2852Robin Tracy 250-764-3141Wayne Wolfe 250-764-6430

From the editor | Dona Sturmanis

Once again we present you with a highly informative issue of the Review.

In Deanna Merrick’s feature on Cedar-Creek Winery, an Okanagan Mission land-mark, you’ll be astonished at the number of community causes they have supported. Deanna also writes on some of the new businesses that have opened in Kettle Val-ley, Kelowna’s fastest growing area.

In his regular column In the Works, Len McFarlane brings us up to date on a recent upgrade of the Upper Okanagan Mission water distribution system and talks about the challenges of the new Lakeshore Bridge.

Sharron Simpson writes about the new Neighbourhood Learning Centre to be constructed at OKM Secondary School which will benefit the whole community and future classroom space to accommo-date the area’s growing number of stu-dents. As well, she shares more history on the evolution of the old Ritz Cafe into the Surtees home.

Lori Pinnell reflects on how we can use

the wintertime as a season to slow down and receive the healing benefits of this quiet time.

Len McFarlane has stepped down as the Review’s publisher and graphic designer but will continue to contribute articles. He was responsible for creating this magazine years ago and now wants to move on to other avenues of interest. Tracy McCall has taken on the task of graphic design.

A salute and big thanks to Len!Enjoy the winter and holidays to come.

k

‘tis the season

Contents

Please direct alladvertising inquiries to

Mark Thompson at [email protected]

OMRA Directors List 5Mayor’s message 7In the Works 11The Simpson Files 17

Regular features

PublisherOkanagan Mission Residents’ Association

EditorDona [email protected]

Contributing WritersLen McFarlaneDeana MerrickLori PinnelSharron Simpson

Layout and DesignTracy McCall

Okanagan MissionReview

Special features

New Okanagan 9Mission businesses

The Gift of Winter 13 The gifts of silence and stillness

CedarCreek Estate Winery 14 Giving back is gratifying

extra CopiesExtra copies of this publication are available at the Mission Library while supplies last. This and archived editions are also available for download at: www.omra.ca

The articles contained within this newsmagazine are the expressed opinion of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the OMRA Board of Directors. They are for in-formation purposes only and, while they cannot be guaranteed, they were obtained from sources believed to be reliable.

Cover

Best friends Isabella Shannon (5) and Emiko Yesaki (5) enjoy an

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Mayor Walter Gray250-469-8980

[email protected]

Councillor Colin Basran250-575-4535

[email protected]

Councillor André Blanleil250-862-0592

[email protected]

Councillor Maxine DeHart250-469-8865

[email protected]

Councillor Gail Given250-469-8677

[email protected]

Councillor Robert Hobson250-469-6224

[email protected]

Councillor Mohini Singh250-469-8949

[email protected]

Councillor Luke Stack250-878-4990

[email protected]

Councillor Gerry Zimmermann

[email protected]

Mayor and [email protected]

City Council Contact List

Good communication with people can make a difference in the way you live in your commu-nity.

Similarly, the following people know that in order to vote on mat-ters in your best interest they must hear from you.

MaYor’s report

results-oriented policies : Focus on innovation and streamlining services to save time, money and grow kelowna’s economy

Kelowna MayorWalter Gray

The view from City Hall

City Council marked its first year on the job Dec. 5.

Each Council member came into the job with ideas about what we want to accomplish, but we took a few months at the beginning to collectively assess City performance and iden-tify areas where we could make immediate im-provements.

Council’s assessment identi-fied some areas that could be streamlined to produce greater efficiency. I’ll expand on an ex-ample of that shortly.

But in addition to looking at the immediate challenges, Council also developed its pri-orities for the full three-year term.

Council’s priorities are:

Grow our economyCouncil will act as a catalyst

for sustained quality employ-ment opportunities and pros-perity by actively pursuing partnerships, strategic investment in municipal services and infrastructure, and re-investment in existing assets.

Enhance citizens’ quality of lifeCouncil will enhance citizens’ quality of life

by leveraging strong financial decisions to sup-port social, cultural and environmental initia-tives.

Focus on resultsCouncil will ensure Kelowna progresses to-

wards its community goals through innovation.

Deliver on our planCouncil will work with citizens, partners and

applicants to move opportunities forward that create value for the community.

Proactive & pragmatic leadershipCouncil will focus on providing pragmatic

leadership, working together towards solutions. That last priority aligns with

Council’s intention to refine and streamline City services to save time and money.

One of the first decisions Council made – with an eye on efficiency and responsiveness – was to review, and then reorga-nize, the committee structure.

Maybe that sounds a little bu-reaucratic – but we believe it was necessary to make city operations more results-oriented.

The committee review pro-cess led to the dissolving of the Advisory Planning Commission, which used to add a lot of staff time researching and rewriting

reports to Council, adding more and more time to the approval process.

Also, the Housing Committee became a committee-of-the-whole – which means Coun-cil now forms the Housing Committee and can focus on specific aspects of the Housing Strat-egy that make sense at this time.

The secondary suite bylaw revisions are an example of a pragmatic move by Council that streamlined a process and will add to our stock

Continued on page 8

“the secondary suite bylaw

revisions are an example

of a pragmatic move by

Council that streamlined a

process and will add to our

stock of affordable housing

options.

”


Mayor’s Report continued

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of affordable housing options. Neither Council nor city administration

can control housing market prices, but it can adjust policies and bylaws governing land uses. The revised secondary suite strategy al-lows a secondary suite in single-family dwell-ings in all residential zones without needing to rezone the property.

The streamlined process results in a two-to-four-week building permit and business licence approval process, compared with three to four months before the process was revised.

Kelowna home ownership not as expen-sive as perceived

Something else Council is investigating this year is whether Kelowna really is as unaf-fordable as it has been made out to be.

When we looked at cities across Canada, particularly in Alberta and B.C., Kelowna comes out looking more affordable than it appears on the surface.

Understanding that the market forces of supply and demand determine property prices, comparisons show home ownership costs under municipal control (taxes and utilities) are lower in Kelowna than in most other cities.

In Kelowna, a new home priced at $430,000 comes with annual tax and utility costs of $4,700.

In Edmonton, a less expensive new house priced at $400,000 comes with higher annual tax and utility costs of around $5,800.

A newly constructed house in Saskatoon priced just under $400,000 comes with an-nual tax and utility costs of just over $6,000.

The same scenario applies to compari-sons with residential properties in Calgary, Winnipeg, Victoria, Saanich, Thunder Bay and Fredericton.

By this comparison, the property costs controlled by Kelowna are lower than those in comparably sized or larger cities.

Attainable homes attract valuable young people

Housing affordability is something Coun-cil is focusing on because we know Kelowna needs to rebalance its demographic profile to attract and retain a larger proportion of young people and working families. This will not change overnight, but we need to shift the tide.

The changes to permit secondary suites in all residential areas of the city is one way to facilitate keeping more young, skilled work-ers in Kelowna.

Canada Mortgage and Housing says Kelowna has the third-highest rate of home ownership in Canada at 73 per cent. And close to half of Kelowna homeowners don’t even have a mortgage anymore – 44 per cent.

The disconnect between unaffordabil-ity and high rate of homeownership comes down to this statistic: only 10 per cent of householders in Kelowna are younger than 35.

There’s a significant gap between the old-er workers and retirees who have their house paid off and the number of younger people who aren’t even in the market.

From the City’s perspective, we’re doing what we can to make housing more attain-able. It’s a major challenge.

Young people need affordable options to rent or buy. First, they need jobs – but along with that they need attractive, afford-able housing options to keep those Okana-gan College or UBC grads here and attract those up-and-coming skilled people who can choose to live wherever they want.

As parents, we want our children to get a good education, get a good job – and we want access to our grandchildren. If that could be possible for more young people in Kelowna, our city would benefit from the energy and new ideas that come with this de-mographic shift.

I understand the joy of all family living nearby, with 12 grandchildren close to where Doreen and I live in Kelowna.

k

innovation and streamlining services


Much of the world may still be rebounding from the recession of the last few years, but in Okanagan Mission, business is growing. It is, after all, one of Kelowna’s most desirable residential areas. And the new business that has been trickling into the area for years has become a steady stream.

Kettle Valley boomThe Kettle Valley community is

responsible for much of this growth, and Tony Overton has overseen most of the expansion of new business for several years. In the past few months alone, four new enterprises have opened their doors

in the Kettle Valley’s commercial buildings.“Kettle Valley is the fastest growing area

in Kelowna. In the past five years it has grown 48 per cent. The average age is 39 years old, reflecting the high number of families who live in the area,” says Overton, owner of the two major commercial centres.

Growth in Kettle Valley has depended largely upon the advice of the residents, who have had input into the services, shops and other businesses they wanted to see in the area. Currently, there is a restaurant, a new flower shop, a pizza shop, a brand new Pilates studio, gym, travel agency, chiropractor, day spa, coffee

house, day care and full service pharmacy on site, along with 9,000 square feet of office space.

“The two remaining areas we’re concentrating on are a grocery store and a family/walk-in clinic. In a survey of 400 homes, which represents over 1,200 people, almost everyone identified a grocery store as their top priority. And with all of the new families that have been attracted by the new school here, a medical centre is equally as important,” Overton said.

A new drug store Peoples Pharmacy opened their doors

in May of this year, providing full-service facilities to people in Kettle Valley and the Mission.

Owner John Brewster says business has been steady and is slowly increasing. There wasn’t a pharmacy on site and he wanted to get in on the ground floor, with an eye to future growth in the community.

“We offer a full service pharmacy including medication reviews,” says Brewster. “In the new year we’ll have flu vaccines and travel vaccines. The important thing to note is that it isn’t

Fresh enterprises BLooM in okanagan Mission

A Kettle Valley complex where many new businesses are located.

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ubm

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Continued on page 10

Phot

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One of Tony Overton’s Kettle Valley commercial centres

New Business Reportby Deanna Merrick


difficult to transfer your prescriptions...we can deal with everything from here.” Pilates studio opens

Another new business, grown from a

home-based business, is Complete Core Pilates, which opened its doors just a few weeks ago. Proprietor Kyla Ramirez says Kettle Valley is an ideal area for her endeavour.

“This is an up and coming area with lots of active people,” she says. “Pilates is about lifestyle. We get people who come for rehabilitation, or to work on their core strength so that they can do all the other activities and sports that they love.”

Complete Core Pilates offers several classes daily, and private sessions are also available.

Design, drafting and interior decor

InArtifex Design Ltd. just opened its doors in September. Their unique concept fits beautifully with the current and future development in Kettle Valley and Okanagan Mission.

InArtifex offers design, drafting and interior decor using state-of-the-art equipment to provide customers with 3D renderings and walkthroughs. Clients can see exactly what their home or business will look like, right down to the artwork on the walls!

“Our high standards ensure that our pricing and customer service second to none. We are young entrepreneurs who have decided to capitalize on the many opportunities in Kettle Valley,” says Hamid Khajan, one of the InArtifex owners.

Renovations, anyone?Another Mission entrepreneur who

recently jumped into the area’s thriving world of new business is Ron Hawker, owner of Renos Plus. Hawker, a multi-talented and highly experienced home renovator, offers everything from finished carpentry to brick work or tile setting, and simple repairs to major renovations. Hawker says the key to his client’s satisfaction is the close working relationship he develops with them throughout the renovation process.

“I work directly with our clients every step of the way, to ensure they get the very best outcome possible,

and help them save money at the same time.” Small business is alive and well in the

Okanagan Mission. The hard work and commitment of entrepreneurs such as these ensures that the area is a vibrant, exciting place for residents to live and work. “Kettle Valley is the fastest growing area in Kelowna. In the past five years it has grown 48 per cent.”

Ron Cannan, MPKelowna - Lake Country

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“kettle Valley is the

fastest growing

area in kelowna.

in the past five

years it has

grown 48 per cent.

”

New Business Reportcontinued Fresh enterprises

One of InArtifex’s 3-D renderings


Water Main UpgradeThere was a major upgrade to our water

distribution system over the months of October and November with the addition of an 800m water main along Chute Lake Road. This water improvement project is the result of a partnership between a local developer and the City of Kelowna to effectively coordinate and cost share the construction of a water main to service new population growth over the next 20 years.

As a requirement to proceed with the next phase of The Ponds, the developer initiated the installation of approximately 800m of new 16” water main

as shown in blue on the map.The City of Kelowna’s 2030 Official

Community Plan had identified a need for an upgrade that would see the installation of an additional 18” water main parallel to the 800m link described above.

Therefore, an opportunity was recognized to combine resources and construction efforts to reduce costs and meet the needs of both The Ponds development and the City’s water utility. Now nearing completion, the new section of 30” water main has

the capacity to provide water service and fire protection to existing and future residents. An additional benefit to the neighborhood is

the avoidance of additional construction that would have occurred had the two projects been done separately.

Another benefit was the road grading of the water main section between Chute Lake Road and the intersection of Frost Road-Kildeer Road. The excavation work, which was required for the water main extension, will now also accommodate the future extension of Frost Road to meet Okaview at Chute Lake Road. The timing for this extension will depend on development in the area, but once complete, it will include the addition of new signal lights at the intersection of Chute Lake Road and enhanced connectivity in Okanagan Mission.

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In the works | by Len McFarlane


iMproVeMents, park WeLCoMes and a third Bridge

the new Lakeshore

Bridge will be the

final of three gateways

to our community

to be rebuilt in the

last five years.

This map shows two phases of the 5.8 million dollar Water Servicing Plan, which will satisfy current and future development growth in Okanagan Mission. It consists of the addition of a 750mm (30”) transmission watermain from Adams Reservoir to Souther Reservoir.


New Park SignageThere are new signs new signs at their

entrances; Powerline Park, Quarry Park and Quilchena Park. This is a City of Kelowna initiative that was established three years ago and has affected about 21 parks in the city at a cost of approximately $2200 each. They are made of cedar and have been sandblasted with the appropriate lettering. Finished with a clear and durable laminate these signs will provide an attractive welcome to our parks for many years to come.

The Lakeshore BridgeKelowna is competing with several other

British Columbia municipalities in their application for funding under the GSPF (a provincial gas tax initiative for capital projects) and the success of our application will be a determining factor in the scheduling of the construction of the new Lakeshore Bridge. An announcement will be made in the new year and our Infrastructure Planning Department is getting their ducks in order in anticipation of a positive result.

The new Lakeshore Bridge will be the final of three gateways to our community to be rebuilt in the last five years. The narrow wooden bridge at Casorso was replaced in

2007 and the Gordon Bridge was replaced with an elevated 4-lane structure in 2010.

The new Lakeshore Bridge is the most challenging of the three, as it’s design must meet many needs.

The first engineering priority is for the provision of a safe and efficient flow of Lakeshore Road traffic for the bridge’s future 75 year life span. Considering that Okanagan Mission and the development of the south slopes will be the City of Kelowna’s highest growth areas this will be a major consideration.

The second priority will be to elevate the bridge structure high enough to accommodate a 200-year flood event of Mission Creek as described by the most recent provincial government standards.

To add to the complexity, engineers are also facing several design challenges derived from a public workshop held in January 2012 including a means “to provide an uninterrupted route for the users of the Mission Creek Greenway to continue west to Okanagan Lake.”

Also, recognizing the higher elevations of the new bridge, residents of the River Run subdivision continue to press for good line-of-site provisions at their Lakeshore Road entrance.

OMRA has been proactive in discussions with the City of Kelowna related to the design of the new bridge over the past several years and we are looking forward to the next open house, which will reveal the options the designers are considering.

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WINTER PROGRAMSubject to Change

Lunch: Wednesday through Saturday 11:30 ‘til 5pm

Dinner: Monday through Saturday 5pm ‘til late

HEARTY LUNCH SOUP SPECIALChoice of Seafood Chowder

or Winter Meatball Soup,Served with garlic cheese

toast…..$8.47

SCHNITZEL NIGHT(beginning January)

Choice of Veal or Chicken Schnitzel…..$14.97

And $10 Corkage Fee

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT 5-6 NIGHTS A WEEK

In the workscontinued

Okanagan Mission Seniors SocietySarsons Centre, 4398 Hobson Road

Regular Weekly Activities250-764-7642

3rd tuesday every month at 11:00 amsask. retired teachers

For information phone the Centre during the time listed for the

activity that interests you.

Monday 9:00 Quilting 2:15 Gentle YogaTuesday 9:30 Keep FitWednesday 9:00 PaintingThursday 9:00 Crafts 1:00 Mixed BridgeFriday 9:30 Keep Fit 1:00 Cribbage

Three parks in Okanagan Mission have taken on the addition of some attractive new signs at their entrances.


Okanagan Lake lies still, dark and silent. It is time for its natural resting season from the intensity of activity the past summer. A winter blanket of gentle snow as far as one can see creates a softening to our world in the Okana-gan that was previously so active and abuzz. Something stirs deep within as we view and experience our world in winter. We are re-minded of our own natural rhythms and our true nature to take time to become still, to rest, to be silent.

The Okanagan Mission area is moderately populated and offers many services and amenities for a wonderful bal-anced lifestyle, and because of its unique situation in the valley and commercial make-up, it is not subject to much thoroughfare traffic. The rhythms of the Okanagan Mission community are deter-mined by the daily rhythms of the residents. There are those special winter snowfalls that still the activity of the residents and a deep and palatable hush descends on the area. Stillness penetrates all with the gift of silence from the snowfall. And from the stillness and silence we feel

the grace of a moment of peace.Just as the water and land are rejuvenated

from this time of stillness and silence so are all beings. We can choose to struggle through this time or utilize this time to deeply benefit our mind, body and spirit. We can conscious-ly step into the winter season with the inten-tion to accept a different pace in which to live; to slow down, become stiller and receive the healing benefits of this quieter time.

Gifts of silence and stillness:

Control over our senses; particularly speaking. Stop-ping talking so much is one of the simplest and fastest ways we can experience greater silence, presence and connec-tion with ourselves and others.

Calms and soothes the nerves, thus making it easier to get both mental and physical work done.

Provides space and oppor-tunity for self analysis and con-templation: recognizing pat-terns of the mind. From this

we can choose and make positive changes with awareness from inner knowing.

Control over our emotions as repetitive experiences of conscious and contemplative silence bring serenity and calmness.

Develops inner spiritual strength.

Develops receptivity and listening skills.

the giFt oF Winter: siLenCein the sweet territory of silence we touch the mystery. it’s the place of reflection and contemplation, and it’s the place where we can connect with the deep knowing, to the deep wisdom way. — angeles arrien quoted in the Millionth Circle by Jean shinoda Bolen

“We can choose to

struggle through this

time or utilize this time

to deeply benefit our

mind, body and spirit.

”

Exercise:

Incorporate a few minutes of silence into your daily routine: observe one silent minute in your car before driv-ing to work or at your desk just before beginning work. Take a moment to turn your focus inwards and be silent during lunch, in your car before start-ing the drive home, after watching the evening news or a minute of conscious silence before sleep. Choose a “cue” that will work for you to remind you of this simple but profound practice.

Many have the perception that a Ca-nadian winter is something that is to be avoided: the snow, the long nights and diving temperatures. The temperate winters of the Okanagan can provide a comfortable opportunity to receive the gift of winter. Others become anx-ious with the busyness of the seasons social responsibilities. Through the practice of silence we can make those conscious choices of how we perceive our environment and what we choose to experience so the gifts are not lost upon us. These are the gifts of inner quiet, peace and calm. This is the gift of winter: silence.

k

Well Beingby Lori Pinnell


Stroll into the wine shop at CedarCreek Estate Winery in Okan-agan Mission; sample some of the sumptuous wines and chat with the employees there. It is easy to see why this year, while celebrating its 25th anniversary, CedarCreek was named one of the city’s top three businesses by the City of Kelowna – a reflection of the winery’s com-mitment to community and civic

CedarCreek estate WinerY

Community Business Profileby Deanna Merrick

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involvement.CedarCreek CEO Gordon Fitz-

patrick explains why ‘giving back’ has always been a priority with his company.

“We are strong believers in continuity. We believe in our employees and have a firm com-mitment to them, our consumers and our community,” Fitzpatrick says. “We have a deep history of tradition here which started when my father (at that time; Senator Ross Fitzpatrick) bought the winery 25 years ago.”

CedarCreek, originally operat-ing as Uniacke Estate Winery, was one of a mere handful of pioneer-ing wineries in B.C. when it was purchased in 1986. Under the careful guidance of Ross Fitzpat-rick, the winery was rebranded and over time, the CedarCreek name has become synonymous

with high quality, unique wines.Ross’s son Gordon Fitzpatrick,

who became the company CEO in 1996, says the company’s phi-losophy has guided them in their journey to become one of B.C.’s finest wineries.

Giving Back is Gratifying

“Our philosophy is ‘Respect the Land, Honor Tradition, and the Pursuit of Perfection,” he says. “We believe very strongly that in order to carry out that philosophy, we must support the local community.” In this regard, CedarCreek has stood proud. Gordon recalls that his father was relentless in his desire to see the city’s Rotary Centre for the Arts come to fruition.

“The Rotary Centre for the

Sunset Concert Series


Arts is celebrating their tenth anniversary this year. My father was a big supporter, eventually securing $1 million to help turn that vision into a real-ity.”

CedarCreek’s popu-lar Sunset Concerts have helped support the Rotary Centre for the Arts in the years that followed, and con-tinues to do so.

“The Sunset Con-certs are the definition of a magical evening,” says Gordon. “We hold them in the Pa-vilion, surrounded by the rose garden, and usually have about two or three a year. We bring in top drawer entertainment in inti-mate and charming surroundings.”

The list of performers who have enter-tained at the Sunset Concerts is impres-sive. From Terri Clark to Michelle Wright, and Colin James to Michael Burgess, the Sunset Concerts feature some of the best performers to visit the city each summer. All proceeds are donated and the concerts raise thousands of dollars for the Rotary Centre for the Arts, just one of Cedar-Creek’s efforts to give back to the city that has been home for so long.


CedarCreek CEO Gordon Fitzpatrick

CedarCreek estate WinerY

Community commitment, continuity and quality wines build success

Phot

o: S

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Check out the website at orl.bc.ca/branches/mission

Storytimes until December 13

Bookclubs for all ages

Author tour - John Wilson - October 2 at 10:00 am(No Baby Time on this date.)

Baby Time Tuesdays 10:15 amToddler Time Wednesdays 10:15 amPreschool Thursdays 10:15 am

Community Business Profileby Deanna Merrick

Kelowna Women’s Shelter Receives a Donation

The local SPCA is another benefactor of CedarCreek’s philanthropic efforts. This in-volves the company’s vineyard and winery

near Peachland, Greata Ranch. In-stead of charging for wine tastings, Greata Ranch asks for donations to the SPCA and once again, they are able to contribute thou-sands of dollars to this important local organization each year.

The Women’s Shelter is another non-profit asso-

ciation that benefits annually from Cedar-

Creek’s belief in civic responsibility. Dur-ing the month of December, one dollar from every bottle of wine sold through their on-site wine shop is donated directly to the Women’s Shelter of Kelowna. Ce-darCreek’s wine shop is filled with great wines, Christmas present ideas and gift baskets...and what could be more pleasant than tasting some of their delicious wines while working on your Christmas list?

A number of different events and pro-motions have taken place over the years to benefit the Kelowna Food Bank. This last year, CedarCreek provided gift baskets to the Cast-a-Light live radio auction, a joint effort of Castanet, Q103 Radio and Orchard Park Mall. For many years, CedarCreek hosted their popular Women In Wine event in support of the local food bank.


Excellent client expectations for over 28 years

Reliable, flexible scheduling

Locally owned and operated

St. Andrew’s Okanagan MissionAnglican Church of Canada

Serving the Mission since 1911

Sunday services 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM

4619 Lakeshore Road

www.standrewskelowna.ca

Everyone recalls how the Okanagan Fire of 2003 resulted in the entire commu-nity pulling together during that incredible time of need.

“It was unbelievable how the people came together within our company, and within the community during the fire-storm. Since then, we’ve hosted a com-munity barbecue to honour the people in

this area,” Gordon noted. As he reflects on CedarCreek’s history,

Fitzpatrick is always looking at their goals reaching into the future.

“The culinary scene in the Okanagan is really coming alive. The wineries are a big part of that and it’s one area where there’s great excitement for the future,” says Gor-don. The winery’s on-site restaurant, The Terrace, is CedarCreek’s way of showcas-ing local product.

Gordon Fitzpatrick, his family and Cedar-Creek wines are carrying on the pioneering which began for them 25 years ago.

“We are taking our wines to the next level. That is what the quintessential Okanagan wine should be all about. We compare ourselves to the other wine re-gions world-wide. And we want to become one of the premier family estate wineries in the world.”

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Community Business ProfileContinued


Interesting isn’t it, how much we change our behaviour to fit the changing seasons. How the lazy days of summer defy schedul-ing as we keep time and space available for a visitor, a swim or a pool-side lounge. And then how we gear up and arrive at the beginning of September and suddenly everyone’s calen-dars are full of activities. Even those without school and soccer games or dance lessons to arrange continue to think of September as

the beginning of new activities – it’s the early “new” year. Before long, winter arrives, and along with it more activities, and also holiday celebrations.

School jamAll of us living in Okanagan Mission are

reminded by the cars, buses and kids that we

can get jammed up around the Anne McCly-mont and Dorothea Walker schools as well as those turning into and out of OKM Second-ary. For many, skirting the traffic via Swamp Road isn’t worth the diversion so you either leave extra time or schedule appointments in town between the beginning and the end of the school day.

The Simpson Filesby Sharron Simpson

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Increasing numbers of portable classrooms are lining up along the school’s driveway as students await the construction of additional classrooms.

a CoMMunitY sChooL and the ritz

A message fromSTEVE THOMSON

I would be pleased to meet with you to discuss any is-sues or concerns you have regarding the Provincial Govern-ment. Please call the office for an appoint-ment and I will do my

best to accommodate you. Or, feel free to send me an email at the address noted below.

Province of British ColumbiaSTEVE THOMSON

MLA KELOWNA MISSIONOffice: 250-712-3620

E-mail: [email protected]



A school for allOkanagan Mission is one of the fastest

growing areas of Kelowna and with its new and expanding neighbourhoods, the need for more classrooms has become urgent. Now that the province’s funding dollars have been committed, an additional 300 student spaces at OKM Secondary have been approved along

with an upgraded drama room, and a 4,100 square foot Neighbourhood Learning Centre.

Though I had to check to find out what a ‘Neighbourhood Learning Centre’ was, it was a relief when I realized that finally – and after so much time, controversy and waste – the city and the school board have come to an agreement that this school should be available to the larger community, seven days a week throughout the year. I’ve always wondered why our schools – an asset we all pay for in our taxes – have been off limits to the larger community.

This space, through a partnership between the City of Kelowna and School District No. 23, will now be available for community pro-gramming, where all people, regardless of their age, can enjoy a variety of educational opportunities as well as convenient access to community, recreation and culture services. Think community services – a municipal of-

fice here? Recreation programming? Health care services? A theatre, a branch of the library, early learning and/or senior’s centres, and cul-tural centres? Though the public survey of the area’s needs is closed, I hope opportunities for more input will again be available closer to the time the facility opens.

George Elliot Secondary in Winfield is a superb example of a community school. It’s home to the annual highly successful Art Walk which fills their many spaces each fall, and the Creekside Theatre which offers year-round programming and opportunities for both stu-dents and the broader community.

With construction for the new spaces to begin in the Spring of 2013, completion is ex-pected by the Fall of 2014. By then the poten-tial of the somewhat controversial inclusion of an interim middle school – for grades 7 and 8 – within the secondary school will be on the table. While a stand-alone Mission middle school for grades 6, 7, and 8 is part of a long-term plan, funding has not been allocated and the community will have to decide if they want their younger students sharing school space with the older students. In the end, it’s all about the Mission classroom shuffle that will likely continue on into the future as the area’s schools jockey for both funding and students.

The Ritz Café – Part TwoThe property across from the intersection

of Collett and Lakeshore Roads has a colour-ful and remarkably diverse history. In the last edition I told of the the ladies who worked in the now-boarded up Ritz Café during the con-struction of the Kettle Valley Railway. When the crews moved on, in about 1911, their busi-ness dwindled and the Café ceased to be. The building sat empty until the end of WW1 when Allen Surtees, a moderately well off young Englishman, arrived in the area and bought the property. Molly, Allen’s sister, was sent over from England to look after him but when

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More classrooms, new neighbourhood Learning Centre and the continuing story of the ritz Cafe

Community Reportcontinued


she encountered the large resident pack rat when she first walked in the door, she beat a hasty retreat. Her brother was left to manage as best he could.

Allan eventually cleaned the house, added rooms to the back of the original structure, and then courted, and in 1924, married Ishbel Marjoriebanks from the Coldstream, near Vernon. It was a fortuitous connection as the young lady was the daughter of the Hon-ourable Coutts Marjoriebanks, who had arrived in the Mission in the early 1890s to manage the properties of his sister and brother-in-law, Lord and Lady Aberdeen. Coutts also oversaw the construction of Guisachan House for the regal couple’s 1892 arrival in the Okanagan. Lord Aberdeen became the Gover-nor General of Canada the following year.

Ishbel Surtees had two not insignificant in-heritances. The first was used by the couple to

build the nearby state-of-the-art dairy barn: it’s still on the property. The second inheritance was invested in construction of the Green Gables Hotel in Penticton, as well as in the oil wells that were being heavily promoted in the area in the early 30s. One of the drilling sites

was across the road from the current Imperial Apartments: the Penticton hotel survived, but the oil wells never pro-duced a drop of the elusive liquid.

Ishbel and Allan imported a herd of dairy cattle from the Channel Islands and became part of the Okanagan Mission community – Allan became a school trustee and anchored the polo team. By 1931, the lo-

cal riding club had established their headquar-ters in the barn and used the upstairs loft for their dances. Ishbel died before WWII, Allan sold the property, left Okanagan Mission, and mobilized as part of the Empire’s war effort.

However, the attachment to the site and the memories it evoked drew Ishbel and Al-lan’s son, John, back to the area in the early 1960s. After purchasing the property, John was joined by his war bride wife, Ursula, and their infant daughter, Patricia. The barn’s transformation into a fledgling artist’s com-munity will be the next edition’s historical moment. Ursula Surtees later became the executive director of the Kelowna Museum, a position she held for many years.

Comments or queries or memories to share? [email protected]

The Simpson Filescontinued

The rear additions to the Ritz Café as it became the Surtees home.

the continuing story of the ritz Cafe

“i’ve always wondered

why our schools – an asset

we all pay for in our taxes –

have been off limits to the

larger community.

”

Okanagan Mission Residence Association

Documents

Transcript of Okanagan Mission Residence Association