32 november-December 2011 okanaganlife.com okanaganlife.com november-December 2011 33

PROFESSIONAL

best Accounting Firmcentral1 MacKay LLP2 White Kennedy3 Grant Thornton3 BDO Dunwoodienorth1 KPMG2 Agar Schneider & Lett3 Sladen Moore3 Clark RobinsonSouth1 S A Weisner & Co2 Kemp Harvey Kemp3 Harvey Lister & Webb

best bank / credit Unioncentral1 TD Canada Trust2 Interior Savings3 CIBCnorth1 Prospera1 VantageOne2 TD Canada Trust3 RBCSouth1 Valley First2 CIBC3 RBC

best Insurance brokerage Firmcentral1 Western Financial2 Capri3 Johnson Meyers3 Okanagan Valleynorth1 Capri2 Baron3 Valley FirstSouth1 BCAA2 Johnson Meyers3 Cooperators

best Investment Firmcentral1 Investors Group2 Raymond James2 TD Waterhouse3 RBC Dominion Securitiesnorth1 National Bank2 Edward Jones3 Cannacord

readers'choice

South1 Investors Group2 CIBC Wood Gundy3 RBC Dominion Securities

best Law Firmcentral1 Pushor Mitchell2 Porter Ramsay3 Pihl Law north1 Nixon Wenger 2 Davidson Lawyers3 Allan Francis PringleSouth1 Kampman Oliver Keene McAndrews2 Albas Wahl 3 Boyle & Co.3 Pearce Taylor Schneiderat

best real estate companycentral1 Remax2 Coldwell Banker3 Royal LePagenorth1 Remax2 Royal LePage3 Century 21South1 Sutton Power 12 Remax3 Royal LePage

FASHION

best baby boutique / children’s clothingcentral1 Baby & Me2 Childrens Place3 Carter’s OshKosh north1 Chicken Little2 Snuggle BugzSouth1 Pipsqueaks2 Angel Babies – The Kid’s Shop

best Women’s Accessories Storecentral1 Frakas2 Tigerlily3 Dandy Diva at Bella Clothing3 Mellow Yellow

These results were tabulated from official ballots that were at least 50 per cent complete when submitted to us. There is neither editorial nor advertising influence on these results.

This is the 17th consecutive year that our readers have voted for

their favourite business heroes in the North, Central and South

Okanagan. Happy business people who receive the hottest award

in the Valley know that Okanagan Life readers vote by way of

official ballot. These quality businesses display the Best of the

Okanagan award in their offices and retail stores for all to see.

In Okanagan Life’s 23-year life we’ve worked hard to high-

light courageous and innovative people whose efforts and

dedication to our communities, towns and cities, make the

Valley the wonder it is. This story is different because read-

ers wrote it—we simply tallied the results and created the art

and design that you are devouring now.

This issue is all about recog-

nizing the great business ideas

and effort that owners, managers

and staff put forth to earn their

Best of the Okanagan award.

Being named the best is an honour

and a privilege. Please celebrate the

winners, patronize them and thank

them for living up to the moniker — Best of the Okanagan! — Paul Byrne

Unless otherwise stated: central = Kelowna north = Vernon South = Penticton

all Photos contributed

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north1 Pink Bug2 Creatabls Clothing3 BlackbirdSouth1 Clair’s 2 Vintage & Vogue3 Without a Doubt

best Women’s clothing boutiquecentral1 Frakas2 Bella3 Mellow Yellow 3 Tigerlilynorth1 Creatabls Clothing2 Cougar Canyon3 Cento3 RW & CoSouth1 Three Wishes2 Without a Doubt3 Sass Boutique

best men’s Fashion Storecentral1 Moores2 Torino3 Landmark Clothier3 MacDermott’s north1 Milano2 Winners3 Mark’s Work WearhouseSouth1 Elliot Row2 Warehouse One3 Mark’s Work Wearhouse

best Place to buy Footwearcentral1 Downtown Shoe Store2 Hollywood Shoes3 Shoe Companynorth1 Red Top Footwear2 Vernon Shoes3 Discovery Shoes & Marc’sSouth1 Fritz Shoes2 Softy’s3 Shoe Biz

best bridal boutiquecentral1 Bliss Bridal2 Ten Fashions

3 L’Amore3 Georgie’s Bridalnorth1 Victoria Lane BridesSouth1 Louise’s Bridal

RETAIL SERVICES

best book Storecentral1 Chapters2 Mosaic3 Pandosy Booksnorth1 Bookland2 Coles3 K & K Book StoreSouth1 Coles2 The Book Shop3 Hooked on Books

best Place To buy children’s Toyscentral1 Toys R Us2 Loadzatoys3 Baby & Menorth 1 Teeter Totter2 Chicken Little3 Teach & LearnSouth1 Sirius Science & Nature2 Walmart3 Zellers

best Place to buy Giftscentral1 Ten Thousand Villages2 HomeSense3 Raftersnorth1 Good Gracious2 Interior Gift Gallery3 Davison OrchardsSouth1 Terwilligers2 Willowbrook Lane3 Ten Thousand Villages

best Floristcentral1 Creations by Mom & Me2 Art Knapp’s3 Village Flowers3 Enterprise Flower Studionorth1 27th Street Florist

north1 Redgwell Construction2 Handy Guys Home Renovations3 NOR RenovationsSouth1 Scott Mayhew Contracting2 Serenity Builders

best custom Kitchen vendorcentral1 Westwood Fine Cabinetry2 Norelco Cabinets3 Kekuli Bay Cabinetrynorth1 Westwood Cabinets2 Dream Easy3 Harris CabinetsSouth1 Ellis Creek Kitchens2 Medallion Kitchen Cabinets2 Victoria Square Kitchen3 Heritage Millwork

best Landscape Designcentral1 Westwind Nurseries2 Creative Roots2 Hampton3 Synergy Landscapenorth1 Nokomis Landscaping2 Blueridge Landscaping3 Pinnacle LandscapingSouth1 Cobblestone Developments2 Emerald 3 Monkey Puzzle

best Garden centrecentral1 The Greenery2 Bylands3 Art Knapp’snorth1 Swan Lake2 Art Knapp’s3 Flower SpotSouth1 Art Knapp’s2 Giardino of Penticton3 Grasslands Nursery

best Appliance Storecentral1 Sears2 Coast Wholesale3 Bricknorth1 Genier’s

readers'choice readers'choice2 Harris Flowers3 Flower Market3 Vernon Flower ShopSouth1 Art Knapp’s2 Carl’s Flowers3 Polka Dot Door

best Jewellercentral1 JK Schmidt Jewellers2 Peoples Jewellers3 La Roca Jewellers3 European Goldsmithnorth1 JC Bradley2 HM Kraus Jewellers3 Gregory’s Fine JewellerySouth1 Gold Dust Jewellers2 Michael Hill3 Oslund Jewellers

best Pet Supply Storecentral1 Total Pet2 Pet Smart3 Buckerfield’snorth1 AJ’s Pets & Things2 Pet Planet3 Healthy SpotSouth1 Total Pet2 Petcetera3 Pet Pantry

HOME & DECOR

Home buildercentral1 Dilworth Homes2 Edgecombe Builders3 Acorn Builders3 Pentar Homesnorth1 Redgwell Construction2 Woodstyle Homes3 Heartwood HomesSouth1 Scott Mayhew Contracting2 Serenity Builders3 Qualas Development

best Home repair /renovation companycentral1 Gord Turner Renovations2 Handyman Connection3 Stutters Resoration

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2 Parnell’s3 City FurnitureSouth1 Penticton Appliance2 Sears

best Home Furniture Store central1 Brick2 Sears3 Case Furniturenorth1 City Furniture2 Case Furniture Gallery3 BrickSouth1 Guerard’s2 Kondola’s3 Sears3 Brick

best Home Accessories Store central1 Home Sense2 Ten Thousand Villages3 Pier One Imports3 Raftersnorth1 Good Gracious2 Winners3 Designer Gallery3 Room CollectionSouth1 Winners2 Home Hardware3 Haute House Design

best Place to buy a mattresscentral1 Sleep Country

2 Brick3 Mattress Mattressnorth1 City Furniture2 Sleep Country3 Case Furniture GallerySouth 1 Sleep Country2 Sears3 Brick

best Place to buy Artcentral1 Rotary Centre for the Arts2 Hambleton Galleries3 Picture Perfectnorth1 Vernon Art Gallery2 Nadines Fine Art2 Gallery Vertigo

South1 Lloyd Gallery2 Tumbleweed Gallery3 Oliver Art Gallery

best Antique Shopcentral1 Taylor’s Antiques2 Lois Lane3 Antoni’s Antiquesnorth1 Blast from the Past2 Vintage Vendor3 Ye Olde CuriositySouth1 Penticton Antiques2 Jardin Estate Jewelry & Antiques3 Penticton Antique Mall

LEISURE

best bike Shopcentral1 Cyclepath2 Kelowna Cycle3 Fresh Air Experience3 Sovereign Cyclenorth1 Sun Country Cycle2 Olympia Cycle & Ski3 Skyride CycleSouth1 Bike Barn2 Freedom

best Ski / board Shopcentral1 Fresh Air Experience2 Island Snow3 Deviate Board Shopnorth1 Jim Attridge2 Sun Valley SportsSouth1 Freeride2 Pentagon3 Sport Chek

best outdoor Sports Gear Storecentral1 AG Superstore2 Sport Chek3 Far West 3 Fresh Air Experiencenorth1 Surplus Herby’s2 Outdoor Exposure3 Sun Valley SportsSouth1 Sport Chek2 Canadian Tire3 KJ Sports

best Golf Shopcentral1 Golf Town2 Sport Chek3 Two Eagles north1 Strickly Golf2 Sport Chek3 Predator RidgeSouth1 St. Andrews by the Lake2 Fairview Mountain3 Sport Chek

best Golf coursecentral1 Harvest Golf Club2 Sunset Ranch3 Two Eaglesnorth1 Predator Ridge2 Spallumcheen3 Salmon Arm Golf & CC3 Hillview GolfSouth1 Fairview Mountain2 St. Andrews by the Lake3 Sumac Ridge

readers'choice readers'choice

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best car Washcentral1 Skogie’s2 Bubbles3 OK Wash Zone3 Mission Super Washnorth1 Silver Star Car Wash2 Fastlane Laser3 Pennzoil TouchlessSouth1 Wise Guys Car Wash2 Husky Car Wash3 Super Wash

SERVICES

best Day Spacentral1 O Spa2 Beyond Wrapture3 Heaven on Earthnorth1 Just For You2 KurSpa 3 ReflectionsSouth1 Naramata Heritage Inn2 Spa Tranquila3 Melt Mineral Spa

best Hair Saloncentral1 Mirror Mirror2 Dimensions3 Chattersnorth1 Chatters2 Pure-An Organic 3 Hair LoftSouth1 Bananas2 Chatters2 Heiress3 James on Kelly

best Travel Agencycentral1 Flight Centre2 Marlin Travel3 Maritime Travel3 Capri Travelnorth1 Marlin Travel2 Visions Travel3 Flight CentreSouth1 K Banks Travel2 Expedia3 Flight Centre

readers'choicebest rv Dealercentral1 Country RV2 Voyageur RV3 Parkland RVnorth1 Mike Rosman RV2 Country Camping South1 Leisureland RV2 Midtown RV3 Okanagan Travel Land

best Tire Dealercentral1 Kal Tire2 Fountain Tire3 OK Tiresnorth1 Kal Tire2 Hilltop Tirecraft3 Peters TirecraftSouth1 OK Tire2 Kal Tire3 Big O Tires

best Auto body repaircentral1 Boyd Autobody2 Craftsman Collision2 Kelowna Performance3 Prestige3 Springfield Autobodynorth1 Fix Auto (Vernon Star)2 Bannister GM3 Manfred’s AutobodySouth1 Neighbourhood Auto Body2 Alder Street Auto Body3 Ray’s Autobody

best Place to Get Your car Fixedcentral1 City Auto1 Winn Automotive2 All Day Auto3 Kelowna Toyotanorth1 Bannister GM1 Courtesy Motors2 Kal Lake Auto3 Progressive AutoSouth1 Imports Only2 Centiguard3 Valley West

best Fitness clubcentral1 H20 Adventure & Fitness2 World Gym2 Global Fitness3 Women’s Placenorth1 Fitness West2 Curves3 Hayden FitnessSouth1 The Gym Penticton2 Lakeside Fitness3 Curves

best Yoga / Pilates Studiocentral1 Bikram Yoga2 Oranj Dance & Fitness3 Moksha Yoganorth1 Bikram Yoga2 Yoga 4 Life3 Ladies World3 Namaste YogaSouth1 Purple Lotus Yoga2 Get Bent Yoga3 Body on Power

TRANSPORTATION

best Auto / Truck Dealercentral1 Harmony Honda2 Kelowna Toyota2 Kelowna Chrysler Dodge3 Kelowna Ford Lincolnnorth1 Bannister GM2 Watkins Motors3 Vernon ToyotaSouth1 Skaha Ford2 Parkers Chrysler3 Penticton Toyota

best boat Dealercentral1 Dockside Marine2 Rayburn’s Marine World3 Atlantis Marinenorth1 Valley Marine2 Performance MarineSouth1 Penticton Yamaha & Marine

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best Tour companycentral1 Sunwest Tours2 Sun Fun Tours3 Okanagan Wine Toursnorth1 MJO ToursSouth1 Top Cat Tours2 Devine Valley Tours3 Ambrosia Tours

best Photographercentral1 Justine Russo Photography2 Photography West3 Glen Durrell3 Kevin Trowbridgenorth1 Brenda Hala2 Katsz Photography3 Red DoorSouth1 Tara Morris Photography2 Stuart Bish3 Photography by Chris

best Dry cleaner / Laundrycentral1 Mission Dry Cleaners2 Busy Bee3 Kelly’s Orchard Plazanorth1 Toppers Cleaners2 Vernon Downtown Cleaners3 Centre Dry CleaningSouth1 Classic Cleaners2 Martin Cleaners3 Go Fresh Laundromat

best event Plannercentral1 Tickle Trunk2 Avalon3 Synergy Eventsnorth1 Nor Val Events2 Sweet Beginnings3 Gumtree CateringSouth1 Paraiso Events

best Wedding venuecentral1 Harvest Golf Club2 Summerhill Winery3 Benvoulin Church3 Ellison Hall

north1 Sparkling Hill2 O’Keefe Ranch3 Paddlewheel Park HallSouth 1 Linden Gardens2 St. Andrews by the Lake3 See Ya Later Ranch

ENTERTAINMENT

best nightclubcentral1 OK Corral2 Flashbacks3 Blue Gatornorth1 Monashee’sSouth1 Blue Mule2 Barking Parrot

best Live Performing Arts Groupcentral1 Okanagan Symphony2 Kelowna Actors Studio3 Parks Alive 3 Theatre Kelowna Societynorth1 Caravan Theatre2 Kath & The TomKats3 Powerhouse TheatreSouth1 Many Hats

best Local musician / music Groupcentral1 Sherman Doucette2 Robert Fine3 Day Late & Dollar Shortnorth1 The Goods2 The Young’uns3 Kath & The TomKats3 Cod Gone WildSouth1 Total Gin2 Danielle Savage & The Miscreants3 One 2 Many

best Annual community eventcentral1 Canada Day2 Mardi Gras3 Centre of Gravitynorth1 Vernon Winter Carnival2 Sunshine Festival3 Funtastic

South1 Meadowlark Festival2 Peach Festival3 Ironman3 World of Wheels Car Show

best Place for Family Funcentral1 Scandia2 H20 Adventure & Fitness3 EnergyPlexnorth1 Davison Orchards2 Atlantis Waterslides3 Silver Star MountainSouth1 LocoLanding2 Penticton Channel3 Rotary Beach

best Tourist Attractioncentral1 Okanagan Lake/Beaches2 Waterfront Park Boardwalk3 Mission Hill Winerynorth1 Davison Orchard2 Atlantis Waterslides3 Interior Provincial ExhibitionSouth1 Penticton Channel2 Elvis Festival3 KVR Tressels3 Ironman

best Free Attractioncentral1 City Waterfront Park 2 Parks Alive3 Myra Canyon Trestlesnorth1 Polson Park2 Farmers’ Market3 Vernon MuralsSouth1 Peach Festival2 Skaha Beaches3 Penticton Channel

readers'choice readers'choice