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In Focus | Joshua Desnoyers of the Kelowna Art Gallery

In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition for the people, businesses and organizations that help make our city great. The team at KelownaNow.com is passionate about this community and the people that make it amazing. We want to show our friends, neighbours, family and colleagues that we notice them and the fabulous things that they do.

What is your name?
Joshua Desnoyers

What do you always find yourself saying?
“All good.” I feel most everything can be accomplished or dealt with given the right perspective, hard work, and the appropriate resources. Keep it positive!

If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select and why?
Harrison Ford. I mean he “is” Han Solo, Indiana Jones, Rick Deckard from Blade Runner, and Jack Ryan. I think it would be fascinating to hear some of the stories he has to tell over a beer. Also he just crashed a plane, that’s got to be a good one. Am I revealing too much of my inner sci-fi geekiness?

If you were to receive any existing public award, what award would you like to win?
I think this would play to my literary dreams. The Giller Prize. No novel to date but fingers crossed...

If you could spend a day with any historical figure, who would you choose and why?
Jesus. I'd love to talk about where we find ourselves in the world today and hear what his thoughts on it are. I don't think there has been anyone else who has so profoundly shaped our history over the past 2000 years. Plus, I'd like to hear his story first-hand without interpretation.

Who inspires you?
Passionate people who do crazy things. People who think outside of the box. People who excel in their fields and share their knowledge with others. A lot of TED speakers do this in fields I wouldn't think I’d even be interested in, but their passion is contagious and I find myself hoping I can say the same when the movie of my life plays out.

What are three things on your bucket list?
Release a music album
Publish a novel
Travel through Eastern Europe

If you had an enormous yacht, what would you name it?
Yachtzee

If you could foresee a single day of your future in its entirety, what date would you select?
January 28, 2018. I turn 40. Woah...

What are you passionate about?
Music, reading and getting people to read, exploring the outdoors with my son Kaden, mountain biking, and conserving our natural world.

What has been your favourite day of your life, up to this point?
I have never been married so no obligations there. I have a child but I feel a single day hardly compares with the experience of the many adventurous days of his journey from baby to little boy and beyond. I would say my favourite days are the ones where I felt most grounded, most comfortable in my skin, surrounded by my favourite people, and being filled with a sense of wonder. Days spent on the beaches of Australia, camping in remote B.C. locations, sea-kayaking through pressing waves, playing with a band for a crowd, or riding a local trail – is it wrong to have so many joyous moments without a singular memorable day?

What has been your proudest accomplishment?
This one is easy - becoming a dad! Spending time with my son Kaden has been the most fulfilling and memorable accomplishment. He's a great 14-year-old young adult now and guess what, being a dad is nothing special – there’s tons of dads out there. That said, it doesn’t diminish how amazing the trip has been.

Where is your favourite place to dine in Kelowna? What do you like about it?
I'm a big fan of the cheap and cheerful places. After moving from Vancouver recently, I had a big need to fill the void of ethnic food options. Latin Fiesta, Bai Tong, Misatos's Kitchen, Bibimbap at SS Korean Restaurant, Mad Mango, and Vietnam Village Restaurant have delivered admirably. However, I must say I miss the East Vancouver pricing...

What is your favourite activity or event in Kelowna? Why?
After spending the last 10 years in Vancouver, I most appreciate the easy access to nature. I find myself biking new trails every weekend or hitting doorstep friendly rides like Knox Mountain, Mission Creek Greenway, or cruising along the lakeshore. Myra Bellevue is a treasure as are many outdoor playgrounds like Okanagan Mountain Park, Smith Creek, Silver Star, Powers Creek, and more.

What is the name of your business/organization?
Kelowna Art Gallery

What does your business/organization do?
Basically my role is to share news about the intriguing exhibitions, hands-on art activities as part of our family programming, art classes, and special events the gallery offers to the public. The Kelowna Art Gallery's goal is to share visual art with the community. We aren't selling art – we are simply sharing the experience with Okanagan audiences. We offer Free Admission Thursdays when we are open late until 9 p.m. and hope that visitors will take the time out of their busy schedules to be inspired, to see something new, to pause and reflect on visual art, and hopefully take away something inspiring or thought-provoking into their lives.

Where can people find you or your business online?
You can find out all the awesome things we have going on at the Kelowna Art Gallery at www.kelownaartgallery.com

How do people connect with you on Linkedin?
ca.linkedin.com/in/joshdesnoyers

Where can people find your business on Facebook?
KelownaArtGallery

What is your Twitter account?
@kelownaart

What is your mission?
The mission of the Kelowna Art Gallery is to engage, inspire, and enrich the greater community through the exhibition, collection, and interpretation of visual art.

Where do you want your business/organization to be in five years?
I would like to see more people visit the gallery; lose their preconceptions and inhibitions about simply looking at art (there are no tests.) Children do this effortlessly. It is adults that seem to get hung up on it – let it go. Be childlike in your wonder.

What three qualities do you feel that your business/organization exemplifies?
Inclusion
Wonder
Creativity

What would you like to say to your employees/volunteers?
As a not-for-profit organization we rely on a large number of volunteers to accomplish our objectives. I typically work with 10+ volunteers at a time to pull off our opening receptions and events. Straight up, I could not accomplish this without the help of our amazing team of volunteers. They are awesome!

How does your business/organization impact the community?
We impact the community in so many ways. The exhibitions we bring to this community are designed to engage and stretch people's perceptions and imaginations. The gallery hosts over 8000 SD 23 students each year with volunteer docents who introduce them to art and the discovery of what it might mean to them. Family Sundays, which take place every Sunday, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., lead children and families through a guided hands-on art activity as well as exploring the current exhibitions. We offer Free Admission Thursdays until 9:00 p.m. to engage those working mid week that might not otherwise have a chance to visit..

If you were trapped in an elevator with several wealthy investors from any field, which field would you want them to be experts in? What would say to them/talk about?
I would hope I had my ear buds with me so I could listen to some great music. I don't know if I could fathom listening to self-effacing investors in such a closed environment. If I was interested I would have reached out....

If I could change one thing about Kelowna, it would be:
Have an ocean rather than a lake touching our shores.

What do you think makes Kelowna great?
The natural space this city finds itself in. It’s a big natural playground with immediate access to great trails for hiking or biking, parks, camping, lakes, mountains to ski on and more – love it!

My choice for the Kelowna In Focus spotlight is:
Scott Melnyk at New Horizon Productions

We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below, and submit your own nomination by clicking HERE. You are also welcome to submit a form of your own by clicking HERE. Thank you, Kelowna!



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