Straight From DeHart - March 25, 2015

The MacDermott Family when they opened MacDermotts on Bernard in downtown Kelowna in April, 1995.

MacDermott’s on Bernard, owned and operated by Wayne and Jay MacDermott is celebrating their 20th year in business in downtown Kelowna at #10 – 565 Bernard Avenue. Originally from Victoria, Wayne and Jay moved their family for both lifestyle and also to introduce an upmarket menswear store that the city did not have at that time. In 2005 they expanded and renovated the store adding the new coffee bar. MacDermott’s offers John Varvatos, (the only shop in shop), Robert Graham, Tommy Bahama, Versace and Hugo Boss, along with accessories and shoes. Three years ago, they opened their outlet store MacD’s Lakeside at 219 Bernard Avenue, which is open from May to September. General manager, Brice MacDermott is going back to his passion of golf and has left the family business to join the Kamloops Golf and Country Club. Noel Anderson will take over as operations manager and Heather Craig is the new store manager at MacD’s. MacDermott’s have been a sponsor of the Kelowna Rockets for 20 years, donating a $1,000 suit to the player of the month. That adds up to a lot of cash over the years. Call 250-868-2925.

Re/Max Kelowna has been recognized as one of the top achievers at the RE/MAX of Western Canada Annual Awards in Las Vegas. Broker/Owner Cliff Shillington accepted the award for Top B.C. Office Transactions and was also awarded Multi-Office Broker/Owner of the Year at the Western Canada Awards Gala. On March 3^rd, Shillington and RE/MAX Kelowna were once again recognized for a great 2014 at the Best of RE/MAX Awards Night. Shillington was also named one of five Multi-Office Broker/Owners of the Year throughout the entire RE/MAX International Network. www.remaxkelowna.com.

M & M Meat Shops in the Mission Park Shopping Centre on Lakeshore Road has new owners. Long-time owner, Brett Irving has sold the shop to Cam Ellison and Shannon Harris. Brett had purchased the business from Gerry and Donna Mitzel. M & M is featuring their new popular single servings that are fast and healthy. They are also receiving new product lines monthly. Open seven days a week.

The Uptown Rutland Association (URBA) has a new Board of Directors for 2015. They are: Mike Koutsantonis, president (Olympia Greek Taverna); Shawn Swail, past-president (Canada West Litigation); Dan Van Norman, 1^st vice-president (Hollywood Shoes); Dawn Thiessen, 2^nd vice-president (Aphrodite in Me Spa) and Nicholas Aubin, treasurer (Aubin & Associates). Directors are Al Kirschner, Kirschner Mountain; Mark Beaulieu, Flashpoint Laser & Tattoo; Garry Benson, Benson Law LLP; Carole Bergeron, Stylize Hair Studio; June Forman, MCC Thrift Shop; Wendi Swarbrick, WS Accounting Services; Shawndra Woodin, Interior Savings Credit Union; Frank Pohland, appointed (CTQ Consultants); Kevin MacDougall, appointed, (RCMP) and Brad Sieben, Ex-Officio (City of Kelowna). Laurel D’Andrea is the executive director of URBA.

Capri Insurance Partners and Co-Chair. Left to Right – Lana Hunnie, Co-Chair Robin Durrant, Trish Anderson, Margo Simpson, Debbie Tuddenham, Paula Garrecht, Oksana Fodor, Chris Rigg, Mark Goldstone, Ryan Gatti

Capri Insurance is celebrating their four-decade milestone, with 40 years of service in insurance, investments, mortgages and benefits. The founders of Capri recognize the way to provide the high-level of customer experience they envision is to take good care of their people and working as a team. By creating a great place to work, Capri has multi-generational partners, staff and clients that make up the ever-growing Capri Insurance family. Of the original four founders, which wereDoug Fraser, Trevor Tupman (deceased), Gordon Baughen and Ev Rae, Gordon and Ev still work at Capri each day. Back in 1975, there were six regular employees and today, Capri has become one of the largest independent insurance brokers in the Okanagan with 300 employees spread across 14 offices in the Thompson Okanagan and Northern BC with affiliates in the Lower Mainland and Ontario. Robin Durrant is the co-chairman of Capri Insurance. Call 250-860-2426.

Capri Insurance

Congratulations to co-owner of Poppadoms, Aman Dosanj who has been listed as one of ten winners for Western Living Magazine’s 2015 Foodies of the Year Awards. In its eighth year, the magazine narrowed down a short list of forty from around the country to ten. The list is compiled to highlight those doing interesting things in their communities over the past year. In the article it states that Dosanj, a self-taught chef, is gaining much respect for her tireless work ethic and endless curiosity. Chef Jas Dosanj and Aman Dosanj are currently working on the launch of Poppadoms spring and summer menus located at 948 McCurdy Road. Call 778-753-5563.

La Belle Boutique Fashions & Accessories and Mystere Lingerie, at #1 – 565 Bernard Avenue in the Towne Centre Mall, owned and operated by Marie-Yvonne Cleaver are hosting a Spring Extravaganza Fashion Show on Thursday, April 23^rd at the Ramada Hotel & Conference Centre 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. It will be a fun evening with appetizers, a glass of wine before the show and great door prizes. Manager, Monika Grimmer and Marie Yvonne invite you to view the latest spring and summer fashions from their boutique with brands of Joseph Ribkoff, Frank Lyman Design, Chantelle, Fit Fully Your Lingerie, Shapeez, Wacoal, and Chantelle. I will be hosting as the MC. Tickets ($20) are available at La Belle Boutique or Earthly Creations, 2160 Pandosy Street. If you wish, you could also bring a small gift for the Kelowna Women’s Shelter for Mother’s Day. Come out and let’s have fun. For more info call 250-860-6038.

Two long time City of Kelowna employees are retiring. After 25 years of service, John Vos, Director of Corporate Business Ventures will be retiring on May 1^st. John started his career with the city in the city yards department as operations manager and then six years later held the title of utilities manager (water, sewer, works and landfill department). He has also been general manager of community services. John is an avid fly fishing and camping enthusiast, so we know what he will be doing in his retirement.

With 27 years of service at the City of Kelowna, Don Backmeyer, sport and event development manager is retiring and will be celebrating his retirement on Canada Day, July 1^st. I think the fireworks this year will be for him. Don has spent his entire career in various positions in the active living and culture department. He is also an avid fly fishing enthusiast and says he will also be exploring his options for other opportunities to keep busy.

The Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) has been serving Canadians with exceptional health care since 1897. A national health organization and registered charity offering a wide range of community health care solutions, VON has offices located across Canada with their newest office located in Kelowna. Courtney McNeil, LPN is the clinic coordinator for the Canada Western Region for VON. As Canada’s largest, national, not-for-profit, charitable home and community care organization, VON offers more than 75 different home care, personal support and community services to enhance each client’s quality of life by providing personal assistance and support needed to make them comfortable in their own home. VON offers a wide range of community health care solutions and are accredited by the Canadian Council of Health Services Accreditation, tailoring programs that meet their client’s needs. They offer open foot clinics located at Rexall Pharmacy, 171 Hollywood Road S; Shoppers Drug Mart, 597 Bernard Avenue and CBI Health Centre, 1772 Baron Road. They also offer a discount to persons considered low income or receiving social assistance and they work with Veterans Affairs Canada to assist eligible veterans in receiving foot care services at no cost. For more information or times of the foot clinics call Courtney at 250-212-5093 or Courtney.mcneil@von.ca; www.won.ca.

The Wedding Café, 2655 Pandosy Street is celebrating their 6^th anniversary in business. Mother and daughter owners, Jen and Barb Taylor are still helping dozens of couples each month find their venues and vendors. The Wedding Café has a free Ultimate Wedding Saver coupon book with deals and fee add-ons from their vendors. They also offer coffee, lunch, cupcakes and artisan ice cream. Open Monday to Friday 9:00 to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call 778-436-8236. www.theweddingcafe.ca.

Certified jazzercise instructor, Paula Cowan, has been teaching jazzercise for 10 years and participating in programs for 21 years, celebrating her 4^th anniversary with two locations, one in Kelowna at the Canadian Italian Club and one on the Westside at SunRidge Community Church, six instructors and a total of 19 classes weekly year-round. Jazzercise is place for women and men of all ages, sizes, strengths and passion to come and get healthy. It is a pulse-pounding, beat-pumping fitness program that gets results fast. Jazzercise is a calorie-torching, hip-swiveling dance party workout to put your abs to the test, with a hot playlist to distract you from the burn. You can incinerate up to 800 calories per hours in one 60 minute class. Their classes include strike, fusion, core, strength and dance mix. They are offering a spring promotion available through April. Buy three months of unlimited jazzercise classes for only $99 and the first class if free. Call 250-718-9929 or paulajean_jazzercise@hotmail.com

The Ukrainian Easter Food Sales is Saturday, March 28^th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Ukrainian Catholic Parish Hall, 1091 Coronation Avenue (corner of Coronation and Gordon). There will be homemade pyrohy, cabbage rolls, sausage, pies, beet relish, borscht, babka’s, paska's and all kinds of baking. This is a perfect time to get stocked up for Easter. If you would like to pre-order, call Larisa Fearns at 250-212-9394 or larissadaulat@yahoo.com. Pre-orders can be picked up from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday.

Original Joe’s in Kelowna and the West Kelowna are raising money for the food banks. For every Original Joe’s Red Ale sold in both locations, 25 cents will be donated to the Kelowna and West Kelowna food banks. The beer is made for Original Joe’s by Rig Rock Brewery and the promotion runs until May 31^st at all the chains in Western Canada.

The Rutland Park Society is looking or volunteer help for May Days, May 15-17/2015. If you have some time to spare, call Marianne Belland, volunteer coordinator at mb2707@shaw.ca.

Kelowna MapleFest 2015 is March 27-29. On Saturday join them at the Rotary Centre for the Arts with live performances, food and free family activities all day. On Sunday, join them at the Laurel Packinghouse for the traditional maple “sugar shack” brunch from 10:00 a.m. –to 1:00 p.m. For tickets visit www.kelownamaplefest.ca or call 250-860-4074.

Birthdays of the week – Jock Tyre, Curling Club (Mar. 24); Phil Viggiani (Mar. 24); Rick Jaeger, Mercedes (Mar. 24); Kerry Solinsky (Mar. 25); Pat Moxness(Mar. 26); Wendy Giammartino, Via Veneto (Mar. 28); Hugh Cairns (Mar. 28); Dick Dumond (Mar. 28); Don Jeffries, Ramada Hotel (Mar. 29); Mike Rout, City of Kelowna (Mar. 30); Gordie Abougoush (Mar. 31)

Maxine DeHart is a Kelowna City Councillor and local hotelier. Phone her at 250-979-4546, 250-862-7662, fax 250-860-3173, E-mail maxdehart@telus.net and web-site www.KelownaNow.com (click on Good Stuff, Columns and then Maxine DeHart)