In Focus | Cindy Finnigan of Cakery Arts

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?
Cindy Finnigan

What do you always find yourself saying?
Do you want to go to Mexico?

If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select and why?
I would have to pick Shawna McGreevy of McGreevy Cakes in New York, who is a phenomenal sugar artist. She is so very creative and talented and I admire the style of her work. I would love to just watch her work and pick her brain...and of course try some cake!

If you were to receive any existing public award, what award would you like to win?
I think it would be super cool to be voted best cake artist by the community through Okanagan Life Magazine. That would be sweet recognition.

If you could spend a day with any historical figure, who would you choose and why?
Lucille Ball because I love to laugh, she is both a crazily hysterical woman and a pioneer in women’s comedy. Can I add Lady Di because I would love to join her for a spot of tea!

Who inspires you?
I have a network of fantastic ladies working in the creative world, mostly from the wedding, party, and celebration industry. They were huge in motivating me to take the leap to working in an artistic field and continue to inspire me with their artistry! Ladies, you know who you are!

What are three things on your bucket list?
Drive Canada coast-to-coast with my husband. Alberta is the furthest east I have been!
Take a trip to ride the old wooden rollercoasters...with someone other than my family as they are not as keen on the rush as I am!
Take a tour from the beaches of Normandy to Berlin with my family.

If you had an enormous yacht, what would you name it?
The Cin Bin Fin. It is a long yet enjoyable story!

If you could foresee a single day of your future in its entirety, what date would you select?
I would prefer to wonder and not know actually. Although it would be cool to know if there are grandbabies in my distant future.

What are you passionate about?
My Family. I have a small but tight knit clan. They are my world!
My Artistry. I am at my best when I have creative freedom to get in my zone and create art pieces...that you can eat!
Gardening! I planted 100 or so sunflowers and dahlias and gladiolas and veggies and did I mention I love gardening! But I hate weeds for sure!!

What has been your favourite day of your life, up to this point?
The day David asked me to be his wife. It was Canada Day and I was the happiest Canadian.

What has been your proudest accomplishment?
Making the decision to leave my home town of Abbotsford, moving here with my family not knowing a soul, and building an awesome life with my family. No Regrets!

Where is your favourite place to dine in Kelowna? What do you like about it?
I am in love with Waterfront Wines. It has a great vibe and I can honestly say it is some of the best eats in Kelowna. My husband and I usually celebrate there for our anniversaries.

What is your favourite activity or event in Kelowna? Why?
I love Canada Day! Kelowna has some great national pride and it warms my heart. We always go and get a good spot on the beach for fireworks and enjoy some family time. I also enjoy movies in the park.

What is the name of your business/organization?
Cakery Arts
Cinfully Delicious Creations (not a typo, the Cinfully is a play on my name)

What does your business/organization do?
Cakery Arts makes custom artisan cakes for any occasion, specializing in personalization, sculpting and deliciousness! I love to see my customers smile when they see what personal creation I made just for their celebration. It makes it all worth it!
Cakery Arts is health board approved and does all production in the kitchen of a local restaurant; Muninn’s Post, which recently opened downtown on Bernard.
All cakes, frostings and fillings are hand made from scratch. Cakery Arts has chosen to work with Satin Ice sugar paste products, which comes in a variety of flavours and colours.
I am 100% self-taught with more years baking experience than I care to mention. I am extremely passionate about cake artistry and look forward to serving the cake needs within the community.

Where can people find you or your business online?
www.cakeryarts.com

How do people connect with you on Linkedin?
Cindy Finnigan

Where can people find your business on Facebook?
CakeryArts

What is your Instagram account?
I am on Instagram and Pinterest: https://instagram.com/cakeryarts and https://www.pinterest.com/cakeryarts.

What is your mission?
Bringing a smile to the face of each client is the ultimate passion of Cakery Arts. Through the creation of fresh, from scratch, personalized artisan cakes for any celebration or event, our desire is to exceed our customers’ expectations through both visual satisfaction and delicious taste.

If you could achieve one thing within your field, what would it be?
I would love to be asked to make a cake for someone famous...and of course to have it published in a fabulous magazine!

Where do you want your business/organization to be in five years?
Cakery Arts is striving towards having a store front bake shop. I want to employ a small staff and provide them with an outstanding work environment. I think good coffee would be a must as well!

Who do you consider to be a forerunner within your field?
Shawna McGreevy if I include the world. Locally, it would have to be Tanya Garratt of Whisk Cake Company.

What three qualities do you feel that your business/organization exemplifies?
Imagination & Creativity
Good humour & Fun
Friendly, outstanding customer service

What would you like to say to your employees/volunteers?
Well right now that is my husband David and my son Josh. I would like to thank them for their continued support and encouragement as I worked to get Cakery Arts up and running! To my future employees I would say I can’t wait to meet you and welcome you to the family!

How does your business/organization impact the community?
I think that our life celebrations bring people together and part of that is enjoying good food. Kelowna is a place where people love to throw parties and wow their guests. Cakery Arts wants to build connections with families to create individualized creations to complete any family occasion.

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?
Arlene Dickinson for sure. I would ask her about social media, business growth and how she does all she does in those heels!
Martha Stewart. She is a strong creative force and is very driven. Plus, I would love to get an invite to her home and spend a day in her craft room and her garden!
Oprah. I know it is cliché, but I would enjoy it! I would want to talk to her about too many things to list.

If I could change one thing about Kelowna, it would be:
Summer Traffic!

What do you think makes Kelowna great?
There is something for everyone here. Our access to the outdoors all year for tons of different activities, whether you love the sun or the snow makes it a great home and destination. Kelowna’s Arts Community is thriving and supported by the locals. Also, I would have to raise a glass to the Okanagan Wine Industry and the Okanagan Wedding Industry for all the destination tourists they bring to help our community thrive.

My choice for the Kelowna In Focus spotlight is:
Ayn Lexi – Okanagan Outdoor Adventures

Some general comments I would like to share are:
If you aren’t happy, change it. Follow your passions and create your own kind of happiness! Life is too short to not. I want to thank Community Futures for giving me tracks for my train!

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!