In Focus | Diane Wiebe of Okanagan Natural Care Centre

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?
Diane Wiebe

What do you always find yourself saying?
How much better can it get? Every invite allows the universe to bring more of our potential to us. Why not move forward? Why live your life by your limitations instead of your potential? Just ask the question.

If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select and why?
At this moment I would answer Bill Clinton. In spite of his own personal struggles, which we all have, he has a grand vision for this planet. I’d like to hear more about how he sees that we can make changes in this world that support all humanity.

If you were to receive any existing public award, what award would you like to win?
It is more important to me to see the rewards of my work in my clients. I feel I win every day when clients tell me I have helped them change their lives.

If you could spend a day with any historical figure, who would you choose and why?
I would choose Gandhi because he was a man true to himself, firm in his commitment to the respectful treatment of all humans, without violence. To quote him: “To find truth completely is to realize oneself and one's destiny”. I say let's begin!

Who inspires you?
Ordinary people all around the world. I enjoy experiencing other cultures and finding a greater understanding of people. Travel has really contributed towards this for me. For example, children on a garbage heap can be happy to find a broken toy or a bit of food, yet we can be upset while we have everything we need and more. It inspires me to see more of the good in life when people with “nothing” can be joyful. Being joy-filled is a choice we make every moment of our lives.

What are three things on your bucket list?
I really just have one but it is a big one which is to see the world. I am working on it one country or area at a time. I just returned from Peru where I visited many ruins including Machu Picchu. I enjoy new experiences and cultures. It was very interesting to spend time on the floating islands of the Uros people on Lake Titicaca, a different lifestyle!

If you had an enormous yacht, what would you name it?
For Sale – with the funds I would do good deeds in this world, beginning with IWEN, a charitable foundation started in Kelowna that educates girls who would otherwise be sold into slavery in Nepal. Once children were being educated their mothers wanted to learn to read too. That inspired me to support their women’s literacy program. Educating women so they can read contracts has changed their lives and therefore mine too.

If you could foresee a single day of your future in its entirety, what date would you select?
My last day here on earth. I hope to look back and see where, without judgement, I could have done better. At the same time I would appreciate all that I accomplished and how my life impacted the lives of others. I would want to see how the events of my life unfolded to help me be the best that I could be.

What are you passionate about?
I am going to be a grandmother in the fall and I am very passionate about that! I am passionate about the work that I do. I love coming to work every day and helping people create what they want for and in their lives. We truly can be more of who we really are.

What has been your favourite day of your life, up to this point?
Without hesitation, the days that my children were born.

What has been your proudest accomplishment?
Raising children who as adults contribute to society and are good human beings. It is a blessing to have shared space and time as a family with them.

Where is your favourite place to dine in Kelowna? What do you like about it?
My family's very own dining table - my husband’s meals are superb and always meet my needs, tasty, wholesome, lots of variety, and nutritious.

What is your favourite activity or event in Kelowna? Why?
I appreciate when the Canadian Forces Snowbirds come, such a display of strength and power yet also finesse and accuracy – remarkable! Everyone is free to enjoy them and we have a most remarkable setting.

What is the name of your business/organization?
I have two: Okanagan Natural Care Centre and Your Last Diet Centre

What does your business/organization do?
Okanagan Natural Care Centre has been serving our clients, some of whom travel from Alberta and the Lower Mainland to come see us, as a multi-disciplinary, complementary health centre for 39 years. We are a team of accredited, experienced practitioners in a variety of fields whose skills and vast knowledge enable us to personalize the pathway to health for our clients. The services we offer are various kinds of massage, reflexology, kinesiology, iridology, bodytalk, clinical counselling, colon hydrotherapy, visceral manipulation, yuen, and access consciousness. We also carry a selection of products including bulk herbs and other items that can't be found in the health food stores.
At Your Last Diet Centre, we help people be the weight they want to be, first by achieving their weight goal and then helping them to maintain it. We follow the "Ideal protein weight loss method" but it is our coaching that makes the real difference. We have a proven record of outstanding long term results.

Where can people find you or your business online?
www.naturalcare.bc.ca and www.yourlastdietcentre.com

Where can people find your business on Facebook?
Okanagan Natural Care Centre

What is your mission?
We are here to inspire and support our clients to be their healthiest self, mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. We are here to help people be more expressive of who they really are. By that I mean if we lived in a conscious state I believe we would live with the intent not to harm ourselves or others. That alone would make a major change in our health. What if we would open the doors to being everything we have decided it is not possible to be? Imagine what that would lead to. The more we connect with our self, the more we are able to connect with others and our life turns into an expression of who we really are.

Where do you want your business/organization to be in five years?
I want it to have unfolded its potential. We do great work every day for our clients. We want for them to reach their potential. It is what I want for both of my businesses and myself.

Who do you consider to be a forerunner within your field?
My father, Harry Sukkau was. As a natural health practitioner in the early 70s he was a ground breaker. Many of our instructors were breaking trail, finding ways and then sharing them so we all could be healthy as naturally as possible. That was him.

What three qualities do you feel that your business/organization exemplifies?
Authenticity, genuine caring, commitment to whole health

What would you like to say to your employees/volunteers?
Thanks for carrying other parts of the vision. Each of us is not an island and although I find it hard to ask for help, others are very capable of doing things that I don’t excel at. So I am grateful for their contributions.

How does your business/organization impact the community?
Just like every ripple affects the whole pond, when we facilitate change with anyone it changes everything not only within their lives but also in the lives of those around them.

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?
They can be an expert in any field that doesn't involve bringing harm to people, animals or the planet, it makes no difference to me. I would ask them about how they are contributing to the world to make it a better place for all.

If I could change one thing about Kelowna, it would be:
That long weekends would start Friday at noon to reduce afternoon traffic tie ups.

What do you think makes Kelowna great?
So many things: Mountains, lakes, caring community, healthy places to shop and eat, good schools, fantastic people, good weather, airport. I could keep going.

My choice for the Kelowna In Focus spotlight is:
Ward and Heather Willison at All Body Care

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!