Account Login/Registration

Access KelownaNow using your Facebook account, or by entering your information below.


Facebook


OR


Register

Privacy Policy

In Focus | Tenecia Richards

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?
Tenecia Richards.

Where are you from and how long have you lived in Kelowna?
I'm originally from Toronto, ON.

Who is your favourite person to spend time with and why?
My husband Sam and my son Churchill. I love spending time with my two guys making memories and new family traditions. They ground me. They remind me of my purpose and make me laugh uncontrollably. They’re my best friends.

If you could go anywhere in the world right at this moment where would you go and why?
Bora Bora!! I need a vacation, and the white sand beaches and clear sea water are calling me!

What is your favourite local store in Kelowna and why?
Can I choose two? I am in love with Bia Boro, downtown on Bernard Ave, and MAN + WOMAN, in Orchard Park Mall. I love the quality of the clothes in both stores. The textures, designs and styles they bring in can’t be found anywhere else. I love that! My husband used to own a men’s gift store downtown a few years ago and we really appreciate and understand the importance of shopping local.

What is your favourite activity?
Riding my cruiser bike with friends or family.

If you had to choose: pizza, tacos, or burgers?
Not a fair question! But, I guess burgers…mmmm, now I’m hungry.

What is a hidden gem you enjoy in the Okanagan?
Nelson BC, It’s not so hidden but is a small town that we love! We love the local shops, farmer’s market and artistry that fills the small town. It’s a great place to visit.

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?
Asking someone who wasn’t pregnant when they were due. I think we were both mortified, I will refrain from assuming someone is expecting ever again and just wait to be told.

What is the most inspiring thing that has happened to you?
Many people, things and moments inspire me. My husband inspires me all the time. His patience, work ethic, integrity and business know-how inspire me the most.

Tell us your favourite childhood memory.
My family owned a large cottage, in a small town in Quebec, that was situated on the lake. Many of my most fond childhood memories are of my summers there with family. There’s nothing more relaxing than being off the grid, in the woods listening to the loons cry and the lake washing up on the shore. There was no cable. Just an old VHS player, lots of fishing, wild raspberries to pick and always good company.

Where do you volunteer or give back to in the community?
We like to give back by donating clothes and jackets in good repair, to Inn from the Cold, and donating food items to the Food Bank. We also donate whenever possible to BC Children’s Hospital. As a mother, this is very important to me. I count my blessings all the time that we have yet to need their services and hold in my thoughts all those that do.

If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?
Racism/discrimination. It’s such a hurtful thing that has led to many unnecessary deaths, wars and other injustices.

What is your favourite activity in Kelowna?
Wine Touring.

Where would you sneak away to in Kelowna to spend some time alone?
Alone? Ha, I have a three-year-old, I don’t get to do much alone these days. Even when I do, it isn’t for very long or I end up doing housework, maybe I'd go to the library? It’s quiet there.

Where would you like to see positive change in Kelowna and why?
I would love it if more developers in Kelowna could find a way to build, market and sell single-family homes. There seems to be no middle ground for the home buyers in our city. You can either buy a brand new town house or an estate home, or look farther out of town. There isn't really much in the middle, unless you want to buy an older home and renovate. But even older homes are priced so high that it can make it difficult for single families to enter the market outside of a condo. As a home owner myself, I'm ready for more square footage, there aren't many options available to us. We are a family of three, we don't need an estate home, but also don't want to forgo the privacy, or yard space, that our two bedroom single-home has. Coming originally from Ontario where brand new subdivisions pop up and build three and four bedroom single family homes almost overnight, it seems strange to me, that this wouldn't be more common here in the city everyone wants to live in.

If you were granted one wish for work or in life, what would it be?
To win the lottery, how cliché.

Tell us something that not everyone may know about you.
My brother plays professional lacrosse in the NLL for the Buffalo Bandits. He has also played on Team Canada, winning Gold! I'm a Proud sister.

What is the name of your business/organization?
Beyond Learning.

What does your business do?
We are a Licensed Group Childcare Centre for children ages three to five. We offer an affordable, pre-elementary curriculum and full-day care programs to the children/families in our community.

Why did you get into/start this business?
I started this business because of my passion for the childcare field and my desire to provide our community with quality childcare. To be honest, despite my passion, I wasn’t always on board with opening a facility of my own after having become a mother and having found a position I loved as the manager within another fantastic centre here in town. However, the timing was right, and when the opportunity to build my lifelong dream, within The Forum building downtown, arose, my husband pushed, supported and encouraged me to take the opportunity. So here we are!

What is the goal of your business?
To provide families in our community with the best care possible for their children at an affordable rate, that also has quality programming and a qualified, friendly, approachable staff.

What has been your biggest struggle either in work or life?
Living so far away from our family. Coming originally from Ontario, most of our family still lives there, and it’s tough on the heart at times to raise our little guy so far away from them. Not to mention, not having our parents’ help with watching our son from time to time for date nights, or for Churchill to just spend quality time with them. We are out here, doing it on our own without a ton of support. It hasn’t always been easy, but it’s definitely been worth it!

If you could start all over again would you do things the same or would things be different?
I would do things the same. I don’t believe in having regrets, and although it is important to learn from your mistakes, you shouldn’t dwell on them. I wouldn’t be who, or where, I am without the good, and not so good, of the past.

Why do you think it is important to shop local?
I think it’s important to shop local because you’re directly supporting the livelihood of your neighbours and community members. Small businesses make our community great! They offer a uniqueness to our city that major box stores can’t.

Give someone that you think deserves it a shout out and explain why!
My husband Sam. Without him, I wouldn’t have many of the things I am most thankful for, including Beyond Learning. His love, support and encouragement mean the world to me! I also want to give Kylie Ralph, our first employee at Beyond Learning, a shoutout! Together we are the Dream Team! Thanks for taking a chance on working for a new company and your hard work every day!

My nomination for the In Focus spotlight is:
Laurel Kinnear, owner and founder of Botany Naturals, which is a local hemp and CBD oil infused beauty and spa product line.

Other information you would like to share:
KelownaNow is a wonderful local news platform and I love what it is doing for our community! If you or anyone you know is looking for an awesome, centrally located, childcare centre for your three to five year-old child, Beyond Learning is your answer!

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.



If you get value from KelownaNow and believe local independent media is important to our community we ask that you please consider subscribing to our daily newsletter.

If you appreciate what we do, we ask that you consider supporting our local independent news platform.


Weather
webcam icon

weather-icon
Fri
12℃

weather-icon
Sat
12℃

weather-icon
Sun
15℃

weather-icon
Mon
17℃

weather-icon
Tue
16℃

weather-icon
Wed
12℃

current feed webcam icon

Recent Livestream




Top Stories

Follow Us

Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Linkedin Follow us on Youtube Listen on Soundcloud Follow Our TikTok Feed Follow Our RSS Follow Our pinterest Feed
Follow Our Newsletter
Privacy Policy

Quick Links