In Focus | Stuart Lang

Meet Stuart. Stuart is Okanagan born & raised! He loves to support local and is passionate about bringing the community together. He created Smile Cycle Tours with the idea of touring some of the downtown local businesses but with a unique touring vehicle that holds up to 15 friends. There's no doubt this tour will put a smile on your face!


Where are you from and how long have you lived in Kelowna?
Born and raised in Kelowna - left in 2008, returned in 2016.

Who is your favourite person to spend time with and why?
My fiancee, Marissa. She never fails to make me smile. She, in part, inspired the name of my business.

What is your favourite local store in Kelowna and why?
That's a tough one. I proudly support and refer to many local retailers. Naming one would be unfair as they're unique and successful due to hard work and persistence in their own ways. I will say, as a community, we support our own extremely well.

Describe yourself in one word.
Resilient.

If you could go anywhere in the world right at this moment where would you go and why?
Would go to Europe to visit my youth exchange host families in Switzerland and Germany. Both exchanges helped broaden my perspective and inspired my current business Smile Cycle Tours.


What is your favourite activity in Kelowna?
That's a no brainer! An afternoon aboard a Smile Cycle Tours pedal cruise, although you could say I'm a little biased.

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?
At a networking event, I introduced two individuals who did not know each other by calling them both by their wrong names. Needless to say, it was awkward when the first corrected me, painful when both did. Talk about a botched effort to be polite.

What is the most inspiring thing that has happened to you?
Walking a victory lap at Relay for Life in City Park with my brother after he beat a rare form of cancer in his early 20s.

Tell us your favourite childhood memory.
Time outdoors exploring and family days spent at local activities. To mention a few: running amok at Flintstone's, the slide at Old MacDonald's Farm, the outrageously fun tube ride at Mariner's Reef, fun-filled paintball at Safari Ridge, putt-ing the 18th hole at Scandia Golf and Games, learning to ski between my father's legs at Big White and having my mom slather on sunscreen on our entire family at hot sands beach at City Park.


Where do you volunteer or give back to in the community?
When I was younger, the Kelowna Sunrise Rotary Club sponsored my exchange abroad to a small town called Schleswig, in northern Germany. Today, I'm a member of that same club, which meets every Friday for a breakfast meeting. Our 85+ member club raises funds through its annual major non-profit event (Ribfest), club member donations, and many other local fundraising activities. On a global level, the 1.2 million strong member network works to promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water, save mothers and children, support education, and grow local developing economies that enhance community development. On a local level, our club invests in initiatives to better our community, such as Joanna's House. Contact me if you're interested in joining!

If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?
Create and implement a free, quality vetted, online education system. Like Wikipedia, but organized as courses, across many languages, for continuing education. The major challenge is accessibility and cost.

Where would you sneak away to in Kelowna to spend some time alone?
In high school, I trained for Cross Country running at Mission Creek Park. There are some great rolling trails hidden in the heart of our city.

Where would you like to see positive change in Kelowna and why?
Kelowna is transforming its downtown, encouraging new business and growing at a rate near the top of the province in percentage terms as per Census 2016. As a city that grows and thinks ahead to its future, I would like to see us continue to focus on our humble roots by highlighting our past in new and innovative ways. From the graphics on our traffic control boxes on Bernard Avenue, renewed focus on our historical Father Pandosy Mission area, newly refreshed exhibits at the Downtown Kelowna museum and serene Kasugai Japanese gardens, to the Paramount sign, it's easy to find significant tributes to Kelowna's past around us. Let's continue to imagine ways we can honour our past.

What do you think makes Kelowna great?
It's people. The obvious answer is our four seasons playground climate, however, it's the collective community that makes it a desirable place to call home and to do business.


What are 3 things on your bucket list?
Not a person for bucket lists. I believe that being content in the present moment is the essential ingredient to happiness, however, if I had to choose three things:
- Swim across Okanagan Lake at its widest part from Peachland to Rattlesnake Island
- Locate Ogopogo
- Drive across Canada (telling the story of how I located Ogopogo)

Tell us something that not everyone may know about you.
I also speak French and German. Shoutout to my teachers at Lakeview Heights Elementary, KLO Middle, and KSS for your hard work and support.

How do people connect with you, personally, through social media? (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.)
@langstu

What is the name of your business/organization?
Smile Cycle Tours


Why did you get into/start this business?
I believed Kelowna needed a high quality, fun-filled downtown city tour that highlighted local businesses and points of interest from the perspective of a local. Kudos to my father for the (long) history lessons. Love you Dad.

What is the goal of your business?
Our two-hour tour is a break from the hustle of regular life. It gives groups a chance to celebrate or build camaraderie. No two tours are the same because, like the city, it's the people that make the experience.

What has been your biggest struggle either at work or in life?
Balancing an intensive seasonal business with family, social, and volunteer commitments. Sometimes I wish I could be in two places at once.

If you could start all over again would you do things the same or would things be different?
Same. To quote Miley Cyrus, it's the "Climb". Celebrate highs and rally through lows. Though, since you asked, if you changed the past, how could you predict its future consequences. For a thought inducing read, look up the "Grandfather Paradox".

What do you always find yourself saying?
"There are successes and there are lessons."


Tell us your best piece of life advice.
"Feel the fear and do it anyway."

If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select?
I would enjoy hearing Bill Gates' perspective on balancing life, industry, and his commitment to volunteerism.

Why do you think it is important to shop locally?
Shopping locally supports your neighbour. I think of it as a direct investment in the community. Keeping funds in Kelowna means an improved Kelowna, as the wealth stays in our city rather than leaving to outside corporations.

What has been your proudest accomplishment?
Having someone recommend Smile Cycle Tours to me as a must do activity, without realizing I was the owner.


Give someone you think that deserves it a shout out and explain why!
Our tours guides, as they are the integral lifeblood of our business. They are unique in their own ways and carry on delighting visitors and locals alike.

My choice for the KelownaNow In Focus spotlight is:
Jillian Harris or Shay Merritt

Some general comments I would like to share are:
No matter how far you go in life, never forget where you came from.

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.

In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition of the people, businesses, and organizations that help make our city great. Thank you, Kelowna!