Meet Tamara McLellan. Tamara is a prairie girl who has lived in Kelowna since 2012. She is an avid reader who loves to spend time with those who mean most to her!
Who is your favourite person to spend time with and why?
My adventurous toddler, Onyx.
What is your favourite local store in Kelowna and why?
Mosaic Books, because BOOKS!
Describe yourself in one word.
Whimsical.
If you could go anywhere in the world right at this moment where would you go and why?
One Square Inch of Silence in Washington.
What is your favourite activity in Kelowna?
Walking in the woods in and around this majestic city.
What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?
I walked into a pole because I was looking and talking to someone behind me.
What is the most inspiring thing that has happened to you?
Myself and another woman from Her International share the position of Co-Executive Directors of this phenomenal charity that works to empower women and girls through education.
Tell us your favourite childhood memory.
The time that my parents and I were on a hike and we were close to the mouth of a spring, so they let me drink right from the stream. It was a crystal moment when I realized where water truly came from and how precious it is.
Where do you volunteer or give back to in the community?
Currently, I do most of my work with the charity Her International and our sisters at HOPE Outreach who support homeless and exploited women living in the Okanagan. I dropped clothes off at Kelowna Women's Shelter's Thrift Store this week and spoke at the Dream Project for Karis Support Society last week. There are so many amazing causes in this community.
If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?
The state of our environment.
Where would you sneak away to in Kelowna to spend some time alone?
Oh, I have my tree that I go to see.
Where would you like to see positive change in Kelowna and why?
I think there is a great disparity that exists in our beautiful town. We live with some of the freshest resources, the most beautiful scenery, and the most money, yet we have unhappy people. People who are tethered by shoulds. It's my greatest hope that people can start to connect with themselves first, to become their own leaders and heroes, and then to come into a place where they can find what brings them alive. If everyone in Kelowna found their own unique thing that brings them alive and poured their passion into it; if we had a city where we spent more time BEing than DOing, that would be pretty cool. The quality of life would be out of this world.
What are 3 things on your bucket list?
1. Hike to the One Square Inch of Silence.
2. Write a book.
3. Visit Scotland with my parents.
What is the name of your business/organization?
Unako (social initiative run by Her International).
Why did you get into/start this business?
Unako was developed by Michelle Bonneau, Founder of Her International, and her supports places like Linda Edgecombe, to create jobs for women we work with in Nepal and to create a sustainable revenue stream for the charity.
What is the goal of your business?
To create self-efficacy for village women in Dang, Nepal.
What has been your biggest struggle either at work or in life?
We are struggling with the distribution of our products.
If you could start all over again would you do things the same or would things be different?
We would do things the same, but it is time to sell the products we have created and to innovate with new products so we can employ more women in Nepal.
What do you always find yourself saying?
Let your DOing come from your BEing.
Tell us your best piece of life advice.
Find a practice that brings you home and do it daily.
If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select?
My grandma.
Why do you think it is important to shop locally?
While we sell artisan products, we know the role of purchasing local and how it helps the environment, the artisans in our own community, and the local economy. We have our products in Independent Grocers and Globally Fair, two amazing stores.
What has been your proudest accomplishment?
The work over the past year with this charity has been like one huge accomplishment. Every day that we get to do work for people who need it, makes me feel proud.
Give someone you think that deserves it a shout out and explain why!
Angie Lohr is a woman who does amazing things for this community and I look up to her in many ways for the work, resilience, and heart that she has.
My choice for the KelownaNow In Focus spotlight is:
Angie Lohr.
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