Presented by Kelowna's Chamber of Commerce and BDO, the "Top 40 Over 40" was created to showcase role models and champions within our community, and to encourage our future leaders. So, without further adieu, here are November's nominees!
Laurel is the CEO of Kelowna’s Women’s Enterprise Centre and works with women to start and grow their businesses. She has been working with individuals to maximize their potential in the Okanagan and beyond for 20 years.
I moved to Kelowna in the spring of 1997, so its been almost 20 years! The only other place I’ve lived for this long is Kitchener, Ontario, where I spent 21 years.
What is your favourite thing about this community?
For its size, Kelowna is extremely varied. I like the beautiful vistas from so many places in town and the trails along Mission Creek, to Paul’s Tomb and through Kalamoir Park. I think we have a beautiful balance of nature, agriculture and city.
If you could change one thing about Kelowna, what would it be?
I’d put sidewalks on all the streets around the Landmark buildings.
Who is your hero?
I really admired my mom. She had a chronic illness all her life, yet she was always wise, never complaining, very practical, and an inspiration for everyone who met her.
What are three things on your bucket list?
I’ve been fortunate to do a lot of cool things in my life. I hope to go to Hawaii someday. I’ve never been there. I’d also like to see the Grand Canyon, and do some hiking there. And I hope to live to be over 90!
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
I’d have to say that parenting my two kids, Connor and Caitlin, is the biggest accomplishment. I was a single parent for 7 years as they were growing up. It’s hard to balance work and family. Parenting is challenging and rewarding in ways that nothing else has been. I’m proud of both my kids. My youngest is in Grade 12, and the older one is in university.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
I used to have dreams of flying, and I really liked it. I also dreamt that I had stretchy legs that could go over a kilometer in one step. They were both very fun, so I can’t pick!
What is your favourite place to go out for dinner in Kelowna?
My husband Tom and I like to go to Micro and have a snack and a pint of Back Hand of God now and then. It’s great beer and a great venue. So is Raudz.
If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?
I would probably like to go to one of the places on my bucket list, with my family.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
Most people wouldn’t know that I recently celebrated a 50th anniversary! I met this girl, Joanne, in kindergarten, and we’ve been friends ever since. We promised each other that we would celebrate our 50th anniversary of being friends by going on a trip together. So at the end of September this year, we went on a week-long trip to San Diego. It was great fun! I highly recommend it. We hadn’t lived in the same town since we were 19 years old. But we had kept in touch over all the years.
Kathy is the director of advancement and fundraising at the Okanagan College Foundation. Though she started out as a marine biologist, she has moved into a career in professional fundraising and has brought in $25 million over her career with the college.
How long have you lived in Kelowna?
I moved to Kelowna from Vancouver in 1984, so that makes it 32 years that I have lived in Kelowna.
I love the lake, especially getting out on a warm summer evening in my kayak. I also love the Farmer’s Market. But as a community, I love that it has grown into a larger city while still retaining a small town feel and connectivity. It is also a very generous community.
If you could change one thing about Kelowna, what would it be?
I am discouraged and saddened by the growth of homelessness and the apparent lack of support for those with mental health issues in the city. With so many other beautiful attributes, this is a sore for our community.
Who is your hero?
Not so much one who but a collection of heroes – Rotary and Rotarians. I have been a Rotarian since 1993 and have seen this organization do so many good things both locally and internationally.
What are three things on your bucket list?
I would like to go to Kenya to work on a Rotary project to enhance maternal and child health there.
I would like to raise the bar of understanding and knowledge by teaching others about fundraising.
I would like to get to know Canada better through more travel and experiences.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Being a parent has been one of the most satisfying and joyful experiences of my life. Becoming a professional fundraiser and obtaining my Master’s degree in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Development in 2016 feels like a great accomplishment (especially for a student over 40!)
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
The power to alleviate poverty.
What is your favourite place to go out for dinner in Kelowna?
Well Infusions Restaurant (Culinary School) at Okanagan College, of course!
If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?
On this rainy cold day, the fabulous beach at Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii appeals to me.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
I try to play the Celtic harp, my favourite instrument.
Devin is a professor of business at Okanagan College and the sailing director and general manager at the Central Okanagan Sailing Association. He champions young people, and finds the learning goes both ways.
39 years.
From a family perspective, Kelowna offers us everything we could ever want. Great recreation, social, education and cultural opportunities that rival any city in Canada. But the best part of Kelowna is the people, the sense of community and our friends who bring value to our lives.
Increasingly, I worry about water quality and quantity, and how Okanagan Lake is being impacted by so many different users. Zebra or quagga mussels is just one of many factors that could have a significant influence on our lake. Powerboat usage and uneducated boaters sometimes make the lake less enjoyable than it should be. Okanagan Lake is an important resource that needs constant protection.
My parents have been fabulous role models for sure. I am also inspired daily by my students and employees who despite challenges in their own lives, work tirelessly to positively impact the lives of others in our community. I see heroism in the actions of many of the people I know. Going out of your way to make someone’s day a little better can be heroic.
1. Watch an English Premier League or FIFA World Cup soccer game on site.
2. Travel to Europe or Asia with my family to teach at one of OC’s partner universities.
3. Yoga. Someday I’m going to find time to learn how to stretch properly.
I’m very proud of my sons, and the men they are growing up to be. I also take pride in the Enactus Okanagan College students I work with every day, and the amazing things these young leaders are accomplishing. CANsave and Silver Surfers are just two of the many innovative and impactful programs Enactus students have created in the past year. Working with the students as they develop and implement new projects is immensely rewarding.
I would love access to Hermione’s Time-Turner from the Harry Potter series. Having the ability to jump back in time and effectively extend the day by several hours would be of immediate use right now! #HermioneGrangerRocks
As a family, we often like to go for sushi to restaurants like Ozeki’s. I’m a big fan of RauDZ and its accompanying drinking stop “micro.” And I’ll dine anywhere that serves a great spicy Caesar. .
Japan. I would love for my family to experience autumn in Kyoto, or in the spring, to be part of the Cherry Blossom Festival.
I love giving gifts (and compliments), but am not very good at receiving them. The same goes with nominating people for awards – I like doing the nominating, but am fairly crummy at receiving recognition. That makes this whole experience pretty darn awkward!
Dr. Mandy Wong is the medical director of the accredited non-hospital surgical centre in Restore Vein & Skin Centre.She is also passionate about teaching, and is an associate clinical professor for UBC’s Southern Medical School.
How long have you lived in Kelowna?
I had the good fortune to move to Kelowna 21 years ago from Edmonton (a great place to be from).
I love the size of the community. It has the feel of a smaller city with amenities of a larger city. My patient population was definitely different that it was in Edmonton, with a lot more seniors, but this is the most vital and active population of seniors I have ever worked with.
I would love it if we could keep our great city a secret so it doesn’t grow too fast.
I have to say my mom is my hero. Growing up, although I loved my mom, I remember thinking that I did not want to be like her when I grew up (she was strict!). However, after having three kids and a career, I admire her more and more and want to be more like her. She phoned me to let me know at the age of 72 that she put a snow blower together all by herself!
I would really, really like to make all the balls around a waterski course at least once in my life.
A river cruise through China with my family is definitely on the list. We spent a month in Beijing when I was doing some training in traditional Chinese medicine, but there are so many amazing places we didn’t get to.
I would love to go to Asia and train in a cooking school. Making authentic Peking duck is a definite goal of mine.
Completing my Masters in Medicine in the field of Skin Cancer and then building a new practice with skin cancer diagnosis and treatment, varicose vein treatment and cosmetic medicine as the backbone is likely the highlight of my career. I am most thankful for my husband and children who have put up with the long hours spent towards achieving this.
I wish I had the ability to fit 36 hours into one day.
What is your favourite place to go out for dinner in Kelowna?
One of our best friends is the owner of Basil & Mint, and I may be biased, but I do love the atmosphere and the food. Chef Peter is amazing. Raudz is also a definite favourite.
If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?
With all the travelling I have been doing for meetings and conferences, there’s nowhere like home.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
I love to cook and bake – so much that I opened a café and did catering for three years about ten years ago. I would do medicine by day and bake by night. We also did catering for up to 500 people. When it became more like work than fun, I sold the café. Kudos to restaurant and café owners – it is really hard work!
Bruce is the owner, president and general manager of the Kelowna Rockets.
Since 1995 … 21 Years
Climate and size.
Make Highway 97 twice as wide.
My older brother Lyle.
What are three things on your bucket list?
Enjoying life to the fullest.
That our business is still strong.
Superman
What is your favourite place to go out for dinner in Kelowna?
La Bussola
Hawaii
That I am a pretty private person.
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