From Main Stage to photos with Santa, a new website for Festival of Lights covers everything locals and visitors alike need to know about this year’s festival on Nov. 29. Visit www.summerlandlightup.com to learn more and enter a great contest.
New members
The Chamber of Commerce welcomes the following new members: Capri Insurance, Keystone Property Inspections, Mountaintop Coaching, Okanagan Christmas Lights (Christmas light installation), RhoWan Homecare, and Verico Premium Mortgages and Financial.
Wine Walk and Shop
Shopping local will have an added enticement on Thursday, Dec. 5, from 4 to 8 p.m., when downtown retailers SASS Boutique, True Grain Bread and Cherry Tree Quilts, will have members of the Bottleneck Drive Winery Association offering tastings at each location. This is a perfect way to get some Christmas shopping done and choose your favourite wines for the holidays.
Women in business
Di Owens of Beauty and the Brit has started a new networking group for Summerland business women. “Women who Mean Business” held its first event last week. Inspired by Penticton Women in Business events, Di says that through the group she hopes to promote entrepreneurship and encourage shopping local. She runs the group through Facebook, and it is free to join.
On the move
Pro-Active Safety System Technologies Inc has moved to their new premises at 9303 Peach Orchard Rd., and welcomed Janet Campbell to their administration staff.
Agur Lake Camp Society is opening a new office downtown at 9913 Main St. at the end of the month. The new location will make it easier for the society to connect with the community.
New ownership
Giant’s Head Automotive has been purchased by Jeffrey Schmidt.
Jeffrey has been a mechanic for 15 years and has taken over ownership from Sean and Colleen Greenwood who owned the company for 16 years.
They have also stayed on to help out.
Orchardists win competition
Orchardists Billy and Shawna Boerboom of the Apple Barn won the top spot at the National Apple Competition at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto this month. Steve Brown of Happy Valley Harvest came second for his Gala apples, and Tom Kinvig of Summerland Heritage Cider Company took home the prize of best Salish apple. Devin and Janine Jell of Sun-Oka Fruit Farms won two firsts for their Ambrosia and Aurora Golden Galas and second place for their collection of five varieties.
Expansion
Following the launch of Maple Roch last summer, owner Roch Fortin says they will be doubling their production of maple syrup, which is shipped from the Acadian Peninsula of New Brunswick and bottled at Summerland Sweets. Roch says his goal is to have locally bottled, high quality maple syrup available around the Okanagan Valley.
Apple news
Okanagan Specialty Fruits has announced that the final U.S. public comment period has opened regarding their nonbrowning Arctic apples. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has recommended that Arctic Golden and Arctic Granny varieties should be granted non-regulated status. Okanagan Specialty Fruits hopes the USDA will deregulate Arctic apples by early 2014.
Anniversaries
The Alternative Natural Health Centre Inc. on Kelly Street celebrated 16 years of business in Summerland on Oct. 31. The company is run by husband and wife team Rob and Janice Windrum, and serves clients from around B.C. and as far away as the US.
Financial Advisor Chantelle Meriam is celebrating seven years with Edward Jones in Summerland. To mark the occasion, Chantelle is hosting an open house at her office located in the Sungate Plaza near Nesters Market on Nov. 29 from 4 to 7 p.m.
Cherry Tree Quilts celebrated its one-year anniversary last week, and what a year it has been. The shop recently expanded and owner Barbara Gillespie says the response to their new classes has been overwhelming.
Sophia Jackson is the membership services and events coordinator for the Summerland Chamber of Commerce. Share your positive business buzz by emailing membership@summerlandchamber.com