The Chamber is pleased to welcome five new members in January.
Mark Verhelst moved his company, Mojave Consulting Group Ltd., from Alberta to Summerland to offer his business consulting services assisting companies to implement new business processes and software.
At the beginning of the year, Andrew Spear set up shop as Red Stag Contracting to help with all your general contracting needs while Brian Simpson opened Happy Valley Renovations at the end of 2015 to service your construction needs.
Following on the home front, Deborah Moore is the new owner of Remax Orchard Country taking over the business from Patrick Murphy, who will still be on hand as one of six experienced realtors. At Soleil Tanning Summerland previous owners Carling and Brenda Burhcell sold their business at the end of December to Paul Dubeau, who relaunched the tanning salon on January 11.
New images
Photographer John Barber has re-branded Okanagan Digital Photography to Linkage Photo. The name change, accompanied by a new website, better reflects his goals to deliver digital, web-friendly images, as well as web design.
Prairie Valley Lodge has launched their new, fresh web site to reflect the facility’s recent renovations and better represent life at the lodge. This helps support their aim to create an atmosphere of vitality and a positive environment where seniors can thrive.
Creative videos
Artist Will Enns has developed a fun, new video as an entertaining way of promoting his work. The video is a tongue in cheek look at him “working” in his studio with the use of no brushes, no palette knives, and a paint mixer like you have not seen before. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XZzGKzFRoU&feature=youtu.be
The latest video from the Summerland Waterfront Resort Hotel & Spa celebrates the flavours and sights of fall in Summerland with wine tours, beachfront bonfires, and fireside luxury.
https://youtu.be/tMuVat2QXyY
Winery
partnership
One of Vancouver’s biggest chefs, Vikram Vij, has teamed up with Okanagan Crush Pad to develop a new hand-crafted gin.
Vij’s Bolly Water is a gin made in collaboration with Okanagan Crush Pad winemaker & distiller Matt Dumayne and Jay Jones of Vij’s restaurant.
‘The Bolly Water’ is a grape-based spirit designed in the classic London Dry style with juniper berries creating the essential core of flavour, which is complemented by vibrant citrus character and additional select spices — ingredients unique to this creation.
The new gin is available at Vij’s in Vancouver or by ordering direct from Okanagan Crush Pad.
Renovations
Santorini’s Family Restaurant re-opened on Jan. 2 after finishing its renovations. Located in the heart of Summerland, the new décor reflects the warm and welcoming atmosphere of a neighbourhood hotspot that has been serving customers since 1991.
In December, Back In Line Physiotherapy and Pro Physio Clinic opened their new space at 102-13204 Kelly Ave.
The therapists offer many services including manual and sports therapy, acupuncture, athletic taping, clinical Pilates, posture assessment and concussion rehabilitation.
New lab
This week Cordillera Consulting, an independent laboratory that specializes in freshwater benthic invertebrates, held an open house in their new space to provide insight into their services.
The company moved from their old quarters on Main Street in the spring of 2015 to a more spacious and functional ground floor space on Henry Avenue.
Now, after several months of fine tuning, they are settled into their larger working space where they have greater flexibility to conduct their analyses.
Credit Union changes
After almost 28 years at the Summerland Credit Union Herlinda Burt has retired. Herlinda started her career as a part-time teller before progressing through several positions until becoming the Manager of Human Resources and Marketing.
Burt gave her notice in June so that the Credit Union had time to replace her.
Kelly Marshall, CEO of the SCDU and President of the Summerland Chamber, recently became a graduate of the Institute of Corporate Directors, the community for directors in Canada.
The Institute facilitates the sharing of wisdom and knowledge in order to achieve the highest standard of directorship.
Farmers
give back
Neal and Louisa Carter, who farm more than 60 acres on their property, recently donated $250,000 to the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation. Neal and Louisa’s donation was made possible by the sale of their company, Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc., where they remain on the company’s board as CEO and CFO respectively.
The Carters will continue to work on the farm in Summerland, but main farm operations will be handled by their son, Joel, and nephew, Neal.
Health and
wellness
The Summerland Reflexology and Health Centre has been growing recently.
Last year Beauty and the Brit and Tanya Graham Art moved into the space on Henry Avenue making the centre a hub for health, beauty, and wellness.
This February they will be welcoming a new therapist, who will provide laser therapy treatments for fibromyalgia.
The group, along with several other health practitioners, will also be launching a new Healthy Living Fair.
The Fair will be held at the Summerland Library on Feb. 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., providing an insight into the Centre’s work through mini health sessions.
The fair will run again in March, with the long-term goal being to present a monthly event.
Long service
Congratulations to James Fofonoff of Summerset Massage Therapy, who celebrated over two decades in business at the end of 2015.
James has now been running his massage practice in Summerland for 22 years.
Business Award nominees
The Nominees Reception on Thursday, Jan. 28 was a free community event sponsored by Nesters Market – Summerland to honour all of this year’s Business and Community Excellence Award nominees.
Finalists were chosen for each category on Feb. 1 with voting beginning Feb. 3.
The awards will be presented on Saturday, Feb. 27 at the Summerland Waterfront Resort.
Vicky Jones is the communications and membership coordinator with the Summerland Chamber of Commerce.