Photo: Contributed
Cadence Lesack

A George Elliot Secondary School student claimed top honours earlier this month during the Innovation Generation Challenge.

The event brought together School District 23’s best and brightest entrepreneurial students, who presented their business ideas to a panel of judges at Kelowna’s Innovation Centre. Taking top spot and the $2,500 first prize was George Elliot student Cadence Lesack for her EquiGuard product, which is a breakaway halter for horses designed for lunging and walking.

She emerged victorious from more than 500 students and 200 teams across Central Okanagan Public Schools who took part in the competition, which is also known as iGen.

“With over 90% of the employers in the Central Okanagan being small businesses or entrepreneurs, iGen’s fostering of youth innovation makes this a critical program for our communities,” SD23 superintendent Kevin Kaardal said in a press release.

“We are grateful for the many business mentors, business education teachers and generous community donors who have grown iGen into one of the largest entrepreneurial business education programs in the province.”

Kelowna Secondary School’s Oden Ransom and Marcus Kuhn grabbed second place and $2,000 for their business, Gutters & Shutters, while third place and $1,250 was awarded to Lily Timms of George Elliot for her business, Red Thread Spice Co.

The other five finalists, who each claimed $500, were Rutland’s Ryleigh Matewish for Crazy Cookies, Mount Boucherie’s Jackson Jobe for Trailside Outdoor Co., Okanagan Mission’s Kevin Kim for 2K Photography, Mount Boucherie’s Sebastian Verbickas for Muscle Mallows and Rutland’s Tanav Goel and Yuvraj Dosanjh for Slate.

Photo: Velocity Truck Centre

Kelowna’s newest state-of-the-art truck centre is now open.

Velocity Truck Centres held a grand opening on Friday morning for its latest facility, which is located at 6320 Lapointe Dr., near Kelowna International Airport.

The company consists of 18 commercial truck dealerships across B.C. and Alberta. It provides services for truck owners and operators, offering new and used truck sales, parts, service, collision repair and financing.

The 41,000 square-foot Kelowna building features several sustainable innovations as well, including a dedicated hydrogen-compressed natural gas service bay and electrical vehicle charging infrastructure in an effort to support the growing shift toward clean transportation.

“This grand opening is more than just a new facility—it’s a testament to our dedication to innovation, sustainability and the success of our customers in all they do,” Velocity Truck Centres Canada president Tant Boothman said in a February press release. “We are excited to welcome our customers, partners and community members to experience our industry-leading services and advanced capabilities.”

The new business also boasts a customer lounge and staging area, and an expanded parts warehouse.

Photo: Instagram

Beverage lovers can enjoy discounted cider at Lass Chance Beverage Co.’s grand opening this weekend.

On Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., visitors can enjoy on-site entertainment from Second Cousin and a deal on cider cases at 601 Keremeos Bypass Rd.

From noon to 5 p.m., the beverage company will be serving up a smash burger and cider special.

Lass Chance is a family-based farm and beverage company selling ciders and fruit sodas.

Photo: Castanet

Vernon Farmers’ Market is officially launching a Saturday operation in a new location off city property.

A few months after VFM told Castanet it was looking for new locations amid rising city costs, the market has found a new location for a brand new day. The traditional Monday and Thursday markets will still be held at Kal Tire Place.

Laurel Fredin is on the farmers’ market board and sells as a vendor. She said new Saturday markets will be held at the Kal Tire administration building at 1540 Kalamalka Rd., by BNA Brewing.

“(Kal Tire is) not charging us,” Fredin said. “The drop in cost for vendors is a lot lower than our regular Monday and Thursday, because we don’t have to pay the crazy parking lot fees that the city charges us.”

Fredin said the non-profit still has costs to put on markets, like renting washrooms and paying staff, but the reduction in fees is a big help to reducing costs for vendors.

The Saturday markets kick off tomorrow (June 21) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The current plan is to run markets every Saturday until Sept. 27.

Fredin said the board decided to launch “satellite markets” on Saturdays so that people who work Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. can attend.

“We hear from a lot of people all the time that they would love a weekend market. So I’m hopeful that this is well supported and that people show up,” Fredin said.

Nearby areas like Kelowna and Armstrong have their own well-established markets, and Fredin is hoping people will be willing to support the Saturday market here.

Photo: Contributed

After more than 15 years at the corner of Bernard Avenue and Ellis Street, Lakehouse Home Store is closing its original ground-floor space and shifting all operations to the second floor, where it will now operate alongside the Lakehouse Kitchen’s Cooking School.

According to a representative from the business, the move comes as founders Ben and Sue Boschman prepare to ease into retirement.

“We’re proud of what we’ve built and confident that the next generation will carry the brand forward with creativity and care,” Ben Boschman said.

Lakehouse first opened its doors in the fall of 2011.

While the timing of the move is personal for the Boschmans, they acknowledge that recent challenges have also played a role in the decision, including the 2023 wildfires and ongoing economic pressures.

“We believe wholeheartedly in the future of downtown Kelowna,” Sue Boschman said.

The first floor will close permanently on Tuesday, June 24, to make way for a new business.

Details about the future tenant have not yet been announced.

Lakehouse will be closed this Sunday to complete the transition to the upper level.

Photo: Contributed
YMCA volunteer Jill Seibert, left, and YMCA employee Kaitlyn Hilder, right, present the Shining Star Award to Maria Teresa Jimenez.

YMCA of Southern Interior BC celebrated its past and elected a new leadership team at its recent annual general meeting.

The organization honoured long-term staff members and also came up with a new board of directors that will serve for at least the next year.

Accelerate Okanagan CEO Brea Lake was re-elected as board chairwoman, while board members renewing their terms were treasurer Kyla Magee and directors Julia Buck, Manik Dhir and Kwame Boateng. Long-time directors Steven Morrison, Michelle Cook and Erin Strong were re-elected for another two-year term, and Allan Neilson, Lisa Lock, Sinead Scanlon and Patrick Ng were newly appointed.

Longtime board member and former chairman Dave Bond stepped down after eight years of service, while Rod Gibbings also resigned after eight years. Craig Folvick also completed his term after serving on the board for four years.

Maria Teresa Jimenez, who has volunteered for more than 40 years, was awarded the Shining Star Award, while Sargam Yadav received the Bright Light Award as the top young upcoming volunteer. Finally, Nora Ward took home the Sparkle Award for her significant time contributions to the organization.

Photo: Contributed

Average asking rent prices in the Central Okanagan increased in both major categories last month.

According to data taken from Castanet Classifieds, the one-bedroom rent price jumped more than $100 from April to May, checking in at $1,711. That came after two months of decreases.

The two-bedroom asking rent price rose for the second straight month, but the increase was less dramatic. It jumped just $29 from April to May, with an average price of $2,292.

The data came from 41 one-bedroom and 72 two-bedroom listings in Castanet Classifieds.

When compared to last year at this time, the difference between the one- and two-bedroom marks is striking. Last May’s one-bedroom mark was just $1,582, which is more than $100 less than this year. The two-bedroom average last May, meanwhile, was a record $2,469, nearly $200 more than it is this year.

The latest National Rent Report by Rentals.ca and Urbanation Inc. showed the average national price of a one-bedroom rental unit in Canada decreased 3.6% from May 2024 to $1,857 in May 2025. Meanwhile, the average price of a two-bedroom unit decreased 4.6% year over year to $2,225.

Photo: Sarah Crookall

Osoyoos is focusing on welcoming United States tourists as part of an ongoing national response to strained U.S.-Canada relations.

On June 11, the Border Mayors Alliance, which Osoyoos Mayor Sue McKortoff is a part of, saw a presentation from an Ottawa-based tourism company.

“The speaker encouraged all of us to be welcoming to Americans and continue to look at ways that we can host tourists from many countries,” McKortoff said in an email.

“Osoyoos is a resort municipality, so tourism is our biggest economic driver.”

McKortoff added that Osoyoos works with the province to enhance tourism in the border town.

The Town of Osoyoos will continue broadening its tourism efforts as part of its business strategy as a border town, including having upcoming discussions with the Canada Border Services Agency.

The town will hear a presentation from CBSA chief Melinda Medland during a committee of the whole meeting next week.

Photo: Castanet

The City of Kelowna spent more than $115.1 million on staff wages in 2024, an increase of $14.5 million—or nearly 15%—over the previous year.

Figures released for Monday’s council meeting show the city spent $114.6 million on staff wages and another $520,000 on council remuneration.

When benefits are factored in, the total cost to taxpayers reached $134.49 million.

A City of Kelowna staff report says the nearly 15% jump in city payroll can be attributed to “contract and staffing rate increases along with retroactive payments during the year.”

“The growth in staffing level, which supports the current and improved services for an expanding city, also added to this increase,” the report says.

The annual report, published each year as a requirement of the community charter, breaks down all employees who earn more than $75,000 annually and all suppliers who billed the city for more than $25,000 during the calendar year.

It shows 755 employees, including management, CUPE and firefighters, surpassed the $75,000 threshold, an increase of 105 over 2023 figures. That includes 202 management employees, 147 firefighters and 406 members of CUPE.

In fact, 109 management staff members earned better than $100,000, with eight of those taking home more than $200,000 annually.

City manager Doug Gilchrist tops that list, taking home more than $355,000 in 2024 plus more than $6,000 related to deployment in the emergency operations centre.

The rest of the top 10 wage earners include:

• Sam Samaddar, airport CEO – $253,000
• Mac Logan, infrastructure GM – $243,000
• Stu Leatherdale, people and protective services GM – $232,000
• Ryan Smith, development services director – $231,000
• Joe Sass, corporate services general manager – $231,000
• Jim Gabriel, active living and culture divisional director – $221,000
• Derek Edstrom, partnerships and investments divisional director – $220,000
• Micah Volk, platoon captain – $202,000
• Dwight Seymour, fire chief – $195,000

The report also shows the city paid out more than $590 million in goods and services.

That includes more than $185 million transferred to the federal and provincial governments, regional district and the Central Okanagan regional hospital.

Another $13 million went to pay Kelowna’s share of the regional transit system, with another $7.8 million for the Okanagan Regional Library system.

In 1995, the Kelowna Farmers’ & Crafters’ Market was located downtown and looked a lot different than it does today.

“Just five vendors started this market,” market co-ordinator Frances Callaghan said. “And as the years grow, more and more farmers needed a place to sell their fresh fruit and vegetables, so they started coming into the market.

“Then the artisans joined us. So every year the market just kept growing a little, by little, by little.”

Callaghan said the market didn’t stay downtown for long, moving to an empty lot next to Orchard Park Shopping Centre for several years before it found a new home in the Landmark District last year.

The market will be throwing a 30th anniversary party on Saturday. It will open with a blessing and speeches from local dignitaries.

“We will have balloons, we will have cake, we will be having bagpipes being played, we’ll have bouncy castles, music,” Callaghan said. “We’ve got a party planned for the city of Kelowna to say thank you for supporting our market for 30 years.”

Callaghan has definitely noticed a change in local shopping habits in recent years.

“I think people are starting to realize in our economy now and with what’s happening in the world, they’re starting to realize what’s already in their backyard that they’ve missed,” Callaghan said.

“Now they’re actually seeing that they can spend their dollars and keep their dollars in their community without it going outside their community. You’re supporting each other. You’re supporting small businesses.”

The Kelowna Farmers’ & Crafters’ Market takes place Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Landmark District from April through October. There’s also a satellite summer market in Kerry Park downtown on Sundays. In the winter, the market moves indoors to Parkinson Recreation Centre.