Basil Leaf Asian Fusion Restaurant has opened its fourth location and their first franchise location. The new franchise is located at #100 – 3497 Lakeshore Road, next to Marble Slab Creamery and is owned and operated by franchisee Juan Rosas, who has been in Kelowna for 20 years. The restaurant offers a large variety of appetizers including the best salad rolls with prawns, rice dishes, vermicelli noodle bowls, Pho, special soups, noodle stir-fries, and curry dishes. Chris and I sampled the Wonton soup, and the salad rolls with prawns. The won tons and all the sauces and broths are made in-house. The salad rolls were huge. Both were delicious and very filling. Basil Leaf offers many vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options. All the sauces and broths are made. Do not fret about parking at the new location on Lakeshore Road. There is free parking right next to the restaurant. All you need to do is register your plate when you go into the Basil Leaf. Other locations of Basil Leaf are #123-1940 Kane Road in Glenmore, tucked behind the IGA, #4 – 1612 Powick Road, (Hwy. 33 and 97), and in Peachland by the IGA. Chef Tom Guan and his wife Mandy Lao are the owner /operators of these three Basil Leaf’s and are also the franchisors.
Based in the lower mainland with their main offices in Burnaby, B.C., Strata Engineering recently opened an office in downtown Kelowna at Suite 300 – 1460 Pandosy Street. Strata Engineering started 14 years ago and now has expanded to fifty employees. The business focuses on inspections and reports for buildings, providing services for warranty reviews, depreciation, electrical planning, and EV reports. The depreciation report and the electrical planning reports are now mandatory by the B.C. Provincial Government. Strata Engineering also provides engineering investigations, engineering consulting, design, tendering, permit, construction administration, building condition assessments, building envelope condition assessments and geotechnical services. Specialty engineering services include energy and carbon reporting (required by the city of Vancouver), tenant improvement design and management, mechanical and plumbing design, project management, energy audits and reporting, feasibility and accessibility studies, age-friendly conversion studies, and baseline facility condition assessments. They are a one-stop shop. In Kelowna, Jeff Collins, AScT is the Senior Building Technologist and Caroline Nascimento, MBA, is the Branch Manager. www.strataengineering.com
Uptown Rutland Business Association (URBA) is hosting their After Hours & AGM on March 31st, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at BEEM Credit Union, 185 Rutland Road S. Join them for a meet and mingle, AGM, URBA’s year ahead, local bites, cash beverages, and an open mic, as URBA would like to hear from you. Free event, but RSVP www.ourrutland.ca
Congratulations to the Greater Westside Board of Trade 2025 Key Business Award Recipients. They are Rad Jamz/Rad Relish, Business of the Year; Don Richmond, Geoffrey Paynter Citizen of the Year; Music in the Park, Arts & Entertainment; United Way B.C. Southern Interior, Community & Public Service; Catherine McGillivray – Shine Therapy Services, Young Entrepreneur; Rad Jamz/Rad Relish, Environmentally Sustainable Business; Wolf Creek Window and Door Solutions, Home Based Business; Fireside Minerals, Large Business; Pearl and Fern, New Business; 4 Eyes Optometry, Platinum Service Provider; Valley Glass, Small Business; Qualo, Technology and Innovation; Two Eagles Golf Course, Indigenous Business; The Cove Lakeside Resort, Tourism & Hospitality; Kelowna Patio Covers, Excellence in Business Ethics. Bryan Fitzpatrick of Pushor Mitchell LLP is the President of the organization and Heather Robinson is the Executive Director.
Dr. Kristin Wild, PHD, RPC-C, founder and director of Modern Health Solution, is making a meaningful impact in the community through trauma-informed counselling, education, and advocacy for individuals recovering from domestic and workplace abuse. With more than 20 years’ experience supporting women and children escaping violence, Dr. Wild’s work began in high-security women’s shelters and has evolved into a comprehensive counselling and education platform serving clients in Kelowna and across B.C. and Canada. Modern Health Solution focuses not only on helping individuals leave unsafe situations, but on what comes next. She works closely with family law professionals and community organizations to help clients navigate complex legal systems, rebuild financial and emotional stability, and restore personal confidence after prolonged stress or coercive control. In addition to clinical services, Dr. Wild provides community education on domestic and workplace abuse dynamics and is available to speak with local organizations and youth groups to promote early awareness and prevention. On March 20th, Dr. Wild will release her book, Ending Abuse, offering practical tools and clear guidance for individuals navigating abusive relationships across personal family and workplace settings, drawing on decades of professional and lived experience. Visit www.modernhealthsolution.com
The Kelowna Community Concert Association (KCCA) is celebrating its 70th Anniversary, although their roots extend way back to 1934, when they were first presented as the District Celebrity Concert Association. The KCCA continues to thrive and prosper with over 1,000 annual subscribers. KCCA will be announcing their upcoming 2026/27 Concert Season on Saturday, March 21st, 2026, with an all-Canadian lineup featuring multiple JUNO and other award-winning performance groups. They will open sales through The Box Office (www.TheBoxOffice.ca) on Sunday, March 22nd, 2026. The season kicks off on Saturday, September 12th, 2026, with five quality concerts at a reasonable price of $120, with a $110 early bird price if you buy the subscription membership before April 30th, 2026. Peter Finamore is the President of KCCA. www.kelownacommunityconcerts.org
Save the Date. The Payton & Dillon Budd Memorial Ride is on June 7th, 2026, at Sutherland Bay Park, 700 Ellis Street in Kelowna. The ride is presented by the NIXON Hospitality Group, which is BNA, Bernie’s Supper Club & Cinema, Skinny Duke’s Glorious Emporium, Bohemian Café, Snowshoe Sam’s Pub at Big White, Sopra Italian Kitchen at Big White, BNA, Vernon, The Kal Eatery, Vernon, and BNA, Penticton. More information to come. Join the Ride. Registration opens March 1st, 2026.
Danielle Scheven, co-founder of jewelry brand, Carolily with her mother Donna Scheven, has announced a pro-bono 12-month mentorship program for women in business who want to scale both their revenue and the impact their business has. Carolily jewelery has been featured in major fashion magazines worldwide and on some of the most prestigious runways including during Paris Fashion Week in 2023. The selected applicant will receive monthly mentorship and access to Danielle’s extensive professional network. Danielle will offer advice on how to align leadership skills, business operations, and the client experience to produce long-term client loyalty. Applications for 2026 close March 20th at www.daniellescheven.com/apply-for-mentorship
Enactus Okanagan College (OC) has supported the Archway Society for Domestic Peace with a donation of $7,500, which was made possible by donations from Pushor Mitchell LLP, Okanagan College Faculty Association and Enactus OC. The donation will be used to support women and families recovering from domestic violence through Enactus OC’s Safe Haven Project. Individuals will receive grants to support housing, along with one-on-one financial coaching provided by Launch Okanagan. Michaela Dew is the President of Enactus OC and Ginger Albrecht, College Relations, Okanagan College.
The Rotary Centre for the Arts (RCA) is welcoming spring with the launch of its new season of arts programs, offering hands-on classes and workshops for children, youth, seniors and adults across visual arts, movement, music, and storytelling. Registration is now open. Designed for a range of experience levels, the spring lineup encourages participants to develop new skills, explore creative interests, and connect with others in a supportive community-focused environment. From youth programs that spark artistic discovery to adult classes focused on skill development and creative practice, the RCA’s Spring offerings reflect the organization’s ongoing commitment to strengthening art and culture in our region. From Arts Blast Summer Camps, Youth Art Labs, Ink Art, and Watercolor Painting to Shakespeare Theatre, Jazz Jam and The Creative Exchange, its packed with something for everyone. Laura Schultz is the Marketing Manager for the RCA. To register visit www.rotaryentreforthearts.com/learn/programs
Celebrating 10 years, The Gary Bennett Family Fund and its supporters have donated $3,000 to the Central Okanagan Food Bank’s (COFB) programs focused on supporting children’s essential food aid, the Food for Thought Program. Food for Thought, operated in partnership with SD23, exists in 42 schools in the district to provide breakfast for lunch daily to all students. The program also sends take-home food backpacks with students for their families. Food for Thought supports over 1,600 students weekly.
Birthdays of the week – Happy 90th John Lawrence (Mar. 16); Janice Stuart (Mar. 11); Lilia Dela-Cruz (Mar. 12); Councillor Luke Stack (Mar. 12); Richard Trager (Mar. 22); Linda Manoin (Mar. 12); Wayne Carson (Mar. 12); Colin Pritchard (Mar. 13); Max Sloan (Mar. 13); Karen Cooper (Mar. 13); Rick Miller (May 13); Ralph Hass (Mar. 14); Tavis Pettyjohn (Mar. 14); Pamela Luehr (Mar. 14); Cinzia Zotta (Mar. 14); Jeff Giebelhaus (Mar. 14); Raj Oberoi (Mar. 14); Shaida Langley (Mar. 15); Garth Hanna (Mar. 15); Netti Schafer (Mar. 15); Bill Arrell (Mar. 15); Craig Tostenson (Mar. 16); DJ Block (Mar. 17); Ross Derrick (Mar. 17); Matt Cherrille (Mar. 17); Trevor Pollon (Mar. 17); Caity Henry (Mar. 17).
The Specialty Bakery Birthday Cake Winner of the Week is Ralph Hass. Ralph, please pick up your Birthday Cake from any one of the four Specialty Bakery locations by noon on Tuesday, March 17 /2025.
Maxine DeHart is a Kelowna City Councillor and local hotelier. Phone her at 250-979-4546 or 250-862-7662. E-mail max@maxinedehart.ca
