Tradition Praline is a family-run business founded in 2022 by Bernard and Marie Marchetti. Originally from France and inspired from childhood memories spent in the kitchen with his grandmother, Bernard has transformed a traditional recipe into a range of unique and flavorful products. Trained in bakery and pastry from the age of 16, he now brings his expertise to small-batch, handcrafted creations made with carefully selected ingredients. The company prioritizes sourcing ingredients locally and within Canada whenever possible, particularly for hazelnut, maple syrup, spices, and balsamic vinegar, reflecting a strong commitment to quality and support for local producers. Crunchy pralines, spreads and gourmet sauces, are all products that are thoughtfully crafted using traditional methods, including copper pot cooking, to preserve authentic textures and flavours. Tradition Praline is gluten free, lactose free and vegan. Bernard sent me home with their three varieties of pralines: Caramelized Almonds (Maple & Sriracha), Caramelized Hazelnuts (Hazelnut) and Caramelized Almonds (Rose). While the Maple & Sriracha and Hazelnut are among their most popular flavours, I truly enjoyed them all. Each one was unique, full of flavour and absolutely delicious. I honestly could not pick a favourite. Throughout the year, Tradition Praline connects with the community participating in local markets and events. You can find them and purchase their products at the Kelowna Farmers’ Market on Saturdays during the summer season, as well as in wineries, private events and various shows across B.C. and other provinces. Pralines are also available online at www.traditionpraline.com making them accessible year-round.
Sweet Cloud Ice Cream Rolls has now opened a retail brick and mortar shop in downtown Kelowna at 1620 Water Street, in the new Water Street by the Park development. Owned and operated by Paulina MacKenzie, she started out with a food truck and now, along with the food truck has opened her new store. Sweet Cloud makes the most unique handmade ice cream rolls, which is definitely an art, as she forms and scrapes together the rolls on a cold metal platter. Ice Cream Rolls come in a variety of flavors. You choose your flavour, topping, and sauce with a base of dairy, coconut milk, or vanilla flavour. Sweet Cloud offers both dairy and gluten free options and uses in-house syrups, local, fresh products in her ice cream rolls, with no additives, just cream, milk, and sugar. Now with the new storefront, Paulina has added Cloud loaded gourmet hot dogs and specialty coffee to the menu. You can order a basic dog, or choose from five others including Mexican, Chili Cheese, Tropic Like It’s Hot, Cheeseburger Dog or Big Daddy which has pulled pork as a basic on the dog. I sampled a Sweet Cloud Ice Cream Roll of coconut and strawberry, that server Pyper Thomson rolled for me and it was delicious and not too sweet, which I enjoyed. Open from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily. Follow Sweet Cloud on Instagram @Sweetcloud49.
Shabir Haji is the founder and President of locally owned and operated Workplace Digital Solutions Inc., a Canadian-registered Managed IT Services firm dedicated to empowering small and medium-sized businesses through strategic technology solutions. With over 15 years of executive experience in the office technology and managed services sectors, Shabir is recognized for his ability to transform complex IT environments into streamlined, automated, and secure business engines. Previously, for seven years, Shabir served as the President of Innov8 Digital Solutions in Kelowna, one of Western Canada’s premier technology providers. During his tenure, he led the firm’s managed IT services division, which saw exponential growth and his strategic oversight earned the company multiple regional and national awards. Located at #203 – 160 Dougall Road S., Workplace Digital Solutions offers IT support, helpdesk services, cybersecurity and data protection, Cloud and Microsoft 365, back-up and disaster recovery, and IT hardware and asset management. Contact the company for a free assessment at www.wpdsolutions.com
Kelowna is about to experience something entirely new on June 4th and 5th at Sandhill Winery and it’s an event you will not want to miss. The Summit Business Festival is Canada’s first immersive Business + Leadership Festival, which is a two-day indoor and outdoor experience bringing together entrepreneurs, executives, founders, creatives, leaders, and small business owners. The Summit is designed to expand your network, receive tangible strategies for your business, spark new ideas, and connect with ambitious people. This is not a traditional conference. It is a high-value business festival experience over two days. The Summit includes two main stages (indoor and outdoor); 35 speakers; 15 fireside chats, panels and workshops; 1:1 hot seat coaching with business experts; 15+ curated vendors inside ‘The Market’; wellness lounge with massages, IV drips, red light treatments; networking; happy hours; live entertainment; closing concerts both days; VIP experiences and curated gifting; and two events within the festival itself, creating multiple ways to connect and engage. I am honoured to be welcomed, alongside many respected leaders in the community to help shape business and community across the Okanagan on one of Summit’s panels. Presented by Scotiabank and the Scotiabank Women Initiative, The Summit will close with a fireside conversation with Mayor Tom Dyas and founder and host of The Summit, Amy Nicole Cohen, on the outdoor stage before an exclusive concert featuring Canadian Country Star Dawson Gray. Tickets and information for The Summit Business Festival at https://thechicexperience.ca/experiences/summits/chic-summit-kelowna-june-2026/
After a year of screenings across B.C., the award winning-documentary, B.C. is Burning has been released publicly on YouTube. Produced and directed by retired forester and filmmaker Murray Wilson, with associate producer Rick Maddison and editing and post-production by Ryan Tebbutt of Edge Digital Media, the film examines the growing wildfire crisis in B.C. and explores how forest conditions, climate, fuel accumulation, and land management practices are shaping wildfire risk across the province. The documentary features interviews with foresters, wildfire experts, researchers, emergency management professionals, and Indigenous voices, while documenting the increasing impacts wildfire and smoke are having on communities throughout Western Canada. View the film at https://youtu.be/Zj6upr0XYlc
Touchdown Kelowna is looking for volunteers from June 26th to July 4th for the event that is bringing two BC Lions games and a weeklong festival to Kelowna. Okanagan College is leading the volunteer drive with up to 300 people needed in the areas of parking, ushers, hosts, ticket taking and in other areas. Contact Kevin Parnell, Associate Director, College Relations at kparnell@okanagan.bc.ca if you can help. For information visit www.okanagancollege.ca/news/volunteers-wanted-support-bc-lions-games-and-festival-in-kelowna
Happy 60th Anniversary Gary and Carolyn Bloomfield (May 21).
HippoMouth Inventory is a new unique home inventory business in our city. Owned and operated by Kim Mussenden, the business was born from Kim being evacuated during the Okanagan fires. Unfortunately, insurance companies do not just require a video to file a claim, they require a complete list of your inventory. That’s where HippoMouth Inventory comes in. The company provides a complete inventory list for residential and commercial clients for insurance purposes. The inventory can also be provided for water damage, theft recovery records, rental property inventory, estate planning documentation, and divorce asset listings. Contact Kim at hippomouthinventory.com
Okanagan College (OC) students delivered a standout performance at the 2026 Skills Canada BC Provincial Trades and Technology Competition, earning multiple medals across trades and technology disciplines. Congratulations to the medal winners: Emily Frick, Gold, Car Painting; Olivier Gravel, Silver, Heavy Duty Mechanic; Connor Hamilton, Bronze, IT Network Systems Administration; Mitchel Poole, Silver, IT Network Systems Administration; Jaxson Provencher, Gold, Refrigeration; Kewin Sommerfeld, Silver, Automotive; Vladyslav Usach, Gold, Collision Repair.
The Critical Minerals Conference Series 2026 is being held in Kelowna June 21st to 23rd, 2026 at the Fairfield by Marriott Kelowna. The conference will offer presenters, panelists, exhibitors, and sponsors at www.criticalmineralsconference.com. Offered is an Industry Student Program that supports and provides a complimentary pass to the event available to students. For more information contact William R. Sattlegger, P. Geo., Executive Director of i2i Vestcom Advisors Corp. at William@i2ivestcom.com.
Around town….
On Friday, May 29th, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Orchard Park invites the community to celebrate the Memorial Cup’s history and the Kelowna Legion’s 100th Anniversary. Visitors can support the Legion, sign up for a free 2026 Legion membership, and enter to win tickets to the Memorial Cup Final Game, all while reflecting on the Memorial Cup’s history and legacy as a tribute to Canadian veterans.
Central Okanagan Heritage Society (COHS) is hosting Mix, Mingle & Meander in the Park on Sunday, May 31st, 2026, from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. at Benvoulin Heritage Church. Music, display, and refreshments in Reid Hall with Master Gardeners on-site. Come and see what COHS is all about.
FiddleFest is June 5th and 6th, 2026 at the Ukrainian Catholic Church Hall, 1091 Coronation Avenue, with Champion Fiddlers Calvin Vollrath, Mark Sullivan, and Daniel Lapp. Concerts, workshops and dinner and dance at various times over the two days. For all information visit www.bcfiddlers.com/kelowna
Paws, Play, and Purpose: The Okanagan Pet Expo is Sunday, June 7th, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Laurel Packinghouse and Square. The expo is a high-energy day filled with over 50 local vendors, interactive competition, and a heartfelt mission to support local animal rescues. All pets are welcome but must be well-behaved and kept on a leash at all times. Owners must fill out a pet waiver in advance, available on the website at www.okanaganpetexpo.com
Birthdays of the week – Happy 65th Anna Growbowsky (May 27); Dena Barabash (May 27); Sarah Carson (May 27); Todd Swaby (May 27); Irene Thomas (May 27); MP Stephen Fuhr (May 27); Stan Tessmer (May 27); Ashley Cresswell (May 28); Annika Betts (May 28); Stewart Turcotte (May 28); Carmen Lobsinger (May 28); Julia Fraser (May 28); Cindy Atkinson (May 29); Dale Lamb (May 29); Mark Massar (May 29); Alexa Anderson (May 29); Rob Gibson (May 29); Ron Manoin (May 30); Bob Stewart (May 30); Jim Meiklejohn (May 30); Doug Dooley (May 31); Ray Wynsouw (May 31); Erik Nielsen (May 31); Brian Sprout (May 31); Glen Stewart (May 31); Roma Niessen (May 31); Mark Flett (June 1); Dan Dirtman McFarlane (June 1); Jasmine Koutsantonis (June 1); Andrew Toncini (June 1); Melanie Willson (June 2); Annie Lynch (June 2); Ann Petrone (June 2); Mitch Michel (June 2); Jo-Anne Grove (June 3); Allison Ramchuk (June 3); Brenda Josephs (June 3); Don Huculak (June 3); Linda Russell (June 3).
The Specialty Bakery Birthday Cake Winner of the Week is Alexa Anderson. Alexa, please pick up your Birthday Cake from any one of the four Specialty Bakery locations by noon on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
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
