False Bay Savoury Pies has opened at 2640 Pandosy Street, next to Earthly Creations. Owned and operated by Kevin and Anita Best, they are not new to Kelowna. Kevin and Anita lived in Kelowna and operated a restaurant for several years. They then moved to the Sunshine Coast where they owned and operated False Bay Savoury Pies for the past eight years. Now back in Kelowna, they are bringing their take-out pie company with them. False Bay Savoury Pies offer a large variety of award-winning savoury pies, including classic chicken, beef pot pie, chicken and mushroom, Irish beef and Guinness, lamb pie, brisket mac n’ cheese, seafood pie, tourtière, steak and kidney, peppercorn steak, and vegetable pie. Pies come in 5 inches and weight 400 – 450 gm and are also available in 9 inch and 10 inch sizes. I was sent home with a lamb pie, brisket mac n’ cheese and Irish beef and Guinness. All were superb, with incredible crust and hearty fillings. They are baked fresh in their kitchen daily. Open Tuesday to Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Lots of parking. www.falsebaypies.ca
Coop Wicked Chicken & Bar, a Canadian franchise is located at 274 Bernard Avenue in downtown Kelowna. Owned and operated by Jas and Hargun Sekhon, with chef Babu Ram Kefle and server Valerie Koester, the restaurant has an inviting atmosphere and a lovely patio. Coop only uses all locally sourced, fresh, never frozen, never pumped chicken with no added preservatives, and purchased directly from Armstrong. The chicken is brined for 24 hours, and the fries are cut fresh in-house. Coop has a full menu and offers starters, salads, tacos, wicked chicken part (wings and chicken fingers), poutines, wicked chicken Sandys, (sandwiches), burgers, entrees, and dessert, including their funnel cake fries. Coop has a large selection of house-made crafted cocktails, coolers, ciders, beer, and wine. Try their Wicked Tiki. Happy Hour is every day from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. until close. We sampled one of their most popular sandwiches, the sweet and spicy blackened chicken, and of course, with home-made fries. We also sampled the mac n’ chz bites that are also made in-house. We sat on the patio and watched hundreds of people enjoy the Thursday night downtown market. Coop Wicked Chicken & Bar is located in the former Post Office building that opened in early 1893 with Thomas Spence as Kelowna’s first postmaster. Before that, Kelowna residents had to pick up their mail at Okanagan Mission. Open at 11:00 a.m. till late daily. www.thecoopwickedchicken.com
Costco celebrates its 35th year of operation in Kelowna on Saturday, August 15th. There will be a celebration when the store opens at 8:00 a.m. Join them for a slice of cake and goodies. In tandem with this monumental milestone, Costco is embarking on a new initiative: Business Development. Their goal is to build stronger relationships with the local business community. Rather than waiting for businesses to come to Costco, they connect with them, learn about their needs, and show them how Costco can help them save both time and money, with a personal approach. Costco will visit businesses, learn about their challenges, and recommend solutions that fit their operations, focusing on building long-term relationships. Any business that would like to find out more about Costco Business Development can connect with Amanda Heyming, Merchandising Area Manager for an opportunity to learn how Costco’s products, services, online (Costco.ca), and business resources might help you reduce costs and improve efficiency. Amanda’s contact info is w01578ns05@costco.com or 250-870-5200.
The former Mekong Restaurant at 1030 Harvey Avenue, on the corner of Gordon Drive and Harvey Avenue will now be the Spice Garden Asian Fusion Restaurant. The new Spice Garden will be opening later this month. Stay tuned for opening date and details soon.
WestFit Coaching Ltd., a Kelowna based online fitness coaching company has partnered with Canada Cookie Ltd. to introduce WestFit Power Bites, an all-natural snack packed with 12 grams of protein and only 3 grams of sugar per serving. Westly Harrison, CEO of WestFit Coaching brought his idea to his mother Jane Metzger, owner of Canada Cookie Ltd. and together they created a great, all natural protein snack from scratch. Westly brings 12 years of experience as a certified personal trainer into an online coaching program built on a client’s own individual health and fitness goals. The WestFit system specializes in fat loss and lean muscle gain using reverse dieting and HVT, a training style built for people with full schedules, not empty ones. No retraction, no fad diets, just a plan that works with your life instead of against it. For anyone ready to start his program, Westly offers a free 10-minute call, followed by a one-hour, personalized Zoom session. WestFit Power Bites are available online through Westly’s social channels or at www.canookies.ca and locally at Don-O-Ray Farm Market and Lakeside Eco Sports on Bernard Avenue. Instagram: @coach_westfit; Facebook: Westly Harrison.
Frances (Fran) Klassen turned 90 on August 1st, 2026. At the birthday celebration, Jack and Frances Klassen surprised guests with the renewal of their wedding vows, celebrating their upcoming 40th wedding anniversary. I was so happy to hear this as I have known Fran for about 50 years and Fran and Jack for the entire 40 years.
Tina Bisson of Manchester Signs, Printing and Graphics of West Kelowna has been named a Director for the Okanagan with the Better Business Bureau BC. In this new role, Tina will be connecting Okanagan businesses to an organization that means nothing but better business. www.manchesterspg.com; www.bbb.org
As most of you know, I walk most days and now have found an excellent sunscreen that I blend with my daily facial cream. It’s a huge improvement over products I previously used that never seemed to provide enough protection. The sun is brutal these days, even when it’s cloudy. The product is Alumier MD SPF 40 and it’s a keeper. It applies easily and is reasonably priced. As a bonus, it’s a Canadian product and can be purchased at Kelowna Medical Aesthetics & Wellness Clinic, 223 Bernard Avenue. www.kelownamedicalaesthetics.com
The Rotary Centre for the Arts (RCA) has unveiled the completed Youth Mural Project 2026, a vibrant new public mural created by local youth that is now permanently installed on the exterior of the RCA. The mural is more than public art; it is a lasting legacy of creativity, learning, and belonging. Over the past several months, young artists worked alongside Lead Artist Gail Hodgson and facilitator Rain Doody to transform six blank panels into a colorful mural inspired by the landscapes, plants, wildlife, and spirit of the Okanagan. The Tony Quo Vadis Foundation supported the project as well as Gail Hodgson, Rain Doody, Jasmine Peone, Pamela Barnes, Wilfred (Grouse) Barnes, the participate artists, their families, and the many community members who helped to make this a success. www.rotarycentreforthearts.com/news/post/169/RCA-Youth-Mural-Project-2026/
Kelowna Community Music School is celebrating their inaugural benefit concert with an evening celebrating music, community, and opportunity on August 16th, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the Mary Irwin Theatre. Crescendo for a Cause features faculty, students, and friends with special guest Arnold Draper on the piano. Tickets at www.theboxoffice.ca
The 2027 season of Kelowna Actors Studio is set with six musicals: Come from Away, Chicago, Avenue Q, Mean Girls, The Addams Family, and Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The entire season lives on one page, built for exactly this decision. Visit www.kelownaactorsstudio.com/anything-but-ordinary. Randy Leslie and Nathan Flavel are the co-founders of Kelowna Actors Studio.
Mind STIRR Society in collaboration with Africans in Okanagan is hosting the Afro-Caribbean Festival on Saturday, August 22nd, 2026, from noon to 9:00 p.m. in City Park. Enjoy vibrant music, delicious African and Caribbean food, cultural celebrations of dance, art, fashion, traditions, and community connection. www.mindstirr.com
A sold-out community tea hosted by Okanagan 4 Ukraine Foundation raised $2,000 to expand the Ukrainian collection at the Okanagan Regional Library, supporting both Ukrainian-language children’s books and contemporary Ukrainian literature in English. The initiative also reflects the importance of preserving Ukrainian language and literature at a time when libraries, publishers, and books continue to be destroyed by Russia’s war against Ukraine. With recent news of reduced provincial funding for Okanagan Regional Library, the support for libraries and literacy is growing stronger with the public. Kate Woodman PhD is on the Okanagan 4 Ukraine Leadership Team.
Miracle Treat Day is Thursday, August 13th, 2026, at participating DQ locations across BC. Net proceeds from every Blizzard® Treat sold will be donated to the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, helping improve care for children across the province. The DQ Mission Park location at 3141 Lakeshore Road will have live broadcasting throughout the day.
Birthdays of the week – Happy 80th Ross Grimmer (Aug. 5); Happy 75th Patrick Comba (Aug. 10); Yours truly, Maxine DeHart (Aug. 6); Mike Penninga (Aug. 5); Shereen Miller (Aug. 5); Ron Eberle (Aug. 5); Michael J. MacNeil (Aug. 5); Joyce Young (Aug. 5); Grant Hewitt (Aug. 5); Hilary Langton (Aug. 6); Desirae Brinson (Aug. 6); Councillor Mohni Singh (Aug. 6); Ilona Morrison (Aug.6); Linda Edgecombe (Aug. 6); Roger Sellick (Aug. 7); Richelle Leckey (Aug. 7); Gary Johnston (Aug. 7); Marge Engelhart (Aug. 7); Ross Marrington (Aug. 8); Byron Nate (Aug. 8); Tara Culbert (Aug.8); Gail Fortney (Aug. 8); Shari Rea (Aug. 9); Rose-Anne Turner (Aug.9); Kathleen Stang (Aug. 9); Stuart Broughton (Aug.10) Wilbur Turner (Aug. 10); Chris Petty (Aug. 10); Kevin Renwick (Aug. 10); Mary Boyle (Aug. 10).
The Specialty Bakery Birthday Cake Winner of the Week is Joyce Young. Joyce, please pick up your Birthday Cake from any one of the four Specialty Bakery locations before Tuesday, Aug. 11/2025.
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
