At Your Fingertips Nails and Esthetics at 102 – 2000 Enterprise Way is celebrating 25 years in business in the same location. Owned and operated by Kali Howden, the shop offers nail enhancements, natural nail manicures, pedicures, waxing, tinting and skin care of micro dermabrasion and IPL treatments. Kali has been in the industry for 34 years, graduating in 1992 from the Okanagan School of Esthetics. Over the years Kali has been an Educator for OPI, an Examinator for Esthetic Schools and has placed first for awards in nail enhancements. Over the years, Kali has seen changing trends, including nail shapes, yearly colour trends, product choices, and changes in skin care treatments. Kali would like to acknowledge well-known nail technician, Cecilia Jans, who has been with Kali for the past 24 years. I met Kali when she was working at Vickie’s Cut Above on Harvey Avenue about 30 years ago and have been a client of hers ever since that time. She would like to thank her loyal clients over the past 25 years. www.atyourfingertipskelowna.com
Spice Garden Asian Fusion celebrated its grand opening with 300 guests. Owned and operated by Lisa Liang and Kevin Wang the newly removed restaurant is located at the former Mekong Restaurant site at 1030 Harvey Avenue and is now open to the public. The restaurant offers main-floor dining accommodating 150 guests and the second floor with an additional 100 guests, well suited for celebrations, private functions, or community events. Rather than bringing traditional opening gifts, guests were invited, if they wished, to make voluntary donations to support firefighters or a charitable organization involved in emergency relief efforts.
There are big changes at Kelowna’s Iris Optometrists and Opticians. After a 50-year career as an Optician, Ken Lantz will retire on September 3rd, 2026. Starting in Yellowknife and then Edmonton, Ken made his way to Kelowna in 1993 and joined London Optical located in Orchard Park Mall, which later became Iris in 2000. Iris then moved to Gateway Plaza in 2016 with Dr. Paul Clark, who retired and sold the business to Dr. Karen Jansen van Rensburg in 2021. Dr. Karen will also be leaving on August 20th, 2026, for South Africa for family reasons. Dr. Michelle Paul comes from Prince Geroge and will be taking over the practice.
Great Canadian Dollar Store in Glenmore at 118 – 1940 Kane Road has a new owner. Now, owned and operated by Franchise owner Vanessa Zhang, the store offers much more than their extensive range of everyday dollar-store essentials. One of their key focuses is party supplies and balloons, making the store a convenient one-stop destination for celebrations. Great Canadian carry a wide selection of balloons, including different colours, themes, numbers, and styles. They also offer balloon supplies for customers who enjoy creating their own decorations, as well as balloon bouquets for birthdays, celebrations, and special events. Their party supplies range from birthdays and baby showers, to weddings, graduations, holidays, and other special occasions, including tableware, gift bags, decorations, and many other party essentials. Tracy Sandy, who is a familiar face in the store and who has been with the company for many years is the manager. www.greatcanadiandollarstore.ca
Preparations to host the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Kelowna 2028 are officially underway, establishing a leadership team that will guide the planning and delivery of one of Canada’s premier national sporting events. The Special Olympics Winter Games 2028 Society has appointed Lauren Anderson as General Manager. Her experience includes positions with Prospera Place, Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, and SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Volunteer Coordinator for the 2025 Canadian Country Music Awards and Volunteer Co-Chair for the 2026 Memorial Cup. The inaugural Executive are Devin Rubadeau, Co-Chair; Leo Rutledge, Co-Chair; Ethan Sun, Athlete Co-Chair; Kassidy Rutledge, Athlete Co-Chair; Jackie Dueck, Treasurer; Sara Correa, Tourism Kelowna; Chris Babcock, City of Kelowna; Lindsay Smith, Kirsten Bobbie, and Tom Davies, Special Olympics Canada and Michelle Cruickshank, Special Olympics B.C. Media Contact is Devin Rubadeau at drubadeau@okanagan.bc.ca
Chief Administrative Officer of the Regional District of Central Okanagan, Sally Ginter, MBA, ICD.D has been appointed to the UBC Board of Governors by the Province of B.C. Sally is an executive leader with extensive experience across the public, private, and non-profit sectors. sally.ginter@rdco.com
The evacuation order for Greata Ranch has been lifted with no destruction to the winery. They welcomed guests back to the Winery and 19 Bistro @ Fitz on Sunday, August 23rd. They are now getting ready for Harvest 2026, sending grape samples for testing, and preparing a new harvest plan to avoid grape skin contact, if smoke taint is a concern. A wonderful gesture, Jeremy Pott of Cascadia Liquor on Vancouver Island placed a large order for their wines and from other Summerland wineries. Cascadia will be featuring their wines in all of their stores right through autumn. They would love to see you at the winery; however, you can bring some Fitz directly to you by ordering online. 12 bottles or more will enjoy free shipping with the promo code #Summerlandstrong. www.fitzwine.com
The Adventurers, Wanderers, & Explorers Film Festival (AWEFF) started by Joel Perrella, Director/Producer with a local production company, Angry Whale Media Inc. is a celebration of people, places, and stories that inspire us to get outside and explore. From mountain culture to sea culture, and everything in-between, AWEFF brings together extraordinary films and the people behind them for an evening of adventure, inspiration, and connection. Experience stories of courage, exploration, wild places, and the people who are drawn to them. AWEFF is in its third year running. Joel is looking to build it out as a multi-day event. Mark your calendar for September 23rd, 2026 at the Rotary Centre for the Arts. Tickets www.theboxoffice.ca/upcoming-events/adventurers-wanderers-explorers-flim-festival
Greater Westside Board of Trade Business After Hours is September 10th, 2026, hosted by Manchester Signs & Printing from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Registration at www.gwboardoftrade.com
The City of Kelowna was officially announced on the global platform as the 486th International City of Peace. Locally since 2008, volunteers of the Heartfulness Institute have been contributing to the peace movement through free meditation, wellness sessions, community programs, and events. Over the past five years, these efforts have grown to another level, becoming mor consistent, collaborative, and community-focused. One of the most meaningful initiatives has been their effort to bring different faiths, spiritual organizations, community groups businesses, and leaders together under one common purpose: interfaith harmony, human wellness, and ultimately, peaceful communities. Bhupinder Aulakh (Pawen Aulakh) and Devinder Virk represent Heartfulness Kelowna and Heartfulness BC & Yukon. Kelowna.bc@heartfulness.org
Happy 35th Anniversary John and Mary Clarke (Aug. 26).
Rotary Club of Lake Okanagan is hosting their Annual Lobster Crawl with a fresh Atlanta Lobster Drive-Thru Dinner on Friday, September 25th, 2026, at the Mac Centre Parking Lot, 9830 Bottom Wood Lake Road in Lake Country. Tickets are $75.00 on Eventbrite. Whether you are a lobster lover or just looking for a fantastic night out, this is one event you will be talking about long after the last claw is cracked, along with supporting Rotary.
PB Financial celebrated its industry partners and future growth at its Annual Gala and Industry Partner Appreciation & Success at Sunset Ranch Golf & Country Club, bringing together industry partners, professionals, friends, and supporters. Looking ahead, PB is focused on continued growth, with a vision to expand its team and welcome new professionals who share the company’s commitment to client service, collaboration, and success.
Birthdays of the week – Brent Browne, Owner, Specialty Bakery (Aug. 26); Marla Stewart (Aug. 25); Rachel Dekker (Aug. 26); Christina Ferreira (Aug. 26); Bob Missler (Aug. 26); Claudia Van Emmerik (Aug. 26); Eileen Galarneau (Aug. 26); Christina Ferreira (Aug. 26); Richard Rafton (Aug. 26); Tom Light (Aug. 27); Stephen Keppler (Aug. 27); Shayne Dyrdal (Aug. 27); Susan MacNeil (Aug. 28); Neal Facey (Aug. 28); Lucy Benwell (Aug. 28); Bobby Gidda (Aug. 28); Jody Berndsen (Aug. 28); Cheryl Bullee (Aug. 29); Garry Appleton (Aug. 29); Geert Maas (Aug. 29); Dave Hoeght (Aug. 30); Hay Lee (Aug. 30); Cindy Fairs (Aug. 30); Roseanne Ting-Mak Brown (Aug. 31); Craig Hall (Aug. 31); Ron Crosby (Aug. 31).
The Specialty Bakery Birthday Cake Winner of the Week is Bob Missler. Bob, please pick up your Birthday Cake from any one of the four Specialty Bakery locations before Wednesday, Sept. 1/2026.
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
