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Griffiths Appointed Manager and Widmer to Chair Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission 2015 Advisory Board

Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission Announces 2015 Advisory Board and New Manager of Economic Development

 

The Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission has formally appointed its new Advisory Board for 2015.

 

For a full listing of board members click here. 

 

Also announced is the appointment of a new Manager for the Economic Development Commission.

Corie GriffithsCorie Griffiths has accepted the position to replace the COEDC's Robert Fine, who is moving in March to become Director of Business and Entrepreneurial Development with the City of Kelowna.

 

Griffiths is well versed in the work of the Economic Development Commission.   Since 2007 she's been the COEDC's Business Development Coordinator.

 

Griffiths says, "I'm excited to take on the challenges of leading the Economic Development Commission. We've got a talented and dedicated team and Advisory Board representing a wide variety of business acumen and expertise. We're looking forward to continuing to work collectively to grow the region's existing base of advanced and leading edge sectors, as well as facilitating opportunities so that the region is known as an epicenter of cross-sector innovation."

Griffiths adds, "It's been great working alongside Robert in the EDC for the past eight years. He's been a significant mentor and will be missed. The community is fortunate that he's going to remain in the Central Okanagan."

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Kelowna's First Living Laneway Home

NEWS RELEASE

DECEMBER 16, 2014

Laneway house grand opening and solar panel fundraiser

What: Open house and media tour of the Ethel Lane House, with photo/video/interview opportunities for a new green residential building project

When: 3:30pm, Wednesday December 17, 2014
Where: 1949 Ethel St., Kelowna (located off the alley behind 1951 Ethel St.)

KELOWNA, BC – The sustainable house of tomorrow is here today.

The first registered Living Building Challenge project in Kelowna will be move-in ready for its new tenant in time for Christmas.
The Ethel Lane House is a pilot project undertaken by the Thompson-Okanagan Collaborative of the Cascadia Green Building Council. Registered with the global Living Building Challenge, the Ethel Lane House meets the world’s most rigorous design and construction standard and certification program.

The 640-square foot laneway home includes water and energy saving features in its design and has been built to suit the needs of an assisted-living adult. In order to increase energy efficiency, the family has started an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to raise funds to purchase photo-voltaic solar-panels to help the home meet its energy-saving targets. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/energy-efficient-lane-home-for-adult-w-disability

Deren Sentesy, building contractor with EnCircle Design Build Inc., led the design and construction of the Ethel Lane House.

“It was such a wonderful experience building for Jordan and his family,” says Sentesy, who chairs the Thompson-Okanagan Collaborative of the Living Building Challenge.

“I look forward to seeing him move in and experience independent living in a home that is good for him and for the environment. I am excited to see how the building performs over the next year and obtain official Living Building certification. The photo-voltaic solar-panels are a crucial component of that certification process.”

The Ethel Lane House is hosting a move-in party for the occupant. An open house, including a tour of the sustainable home, takes place at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 17, at 1949 Ethel St. The laneway house is located off the alley behind 1951 Ethel St. Media organizations are invited to tour the Ethel Lane House and interview members of the Thompson-Okanagan Collaborative of the Cascadia Green Building Council, and invited guests.

The Living Building Challenge comprises seven standards of high-level building performance: site, water, energy, health, materials, equity, and beauty. Builders with registered projects must meet these rigorous standards to claim their project as one of the most sustainable and green buildings in the world.

More information:
www.ethellanehouse.com

http://living-future.org/lbc

Facebook: 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Thompson-Okanagan-Branch-Collaborative/114561941959300

—30—

BACKGROUND:

  • There are 15 Living Building projects registered in Canada, including eight in BC. The Ethel Lane House is the first residential building in the Thompson-Okanagan and the third in BC. The Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence at Okanagan College in Penticton is the first institutional building to meet the Living Building criteria.
  • There are currently five Certified Living Buildings in the world. More than 116 registered Living Building challenge projects are in various stages of design and construction world-wide.

CONTACT:

Deren Sentesy

Thompson-Okanagan Collaborative of the Cascadia Green Building Council

250-979-8005

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

cascadiagbc.org

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Una Gabie - Top Forty Under 40

gabie Top FortyTopFortyUnder40

Flexible work and life

Una Gabie

Una Gabie, 32, is co-owner and partner at Touchstone Law Group in Kelowna. She is the 15th nominee for the Kelowna Top Forty Under 40 program to be profiled in this newspaper. Nominations are being accepted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. until March 31. A special event honouring all 40 nominees will be held this spring.

Kelowna lawyer Una Gabie likes to work from Mexico for two or three weeks in November and again for three or four weeks in January. “Remote technology has made this possible,” said Gabie, 32, a co-owner and partner at Touchstone Law Group. “My husband and I have a condo in Mexico and we want to enjoy it. Owning my own firm with a partner gives me this flexibility.” For the most part, Gabie can keep up with her work-holiday via email. And when face-to-face client meetings are necessary, her business partner and fellow lawyer, Jennette Vopicka, steps in. “Jennette and I spell each other off and most clients are comfortable with that because they have met and trust both of us,” said Gabie. However, Vopicka has required all these plans to take on more flexibility this year. She just had a baby and is on maternity leave, meaning Gabie will forgo the jaunts to Mexico this winter. “It’s about teamwork and working together,” said Gabie. “I will get to Mexico for shorter times and after Jennette returns to work.” The same sort of flexibility is afforded to staff.

“We all have flexible work arrangements,” said Gabie. “And each month we sit down and ask for input from everyone. Everyone has job descriptions, but we all jump in to help out if one person or one project needs it.” Both Gabie and Vopicka have worked for law firms, large and small, in the past. “Us starting our own law firm really just happened naturally,” said Gabie. “We met through a mutual friend, who also just happens to be a lawyer, and we found we think and work similarly. We both wanted flexibility and to work in a modern and innovative way with our clients and staff.”

Two women starting and heading up a law firm is not the norm in a profession where men still dominate at the top. Touchstone practices mostly business and real estate law and helps people with wills and estates. “Having my own firm also allows me to be involved in the business side of the practice, which I really enjoy,” said Gabie. “I like business development, marketing and strategic planning.”

While proud of Touchstone’s female roots, the firm is not women-exclusive. The articling student is a man as is the firm’s general manager.

Editor’s note: This is the 15th of 40 profiles for the Kelowna Top Forty Under 40 program presented by BDO Accountants and Consultants, Junior Chamber International (Okanagan branch), Kelowna Chamber of Commerce and The Daily Courier. Every week we’ll feature someone under the age of 40 who is making a difference through business, innovation and community service.

Source: Tuesday, December 9, 2014 12:38 pm by Steve MacNaull, The Daily Courier

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Cookbook features local cafe

Photo: Contributed - Facebook

Article by | Story: 128626 - Dec 11, 2014 / 5:00 am www.Castanet.net

More love for a westside restaurant from the Food Network.

The Kekuli Cafe, featured on the network's 'You Gotta Eat Here' two years ago has now been featured in the program's latest cookbook.

Sharon Bond, owner of Kekuli Cafe, says after the program shot the episode at her restaurant, she was asked to provide pictures and the recipe for dishes featured on the show.

She was told they may be featured in an upcoming cookbook.

"I've kind of had that in the back of my mind over the last couple of years," says Bond.

"I went to Chapters the other day and thought 'the cookbook is out, I wonder if we are in it.' So, I'm going through it and I did find it and thought Oh my God...so I bought it."

Bond says she was so excited.

"I had to show the girl at the till."

The program filmed the episode at the restaurant in Sept, 2012

She says the exposure has been great for the Kekuli Cafe.

"I think it just brings us more to the forefront being a local restaurant/Cafe. We just try and stay in people's minds.

We do get a lot of people coming in saying they saw us on the Food Network. I guess there was a repeat of the episode a few weeks ago. You can always tell because there is an influx of people coming in and you're not quite ready for the slam."

Bond has now opened up a second location in Merritt.

The recipes in the cookbook are the same as were featured on the Food Network episode.

If you haven't seen the episode, we are not going to spoil the surprise as to which recipes are being featured.

 
 
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