Love Local

Imagine this - two schoolfriends from Vernon, who remained in touch as they navigated life and work in the US for years. Then, during 2020 they both independently decided to move back to Vernon, and at the same time were figuring out how to make the best possible beds for their beloved dogs. And despite the pandemic hitting at the same time as their move, went ahead and figured out what that product was like, how to make it and Le Dog Company was born.

That, in a nutshell, is what Cara & Kristin have achieved in the past 12 months - and continue to build from. As I learnt from talking to them, they have a singular vision of what their product and brand stand for, and an extremely professional approach to putting together their supply and distribution chain. The vision of every dog on a Le Dog bed isn't as crazy as it sounds, but for now the Okanagan needs to know about "only the best for your best friend."

Apart from living in a lane that bears his family name, Don Kassa does not bear the marks of privilege or success. Years of hard work in a profession that chose him as much as he chose it have put him in an elite league of realtors who have made the Okanagan one of the biggest & growing markets in Canada.

In this episode, Don shares his approach to work and business, and how following due process, communicating clearly and having the ability to solve problems make the difference between failure & success. And how his love for all things local enables him to make more newcomers #LoveLocal too.

One of the common characteristics of the people I have met on LoveLocal is their obvious desire to offer something special to their community. Nowhere is that more evident than with my guest for today, Marilyn Courtenay of The Boarding House Cafe. For her, the cafe which opened months before the pandemic, is more than just a place to enjoy her amazing baking and coffee and play some board games - it is a place for families, friends anhd the community to come together.

The past 12 months have left that fire undimmed, as Marilyn and the cafe have negotiated the unusual times with grace and with more than a little bit of hard work - specifically, 362 days worked out of the first 365 for the owner/operator! With such talent, hard work & care, it is hard not to LoveLocal when it comes to The Boarding House Cafe.

As someone who has been involved with the not-for-profit center for some years, Dione has always impressed me with her ability to set strategic imperatives and then break them down into easily digestible and actionable action points. 

After her successful stint with the Vernon Chamber of Commerce, it was with some anticipation that I met with her to talk about her role at the helm of The Okanagan Science Center. As ever, she was lucid in her explanation of what the Center was about, where it was going and how they were going to help the community be part of the STEM revolution. 

It's not every day that you get to sit down with a living legend - for that is exactly what Judd Buchanan is. He has been a newspaper boy, an insurance agent, a politician, parliamentarian, cabinet minister and businessman. This has taken him through all corners of the country, including Silver Star Mountain Resort which he was an owner of for a period of time. And to complete the circle, where a ski run with his name on it was the first black diamond run I skied!

Despite all that he has achieved, the essence of Judd still comes down to his one love Kay, his family and an enduring belief that one's life is meant for service. It's  certainly an object lesson for all of us - that success is a journey, not a destination.

In a year in which the pandemic has caused untold hardship to the local business community, the Vernon Chamber of Commerce has emerged as a shining example of what business advocacy and support should be like. Under the stewardship of new General Manager Dan Proulx, it has continued to provide advocacy for our local community and businesses, whilst providing a raft of information and support respources.

Dan sat down to talk about some of the challenges the Chamber faced head on during the past year, his take on some of the ways that local businesses have adapted during this time, and his hopes for the way forward. It was a great reminder that your local Chamber does truly #LoveLocal.

I am privileged to know Destanne Norris via her art exhibits at Gallery Odin at Silver Star mountain, and later as a human being. Her work achieves the almost impossible task of mirroring the inscape and the landscape, as does her first book "Leah's Gift" - which shows how one can find new purpose and meaning after navigating the depths of grief.

Perhaps more than me rambling on about her work, perhaps its best left to Destanne's own words - "It’s about being present in nature and in the studio, while painting, while living life’s mysteries. It’s about being curious; being ok with not knowing; being open to learning and considering different perspectives, possibilities and making new discoveries. It’s about making connections. It’s why I paint."

The same is true of her writing as well, and of her as a human being. Listen in to Destanne talk about her journey through life and how it has manifested itself in her visual art & writing, and you will have a new appreciation for #LoveLocal.

The amazing story of how two co-workers with very different backgrounds had a shared dream which they acted on. It took plenty of chutzpah, but also talent and hard work - and now Cobbler's Rack is a Vernon main street staple. Maggie and Leonard were and are the yin and yang of Cobbler's Rack, and together they make magic. 

Reviving an old tradition and skill in today's throw-away society requires a leap of faith, and its nice to see it pay off. If anyone listening wants to learn this ancient trade, master shoemaker & cobbler Leonard is looking for an apprentice to train - to pay it forward, to continue the tradition and to #LoveLocal.

As an experienced hand in the hospitality and F&B space, Trevor Jones always intended to work for himself some day. After a journey through some of Canada's leading brands, including time spent at our very own Predator Ridge, that day did come to dawn in 2019 - with the opening of Il Mercato Social Kitchen in West Kelowna. Since that time, the world has been turned upside down, with Il Mercato operating for longer in the pandemic than under 'normal circumstances'.

The most striking aspect of this interview though is Trevor's ability to use process to deliver a seamless great experience, and to see opportunity in adversity. I can think of few restauranteurs thinking of measured expansion whilst trying to survive the pandemic. And this is why I truly believe that under his stewardship, the Il Mercato brand will thrive and grow.

So here is Trevor Jones, giving us yet more reason to #LoveLocal.

Patti Shales Lefkos is a Canadian writer and journalist. Patti’s articles, profiles, columns and travel writing have appeared in a range of Canadian and international publications. Nepal One Day at a Time is the story of her first trekking trip on her own, and also supports education in the Gorkha province in Nepal.

Born and raised in Toronto, she has also lived in Neuchatel, Switzerland and Vancouver - but now calls Silver Star Mountain her home. Following a rewarding career as a teacher, educational consultant, administrator and advocate for inner city children, in 2006 she set out to pursue international adventure travel. Whether canoeing the Yukon River, backcountry skiing in BC’s Monashee Mountains, hiking in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides or trekking in Tibet and Nepal, she embraces the culture and environment of wilderness areas. 

Patti's story in this episode of #LoveLocal is in many ways about recognizing that the world is one big local community.