The 2013 Santa bus is on the road again. Each year City of Kelowna bus drivers volunteer their time to decorate a City bus. They then drive it around Kelowna and collect hundreds of toys and food donations to share with people at christmas. Pictured here is City Council (missing Andre Blanleil) in the back of the bus with Santa.










L-R

All proceeds from this event go to support the Metro Community, a local charity serving those experiencing homelessness or marginalization in Kelowna. The Metro Community has been operating in the downtown core for 7 years and takes pride in supporting people both tangibly (food, water, clothing, social support) and relationally. Congrats to Charlie Hodge and Curtis Tulman for putting together the successful fund raising event for the 9th time. 

I was honored to represent the City of Kelowna at a Remembrance Day Ceremony at Kelowna Secondary School (KSS). I Joined the following dignitaries: MP Ron Cannan; MLA Steve Thomson; Mr. Hugh Gloster of SD#23; Aboriginal Veteran Mr. Richard Gauthier; guest speaker Colonel Phil Engstad and CUPE Representative Mrs. Bonita Gilbert. There was also a military honor guard participating in the ceremony.  A moving outdoor ceremony took place honoring those that have served in the military and for those that have given their lives in service to their country. In Flanders Fields was read, and a 30 piece choir sang a moving arrangement of "In Flanders." 

The City of Kelowna, in partnership with the business community has been awarded the "Open for Business Award" by the BC Small Business Round table. This award was received in September, but Premier Christy Clark and Minister Naomi Yamamoto (Minister of State for Tourism and Small Business) brought the cheque in person to Kelowna City Hall. This provided the opportunity to invite our business partners to join in the celebation. These business partners include: The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, The Economic Development Commission of Central Okanagan, The Women's Enterprise Centre, Community Futures, The Uptown Rutland Business Association, Okanagan College, Accelerate Okanagan, Urban Development Institute, and the Downtown Business Association.

Bernard Ave. makes finals

Wednesday, 23 October 2013 02:00 Ron Seymour - Kelowna Daily Courier

Kelowna councillor and acting Mayor Luke Stack crosses Bernard Avenue, Abbey Road-style, on Tuesday. The downtown Kelowna street was named one of four finalists in a contest aimed at identifying Canada's Greatest Street.

Bernard Avenue has been named as one of four finalists in a contest aimed at identifying Canada's Greatest Street.
The main shopping street in the city's downtown is up against roads in Edmonton (104th Street Promenade), Goderich, Ont. (Courthouse Square), and Lacombe, Alta. (Historic Main Street), in a contest sponsored by the Canadian Institute of Planners.
"That's excellent news, I'm very pleased," acting Kelowna mayor Luke Stack said Tuesday. "It's a great recognition for the work we've been doing on Bernard, with the wider sidewalks, outdoor cafes, and street amenities."
If Kelowna were to come out on top when the Institute names the winning street on Nov. 8, World Town Planning Day, it could yield significant economic benefits, Stack said.
"It would be very helpful from a tourism point of view," he said. "I hear people saying all the time when I'm down there how amazing Bernard is. It would be great if even more people knew."
After the online contest started earlier this year, more than 100,000 votes were cast for 68 different streets, neighbourhoods, and public spaces.
Kelowna was initially far off the radar, with just 10 votes by mid-August. That was far behind many other nominations, such as the Farmer's Market, held every Saturday along Penticton's Main Street, which had 1,780 votes at that point.
But promotion of the contest by Mayor Walter Gray, and coverage in local media, helped push Bernard Avenue's vote total past 1,000 in just a week. It was, however, still nowhere near the top contenders in terms of votes.
In selecting the four finalists, judges at the Institute of Planners were not guided only by the number of votes cast for each nomination. "The expert opinion of a panel of professional planners" was also enlisted, said Jacklyn Nielsen, co-ordinator of outreach for the institute.
Bernard Avenue is undergoing a $14-million renovation, triggered by the need to replace underground utility lines. The work includes much wider sidewalks, narrower traffic lanes, new trees and plantings, street furniture, and large metal poles intended to serve a "place-making" function for Bernard, identifying it as Kelowna's most distinctive street.