Okanagan Golf Club has opened the new Table Nineteen Restaurant, along with completing a massive, $4M renovation on the entire property, including the clubhouse, restaurant, bar, banquet rooms, patio, admin offices, menÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s and ladies locker rooms, pro-shop, washrooms and event space. Basically, everything was renovated except the golf courses. Managed by long-time well-known golf-guy Dan Matheson, the restaurant offers a mix of high-top tables and regular banquette seating, an inviting dining room showcasing a large fireplace, and a new retractable wall to separate or blend the dining room/lounge with the banquet room. Now, open all-year round, the restaurant seats 97 inside, 124 on the patio and 300+ in the event space. Chef Prasad Chavan, formerly of Peak Cellars and OÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™Rourke Family Estate, has created a brand new and exciting menu with locally and ethically sourced ingredients. The menu offers a good variety of shares, salads, burgers, sandwiches, staples, bites and dinner. They now have pizza ovens and make their own dough fresh in-house daily. Try their popular items such as Bombay Style Chicken Curry, Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Braised Lamb Shank, Miso Roasted Sablefish, Wagyu Beef Dumplings or Edamame Power Bowl. We sampled the Prawn Pad Thai and Wild Mushroom Pizza. Both were delicious and you could certainly tell the pizza crust was fresh house-made. Top off your meal with the dark chocolate crème Brule. Julie Johnston, formerly of MoxieÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s is the Food and Beverage Manager.
After owning and operating the White Spot Restaurant franchise on Harvey and Dilworth for 30 years, Joe Racchi has sold the restaurant to Prince and Preet Kahlon of Abbotsford, B.C. as of July 22nd. The management team and staff will remain the same with Brad Kary, long-time general manager, since 1989, staying on as well in his current position. Joe has a long-time association with White Spot as he and his wife, Martha of 43 years met at the Lonsdale White Spot back in 1979, and they worked together for most of their 43-year marriage. Joe worked there from 1986 to 1990 as a corporate manager and a franchisee from 1994 to 2024 in Kelowna at the Dilworth location. Unfortunately, Martha has since passed. Joe will continue to operate the Triple OÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s at 948 McCurdy Road and 105 Adams Road.
Players Choice Sports at #2 Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ 310 Banks Road is celebrating their 20th Anniversary in business. What began with two menÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s collections 20 years ago, the company has grown into a successful family-run retail business, being the ultimate destination for sports and hobby collectors in Western Canada. Owned and operated by Katie and Jason Wobshal and their family, to celebrate they are excited to have Logan Stankoven visit their store on Saturday, July 20th from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. to meet his fans and sign autographs. Stankoven is a Canadian NHL forward for the Dallas Stars. He was drafted 47th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft. Upper Deck Authenticated is setting up a Road Show on both days, showcasing many of their best memorability pieces. Players choice will also be offering spectacular sales all weekend on almost everything in the store. There will be door crashers on Friday and Saturday.
There are new and exciting changes happening at Orchard Park, including new stores, renovations, and a beautiful new Guest Services Desk. The current Guest Services Desk at the Harvey Entrance has closed, and the new Guest Services Desk is now located at the Springfield entrance. The Guest Services team is excited to move to a beautiful, contemporary, custom-designed service desk, offering the same excellent guest service, now in proximity to the interactive store directory and the elevated concierge experience while ordering gift cards, asking directions or making general inquiries about Orchard ParkÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s stores and services. With the introduction of the new Guest Services experience, Orchard Park invites the community to discover an array of new stores, including LÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™Occitane, Volcom, Studio 6 By BodyMods, Pita Pit, Ogopogo Giftland,, Best Buy Express and Ready to Cook, opening later this summer. Several stores are also re-opening with a fresh new look after major renovations including, Bikini Village, Edo Japan, Opa, American Eagle, Quarks, Tip Top and Ben Moss. Spanning over 700K sq.ft. and seeing over 6M visitors annually, whatever shoppers are looking for, Orchard Park Shopping Centre has something new for everyone to discover and rediscover. Catherine Whittingstall is the Regional Manager Operations and Pam Jacques is the Marketing Manager.
Sport Clips Kelowna located in the Dilworth Shopping Center have new owners. Sports Clips offer more than haircuts. They provide a complete grooming experience tailored specifically for men and boys. Their team of stylists is dedicated to delivering top-notch service of their signature MVP experience, which includes a precision haircut, invigorating massaging shampoo, steamed towel treatment, relaxing neck and shoulder massages. The also offer a wide range of hair and beard styling services. Sport Clips Kelowna have an online check-in system so clients can skip the wait and reserve their spot. To support seniors, they are currently offering Seniors Day Specials every Wednesday, where seniors get the full MVP service at a discounted rate.
Work BC Centre Kelowna is hosting a hiring event with the opportunity to connect with local employers from a variety of sectors who are looking to hire new talent. Whether you are looking for your first job, a career change or interested in exploring new opportunities, this event is for you. Employers include Interior Health, Decisive Dividend Corp., Papason Trucking, and Renewal by Anderson. The event is Thursday, July 25th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at #107 Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ 1835 Gordon Drive. Joel Gunther is the Employer and Community Coordinator of WCG Services WorkBC Kelowna. Register at
Pushor Mitchell LLP has welcomed Derek Graham as their most recent associate lawyer practicing in the areas of Business Law, Securities Law and Real Estate. After completing law school, Derek articled at a corporate finance M&A and securities firm in Vancouver, BC.
The Okanagan Historical society is partnering with the Central Okanagan Heritage Society for this yearÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s summer social at Benvoulin Church and the Church grounds on Sunday, July 21st from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to this free event. Cake and cold beverages will be served. Chairs are available and guests are welcome to bring along their own snacks and memories of the past to share with others.
The Annual DKA Block Party is this Saturday July 20th. The event will stretch from The Sails to St. Paul Street and will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The 2nd Annual Garry Benson Memorial Golf Tournament is September 12th, 2024. Sponsored by Title Sponsor Benson Law LLP and Canco. There will be a shotgun start at 1:30 p.m. with registration beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Sunset Ranch Golf and Country Club. To register contact Marek Buryska at marekb@live.ca or Kent Harris at kent.harris@arlingtonstreet.ca.
Stories That Animate Us at the Kelowna Art Gallery has been named Best in Show, one of 12 Must See Art Exhibitions across Canada this summer by Art Canada Institute. Sponsors of the event, David and Camille Saltman are excited about the exhibit which was organized by the Vancouver Art Gallery and showcases Canadian and International voices including Joyce Wieland, David Hockney, Francisco de Goya, Camille Turner and other brilliant artists. Stories That Animate Us highlights a diverse selection of works on paper and animations from a wide range of collectively shared oral histories, knowledge, systems, and cosmologies, as well as personal memories, imaginings, and dreams. Whether evoking the spirit world, creating fictional tales, or reflecting on historical and current events, the featured artists vividly reflect on such themes as culture, community, memory, death and identify in order to speak to the past, present and future. The exhibit will be open until September 22nd.
PeachlandÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s Got Talent, part of their Mural Festival. Is being held in Heritage Park from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. on July 20th and August 17th for the semi-finals. Open mic and finals are on August 31st. This is open to all ages and all abilities with cash prices. The event is sponsored by the Lions, Rotary, District and Arts Council.
If you are on Linktree, you can now access Straight from DeHart weekly on that site also.
Birthdays of the week
Audrey Carlson (July 17); Dennis OÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™Rourke (July 17); Carla Weaden (July 17); Fern Portsmouth (July 17); Navjot Takhar (July 17); Trevor Hill (July 18); Ken Green (July 18); Nataley Nagy (July 18); Cheryl Stecko (July 19); Ray Warren (July 19); Merle Engel (July 19); Shirley Bodie (July 19); Bill Peckman (July 19); Brian Welke (July 20); Heather Robinson (July 20); Al Waters (July 20); Luke Turri (July 20); Zack Irmen (July 21); Trina Warren (July 22); Bob Bissillion (July 22); Jeff Harder (July 22); Marika Luczi (July 22); Garet Tanner (July 22); Jim Gray (July 22); Devinder Virk (July 23); Curtis Krouzel (July 23); Cheryl Stone (July 23).
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