It香蕉视频直播檚 no secret that many who immigrate to Canada cannot find work in their chosen field from their home country.

That was a reality Karnail Singh Sidhu faced when he brought his family from India to the Okanagan in 1993.

Sidhu was a qualified electrical engineer back in Punjab and had worked for a company he compared to BC Hydro, but Canada refused to recognize his credentials.

香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檙e always looking for skilled people from other countries, but when the skilled people come here they very quickly learn that they don香蕉视频直播檛 recognize their credentials. It香蕉视频直播檚 still happening today.香蕉视频直播�

Not being able to work as an engineer, Sidhu went back to his family roots of organic farming.

香蕉视频直播淚 started actively looking for work at different wineries and in 香蕉视频直播�96 I was hired by Summerhill. That香蕉视频直播檚 where I worked for ten years.香蕉视频直播�

Sidhu fell in love with the Okanagan香蕉视频直播檚 wine industry and during a lunch with his brothers decided to start a venture of his own.

香蕉视频直播淲e saw the bottles and at that time they were around $15 and we thought it香蕉视频直播檚 not a bad idea to start a winery, you香蕉视频直播檙e just selling juice. For $15 a bottle, that香蕉视频直播檚 a good deal.香蕉视频直播�

That is how Kalala Organic Estate Winery on West Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 upper bench was born.

Kalala started making wine in 2006 and opened to the public with a wine shop and tasting room on June 5, 2008.

The winery focuses on organic practises and has 20 labels including reds, whites, roses and icewines. Kalala also produces various orchard-pressed fruit juices.

Having worked in the wine industry for several years, Sidhu was no stranger to the difficulties the Okanagan would pose in the vineyard.

香蕉视频直播淭here are always challenges. But one of the biggest challenges we香蕉视频直播檝e had, we opened the winery during a recession,香蕉视频直播� Sidhu said. 香蕉视频直播淚 think the whole industry, what it香蕉视频直播檚 facing now香蕉视频直播� It香蕉视频直播檚 really hard to get any local workforce and the biggest challenge is getting young farmers.香蕉视频直播�

And when it comes to fires, floods, extreme heat and other weather events, Sidhu said it香蕉视频直播檚 all part of the organic process.

香蕉视频直播淭o me being organic means we try to stay as close as we can to nature. It doesn香蕉视频直播檛 bother me. Things happen, it香蕉视频直播檚 nature. If it香蕉视频直播檚 beyond your control, don香蕉视频直播檛 worry about it. You can try to manipulate whatever you can to do your best. That香蕉视频直播檚 my attitude.香蕉视频直播�

Sidhu said you can complain all you want, but it isn香蕉视频直播檛 going to make things change.

Proud of the organic focus of the winery, Kalala regularly engages in research projects on organic vineyards and winemaking technology.

Sidhu uses a lot of knowledge from his engineering background in his current business path.

香蕉视频直播淚 think education makes you think broadly and think critically and whichever field you pick you will be successful.香蕉视频直播�

Despite the difficulties faced in the business, Sidhu claimed no year is a bad year as long as you learn something.

香蕉视频直播淚 always say one thing and I tell my kids this too, you go to school to learn not to be something. You will be whoever you want to be later if you learn a lot in school. What you learn in school you can apply to your life everywhere.香蕉视频直播�

To Sidhu, success isn香蕉视频直播檛 about the financial gain, 香蕉视频直播渋t香蕉视频直播檚 what you learn in those years.香蕉视频直播�

Since the business opened, Kalala has received several awards for its wines at many different levels of competition.

香蕉视频直播淭o me, the company is the same as like other sports companies. All the players aren香蕉视频直播檛 going to win, they are all good but some win and some lose香蕉视频直播� I can香蕉视频直播檛 say it香蕉视频直播檚 only the best player who wins it. They香蕉视频直播檙e all the best, they came there because they are the best. All the wine we make in the Okanagan, I think we make very good wine and we make world-class wine. We should not hesitate to compete anywhere in the world with an Okanagan wine.香蕉视频直播�

The first award-winning wine from Kalala came the same year it opened to the public. In 2008, the winery won a People香蕉视频直播檚 Choice Award with its Pinot Gris.

香蕉视频直播淵ou do get excited when it香蕉视频直播檚 the very first one. I don香蕉视频直播檛 get excited too much, and sometimes my wife complains,香蕉视频直播� Sidhu laughed. 香蕉视频直播淏ut it is a nice feeling the first time you香蕉视频直播檙e in and win, people like your wine, that香蕉视频直播檚 an enjoyable moment.香蕉视频直播�

The awards are just a small part of why Sidhu loves what he does. He said it香蕉视频直播檚 ultimately the people that make it all worthwhile.

香蕉视频直播淲e have people from all over the world and you learn a lot about different cultures. In my case, people ask lots of questions about me, too. I do look different than most of the industry. It香蕉视频直播檚 great to meet the different people from all different corners of the world and it香蕉视频直播檚 very satisfying when people love your product.香蕉视频直播�

Kalala currently has four vineyards in the Okanagan equalling over 41 acres. Sidhu said they purchased Little Straw Vineyards from the Slamka family when they retired in November 2021.

香蕉视频直播淐oming from another country, a different culture and different language, I think it香蕉视频直播檚 very fulfilling and I香蕉视频直播檓 proud to be in the situation I am in today.香蕉视频直播�