A bottle of fine SUMMERLAND wine is payable IF the VEES do not break the BCHL record for wins at Tuesday’s game in Chilliwack!

How will the Realtors at RE/MAX Chilliwack respond to this friendly challenge?

Patrick Murphy 250 486 2529

Re/Max Orchard Country

patrickmurphy@remax.net

The Chilliwack office can choose a fine Summerland wine from Summergate Winery, Dirty Laundry Vineyards or Sumac Ridge Estate Winery…IF the VEES do not break the record on Tuesday night!

“In the tiny town of Summerland, population 11,000, I am sent zig-zagging from a winery to an orchard for apple picking, followed by a sampling of mead at a local beekeeper’s”

hmmpphh  TINY town of Summerland…well, maybe I will just call your country “mediocre” Britain and see how that goes over!  JK, thanks for the mention, we appreciate it a lot!  Beautiful pictures, too, by the way!

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2093962/Okanagan-wine-holidays-The-gourmet-British-Columbia.html#ixzz1lGxBOGWa

http://www.cip-icu.ca/greatplaces/en/place.asp?id=5945

From the Summerland Review:

Mayor Janice Perrino said the nomination is good news for Summerland.

“The more we get our name out there the more people will come and visit us,” she said.

“We always need tourists and we always need new people considering moving here.”

She urges Summerlanders to vote for the community in the people’s choice section on the contest website.

“We have to get everyone to vote for us until Feb. 29.|”

Patrick Murphy 250 486 252

ISINTOK – The Isintok property has significant potential for Jasper as reported in its  July 19, 2011 New Release.  The Isintok property is 100% owned by Jasper and consists of 3,007 ha (7,432 acres), located approximately 25 km west of the Okanagan Valley and the community of Summerland.

Gordon Dixon, President of Jasper Mining Corporation notes, “Jasper drillholes on the Isintok property have mineralization 1200 metres apart north-south, a width of 600 metres east-west and to a depth of 300 metres. The mineralization remains open in all directions and depth. Jasper News Releases December 22, 2010, March 18, 2011 and April 20, 2011. Accordingly, potential exists for an increased volume of mineralization.

In Jasper’s opinion, substantial further infill drilling on the Isintok property is warranted.

This was followed by another, less formal event: “Celebrate Summerland Success”. Up and down the valley there were real estate developments going under and projects being mothballed. The celebration brought together many downtown merchants and really, just celebrated Summerland Success at a time when it seemed every other bit of news was so very negative.

However, in that time, Summerland has become hit very hard with job loss, business closings, and a highly visible number of Main St vacancies. In an effort to promote the future economic well being last year, we hosted the Summerland Outlook Conference.

Speakers were brought in from outside of Summerland for the first time. They spoke of the need for leadership and business involvement in the community. There was great enthusiasm from a number of business people, who expressed their desire to work together for change.

Now, as Summerland begins 2012 with a renewed sense of hope, it’s quite simply a GREAT time to become aware of Summerland winners, movers, shakers and contributors. It is our hope that by engaging the community, Summerland will be inspired and look with real hope for a change in the economic well being of this otherwise perfect little town!

So, since EZ Rock yesterday mentioned Nicole Dunsdon as former Miss Canada, why not take a minute to add to this list!  Go ahead, name some names:

how about this Summerland person, featured TODAY in a news article: Launi Skinner

Launi Skinner, the chief executive officer of First West Credit Union, was recently named one of Canada’s most powerful women by the Women’s Executive Network for the second consecutive year.

Have a great day, and let’s get Summerland Economy MOVING…postively forward

UPDATE: here’s another interesting bit:

Did you know that Summerland has a history of being home to THE major land development players of Canadian history? Millionaire’s Row in Summerland was so named when Sir Thomas Shaughnessy began the Summerland Development company in 1902. Many investors such as Angus, Holt, Osler and Hosmer from Eastern Canada purchased property in the area, and you may recognize their names from streets in Vancouvers Shaugnessy area!

And, also in the news, how about a former  Miss Summerland now helping out in Africa!

http://www.summerlandreview.com/news/136623468.html

This idea will cost nothing to implement, that’s great

This idea is GREEN, that’s great

This idea benefits Agriculture, that’s great

This idea benefits Tourism, that’s great

This idea involves school kids, that’s great…

so in Summerland, this truly should be…a great idea!

Question, as always in Summerland is:  WHO WILL LEAD THIS?

I read of this GREAT IDEA in the Sun:  School age people create a local technology application for smart phones that MAPS OUT EVERYWHERE A VISITOR CAN BUY FRESH PRODUCE FROM OUR GROWERS.

Here’s to a sincere hope that SOMEONE will take this idea and give it wings in this small town.  Patrick Murphy

“Elverum, who is a co-founder of CityStudio, said that in one project, students mapped all of the places a person could buy a fresh apple in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood.”

Here’s to a sincere hope that SOMEONE will take this idea and give it wings, and grow it in this small town. SADI? SCEDT? SCHOOL TEACHER?

Patrick Murphy

It’s time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in
a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?
Everyone — yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates
from your local Canadian hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It’s appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some
health improvement.

Who wouldn’t appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, Canadian owned
detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a
book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking down
the Benjamines on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift
receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or
driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants — all offering gift
certificates. And, if your intended isn’t the fancy eatery sort, what about
a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this
isn’t about big National chains — this is about supporting your home town
Canadian with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn’t use an oil change for their car, truck or
motorcycle, done at a shop run by the Canadian working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a
local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is
struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin
their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery
and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave
your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at
your hometown theatre.

Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese
lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of lights, about
fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to
burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining Canadian pockets so that
China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about
us, encouraging Canadian small businesses to keep plugging away to follow
their dreams. And, when we care about other Canadians, we care about our
communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn’t imagine.
THIS is the new Canadian Christmas tradition.

BUY CANADIAN – BE CANADIAN – The job you save might be your own

For those of you who want to “cut to the chase” on my comments, just skip to near the end to read from: “One quick thought”…

Congratulations to SCEDT for a well run All Candidates Forum last night.  Chamber President Clausen did a good job at moderating and especially, teaming up with Lisa Jaager, kept things moving at a pretty good pace!  Congratulations also to the candidates for their willingness to stand.

There was obvious consensus on “someone needs to do something” about the dire economic straits our little town faces.  Many candidates clearly indicated their desire to be a part of helping Summerland create jobs and housing options.  This consensus on the need for jobs and housing options is a great start, but frankly, that’s the good news…and the easy part!

Each candidate is a normal living breathing person who sees the need to address the current (woeful) economic direction of Summerland.  But, these normal people, if elected, have to then endure hearing all the loud, critical, negative voices coming from every direction, for every reason, all the time!

QUESTION: Do you enjoy being criticised?  I don’t!  Be honest, don’t most of us take every precaution in our daily lives to avoid criticism?

QUESTION: So, what is one way, that normal people who care, with the courage to let their name stand, can protect themselves from as much criticism as possible?  The answer lies in another of last night’s common themes:  The overwhelming agreement among candidates for more committees to be created.  A number of candidates indicated their desire to form more committees!
That is a fair and understandable way for a normal person (who gets elected) to cope with the natural desire to avoid some of the constant nagging negative AND EXCESSIVE criticisms thrown about with no regard for personal feelings whenever someone tries to do something around here!  No normal person wants to face the inevitable wall of editor letters alone!  But, for Summerland to be able to look back on the next 3 year term, we are ALL gonna HAVE to come to grips with the fact that there WILL be opposition.. for anything, always, every time, no matter what!

So, given that these good people with the courage to hold elected office certainly do not want to be left hung out to dry, they will most certainly need the support of the community if Summerland is to successfully face down these agreed upon, serious threats to our little town’s economic well being.   AFTER the election, over the next three year term, let’s make sure we as individuals take a minute every now and then to keep in touch with these normal people who let their names stand in service for the good of this town!  And maybe that will be US doing OUR part to avoid seeing more committees being created!

One quick thought came as we parked the car last night, and chrystalized so clearly as we listened to each candidate discuss how to get this town pointed in the right direction for economic investment…

All this effort, all this talk about the importance of participating in democracy…all this work that goes into creating and hosting an important community event like this.  All the advertising, emails to businesses and web promos for this event, all the prep work and research by each candidate…and…

Can the District staff responsible for the Center Stage sign get it together to PUT THIS EVENT UP ON THAT SIGN? nope.  How disrespectful is that?

No greater black eye for the District culture of service can be pointed to than that.  An important community event like this, with FULL PARTICIPATION by every single hopeful candidate…and there is a staledated sign sitting there advertising a bygone event…

Sorry, there is NO EXCUSE for not having that sign helping to promote this community event.

Sure, some will say that it’s no big deal…but, I say that before our elected officials start talking about tax breaks and incentives to attract business and investment dollars to Summerland, how about we fix some of those many, little frustrations first!  That kind of thing gives a negative impression about our town to the very investors we hope to attract!  And until we get that kind of attitude (yes, I said attitude) fixed, please don’t bother trying to tell any other investors “Summerland is open for business”.

“Kelowna ranked top BC city for businesses”

http://www.castanet.net/edition/news-story-66497-1-.htm#66497

Kelowna is the “most business friendly” in BC

“Good public policy is also critical, so we look at the presence of supportive local government tax and regulatory policies.”

Mayor Sharon Shepherd says she is pleased that Kelowna is making its presence known in entrepreneurship, she notes the city has some top notch small business organizers…

…”anytime you have a desirable place to live, like Kelowna, you will attract a level of of entrepreneurs who want to invest…”

Hello Summerland…