Accessible Adventure - Inclusivity on the Rail Trail
Sonja shares her top two ways to experience Okanagan rail trails, including four of her favourite access points and their accessible features - helping you plan ahead, get out there and enjoy the beauty of the Okanagan!
“Rail Trails seem to be the hottest experiences that outdoor enthusiasts are choosing to explore these days. The rail trails throughout the Okanagan Valley are a great way to enjoy the beautiful natural spaces that surround us while exercising and nurturing your overall well-being - physically, mentally and emotionally!”
As a wheelchair user, experiencing the rail trails can depend on your choice or mode of transportation - handcycle, manual wheelchair, power wheelchair, scooter - and any additional mobility attachments or power assist devices that you might have, including willing friends and family. They can assist you along the way if need be! Exploring these trails is also based on your level of adventure and willingness to explore. Whether you are ready to venture out onto the hard-packed gravel-surfaced rail trails, or you prefer to stick to the paved pathways and trails that also exist.
I love to experience the rail trails one of two ways:
Manual Wheelchair
When using my manual wheelchair - I will always attach my GoFreeWheel front attachment, which lifts the front castors - the ones that cause us so much trouble on rough and uneven surfaces! Depending on the level of energy I want to exert on each particular outing - I can also attach my SmartDrive power assist, which, when paired with the FreeWheel, works incredibly well! I can’t stress enough how pairing these two attachments have opened up so many trails and different terrain that I would not typically be able to access as a manual wheelchair user.
Handcycle
Depending on several factors and the purpose of my outing, who I am with, stops along the way, speed and distance of travel, another way I like to explore the rail trails is via my handcycle. It’s nothing fancy, but it is one that can handle uneven off-road terrain. It has larger width tires that are suited for both on and off-road use. I could choose to put mountain bike tires on as well, but for me, I find this creates too much drag, and I’m just out for a leisurely, enjoyable ride.
“Here are some of my favorite rail trail access points and their accessible features so that you can plan ahead and choose the trailhead that works best for you! ”
COLDSTREAM / KICKWILLIE TRAILHEAD
Accessing the rail trail in Coldstream at the Kickwillie access point can be a bit of a challenge but well worth it! There are saskatoon berries galore for picking and be on the lookout for raptors searching for their next meal along the shoreline.
Accessible Features:
Four designated accessible parking stalls in total
Two parking stalls that can accommodate a side lift or ramp
Accessing the trail from the parking area is a bit of a challenge, but there are two options:
A gravel surface ramp with 7.5 degrees of slope
Or you can choose to travel on the paved road which runs parallel to the gravel ramp
KEKULI BAY Trailhead
This is a great trailhead to leave from as you can choose to head north towards Vernon or south towards Oyama. Either direction you choose to travel, the breathtaking views of the lake and the feeling of freedom in nature and open spaces will nurture your soul!
Accessible Features:
One designated accessible parking stall that can accommodate a side lift or ramp
Other parking options available could be in the boat trailer parking lot or an end spot in one of the other parking areas that you will find there
Access from the parking areas to the trailhead: Paved downslope grade of 7-9 degrees depending on where you are parked
Men's and women's outhouse washroom. Although they are not identified as accessible, they are both very accessible (Level entry access, flush toilets / oblong shaped toilet seat, grab bars, roll under the sink with lever controls, mirror at an accessible height, ample floor space to accommodate a wheelchair)
OYAMA BOAT LAUNCH Trailhead
This is one of my favorite rail trail access points to start from! Heading south from the parking area towards Winfield and along the east shores of Wood Lake is another fabulous section of the rail trail. Be sure to stop for a photo opportunity at the waterfall along the way!
Accessible Features:
Two designated accessible parking stalls than can accommodate a side lift or ramp
Hard packed gravel surface parking lot
Wheelchair accessible porta potty
Access onto the rail trail is directly in front of the accessible parking stalls.
Once on the trail, if you choose to head north towards Oyama, you may want to plan and consider any one of these stops along the way to add to your experience:
From here, you can continue north towards Vernon and take in the vistas that surround as you travel along the shores of Kalamalka Lake, “the lake of many colours.”
WINFIELD / WOODSDALE ROAD TRAILHEAD
This is another trailhead access point that you may want to consider exploring. If you choose to travel north towards Oyama, the trail follows the lakeshore of Wood Lake where you will pass through a rich riparian native habitat that supports a variety of plants, birds and other wildlife. Aircraft enthusiasts may choose to travel south towards the Kelowna Airport and watch the takeoffs and landings overhead.
Accessible Features:
Level hard-packed gravel parking lot / no marked parking stalls
Level access onto the rail trail
At this time, there is no accessible washroom
Something I like to do after my roll along this section of the trail is plan ahead and make the short drive to one of the Lake Country wineries for a well-deserved wood fire oven pizza and a glass of world-class Okanagan wine. This is the perfect ending to another fantastic accessible experience here in the beautiful Okanagan Valley!
O’Rourkes Peak Cellars Winery
Blind Tiger Vineyards
The complete map of the Okanagan Rail Trail can be a great reference to help you plan your adventure. Be sure to contact CRIS Adaptive to inquire about their adaptive equipment rental program and other recreational programs they have to offer. Happy Adventuring!
About the Author
Sonja Gaudet is a retired 3 X Paralympic Gold Medalist and most recently a Canadian Order of Sport Inductee 2020/21. She lives in Vernon with her husband Dan and two adult children Alysha and Colten. Sonja has a passion in locating and creating accessible experiences in the Okanagan region. Some of her adventures include kayaking, exploring the accessible hiking trails with her dog Lina, and enjoying Charcuterie with her most recently discovered favorite glass of red wine, more than likely from somewhere in the South Okanagan or Similkameen region.
IG @SonjaGaudet
The Paisley Notebook: Telling Stories With Food & Supporting Local Farmers
Aman Dosanj, the creative force behind The Paisley Notebook, is inspiring curiosity and change when it comes to food, community and inclusivity.
“Put simply: I tell stories with food.”
Aman Dosanj is inspiring curiosity and change in our relationship to food while building an inclusive community through unique stories and experiences. After moving to Canada from England in 2008, Aman owned and operated Poppadoms Restaurant in Kelowna, BC, together with her family. Now, she is revolutionizing the food industry with The Paisley Notebook, showcasing Canada's abundance and turning locals into tourists.
inspiring change
During her pop-up dinners, Aman creates "Edible Adventures" for guests with an ever-changing array of flavours and stories inspired by local, seasonal ingredients as much as the farmers who grow them. Her staff also happen to be her family - if you get the chance to attend one of her events, you'll likely find Aman's Mum helping out and brother Harry serving up delicious handcrafted Cocktails. Every dinner is different, beautifully imperfect and authentic to its intention. Though food is the unifying thread through her work, Aman's mission goes far beyond.
“The project has always been about building a bigger, more inclusive table, encouraging people to be open-minded, ask questions and get excited and curious about the place we live in. It also highlights great people who deserve the recognition, levelling up the playing field - I know how to spot an underdog. ”
Supporting local farmers
Locations for pop-up dinners are always changing and never fail to amaze. Honest Food Farm in Cawston, part of the "Sourced Dinner Series," is named after their nature - Organic fruits, vegetables and flowers grown in the heart of sunny Similkameen Valley by people who genuinely care to do what feels right over what's fast or easy. Brandie and Yuri work hard to provide only the highest quality, nourishing, and flavourful food to their families and communities. By sourcing from local farmers and taking guests behind the scenes on a farm tour, Aman opens local's eyes to the abundance of produce available right in our backyard.
Supporting local will increase the quality of food on your plate, but it also means supporting small family businesses who put great emphasis on promoting sustainability within our region and beyond.
Yuri & Brandie - Honest Food Farm
Cultivating Community - apart but together
Pre-Pandemic, The Paisley Notebook was hosting events on one long table, inspiring connections through a family dining experience. Aman has re-thought how to cultivate community at "six feet together," prioritizing guests' health and safety without compromising the essence and magic of the collective experience. Guests have been feeling safe and well taken care of, thanks to Aman's attention to detail and dedication to going above and beyond in everything she does.
“It has been a rollercoaster, but it’s all about redirecting your energy. The guests I cook for are the most amazing people, it’s truly a values-based group, and I’m so grateful to share these experiences with them. ”
To learn more about Aman's story, projects and passions visit the Paisley Notebook Website & Follow along on Instagram @PaisleyNotebook. (Pro tip: to be one of the first to know about upcoming events and for a chance to buy tickets before they sell out - sign up for The Paisley Notebook newsletter.)
Read more about how Aman and her business have adjusted to the changes brought on by COVID-19 on the Tourism Resiliency Network Website as part of the “Stories of Resilience” series.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lucie has been calling the Okanagan home since 2011, after moving overseas from a tiny town with a high cow population in southern Germany. She has a serious love for travel, music and languages - seeking to continuously grow and broaden her perspective. As a writer and Yoga teacher, Lucie hopes to inspire community, compassion, and a conscious way of living.
Accessible Scenic Sips Wine Tour
Sonja takes you along on a Scenic Sips Tour including four of Lake Country’s beautiful wineries, highlighting accessibility features so you can plan ahead and enjoy this scenic Okanagan wine route to the fullest.
There’s nothing quite like wine touring along a scenic route on a sunny Okanagan day with your closest friends, catching up and enjoying the spectacular vistas that each winery has to offer. Read on for some Staycation inspiration featuring four of Lake Country’s beautiful wineries with great accessibility features.
“Accessibility can mean many different things to people with accessible requirements and our aging population. When businesses take simple action in designing space, services, products and experiences that are usable by people of any age, size or ability - inclusion and enjoyment by all becomes possible! ☺”
ARROWLEAF CELLARS
Start your day enjoying your packed Charcuterie picnic on the patio overlooking Okanagan Lake at Arrowleaf Cellars, or purchase your ingredients here. Relax, unwind and sip on any one of their fabulous white wines, the perfect pairing for conversations on a sunny afternoon.
Accessible Features:
Paved level parking lot
Two large accessible parking spaces
Wide main entrance
Great wheelchair accessible washroom
No-step level patio
Open concept tasting room
Friendly and accommodating staff
Level grass picnic area
GRAY MONK ESTATE WINERY
Photo by Sharla Pike
Experience the European ambiance and find some of your favorite gifts in the fabulous wine and gift shop at Gray Monk Estate Winery. Gray Monk's name comes from one of the first grape varieties they produced, Pinot Gris or “Grauer Mönch” in German, hence the translation to Gray Monk.
Accessible Features:
Paved parking lot - slightly sloped
Accessible parking space
Level main entrance
Good wheelchair accessible washroom
Large open tasting room - lower tasting counter available
Restaurant and patio - elevator access
O’ROURKE’S PEAK CELLARS
Next stop is O’Rourkes Peak Cellars. Request to experience your wine tasting at one of the bistro tables out on the vineyard-side patio as you take in another breathtaking view of Okanagan Lake and the surrounding orchards and rolling mountains. This is the perfect place to compare notes on some of the favorite wines you have tasted thus far!
Accessible Features:
Level paved parking lot
Accessible parking stalls
Level main entrance
Good accessible washroom - heavy door
Open concept tasting room
Accessible tables for tasting experience
Accessible restaurant & outdoor patio area.
50TH PARALLEL ESTATE Winery
Photos by Jon Adrian
Be WOWED as you approach 50th Parallel Estate Winery, an architecturally designed winery second to none! Experience your tasting in their large open spaced tasting room at a lowered tasting bar if you choose. This is a great place to wrap up a fabulous day with dinner at their open air restaurant. Consider anyone of their delicious menu options, perhaps a Forno Oven Wood Fire pizza paired with their award winning Pinot Noir and more great conversation to finish off!
Accessible Features:
Level paved parking lot - north entrance
One accessible parking space
Level paved sidewalk from parking stall to main entrance
Wide main level entrance to restaurant and wine tasting room
Tasting room - two lower tasting bars
Great accessible washroom
Restaurant - lower & higher height tables
… Enjoy! ☺
This tour can be done independently or you can book an accessible tour with our friends at Cheers Okanagan.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sonja Gaudet is a retired 3x Paralympic Gold Medalist and World Champion. She lives in Vernon with her golf-obsessed husband Dan and two adult children Alysha and Colten. Sonja has a passion in locating and creating accessible experiences in the Okanagan region. Some of her adventures include kayaking, exploring the accessible hiking trails with her dog Lina, and enjoying Charcuterie with her most recently discovered favorite glass of red wine, more than likely from somewhere in the South Okanagan or Similkameen region!
IG @sonjagaudet
Why Getting From Osoyoos to Kelowna on Electricity Has Never Been Easier
A big part of building a responsible and sustainable destination includes creating a transportation network that’s suited for the next generation of tourism.
That’s why when my partner and I were putting together a road trip up Route 97 through Washington and onwards to Kelowna, we thought it was important to find a full or partial-electric vehicle to take with us to experience the hard work this region has been doing to make it accessible for future road trips.
With a 2020 Volvo XC90 plug-in hybrid in tow, we crossed the border at Oroville-Osoyoos (a much easier crossing than the Peace Arch in Blaine) and were impressed with just how easy charging was at almost every turn.
Nk’Mip Cellars
Our first day’s itinerary had us just over the border at Nk’Mip Cellars, Canada’s first indigenous winery. The Osoyoos Indian Band owns and operates the grounds, which has slowly turned into a destination itself with Spirit Ridge Resort, a nine-hole golf course and the Nk’Mip Desert & Heritage Centre on the northern side of the property. They’ve also installed two Tesla charging stations, which we were told get plenty of use in the busy season.
Just down the road in the city centre, we charged our Volvo overnight at the Watermark Beach Resort, which has three stations (two Tesla, one regular). We imagined that in lesser weather, the covered, indoor charging parking would be quite an asset.
As we began the drive north, we were surprised to see just how many wineries and tourist destinations embraced EV driving with charging stations just about everywhere we went. Signage along Route 97 indicated charging options every few miles with more sporadically spread out as the highway opens up north of Oliver.
We stopped for a midday tour and lunch with Ruth Hanbury, then-president of Liquidity Winery in the hills outside Okanagan Falls. As we were chatting about the new age of road tripping, she mentioned that the winery has seen an increase in EV tourists over the last year (Liquidity has actually had their charging station for a number of years as part of a larger national EV initiative.)
Speaking of driving, the northern third of Washington State offers an easy before or after trip just across the border, especially driving electric.
There are currently 21 charging stations operating from Winthrop in the Cascade foothills to Davenport in the far desert. Much of the development is thanks to Plug-In North Central Washington - an all-volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to developing EV tourism in their part of the state. A group of eight enthusiasts made up of retirees, industry advocates and general citizens have built a reliable and technical network of chargers for virtually any EV. It makes a trip starting in Seattle or Portland quite easy. They’ve literally mapped out charging stops along the way for EVs of almost any battery capacity.
Getting from northern Washington to Kelowna on one charge is rather simple too. There are no shortage of Teslas or other long-range EVs making the trek and as a tech industry hotbed, Kelowna is full of charging stations, especially before venturing further north.
Tswip charging station
Resources for EV drivers:
If you’re new to EV driving, the one thing you must do is download the Plugshare app. As the most comprehensive and continuously updated map documenting charging stations throughout Canada and the US, this is the most surefire way to ease “charging anxiety”. Much of the data is user-generated and you’ll find out which destinations have chargers, if there are any fees involved and if any are currently out of service.
Power Trips Okanagan has a fleet of Teslas available for rental and can arrange pickups in Kelowna or Vernon.
About Geoff Nudelmann
Geoff Nudelman is a copywriter, journalist and brand strategist tackling the globe one soccer match at a time. He travels in search of lesser-known destinations and the stories that bring these locales to life. He currently writes for Barron's, Lonely Planet and AskMen.com. He lives in Portland, Oregon.
Building a community one brew at a time
A Kelowna-based brewery is hitting all the points with its commitment to community - not to mention first-class brews.
Illustration by Lisa Ranney
It’s not very often that a business is validated by a stranger who has no input or buy-in to your plan, but for Susi Foerg, an ah-ha moment helped coalesce everything she envisioned for her dream.
Four years ago, Foerg was on a weekend trip to the Sunshine coast when she stopped by Persephone Brewing Company for a pint. Persephone Brewing Company is well known by craft beer lovers for their well-developed brews, but what struck Foerg was the balance between beer and community. You see, the microbrewery does far more than just brew beer—it’s also a self-sustaining 11-acre farm with a focus on community agriculture. Foerg was inspired—so inspired in fact, she started to ruminate on how she could replicate the good work being down in Gibsons right here in Kelowna.
With a background in finance and banking, Foerg had a deep understanding and respect for the requirements of developing a sound business model. But she also knew that one of the intrinsic values of a business owner is understanding customer needs.
“I had always enjoyed working with clients, listening to their challenges and helping them find solutions to their banking needs,” she says. Applying that customer service-driven approach, Foerg developed a business plan for a farmhouse brewery in Kelowna that would focus on community, environment and employees as business priorities.
However, as in life, business plans sometimes must change. The Provincial Agricultural Land Commission, also known as the Agricultural Land Reserve or ALR, exists in British Columbia to assure the preservation of agricultural land. Requirements for building a farmhouse brewery in Kelowna on existing agricultural land meant very stringent regulations would need to be met, including the production of 50 per cent of the grain that was needed for the brewery would have to be grown on the land.
“That meant I’d need to grow about 20 acres of grain,” says Foerg ruefully, which was not a financial option. So, as entrepreneurs need to be nimble, she started thinking about ways to fine-tune the values of Persephone Brewing—which were non-negotiable for her own vision—and develop a brewery that incorporated those ideals.
“I tweaked my business plan and decided I need to do some research to make sure I had developed the plan appropriately,” says Foerg. In order to take the leap, she decided to rent out a suite in her house and go to Vancouver for several months and work at a brewery there to develop a deeper knowledge and skill set. But how to find a reliable tenant? (and here’s the ah-ha moment …)
“I decided to post my suite on my private social networks rather than publicly,” says Foerg. Meanwhile, a local woman who had recently escaped an abusive relationship was about to lose her short-term emergency housing and faced homelessness. Through a series of conversations, Foerg was able to provide safe housing and assure herself that her home would be cared for while she perused her dream, while providing the woman a safe and anonymous place to rebuild her life. Foerg’s decision to change her career and build a business that would focus on community, impacted a stranger in a deeply meaningful way.
“That’s when I knew I was on the right path,” says Foerg.
Taking what she learned from her time researching community-based social enterprise, as well as her time at Electric Bicycle Brewing in Vancouver, Foerg returned to Kelowna ready to hit the ground running.
Four years later, Rustic Reel Brewing is open for business, featuring local products and leading the charge on building relationships with supporting the local community, the environment and employees.
“As a business owner with 23 employees, it’s my responsibility to learn from experiences and provide a job that works around people's lives—the brewery is my life, not my employees’,” she explains.
“I want any employee to understand that I know that this professional relationship has to work so that people are happy,” she continues. With that in mind, Foerg has actively implemented supports for employees including extended health care benefits from the local Chamber of Commerce, as well as a dedicated time to embrace a work-life balance as a team, including group hikes and get-togethers.
“It’s important to me that we integrate staff reflection into our work, and I make sure I include self-reflection as part of my professional development,” says Foerg. “I need to be present and aware, and assure that all employees, no matter their role, feel validated and—even when time pressures mean I have to prioritize something else ahead of their needs—that they’re not unimportant to me.
“It’s easy to feel like you’ve failed every day but being a business owner means everything is a learning process with constant development and evaluation.”
With the brewery humming and the employees well cared for, it’s time to look at the community aspect of the brewery – and what a community it is. “The number-one priority for me in my personal life is animal welfare and cruelty,” says Foerg. “I never use products at home that were tested on animals, so why would I allow them to be used in my business?” The answer is a resounding no, which means nothing in the building is tested on animals. Ever.
The airy building seats 100 inside and 60 on the dog-friendly patio. The design of the brewery is not nautical, but meant to showcase the owner’s love of fishing, as well as the organic interplay of a rustic club house. The tables, the flight boxes and the wall paneling are all re-purposed by pallets and constructed by Foerg. “I sanded and planked all those,” she laughs. The design and the building is communal and family friendly, as well as welcoming to the canine members of the family. In fact, sadly, Walter, the Bernese Mountain dog featured on the design for the brewery created by local designer Lisa Ranney, passed away at the age of 11 shortly before the brewery opened, although his memory and influence lives on.
Susi and Walter, her loyal companion and the best brewery dog.
“I love to fish and this place was meant to be female friendly, so I wanted to incorporate design and colours that embody those ideas,” says Foerg. The brewery also features the Tackle Box, a market space that developed because, “we wanted to have a place where local market items could be showcased,” says Foerg.
“We feature a variety of different local products, including Taste of the Okanagan, which is a mother-daughter team whose products we use on our menu.” Other local menu items include pates, meats and cheeses from supplies across the Okanagan and lower mainland, as well as local grains. During the brewery production cycle, once the grains are spent, the environmental aspect of Foerg’s business plan comes into play. “We have two local farmers who pick up our spent grains for animal feed, but we produce breads, muffins, pretzels and other baked goods in house, including vegan and gluten-free options.
“We continue to grow and continue to focus on local suppliers,” says Foerg. “What we have on our menu and what we want to explain about the origins and sources of our product is important.”
At the end of the day, bring community together has been and is a priority for Foerg. “When you can see the impact of your work, that’s when you know you’re doing the right thing.”
About Cait Wills
Born in Vernon and raised around the world, Cait Wills is a passionate advocate for the Thompson Okanagan region. As Storyteller Specialist for the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, Cait is eager to showcase people, places and things in the region. If you have a suggestion on something you would like to know more about, please drop her a line at media@totabc.com.
Gratitude - how one champion skier earned a new perspective of the land
In 2004, Josh was in a life-changing freestyle skiing accident that left him as a T11 full paraplegic. But, despite seemingly insurmountable odds, Josh persevered, becoming the Para-Alpine World Champion in 2009. Read his story and his view of why do so many incredible people choose to call the North Okanagan home?
Here is the question I ponder from time to time: why do so many incredible people choose to call the North Okanagan home? From professionals and entrepreneurs to nomadic travelers and world-class athletes - the number of incredible humans who could effectively live anywhere they want with the work they do, still choose to make their home here, in the wonderful North Okanagan.
Could it be the robust variety of parks and ecosystems that are literally just outside your door? From the incredible trail network and vistas of Kalamalka Park to the wide variety of trail candy that surrounds Ellison Park, such as Predator Ridge and Sparkling Hill Resort, or perhaps it’s the lake life that keeps drawing people from all around the world to visit here.
It’s hard to deny that we live in nature’s paradise.
So what brought me here you might ask? It was work that pulled me from my roots in the Kootenays (if you would be so generous to call being a professional ski coach, work). It can certainly feel like a job at times; however, the reality I see is that I was hired to spend time with kids in the great outdoors and share with them my passion for mountain culture - blended with a healthy mix of competitive fire.
But in 2004, my life changed forever in a ski accident, leaving me paralyzed from the waist down.
It seemed obvious to stay in the community with the kids I was coaching after my accident, although my heart did long to return to the mountains from where I came. Ultimately, we experienced this trauma together and it felt like we needed to work through it together as well.
Clearly, one could yarn on for days about the physical beauty of the Okanagan to the degree I have. We are blessed beyond measure with the abundance and variety of life in this valley. In short, what kept me here in the Okanagan is the incredible people, the community and the endless possibilities that make up this geographical goldmine. They say it takes a village to raise a child, true. It also takes a community to support an athlete. My success in life is a direct result of the environment that I spend the most time in.
Photo Credit: Josh Dueck
Okay. From an accessibility standpoint, er ... seated perspective, this valley provides an abundant amount of barrier-free opportunities for all walks and rolls of life to enjoy. A nice gentle stroll on the newly built rail-trail that connects Vernon to Kelowna (on the edge of one of the top 10 most beautiful lakes - Kalamalka - in the world, says National Geographic) to the epic vantage points of the Trestles along the Kettle Valley to the wide variety of trails in Kal and Ellison, home has a little something for everyone.
The icing on the cake for a guy like me, though, is my home mountain, Silver Star. In the early days, it was a venue for me to hone my skills when I started my campaign to ski for Canada in the Vancouver 2010 Games. It clearly provided me the environment needed to ski with the best in the world. Today, I see Silver Star as a global hub for skiers and mountain bikers alike, from the aspiring world champion to the young families who are looking for a place that has it all: Nordic, alpine, bike, skate and, of course, all the little details that make a visit here so memorable - including incredible world-class views and food to savour.
So the question that remains is no longer why, but when and how will you spend your time here?
About Josh Dueck
Some spirits are simply unbreakable.
In 2004, Josh was in a life-changing freestyle skiing accident that left him as a T11 full paraplegic. But, despite seemingly insurmountable odds, Josh persevered, becoming the Para-Alpine World Champion in 2009. He won a silver medal in Vancouver 2010 and an X Games gold medal in 2011. In Sochi 2014, Josh's story continued to inspire. On the 10th anniversary of his accident, he won a Paralympic silver medal for Canada. Days later, he won gold in the Super Combined to become Paralympic Champion and Canada's Flag Bearer.
Today, Josh continues to inspire and motivate as a speaker, leader and advocate for the Thompson Okanagan, accessible sport and gratitude.
The Science Behind the Scenery
Why is the Thompson Okanagan so beautiful in fall? Like the other three seasons, the region has a swath of lakes, mountains and vistas that are breathtaking, but in autumn the foliage really stands out. We wanted to know why, so we went to an expert.
Professor Lyn Baldwin creates as a visual representation of the natural world.
Lyn Baldwin is an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops. But she is more than a botanist; she is an award-winning teacher who focuses her scholarly work on reframing the natural environment in a way that inspires her students to have a deeper understanding of the natural world, often through drawing. In fact, she has been known to present at Tourism conferences and offers a niche workshop on creating journal entries that provide a visual memory of a trip or experience.
She is also an accomplished non-fiction essayist and artist. (Her blog can be found here.) So when I wanted to know more about why the leaves in the Okanagan create such a breathtaking autumn landscape, I went to the expert.
The three Cs of leaf function
Lyn explained that leaves are green because of chlorophyll, which gives plants their green colour and absorbs light energy. The chloroplast work to convert the light energy into sugars that can be used by cells - chlorophyll and the chloroplast function together to allow for photosynthesis to occur and absorbs sunlight. The carotenoids are responsible for the yellow and orange pigments in the plant, which become apparent when the leaves change colour.
As temperatures change and decline, the leaves of deciduous plants begin to die. These leaves have huge amounts of nutrients, so there is an exchange occurring where the nutrients from the leaves are being sucked back into the tree. As these nutrients are being returned to the tree, its unmasking the carotenoids, showing off the colours.
Colour across the spectrum
While carotenoids also help show the red pigments in trees, specific types of tree leaves will turn red, but not all. Sugar maples are common in the Thompson Okanagan and turn red, and that’s because they have anthocyanins, which are the blue, red and purple pigment found in 70 per cent of plants. There are two popular hypotheses about why leaves turn red: Red as an umbrella, and red as an alarm.
The theory that leaves turn red as an umbrella says that as the nutrients are being reabsorbed from the leaves into the tree, chlorophyll is being dismantled, and the red pigment creates a more efficient reabsorption. The theory that leaves turn red as an alarm is because in the fall many trees are attacked by insects laying their eggs; therefore, the red pigment of the leaves warns the insect that this tree is well protected and that it shouldn’t bother laying its eggs. It’s the ecological equivalent of a skull and crossbones. You can read the scientific literature here.
Pretty as a picture
One of the most beautiful parts of autumn is seeing the leaves change colour. There are specific areas in the world that are well-known for fall foliage, including the eastern United States and Canada. But the Thompson Okanagan is made up mostly coniferous trees, like pine, spruce, fir and cedar. Most coniferous plants don’t change colour during the fall. (you can tell the difference between coniferous and deciduous--trees that lose their leaves after they change colour--because they have needles instead of leaves and use cones instead of flowers to spread their seeds) And yet, some of the most spectacular fall scenery can be seen in the Okanagan. We have maples that change from green to yellow to orange, and we have Golden larches, which are deciduous conifers--a very special type of tree.
So now you know why a tree changes colour in the fall - it is preparing itself for winter, where it lies dormant and waits for spring! And, you’ll be pleased to know that the Nature Conservancy of Canada now says to leave the leaves on the ground!
About Cait Wills
Born in Vernon and raised around the world, Cait Wills is a passionate advocate for the Thompson Okanagan region. As Storyteller Specialist for the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, Cait is eager to showcase people, places and things in the region. If you have a suggestion on something you would like to know more about, please drop her a line at media@totabc.com.
6 New Food Ventures in Penticton
Recently, there’s been an explosion of new things to really kick up the food and drink scene in Penticton a notch. From our craft beer and cider trails to Asian eats to naturally fermented wines, there’s a lot going on.
The South Okanagan has always made me swoon. The drive alone from Peachland to Summerland is enough to do just that. Recently, there’s been an explosion of new things to really kick up the food and drink scene in Penticton a notch. From our craft beer and cider trails to Asian eats to naturally fermented wines, there’s a lot going on.
Here’s an insider perspective into what’s new with hopefully just enough background to make you want to get to know them better yourself:
Wayne & Freda
The Okanagan is known for its power to draw people back in. It is an all too familiar tale that you hear over and over again, especially as I was also one of those people. Sometimes, you need to move away in order to really see how special it really is and that’s when the magic happens.
This has been the case for Wayne and Freda’s owners, Jen and Ryan, who moved back from Vancouver to set up shop and make their romantic 10-year coffee shop dream a reality. Oh, and how they’ve blown it out of the water since opening this year.
Whether its the inviting look and feel with all its small touches by former interior decorator, Jen, the lightly caffeinated atmosphere, the sustainable choices on their menu or the tribute to both their grandparents with choice of name, Wayne and Freda is a business with intent.
“We very much wanted to create a space that would elevate the neighbourhood and connect the community. Almost daily we get to see people run into each other here. Big smiles, often even bigger hugs are exchanged. Daily, there are tables of families and friends gathered to spend time together, to joys or to soften the blows of a hard day – these moments and exchanges are the life force behind this place”, says owner, Jen.
Well, how do I top that? The Okanagan is a place where people can truly dream. W & F has been a great addition to our community. Within walking distance to pretty much everything in the downtown core, this is the perfect spot to start your day before heading to the Penticton Farmers’ Market (or any day at that), to scheme away in one of their many nooks or to just say hi.
105-249 Westminster Avenue W, Penticton
Credit: Wayne & Freda
Sushi Genki
Husband/wife tag team originally from Kumamoto City in Japan, who made their way to Canada via the Fairmount Banff Springs hotel before deciding to call Penticton home. As a former small family business, I applaud their ballsy open hour decisions in search of some work/life balance. Closed on weekends and open until 7:30 PM on the other days, I hope more follow.
Their tiny location is buzzing with takeout orders for their stellar sushi, ramen and udon. The washroom is behind the curtain through the kitchen, so that’s a pretty cool adventure in itself. Sushi Genki has been around for a number of years, but they’re new to me, so think of it as more of a hidden eat of the Okanagan. You’re welcome!
104-95 Eckhardt Avenue E, Penticton
JoieFarm
Winemaker/Owner, Heidi Noble is a chef turned self-taught winemaker and she makes delicious small lot wines. This year, JoieFarm has amped up their collaboration game by teaming up with Yellow Dog to conspire on a barrel-aged beer/wine hybrid called ‘Like Minds’, which is available on tap in the winery’s Picnique area.
They also continue to spark conversation with their limited release experimental label called Chic Fille. It was also an opportunity for Heidi to revisit her self-taught roots and an opportunity for apprentice winemaker, Alyssa Hubert to shine.
Under this label is their, now sold out, Pinot Noir Rosé, which had an incredible raspberry lemonade colour to it with added sparkle, a Gewürztraminer that was left on skins for a sexy pink hue, a Pinot Blanc and two Pinot Noirs (fruit from the same vineyard, one fermented with ambient yeast and the other fermented with a Burgundian cultured yeast strain). In their words, ‘This collection is fun, flavourful, très chic adventure: a tour of cool-climate, lake-moderated terroir at its purest and natural winemaking techniques at their most elegant.’
The Picnique area is open with Benton Cheese, True Grain Baguettes and Oyama Sausage providing snacks for a non-pretentious, picnic blanket filled winery experience overlooking the lake. I was fortunate enough to have a tasting with Alyssa who was working the outdoor tasting bar that day. If you go, ask for her.
2825 Naramata Road, Naramata
Gusto Ferrari
How does a woodfire pizza besides the Penticton Rec. Centre sound? Random and awesome is the answer. Family owned and operated by a real life northern Italian family, with Chef/wife, Roberta in the kitchen, and husband, Flaminio, front-of-house and the kids helping to serve.
Italy is known as the land of fast cars and slow food. Opened in December 2018, The Ferrari family combines both those things with 48-hour fermented dough, sauces made from imported San Marzano tomatoes and the likes of Cannery Brewing, Truck 59 cider and a South Okanagan wine selection going hand-in-hand with the Italian stuff.
Another random fact is that Flaminio used to sell pizza ovens in Italy, so it’s definitely safe to say pizza is their forte with around 15 pies on offer.
201 Okanagan Avenue E, Penticton
Creek & Gully Cider
This is what happens when two former Joy Road Catering alumni’s with farming backgrounds put their brains together and take a chance.
The unfortunate reality of our food system means that there is little economic value in organic apples nowadays. So, first time small business owners, Kaleigh Jorgensen and Annalise Simonsen decided to turn their orchard’s apples into cider with their Slow Food thinking philosophies in mind.
In their words, ‘We believe small actions have a big impact’.
With 4 releases in their portfolio, there is one thing in common: their ciders are made using just one ingredient - apples! Leaning towards drier styles with no added sugar or water, they let the cocktail of apples do the talking with natural fermentations and a bit of Okanagan sparkle.
Credit: Creek & Gully Cider
You can meet the ladies, as well as Spooky the dog, in their beautiful ‘cider cathedral’, have a tasting in thrifted mis-matched glassware or sip on their natural cold pressed juices. Oh yeah, I should mention that this is a cidery where the apples come directly from their orchard(s) and you’re welcome to wander and ask questions. They’re down the road from Poplar Grove Cheese and Lock & Worth for a really diverse tour of ‘The Bench’.
1053 Poplar Grove Road, Penticton
Credit: Creek & Gully Cider
Neighbourhood Brewing
Ok, this one is exciting.
The BC Ale Trail has been exploding with craft brewers popping up everywhere. Port Moody is home to some excellent breweries, including Yellow Dog. Now, the Yellow Dog family is expanding with a second location in Penticton. The head brewer from Yellow Dog relocated his family to the South Okanagan, meaning we’re seriously stepping up our brew game with Neighbourhood Brewing. Another cool thing to see is the support from their neighbours at Cannery, Bad Tattoo and Slack Water, to name a few.
Although they haven’t been able to break ground on their building yet, they have recently launched their brand new beers in cans. Good things come to those who wait and all.
187 Westminster Avenue, Penticton
Credit: Neighbourhood Brewing
Doing things the right way is often the hardest way. Good people deserve good things, and when we support small, independent or family-run spots, your spending choices really does matter and make a difference. I closed the doors of my own family-run restaurant in 2016, but I always promised to do what I can to try and help.
The Okanagan is this change that’s happening and that’s pretty bloody exciting to watch.
About Aman Dosaj and the Paisley Notebook
Food geek, marketing geek, former England footballer (soccer), people watcher, middle child, Slow Food member, adventurer, imperfect environmentalist, storyteller, and just weird enough to be interesting. The former Western Living Magazine ‘Foodie of the Year’, organizes pop up dinners across the Okanagan aimed at bringing the community together. The Paisley Notebook was the winner of the ‘Culinary Tourism Experience’ category at the 2018 Canadian Tourism Awards, and a two-time finalist in the BC Tourism Industry Awards ‘Remarkable Experiences’ category, and has raised over $47k for local charities since 2017.
Website: PaisleyNotebook.com
Instagram: @paisleynotebook
Facebook: PaisleyNotebook
Youtube: The Paisley Notebook
Okanagan Peach Muffins
Have you ever wondered why it’s important to buy local food? Local food seems to be becoming more of a trend, with more and more people seeking out fresh, local options for produce and other goods. Even restaurants are sourcing locally grown ingredients, often using the term 'farm to table”.
How lucky are we that we get to live in such a beautiful place, and also have such easy access to fresh local food!
Bailey Campbell
Have you ever wondered why it’s important to buy local food? Local food seems to be becoming more of a trend, with more and more people seeking out fresh, local options for produce and other goods. Even restaurants are sourcing locally grown ingredients, often using the term 'farm to table”.
But how big of an impact does eating local food really have on your health and the planet? Before I share my Peaches and Cream Streusel Muffin recipe, I’m about to give you a mini run down!
Bailey Campbell
For the past couple years I have been trying to source local ingredients as much as possible! The easiest and most frequent way I do is by buying fruits and veggies in season at the Farmers market. First of all, it’s so much more healthy because the produce hasn’t been processed or transported long distances, so the vitamins and nutrients haven’t had as much time to break down.
It also supports the local farmers and growers because your money goes directly to them and encourages a much more sustainable way of eating. Providing out of season fruits and veggies all year round is hard to maintain and can cause harm to the environment.
Bailey Campbell
It is also SO much better for the environment. Shipping foods across large distances can cause environmental damage by using a ton of energy to refrigerate them. Fewer chemicals are also needed to fertilize in-season fruit and veggies!
Buying in season will also save you money! A lot of the time farmers market prices will be lower in cost because there is an increased supply of in-season fruits and vegetables which drives the price down!
And of course, in-season produce is always fresher and tastes WAY better!! As much as I love fresh cherries, apricots, and pears… peaches will always be my favourite fresh fruit in the Okanagan. I LOVE making summer peach tarts, peach crisp, peach sorbet, etc. This week I used some fresh peaches to whip up these Peaches and Cream Streusel Muffins.
Bailey Campbell
Bailey Campbell
They’re gluten-free, because everyone and their mom is intolerant to gluten nowadays (including myself), so the majority of all my cooking and baking is gluten-free. They’re honestly so healthy and delicious that I’ve been eating them for breakfast with my morning coffee.
Bailey Campbell
Bailey Campbell
If you wanted to get real crazy you could even serve one up with a side of vanilla ice cream for dessert. It feels good to offer wholesome, real food treats with FRESH ingredients that everyone can enjoy. Hope you enjoy them!
RECIPE:
Ingredients:
For the streusel:
1/2 cup almond flour
1/4 cup sweetener (I used Lakanto Golden)
1/8 cup coconut oil, solid and chilled
For the muffins:
1 cup gluten-free oat flour (you can simply blend oats in a food processor or blender until fine)
1/2 cup almond flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup plain greek yogurt
2 eggs
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 tbsp melted coconut oil
1 cup peaches, cut into cubes
For the cream cheese icing:
1/4 cup cream cheese
1/8 cup powdered collagen or vanilla protein powder of your choice
1/8 cup powdered sweetener (I used Lakanto but you can sub this for icing sugar)
2-3 tbsp almond milk
Bailey Campbell
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Using a fork or potato masher, combine all the ingredients for the streusel together and mix until a crumbly mixture forms. Refrigerate until ready to use.
To prepare the muffins, mix together the oat flour, almond flour, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon.
In a separate bowl, mix together all the wet ingredients (do not add the peaches yet).
Combine the dry and wet ingredients and fold in peaches.
Line a muffin tin with 8 liners and fill cups approximately 3/4 of the way full.
Top each muffin generously with the chilled streusel.
Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the centre of one of the muffins comes out clean.
Cool for 15 minutes then drizzle the cream cheese icing over the muffins and ENJOY!
xo, Bailey
About the Author
Bailey Campbell is a passionate food blogger who started Basics with Bails in 2017 as a way to share her food photography, as well as healthy, delicious, and accessible recipes that nourish the body and soul. Just as the name suggests, Basics with Bails is a blog to help you get back to the basics! She loves to bake, cook, exercise, drink wine, and take photos. She believes the secret to health and happiness starts from within and isn’t as complicated as everyone thinks! She hopes to inspire others to live their healthiest, BEST lives!
IG: @basicswithbails
Edible Adventures
I’m all about stories and adventures. My adventures, however, always tend to be of an edible kind. Leaving my pop up dinners aside, this particular one started with a little scavenger hunt across Kelowna, sourcing local goodness for the orchestrated 3-course moveable feast to come.
I’m all about stories and adventures. My adventures, however, always tend to be of an edible kind. Leaving my pop up dinners aside, this particular one started with a little scavenger hunt across Kelowna, sourcing local goodness for the orchestrated 3-course moveable feast to come.
Ok, the initial plan was for us to check out the sacred and very cool looking Spotted Lake in Osoyoos (I even created a dish inspired by the place in preparation), but sometimes Mother Nature interrupts adventure plans, but that’s when new plans hatch on the fly, which leads to epic new memories. So off we went to chase waterfalls at Christie Falls. Oh, wait…we also didn’t quite make it there either. With no cell service, we stopped at coordinates unknown because, well, we got hungry and there was a tranquil lake to help slow things (and us) down.
Photo credit: Aman Dosanj and Sian Flanagan
First up, an ‘Onion Tea’, prepared using first of the season onions that were boiled then steeped like a tea, then finished with a green onion oil to make the broth look like the lake itself. Food is precious, even if it seems abundant, so I tapped into that mindset by using all parts of the onion (zero waste and all) to reflect the ‘sacred’ nature of the lake. Did I mention that I tell stories with food?
Photo credit: Aman Dosanj and Sian Flanagan
And off we went, this time to Bear Creek Provincial Park in West Kelowna. At the base of our hike, we had two choices – left, which winded around the mountain, or right, looking upwards at the wooden stairs. We opted for the not-as-widely-used stairs route, followed by the sound of water to zigzag our way. As we left the stairs behind and looked up, we noticed a tree standing tall at the very edge of a rock – a little reminder that you can grow anywhere. Thank you for the lesson, nature.
Photo credit: Aman Dosanj and Sian Flanagan
With a backpack loaded with our locally inspired picnic, eco-friendly water bottle and Mr. Sun making a dramatic appearance, we had to work for the rewards of lunch, but to be honest, that is the best way to feel. Food has become so accessible that eating is something we just do. My project is all about trusting my local ingredients by learning about the people and stories behind it - it’s only when you get hands-on and play with your food, do you see the value in it. That is something I try to hang onto, even with something as simple and routine as lunch.
Photo credit: Aman Dosanj and Sian Flanagan
As we got to the base, the landscape shifted to this shaded lush green, sounds of the stream for added ambiance and a gigantic fallen tree. It was time to make a reservation for the restaurant at the north end of the woods. In a few short moments, our naturally constructed feast magically appeared. From cheese, pickled carrots, snap peas, salad greens, duck rillette and a freshly made baguette – everything from here by people with names and faces and families and all crazy and sustainably delicious.
Photo credit: Aman Dosanj and Sian Flanagan
There was no wait times or delays in our food, we took our time whilst eating and enjoyed each other’s company without the usual thoughts of turnaround times and average check sizes with restaurant life. It was definitely a Slow Food-dining experience that we’d both remember for a really long time, even if our restaurant were a made-up one.
Photo credit: Aman Dosanj and Sian Flanagan
Finally, we ventured over to the Bear Creek beach across the road to end our 3-course meal with dessert and a familiar Okanagan Lake view. On the menu, a simple homemade chai spiced baked yogurt (using local milk) with first-of-the-season cherries. And so, our edible adventure was over.
Photo credit: Aman Dosanj and Sian Flanagan
The best thing about living in the Okanagan is that the Valley can make even locals feel like tourists. Each sub-region is beautifully imperfect in its own right with all its twists and turns to keep you on your toes. You definitely need to experience a place in each region to really see how magical the Okanagan is.
If you’re willing to do a little work, these adventures really are accessible to everyone. Dining in the Okanagan or supporting local doesn’t necessarily have to be really expensive to create epic food memories.
Until next time.
Today’s sustainable eats included:
Duck Rillette from Sandrine French Pastry & Chocolate
Organic Carrots (pickled in-house), Salad Greens & Snap Peas from Crooked Sky Farm at the Kelowna Farmers’ & Crafters’ Market
Organic Cherries from Forbes Farm at the Kelowna Farmers’ & Crafters’ Market
Bella Stella Organic Brie and Organic Plain Yoghurt from the Kelowna Farmers’ & Crafters’ Market
The Paisley Notebook’s Plum Chutney, made with last season’s Claremont Ranch Organics Plums, Brainy Bee Honey and NOMAD Cider Vinegar (by-product of the cider making process) and homemade local Raspberry Vinaigrette
Baguette from Sprout Bread
Abeego beeswax wraps to keep that leftover baguette alive
Nomnomnom
About Aman Dosanj and The Paisley Notebook:
Food geek, marketing geek, former England and Arsenal footballer (soccer), people watcher, middle child, Slow Food Member, adventurer, imperfect environmentalist, storyteller, and just weird enough to be interesting. The former Western Living Magazine ‘Foodie of the Year’, organizes pop up dinners and collaborative events across the Okanagan aimed at bringing the community together. The Paisley Notebook was the winner of the ‘Culinary Tourism Experience’ category at the 2018 Canadian Tourism Awards, and a two-time finalist in the BC Tourism Industry Awards' 'Remarkable Experiences' category, and has raised over $47k for local charities since 2017.
Website: PaisleyNotebook.com
Instagram: @paisleynotebook
Find Yourself at Quaaout Lodge
The Quaaout Lodge, located on the shores of Little Shuswap Lake just northeast of Chase BC, is a state-of-the-art resort owned and operated by the Little Shuswap Indian Band of the Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nation.
*Due to the fire last year, the Lodge is to re-open in 2025. The Spa is currently open and limited meeting space is available. The Golf Course and Restaurant will be open sometime between the end of March, beginning of April, 2023.
For more information please visit their website QuaaoutLodge.com.
The Quaaout Lodge, located on the shores of Little Shuswap Lake just northeast of Chase BC, is a state-of-the-art resort owned and operated by the Little Shuswap Indian Band of the Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nation. Boasting the Le7ke Spa, a beautiful Conference Centre and Lodge, an indoor pool, and the 18-hole Talking Rock Golf Course, Quaaout is the perfect place for a weekend getaway.
The Lodge overlooks 1800 feet of beachfront, perfect for summer swimming, canoeing, or toes-in-the-sand relaxing. The Lodge itself, which was completely redesigned and renovated in 2010, features 70 rooms offering patios or balconies set up to view the pristine lake.
Situated in the middle of the woods and surrounded by mountains, this experience offers a beautiful blend of pampered relaxation and reconnection with the outdoors. This getaway also features Jack Sam’s, a unique and delicious experience with a menu honouring the Indigenous traditions of the region and sticking to the 100 Mile Menu, meaning everything on the menu is grown or caught within 100 miles from the restaurant.
The Talking Rock Golf Course has gained a reputation as a unique and challenging course as it meanders through the landscape. The course blends well with the features of the land as little land alteration was required to build the course. From the first tee box just steps from the Lodge to the final green on the shores of Little Shuswap, the course offers beautiful views and immersion in nature unlike any other course in the region.
Quaaout Lodge
Photographer: Meghan Reading
In addition to the Golf Course, Quaaout offers numerous workshops and Arts and Culture sessions, and their Cultural Coordinator would be thrilled to take you on a tour of the grounds, which includes an authentic kekuli and answer your questions about the area. Whether you want to plan a conference, a family vacation, a couple’s getaway or a round of golf, Quaaout has everything you need and more located in the heart of the Shuswap.
Book your stay today at Quaaout Lodge today.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alastair Heinrichs is a Creative Writing student from UBC-Okanagan. Alastair loves encouraging people to discover more about our region, whether that’s a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, the local food and craft beer scene or secret campgrounds.
Discover the Edible Okanagan
The Okanagan is not only a beautiful place, but a delicious place, too. When you take the time to really look at it and explore our land, you start to see things a little bit differently.
Where the Wild Things Are
Let me start by saying this: the Okanagan is not only a beautiful place, but a delicious place, too. When you take the time to really look at it and explore our land, you start to see things a little bit differently.
For this particular edible adventure, I met fellow Slow Food thinking friends, Kevin Kossowan (From The Wild director and multiple James Beard award nominee) and Tyler Harlton (top class little intervention winemaker of TH Wines) for a spot of foraging in Osoyoos. I’d like to also add that when your adventure starts with a dropped pin with the meeting point, you know it’s going to be a good one.
Photo credit: Aman Dosanj / Apple Maps
Photo credit: Aman Dosanj / Apple Maps
Before unloading my camp stove, hefty cast iron pan, homely spice blends and knife roll, we took a little wander to see what we could scavenger hunt for a field lunch with a five-finger discount. Blue skies stretched for miles, the path ahead muddled muted desert lands with the idyllic and familiar backdrop of lush blooming vineyards further away.
Photo credit: Aman Dosanj & Kevin Kossowan
Photo credit: Aman Dosanj & Kevin Kossowan
From a local perspective, the subdued trail was used for the every day - walking the dog, a leisurely stroll or pretty straightforward flat run. That wasn’t our perspective or purpose. We literally travelled to Osoyoos to eat lunch together, but it wasn’t just a lunch date, it was a four-hour experience with the freshest, most local produce around.
Photo credit: Aman Dosanj & Kevin Kossowan
Photo credit: Aman Dosanj & Kevin Kossowan
Photo credit: Aman Dosanj & Kevin Kossowan
Everywhere we looked, there was something new to feast on. We walked down the path, looking in every direction, losing track of each other in search of something delicious. ‘Is that…?’, ‘look over here…’ – the questions and answers kept on coming. Amongst the sameness came wild asparagus, nettles, rose petals, sumac, lamb’s quarter, pineapple weed, tarragon, mustard greens and lot and lots of poison ivy (danger is my middle name!) – all of which (minus the poison ivy) completely and magically safely edible.
Photo credit: Aman Dosanj & Kevin Kossowan
Photo credit: Aman Dosanj & Kevin Kossowan
With a bucket load of food stimulus around us, we quickly came up with a plan to bust out the old camp stove and cast iron pan and set it down under a tree along the river trail. It was only until we unloaded our haul did we realize the extent of what Mother Nature gifted us. And then it was my turn to add a little Indian vibe and create some new food memories.
Photo credit: Aman Dosanj & Kevin Kossowan
Mother Nature really does have your back.
When you start foraging or growing your own food, you start to see the environment as the delicious place it’s supposed to be - proving it’s not necessarily expensive to eat locally and in-season.
Just remember that the land is borrowed and it’s not only ours. Share with the other members of our little eco-system and leave enough behind.
About Aman Dosanj and The Paisley Notebook:
Food and marketing geek, former England and Arsenal footballer, people watcher, feminist, BSc Business Graduate, middle child, Virgo, planner, Slow Food Member, adventurer, From The Wild alumni, imperfect environment, storyteller, and just weird enough to be interesting. The former Poppadoms owner and Western Living Magazine ‘Foodie of the Year’ organizes pop up dinners and collaborative events across the Okanagan aimed at bringing the community together. Winner of the Canadian Tourism Awards’ ‘Culinary Tourism Experience’ and a two-time finalist in the BC Tourism Industry Awards' 'Remarkable Experiences' category, The Paisley Notebook has raised over $47k for local charities since 2017.
Website: PaisleyNotebook.com
Instagram: @paisleynotebook
Eat With The Season
Gay men take vacations seriously. It takes months to decide on the destination, set the budget, plan activities, and coordinate with friends. For an agri-tourism adventure with a gay twist, here’s why you need to know for your visit to the Thompson Okanagan.
Agri-tourism gaycations in the Thompson Okanagan with local-first ingredients
Gay men take vacations seriously. It takes months to decide on the destination, set the budget, plan activities, and coordinate with friends. It’s an entire production. Gaycations range from week-long rager getaways to European cities to parties with half-naked, ripped hotties, private island beach vacations in the Caribbean or Mediterranean, luxury cruises with circuit parties that go on non-stop for 72 – 120 hours, or educational with museums, arts, and culture.
However, agri-tourism has seen an increase on the gaycation scale, as gay men look for fresh and new vacation options that are healthy, full of adventure, and experiential. The Thompson Okanagan, in the interior of British Columbia, is one of the best gaycation destinations for agri-tourism, not just for the amazing options below, but also because of the hot temperatures, beaches, outdoor recreation activities, luxury accommodations, and tours. For an agri-tourism adventure with a gay twist, here’s why you need to know for your visit to the Thompson Okanagan.
Agri-Tourism Gaycations
Photo credit: The Homoculture
Gay men love cooking, preserving, and amazing food. While this isn’t totally about gastronomy, the Thompson Okanagan region boasts incredible eating! The Thompson Okanagan boasts multiple climates and terrains, providing rich farmland to grow delicious food. The region is a cornucopia of farm-fresh ingredients. Farm-to-table. Up-and-down the valley there are so many amazing places to pick up fantastic ingredients. This area is known for road-side kiosks full of fresh fruits, grains, honey, and produce! There’s an abundance of Okanagan fresh ingredients for farm-to-table cooking, healthy eating, and to take home for canning, freezing, and dehydrating.
When it isn’t the food, another treasure of the region is the plethora of wine and wineries in the area. Some of the best Canadian wines come from the Okanagan Thompson. You can wet your whistle at nearly every turn because there are more than 120 vintners within the region. There’s always new wine and wineries to discover. Wine touring is an excellent way to taste some of the finest wines. Kamloops has become a budding wine region, with three new wineries, and the Okanagan Valley has become one of the few places in the world to produce late-harvest and ice wine. Wine tasting in the Thompson Okanagan is some of the boujiest agri-touristic activities you can partake in.
Agri-Tourism Gaycations
Photo credit: The Homoculture
The North Okanagan is home to the most famous cheese in Canada, Armstrong Cheese. While the original award-winning Armstrong Cheese brand was bought up by a conglomerate company and centralized cheese making in other, larger markets, another cheese company entered the market. The Village Cheese Company respects the heritage of cheese-making in the North Okanagan, making dozens of kinds of flavoured cheeses and the best cheese curds for making homemade classic Canadian poutine you’ll ever squeak between your teeth...or cheeks. Make like a (gym) rat and get ahold of some of that milky, creamy goodness for an evening of wine and cheese pairing unlike anything you’ve ever experienced.
There’s a big push to save the newly endangered honey bee in North America, and there is no better place to get the entire beekeeping experience, honey, than at Planet Bee. Planet Bee has the absolute freshest and best honey in the Okanagan—and visiting this cool beehive comes with a complete education experience. There are a variety of delicious honey flavours, honey. Don’t forget that this sweet stuff is loaded with antioxidants and is a good dietary sugar and sweetener, plus it is amazing for curing a hangover. Do it for your health and the health of the world, by checking out the honey and bees at Planet Bee.
Jellie’s last jam just might be at a well-known Okanagan fixture: The Jammery. The Jammery specializes in jellies, jams, and all things preserved. The only “Jammery” in the world, The Jammery is so awesome it has been featured on the Food Network! You can check out the entire process from fruit to jam: it’ll blow your mind how cool the process is. Get the red pepper jelly to put on a crostini with baked brie and roasted garlic to have a complete agri-tourist experience at The Jammery.
Agri-Tourism Gaycations
Photo credit: The Homoculture
No agricultural tour of an area is complete without some libations. Sure, there are plenty of wineries in the region, but you should also check out two very fun distributors of natural alcohol. First is the BX Express Cidery, located in Vernon, BC. BX Express produces delicious craft-cider honouring the history of the region, infused with Okanagan ingredients. You’ve not had true, proper apple cider until you’ve tried cider from BX Express Cidery. Second to no one other than Okanagan Spirits. You can take your cocktailing to new heights with these spirits, produced locally from the apple orchards of the region. Okanagan spirits are made with a gluten-free spirit–thanks to their usage of those tasty red, yellow, and green fruits. Apples, not grain, are the principal ingredient used at Okanagan Spirits.
There are so many other amazing places to visit and discover in the Thompson Okanagan for a culinary adventure. Each city, town, and community offer seasonal crops and ingredients to inspire your next meal, snack, and party.
Fill your stomach and your soul full of delicious goodness with an agri-gaycation in the Thompson Okanagan.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brian Webb is a celebrity social influencer, advocate for LGBT rights, role-model for the LGBT community and the winner of the prestigious Mr. Gay Canada – People’s Choice award. Brian has a passion for discovering and sharing special, life defining moments. Originally from the beautiful Thompson Okanagan, Brian is well known for making regular appearances throughout the year at Pride parades, festivals, street fairs, competitions, circuit parties and LGBT-friendly destinations.
IG @br_webb
Similkameen Valley: The Hidden Gem
Visit the Similkameen Valley, a unique and hidden region unlike any other in Canada. Whether you’re visiting Keremeos, Hedley, Princeton, or Manning Park, you’re sure to find something that will put you in a state of awe.
Visit the Similkameen Valley, a unique and hidden region unlike any other in Canada. Whether you’re visiting Keremeos, Hedley, Princeton, or Manning Park, you’re sure to find something that will put you in a state of awe.
Boasting both the Organic Capital of Canada and the Fruit Stand Capital of Canada in Cawston and Keremeos, the area is overflowing with organically produced fresh fruit and unique experiences. The agricultural scene in this region is incredible with many multigenerational farms calling this valley their home. The farmers continue to contribute to the community, and are more neighbours and friends than they are big-company agriculturalists.
Often overlooked because of the Okanagan Valley, the Similkameen Valley’s wine scene is vibrant and unique. Locations like Corcelettes Estate Winery, Seven Stones Winery, Vanessa Vineyard and Rustic Roots Winery & Cidery all have original and different experiences, wines, and tastes. From Seven Stones’ caves to Corcelettes’ view, there’s something for every wine snob and wine rookie alike.
Though the agriculture and wine are incredible in the valley, that just scratches the surface of what this beautiful region has to offer. The outdoor experiences are top notch on their beautiful stretch of Kettle Valley Rail Trail, connecting them to the rest of the Okanagan. You could also explore the incredible provincial parks like Bromley Rock and the ever-impressive Manning Park and go hiking, paddling, camping, or just relaxing. Finally, the Similkameen River is well known for its fishing, both fly and normal.
Whether you’ve never been to the Similkameen or you live in the area, we encourage everyone to discover (or re-discover) this beautiful, unique and often overlooked region of the Thompson Okanagan. These hidden, vibrant communities are all locally run and supported, and give an honest and real experience of what life in the Similkameen valley is like.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alastair is a Canadian writer and blogger. He grew up in Oliver and has settled in Kelowna with his wife, Adrienne. When he isn’t typing up a blog about the newest thing in the Okanagan, you can probably find him on a local patio with a cold-brew in hand (either coffee or beer).
Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre
Located in Osoyoos, this award-winning interpretive centre owned and operated by the Osoyoos Indian Band has two important purposes: education about the unique desert ecosystem and education about the Okanagan people’s history.
Experience the Land, the Legends and the Peoples of the Okanagan
Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre, located in Osoyoos, is an award-winning interpretive centre owned and operated by the Osoyoos Indian Band. The purpose of the centre is twofold: education about the unique desert ecosystem and education about the Okanagan people’s history.
This unique, state-of-the-art centre features both indoor and outdoor exhibits, contributing to a year-round experience. Nk’Mip provides on-site cultural tours, programs, self-guided nature trails, interpretive sites, visitor programs, a gift shop. Located on the edge of the northernmost edge of the Great American Desert, this centre offers an experience unlike any other in Canada both in the education and experience of the only desert in Canada. The centre features a network of over 50 kilometres of trails across the 1,600-acre conservation area. As visitors explore these trails, they’ll come across recreated examples of the Indigenous Okanagan art and lifestyle.
Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre, Osoyoos
Photographer: Meghan Reading
Inside the facility, visitors will discover an interactive learning environment that includes hands-on displays and two different multi-media theatres. The exhibits include re-creations of the Okanagan architecture like a tipi, a kekuli and a sweat lodge. Nk’Mip also features the regions Rattlesnake Research Program, which is funded by Environment Canada to study the Western Rattlesnakes and Great Basin Gopher Snakes found in the region. Learn how to treat these beautiful creatures and what makes them so special to the area.
Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre, Osoyoos
Photographer: Meghan Reading
The Desert Centre is part of a bigger resort which includes a winery, a campground, a golf course, and a hotel. The Centre’s mission is to promote respect and understanding of the living culture of the Okanagan People and conserve and interpret Canada’s only desert. Whether here for a week or an hour, it’s worthwhile to smell the wild sage and discover this unique, rich history unlike anything else in Canada.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alastair Heinrichs is a Creative Writing student from UBC-Okanagan. Alastair loves encouraging people to discover more about our region, whether that’s a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, the local food and craft beer scene or secret campgrounds.
Peak Pride Big White
Now in its third year, Peak Pride Big White Ski Resort in British Columbia is turning up the heat in the winter months by being the hottest queer ski weekend of the year. Period.
Peak Pride Big White is the Thompson Okanagan’s big, inclusive, gay ski weekend
Move over Aspen. Nice try Breckinridge. And you can forget about European Gay Ski Weekend. Now in its third year, Peak Pride Big White Ski Resort in British Columbia is turning up the heat in the winter months by being the hottest queer ski weekend of the year. Period. Hot, new, fresh and exceedingly welcoming, Peak Pride Big White, held April 5-7, 2019, is the ski weekend meant for the LGBT community longing for the next best rainbow winter getaway.
Unlike its newly minted sister, Peak Pride Sun Peaks, that just held their inaugural gay ski weekend, the third annual Peak Pride Big White provides an exceptional ski weekend for the LGBT community. The second biggest winter pride in British Columbia, Peak Pride Big White is solidifying itself as a fixture of the queer calendar.
Peak Pride Big White
Photo credit: The Homoculture
Gay pride and gay ski weekends in smaller regions are becoming an important part of the queer movement for recognition and acceptance—starting at the grassroots level to educate the region on gay culture. This builds awareness of the LGBT community, helps break down barriers, makes the community more inclusive and gives the gay community a place to go. For the Thompson Okanagan region, events like Peak Pride Big White increases tourism to the area from other queer communities including Calgary, Seattle, San Francisco, Vancouver and Vancouver Island. These events allow for an opportunity for local businesses to show their support of the gay rights movement.
Peak Pride Big White is competing head-to-head with other gay ski weekends across Canada and the US. Just this past year there were three new gay ski weeks introduced in Canada. The Thompson Okanagan is the only region to host two gay ski weekends. Peak Pride Big White is an incredible value. Big White has incredible end-of-season lift and lodging specials, and event organizers have kept the Peak Pride event tickets incredibly affordable – especially considering the calibre of talent coming for this event, such as DJ DrewG!
DJ DrewG
Photo Credit: Rod Spark Photography
Events like Peak Pride at Big White also provide a platform for local talent. There are plenty of queer artists and performers who benefit greatly from an event on the local scale. Drag queens, for instance, are always looking for new events and bookings to perform. Opportunities like Peak Pride Big White are a big deal for local talent. Outside of Kelowna Pride and FruitCake, there are limited opportunities for these performers to hit the stage and showcase their talents. An event like Peak Pride Big White helps these performers get recognized by other LGBT communities looking to bring in talent from other regions and to find up-and-coming talent. It is important to support local artists and performers.
Peak Pride Big White is boasting all new events for this year’s gay ski weekend, including a fabulous Saturday night party held at an all-new location. San Diego based DJ DrewG, who performs all over the world and has done official remixes for Madonna, Beyoncé, K$sha, Lady Gaga and more will be laying down the beats for the party at Snowshoe Sam’s. With 400 people expected to attend this year’s party - sexy, out and proud DJ DrewG will have revellers dancing the night away.
Peak Pride Big White
Photo credit: The Homoculture
Think a gay ski weekend is all about skiing or snowboarding? Think again! Sure, the Okanagan has some of the best skiing in the region. But there are also lots of winter activities to enjoy while at Peak Pride Big White. Try dog sledding adventures, snowmobile tours, snowshoeing safaris, tubing and ice skating on Canada’s highest outdoor, Olympic sized skating rink.
If you’re a snow bunny who’d rather stay comfortable and warm indoors and enjoy the white stuff from the window while in front of a fireplace, there are plenty of activities for you. You can relax in the comfort of your luxury room, pamper yourself in the day spa, workout with state of the art gym equipment, people watch with a hot cup of espresso or hot chocolate from the coffee shops, enjoy world-class culinary delights from esteemed chefs and partake in some of the best après ski. And of course, relax and have brunch with the best of them.
The Thompson Okanagan region boasts some of the richest biodiversity in all of Canada. Within its borders sit its two major geographical features: Okanagan Lake and the Thompson River. Other natural features within the Thompson Okanagan region include Mt. Robson, the tallest Canadian peak of the Rocky Mountains and a semi-desert ecosystem known as the Okanagan Desert and the Nk’Mip Desert. Meanwhile, the snow at Big White has often been called champagne powder for its light, fluffy skiing conditions.
Keep your eyes peeled – you might even catch some drag queens on the chairlift or cruising down the slopes of Big White!
The Thompson Okanagan community has grown increasingly homo-friendly in the last few years, and both Peak Prides are all-inclusive, “everyone is welcome” events. Peak Pride Big White is no exception. Grab your winter jacket, ski suit, goggles and gloves and make your way to the little gay ski weekend that keeps getting bigger and better every year.
See you at Peak Pride Big White, April 5 – 7, 2019!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brian Webb is a celebrity social influencer, advocate for LGBT rights, role-model for the LGBT community and the winner of the prestigious Mr. Gay Canada – People’s Choice award. Brian has a passion for discovering and sharing special, life defining moments. Originally from the beautiful Thompson Okanagan, Brian is well known for making regular appearances throughout the year at Pride parades, festivals, street fairs, competitions, circuit parties and LGBT-friendly destinations.
IG @br_webb
Road Trip - Vancouver to Jasper (the Rocky Mountains)
With three ways to get from Vancouver to the Rockies (or vice versa) through our region, don’t miss out on the scenic and exciting, though longer, route through the Similkameen, Okanagan and Kamloops.
Three unique trips through the Thompson Okanagan
One of the most common questions that I get asked is, what is the best way to get from Vancouver to Jasper? Many visitors fly into Vancouver and then out of Calgary - but what should you do along the way?
I’m going to talk about this journey in the context of British Columbia’s Thompson Okanagan region, which is the main region you’ll pass through on your way to Jasper. Here are my recommended routes and a few highlights along the way.
Route Options
There are three main ways that I recommend getting from Vancouver to Jasper:
1. The scenic mountain road North through Whistler and Highway 99 (890 km/553.02 mi)
2. The fastest route through the Lower Mainland to Kamloops (800 km/497.10 mi)
3. Lake and wine country through the Similkameen Valley, Okanagan Corridor and Kamloops (1,066 km/662.38 mi)
Regardless of which route you take, there are numerous places to stop and enjoy your road trip. However, if you have the time, my preferred route is the third option through the Similkameen and Okanagan since you get a ton of variety.
So, for Route #3 here are the main highlights along the way:
Similkameen Valley
K Mountain, Keremeos | Photo Credit: Meghan Reading
East of Hope you’ll encounter the Similkameen (Smelqmix) Valley. This burgeoning wine region is home to rugged mountains, an abundance of organic produce and the Similkameen River.
Check out:
Keremeos, the Fruit Stand Capital of Canada
Orofino Winery - Canada’s first eco-friendly strawbale winery
Harkers Organics, Rustic Roots Winery & Cidery - a one-stop-shop for amazing local organic treats
Okanagan Corridor
Kelowna | Photo Credit: Destination British Columbia
Starting from Osoyoos, drive north through the Okanagan (Suqnaqinx) Corridor and pass through Penticton, Kelowna and Vernon (amongst many other wonderful small communities). Here is where you will find wine and lake country heaven.
Check out:
Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre - an interpretive centre dedicated to sharing the stories of the local Syilx People.
Burrowing Owl Winery - a leader in sustainability and (of course) delicious wine
One of these amazing Penticton Breweries - these guys are seriously committed to local, quality craft beer
Kelowna’s E-Scooters - a great fuel-free way to see the downtown
Moccasin Trails Indigenous Tours in Kelowna and West Kelowna - Offering a journey of culture, history and nature
Davison Orchards - Local & fresh produce including incredible apple pie
Kamloops
Kamloops | Photo Credit: Destination British Columbia
Kamloops (Tk'emlups) is a recreation hub - known for hiking, mountain biking and a bold local flavours, this city is a great stop before continuing north.
Check out:
The Kamloops Wine Trail - Highlights wineries of the Thompson Valley
BC Wildlife Park - 40+ indigenous species, wildlife education centre, bird of prey demonstrations and more
Secwépemc Museum & Heritage Park - 5-hectare heritage park with guided tours of a residential school and archaeological sites
Sun Peaks Resort - located 45 minutes northeast of Kamloops, this resort community is a recreation hotspot all year round.
Clearwater & Wells Gray Provincial Park
Helmcken Falls, Wells Gray Provincial Park | Photo Credit: Destination British Columbia
The abundance of waterfalls at Wells Gray Park is unmatched. There is so much to do here and in the nearby town of Clearwater, make sure to set aside a few days.
Check out:
Wells Gray Waterfalls - all year round, these waterfalls should be a bucket list item
Clearwater & Azure Lakes - enjoy the lake at nature’s pace on an electric Duffy boat tour
Murtle Lake - this non-motorized lake is a paddlers dream
Wells Gray Guest Ranch - Oldest Dude Ranch in the Valley, offering accommodations and horseback riding.
Valemount & Mount Robson Provincial Park
Mount Robson from Berg Lake | Photo Credit: Destination British Columbia
Stock up in the town of Valemount before heading towards Mount Robson Provincial Park. The stretch of highway between Valemount and Mount Robson Park is one of the most scenic of this entire drive. When you turn the corner and see the park’s namesake, you’ll know you’ve hit Canada’s epic Rocky Mountains.
Check out:
Valemount & Area Museum - preserving items that might end up in landfills, this museum features household items which are 50 - 100 years old
Mount Robson Visitor Centre - a great stop to learn about the park and things to do
Three Ranges Brewing - this beloved local taphouse is all about fostering community
Valemount Bike Park - some of the best mountain bike trails in BC.
From Mount Robson, continue onto Jasper - an incredible backdrop to continue your road trip. Check out Travel Alberta for details of what to do in Jasper and southeast towards Calgary.
For information on road conditions visit DriveBC.
For camping and provincial park information, visit BC Parks.
For other touring routes visit Destination BC.
Have a safe road trip and feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Meghan Reading is a Canadian travel photographer. She grew up in the rocky mountains of Alberta but now calls British Columbia home. While she looks forward to continuing to explore the world with her camera, her favourite destination will always be her own backyard.
Discover Spotted Lake
Located on the unceded Syilx Nation’s territory and maintained by the Osoyoos Indian Band, Spotted Lake, called Ktlil’x” in the Okanagan language, is a sacred site to the indigenous nation.
A Lake unlike any other
Located on the unceded Syilx Nation’s territory and maintained by the Osoyoos Indian Band, Spotted Lake, called Ktlil’x” in the Okanagan language, is a sacred site to the indigenous nation. Northwest of Osoyoos and observable from Highway 3, the aptly-named Spotted Lake is breathtaking both up close and from afar.
The lake has naturally occurring spots created from the unique chemical and mineral deposits from the neighbouring hills, and at times each spot can become its own distinct colour, from blue to green to yellow and purple. This cultural and ecologically sensitive area is a sight to behold, worthy of thousands of photos. The sign next to Highway 3 explains the history, the unique science behind this biological phenomenon, and what cultural significance this lake plays for the Okanagan Nation, as it has served as a revered place of healing for centuries.
Spotted Lake, Osoyoos
Photographer: Nic Collar
This naturally forming mineral lake is captivating, and we encourage everyone to pull over on the side of the highway to take some great pictures, though there is no trespassing beyond the gate onto this private property outside of a guided tour led by one of the local Syilx guides from, Sẁiẁs Spirit Tours. These tours will offer a unique perspective on the cultural significance of the lake, and what role this traditional site played (and continues to play) in the Okanagan Nations ongoing history.
Spotted Lake, Osoyoos
Photographer: Allen Jones
Whether you’re stopping for a quick picture or hope to join a guided tour, the lake is a sight to behold and could be different a mere week later. The ongoing changes in the dense deposits of magnesium sulfate, calcium, sodium sulphates, and eight other minerals make Ktlil’x” an experience unlike any other.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alastair Heinrichs is a Creative Writing student from UBC-Okanagan. Alastair loves encouraging people to discover more about our region, whether that’s a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, the local food and craft beer scene or secret campgrounds.
Peak Pride Sun Peaks
The LGBT community is constantly looking for the new, now, and next in life, pop culture, music, film, art, television, experiences, and events. If you are one of those queens longing for the next hottest thing before it even becomes mainstream, then you can start with the best gay ski weekend.
The hot new gay ski weekend
The LGBT community is constantly looking for the new, now, and next in life, pop culture, music, film, art, television, experiences and events. It’s because queer people crave innovation and have a zest for life. If you are one of those queens longing for the next hottest thing before it even becomes mainstream, then you can start with the best gay ski weekend. A fabulous gay ski weekend awaits in the Thompson Okanagan at Sun Peaks Resort, March 1 - 3, 2019: Peak Pride Sun Peaks.
If you’ve never experienced a gay ski weekend, you are missing out on a queer rite of passage different to the typical pride, circuit, EDM or club events. Ski weekends are a great opportunity to meet new friends because they offer more social atmospheres and events than their aforementioned counterparts. A little bit of sport combined with several queer / LGBT-inclusive parties and events allow you to mix and mingle with queens and kings from all over the world. It’s fabulous! There are networking events throughout the weekend, cheeky to couture snow gear and outfits, breathtaking scenery, incredible food, welcoming people, 5-star service, and a hellova good time at gay ski weekends. They bring together different facets of the queer community that other events and gatherings don’t compare to.
Photo credit:The Homoculture
Now in its third year, due to its immediate growth in popularity, Peak Pride is expanding its gay ski weekend program to include a second resort. Sun Peaks Resort located near Kamloops, British Columbia, within the Thompson Okanagan region, is the new ski weekend event every queer person will want to attend.
Peak Pride is the only dual-mountain gay ski weekend in Canada! People come from all over North America to attend this growing event, especially gays from the Okanagan, Vancouver, Calgary, Seattle, and San Francisco. Peak Pride Sun Peaks is a new event that is hitting the radar of the LGBT community - especially snow bunnies who are looking for fresh new experiences.
Peak Pride Sun Peaks has a fantastic queer ski weekend planned for their inaugural event. Starting Friday, March 1, the Sun Peaks Grand Hotel lobby will invite guests for the mx Welcome Reception from 6-8pm. Nearby Morrissey’s Public House will host a queer comedy night at 9pm.
Photo credit: The Homoculture
Soak in all things gay at the Pride Mountain Parade starting at 2:30pm on Saturday afternoon, and then head down from some après ski at The Bottoms Après, held at the Bottoms Bar and Grill (you can’t make these names up) from 3pm-6pm.
A new event just added to Saturday’s schedule is the wipeOUT party. Held at Masa’s Bar & Grill, wipeOUT will have drag queen performances and live DJ-spun music to dance to from 9pm until doors closed. This is the party to shake your tail feathers at and burn off some of that après-ski consumption. Sunday, Sun Peaks Grand Hotel will host a farewell brunch at their Mantles Restaurant from 10am-12pm, finishing what will be a fab, fun and very gay ski weekend.
Don’t think for one second that Peak Pride Sun Peaks won’t be serving up stunning accommodations, because the Sun Peaks Grand Hotel is one of the most beautiful hotels you will ever visit. A luxury resort hotel, the Sun Peaks Grand offers every single amenity one could possibly think of while on their gaycation: spa, pools, hot tubs, fitness centers, conference rooms—you name it. The rooms are outfitted with the latest, state of the art technology, comforts and stunning design. Located right in the heart of Sun Peaks village, you’re literally in the epicenter of everything for Peak Pride at the Sun Peaks Grand Hotel.
If you’ve never been to the Thompson Okanagan region of British Columbia, Canada, you’re missing out on some of the most beautiful country God herself ever created! Roughly the size of the country of Ireland, the Thompson Okanagan covers 71,000 square kilometers of land, and boasts climates as varied as Canada’s only desert, rainforests, plains and Canada’s tallest mountain within this stretch of the Canadian Rockies. It’s rich diversity and massive size make it flush with life, natural beauty, thriving open communities, rich heritage and of course—the perfect location for a gay ski weekend.
Peak Pride Sun Peaks is the best value when it comes to a gay ski weekend in North America! Come meet new friends, enjoy the famous Thompson Okanagan powder snow (bring your snorkel!) and the charming ski-to/ski-from village. Tickets range from just $7- $129 for all the events all entire weekend. Peak Pride offers a great, affordable gay ski weekend at a fraction of the price of other queer snow bunny retreat getaways.
Get your tickets to Peak Pride Sun Peaks now!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brian Webb is a celebrity social influencer, advocate for LGBT rights, role-model for the LGBT community and the winner of the prestigious Mr. Gay Canada – People’s Choice award. Brian has a passion for discovering and sharing special, life defining moments. Originally from the beautiful Thompson Okanagan, Brian is well known for making regular appearances throughout the year at Pride parades, festivals, street fairs, competitions, circuit parties and LGBT-friendly destinations.
IG @br_webb
Exploring Vernon in the Winter
With a mix of indoor and outdoor activities, a visit to Vernon is a great way to spend a winter weekend.
A Mix of Indoor & Outdoor Activities Makes Vernon a Great Place to Visit in the Snowy Season
While the Okanagan is beautiful in all seasons, the short days of winter, along with the occasional cloud inversion, can have a person searching for blue skies, or a fun indoor activity! Fortunately, if you are in the Vernon area, there are plenty of things to do to escape a grey, chilly day!
One of our favourite things to do in Vernon is head to the Okanagan Science Centre. The Science Centre is a great place to bring kids, allowing them to learn and blow off some steam. With multiple themed rooms, rotating exhibits and workshops, there are endless ways to enjoy the Centre. We love letting the kids loose in the activity room, whether it’s climbing the rock wall or seeing how far they can jump (in comparison to different animals) there’s lots for them to do! It’s also an affordable family activity.
Locals tip - If you purchase a season’s pass, you can use it at almost any Science Centre across North America, including Science World in Vancouver! Or, if you’re travelling from Vancouver or Edmonton and have passes to Science World, you can use them here!
Another great indoor activity is a visit to one of the breweries, wineries or cideries. One of our favorite spots to stop is BX Press Cidery on East Vernon Rd. It’s a cozy tasting room with tons of local art and goodies to shop for. The staff are super accommodating and excited to give you a history lesson on the cidery and the region it lives in. BX Press does their best to keep all the ingredients local, seasonal and creative. I recommend the Hostler for a nice refreshing sip - but try them all!
For the weekend warriors, looking to get some blue sky in their day, there is often a wonderful escape. Head up the hill, get above the clouds and enjoy the bluebird skies and snowy hills of Silverstar Mountain Resort. Only a 25-30 minute drive from downtown Vernon, this local gem is a great place to take a family. With affordable prices and plenty of non-skiing options, Silverstar a great choice. We love taking the kids for a skate or a zip on the tubes at Tube Town. There are great places to eat or to have a hot chocolate by a fire when you’re done flying down the hills. There is also a great shuttle service from lower parking lots, ensuring you will be able to get to the Village quickly, as well as Tube Town and Brewer’s Pond.
While you’re in the area, a stop at the Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre is a must. With 105km of beautifully groomed trails, it’s a paradise for anyone who likes to cross country ski, or snowshoe. You can rent gear right there, as well as take part in regularly scheduled lessons and workshops. Keep an eye out for wildlife and some stunning sunsets while you’re in the area. Yearly memberships are a great way to get your family out, but if you’re in town for a brief visit, a day pass is great way to go, and very affordable.
Be sure to catch at least one day of the Vernon Winter Carnival. This unique 10-day festival runs February 1 - 10 this year and has been serving the North Okanagan for over 50 years. This year’s theme is “A Pirate’s Carnival,” and will feature a large Chili Cookoff and the 10th annual Winter Carnival Blues Festival, as well as the ever-popular hot air balloons flying high above Vernon. There’s no question that regardless of your age, you’ll find something to enjoy. The energy is contagious, the joy is infectious and the community coming together is inspiring. Tickets for the big events are on sale here.
For more information and to plan your next trip to Vernon visit: TourismVernon.com.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Matt Ferguson is a BC born and raised photographer, currently living in Kelowna. When his camera isn't strapped to him, you can usually find him at the beach with his family, skipping rocks or if it's cold enough, strapping on some skates and hitting a frozen pond.
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IG @mattfphotography
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