Welcome to my Website
As a CENTURY 21® Real Estate professional, I am dedicated to providing you with the highest quality service possible. My personal knowledge of the local Real Estate market is combined with the power of the CENTURY 21 brand - the most recognized name in Real Estate today.
Let me assist you in finding your dream home, in a neighbourhood that is right for you, and in the price range you want. Or if you are interested in selling a property, I also have the expertise to help you get the fastest sale possible and at the best price.
I look forward to the opportunity of working for you!
About Me
I was born and raised on a farm in Southern Alberta where I also received my formal education. Purchasing a farm at 18 years of age, as my first Real Estate Investment, gave me the experience of farming, and being in business for myself.
Building the farm to 7000 acres came with it many challenges, which helped to develop the good business sense that I now have. During this time, buying and selling of land, machinery, apartments and houses, also gave me a lot of experience in sales.
Being trustworthy, listening, and extremely knowledgeable about the Real Estate market, is essential to my success. With 16 years of sales experience, hard working, and a proven tract record of strong negotiation skills, with attention to details, I am committed to bring you the very best of customer service, from start to finish.
Kelowna
Kelowna is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley, in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. Its name derives from a Nsyilxc?n term for "grizzly bear". Kelowna ranks as the 22nd largest metropolitan area in Canada.
Nearby communities include the district of West Kelowna (a separate political entity from Kelowna) to the west across Okanagan Lake, Lake Country and Vernon to the north, as well as Peachland to the southwest and, further to the south, Summerland and Penticton.
According to the Statistics Canada 2001 census, the population estimates there were 96,288 people residing in Kelowna and 147,739 people residing in the Greater Kelowna Area.
Geography and Climate
Kelowna's climate is a semi-arid climate, with four seasons. The official climate station for Kelowna is located at the Kelowna International Airport, which is at a higher altitude than the city core with slightly higher precipitation and cooler temperatures. Okanagan Lake as well as the blocking barriers of the Canadian Rockies and the Columbia Mountains tend to moderate the winter climate, but Arctic air masses do occasionally penetrate the valley during winter, usually for very short periods (coldest recorded temperature of −36.1 °C (−33.0 °F), on December 30, 1968).
Summers are hot and sunny, with daytime temperatures often exceeding 35 °C (95.0 °F), the hottest recorded temperature at the Airport was 39.5 °C (103.1 °F), on July 24, 1994. During summer clear, dry air allows nighttime temperatures to fall rapidly. The city averages about 300 millimetres (12 in) of precipitation per year, with about 1/3rd of the precipitation falling as snow, the bulk in December and January; however, June is the month of greatest rainfall. The inherent dryness of Kelowna's climate is a factor in the forest fire risk as, for example, during the Okanagan Mountain Park Fire of 2003, a large residential evacuation (over 30,000 residents) was ordered.
Although Kelowna averages 300.5 hours of bright sunshine in July (61% of daylight hours), the winter months are mostly overcast due to the presence of low-level Pacifc moisture clashing with Arctic air and getting trapped in the valley; thus, Kelowna averages only 40.3 hours of bright sunshine in January (for comparison, consider 120 hours at Winnipeg, Manitoba and Miramichi, New Brunswick).
Kelowna has the greatest percentage of "calm" wind observations in Canada (39% of the time). The city averages 363 days/yr recording winds less than 5 km/h.
Tourism
Some claim to believe that a lake monster named Ogopogo lives in Lake Okanagan. In the past, naysayers have pointed out the similarities between the so-called monster and a beaver, a log and other less monstrous lake denizens. Nevertheless, local tourism makes use of the Ogopogo legend, and a children's park features an imaginative statue of the fictional creature.
Economy
The service industry employs the most people in Kelowna, the largest city in the tourist-oriented Okanagan Valley. In summer, boating, golf, hiking and biking are popular, and in winter, both Alpine skiing and Nordic skiing are favourite activities at the nearby Big White and Silver Star ski resorts.
Kelowna produces wines that have received international recognition. Vineyards are common around and south of the city where the climate is ideal for the many wineries. Notable vineyards in the area include the Mission Hill Winery (in West Kelowna), specifically for its unique architectural design. At least two major wineries were damaged or destroyed (now rebuilt) in 2003 due to the Okanagan Mountain Park Fire. Kelowna is also the home of Sun-Rype, a popular manufacturer of fruit bars and juices.
Okanagan College and University of British Columbia Okanagan are the predominant centres for post-secondary education. Over 5000 full-time students attend Okanagan College. In addition to vocational training and adult basic education, the college offers a highly regarded university transfer program. University of British Columbia Okanagan has a student population exceeding 6000 full-time students, enrolled in diverse undergraduate and graduate programs.
Kelowna is the seat of the Regional District of the Central Okanagan, the third-largest metropolitan area in British Columbia (after Vancouver and Victoria), and the largest in the British Columbia Interior. With scenic lake vistas and a dry, mild climate, Kelowna has become one of the fastest growing cities in North America. Because of the Okanagan's climate and vineyard-filled scenery, it is often compared to Napa Valley, California.
Interesting Facts
- Kelowna was home to the late Premier of British Columbia, W.A.C. Bennett and is the birthplace of his son, William R. Bennett, who also served as Premier of the province.
- Many current and former National Hockey League reside in Kelowna, including Dany Heatley, Ryan Getzlaf, Wade Redden, Trevor Linden, Jarome Iginla, Josh Gorges, Blake Comeau, Shea Weber, Scott Hannan, Brett McLean, Jeff Finley, Jim Harrison, Byron Dafoe, Tim Lenardon, Fran Huck, Bill Hogaboam, Curt Fraser, Mike Ridley, Todd Elik, Bob Bourne and Greg Adams. Former Major League Baseball players, Jeff Zimmerman of the Texas Rangers, his brother Jordan Zimmerman, and Paul Spoljaric were also born here. Olympic rower Heather Mandoli was born and resides in Kelowna. The 2007 World Women's Curling Championship winning Kelly Scott has also resided in the city.
- The city was home to The Grapes of Wrath, one of Canada's most popular rock bands in the 1980s and early 1990s. Mad Child also resides in Kelowna, as do Bend Sinister, and Yukon Blonde. Dubstep artists Excision and Downlink are from Kelowna.
- Actor Taylor Kitsch was raised in the town and now appears in the hit television show Friday Night Lights. Emmy-nominated composer and blues recording artist John Lee Sanders immigrated to BC from the USA and currently resides in Kelowna.
- Fido, a comedy/horror/thriller movie about zombies, was filmed in Kelowna and debuted on September 7, 2006 at the Toronto Film Festival.
- Part of the movie Mee Shee: The Water Giant was filmed in Kelowna.
- The movies Shred, and Shred 2 were partially filmed at Big White, a ski hill near Kelowna.
Kelowna has "sister city" agreements with the following cities: