 Photo contributedEarth Hour celebrated its largest event last year, with more than 6,950 cities and towns in 152 countries and territories switching off their lights. |
The idea is to reduce energy consumption year round. Last year, Earth Hour celebrated its largest event to date, with more than 6,950 cities and towns in 152 countries and territories switching off their lights.
Allisha Luther, project manager at GreenStep Solutions, said their involvement in this project was a "natural fit" for their business.
GreenStep was founded in 2008 by Angela Reid-Nagy and Lindsay Eason to deliver sustainability solutions for small and medium-sized organizations.
"We deliver the LiveSmart BC Business Energy Advisor Program, funded through the provincial government," said Luther. "We give free energy assessment to business in the Thompson Okanagan.
"We look at lights, equipment, heating and cooling; then we send them a report that will show them how they can save energy costs and reduce consumption."
For more information on free energy assessments go to greenstep.ca or call Allisha Luther at 250-862-8941, ext.104.
For information on Earth Hour and how you can get up to $4,000 in energy saving retrofits go to fortisbc.com and click on the
electricity link or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Help on call
Nannies on Call Okanagan is celebrating its first anniversary this month.
It is owned and operated by Lisa Bruce, who is also placement manager. Judy Holt is marketing co-ordinator for the Kelowna office and has more than eight years experience in the public school system as a special needs educational assistant and speech assistant, as well as two years working in homes with families doing behaviour intervention. Holt, recently moved to the Okanagan from Red Deer, AB., has been with the company since September.
"I love working with children and enjoy promoting Nannies on Call Okanagan as I feel our service provides high value to families in the area at a reasonable and
affordable price, " she said.
"Nannies on Call does not represent just anyone, they go through a thorough prescreening and many have some sort of education background. Families have the
option of on-call babysitting or a placement nanny."
Nanny enquires can be directed to Lisa Bruce at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 250-448-2475. Marketing enquiries go to Judy Holt at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call 778-363-4403.
Hope taking flight
We all know Kelowna business people have big hearts. They've proven it again by partnering with Hope Air to help raise funds to help the non-profit provide free flights to those in need.
The Overwaitea group in Kelowna and their customers will raise funds for Hope Air, with customers able to donate their Save on More rewards points when they swipe their loyalty card.
"Overwaitea Food Group will match every dollar, so we'll actually get $2 for every 1,000 points donated by customers," said Anna du Bois, Hope Air's Donor Relations officer.
"The stores have programmed their tills and will launch this program April 1. The store will continue supporting us until the end of the year, and then reassess it."
Participating stores include: Save-on-Foods in the Lakeshore Centre, Westbank, and Orchard Plaza; Cooper's in Rutland, Winfield and Glenmore; as well as Urban Fare in Mission.
One thousand points equals $1 donated to the charity..
"Our other new partnership is more unusual," said du Bois. "It's with Big West Wrestling. They are a local wrestling promotion company, and the promoter has a personal connection with Hope Air because we helped his family when his daughter was very ill.
"Jason, the promoter, and Marti, the owner, were at pains to stress their brand of wrestling is family-friendly and clean. They've added a dollar to the ticket price, and will have raffles with all the proceeds going to Hope Air, with the biggest prize being a pair of WestJet tickets.
"They are launching their push for Hope Air April 12 at a match in Vernon.
You can reach Jason Cliffe at ." For more info on Hope Air and what they provide in our community, go to hopeair.org.
Wendy Aitken has opened Lingos or Logos, a T-shirt printing company in Kelowna. She focuses on building activities for kids that include creativity in a fun environment.
"My first Made by Me event is March 15 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. during spring break," she said. "The event is geared towards kids aged 5 -12 and they can colour and draw whatever they want and we put it into the computer and it will print it on their shirts."
The fee is $10, which includes supplies and a T-shirt. "I will be holding them all week, so when March 15 fills up - I will start bookings for other days," said Aitken
Lingos or Logos is located at 7B - 1404 Hunter Crt., behind Home Depot and upstairs from Cherry Hill Coffee. You can reach Aitken at 250-864-6253, or for moreinformation, go to LOLokanagan.com.
The West Kelowna location of Simply Computing is now closed and the space is up for lease.
Mac lovers can still get their Mac fix at the newly renovated space at their Springfield location across from Orchard Park Shopping Centre at 118 - 2189 Springfield Rd.
"We are doing Apple training at 1700 Parkinson Way and we do free seminars on Wednesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. at our Springfield location," said store manager, Rick Bell. "We have new Twitter feeds that all can follow and get specials and possible discounts if they follow us and mention KelownaUsedMac. (@AppleExpertsKel and @KelownaUsedMac)."
Simply also does one-on-one training on most things Apple and Mac based. For more info, call the store at 250-861-8340.
Got news about your business? Send it to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Darcy Nybo is an award-winning writer, freelance journalist, book and online magazine editor.
