Category: In Person

Alaina Podmorow

Lately it’s been a whirlwind of interviews and photo sessions for 15-year old Alaina Podmorow and it’s looking like it won’t stop for awhile. The Lake Country student was recently named Canada’s Top Teen Philanthropist for her efforts to aid women and girls in Afghanistan.

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Community Activist Hannah Paracholski

“I feel like we were put on this planet to help one another,” says Hannah Paracholski a 14-year-old Vernon Secondary School student. “I think we should go out of our way to do so whether the person is next door or far away.” When Hannah sets her mind to something…

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Gem of a Guy: Chuck Fipke

Long before you spot him among the crowd you might hear Charles (Chuck) Fipke laugh. A delighted kind of a cackle, its an unbridled and boisterous display of pleasure as unique as the man himself. Canada’s most decorated discoverer of diamonds—and one of the most renowned geologists …

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Seize the Moment: Bruce Kemp

A bit of madness went into the cover of “Gifts of the Okanagan,” a new photo book by Laurie Carter and Bruce Kemp. With printer deadline looming, the pair were desperately seeking a cover image when Bruce was caught in the mother of all storms driving home after shooting…

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Set Stylist Janice Blackie-Goodine

Janice Blackie-Goodine is thrilled that her next project, Flicka, is shooting in the Okanagan. She recently returned to Summerland after several months filming Twilight in rainy Squamish. A talented painter, Janice realized the movie industry…

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Prop Man Dean Goodine

Property master Dean Goodine learned hands-on from some of the best in the industry on sets like Unforgiven. He ensures anything an actor moves or uses is ready, era-authentic and fits how the character. It can be nerve-racking…

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Anya Mayoss-Hurd: Miss Teen Canada Contender

Anya Mayoss-Hurd’s sign should be fire. The 16-year-old redhead arrived in Canada from Birmingham, England, on the day lightning set Okanagan Mountain Park ablaze. She used the experience in a required speech for the Peachland Ambassador program that led to her coronation as Miss Teen Okanagan at the Miss Teen British Columbia competition. Now that speech is helping to carry her to the Miss Teen Canada finals in Toronto on July 9.

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Go After Your Dreams

How do you determine the difference between a novel, a novella and a long short story? On some levels it makes no difference, but to Kelowna author, Celeste Catena, it may mean her place in the history books as the world’s youngest novelist.
“I’ve always had a love for reading and writing. …

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Bridging the Gap

When women who have been subjected to abuse or violence are ready to move on with their lives, Vickie Roraph is there with hug coupons and the Bridges employment program. There are two signs on the door of Vickie Roraph’s office: Build Bridges, Not Walls and Attitude + Ambition = Achievement.

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Powder Hounds Adaptive Ski

Winter isn’t over yet and there’s still lots of fun for anyone interested in the PowderHounds adaptive ski program. Founded by the Kelowna & District Society for People In Motion, the program offers people aged five to 75, that have a physical and/or sensory disability, an opportunity to enjoy the sport of skiing by using adaptive equipment.

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In Person: Veronika Dimova

The games are coming to town. About 500 athletes aged 12 to 15 (plus their coaches), representing 37 cities from 13 countries, will be descending on Kelowna from Jan. 26 to 31, 2011, to compete in the International Children’s Winter Games.

Veronika Dimova, originally from Bulgaria,

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