Help Wanted in the Okanagan

The issue was that we couldn’t afford to just come back and hope one of us would get a good job.

Brandie Gariepy

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Welcome to Shangri-flawed

With help wanted signs sprouting like roadside weeds, it’s not surprising that Okanagan employers are struggling to cope. But just when you’d expect job seekers to be sitting in the driver’s seat, many wannabe workers are getting a bumpy ride. High housing costs and stagnant wages are obvious culprits, but the following three case studies, along with our salary comparisons, reveal there’s more to this picture.

Illustration by Will Enns

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Read more of the original stories celebrated in our 30th-anniversary issue.

Wine reviews: Valley expressions of bold red wines

Wine reviews: Valley expressions of bold red wines

As seen in [downloads ids="156027" columns="1"] Summerland Pyramid Winery 2014 OM Organic MeritageKelowna, Okanagan Valley1/2  $65 This Bordeaux blend is very new-world in style. Full-bodied and robust, it is a wonderful presentation of ripe dark fruits...

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Beautiful blends

Beautiful blends

Even a blend of one or two percent can make a significant difference in wine, says sommelier Mike Lee.

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Whites: Best of BC Wine Awards 2018

Let’s celebrate the wines from our fourth annual Okanagan Life Best of BC Wine Awards, this year held at the Delta Hotels Grand Okanagan. Our judging panel was a select group of independent, experienced wine judges from the trade, restaurant and education...

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In the kitchen with Kristina Klein at EATology

In the kitchen with Kristina Klein at EATology

At the bus stop Young Vernon chef serves up the science of eating fresh food It started out as a side thing, but then it just took off, says Kristina Klein, founder of EATology, an unusual bus depot diner in Vernon. It’s modern, but funky, with wooden floors instead...

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Wine reviews: Sperling Sparkling Brut

Wine reviews: Sperling Sparkling Brut

Sperling Vineyards 2011 Sparkling Brut Kelowna, Okanagan Valley  1/2 $40.00 Reminiscent of a fine quality Champagne, this single vineyard Pinot Blanc sparkling wine is grown organically and biodynamically, allowing it to truly represent its own unique...

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Garagiste winemakers

  A garage can make for a passionate first crush At 650 metres above sea level, Forgotten Hill Wine Co. is the highest-elevation vineyard in the South Okanagan — a nod to a tract of land way up the hill on a forested, gravel road past...

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Penny wise: Confessions of a thrift store shopper

Back in the swinging sixties, I was six and still enjoying playground swings. It was not until I was out of my brown school uniform and had started working that I realized what I’d been missing out on, fashion-wise.      My hard-earned money...

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Alpine skiing opens at SilverStar Mountain

Alpine skiing opens at SilverStar Mountain

On Thursday, Nov. 28, the alpine ski season officially kicks off at SilverStar, with some of the best early-season conditions in BC. "We couldn't be more thrilled to kick-off another amazing season on the slopes at SilverStar," said Chantelle Deacon, media relations...

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Quintland: Five strong story sells

Quintland: Five strong story sells

Shelley Wood's debut historical novel tops best-seller list In the 1930s, public appetite was insatiable for news and images of the Dionne quintuplets. Before reality TV shows and viral videos, the unlikely survival of five identical babies in a small town in Northern...

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Stuart Park: Outdoor skating in downtown Kelowna

Stuart Park: Outdoor skating in downtown Kelowna

  Get ready to lace up your skates and take to the ice at Stuart Park outdoor ice rink. The outdoor rink will be open starting Dec. 1 from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily through to late February, weather permitting. Skaters at Stuart Park will have the chance to warm...

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Tuition credits for story writers

Tuition credits for story writers

Could you write a short story in only three hours? What if you had to include a random phrase such as, “frozen fish sticks,” “dead hamster,” or “jumper cables?” That’s what students in Grade 11 and 12, and those attending Okanagan College can expect when competing in...

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Spot hiring for Y lifeguards

Spot hiring for Y lifeguards

The YMCA of Okanagan will host an Aquatics Day of Hiring on October 3 at the WorkBC, Capri Centre offices to recruit lifeguards and swim instructors - and offer spot hiring. For or those who are interested in becoming a lifeguard or swim instructor please attend the...

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Celebrating 30 Years

The great part about anniversaries is taking time to reflect. Delving into our magazine archives, we once again came face to face with the passionate people who strengthen our communities and the creative artists who fill the Valley with art, song and laughter.