January 2026 - Community Futures North Okanagan

Where Are They Now? From 3rd Place to Career Growth with North Okanagan Consulting

January 23, 2026/in News, Success Story

Shelley pitches North Okanagan Consulting at the Enterprize Challenge Finale Event on May 7th, 2025 at the Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre.

At Community Futures North Okanagan, we’ve seen firsthand that the true value of the Enterprize Challenge isn’t just in the businesses created—it’s in the incredible professionals who emerge from the process. Today, we’re catching up with Shelley Lavigne, a standout participant from our 2025 cohort, whose journey perfectly illustrates how the challenge serves as a springboard for personal and professional growth.

A Foundation Built on Innovation

When Shelley entered the 2025 Enterprize Challenge, she hit the ground running with the launch of North Okanagan Consulting. Her vision was clear: create a streamlined system to support local contractors and homeowners navigating the complexities of the permit process.

While the business had a quieter start than initially anticipated, the experience was anything but a setback. Through the challenge, Shelley gained a masterclass in the local market and the unfiltered realities of solo entrepreneurship. These insights allowed her to sharpen her business acumen and gain the clarity needed to shape her long-term career direction.

Shelley participated in many community events to promote her new business in 2025, including the Vernon Spring Home Show at Kal Tire Place.

The Power of Placing Third

Shelley’s hard work and dedication didn’t go unnoticed. She secured 3rd place in the 2025 Enterprize Challenge, walking away with a massive prize package designed to fuel growth.

This prize package included:

Significant cash investment to help with business expenses
Marketing & advertising credits to amplify the North Okanagan Consulting brand
Legal services to ensure a solid professional foundation
Local Chamber of Commerce memberships to deepen her community roots

A New Chapter

The beauty of the Enterprize Challenge is that the confidence and connections built during the program often lead to unexpected, exciting doors opening.

This past fall, Shelley transitioned into a new role as Accounts Manager for a local marketing company and it has proven to be a perfect fit. Today, she uses the very same business skills, systems-thinking, and community connections she cultivated during the challenge to thrive in her day-to-day work.

North Okanagan Consulting continues to hum along as a side-hustle for Shelley, creating opportunities to help clients with their permitting projects on a smaller scale. Shelley’s story is a powerful reminder that “success” in the challenge can mean many things—including landing a dream role where your entrepreneurial spirit is a prized asset.

Final Call: Your Turn to Change the Narrative

Shelley’s story is a testament to the fact that the Enterprize Challenge is about more than just a business plan; it’s about changing your circumstances and growing your personal brand.

Registration for the 2026 Enterprize Challenge is now in its FINAL WEEK.

Are you ready to find the clarity, confidence, and community support that Shelley did? Whether you launch the next big local startup or use the experience to catapult your career to the next level, the 2026 Enterprize Challenge is your platform to make it happen.

Don’t wait for the “perfect” moment. The deadline is fast approaching—register today and start your own success story.

Where Are They Now? From Pitch to Progress with Vicky’s Play Place

January 16, 2026/in News, Success Story

Kylee Howard presents her final pitch for “Vicky’s Play Place” at the Enterprize Challenge Finale on May 7th, 2025 held at the Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre.

When the 2025 Enterprize Challenge wrapped up last May, Kylee Howard stood on stage as the second-place & People’s Choice winner, fueled by a vision to create a much-needed community space: Vicky’s Play Place.

But as any seasoned entrepreneur will tell you, the final pitch is just the starting line. Seven months later, Kylee is sharing a look behind the curtain at what it really takes to bring a business to life—and how the foundation laid during the Enterprize Challenge is helping her navigate the “marathon” of business ownership.

Shortly after the competition, Kylee moved to secure a facility. However, the transition from a business plan to a physical storefront brought a series of high-stakes lessons in zoning, permits, and commercial logistics.

“Ultimately, we had to walk away from our first potential deal due to parking limitations,” Kylee shares. “It was a tough but necessary decision. That process taught us exactly what a commercial space needs to truly work for our vision.”

For Kylee, the summer of 2025 was about more than just business; it was about life. While regrouping from facility setbacks, she was also navigating life with three children and welcoming a new baby girl to the family.

Kylee (back right) and her family.

While the pace changed, the momentum didn’t stop. By the Fall, the “rhythm” returned. Kylee used that time to:

Strengthen the business plan and financial projections.
Finalize an investor prospectus to prepare for the next level of funding.
Leverage Enterprize Challenge media credits to share her story, leading to vital connections with local business owners who believe in the mission.

One of the most significant shifts for Vicky’s Play Place has been a deep dive into the financing landscape. Kylee has been working closely with accountants, legal advisors, and the City of Vernon to understand exactly what makes a business “lender-ready.”

“It’s been a steep learning curve,” says Kylee. “But it has given us so much more clarity and confidence. We’re structuring this business responsibly from day one.”

The community demand for Vicky’s Play Place is undeniable. With nearly 600 families on the waitlist and consistent engagement on social media, the North Okanagan is ready for what Kylee is building.

While the original goal was a 2025 opening, the journey has led to a stronger, more grounded business model. With a third facility opportunity currently in the works, 2026 is looking like the year the doors finally swing open.

Are you ready to start your business journey? Registration for the 2026 Enterprize Challenge is NOW OPEN!

Kylee’s story is a testament to the fact that the Enterprize Challenge provides more than just a prize—it provides the tools, the network, and the resilience needed to turn a “business idea” into a “business reality.”

Whether you are in the middle of a pivot, just starting your plan, or looking for the mentorship to take you to the next level, we want to see you there.

Why Join the 2026 Enterprize Challenge?

Expert Mentorship: Get one-on-one guidance from local business leaders.
Refine Your Vision: Turn your idea into a robust, “lender-ready” business plan.
Win Big: Compete for thousands of dollars in prizes and essential business services.

Click Here to Register for the 2026 Enterprize Challenge!

Don’t wait—the next North Okanagan success story could be yours!

Where Are They Now? From Enterprize Challenge Winner to Green Building Powerhouse

January 9, 2026/in News, Success Story

When applying for Enterprize Challenge in late 2024, Dora Anderson of ECOTECTURE was looking for a way to take her new business to the next level.

Dora accepts a large oversized cheque from a man.

Dora (left) accepts the cheque for $6,500 and 1st Place award from Title Sponsor Agile BK at the Enterprize Challenge Finale event on May 7th, 2025.

Through the months of educational workshops, peer networking and professional mentoring, Dora and ECOTECTURE were positioned for accelerated growth – and a 1st place win was hers at the 2025 Enterprize Challenge Finale event on May 7th, 2025.

But winning the 2025 Enterprize Challenge, and the wide array of prizes that came with this win, was more than just an award for ECOTECTURE; it was the spark that ignited a movement. Looking back at a whirlwind year, it’s clear that the competition, hosted by Community Futures North Okanagan, served as the ultimate catalyst for bringing sustainable architecture into the local spotlight.

Led by Dora Anderson, the ECOTECTURE team hasn’t just been building houses; they’ve been building a greener future for the Okanagan. Since their win, the business has become a familiar name in the community, featured in Okanagan Lake Living Magazine, Castanet, and the Morning Star.

“The Enterprize Challenge was the catalyst for our business to gain exposure.” — Dora Anderson, ECOTECTURE

As Dora and her team reflect on the calendar year of 2025, they are filled with gratitude. They’ve partnered with forward-thinking clients who were ready to challenge the status quo, choosing to build better, build green, and aim for ‘Net Zero.

Perhaps the most meaningful milestone of the year was the opportunity for the team to give back to the community that supported them. ECOTECTURE worked alongside the Upper Room Mission (URM) to design their new 24-bed shelter.

This URM facility will provide 10,000 safe nights of sleep each year. For those acing the uncertainty of life on the streets, this shelter is more than just a building—it’s a foundation for transformation, recovery, and new beginnings.

As ECOTECTURE moves into 2026, the momentum from their Enterprize Challenge win shows no signs of slowing down. They continue to prove that in the North Okanagan, building for the future isn’t just a dream—it’s already happening.

Registration for Enterprize Challenge 2026 is now open, closing on January 31st, 2026. The Final Pitch event will take place on May 7, 2026, at the Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre. futuresbc.com/enterprize-challenge.