For the children who want—and need—to be active but want to participate in something other than competitive team sports like soccer and hockey, what else is out there? That’s the question Jordan and Chelsea Willing asked as their eldest son “tried everything” and they were keen for him to find a place to experience the joy of movement and community with other kids.
“He was super athletic, but some of those team sports were not for him,” says Jordan, who grew up in Armstrong, and who was raising his family in Chilliwack at the time. Then, they found a ‘ninja gym’ where kids get to swing, swoop, climb, leap and balance on equipment. Think rock climbing gym/gymnastics/indoor playground arranged with obstacles for ‘ninjas’ in training.
“We watched how much fun the kids were having and how much it improved our son’s confidence,” says Jordan. “His balance and coordination got so much better.”
“His overall wellbeing improved greatly,” says Chelsea.
A few years later, the young couple found themselves moving to Armstrong with their two children and realized the North Okanagan didn’t yet have a ninja gym—a trend that has quickly gained popularity with centres in most major cities, including Kelowna. Jordan, a huge fan of The American Ninja Warrior TV show, always said that opening a gym of his own one day would be so cool.
“We saw how much Ninja benefited our son and wanted to give the same experience to other families.”
The only hitch was, neither Jordan nor Chelsea had owned a business before. After turning to WorkBC and Community Futures North Okanagan, both were able to enter the Self-employment Program to gain entrepreneurial skills and build a strong business plan before launching.
Chelsea says they’re thankful for everyday of those weeks as Willing2Ninja came into being.
“There was so much encouragement and important feedback that our plan really had legs,” says Chelsea. “We had this whole team of people rooting for us, truly rooting for us, every step of the way.”
The couple says they put in the time, and they got tremendous help along the way.
“They give you the foundation to slowly build upon, one piece after another,” says Chelsea. “If I didn’t believe in ourselves at the outset, later I would see, oh, we’ve done all these things.”
One highlight of the program was articulating their “why.”
“We had a clear vision, but we didn’t know how to put it into words,” says Chelsea.
“We realized it was to keep kids active and moving, living healthy lifestyles and having fun—and we could then base all of our decisions off that,” says Jordan.
That driving mission soon came into play as they embarked on leasing a 3,000 square foot space in Vernon.
“We wanted to have a warehouse space with all the fancy hanging equipment,” says Jordan. “We were going to start off big.”
But there were challenges with parking, the business license was denied and “the space fell through.”
A blessing in disguise
Without another option for space, they made a pivot and turned to Armstrong’s parks and recreation to run programming through the city at the Hassan Arena. With equipment built by the family, they ran three classes one day a week, and had every available family member, including grandparents, there to help set up and take down the equipment for each day’s session.
“We could have kept waiting for a space,” says Chelsea, “but we came back to our mission of wanting to keep kids moving and to build community. We realized we can start, we just have to start differently.”
Spots filled quickly. Parents, who, like them, had also tried everything, were keen to find that other activity that would promote movement and enjoyment outside team sports. It drew those who were already athletic and confident, and those who hadn’t had as much time building strength and coordination, and were very, very shy. They think back to two girls who turned up to the first class in tears, resolute they would not participate. With Chelsea’s support and Jordan’s warm and inclusive coaching, within just a few sessions, both girls were leaping and bounding across the floor, beaming with smiles.
“Now they’re coming in every week smiling and excited to participate,” says Chelsea. “One of them gave Jordan a high-five in week three.”
Building a community of ninjas
Word quickly spread about Willing2Ninja about how its programs were giving children balance, endurance, confidence and friendships.
“We’ve had a lot of great feedback from parents saying, oh my kid plays on the climbing rock at the park now, or his fine motor skills have really improved.”
The couple has since moved the program to a local church hall so they could offer more days of programs. They were at 88 percent capacity with many of their 65 “original ninjas” carrying on joining a total of 102 students so far. The church hall is where they’re hosting summer camps, where their Let’s Keep Kids Moving campaign started. They reached out to local businesses to sponsor kids for camp and have been able to give away 40 spots to children in the community.
Willing2Ninja also got to host programming for the Shihiya School, where they saw almost 100 per cent engagement from students and lots of positive feedback from staff and students.
Now, Willing2Ninja is thrilled to announce that it has landed its own permanent home in Armstrong after signing a lease at the old fire hall downtown, just next door to a children’s consignment store.
The space is almost 1,500 square feet and they’re hoping to open there in early fall with programs for ninjas of all ages, including tiny tots, home learners, field trip students, parties and more. They’ll also have the chance to introduce the famous hanging obstacles often seen on the TV show.
“It will give us a lot more flexibility and freedom to offer more programming and we are so grateful to be able to bring ninja to our community.” says Chelsea.
Interested in exploring Willing2Ninja offerings? Visit https://willing2ninja.com/
Interested in learning more about how the Self-employment Program can give you the business skills, confidence and support to launch an exciting business? Visit https://www.futuresbc.com/self-employment/
What RJ San Jose and Precious Gatpandan dreamed of for their young children was the chance to grow up in a peaceful country with plenty of opportunity. That dream led them to Vernon—and, with help from not just one or two but three initiatives led by Community Futures North Okanagan—they’ve also had the chance to realize their dream opening a business.
Getting to Vernon via RNIP
First came the tremendous task of leaving the Philippines and finding work in Canada. San Jose, a mechanical engineer by trade, landed in the Lower Mainland in 2020. Soon, he got invited by a friend to visit Vernon and heard about how the new Rural and North Immigration Pilot (RNIP) had launched here to help employers hire skilled workers and give those workers a faster path to permanent residency.
In 2021, San Jose’s RNIP nomination was approved and he began working for a local handyman business.
“Ward was so helpful in guiding me at that time,” says San Jose, of RNIP coordinator Ward Mercer, who always made time to answer questions and make connections to local services.
Several months later, San Jose received permanent residency and began making plans to have Precious and their children join him in the North Okanagan.
“We wanted a better future for our kids,” says Gatpandan. “We love that Vernon is quieter and very scenic and feels like an ideal place to raise a family.”
After landing in BC, she focused on taking care of their young children at home while
San Jose carried on building his handyman skills, thriving on the feedback of his attention to detail with every task—from tiling and paint touch-ups to mounting TV’s and deck repairs.
“I really like this work,” says San Jose. “I think it’s so rewarding when the client is happy and I can take care of these things for them.”
The Great Beyond of Opening a Business
Gatpandan, who’d been a senior marketing executive back in the Philippines, began to imagine how she could best use her skills once her youngest child was attending school. Not one to shy away from hard work or ambitious goals, she began to consider entrepreneurship.
“Coming from a different country, though, when you aren’t aware of how business is done, it can be quite intimidating.”
When she heard about Community Futures’ Self-employment Program, she jumped at the chance to learn how to develop a business plan as well as get advice and workshop ideas with other emerging entrepreneurs.
“This program gave me a boost of confidence and made me realize I can open my own business here.”
Her business idea? Expand on taking care of people’s to-do lists with errands and handyman services, focusing on local seniors. After fulfilling a promise to be a part of his employer’s team for two years, San Jose also felt ready to embrace Gatpandan’s vision.
In September 2023, Errands and Beyond officially opened. With Gatpandan running the administrative and marketing side of the business and San Jose performing a wide range of handyman tasks like minor renovations and assembling furniture, they enjoyed a promising start.
“Whenever he finishes a job, his clients tell me what a great job he did and a lot of people refer us to their friends and family,” says Gatpandan. “Our primary market is seniors but we mostly cater to anyone who needs an extra set of hands, and try to do everything we can for them.”
Looking back on those exciting first weeks and the foundation the business had from all her hard work at Community Futures, she says: “If I did not do the self-employment program, my dream of opening a business would still be a dream.”
Enterprize Challenge
Back during her self-employment program days at Community Futures, Gatpandan saw and heard all about Enterprize Challenge. It’s an entrepreneurship competition that sees participants vie for $35,000 in prizes like marketing and banking services to support a successful business launch, and it’s open to businesses started within the last year and those about to open. As the 2024 competition opened, they decided to go for it.
After weeks of honing that business plan alongside a mentor, Gatpandan and San Jose became one of the seven finalists pitching their business to a panel of judges at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre May 9. There they were, on the stage, talking about what a joy it was to brighten the days of seniors with their helping hands.
“At first we were very nervous, and then we heard the loud noise of applause from the crowd,” says San Jose.
“I was teary-eyed during that time already because it was a sign to me that our message came across and was well accepted,” says Gatpandan, adding, “Regardless of the outcome, we felt like we were already big winners.”
Soon, the second place Enterprize Challenge winner was announced: Errands and Beyond.
The couple believes the brand awareness and flow of community support has been invaluable. Plus, they now have an even stronger business plan.
“For anyone trying to dream (of a business) don’t get intimidated,” says Gatpandan. “Reach out to Community Futures.”
Learn all about how Community Futures North Okanagan supports entrepreneurs at every stage of business: www.futuresbc.ca
Kendall Kinnear always dreamed of starting his own business.
Then, one day, he made the leap. He quit his job, went back to school, and was ready to launch a new career as a home inspector. But after living on savings and a line of credit for two years while studying and earning his license, Kendall knew he needed two things: a small business loan and the right people in his corner.
And he knew just where to start.
“Growing up in Vernon, I had always heard about Community Futures and had actually gone in years before for help searching for a job,” says Kendall. “I knew that Community Futures supports small local businesses, and I just had a feeling that they would be able to help me.”
He soon met the business services team, dove into entrepreneurial workshops and, with the support of business analyst Scot McNair, got the funding he needed to follow his dreams. He paid his licensing fees, bought the required tools for his business and was ready to get to work.
Now, nearly two years after successfully launching Argos Home Inspection, Kendall beams as he talks about helping buyers in the Okanagan get to know their dream homes.
“I love it. I love my job. I get to meet all kinds of people and see all kinds of houses. I like to think that we offer a protective service for people,” says Kendall. “We’re out there educating people and helping them protect their wallets by making them aware of potential issues.”
Before launching Argos Home Inspection, Kendall worked as a skilled flood technician and water damage inspector. Now, he uses his years of restoration experience to educate buyers about potential water damage before closing on a new home.
“Helping clients get to know their homes before they buy feels way better than I ever could have imagined,” Kendall says. “I’m so happy for my clients when they finally find their place.”
And, he smiles, it wouldn’t have been possible without the connections he made when he went into Community Futures North Okanagan to ask for help.
“It was such a streamlined process,” says Kendall. “If I didn’t get the loan, I wouldn’t have been able to start the business and would still be working in restoration.”
After finding his stride with Argos, Kendall joined Community Futures’ Business Exchange program to help develop his skills as a well-rounded business owner. While he has since moved on to open a spot in the small group forum for other local entrepreneurs, Kendall now sits on the Home Inspectors Association of BC’s board of directors and loves helping new inspectors find their path just as Community Futures helped him.
“Community Futures made it easy,” says Kendall. “I was shocked at how straightforward it was to get a business loan and make my small business dreams come true.”
Ready to launch or grow your business? Visit us online to learn more about how our business loans and resources can help you reach your goals. https://www.futuresbc.com/
For a whole week, Kim Stinson and her team had been hand-pressing 1,700 burger patties made from scratch. There, in her new Country Manor Kitchen trailer with a full restaurant kitchen, they’d laid everything out: the buns, the plates, the napkins. When she had a moment to think, which was not often, Kim wondered: What will they think of my food?
Then, on the Interior Provincial Exhibition (IPE) opening day, the hungry people came.
“People were lined up all the way around the corner,” says Kim, whose food truck became the highest selling vendor that first year at the IPE, an Armstrong, BC, rodeo and fair attended by tens of thousands. The fresh burgers and perogies, and the system she’d set up to have the food already hot and plated worked. “We were fast.”
That was 2016 and Kim had only just bought her kitchen on wheels, which came with a handful of bookings, including the IPE. Creating her business, Country Manor Kitchen, and that mobile trailer, almost hadn’t happened.
“It started because I was trying to help this couple with their catering for a wedding and ended up doing it for them. Out of that job I got two more catering jobs and within a year I was so booked I thought, I have to go back to my roots and do this. So, I got a business plan together and someone said to go to Community Futures, so I did.”
In the process of developing her business plan alongside Community Futures North Okanagan loans advisor Rob Short, Stinson came across a food trailer for sale in Vernon.
“I implemented the trailer unit into the plan and he loved it.”
Soon, Stinson was approved for the business loan and Country Manor Kitchen was touring festivals and weddings, serving up roast beef dinners and roasted vegetable medleys with produce from local farms.
“I really spent zero dollars on advertising. The food was speaking for itself.”
A year later, just a few weeks after another wildly successful IPE, Stinson had a stroke. She was in the hospital for 80 days and early on, she began to worry: What will I do about the loan payments?
“Community Futures stepped up and said, let’s do interest-only payments to get you through this. It was huge. It was lifesaving,” says Stinson. “If I had been with a bank, I probably would have had to shutter so it meant the world to me, no doubt about it.”
Several months later, Stinson was recovering and her staff agreed to come back to work the handful of weddings that had already been booked for the spring and summer of 2018.
“Nobody told me to stop. It was not something I even thought of. I had this commitment to these brides and to that loan. It was never an option not to go forward. Even when I was in the hospital, I had this white board and I got out a pen and wrote ‘forward’ on it.”
So, there she was, pulling up the trailer and listening to guests passing by as the beef or the chicken was roasting, cooked fresh on site.
“You can smell it cooking and the kitchen opens right up so you can have a look. It creates an atmosphere. People are always gobsmacked at how good the food looks and I do thrive on that feedback.”
Stinson hit another roadblock, Covid, and turned again to Community Futures Okanagan and its Momentum program for women business owners. Through the peer mentoring and one-to-one coaching, Stinson navigated contracts and policies around wedding cancellations, and just carrying on.
“I think if I wasn’t with Community Futures, I would have gone under, hands down.”
Within two years, as restrictions lifted, Country Manor Kitchen was adopted for the corn maze season at O’Keefe Ranch and Stinson had found an amazing red seal chef to help run it along with other catering events. Things were going so well, they started scouting permanent locations and found a longstanding restaurant that was closing in Armstrong.
Country Manor Kitchen is now open on Pleasant Valley Road with its aesthetic of ‘granny’s kitchen’: antique mis-matched plates, a vintage milkshake machine and meals home-cooked with love, like Irish stew poutine and pulled pork salads. Instead of buying a dishwasher, Stinson gives people with diverse abilities dishwashing jobs. And she gives customers advice about starting their own business.
“I tell people about Community Futures all the time. I say you can go great places with them. They truly honestly care that you make things work.”
Ready to grow your business? Learn how our business loans and resources can help you reach your goals. https://www.futuresbc.com/
When you speak with the three winners of the 2024 Enterprize Challenge, if there is a word that comes up time and again, it is this: dream.
One had a dream to bring dental care to long-term care homes so seniors could carry on smiling and eating in comfort. Two had a dream to take care of those little jobs around the house and on the to-do list that just never seem to get done for people. One had a dream to bake beautiful cakes and pastries so that those with food allergies wouldn’t have to go without on special occasions.
After several weeks of tirelessly honing their business plan and pitch alongside a mentor, three emerging entrepreneurs realized their business dreams as they were called to the stage, one by one, to accept their award.
Third place: Gaby Flores, Baking Time
Second place: Precious Gatpandan and RJ San Jose, Errands and Beyond
First place & People’s Choice: Jenna Smith, Sage Dental Hygiene
“Participating in the competition takes all kinds of courage and hard work. Most do it while going to a day job and taking care of a family—and we’re always amazed at the vision and dedication of our participants,” says Kazia Mullin, business manager, Community Futures North Okanagan, which hosted the ninth annual competition.
This year, 21 participants showcased businesses ranging from a music studio and a videography company to an animal-assisted children’s education centre and a creative branding studio. Enterprize Challenge culminates in a Dragon’s Den-style pitch to win up to $35,000 in prizes like marketing and banking services for an exciting business launch. To be among the seven finalists at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre on May 9, never mind a top spot, is quite an achievement.
“We congratulate everyone who gave it their all, and we’re so thankful for the community’s support.”
Here is a chance to get to know each of the winners:
Jenna Smith, Sage Dental Hygiene – First place & People’s Choice
Dental hygienist Jenna Smith was cleaning the teeth of a patient when he mentioned he couldn’t find a mobile hygienist to visit his wife, who was in long-term care. Smith searched high and low, and at the time, couldn’t find someone. At some point, she wondered, do I have a place in filling that gap?
“Once people have dementia or mobility issues, they just can’t get to the dentist as readily,” says Smith. “I thought, there needs to be more care for our seniors.”
“To me, it’s about helping to keep them free of pain so they can continue chewing, and maintain their health and dignity. Is it important to be able to smile at that age? I think so.”
Nearly two years later, after taking business courses and getting through all the paperwork, in January 2024, Sage Dental Hygiene opened and Jenna slowly began to see a handful of patients. In that in-room environment, she’s scaling teeth by hand. She often takes a few minutes to hold their hands. With one patient, she’s been able to protect the woman’s last six teeth.
“Their families are very thankful that someone is providing this care,” says Smith, who entered Enterprize Challenge with the hopes of growing her business skills and spreading the word.
When she heard her name called for People’s Choice, she says: “I was completely surprised.” Then, for first place, her name was called again: “I was just shocked and thrilled. I was blown away.”
“The reception has been beyond my wildest dreams. I’m overwhelmed by the generosity of the sponsor’s gifts.”
Precious Gatpandan and RJ San Jose, Errands and Beyond – Second place
For Precious Gatpandan and RJ San Jose, Enterprize Challenge was really the culmination of several dreams: Coming to Canada, getting permanent residency, bringing their children to live here, and starting a business in which they could use their skills to brighten people’s days.
After they made their seven-minute pitch to judges for Errands and Beyond, the couple, originally from the Philippines, said they weren’t sure what to expect.
“At first we were very nervous, and then we heard the loud noise of applause from the crowd,” says San Jose, who does most of the ‘beyond’ in Errands and Beyond in the form of handyman work such as minor renovations, tiling, painting and drywall repair. The business launched last September and focuses on giving seniors an extra set of hands.
“I was teary-eyed during that time already because it was a sign to me that our message came across and was well accepted,” says Gatpandan, who does the marketing and the errand-running side of the business. “Regardless of the outcome, we felt like we were already big winners.”
And then, when the second place Enterprize Challenge winner was announced, Gatpandan says: “It was so surreal.”
“For anyone trying to dream (of a business) don’t get intimidated,” she says. “Reach out to Community Futures.”
Gaby Flores, Baking Time – Third place
All throughout the night of the Enterprize Challenge final, Gaby Flores reminded herself of the words of her mentor Hal Mueller, a business advisor at Community Futures: “You don’t realize how good you are. If you want to win, you have to sell yourself.”
The Costa Rica native moved to Vernon nearly four years ago to become an executive pastry chef. It was through this work that she discovered how many people would appreciate the chance to enjoy vegan, dairy and gluten-free cookies, cakes and pastries.
She loves baking beautiful cakes and bringing joy to others more than anything, but she’s also humble and with English as her second language, she was feeling shy.
“It was scary. You have to get out from your comfort zone,” says Flores, who attended the ‘business bootcamp’ workshops all while working full-time. “Enterprize Challenge is a challenge, but I thought if I get this opportunity, I will do the best that I can. This doesn’t happen twice in your life.”
Also, Flores remembered the words of her mother, a professor-turned-lawyer: “Wherever you go, whatever you do, do your best because you’re also opening doors for other people from Costa Rica.”
So, Flores gave it her all and the concept of Baking Time impressed judges. Winning third place, she says, means now she can confidently “take baby steps” to fulfill her dream.
“I think after all this, my confidence rose so much. I believe in myself.”
Stuart Anderson and Andrea Mann stand below the tall timber Rusty Spur sign that tells Lumby the beloved farm, feed and pet store has proudly opened the doors to a new home on Shuswap Avenue.
Customers honk and wave as they pass and pull into the parking lot so they can shop for animal feed and supplies in a building that’s nearly five times bigger than the previous location.
“We outgrew our previous space and when we found this building, we saw it as a huge opportunity for future growth,” says Stuart. He and his wife Andrea have co-owned the Lumby store for over four of its 19 years at the original Highway 6 location with the iconic horse statue outside.
The building they came upon is 6,500 square feet, has parking for nearly 30 vehicles and is easily accessible for delivery trucks. The couple could see what a difference it would make for their customers if they could expand the breadth and variety of their stock—but how would they buy the building and have enough capital to invest in more inventory?
“We were able to cover a large portion of the mortgage through a traditional lender and hoped Community Futures would be able to support the loan for the rest,” says Stuart.
Scot McNair, business analyst at Community Futures North Okanagan, stepped in to support the Rusty Spur loans application.
“To have Scot behind us through the process meant we had someone looking out for us and guide us through the process, and he was there to bounce off ideas and questions.”
As is common with commercial property transactions, complexities presented themselves with easements and environmental conditions—several of which were flagged by Scot and navigated by a team of professionals including a lawyer, real estate agent, primary lender and others. CF North Okanagan covered some of those transactions and when the environmental assessments came back clean:
“We all had peace of mind and we knew we were making the right decision. We feel very fortunate that we were able to benefit from their consultative nature, expertise and focus on supporting a growing business in this community.”
Nearly two years after the idea to buy a building came to the Rusty Spur owners, the new location opened in August. They opened their Enderby store 2021 and also operate their online store. In both communities, Rusty Spur has become a community hub for small farmers, hobby farmers, and pet owners.
Not far from the big new sign, Stuart and Andrea will create a pond, gazebo and picnic tables as a casual community gathering space and watering hole for dogs.
“This is reflective of our dedication the community,” says Stuart, adding that none of it would have been possible without Scot, Leigha Horsfield and the loans committee at Community Futures North Okanagan.
“We’re so thankful they believed in us.”
Ready to grow your business? Learn how our business loans and resources can help you reach your goals. https://www.futuresbc.com/
The sound of kids laughing fills the air as a young family throws a frisbee on the main lawn. On the lake, generations of families cast a line into the water in hopes of reeling in an eight-pound Rainbow Trout.
Originally built in 1943, the nearly 80-year-old resort has drawn generations of families who love the rustic charm of Echo Lake. For Echo Lake Resort’s new owners Sara Spearman and John Elley, seeing people enjoy the space and connect with nature makes the months of hard work and uncertainty all worthwhile.
“Everyone who comes here says it’s their special place. They’re able to overlook the small quirks that come with simple living,” says Spearman. “What actually matters is that people can come together.”
Elley and Spearman purchased Echo Lake Resort at the start of 2022. Former investigators for the Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia, the couple decided it was time for a change. With an interest in real estate and a love of the outdoors, Spearman and Elley decided to buy a resort.
That’s when the couple hit their first roadblock. Their dream of a fishing resort that brought families together outdoors was outside the traditional commercial mortgage structure of hospitality and tourism businesses. For Spearman and Elley, that would’ve meant unrealistic interest rates and unattainable loans from traditional lenders.
If they wanted to breathe life into their dream, they knew they needed to find another way. And then their accountant and good friend, Debra Neufeld, recommended Community Futures.
“We were in the right place to meet the right people and the right lender at the right time,” says Spearman. “Community Futures helped our fantasy become a reality.”
The couple’s love of the Cariboo started their search for properties north of Kamloops. But, after having little luck finding a resort that fit their vision and business plan, the search lead Spearman and Elley to the Okanagan.
“I broadened our horizons and saw Echo Lake Resort online. I told Sara, ‘This place is stunning. You should look at it.’ Sara asked if it was in the Cariboo, and when I said no, she said she wasn’t very interested,” Elley laughs. “But Sara came back a week later after looking at it online and we arranged to go see it. As Sara was on call, I viewed it alone on a beautiful September day, and it was absolutely amazing.”
Sara viewed the pictures and by Halloween, they had an accepted offer.
Excited to launch their new careers and lives in the Okanagan, Spearman and Elley reached out to Community Futures North Okanagan in the fall of 2021. While Spearman and Elley refined their business plan, Scot McNair, Community Futures North Okanagan loans coordinator and business analyst, worked alongside the couple to secure funding.
“There were a lot of risk points that needed to be mitigated, and Community Futures helped guide us through the process,” says Spearman, noting the need for special insurance policies and transferring the BC Park Use Permit to operate the resort. “The timeline was tight. We had to make a lot of things happen with a lot of balls in the air. It was very challenging.”
Conditions were removed in January and Spearman and Elley took possession on April 2. The couple packed their bags, left the Lower Mainland and got to work.
With only a few short weeks before the start of the season in May and fresh snow still falling in the Okanagan, Elley and Spearman had one month to turnover campsites and make improvements.
“It was overwhelming. After the first week, I said to my best friends who came to help that even my fat hurts. I was so not ready for this,” says Elley. “But you just have to be able to roll with the punches.”
In the weeks that followed, Spearman, Elley and, later, their two new employees Maggie and Dean, made improvements such as adding hot water to the bathroom sinks, installing paper towel dispensers in the bathroom and making the lawn and campsites shine.
With a fully booked summer to start their first year in business and next year already 80 per cent booked, they’re confident they’re on the right path. But, for Spearman and Elley, the real highlights have been teaching a group of young kids to fish and seeing families connect and recharge offline.
“The year of start-up trials and tribulations was all worth it,” says Spearman. “It’s not just the location in the Okanagan or the cabins, it’s a special lake in a special valley and it will always be like this. We don’t feel like owners. We’re caretakers and stewards. And we’ll steward it towards its future.”
Want to learn more about Community Futures North Okanagan’s flexible business loans? Reach out to our business advisors at 250-545-2215 or visit futuresbc.com.
Sally Snarf didn’t know that they were creating a safe space for Vernon’s LGBTQ2S+ community until a famous Canadian drag performer told everyone to check out Furhouse: Vernon’s new queer hangout.
It was the start of April in 2022 and thick snow blanketed Silver Star village. Rebellious Unicorns, an inclusive events, broadcasting and media company, was in town to bring about the return of Peak Pride, the largest series of Winter Pride Events. After a glorious weekend celebrating LGTBQ2S+ in the North Okanagan, the community gathered on the final day of Peak Pride for the Drag Brunch and Toddy of Call Me Mother (a Canadian reality TV drag competition) and renowned two-spirit drag star Ella Lamoureux, also a Call Me Mother contestant and House Mother at Friends of Dorothy’s in Kelowna, helped Snarf realize the vision for Furhouse.
“I didn’t foresee I was creating a queer space until Toddy told everyone to check out Furhouse. I thought I just had a sewing shop,” Snarf smiles. “There are so many queer people who are ready to be loved and seen and take up space and not apologize.”
Snarf left Peak Pride energized. For eight months, Snarf had been working with Community Futures North Okanagan to bring their idea for a creative space focused on textiles, sewing and community to life.
That dedication to cultivating Vernon’s queer space took hold. With the local queer community, Snarf began planning Vernon’s Pride Week set for Aug. 8-14 and within weeks Rebellious Unicorns was back in town on June 4 for the Fruit Cake Drag and Dance Party—being hosted at Furhouse and featuring Lamoureux and Wanda Lust.
“I’ve never seen any kind of magic like that in Vernon. People danced until 1 a.m. and it was so extraordinary to see queer people feeling comfortable in this space,” says Snarf. “While it’s a textile shop, it’s also become this other thing I didn’t anticipate. Furhouse has become a recipe for healing in the community. It’s a space where people can just gather and be.”
Rebellious Unicorns brings the Fruit Cake Drag and Dance Party to Furhouse in Vernon June 4. (Lianne Viau Photography)
During the pandemic after losing their job as a tattoo artist in Vancouver, Snarf started an online store to share their handmade jewellery, prints and accessories. As restrictions began to ease, chronic pain from tattooing and a diagnosis of depression, anxiety and ADHD forced Snarf to make a change and return to the Okanagan.
“Furhouse happened because of challenges I didn’t expect,” Snarf recalls. “It was really hard for me. I needed a studio to thrive. I needed a place to create.”
Situated in the heart of downtown Vernon, Snarf secured the location in May 2021 and soon after met Community Futures North Okanagan’s Business Services Manager, Kazia Mullin, who introduced them to the self-employment program.
Through Furhouse, Sally Snarf creates a sense of community for Vernon’s LGBTQ2S+. (Greg Huszar photo)
“I grew up being told by society that I wasn’t supposed to ask for help, and that’s just not the reality for a lot of people. It took a lot to be able to say that I need help,” says Snarf. “Community Futures helped me to see that I need to do things differently. They were really encouraging and made me realize that I’m not alone.”
For the first 13 weeks of the self-employment program, Snarf worked with Community Futures and professional editor Janice Love to develop their business plan before officially opening the doors in January.
“Every little piece of understanding myself and letting go of what people think has helped me take care of myself in a way that I need to run a business,” says Snarf. “It has been a wild ride and there has been no shortage of curveballs.”
Snarf says Furhouse wouldn’t be what it is without the help of Community Futures, Janice Love, Mel Schmidt of The Simple Clothing Company, their family, the community and, especially, their partner April Olson.
“Furhouse made no sense to anybody for a long time. It was so chaotic and a direct representation of my struggle with mental health and finding a place for my creativity within the community,” Snarf says. “Now, when people see the bright colours and queer people see the rainbows, they feel good here. It’s a space for everyone no matter where they come from.”
With supplies, classes, restoration services and more, the retail aspect of the business has grown and evolved over time. And, throughout Furhouse’s growth, Snarf’s dedication to creating a safe and creative space has thrived.
“People still say they don’t get it, but in a positive way,” Snarf smiles. “I don’t think you need to get it. Just come inside and experience it for yourself.”
Want to learn more about the self-employment program? Visit Community Futures North Okanagan at futuresbc.com.
It’s late afternoon and the sun beams in to the salon, brightening everything: the mirrors, the shiny nails in the latest purple, the curling irons, the eyes of women, smiling. The talk is of spring, of trips to Mexico, of moving, kids and work. There’s laughter. As Eileen Fox glances up from hand-painting her client’s nails, she sees it: the community and good vibes she has built.
Fox was 23 when she opened Cheek to Chic Salon and Spa in the mall in 2008. She’d recently finished training as an esthetician school in Kelowna when she saw an opportunity to open a salon in Vernon.
“I wanted to create an all-inclusive salon where you could get everything done and offer the kind of premium makeup found at boutiques in bigger cities,” says Fox, whose parents both owned businesses growing up. As she began to make plans to open Cheek to Chic, Fox opted to create her own line of makeup and skincare, and she also launched mobile hair and makeup service for weddings and graduations.
That first summer, things were good: The salon’s offerings quickly caught on and she had so much enthusiasm and energy for this business that seemed to have so much possibility. A few months later, the financial crash of 2008 happened. Eventually, things picked back up but over the next few years, Fox carried on, despite the strain of mall hours and rent, and a growing team. The business shifted from a 530 square foot space into one more than twice the size a few doors down.
“I was getting to a point where it felt like I was so burnt out, I didn’t know if I could do it anymore.”
By the spring of 2020, just ahead of months of pandemic closures, that ‘burnt out’ feeling had gone from hard to almost impossible. Then, a client mentioned Momentum, a Community Futures North Okanagan program for women entrepreneurs. The client, also a Momentum participant, told Fox about the learning and mentorship, the funding for business development and the forum for sharing struggles.
“Why don’t you look into it?” the client had said.
Fox, who had long recognized a need to gain more business management skills, was soon in the next intake, and the timing couldn’t have been better. That summer, with all the challenges of COVID, Fox would have to find a way to renew her joy for the business, and make it sustainable.
“For a long time I’d felt like I needed to be a part of some camaraderie with other business women, to have a safe space to bounce off ideas and share your wins and your struggles.”
Fox appreciated the program’s first steps, which include uncovering your values and gaps in processes, policies and operations.
“Working out the values was super important because that can get a bit lost and it grounds you. It reminds you of why you’re doing this,” says Fox. “With Momentum, I finally felt like I’d caught a break and could move forward.”
In addition to using some of the business development funding for employee contracts and developing an online store to sell her makeup and skincare, Fox set her sights on a location that would better serve her and her team. In January 2022, Cheek to Chic moved into a new 1,300 square foot space on Anderson Way—a game-changing step that’s given her and her team much more work-life balance and calm.
“Momentum helped me fight one more fight,” she says. “It’s so important to have the chance to be open and honest with other business owners who are going through the same things.”
Cheek to Chic is now hoping to reach markets beyond Vernon with its skincare and makeup, and Fox hopes to mentor other young women breaking into the salon industry.
Are you interested in Momentum, the business accelerator for women entrepreneurs? Visit CF North Okanagan at futuresbc.com.
About Community Futures
From our office in downtown Vernon, Community Futures North Okanagan offers employment, business and economic development services to help residents build their future and the community. We service Armstrong, Coldstream, Enderby, Grindrod, Lavington, Lumby, Mara, Okanagan Indian Band, Spallumcheen, Splatsin and Vernon.
