The Business Excellence Awards have been celebrating outstanding success in Kelowna for the past 25 years. They are presented by the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce.
Each year, nominations are received for the business and individual awards. The nominees fill in a detailed nomination form that is then reviewed by an impressive group of judges. The group of finalists are selected based on the information contained in the nomination package. The finalists are then visited in person by the judges in September. The finalists are profiled during the Business Excellence Awards ceremony during Small Business Week in October and the recipients are announced that evening.
The Society of Hope was honored to receive this award on October 23, 2013. The finalists were all very deserving organizations - Accelerate Okanagan, United Way of the Central Okanagan and Metro Community. Ken Zeitner represented the Society of Hope with a moving acceptance speech.
Society of Hope Blog
By Sharen Marteny - Kelowna Capital News
Published: January 14, 2011 11:00 PM
I had the recent privilege to tour the Society of Hope’s Apple Valley Senior’s Housing at Orchard Park complex, 2055 Benvoulin Crt.
It is an affordable rental housing complex for seniors 55 and older. The first residents will move in on Feb. 1.
This housing project is a 15-year dream come to fruition for Luke Stack, the society’s executive director. To qualify to live in Apple Valley Housing, the gross family income must not be more than $3,200 per month.
There are a total of 72 one- and two-bedroom suites. Four of the suites are modified for wheelchairs. One-bedroom suites rent for $760 per month while two-bedroom suites rent for $960.
The building and suites were professionally designed. The attention to details and finishes is exceptional while still maintaining an affordable rent.
The wheelchair modifications meet the real needs of anyone in a wheelchair.
Besides the usual adjustments in heights of counters and shelves they include a dishwasher that pulls out and loads from above and a fridge with the freezer at the bottom. The bathroom roll-in shower is fabulous with a pull down seat and two showerheads.
Even the colours on the outside of the building were taken into consideration. The use of red and white celebrates the colour of a red Okanagan apple.
The complex is in a perfect location with a major transit hub at Orchard Park. Owning a car is not a necessity as transit is close by.
There is a location in the underground parkade for electric scooters that can be charged while not in use. There is also space for bicycles.
Plans are in place to add community garden plots in the spring.
On the main floor is the Ziglar Recreation and Senior Support Centre. It includes a fireside lounge, a multi-use activity room, community kitchen and a six lane bowling alley.
All of this is available through a small membership fee for the residents and other seniors.
The Seniors Outreach Society and Interior Health will both be offering services from the building. Anyone who is fortunate enough to be living at Apple Valley will be proud to call it home.
If you want to move into this beautiful new building, go for a tour now. For a tour or for further information contact the Hope office at 250-862-8233 or go to www.societyofhope.org/apple-valley-seniors-housing.
Sharen Marteny is a services consultant for seniors in Kelowna.
250-212-1257
www.seniorsconsulting.net