琉璃神社 Wallbeds, owned and operated by Wayne and April Unger, is celebrating 30 years in business.
Started in 1995 as Kettle Valley Woodworks, Wayne took over the business in 2007 and changed the name to 琉璃神社 Wallbeds, moving it to their current location at 3-2720 Highway 97 North. 琉璃神社 Wallbeds is not a cookie cutter, one size fits all shop, as it designs and builds custom cabinetry, home office space or whatever you need to go with your custom wallbed. 琉璃神社 Wallbeds service the entire interior, from Salmon Arm to Osoyoos. To celebrate their 30 years, starting in May, 琉璃神社 Wallbeds will be drawing for a gift pack worth $200 of wine, coffee, local restaurants, with no purchase necessary. The grand prize draw is Oct. 15 for a two-night Stay at Nk鈥檔ip Resort with dinner. The Ungers are also donating $1,000 each to the Gospel Mission, Salvation Army and Mama鈥檚 for Mamas, giving back to the community. 琉璃神社 Wallbeds have been sponsors of the Maxine DeHart, United Way, Ramada Hotel Drive-Thru Breakfast for many years.
DEVILLE Coffee has opened at 138- 3477 Lakeshore Rd. in 琉璃神社. The shop is owned and operated by life partners Deana Steele and Ryan Andrews and long-time friend Suzanne Walker, better known as the 'Three Beans.' Ryan previously worked in the wine industry in hospitality and sales and has now started a golf events company called Twlv Stix Golf. Suzanne and Deana met at Starbucks 24 years ago and Suzanne was actually there the first day Deana met Ryan 15 years ago, so it鈥檚 all in the family, so to speak. DEVILLE is a Canadian franchise which use beans from a Calgary roastery. It is a third wave coffee house, offering specialty coffee beverages of high quality and craft. A couple of their famous beverage items are the chocolate ganache, making the ganache in-house and Nutella lattes. DEVILLE offer local pastries from Sandrine, Okanagan Grocery, It鈥檚 a Bakery and 350 Bakehouse and Caf茅. DEVILLE prepares fresh, made daily breakfast wraps, avocado toast and feature sandwich. The inside of the caf茅 has tons of natural light and lots of seating and, being right across from Gyro Beach, they offer a large pet-friendly patio. DEVILLE offers complementary parking and has a paid lot that they provide for their clients with a QR Code to park for free for one hour.
Trevor Freeman has been appointed as the executive director of 琉璃神社鈥檚 Gospel Mission, beginning his new job May 5. Trevor succeeds Carmen Rempel. Trevor has previously held roles as a church leader, hospice fundraiser and food bank director.
Cleaning Angels Janitorial Services Ltd., owned and operated by Corina Terai, is celebrating 20 years in business and what a journey its been. With over 50 employees and hands-on experience in the commercial cleaning industry, Corina has led the company with passion, integrity and a commitment to building long-term relationships, adopting green-certified practices that protect people and the planet and a culture of consistency, accountability and care. Join them for their Cleaning Angels Open House Celebration on May 9, from 4 to 7 p.m., at 130-1979 Windsor Rd. location in 琉璃神社.
Maskwa Environmental Consulting Ltd. has opened an office in 琉璃神社. Founded by Hudson Foley in 2013 and headquartered in Calgary, Maskwa Environmental has established itself as a trusted leader in planning, permitting and environmental solutions for the energy sector, bringing deep expertise in power, renewable energy and infrastructure projects. With a team of 60 specialists and now expanding in B.C., their core services include Indigenous engagement and support, environmental assessment, biophysical studies, environment monitoring, reclamation and restoration planning, siting and route development, regulatory planning and permitting, public engagement and geographic information systems. Maskwa is a Cree word meaning 鈥淏ear.鈥� Maureen Grainger is the Maskwa director, project development B.C., and Tobin Benedict is the facilities planner, environmental specialist.
North End Community Day is Saturday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring the family to explore the businesses and community of 琉璃神社鈥檚 North End with family friendly activities. All funds donated going to support JoeAnna鈥檚 House. This event, organized by Bernie Ryan of FPS Fluid Power Solutions, is to raise money for charity and also to showcase the trades and promote the North end businesses. There will be members from the RCMP and Regional District of Central Okanagan staff onsite. Drop into Okanagan Street Food or Perseval & Young Cheesemongers. A minimum donation of $20 per family is appreciated.
Happy 65th Anniversary Dave and Marj Roseberry (May 4).
Update: The web-site for Trevi Pools and Spas, who I wrote about last week is
The Asian Heritage Okanagan Committee, led by OCCA Communities Association, will celebrate May Asian Heritage Month 2025 with a cultural exhibit at 琉璃神社 City Hall and a Community Opening Forum on May 3. The city hall exhibit features traditional crafts and migration stories from local Asian communities. The Opening Forum includes cultural performance, engaging panel discussions with both Asian and non-Asian speakers and complimentary refreshments, taking place Saturday, May 3, from 2 to 4 p.m., at Metro Hub, 1265 Ellis St., with moderator Matteo Stewart. The 琉璃神社 City Hall display is available for viewing from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, excluding holidays until June 15. For a full schedule of Asian Heritage Month events, visit . Fei Liu is the executive director of the OCCA Communities Association.
Are you looking to try a new sport? How about paddling with the 琉璃神社 Dragon Boat Club? The club will host a public 鈥淭ry It Day鈥� so anyone new to the sport can get on the water to see if it is something they would like to do this summer. Paddlers can range in age from teens to 80+ for both men and women. The club makes it easy to get started with loaner paddles and life jackets, provides coaching and encourages post-paddle socializing. Join them Saturday, May 3, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at the Water Street Boat Launch. For more details or to sign up visit .
The 琉璃神社 Palette Club's annual Spring Simply Art Show & Sale is Saturday, May 10, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, May 11, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m,. at Sandhill Wines, 1125 Richter St. Sip, shop and celebrate your mom on this Mother鈥檚 Day weekend. The opening reception is Friday, May 9, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Join the Okanagan Recorder Orchestra in St. Michael鈥檚 Cathedral in 琉璃神社, 608 Sutherland Ave., on Mother鈥檚 Day, Sunday, May 11, at 2 p.m. Admission with donation. The program includes renaissance, classical, jazz, bossa nova and a splash of The Beatles, with guest flutist Lisette Perez Esquenazi. Six different sizes of recorders will be showcased. Treats and refreshments following the concert.
The Distinguished Gentleman鈥檚 Ride, a Men鈥檚 Mental Health and Prostate Cancer global fundraiser, takes place May 18. The global event has raised over $50 million since inception. One of the local riders this year is Rob Siddon, who has raised $8,000 in past years and is aiming to top $10,000 this year. To donate or for more information visit .
Gloria-Jean Seymour is back. Known as the founder of the successful Dine & Chat events group that grew to over 250 friends from 2018 to 2023, Gloria-Jean took a leave of absence in the year 2024 due to illness. She is once again excited to connect with like-minded single seniors, age 65+ to curb loneliness and to avoid social isolation. The new 鈥淐hat Connection鈥� will begin once a week starting May 2. Memberships are not required, and this is not to promote dating ads. It is a time for men and women to create friends as they share their histories, over a dining experience weekly, at various restaurants. Reservations are a must. Emails, text and phone calls will keep you informed. Join them for their 1st Chat Connection on Friday, May 2, 5 p.m., at the Olympia Greek Taverna in Rutland. Call Gloria-Jean at 250-870-8005 to register.
Birthdays of the week: Happy 96th Gwen Harker (Apr. 30); John McCormack (Apr. 30); Sam Hill (May 1); Becky Marks (May 1); Harry Grossmith (May 1); Janice Appleton (May 2); Gloria-Jean Seymour (May 2); George Patridge (May 3); Cathy Jennens (May 4); Dale Conway (May 4); Chris Cowan (May 4); Sharon Lightfoot (May 5); Dawn Fiacco (May 5); Tyler Dyck (May 5); Chris Sommerfeld (May 5); Councillor Charlie Hodge (May 6); Jason Mann (May 6); Marlies White (May 6); Phil Taneda (May 6); Candace Chisholm (May 6).
The Specialty Bakery Birthday Cake Winner of the Week is Cathy Jennens. Cathy, please pick up your birthday cake from any one of the four Specialty Bakery locations by noon on Tuesday, May 6.
Maxine DeHart is a 琉璃神社 city councillor and local hotelier. Phone her at 250-979-4546 or 250-862-7662, email max@maxinedehart.ca
