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Showing posts with label pictures. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pictures. Show all posts

Mardi Gras in Downtown Kelowna 2009

The sun was out, the music was on, and the food smelled fantastic ... once again Mardi Gras came to downtown Kelowna.

Although I cannot confirm this, there seemed more booths this year. There was four stages with music, new/used books, clothes and of course my favorite mini donuts. (Check out the pictures below)

There even was performers on stilz. Amazing to watch them make their way through the crowds of people.

Once again John Parrot and the crew at the Down Town Kelowna Association and all the participating business did a great job.

Hope you enjoyed your weekend.

Kelowna Apple Triathlon Fund Raiser!

More than 35 volunteers brought sponges, buckets and hoses to raise more than 400 hundred dollars toward safety equipment for the 2009 Kelowna Apple Triathlon!

A big thank you to the Mohawk 2454 Dobbin Road on Highway 97 West Kelowna and Petro Canada Certiguard Rutland East at 160 Highway 33 East for the use of their premises and access to water, everyone that brought their vehicles to be washed, the incredible investment of time made by all the volunteers who made the event possible. Check out the slide show below ...

The 2009 Apple Triathlon is scheduled for August 21 weekend, and is Canadas largest Triathlon! Make sure to check the new website for a schedule of events, road closures and to sign up to volunteer at www.appletriathlon.com or contact the Kelowna Apple Triathlon office (250)763-5287.

Pictures taken by Mike Hassard Kelowna




John Daly Cup 2009 OMREB Charity Golf

Sun was out and clubs where swinging at the 2009 OMREB Charity Golf Tournament at Michael Brook Ranch.

Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, Lawyers, their friends and families from around Kelowna, West Kelowna and the surrounding Okanagan Valley came together to raise money for The Kelowna Women's Shelter and the Kelowna Hospice.

The total raised was almost $4,000!

In total 18 teams and almost 100 realtors participated in the Texas Scramble event. Prizes where awarded for putting, longest drive, lowest over all score and again at the 2nd hole, saw the return of infamous "John Daly Cup".

The event was the brain child of Philippe Daigle of Invis Mortgage and Mike Hassard in 2008. The challenge to all the participated ... the closest drive to pin WITH A PUTTER! The event was so much fun ... they were asked to come back in 2009!

In just the third rotation ... Roger Cyr with Cyr and Associates had hit the green using his favorite putter. His drive almost held up until Gloria Bedwell of Realty Executives drove off the tee closer to the pin.


This years the hole was run by Mike Hassard, Philippe Daigle and Shawn McMann.

A special thank you to Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board, Nancy Mackellar with Royal Lepage, Mark Jennings-Bates with Coldwell Banker and the staff at Michael Brook Ranch Golf Course for putting on a great event.

Spring Time - Review, Plan and Simplify!

If you are like most Okanagan Families the coming sunshine this weekend meant only one thing ... cleaning the back yard, raking the yellow grass and digging out all the gardening implements from the storage shed. In sunshine we made our plans for this years harvest of tomatoes, lettuce, beans and green peppers.

My thinking ... use hang planters to grow the peppers and tomatoes ... easy to water with little issues from weeds. But my wife would have any of that. So we dung a plot in the back yard by hand.

She likes the weeding ... personally I think she likes to get away from me for a couple of hours each week. I am sure there are times when the tomatoes listen more that I do!

Then we made our annually pilgrimage to Art Napps ... amazing spring seems to be three weeks ahead of our yard! (Picture provided by Amanda taken outside Art Knapps. (More of her work can be found here)

Every year I got through the same process ... review what I want for this year, make a plan and simplify where necessary.

With all uncertainty in stocks prices, dropping housing values and a shrinking job market, it is reminds me of spring, now is great time to:

Review your needs
  1. Do you have enough or too much life insurance?
  2. Have you incurred more debt this year and how will it effect your projected debt freedom date?
  3. How has the value of your portfolio changed your FIN number and your retirement date?

Revisit your written plan
  1. Are your goals still relevant in this current environment?
  2. How are your spending habits?
  3. Are you going to able to manage if you get laid off and have to wait 6 to weeks for benefits?

Simplify
  1. Consider using one tern insurance policy instead of multiple policies.
  2. Consolidate or optimize debt for better cash flow and quicker debt reduction.
  3. Put all your RSP assets properly diversified with one company. Easier to manage risk and easier to understand how your money is managed.
Cleaning up your financial life at least once a year is like cleaning out your storage shed. Once it is done you feel good you did it. Best of all when you need to find some thing at least you know you have it and where it is.

And it is much easier that picking weeds!

Mike Hassard - Canada's Future Olympic Hopefuls



Watching the dramatic silver medal finish by Canada's Simon Whitfield reminded me of how exciting televised sport can be.

It also made me think ... how many more years does Simon have left in him to carry the torch for Canada's Triathlon Team? Who is coming from behind to replace him?

The call for more support of our Olympic team is always a call for more money. Although money is important, this will only benefit the athletes already in the chute for the next Olympics.

What about Canada's future athletes ... where are they going to come from? Kelowna you say?!

The week before the 2008 Kelowna Apple Triathlon I was an observer at the Triathlon Camps co-ordinated by Sue Morrison for Kids and Teens . .. what an amazing site. Children riding their small bikes, parents cheering them on , under the careful eyes of successful triathlon coaches.

The kids camp was full again this year with a strong support from athletes from Kelowna and out of town. The Teen camp was 70% full. Another great turn out.

Sue mentioned the Apple Triathlon Camps are one of the countries most successful, bringing families from all over Canada into Kelowna the week before the event to train on swimming, biking and running techniques. They also spend time teaching how to transition between each event. A program like this is the gate way from recreational Triathlon to the elite category.

From what I saw the key to future athletes is not just money ... it is about a love of the sport you play, the support of your family and coaches willing to give their time.

The Future of Canadian Olympic Gold is alive and well in Kelowna!

Mike Hassard - The Pushor Mitchell 2008 Kelowna Apple Triathlon



The co-coordinators and directors met to socialize and get ready for the 2008 Pushor Mitchell Kelowna Apple Triathlon scheduled for August 16 and 17.

There were some concerns the day before. The wind had come up on the lake and produced one of the worst winds storms in Kelowna's History. There was still tree branches 15 feet long on the road ... fortunately that was the day before.


Apple Triathlon President Richard Montgomery and food assistant Philippe Daigle fired up the barbeque, and others brought salads and beverages. If this is any indication of the organization skills that will be represented on race day, then this years event should be a great one.


Randy Sparrow Race Coordinator said the course is in fine shape. "Road closures are well planned and new maps are now available. We are using the website, Shaw TV and the news papers to get the message out. We have done our best to minimize the effect on local traffic and still have an event that is worth watching".



"The one thing an event like this is always on the looking for, is volunteers" says President Richard Montgomery. " We have a great core of volunteers that put in countless hours to pull off this event each year , but we can always use more."

One of the things I noticed that makes the Kelowna Triathlon so unique is it's encourages family participation.

Some familes participate as individuals doing all three events. Some split the events as a relay team and focus on the swimming, biking or running. The idea is to have the entire family involved.

The Apple Triathlon even has Teen and Kids camps taught by experienced coaches and triathletes. Whether you live here or you come to Kelowna now you can spend the week, with the entire family, preparing for the event.

If you are interested in getting involved or just want more information check out the Pushor Mitchell Apple Triathlon website or contact the local office at (250) 861-5287 and leave your name and number.