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the quality of creative engagement in the Okanagan through publications and events.
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Housing Futures
THE DESIGN CHALLENGE
» Thursday 21 August 2008 | 5 pm
» The Bohemian Café, 524 Bernard Avenue
An informal afternoon hour showcasing people and ideas featured in Okanagan HOME. Join Cal and Jim Meiklehohn, Don Elzer, Sharron Simpson, Howard Rensler and Dona Sturmanis as they discuss our housing expectations, challenges and concerns.
» This is a free event. Refreshments will be available at a modest cost.
» Seating is limited, please reserve yours HERE
Experts Debate the Future of Housing
Forget the talk about dipping real estate - anyone in the Okanagan knows that housing development here has gone through the roof. Face it, the Okanagan is a great place to be and everyone wants a piece of it.
Trouble is, debate continues on what the future of the Okanagan can and should look like. All kinds of pressure are at play from affordability to sustainability, even design. Is there an "Okanagan look". Can we have it all?
Okanagan Institute Express series of free public presentation tackles the subject head-on with Housing Futures: The Design Challenge, Thursday August 21, 5 pm at the Bohemian Café in downtown Kelowna, featuring five diverse professionals who have lived, worked and helped build Okanagan communities from the ground up.
"The future of homes in the Okanagan is a vital situation involving affordability and economics, population growth, state of the work force, resources, land use and urban management, as well as sensible and sustainable design," says Dona Sturmanis, senior editor of Okanagan Home and host of the event.
Speaking at the event will be architects Cal and Jim Meiklejohn, cultural ecologist Don Elzer, former city councillor Sharron Simpson, and Howard Rensler, incoming president of the Canadian Home Builders Association - Central Okanagan.
 Meiklejohn Architects has established itself as one of the key firms in the Okanagan with more than $200 million in projects currently in design. Residential projects include Kelowna's award- winning Cannery Lofts (designed with Water Street Architects) that ignited redevelopment in the Kelowna Cultural District. The firm also designed Kelowna's MODE Condominiums with the Mission Group which received the first Mayor's Sustainable Development Award.
 Don Elzer has been a resident of the Okanagan for the past 25 years. A cultural ecologist, writer, artist and futurist with a keen interest in rural communities and local economics, he writes for a number of publications throughout Canada and the United States and advises communities and planners about future trends and sustainable solutions.
 Sharron Simpson was born in Kelowna but has had the good fortune to live in a number of other cities before choosing to return to her hometown in the mid-'80s. Since that time, she has been involved in civic politics, chaired the Community Heritage Commission, and been an advocate for Kelowna's built and written heritage. She offers a unique perspective on her changing community.
 Howard Rensler is the incoming President of CHBA - Central Okanagan. He holds a HBSc bachelor of science degree in urban geography and MES masters degree in Environmental Studies along with professional designations as a land economist, appraiser and realtor. He has over 30 years experience in planning, development and sales of new communities in Southern Ontario, Florida, Arizona and now Kelowna. He is also Sales & Marketing Manager for all communities built by Dilworth Homes.
Housing Futures: The Design Challenge is a free event, and takes place at the Bohemian Café. This marks the 54th event the Okanagan Institute has held since the Express series got underway in July 2007. Since that time, the series has played host to many Okanagan luminaries, including former deputy secretary general of Amnesty International Derek Evans, artists Lee Claremont and Gary Pearson, BC Book Award nominee Don Gayton, CBC Literary prize winner poet Harold Rhenisch, distinguished editor and author Jim Taylor, animator and filmmaker Jim Cliffe, architect Jim Meiklejohn, and others from a variety of creative fields.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER ONLINE CLICK HERE
Where Enquiring Minds Gather. Okanagan Institute at the Bohemian Café A hearty feast of lectures, presentations, workshops and showcases celebrating our culture and community. Produced by the Okanagan Institute in association with Wheat King Publishing magazines: Okanagan Arts and Okanagan Home. Express is sponsored in part by the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan, Wood Lake Publishing, UBCO-FCCS, and in support of Project Literacy Kelowna.
The Okanagan Institute is a group of creative professionals that have gathered around the goal of providing events, publications and services of interest to enquiring minds in the Okanagan. We partner with individuals, organizations, institutions and businesses to achieve optimal creative and social impact.
Our mission is to ignite cultural transformation, catalyze collaborative action, build networks and foster sustainable creative enterprises. We invite the participation by all members of the creative community.
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