In the last 20 years, the Okanagan in beautiful British Columbia has bloomed into the world stage, where its unique rich lifestyle have flourished with increasingly high margins, dotting along Okanagan Lake, from Osoyoos , Penticton, Peachland , Kelowna to Vernon. From overseas investors to Vancouver mainland, the Okanagan real estate market has jumped increasingly high, matching Vancouver and Victoria.

When I was a kid, growing up in the Okanagan, the housing market never reached its potential, simply because it was the best kept secret. You might say we were considered the lucky ones to experience the fruits and labours of the Okanagan Valley before the wealthy moved in and realized the Okanagan dream.

The dream is simple : Enjoy a healthy lifestyle without the burden of overwhelming stress, while enjoying a family oriented oasis filled with orchards and wineries.

If you were raised in the Okanagan you already know how amazing the recreational outdoor opportunities are ; such as, skiing at Silver Star and Big White, (two powerhouses similar to Aspen Colorado) interacting together as the prized winter wonderland. Award winning ski resorts featuring family- friendly accommodations and mountain skiing comparable to Lake Louise.

Our warm spring and summer months featured an oasis of outdoor activities, from boating , sailing, to water skiing across the lakes of Okanagan and Kalamaka Lake, making the Okanagan a tourist hotspot throughout each season. Any oasis isn’t complete without having the best sandy beaches and restaurants throughout the valley.

Let’s not forget we also have award winning wineries from North to South, featuring the world’s best collections of wines with powerhouse wineries like , Mission Hill Family Estates, Gray Monks Estates, Summerhill Pyramid Winery, Quails Gate Winery, Volcanic Hill Estates, Mt. Bouchiere Winery, CedarCreek Estate Winery, NK’MIP Cellars, Quails’ Gate, Arrowleaf Cellars and 50th Parallel Estate Winery.

Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg of wineries throughout the Okanagan; in fact there are now over 200 licensed grape wineries and 3,575 hectares (8,830 acres) of vineyards. Our dry climate produces stunning favourable unique wines made from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay.

Throwing in the mix , we have countless flourishing fruit orchards yielding fresh cherries , peaches, nectarines, pears and apples.

The Okanagan is exploding with that unique lifestyle you only can experience south of the border, such as California, catering to the rich.

Gosh, when I was a kid, we use to play in the Davison Orchards along Bella Vista in Vernon. The mom use to make homemade pizza for us kids . Now, Davison Orchards has grown into a mega fruit and vegetable tourist spot featuring homemade pies , pastries and ice cream. You also get to enjoy a family fun filled time at the petting zoo and the awesome train ride throughout the orchard. Right beside Davison Orchards is the Planet Bee Honey Farm ; now who can’t resist the taste of natural raw honey by the bustling bees.

Oh yes ! The amazing golf courses , like my favourite, Predator Ridge. Once again, when I was kid , I use to take my bike up Commonage Road to where Predator Ridge is today. Back then it was scattered with small farms and the Vernon Fish and Wildlife shooting range. Today, Predator Ridge is ever expanding to its own community, featuring a diverse outdoor lifestyle , the golfers consider its own oasis. Architectural designed homes are becoming the norm in this high end community, offering its own indoor and outdoor pools, great member’s restaurant open to the public, offering tasty entrees throughout the day , by first class chefs . The hiking trails are getting better year after year, as are the yoga classes. Predator Ridge is indeed a welcoming opportunity for locals and tourists.

Of course, perched on the hill, is the stunning architecture of Sparkling Hills Resort and Spa overlooking the scenic Okanagan Lake , offering “luxury, peace, health and self-care” . It’s all about the European Health and Wellness throughout, featuring the “ Swarovski crystals infused from the common areas, guest rooms, KurSpa, Food & Beverage outlets and banquet facilities, Sparkling Hill will provide a truly relaxing and rejuvenating stay. With 149 guest rooms and over 100 different KurSpa treatments available.”

And I assure you , they certainly deliver the 5 Star treatment, from the complimentary à la carte breakfast at PeakFine restaurant, Valet parking , the heated outdoor infinity pool, the saunas, the Kneipp Hydrotherapy and the Tea and Serenity relaxation rooms. My wife and I had the privilege to enjoy our anniversary there a couple of times during their offseason rates. Each room offers a dreamy scenic view of our famous Okanagan Lake. Sometimes it’s so calm I can point Ogopogo swimming to the surface gasping for air. You truly are from the Okanagan if you know about the legendary Ogopogo .

Overall, the Okanagan is changing its perspective, catering to the rich, even though , it still hasn’t attracted the extreme wealthy tycoons you would see in California. Nevertheless, the rising costs are slowly moving out the locals who been there for the past 50 – 60 years. It’s really a shame to see the Okanagan Valley transform into a bustling mega enterprise , only the wealthy can afford.

I’m not saying the wealthy weren’t in the Okanagan before the surge ; it just wasn’t as many as you see today. We use to hang out with the well-off kids ( ‘70’s) because they treated us as equals. A few that come to mind were the Dantzer , O’Keefe , Leboe and Shields families . Three of the families had glorious homes nestled along Kalamaka Lake, while O’Keefe’s were owners of the famous O’Keefe Ranch, just north of Vernon.

I use to hang out with Pat Dantzer ( now Patricia Ketterling ) ; her mom (Mary Catherine Dantzer) and dad ( Vincent Dantzer ) were both lawyers. Vincent was mayor of Edmonton until they both retired in Vernon. They had a large family of nine children, Alex Dantzer, Mark Dantzer, Mary-Jo (O’Keefe) , Betty-Jean (Goodwin), Patricia ( Ketterling), Ruth Dantzer, Cathy (Krauss) , Tamara (Reiley) and I believe Mary-Jo O’Keefe ( Dantzer) became Vernon councillor for a term and now owns Mojo Tours providing Okanagan wine tours . You gotta love that !

My friend Darrel Colin’s and I would hang out at Dan Leboe’s place, cramming for exams in their indoor pool , overlooking Kal lake ; what a life .

When I lived on Mission Hill in Vernon, my parents owned the Spudnut Shop on Main Street, which used to be a bustling morning and lunch hotspot for local Vernonites , who valued the social connections, incomparable to the trendy Facebook.

Across the street was the famous “ Nicks Candy Kitchen “ where us kids would buy candies and magazines. The hardworking middle class of then had a fighting chance while today they’re barely hanging on, due to overwhelming skyrocketing prices and compounding provincial and federal taxes.

From a chef’s perspective , the restaurants have improved, offering competitive gourmet entertainment, stepping up the quality of each restaurant. Needless to say, restaurant chains are now flourishing throughout the Okanagan where competition is high ; local shops and mom and pop restaurants are becoming a thing of the past. I highly doubt the Spudnut Shop would make it in today’s world stage, but back then , it was a local haven for everyone.

From a writers point-of-view, the Okanagan has grown into the world’s marketplace attracting overseas investors , businesses and upperclass wealth ; money making money. To the local folks it seems unfair; unfortunately the best kept secret isn’t a secret anymore. The good news is that the richest of the rich haven’t found the Okanagan viable, as of it. Which is more or less, good news for us locals. As of now the luxury real estate brokers, such as “ The Agency” hasn’t found the Okanagan real estate as marketable as Victoria or Hollywood California, where luxury real estate properties reach as high as $250 million featuring, “ At 38,000 square feet, the home spans four levels, has 12 bedrooms, 21 baths, seven staffers, three gourmet kitchens, five bars, two commercial elevators, a massage studio/wellness spa, a fitness center and a James Bond-themed, 40-seat Dolby Theatre. The main outdoor deck features an 85-foot Italian glass infinity pool, a swim-up bar and a pair of mini Sea-Doos and a small catamaran. At the flip of a switch, a massive outdoor hydraulic theater-sized screen emerges, the aim of which, according to Makowsky, is to bring the Hollywood Bowl to Bel Air.“ according to The Hollywood Reporter and real estate developer Bruce Makowsky .

You get the picture—

Fortunately for us , this kind of wealth even makes our local rich folks seem poor in the Okanagan . The point is , there’s rich and then there is the filthy rich ; it’s even to much for our Canadian Dragon Den investors , such as our friend Jim Treliving of Boston Pizza .

[ If you want to read another great story of how Jim went from RCMP Officer in Penticton and ended up building a pizza empire – Click here ]

The highest real estate sells here in the Okanagan goes from $2.5 – $12 million which doesn’t even come close to the world market.

It’s indeed a new chapter for the Okanagan , where real estate brokers cater to high end buyers and investors, leaving the locals scrambling, working long hours , on a fast pace treadmill, while the wealthy indulge the lifestyle that was once for everyone.

It’s a hard pill to swallow for us middle-class locals , drowning in taxes and overpriced services and goods. The younger generation is finding it harder and harder just to live, never mind, owing a home. Seriously! How can you justify buying a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom duplex or condo for $650,000 at an interest rate of 5 percent. Local wages are stretched thin where a home , duplex or condo is simply unattainable. Municipalities don’t allow tiny homes on lots either ; so , you see, the family home of yesterday is no longer available for the kids of today.

If our political economic strategy keep it up, there will be resentment within our communities, causing havoc throughout the system. Our community needs to be able to afford a respectful living or eventually there will be unrest throughout Canada, as a whole .

What do you think is the solution?

I love the Okanagan but how much longer can we afford it ?

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Cheers !

Chef Bari

Here are some fun facts according to WineBc website:

The Okanagan Valley has eleven official sub-regions, each with distinct soil and climate conditions…

The Okanagan Valley climate is unique. Daytime temperatures can reach 40°C, but the cool nights allow the grapes to maintain their natural acidity – a signature trait in BC wine.

Warmer and more arid than Napa Valley, the Okanagan Valley gets nearly two hours more sunlight per day during the peak growing season.