All through 2022, we’ll be connecting with Kelowna and space residents to find extra in regards to the individuals who name this area house, to find out about their favorite locations, and to learn how tourism impacts their lives, whereas additionally highlighting the advantages a robust tourism sector creates for Kelowna and its surrounding communities.
Observe alongside to be taught extra about Kelowna from those that realize it greatest—locals.
Shoaib Shabir
Photograph Credit score: Kenny Hagen
Born in Qatar, Pakistani Canadian, Shoaib Shabir, was 14 when his household moved from Lahore to Toronto. Simply earlier than the 2010 Olympics, he moved to BC and fell in love with the province. After spending a memorable summer season within the Okanagan—one which Shoaib says actually modified him as an individual—and assembly his girlfriend, making the transfer to Kelowna was a straightforward choice. Many others have taken comparable journeys, the place a go to to Kelowna has led to relocation from different elements of Canada and past. Its desirability as a spot to name house has made Kelowna one of many fastest-growing areas in Canada.
“Kelowna is the primary place the place I used to be in a position to floor myself,” says Shabir. “After I first visited Kelowna, I used to be at all times working and, at any given time, had two lively work traces. All the time reachable and could not actually disconnect from work life. It wasn’t till I frolicked in Kelowna that I used to be in a position to acknowledge the significance of labor/private life stability. Visiting Kelowna began my journey to enhance my psychological well being, which in the end led me to stroll away from the ten+ 12 months profession I had constructed and develop into a photographer.”
Shoaib began his pictures journey with a undertaking referred to as Individuals in Kelowna. “I related and took portraits of individuals on the streets of Kelowna, the vast majority of them being vacationers,” he says. “I used to be in a position to join with numerous individuals from everywhere in the world. The overwhelming assist and recognition I acquired throughout these interactions took my pictures from a pastime to a profession.”
Photograph Credit score: Shoaib Shabir
Shoaib will not be alone in his entrepreneurial journey right here in Kelowna. In 2016, Kelowna was listed as essentially the most entrepreneurial metropolis in Canada within the Monetary Put up’s annual rating, which is compiled by the Canadian Federation of Impartial Enterprise. Additional, primarily based on Statistics Canada knowledge from 2016, CBC famous that Kelowna had the best proportion of self-employed individuals in Canada. Based on BC’s Small Enterprise Profile 2021, the Thompson Okanagan area, of which Kelowna is part of, has the second highest per capita focus of small companies in BC, with 103.8 for each 1,000 individuals.
In his work as a self-employed photographer and videographer, Shoaib usually works on initiatives showcasing Kelowna’s tourism trade. When requested about the advantages residents achieve from the sector, he says: “Firstly, it brings income to our metropolis. Anybody visiting Kelowna boosts interactions with native companies and occasions. Over the quick time I’ve been dwelling right here, I’ve gone from being a vacationer to benefiting from vacationers. Tourism is an important a part of any metropolis and important to Kelowna’s evolution.”
Photograph Credit score: Shoaib Shabir
Previous to the pandemic, this “important half” of Kelowna’s financial system was a $2.1 billion trade, producing near 13,000 jobs, $443 million in customer spending, and $204 million in tax revenues for native, provincial, and federal packages and infrastructure. Whereas COVID-19 has had a devasting affect on the tourism trade worldwide, there is no such thing as a query that those that make up Kelowna’s tourism sector are resilient, collaborative, and decided out-of-the-box thinkers who will work collectively to get well and develop. This may in the end present extra alternatives for locals to learn in myriad methods.
“Moreover the monetary facet, it [tourism] brings individuals from throughout to world to our doorsteps,” provides Shoaib. “As somebody who loves interacting with as many individuals as attainable, it brings that massive metropolis vibe to a small metropolis.”
Kelowna’s vibe and environment are what Shoaib enjoys most about dwelling right here, noting:
“As somebody new to this metropolis, I used to be awe-struck with its stunning environment, which impressed me to choose up pictures. It wasn’t till I began to work together with the neighborhood that I found how wonderful this metropolis is. Pictures was a pastime at the moment, which was an ideal excuse to work together with individuals in our neighborhood. I used to be overwhelmed with the acceptance and the assist as a newcomer into the inventive neighborhood. In my expertise, a lot of the neighborhood has a collaborative mindset and appears out for each other. I’ve met many associates and mentors over time and proceed to take action.”
It’s evident that an enormous a part of why Shoaib selected to name Kelowna house is the individuals in the neighborhood, together with those that journey right here. Finally, these two teams of individuals—residents and guests—are those who come collectively to make up our area’s distinctive tradition, which wouldn’t be the identical with out one or the opposite.
Photograph Credit score: Shoaib Shabir
Listed here are three of Shoaib’s favorite native spots that he thinks each individual travelling to Kelowna ought to go to:
Metropolis Park: It is my favorite spot to hang around, particularly in the summertime as it’s a hub for various actions. You possibly can loosen up on the seashore, or play volleyball, spike ball, basketball, soccer, tennis, and so forth. It’s the very best spot to work together and join with like-minded individuals.
Photograph Credit score: Meghan Studying
Purple Chicken Brewing: Together with having a few of the greatest beer it is usually a neighborhood hotspot for rising and established stay performers. They’ve weekly stay reveals, which I’ll extremely advocate trying out (they’re additionally pet pleasant).
Photograph Credit score: Shoaib Shabir
Sibell Maude-Roxby Wetlands Boardwalk: This fowl sanctuary is a hidden gem. Anybody trying to get in contact with nature or trying to take a fast break from on a regular basis life ought to test it out. It has a gorgeous atmosphere all through any season.
Photograph Credit score: Shoaib Shabir
