Host (00:05)
it feels so much more local because you know a lot of the journey and the struggles and all the neat little stories that brought you to where you are now. So are you from the city?

Cathy (00:15)
I'm

born in Medicine Hat.

Host (00:16)
you're wearing a medicine hat. how long did you stay there for? ⁓ so your whole child?

Cathy (00:20)
⁓ Moved out when I was 19. Yeah,

and then, ⁓ yeah, so I've been here almost, well, 29 years now.

Host (00:28)
you first left home, where did you end up?

Cathy (00:31)
came with a boy. yeah. Yeah, he was living with his dad in Medicine Hat and then his mom was living here and asked me to move and I was out of high school and decided to jump on. Yeah, actually my dad took me here when I was 16.

Host (00:45)
And had you been to Kelowna before?

Cathy (00:50)
Which is kind of neat because I never really hang out with my dad that much. He hasn't been a part of my life very much, but he grabbed my sister and and myself and and took us out to Kelowna and fell in love with it, obviously. And yeah, the trip was a road trip.

Host (01:03)
you fly or was it a road?

What was it like being well if he wasn't a part of your life that much that's a lot of hours in the car or something with each other.

Cathy (01:11)
That's

still good. I'm always pretty. I don't know. My dad's very charismatic and easy to hang out with. ⁓

Host (01:17)
That's cool. Do

you have any memories that stick out with the drive? What time of year was it?

Cathy (01:22)
it was summer. I, I'm thinking it was July and then he brought his mom as well. So the grandma came with us too. ⁓ cool. And, we went camping on the Okanagan, like the Okanagan Lake or what's the one across the- Okanagan. no, not that one. Sorry. The one that's on your way to Penticton. Okanagan campsite or there's like a west and a north.

Melanie (01:38)
But.

Host (01:38)
The

one that burnt down?

⁓ the provincial campground. I know what mean though. That's beautiful.

Cathy (01:49)
Yeah, that's the one. we stayed there. Yeah, so we

stayed there and he rented a boat and yeah.

Host (01:57)
my goodness, and so that drive is pretty insane, Had you driven it before? The mountains and all?

Cathy (02:04)
⁓

I believe, yes. With my mom, No, we went to Radium. ⁓ guess that's not over this way. Yeah. And then BAMF, I guess probably BAMF is probably farthest here. So.

Host (02:09)
Okay.

It's still in the

Because that kicking horse pass they've definitely made it a lot less. Yeah. My mom tells me the story of their first time when they came out same sort of thing like family they're visiting and they're from Regina and they drove out in the nighttime.

Cathy (02:23)
Yeah, definitely.

⁓ yes.

Host (02:36)
So they couldn't really

see anything and coming from coming this way, you're on the inside lane, next to the mountain. she recalls when they drove back, coming out of Golden, there was no, and it's now broad daylight and they didn't have the, what do you call that? The barrier on the side. it's just like sheer cliff. And from coming from Regina, they've never driven a corner in their life. And she just remembers how absolutely terrified, like terrified.

she was of the mountain pass and I'm like ⁓ yeah I give you quite the quite the experience for somebody.

Cathy (03:11)
especially when you're to just like the flat prairies.

Host (03:13)
Yeah,

yeah, yeah, very cool. Okay, so you're here you've moved out. you get a job right away or what did you do?

Cathy (03:19)
⁓

first I was working for boyfriend's mom because she was doing a driving. She did driving lessons or driving school. So I just did all her paperwork and everything. And then I got a serving job at Olympia Pizza. cool. The one that was downtown. OK. Yeah, it's gone now. But yeah, so I started serving. I worked there for a couple of years.

Host (03:41)
Was that your first time in the hospitality? Yeah. In kind of like dipping your toe in?

Cathy (03:46)
Well,

actually, I worked at Moxie's for a little bit in Medicine Hat, I was just like, as a teenager? Yeah, was just a host though. So and I didn't I wasn't there that long. And then it was like shortly after that, I moved here. Because I'm still there. Fair enough. At that age.

Host (03:57)
Yeah. Don't say just a host. Especially at that age. You're

right. You're You much life experience and skill sets you're learning and how to deal with all sorts of people. And you're the face of the business. That's true. That's an important job. So OK, so you were a hostess. Now you're at Olympic or you're bookkeeping or not booking, paper admin. And now you're Olympia Pizza.

Cathy (04:14)
is true.

Yeah, paper men.

Host (04:26)
waitressing and then any good memories of that job or?

Cathy (04:27)
Yeah.

⁓ was a lot. I know it was a lot of fun. Yeah. Downtown Kelowna. you get we were open till like 4am. We'd get like all the bouncers and everything from all the clubs come in after. And yeah. ⁓ wow. Yeah, it was it was crazy.

Host (04:34)
Is it your early 20s now? Downtown.

Hold your

hold your ground there, ⁓

Cathy (04:50)
Yeah. And then

there's an old guy, Tommy, that worked in the kitchen and he'd be swearing and great, like because it was Greek, too. So like my dad was Greek. it was OK. It was kind of neat. I think that's probably why I got the job because I was Greek. But yeah, I know it was a lot of lot of learning lessons. And then I don't know. I think they wanted like new staff and then they just canned a whole bunch of us. And I had to go figure something else out. And.

Host (05:14)
⁓ Did they give you warning at least or was it just?

Cathy (05:17)
it was just

like karate chop after my shift. my goodness. I was was like, what? They're like, yeah, we. don't know. No, I don't think so. Yeah, they just had some dumb, yeah, weird excuses to let me go. And I was like, OK, they they just want new staff in. So.

Host (05:23)
I don't think you can really do that anyway.

At least without a major payout.

What was the job market at that time? Was it hard to find another job?

Cathy (05:42)
⁓

no, I honestly in Kelowna, I've never had a hard time finding a job. I, I know lots of people have, but I have not. I know I thought about this recently and I was just like, no, I've never really like struggled and like worried about getting a job.

Host (05:58)
Let's. ⁓

Melanie (05:59)
think

that's just because of who you are. Your personality shines through.

Host (06:04)
Okay so where did you go after

Cathy (06:06)
ended up working at IHOP.

Host (06:08)
The one on Spall and the Highland? ⁓

Cathy (06:10)
Is

that where I worked after there? Trying to remember where I worked for Strictly Legal. Because I went to a courier company as well. Maybe that's what went. I might have gone courier first.

Host (06:21)
What does that mean? Like, they're doing parcels?

Cathy (06:23)
Yeah, delivery and parcel. So it was they were mostly like doctor's offices and that like paper, not a lot of big boxes or anything like so I yeah, I must have stuck and then did the breakfast restaurant stuff, which was nice because it's day job. Yeah. Instead of being at work till like four in the morning kind of Yeah.

But yeah, and then I did the career job and then my boss liked me so much and he was trying to sell the company and so he would put me in charge and I would take all the calls while I'm driving and delivering and everything. ⁓ wow. And then he wanted to sell the company and I used my own vehicle. So I was just I was just done. My car was dying and I just didn't want to do the job anymore.

Host (07:00)
say when you're driving your own.

Cathy (07:02)
Yeah. So then

I wanted to try and have the summer off. So I managed to get all of July off and then my boss called me on August long weekend. And he's like, I got you a job. And I was like, what? What are you talking about? I wasn't even looking. And he sold the company to Ray's Parcel Express, which was part of Greyhound at the time. OK. So then I as always, like after the long weekend, you got to go to work. So he basically sold me with the company.

Host (07:28)
was about

to say, were you part of the sale of this company? Did you get proceeds of this?

Cathy (07:36)
So because I knew all the roots and all the customers and clients of like what part of what he sold. So he's just like, and he knew I wasn't working still. So he basically just called me up and told me that I have a job to go to work.

Host (07:51)
You like this? How long did you stick around that one for? ⁓

Cathy (07:54)
⁓

I think that was another couple years and then, ⁓ I met a boy, ⁓ he was working for ACE career. like all the careers would like stop at the same stops cause they used a lot of different people. So we just started chatting one day and, and got along and we started dating and then he got a job in Penticton where he could be his

Host (07:57)
significant time.

Cathy (08:20)
own owner operator, own his own vehicle, that kind of like then I ended up moving to Penticton with him and I worked. I did another driving job. Actually, I did parts driver in Summerland. Easiest job I think I've ever had. My boss told me I was too smart for the job.

Host (08:26)
needs.

Cathy (08:41)
I go, all right, you're kind of right. but then, yeah, then I ended up just wanting to make more money. So I ended up going back to serving. So I got a job at the pantry in Penticton and worked there for, I think about three years. And then ended up moving back to Kelowna.

Host (08:58)
for another boy or for another job?

Melanie (09:00)
You

Cathy (09:01)
Same boy. Him and I ended up buying a house. His parents' sum helped with a down payment. And so we ended up buying a house in Kelowna and so moved back here. And then of course my old boss at Ray's Parcel Express always loved me and so they hired me back right away.

Host (09:21)
Actually that says a lot about you though, right? You're not burning bridges, you're a good employee. That's cool.

Cathy (09:27)
And then I realized I'm working longer hours and making way less money. Yeah, because like I was like, yeah, it was like, I don't know. It wasn't very much anyway. And like the hours were like 10 hour days and they were paying you for stop and not by the hour anymore. And it was just I can't live like this. then so one of my regulars kind of turned into a friend from when I worked at the pantry. He'd come every time he came to Kelowna, he'd go to the Dutch.

Host (09:32)
Times have changed.

Cathy (09:54)
And he's like, you should really get a job there. so then, cause then you're working like six hours shifts and making like more money. So I went, walked in there and met some of the girls and met the boss and got hired on there. And I stayed there for almost 15 years. Yeah. I was managing for a while and yeah. So that's what definitely helped when Mel and I were talking about opening up a business. Her and I both had been managers at different places. So.

Host (10:08)
⁓ I

That's a lot of skill set there.

We

have hiring, firing,

Cathy (10:23)
scheduling all of that

all of

Host (10:26)
Oh, interesting. Isn't it cool how your life, I just find it fascinating. when you're young and then you could just get a little job and a little job and every job you get more and more experience. And then it ends up that like where you are right now, you can kind of look back and see all the different skills you picked up through all these, this journey and then, and how they all interplay into where you are now. Yeah, that's really cool.

Cathy (10:49)
True. They build you. Yeah.

then Mel and I were just, well, I was kind of getting done at Dadache. was like enough years there and after COVID and I hate to say that, but it was just really hard to find any good, solid senior servers to work with. Everyone was young and it was just, it was just getting really stressful. And then, so then we had a little chat about opening up a business and I was like, ⁓ cause I was thinking about doing the driving thing again, cause I do like.

you know, delivering the parcels and stuff. So I thought about going to ⁓ Canada Post, getting like, you know, yeah, it's all a job. Yeah. And then we started talking.

Host (11:26)
At the time, solid profession. Maybe

not some more anymore.

Cathy (11:34)
And then one day my old boss from Rays Parcel Express comes in for breakfast and I was just talking to him and I was like, oh, you're probably retired or whatever. And he's like, no, we're still rocking, going as hard as ever. And I'm like thinking about maybe coming back there. So of course he's like, oh, Kathy, we'd hire you back in a heartbeat. Of course. So while we were, you know, planning and opening up the business and everything, uh, I.

quit to Dutch and I went back to ⁓ RPX and which kind of helped us out because there's lots of times where...

Host (12:08)
wait, it's RPX. Well, it switched to.

Cathy (12:10)
Well, it's raised Parcel Express, but they just short form it to RPX.

Host (12:15)
I didn't make that connection until now. I know exactly our place.

Melanie (12:19)
What?

Cathy (12:20)
Yeah,

so did that for, what was it? A year and a half? Yeah, I don't think I quite made the two years. Yeah. Yeah. Well, we were planning and plotting and scheming to make a brewery.

Host (12:35)
Okay, so now we got to backtrack now to your beginnings. Where are you from?

Melanie (12:41)
Well, I was born in White Rock and then raised in Richmond. Yeah. But then when I was about 14, we, my father decided to move the family up to West Kelowna. he had a business in Vancouver. He just didn't like Vancouver, but he still had his business. So he actually commuted back to Kelowna every weekend.

Host (13:05)
No way. All your. Yeah, but kilometers.

Melanie (13:07)
around. Oh yeah.

Exactly right. But and then at the time the Coca-Cola had the toll booth. Oh yeah. But for him 110 % worth it.

Host (13:17)
That's right.

I guess you spend a little bit extra time driving a beautiful drive as opposed to bumper to bumper traffic.

Melanie (13:27)
Well, and that's

one thing he would say too, is like owning his own business, right? He had so much to think about. It was like his downtime. Yeah. Right.

Host (13:35)
a good point. They always say the power of reflection. that's just, ⁓ I could see. He could probably bank those hours too as working, right? It's reflection time. Or planning time, yeah. OK, sorry, continue.

Melanie (13:40)
Yeah.

⁓ yeah exactly.

That's fine.

But then yeah, I so with him having his own business, I always kind of had that in my sight, right? Like some kind of.

Host (13:58)
Were

you able to be involved at all with it?

Melanie (14:01)
Not really like when I when we were kids, you know, I'd help photocopy stuff Yeah, but that was actually an agreement that him and his business partner had is that none of their kids could Take over. Yeah, right. So then there was just no wouldn't be like more so if you know say him and my favoriteism Yeah, right

Host (14:11)
No family.

Yeah, well that's fair. Yeah, did you ever talk to your father about business and your financial statements and learn learn that aspect of it?

Melanie (14:28)
Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, was very and it's funny. think probably where I get my old school writing everything down still because he would write everything in these graph books you know, I mean, even as obviously years go by and computers developed and stuff, he could do it. But he still just wrote everything down. that's cool. Yeah. Yeah.

Host (14:48)
Can I ask what the business was?

Melanie (14:50)
Yeah, so it was called Matrix Professional Video Systems. So he sold and rented out like high-end video product production equipment. say like X-Files that was taped in Vancouver and stuff like they would buy or rent equipment from him. Universities would rent or buy equipment. any major video production. Yeah. Yeah.

Host (15:09)
that's cool. That's really neat.

This is so interesting.

Cathy (15:13)
Okay.

Melanie (15:14)
so obviously, yeah, just seeing that and then, you know, I'd obviously be hearing the stresses, the ups and downs. mean, there was a couple of times that he was, he was close to bankruptcy, ⁓ but powered through it, came out. and then eventually he was able to sell that once he saw, like, he was a really smart businessman. So once he saw how electronics was evolving and everything was going online and he

You could purchase even high end equipment online. anyways, he actually found somebody that was interested in purchasing his business, out of Alberta and it worked out. He was about 60 years old. wow. Retire anyway. So, yeah. So it was, ⁓ it worked out for him for sure.

Host (15:54)
That's cool.

So what jobs did you have growing up?

Melanie (15:58)
⁓ so when we moved here, well, obviously babysitting and stuff, but my first job is there was an Arby's downtown right by the Paramount. Worked there for maybe a year.

And had my daughter Best thing that could have ever happened to me.

And she's been a big part of the brewery as well.

I moved to Alberta to be with Tara's father for a couple of years because he was up in Fort McMurray like working the rigs and stuff like that. we situated in Sylvan Lake for a couple of years and then that didn't really work out. ⁓ we separated, which was fine. And then I moved to Calgary to, sorry, Sylvan Lake. I've worked at Toys R Us. OK.

Calgary with my sister and then I realized

I want to be a child and youth care worker. it was just funny because in high school I was like, I just want to be a flight attendant and travel the world. But it was anyway,

Cathy (16:54)
You

Melanie (16:57)
And then so I was in Calgary then I can't remember why I took this direction, but there was a correspondence way of doing it through University of Victoria. And then because I still needed to work full time. I, and I moved, I got transferred from Victoria in Red Deer to the...

Calgary one so started taking this class classes enjoyed at psychology ⁓

Host (17:21)
So is this nighttime?

you'd work full time and then take the courses at night?

Melanie (17:24)
Well,

it was correspondence, so you just do it as as you can. OK. Yeah. you. Yeah, yeah. You have to you know, you had assignments that were due at certain times and then you could have you know, group meetings with, you know, certain students that you could talk with and that like. But yeah, it was basically your own pace. Yeah, yeah. So that was really good. And then, yeah, so lived in Calgary for another year.

Host (17:30)
Is it kind of like self-paced? ⁓

That's really powerful.

Melanie (17:52)
And then, so Tara was getting up to be about four years old and I was like, you know what, I want to raise her in Kelowna, back to where my parents are, where her other grandparents are, they were in Kamloops, were all super close, they had a great farm that she loved going to and that, right? So then we moved back to Kelowna.

my dad and I purchased a townhouse for us, well from just me and my daughter. And then I did correspondence and I worked at the Petro Canada. Yeah. So.

Host (18:25)
Cool. And at this

point, your daughter was able to go into like preschool or school in like Watson or Glenmore. ⁓

Melanie (18:32)
In kindergarten.

Glenmore, North Glenmore. That's cool.

Yeah. ⁓ that's cool. And we were like kiddie corner. like, right there.

Host (18:42)
Was

that part of like wanting to move before she entered school? Did that come into your play at all?

Melanie (18:50)
Exactly. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Just before it got started. And then knew knowing I wanted to be in the Okanagan definitely for her before starting on that Embarkment because it's I got I transferred schools when I was younger and I knew how hard that was. So it was I just wanted to. Not put her through that. Yeah. So.

Host (19:10)
It's hard transferring schools, let alone cities.

Melanie (19:13)
Yeah, right. Yeah, so And then there was just so much support here too, right? Yeah so yeah, and then I What did the correspondence and then towards the end of it so kudos to all the social workers and child you were youth care workers out there I

could not have the heart to do it. We were doing workshops because I started to start going to Vancouver and you know, because it was getting towards the end of it, right? Like after I think it was three years. So I'm doing a workshop and this.

Girls standing in you know teachers in front of me and pretending to be a child telling me something horrific and Saying wait. He's about to walk in the door and if anybody walked in that door. I would have kicked their ass

Host (19:54)
man.

believe

it.

Melanie (20:02)
I just, was like, I'm going to, and I'm like, I can't do this. I'm going to beat someone up and they don't deserve it. So it was, and that was the thing is it wasn't even actually a child. It was a woman. And I was so I, but I, but I, I'm glad I put my mind into it enough that I was like, I don't think I have to hold back. so yeah. then

Host (20:22)
personality.

Melanie (20:29)
But I did want to try, I wanted to actually look, because I was a young mom, I was like, well, maybe I can go in the social work area where I'm just helping young moms, right? Where that's incredibly hard. They don't just make it specific that you can just help young moms. So anyway, while I was trying to look for that, I started at Sport Check. No!

Host (20:50)
Wait, is this where you met? ⁓

Cathy (20:54)
⁓

the early med is another star. No, I used to benefit from her sport check. ⁓

Melanie (20:57)
story.

Yes, lots of people do.

Host (21:04)
Wait,

sport check, sport mart. No, sport check's the one that's still around, Yes.

Melanie (21:09)
Yeah.

Yeah. So sport check, I actually started working there because my sister worked at the one while she was going to school for nursing and she's like, why don't you go work at sport check? I'm like, okay. So like I said, I was still kind of looking for a social work thing and then, or, young mom program. And then, ⁓ so it started at sport check as a cashier a couple months later.

Cathy (21:10)
nice stuff.

Melanie (21:33)
⁓ the head cashier left and then I got that job about a year later, like just, I mean, it's really benefit to work there, especially because I had like, Tara was young and then we were into skiing and like different sports and, and we all that, right? So it would, we really did benefit from it as well. and then there was benefits there

Then they moved because they were in a small part of the mall. That's right. And then they moved to this big 50,000 square feet. think it is now. Yeah. So then they had another job that came available because of that called the sales support coordinator, which was basically just under the manager position. then so. What is that? So basically, was managing every.

Host (22:03)
Old Walmart.

That means sales support.

Melanie (22:23)
the sales support, like, service shop, shipping, receiving, merchandising, everything that was not direct sales, and cashier. I mainly did cash just because there was already guys that were, you know, running the shipping and receiving. So they were, you know what I mean? I wasn't managing them. They knew what they were doing. Right. I just had to report their management basically to head office.

it was a lot of direct with head office and then, ⁓ but I managed like all the, you know, cash support and everything like that. so that paid really great. And then, and then I actually did, ⁓ get one lady, she, ⁓ was a social worker and she knew me from being a young mum. And she's like, actually there's this, young mum's

program that, know, sometimes in the evenings that you know, we could pay you blah, blah. But that's when like Tara was going to dance. Like my daughter was in a competitive dance. 10 days a week. And then, but then at the same time I was like, well, it depends. guess I would like to talk. And, and, I mean, it was like, wow, I'm way more and sportive. And I just, but I just, I, I just couldn't do it personally. Right. And then I had my new, I was within.

Host (23:17)
goodness, that's a time comm-

Melanie (23:34)
new man at the time. and, he was really busy. So it was just, it just didn't work out. So I stayed, at sport check and then, yeah, and got the friends and family got the discounts and.

Host (23:46)
Especially with kids, They are constantly growing.

Melanie (23:49)
Well, that's the thing with shoes like runners and clothing and like I mean if it is it saved a lot of money, right? So and then you know either the discounted stuff that would come in from other stores and you get that for five dollars like, okay

Host (24:03)
Wow, very cool. wait, have you met each other yet? Well, you've clearly met because you've been benefiting.

Cathy (24:09)
Yeah.

Melanie (24:09)
Yes,

yes, yes.

Host (24:11)
Should we do a little side track into how you two met? I was on your faces. I'm like, oh, this is a good story.

Melanie (24:15)
You

Cathy (24:16)
He's

So yeah, her ex-boyfriend, my ex-husband, we're good, good, good buddies. And basically we would all hang out, but Mel didn't know each other. Like we didn't know each other at all. And we just kind of almost basically got forced to hang out with each other.

Melanie (24:34)
Yeah, right? It's like, okay, we're hanging out with your friend all this is- Yeah.

Cathy (24:37)
All right.

Host (24:37)
Hang out.

Cathy (24:39)
I don't even know. Finally, one day we just started actually talking to each other like.

Host (24:43)
How long was it since you met that you actually...

Cathy (24:47)
talk. like a few months in at least. I was talking business and we're just like dragged along. don't know.

Melanie (24:48)
I don't think it was too... That's a sick...

It was just always small talk, guess, right? Yeah. And then there was one time it just kind of, yeah, just kind of like, ⁓ wait a minute, wait a minute.

Cathy (25:10)
like, you're cool.

Finally got each other's phone numbers. Yeah. And then do not have the exes at all anymore, but we have each other.

Host (25:21)
I

love it. I love it. It's like they came into your life to bring you to

Melanie (25:25)
Exactly.

And that was, I figure over 20 years ago.

Cathy (25:30)
Yeah, yeah, pretty close anyway. Yeah. Yeah.

Host (25:33)
Okay, so where did you go after sport check?

Melanie (25:35)
okay. So after sport we actually, we moved out to OYAMA. and then I got a job at St. John Ambulance. wow. Yeah. Doing administration. so that's where they do like all the CPR classes and all the different level of classes and that. and then basically I was just kind of there.

I wanted to get an admin job and it was so funny because I did so much strong administration at Sport Check but an office doesn't look at it that way. They look at it as you're coming from a retail store. So it was really hard for me, there was a few months there, it was hard for me to find a job. wouldn't even, And then the St. John Ambulance gave me a chance and that was super great.

And then there was always something in the back of my mind that I wanted to go into dental. I really loved my dental office. The girl behind the desk was awesome. Always having a great time. And then, ⁓ so I knew St. John ambulance wasn't a forever thing. It was just kind of stepping stone. Yeah. And it was really great because it was actually a job shared with another lady. So we both ran the front. So I worked like three or four days a week. and then I could help out.

my ex with other certain job and then, help out obviously my daughter with all the other activities and everything going on. okay, after St. John or not, but I was getting towards the end. I was like, okay, I got to figure out what I'm doing. so then I tried to put my application out there for, dental offices, didn't dental offices. And I know this now.

that I did work in a couple will not look at you if you don't have dental experience. So there was actually a class.

Host (27:13)
funny

because like how do you get in to get experience? This is like the catch-22.

Melanie (27:16)
So

then I went to the college and Vernon actually had a dental administrative course and it was like, I don't know, not very much. was a few, few months, right? And then, you know, not too long. It was like a couple of hours, two nights a week or something. I was able while Tara was dancing. And then, um, but then, so I'm handing out some more resumes and then, um,

Host (27:36)
could see what to do.

Melanie (27:42)
Nobody's biting because still and then so one office one pediatric office in town they did and then they were like, okay, well, we're going to start you at minimum wage because we'll see if you can, you know, prove yourself. And it's like, wow, what's up with dental?

Host (27:59)
Is it just

the dealing with the insurance companies?

Melanie (28:01)
I

think it's more so that the tooth numbers, it's putting the procedures correctly into the system because it's like tooth one one on how many surfaces, right? And the insurance is hard too, but I think it's just more so the detailed of their language, Okay. And then, and the scheduling too, right? Of how, you know,

Host (28:22)
Gotcha.

Melanie (28:28)
There's so many different types of appointments and how they're scheduled and all that. after about a month, they're like, okay, you're good here. then I was good. And then I was there for

then I just needed a change. I just was not happy in my work environment. Yeah, so and it was I had some kind of personal traumas happen and And you know what talking to my father like I would to get his opinion on professionalism, but also on life

He's like, if you're waking up unhappy, you're this unhappy every day, change it. I honestly, I didn't even, I hated where I was going every day. I used, cause I was also working part-time at a winery at St. Heberitus. And that was just a fun job, right? It was just, cause.

most dental offices are open four days a week. Right? So like, you know, getting a little more income, but I loved wine at the time. So it was like meeting tourists and that. I was like, okay. so I put a feeler out there to arrowleaf winery in Lake country. so I quit the dental job and went full time into arrowleaf and I did the wine shop. worked in the vineyard.

so I would have like just therapeutic days of being in the vineyard, either, you know, taking the leaves off, pruning, getting the grapes ready, whatever. so I did that guess it would have been April to October. And then, okay, I gotta get back into, to my pay, pay grade.

I found a job, working at EBS orthodontic, orthodontic clinic in town. Incredible clinic. loved it there. and then, so I ran that like the front office of that. and then. Did I work it? I did work cause that was, yeah. Cause I worked there. I worked at St. Huberts as well when I, and then COVID hit and then.

Got back to work at EBS, went back to St. Ebertus for a little bit and then finished. then was then Cathy and I were on our hike. We were on a hike. We would go hiking and stuff like that all the time. it was just, you know, again, having that entrepreneurial vision. And it was kind of that like crap or get off the pot, right? Like now or never, we're in our 40s.

Like it's either we're going to be doing the jobs that we're doing now for the rest or, know, and then we, so we went down and we were having a, ⁓ a beer at barn owl brewery and we're looking around and we're like, we could do this. We could totally do this. then it's like, well, wait, can we like, let's just do it. Can we get like, you know, the funding that we get it all together. and then we just started and it was just, everything fell into place.

Host (31:00)
nice.

Can we extrapolate on all the details of now how it all came together?

Melanie (31:24)
Yeah, so then it was, so first thing first, it was getting it incorporated, right? So then we went to the lawyer.

Host (31:32)
Did you have your name to get incorporated or did the name come

Cathy (31:35)
Well, we yeah, we decided we want to open up a brewery and then we were thinking about names and then Mel came up with the well, because we want to be in Lake Country to part of it. So came up with the three lakes and then because Tara was helping us out as well. It was three lakes, three ladies. So kind of rolled off of that.

Melanie (31:52)
Yeah, yeah.

Host (31:54)
It's

great branding. yeah. feels so local too, right? You're like, yeah, the three of them.

Melanie (32:00)
Yeah, yeah. Well, that's why everyone's like, what three lakes, what three lakes? And then sometimes it's like, ⁓

Host (32:08)
I'm assuming it's Okanagan, Kalamalka and Wood. Yeah, okay. Yeah. I'm like, other lake would it be? Yeah.

Melanie (32:15)
Well, that's sometimes it's like, we can be whatever three lakes you want. Yeah, we just love the outdoors. ⁓

Cathy (32:21)
Are you okay to continue with

I gotta go open up the brewery. One day we'll get staff.

Melanie (32:25)
Hahaha!

Cathy (32:32)
Thanks for having me. ⁓

Host (32:34)
think I'll stop in after I pick up my kiddo.

Melanie (32:37)
Yeah, there you go. ⁓

Host (32:40)
Okay,

so nice to meet you. take care. Okay, so you got it incorporated. That would have been so fun.

Melanie (32:44)
So yeah, so then we got in.

It

was and it was the one thing that was so great like we're sitting there, you know talking to the lawyer and then ⁓ She's like so you guys realize it's like you're married and you have a baby now Totally right so and then but that's the one thing it's like, know, and you know a of people are question You know, like you're going to business with your friend that can really ruin a friendship that have you really thought about it and that is a conversation Kathy and I did have and then it was on

Host (32:57)
you

Melanie (33:16)
honestly, like when we slept on it and it was like, you know what, as much as I love everybody in my life, I, to think of her, it's like, she's really the only person that I would have, would go into business with, you know, and she obviously feels the same. And then that's the one thing we still say to customers, because customers even ask like now, and then we're like, yep. And we still love each other. Like Cathy and I have date nights. Once it first started,

Host (33:40)
Yeah

Melanie (33:42)
we both kind of said to each other, it's like, feel like I haven't talked to you at a friend level. You know, it's just been business. It's just, like friendly in that, but I want to talk to you about personal things or, know, you know, so yeah, so that's. Yeah. date nights do help. Yeah.

Host (33:54)
Like the days before. ⁓ that's cool.

So you have this idea, you got the name, you've got it incorporated. How did you figure out how, because you had a little bit of experience at the winery. Yes. But how did you figure out what you need to do to brew your own beer and all that?

Melanie (34:15)
Well, that's I guess another thing we should have said before Kathy and I have been home brewing. sorry. I know I was thinking.

Host (34:22)
I'm

like, wow, you've incorporated, you've committed. How do you even go about making your

Melanie (34:30)
Yeah, no, we have a machine that's actually called a grain father. we've been home brewing. loves her IPAs. And I love my lagers. We also made one, it's called a barley wine ale. So it's like an old school English ale. So it's really, we love that we were able to bring that because you don't hear about that too often in the Okanagan.

So yeah, so we've been home brewing, so we knew how to do that. just in regards to, Kathy and I both love cooking and creating recipes, so we loved.

being able to create a beer that we both like, right? It's when regards to the hops and the grains and master planning that all out. So, yeah. So then, So we got incorporated and then after that it was like, okay, so, you know, funding or, you know, like a loan. but then it was also, obviously we needed a lot more information. So we went around to a lot of different breweries.

And incredibly helpful, everybody, right? Like, oh, I'll show you around or, you know, come take a look at the brew house. Like, do this, don't do this. Or, you know, use this equipment, don't use this equipment. Like, advice coming from everybody. And then, and even people still following up. Like, hey, are you girls okay? Like, you know, let me know what you need. And then there's this, I can't remember.

what's called, it's like a Canadian national loan that we got with Cindy at Bank of Montreal. Incredible lady. just, she helped it and there was so many things to go through. It's not like it was easy, but because you could just, we wanted it so bad. And that's what she would say. She's like, you girls, you can just see the passion. You can see the fight. You're doing everything I'm asking you to do.

and then we, so we found a marketer cause like, okay, we've got to kind of put all this together and start some branding, right? Because if we're going to be going around saying we're open up a brewery, it's one be able to handle cards. so yeah, so it was just.

Host (36:25)
are the images on your beer cans they're all local pictures?

Melanie (36:28)
So

that's what's interesting. we wanted it to be like their actual pictures that Kathy and I have taken over the years.

Host (36:35)
Cause I was gonna

ask who's the photographer? Like they're cool. Yeah.

Melanie (36:39)
Well,

that's so like when we first the first marketer that we were with, you know, we told him our vision and we were like, OK, like this picture, this picture. So he came back with pictures, but that were like redone and cartooned and were like, no, no, no, no. We want the actual photo like we want it clear as day that it's that we don't, you know. Yeah. so he did that and it was great. we have the hike Pilsner. So it's.

the picture of the hike that Cathy and I were on when we decided to open up the bridge.

Host (37:10)
so it's the actual trail it's the admitted to yeah

Melanie (37:12)
actual picture. Yeah,

because we, yeah, because we always, you know, take pictures when you're hiking, right? So then we found it, we're like, that's that picture we were when we were, because we started talking about it on the hike. But then we got to the, you know, bar now, then it was like,

Like, we make beer. Let's do it. Right? there's the hook line and sinker IPA. So it's a picture that I took of Kathy and her buddy, Matt, fishing in the shoe shop at a family cabin we used to always go to. Barry Weedy Ale. So actually, I'm quatting That one's

Host (37:43)
Good. Yeah.

Melanie (37:43)
So

I'm, I'm quatting with my buddy, Monty and salmon arm. And I took a picture of our shadow in like the dry grass. So that's what that picture is. Yeah. And then, that, my gosh. So there's trail blaze and Brown. So that's a picture of a hike that Kathy and I were on in the cusp. And that's actually got a story because

We like drove up this trail to the end. was narrowing, narrowing, narrowing. I'm like, my God, like the branches are starting to hit my car. We go in the right way, get to the end where we see, okay, we get out, we can start the trail. We both get out and there's bear scat. And I'm like, ⁓ man. then so, I did, I kind of covered my hand over it and I'm like, doesn't feel warm. So we go down this trail.

Host (38:22)
Fresh, right?

Melanie (38:30)
But it was so beautiful, so lush, but we're like, feel like we're playing with fire. And then so we didn't, cause we didn't know we were going to be on a really big height. we didn't bring the noises, you know, the bells and stuff like that. So we got like pill bottles. I know I shake trying to make noise. And then it's, it was so beautiful. Those surroundings were just, you know, kept on going. And then it's just that feeling of like we're.

playing with fire and then we saw some more bear scat. I put my hand over it and like, yeah, that's warm.

Host (39:05)
I wonder if something was watching you and you got that tingly feeling.

Melanie (39:08)
Totally.

yeah. the lake minded logger. Cathy and friends of ours went boat camping at commando there's a picture of that. and then we've got, ⁓ wake surf sour. I still live in Oiyama. So that's a picture I took of, it was just a beautiful night of, someone water skiing on woods.

⁓ the barley wine ale. So that's a picture of a campfire that I took when we were camping up at Oyama Lake. And yeah. Yeah, that's ⁓ that's a cool one. So that's me and Tara and Kathy all shooting our guns. ⁓ about shooting on the can. And it's because Kathy, the picture of Kathy, it's actually a video I took of her shooting her gun. So the Anthony

Host (39:35)
that ammo one too? ⁓

Melanie (39:54)
created the picture with it's slow mo so you actually see the fire ring coming out of the gun. yeah so it's pretty cool.

Host (40:04)
That is really neat. man, I can't wait for people to hear all the stories behind all these images. That's cool. Yeah.

Melanie (40:13)
That's the thing, at the brewery everything has a story as well too, right? that was one thing. as we were getting, we finally found a location. That was the thing, everything fell into place and then it took about a year. We were getting discouraged, right? It took a year to find a couldn't find anything in Lake Country that worked.

then finally we found the place, which was right by the airport and we're like, you know what? It's not in Lake country, but what a great still location. This area is developing. got quail ridge, got the airport 10 minutes from Lake country. got Glenmore McKinley people passing through town anyway. so then we were like, okay, well we need furniture. So then I was just like, you know, obviously not like I, I did my job very well at the Donog office.

But you know some downtime it was like always looking on Castanets for their free stuff right? Because I'm like we need free and then so it was and then you know but if you're on there enough before anyone else could take it so we got like certain tables, chairs, but it was cool because some of them have a story like this one lady we I think she we bought like six chairs off of her and I think I got her down she was selling them though for a hundred and I got her down to eight.

Host (41:25)
⁓

wow

Melanie (41:26)
Dollars and then She didn't like that I got it on 80 but then we met her and she I told her what we were doing and that we were women run and she's like ⁓

Host (41:39)
was just like, go power!

Melanie (41:41)
Yeah, there was one. So if you, when you come into the brewery, you'll see kind of what looks like windows on the wall and then there's pictures inside of it. So I saw this, I saw the vision. So it was like old farm house windows. They were like ratty and gross. Right. And then I was like, we'll clean those up. But Kathy, I sent it to Kathy and then she, what she will say is in her head, she was like, what's malthinking.

What are we going to do with these? This is a waste, right? And then I I picked them up and then her mom was in town and she cleaned them off and then they look they're like off of it's a farmhouse in Lake Country that was like 100 years old.

Host (42:20)
ghetto. Yeah. ⁓ my goodness.

Melanie (42:22)
them

for free and so and they look great right yeah so yeah everything everything's got a story in there certain pictures there are those pictures of us all around the brewery too and then like some of the chairs my friend was trying to sell these like really nice chairs they're older chairs but like they're really like they look antique looking and nobody was wanting to buy them or they're like only offering $25 for the

three chairs and everybody when they come in, people are like, those chairs are amazing, right? Yeah. And then there's another two chairs.

Host (42:57)
We like real wood hand cards. True,

like an artist made these and no one wants them anymore.

Melanie (43:04)
Right.

And then why don't we, there's other two chairs that we call the pimp chairs. One of our regulars, he claims they're his chair. Um, but another lady from Quail gave those to us. Like super nice. So yeah.

Host (43:13)
I

That's pretty cool. then, so then now you have, cause I would imagine it's a, you don't have a kitchen like for food, which is why you have the food truck.

Melanie (43:27)
Yeah, so, ⁓ because originally we were beside Two Donkeys Bakery.

Host (43:32)
right, then they moved up further. Yeah.

Melanie (43:34)
⁓

Yeah, ⁓ so what we would do is purchase paninis from them, which we would keep frozen and then we could have the panini press in our kitchen. But that's all we have, like no cooking, anything like that, right? And then we had like, they had donkey balls, which were like pretzel balls. That's Yeah. And then there's sausage rings. And so that stuff we could heat up, but it was just, which was really great, but...

Host (43:52)
⁓ Right?

Melanie (44:00)
You know people starting to come a little mean regulars and you know They wanted more of a variety of food right and more like a salad or fries Right and wings and and then so it worked out like Marvy and Jave with J Street Grill They came to us. I think it was like November and December and they just didn't want to be you know traveling around like it's an older truck So they're like we just want to be in one spot

Host (44:09)
or come for dinner. ⁓

Melanie (44:27)
this is kind of be what our menu is, style we make and you know, all this. we're like, my gosh, absolutely. Because, we weren't even looking yet. Right. But we knew we had to figure something out soon, especially with spent, ⁓ two donkeys bakery moving. so that worked out tremendously. That's really cool. Yeah. Yeah. And then people are loving the food truck too. Right. Like the, yeah, the different options and.

Host (44:50)
There's really becoming a very fun food truck scene in the city. There's so much variety now.

Melanie (44:54)
my god.

Yeah,

right? Like, and then, yeah, like we were at, where were we at?

⁓ Kona Beer Fest. And that's the thing. we were at Rib Fest, you know, like other different festivals. And I'm kind of like, that's a new food truck. That's a new food, you know, yeah. And we did that last year, too. Like we had lobster pot lobster pot burger boss came just to kind of give, you know, variety, right? ⁓

Host (45:11)
That's pretty cool. ⁓

Cool.

The

lobster pot's been at home hardware kind of wheels down there. The sandwich slinger came on yesterday. So he's a new food truck out at Okanagan. Is it Fruit and Veggie Farm that went on Cooper? Oh, he has breakfast sandwiches and stuff. Oh, no way. So good. Yeah. Yeah, I know it's been really good.

Melanie (45:26)
Yeah.

Okay.

Host (45:43)
Oh, what else did I want to, what? I'm just blown away by your story. It was so fun. So cool.

Melanie (45:50)
Yeah, it's been a ride for sure. Like August 2nd was our two year anniversary. my God, two years. I think so. Right. Like we've, and we've done so many events and the biggest thing is getting the word out there. it's funny, like talking to, ⁓ rustic real, Susie there.

Host (45:55)
It's come so far into years. Yeah!

Melanie (46:07)
I talked to her last year and I'm just, you know, kind of like, just trying to get the word out there. mean, I think they've been there for seven years. They're downtown. You know what I mean? You kind of think like everybody knows Rustic Real. And then she's like, I go to the farmer's markets still and I tell people and they're from Kelowna and they have never heard of Rustic

Host (46:25)
Well, it's a funny thing because when you're down this area of town, this is one of the main breweries. This place is awesome. But that's that whole street there is like a hidden little secret gem. You have so many little things. got the mother love for men's born to shake big fat lion empire crepes on the corner there with Brandy of the nice climbing gym. You have, have all the new cupcake place just open up. There's so many little things in that.

Melanie (46:36)
Right.

Host (46:53)
that one block and yeah people just don't really know of it yet and you're like you wait like yeah our little gems gonna be which is good it's gonna explode but yeah that fascinates me because it is a big big brewery

Melanie (46:54)
Yeah.

Explode.

Yeah, yeah, exactly right. So yeah.

Host (47:13)
They have a cool nighttime vibe there too, because they have those fire pits. So in the winter time, you can sit and they give you blankets and stuff. You have your own campfire. Yeah, right? It's just kind of Yeah. So anyway, what else you got going on in the future? Oh, wait. You know what we haven't touched on? I totally interrupted you. That's OK. I asked you a question and I interrupted That's OK.

Melanie (47:26)
Cool. Yeah, definitely.

⁓ let's see.

It's okay.

Host (47:39)
But tell me more about, because your daughter is the brewmaster. ⁓ right. We haven't given her any props yet. gosh, I know. Trifecta. Yeah. sister is missing. Yeah. ⁓

Melanie (47:47)
⁓

Exactly. So like I said, so Cathy and I were home brewing. So Tara's story is...

She was wine making. she started out at Blind Tiger and she was doing wine shop stuff. then so she was just getting interested on how wine is made and all that stuff. And then so she went to school actually, I can't remember the class, but in Penticton at the college there for beverage making. anyways. Wait, it was a beverage making?

Host (48:22)
Beverage making? I

didn't know there was such a class. But that sort of idea. That was the thing, right? Okay.

Melanie (48:26)
I'm probably saying it wrong, but it's.

So she went to school for that. She did take her W set, which is like a wine.

Host (48:36)
Okay.

Wait, can we just with the with the beverage making? Yeah. Is that like a like mix like bartender mixing or is that more big scale production?

Melanie (48:46)
No,

scale production, like making alcohol. Yeah. Yeah. I believe, and then she got a job at Greymonk winery. And so she was kind of shadowing, Roger Wong there. He was the winemaker. and then

Host (48:49)
big level.

God wait, I gotta remember this.

Melanie (49:03)
Okay, anyway. So she was winemaking in Lake Country and then she went to Australia. doing a harvest there. And unfortunately that's when COVID hit. So she was there for a few months.

Host (49:04)
Yeah.

Melanie (49:17)
Myself and her boyfriend Jake were supposed to go fly out and see her. Obviously that got canceled. She came home. and then she got a job, assistant winemaking at, intrigue, in Lake country. Cause Roger, Wong owns and is the winemaker there. So she, ⁓ knew him and he hired her. when we decided we were, going in.

to this brewery industry. then she worked with a fellow brewer, Josh, just to kind of learn, you know, what the difference is with my making and brewing. she caught onto that like ⁓ as she does instantly. And then that's the thing. So when we first opened, we didn't have a brew house. We just had fermenters. So we actually brewed our beer at Kowana Brewing Company. And then we would put it in a liquid tote.

and then truck it over to our brewery, put it in the fermenter, and then it would ferment there. that's the thing is so Josh, like after teaching her, was comfortable with her running his equipment without him there, like us being able to do it. then so Tara showed Kathy and I how to do it because Tara then changed.

Host (50:10)
Holy smoke.

Melanie (50:30)
I guess careers and wanted, she was kind of done with the winemaking and that she felt like she did, she needed to do. And so she went to school for business marketing. So she did that for, think just over two years.

Host (50:41)
And were you sitting there being like, ⁓ how lovely. ⁓

Melanie (50:45)
Exactly.

And the thing is now she's done some of our labels. She does like our marketing posters. She's shown me how to do Instagram. So yeah. So she does a lot and she's actually, so she has her own marketing business now. it's called to a T and, so she's been doing lots of other marketing and stuff like that around town. so she definitely showed us how to do it, but now it's definitely Kathy and I are the ones that. Yeah.

Host (51:09)
Are there breweries? Yeah. Wow. That's fast.

that's so cool.

Melanie (51:13)
She's

still part of the three because she does the marketing in that.

Host (51:16)
Yeah.

Yeah. Oh, that's so cool. Sounds like what a good place in life you're at right now. You get to the ownership. You're with your best friend. Your daughter's involved. And then every day, you're talking before every day you'd wake up miserable. now you must just wake up like.

Melanie (51:19)
Yeah.

yeah. Yeah.

Excited. Yeah. Right. Like, and that's the thing is, mean, it's, it's, it's, it's a brand that we've created that we're passionate about that we both love or all three of us love, but, and that's the thing is like, you know, we don't really have a sales rep. but

Love doing it like that's the thing and Kathy and I have done it where it's like, you know Say Tara runs the brewery and then we go out and we're selling our product But like who better to sell your product than yourself, you know

Host (52:07)
Which is why you

were at Sun Peaks that weekend we saw you. Yeah, that's right.

I

was just walking through the village with my daughter telling our people here. They have that market up at Sandpiques. I was kind of lost in thought. Then I realized, I'm like, I swear, we just walked by Three Lakes. I turned around, I'm like, it is. I know I have to buy your beer.

We had fun that night trying all the flavors. That was good. Nice.

Melanie (52:42)
Yeah. No, I'm so glad you stopped by for sure.

Host (52:46)
Did up any of

the women's sports clubs and stuff?

Melanie (52:49)
No, I've tried to reach out to the Dragon Boat. But no, actually I have not.

Host (52:54)
Because

there's like the women's hockey league. Right. They're all. And you have the beer league over. The beer league people love to drink. I mean, not beer. I'm saying beer league. But like baseball. The baseball folk love to drink their beer.

Melanie (52:58)
Yeah

That's

a really great idea.

Host (53:10)
And the women's

sport culture in the city is very supportive of ladies and the bike riders. Yeah. The downhill biker. Yeah. There's different clubs and stuff like that.

Melanie (53:20)
Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, that's right. Yeah. Yeah. that's a good call. That's a good call. Yeah. the wheels are turning.

Host (53:30)
else are turning

now. Was there anything else you want to touch on?

Melanie (53:32)
Really cool. Yeah.

I can't really think of anything. I'm just trying to think of anything else that happened in the journey.

Host (53:42)
We can always have part two next week. Add to the journey, add to the story. Yeah, there we go. So cool. You know, I just had this thought. Well, I just want to thank you you are busy. Yeah. I just can't thank you enough for taking the time.

Melanie (53:45)
Yeah

I guess one thing I would like to add is that one thing when with Kathy and I for opening up a business, we one thing that we really wanted to do was give back to the community. we were both like, OK, so if you get a water from the brewery, a dollar goes to the Lake Country Food Bank, which specifically goes to children's lunches. So we've been doing that ever since.

we opened and then every Christmas we raise a money raise like presents for family and then you know yeah we just it's just something we wanted to do we show it on Instagram or you know what I mean like because it's an event but it's not necessarily let's tell everybody it's just yeah that was in our heart just what we wanted to do for

Host (54:43)
The of your life was always this desire and this yearning to give back, which is like you being a social work, like for women, you've had this pull to want to help others, it seems. And that's a beautiful way to like bring it all together.

Melanie (54:59)
Yeah.

Host (54:59)
And it's amazing being a teacher for so long, people don't realize how many kids are at risk for food. Like they don't get it. The number of brown bag lunches at the schools and stuff like that. And then you think kids are all excited for spring break and summer vacation. Well, there is so many that aren't because they don't know that they're going to have food. It's not a certainty. But when they're in school with these lunch programs, they know.

that they will be fed that day and yeah it blows you it blows your mind so what a beautiful

Melanie (55:29)
Definitely.

Yeah.

Yeah, totally. That's really cool.

Host (55:38)
Yeah, well, anyways, yeah, thank let's wrap her I feel like,

Melanie (55:40)
Thank you so much.