Dennis Gabelhouse

Dennis G. Gabelhouse is a long-time resident of Kelowna (50 years) with over 35 years of newspaper and television experience. He has had a successful media career that began with the Edmonton Journal, the Penticton Herald and the Kelowna Daily Courier. He was the Director of Marketing for the Winnipeg Free Press from 1989 to 1991 overseeing the advertising and circulation departments. Gabelhouse first joined CHBC Television in 1975 as a Sales Executive and later returned as Retail Sales Manager in 1991, followed by promotions to Marketing Director, General Sales Manager and then General Manager in 2008. Over the last eight years while semi-retired, Dennis guided business development for CREW Marketing Partners, bringing on many well-known Okanagan clients to help facilitate the growth of CREW to over 50 employees with three Canadian offices and recently one US office. 

His community involvement is extensive. Gabelhouse has supported several high-impact programs and fundraising initiatives, generating significant financial resources to help those in need. He was an active participant in OC’s Trades Complex and Health Sciences Centre fundraising campaigns. He has also volunteered for events such as the Kelowna International Regatta, served on the boards for Kelowna Snowfest and Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, and has been active with organizations such as Okanagan-Mission Rotary Club and the Central Okanagan United Way.

Married to Gwen for 41 years, Gabelhouse has two daughters, Lauren and Lindsay, a four-year-old granddaughter and twin two-year-old grandsons.

Cliff Serwa

Upon graduating Kelowna Senior High School in 1954, Cliff Serwa began his career at Serwa Bulldozing. He served as the assistant manager in the family business from 1956 to 1962, and had a vision of champagne powder for ski enthusiasts. Alongside his business partner Doug Mervyn, Serwa made that vision come to life.

He and Mervyn co-founded Big White Ski Development, which constructed 14 miles of sub-alpine road, parking lots, a Day Chalet along with a 5,500 foot Doppelmayr T-Bar, all in place for opening day. The mountain resort opened in 1963 and quickly became a popular destination for skiiers throughout the province. He also co-founded Doppelmayr Lifts Ltd., serving as its president from 1965 to 1978.

The resort changed hands, and Serwa began another chapter in his career. He was elected as member of the Legislative Assembly of B.C. representing Okanagan South in 1986, which he served until 1991 when the riding was divided. He was in cabinet from 1990 to 1991, as Minister of Environment. He served as the MLA for Okanagan West from 1991 to 1996. 

Serwa has been heavily involved with the community throughout his life. In 1977, he was the founding director and former vice-president of the Central Okanagan Foundation. He also contributed his time  to the Kelowna Economic Recovery and Employment Development Association, Kelowna Fish and Game Club, and Sutherland Hill parks board.

He was a significant contributor to the OC Trades Complex expansion project, and supported educational development of students at OC by creating an annual bursary for Early Childhood Education Diploma program students. He is also a supporter of the Okanagan Mission Rotary Club.

Howard Soon

Born in Vancouver, Howard Soon graduated from UBC in Biochemistry and later, pursued an MBA at the University of Manitoba. 
He began his 40-year career in winemaking with Calona Vineyards, ultimately becoming the Founding Winemaker of Sandhill in 1997. Since September 2017, Soon has been the Master Winemaker for Vanessa Vineyard at Cawston, Similkameen Valley, B.C. 

His collaborative relationships with his growers and non-interventionist approach have consistently led to award-winning single vineyard wines. He is the first winemaker to release exclusively single vineyard wines that capture terroir. His contribution to the B.C. wine industry was first recognized in 1998 by the Okanagan Wine Festival Society, receiving the Founders Award. He was the first B.C. winemaker to receive a Gold Medal at the Chardonnay du Monde competition in Burgundy, France.

He teaches Wine Appreciation as part of Continuing Studies at Okanagan College and holds a Certificate of Proficiency in Wine Knowledge (CWE) from the Society of Wine Educators.

Soon became the only winemaker in history to receive all three top honours at the Wine Access 2009 Canadian Wine Awards when Sandhill won for Red Wine of the Year, White Wine of the Year, and Winery of the Year.

He was invited into the BC Restaurant and Food Service Association (BCRFA) Hall of Fame as a Friend of the Industry in 2012. In 2015, Soon was recognized at the Vancouver International Wine Festival’s Celebrating Excellence Awards with the highly coveted “Spirited Industry Professional” Award. In 2017, the final year before retiring from Sandhill, he was given the Award of Distinction from the BC Wine Institute – the first time the BCWI has given this distinction to three individuals. 

In June 2019, he received an appointment to the Order of Canada in recognition of his contributions to the Wine Industry. On July 21, 2021, he was recognized by the Canadian Wine Industry (Winegrowers of Canada) with the Karl Kaiser 2021 Canadian Winemaker of the Year trophy.