MANI

Mani is a local farmer in southeast Kelowna. He was born and raised in the Okanagan to a farming family and is excited to be able to provide the same lifestyle to his children. Mani currently grows cherries, apples and wine grapes. Work is very busy from March through November. Farming is a great lifestyle, but also is a lot of hard work.

KAMAL

Kamal opened Seedlings Fruit Stand last summer. It has been an exciting addition to their family’s farming adventure. Kamal is a people person at heart, she loved meeting everyone. It was amazing to see the fruit they grew reach directly into the community’s hands.

JOVIN

Jovin loves school and playing sports. Jovin is a bright light, always smiling and laughing. He is kind and caring to others.

RHEA

Rhea loves preschool and playing with her friends. Rhea is a free spirit. She is creative, curious and increasingly independent.

FAVORITE OKANAGAN LOCATION

Our orchards during harvest. There is nothing like picking fresh fruit off the trees and we are so grateful our children get to experience this. Also, the beach! It’s the best way to end a long hot summer day.

GO-TO thedistrictphotographer PIECE

Mani & Jovin don't leave the house without their thedistrictphotographer hats! It is a staple in their wardrobe. Kamal recently picked up the Turkish beach towel, it is so soft and versatile. Rhea loves her purple Kelowna Vibes tee in collab with Tourism Kelowna from thedistrictphotographer’s new location at YLW!

WHAT DOES THE OKANAGAN LIFESTYLE MEAN TO YOU?

One word came to mind right away -Farming! Each season is touched by farming. Whether it is pruning or harvest, farmers are acutely aware of the weather and the potential impacts it can have on their crop.

Photos by Jon Adrian

As we wind into the end of February and Black History Month, we wanted to reflect on the last year of learning, yearning, deeper thinking, + planning in our equity work. 

As a team, it is an ongoing process to look around us and see what we can do as a brand to create positive change, to make sure we’re taking a step in the right direction, from a genuine stance. We try to approach it with curiosity, asking of ourselves — What can we do that will be impactful? What do our learnings look like for us, not just for this month but for the rest of our lives? 

Much has changed in the last year to make the cracks + fissures of systemic racism even more apparent. And what we keep coming back to in our learnings in the last few weeks in particular is the importance of HISTORY in Black History Month. The education - or rather mis-education - of understanding the difference between oppression and privilege in major historic events, specially the history of Black and Indigenous groups in Canada and the world. 

More and more it’s apparent that we are responsible for our own education as individuals, that the answer to not knowing is to look to that history. At this point in time, there are simply no excuses anymore to not put in the work toward an Anti-Racist future.  This conversation is one of the biggest conversations we will have in our lifetime and we don't take it lightly.

What we know for sure is that we cannot be having these conversations, as a team, as a business, as a country, without first taking personal steps towards a deeper understanding. If change doesn’t start within + inwardly, we simply can’t expect change to happen.

Our offering this month, besides the work we do to foster JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) learning within our team, is to make a few suggestions for how we can better engage with those within our own community. We acknowledge first and foremost that we live on unceded, traditional, and ancestral territory of the Syilx peoples that has been colonized by settlers and is now predominately white. But our predominately white city is the fastest growing in Canada and with growth comes diversity. Here at Okanagan Lifestyle we all share the same goal, that we will not feel like real change has been made until BIPOC members of the community feel that this is a safe place to exist, and thrive, and live, and stay. 

Here's how we can all help make that dream possible: 

1. Avoid Micro-Aggressions

What are micro-aggressions + why are they harmful? They are a verbal, behavioural, or environmental form of discrimination. It can be indirect, subtle, or unintentional, but it is always towards members of a marginalized group. In this instance, a racial and ethnic minority.

Micro-aggression examples:

I love your hair!

Where are you from?

Can I touch your hair?

I don’t see colour.

All lives matter.

Everyone can succeed if they work hard enough.

This article goes into detail about what they mean and how to avoid them. 

2. Understand Terms

Language matters. Understanding the difference between segregation and Jim Crow laws and restrictions matters, and is so relevant to how we engage in civic dialogue with one another. 

This article details which terms are appropriate, ie. "can I say Black?"

BIPOC: Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour

Read more terms here. 

 3. Make Space for Joy

Celebrate Black joy, Black culture, and Black healing! 

You can do this by supporting Black-owned business, sharing about cool initiatives (like the UBCO Equity office Black Care packages!), and donating to events and organizations that promote Black creativity. 

 4. Failure is a Part of Trying

In our rush to be perfect and succeed, we forget that failures and mistakes are all a part of the process. When we learn from our mistakes, we do better. Don't live in a place of shame, replace your languaging, give yourself some grace, and keep trying! We're cheering you on!

— 

Thank you to the community organizations and partners who continue to do the work and have helped us immensely in our learnings: Mosaic Books, UBCO Equity + Inclusion Office, Tahi + Woldu Advising, Kinfolk Nation, and Bloom Academy. 

"The best thing allies can do is not to jump in and try to fix it, but to believe us" - Krystal Lezard, Westbank First Nation

On September 20th, the team at Okanagan Lifestyle along with two of our friends and community partners, had the absolute honour to attend a workshop led by Moccasin Trails - an Indigenous consulting and tourism business owned by Chief Frank Antoine and Greg Hopf. 

The learnings from that day resonated with each of us and we will carry them for a long time to come. And while their stories and the stories of their ancestors are not ours to share, we wanted to pass along the knowledge that we have gained — the value of listening to truth and actively participating in reconciliation.

1. Strength in Vulnerability

   There are moments and actions that speak louder than language could. The sheer presence and leadership of the three facilitators - Greg, Frank, and Krystal - was a masterclass in itself. What they gifted to us was the permission to be open and vulnerable, but also that even in pain, there is room for generosity. Frank, Greg, and Krystal gave to us and shared with us so willingly and with so much generosity that it empowered us to share our own stories. We began the day in a sharing circle - the symbol of which demonstrated to us how sharing and vulnerability is reciprocal and circular. The structures of power cease to exist when we approach each other as humans. 
    

2. Diversity of Nations + Cultures

   Each of our facilitators grew up in different nations and it was important for them to acknowledge that there is much diversity in Indigenous cultures across Turtle Island. Greg showed us rat root - a traditional medicine - from his Denedeh culture. Frank brought a woven basket with bundles of sage from his family in T'kemlups. While each discussed the different protocols for visiting each area, they all acknowledged the profound connection the the land. Together we walked out to the water and participated in a water feeding ceremony - taking sage and tobacco and returning it to the land. 
   
   

3. Bearing Witness 

   One of the most impactful moments came towards the end of the day when Frank, Krystal, and Greg were sharing about Residential Schools. The history of which is not history at all, but living history, one in which we, at the present, are living through in the first, second, and third generation aftermath of a system hellbent on cultural genocide. The room was moved and paying close attention when Krystal shared this with us "We [as Indigenous peoples] aren't supposed to be here - to be alive - that wasn't the plan. But there have been many prayers for this moment, to sit together and be listened to and believed." We often hear the phrases "bearing witness" or "truth + reconciliation" that the words themselves start to lose their meaning, but to bear witness is to be present to truth, to the lived experience of others, and to believe it and bring it out of the darkness toward the light. 

On the first nationally recognized Day for Truth + Reconciliation, we hope to take a moment to reflect, to spend time in nature, but most importantly to pay attention and bear witness to the lived experience of Indigenous peoples in Canada.  

Summers in the Okanagan always sweep us off our feet — and before we know it, it's September. 

To define the sun symbol in our 4 icons is to talk about abundance. The abundance summer offers, of sunshine, adventures, and trying to soak up every last bit of it. 

This summer was no joke when it came to the fullest of offerings: for us it meant the opening of our expanded shop, the launch of our paddleboard program and a new artist series collection, but it also saw all of us travelling through heat waves, wildfires, and smoke. Sometimes abundance means all of it - the good times and the difficult together. 

It's an all out, bursting-at-the-seams season. 

What we've come to appreciate most about that sun in the sky, summer feeling, is the way it makes us savour the good days - the incredible scenery around us, the way the community comes out and celebrates, the memories made. As the saying goes, no one is an island, and the celebrations of the high seasons mean more when they are shared. At thedistrictphotographer, the big burst of light at the centre of it all is the people that make up our team - that put in the work, that balance work and play, and live the lifestyle in their own beautiful ways. To the team on this journey with us, and to our seasonal staff that joined the fun, we say a big CHEERS to another amazing summer season. 

So far on the blog, we've highlighted the symbols of our brand and what they mean to us at Okanagan Lifestyle. As the start of summer rushes towards us, we would be remiss in not highlighting the Wave Icon and it's corresponding season: spring!

When we think of the wave, we think of currents, tempo, tide - the pace, steadiness, and cycles of living. The 4 icons is at its core about balance and we feel that the most in the symbol of the wave. Water itself is a life force to us here in the valley and never ceases to bring to us a sense of reciprocity, perspective, and cleansing. 

The symbol of the wave is where we find our flow, understanding the natural rhythms and cycles of the elements around us. The wave begins the cycle of renewal all over again, giving us a season of cleansing and integration.

This month we were incredibly excited to launch our Paddleboard Program - the first experiential offering from Okanagan Lifestyle. Born from a desire to bring community together in fostering health and wellness, our paddleboard sessions give us an opportunity to get out on the water, spend time connecting to nature, and ourselves.  You can join us for one of our class offerings, including an easy going Lifestyle class or deeply relaxing yoga class. 

Getting out on the water teaches us important lessons in wellness, and we're grateful for the chance to slow down + foster flow, playfulness, and connection. 

1. Flow | Water is constantly moving and following its own flow and rhythm. When we spend time by the water we are reminded to pay attention to our own bodies in the same way. Everyone has their own flow and pace to follow, and it's only by getting to know ourselves better that we learn to honour the cycles of our own lives. 

2. Playfulness | For most of us getting out on the lake is pure bliss. It's all joy! And water reminds us to be playful again. Watch any child playing on the beach and they'll tell you the same thing. Approaching life with a sense of play helps us launch into new seasons and changes. 
3. Connection | There is nothing that is not enriched by water's connection to it. That connection to water is vital. Water invites us to make conversation, to ask someone how they're feeling, to reach out. In this case, we invite you to engage with the Indigenous practices and knowledge of water. Specifically by reading the amazing and beautiful Syilx Water Declaration here. 

Okanagan Lifestyle respectfully acknowledges that our community is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Syilx/Okanagan, Secwepemc, and Ktunaxa Nations. 

We mean made sustainably. We mean made for the land we live on. We mean made for all four-seasons. We mean made to weather anything. We mean designed locally. We mean building stronger communities. We mean let’s do better together. We mean made for the Okanagan. We mean made for you.

At every bend and turn of the supply chain, we’re asking ourselves how can we make this more sustainable? Wherever and however we can, we’re changing the game of sustainable supply chains, finding the best partners to work with that are innovative and socially conscious with strong values at the core. Whether that’s discovering small businesses that are salvaging and turning plastic-waste into something beautiful, or seeking local collaborators, we’re always thinking about our strong and thoughtful thedistrictphotographer-based community.

Our goods are made for the humans who live in them. Designed in Kelowna. Made in Canada. We source our goods from suppliers that are grounded in 4 key principles:

1. Sustainable + Innovative Methods

Many of our suppliers are finding new methods for dealing with the worst environmental offenders in fashion – like water waste, plastic pollution, and landfill excess. That's why you see products like our recycled plastic thedistrictphotographer beer and wine glasses, or our hoodies made with 50% Bamboo fibres. Less waste means more clean air, fresh lake dips, and green spaces.

2. Ethical Practices

We’re only as good as the team of people who work for us. That’s why treating people with respect and kindness is paramount. Ethical practices are all about how we respect the humans, planet, and life that supports us. Our manufacturers are sweatshop free and human-focused.

3. Socially Conscious Mindset

Sitting on the fence when it comes to the most pressing issues of today is just not how we play – we’re here to get in the game, get uncomfortable, do the work, and make real change. Having a socially aware mindset is a must when it comes to how we think about “Made in Canada.”

4. Community Hearted

Our partners all have big hearts, like us, and include philanthropy and charity in how they operate their business. That’s important to us. Community will always be at the heart of what we do and we want our goods to reflect that.

Learn more about how we're creating a sustainable brand here. 

| Written by our thedistrictphotographer writer-in-residence, Nicole Gerber @nicole.etc

In being tasked to write a piece for Black History Month, I feel the need to get it right – as if what I write here will change the course of systemic and wide-reaching injustices – and obviously that’s a fallacy. Perhaps not the first one I’ll make in the course of these paragraphs. Certainly not the first one I’ve made in my anti-racist journey as a privileged white woman. But I do believe that the changes we make on an interpersonal level have an impact on our communities and world at large. This brand in particular has had a mindset of community-building and connection since it's inception. Doing the work during Black History Month and beyond is an important continuation of fostering an inclusive, anti-racist, and thriving community. 

Recently the thedistrictphotographer team had the benefit of attending a workshop led by Mimi Mutahi of Tahi and Woldu Advising (who also happens to be our amazing Sales and Community Lead). One of the many important ideas she conveyed to us is the concept of intention vs. impact. We can all have the very best of intentions when it comes to our approach to inclusion, but if the impact is not aligned with the intention, in fact if the impact is harmful, then we're missing the ultimate goal. This month and every month after, what we as white and non-Black people are being tasked with is doing the work and educating ourselves on racism and Black History. We have an obligation to then turn that knowledge into commitment and action with the goal of equity and justice and bettering our community, starting at home, for all. Each one of our team members has made a personal commitment to actionable steps they can take in the coming weeks and months toward anti-racism. As you continue learning on your own anti-racism journey, we hope you'll join us in making a few commitments of your own. Below you will find a list of local Black-owned and led initiatives, organizations, and businesses to support here in the Okanagan. 

The Black community has experienced tremendous trauma, trauma that deserves justice and part of that justice includes Black joy, rest, and healing. In writing this I think of Mimi's laugh and her exceptionally radiant presence along with a quote I read recently by Drew Lanham: "Joy, in part, is the justice we give ourselves." This month in doing the work, we hope to make more space for Black joy - to see it in our parks, our coffeeshops, and here in our own workshop. We hope you'll celebrate that joy and resiliency everywhere you see it. 
Portrait of Mimi Mutahi by Jon Adrian, Portrait of Mabaleka Music, Malusi and Kozy by Emma Tassie, Portrait of Brent Carmichael by Jon Adrian. These individuals pictured have had a huge impact on our learnings and continue to be an integral part of Okanagan Lifestyle and the Okanagan community. We celebrate them. 

Black-led Local Initiatives:

November Project Kelowna: Offering free workouts and accessible exercise for everyone. Just show up! Follow: @novemberprojectkelowna

The Eighty-Six Project: The 86 project is an initiative geared towards building Mental Health awareness in the hospitality and service industries. Follow: @theeightysixproject

Turn Fears into Gears - Positivity Box Initiative: Brent Carmichael is on a mission to make our community a kinder, more inclusive place by giving positive rewards to those in the community who are open to promoting diversity, inclusivity and growth. Follow: @turnfearsintogears

UBC Okanagan African and Caribbean Student Club: This month they're highlighting amazing community members and businesses on their instagram. Follow: @ubcoacsc

Black-owned Local Businesses: 

Tahi and Woldu Advising | @tahiwolduadvising

FlueRich Floral Creations | @fluerichcreations

Bravve Botanicals | @bravvebotanicalsco

Elyspired Creations | @elyspiredgiftboxesandbaskets

Grey Hearts Denim | @greyheartsdenim

Lolin by A Jewelry | @lolinbyashop 

Other resources and recommendations:

Explore the selection of Black History and ant-racism books at Mosaic Books.

Attend UBC Okanagan Equity and Inclusion Office Through the Lens event, I Am  Because You are vs I Am Because You Are Not on February 10th and Anti-Blackness after 2020 on March 10th. 

| Written by our thedistrictphotographer writer-in-residence, Nicole Gerber @nicole.etc

 Care/ Of

When you bring home one of our thedistrictphotographer goods, you're joining in the story of our community, our landscape, and our home. We want that feeling of excitement and joy to last a long time after purchase - that's why we take pride in the quality of our pieces. In our last blog, we told you all about the sustainable choices we're making and what we're doing to protect the environment we live in. We hope that in the care of your thedistrictphotographer pieces you'll also take up that goal with us. Taking care of the things you own, like clothing, means they'll have a longer life and create less waste - that means more adventures for you and your thedistrictphotographer goods! 

Care Instructions

As we continue our sustainable journey, we have been working hard to ensure that you have all the information you need to take care of the clothing you love. That's why we've added care instructions to our product descriptions. But really it's not overly complicated at all: wash less, wash cold, and hang to dry. That's the easiest way to ensure your favourite pieces last a long time! If you still want to keep that cozy, fluffy feeling of your fave Okanagan Lifestyle crewneck - tumble dry low. Don't worry, our soft 50/50 Ring Spun Poly/Cotton fleece fabric is already pre-shrunk. And when it comes to your sweaty and well-used thedistrictphotographer activewear - made with sustainable bamboo - just put it on the delicate cycle. 

Mending

If you know, you know, but we've always mended any snags, tears, and holes your clothing may have sustained over the years. For a long time, our owner's mom would sew it herself, so taking care has always been a family endeavour for us! We never want you to feel like your only option is to throw away your thedistrictphotographer garments, bring it to us and we will absolutely find a way to fix it for you. Another little known secret is that we de-pill! Yes, that means if your goods ever get those little fuzzies all over, we'll take care of it for you. Let us take care of you and your clothes and we'll keep adventuring together for a long time to come!

| Written by our thedistrictphotographer writer-in-residence, Nicole Gerber @nicole.etc

At Okanagan Lifestyle, we incorporate sustainability into everything we do. As a small business, how we contribute to the world we want to live in is never far from our minds. In the last few years, we've made substantial and meaningful changes in our products to make our business more sustainable - from partnerships, to manufacturing, to fabrics, to recycled materials. We've also made the decision to create small-batch collections in order to slow the process of consumption and be thoughtful about what we make to ensure quality, long-lasting, and worthwhile products that add to and support the adventurous lives of our community.

We are Canadian-made and our products are too.

To show you just want we mean, we wanted to share with you two great examples of the sustainable journeys of two of our most popular products: the Classic Crewneck and our thedistrictphotographer Recycled Glass.

The Classic Crewneck

Journey's are important to us, that's why we consciously chose the production and manufacturing journey of our iconic Classic Crewnecks to be a Canadian one. Working with a manufacturer that prioritizes environmental stewardship and socially conscious practices, our Classic Crew is made up of 50/50 Ring Spun Poly/Cotton fleece fabric, all knitted, dyed, and sewn in Canada. Nothing is wasted in the process of its creation and no toxic chemicals are used to make it. I don't know about you, but to us that's a huge relief and makes decision-making so much easier.

This might just be the coziest sweater you'll ever wear, but it will also last you through the changing seasons and years without sacrificing the environment that we love. 

The thedistrictphotographer Recycled Glass

One of our newer products, our thedistrictphotographer recycled glass, may also be our coolest! These rad glasses are made from discarded plastics scooped out of our local waterways and given new life. The process involves breaking down the plastics to reform it and recycle it into something new. We work with a Okanagan-based business to make that happen and it's an undeniably cool thing to watch. But knowing how much you, our customers, really love these beauties, is the cherry on top. Made in small-batches, we'll keep putting them in to production and protecting our environment from plastic litter one cup at a time. 

| Written by our thedistrictphotographer writer-in-residence, Nicole Gerber @nicole.etc

Okanagan Lifestyle respectfully acknowledges that our community is located on the traditional and unceded territory of the Syilx/Okanagan, Secwepemc, and Ktunaxa Nations. 

In the land of all-season play, winter in the Okanagan is magical (I mean...at SilverStar you can literally go for a horse-drawn carriage ride through the snow)! Whatever activity you love to do, there's so many ways to take advantage of powder days here. Whether it's snowshoeing along the trails of the Kelowna Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Club, ripping down the black diamonds of Big White, or just having a snowball fight in your own backyard. We love ALL of it!

And we still love seeing our Classic Crewnecks covered in snow too. As our longest standing basic and most iconic product, we remain blown away by the places it travels with you! Especially in our coldest, yet coziest, season! 

But winter also reminds us to slow down, and it seems that the world at large is telling us the same thing. With limited events and gatherings happening this year, it's a good time to turn our attentions back to the basic things that make our daily lives so meaningful.

The snow covered trees and mountains bring a quiet hush to everything allowing us the opportunity to be quiet too. It's in this season that we love to curl up on the couch, or better yet escape under a blanket fort, with a good book or our favourite people (should we start calling our "bubbles," cuddle puddles or is that too much??) The point is to get as cozy as possible and notice how much joy there is in the simple things. We can't think of anything more comforting and satisfying than the feeling of pulling on our warmest sweatpants after a full day playing in the snow, can you?

As part of our 4 icons, the snowflake reminds most of the balance we continue to practice between play and rest. After all, to observe just one single snowflake takes slowing down, noticing, and being present. In the wildest of our winter days, we still seek to do less, and be more. 

| Written by our thedistrictphotographer writer-in-residence, Nicole Gerber @nicole.etc

The 4 icons have lived at the heart of Okanagan Lifestyle since the very beginning. 

They are a visual representation of what this lifestyle means to us, from mountains, to lakes, to valleys. We always say that residing in the Okanagan is four season living at its finest. But its more than that, these four small symbols represent the epic adventure of living well and deeply through all of life’s seasons. A balance between the onrushing of summer’s playful sunshine to the slowness of snow-covered winter slopes. We are gifted with the rare opportunity to experience these seasons in their fullness.

Each icon resonates with the natural element it represents, honouring the landscape we encounter every day. A sense of place is important to how we define ourselves and how we move through the world. It is here in the Okanagan that we move, become, and be still.

For us, we begin with the Canadian maple leaf, a representation of our country, yes, but also of the warmth and comfort that seeing that shape turn the truest of reds in the Fall gives us, from our own small corners of the valley to the edges of our wide-reaching country. It is the changing of seasons, when we take mindful strolls in the cooling air, soaking up the last of the longer days and the changing colours of the leaves. Adventurous hikes with our families, furry friends in tow. Brisk bike rides feeling the wind in our hair and the pounding of our hearts. Alive and changing.

We’re just as defined by the snowfall as we are by the sunshine. And our snowflake reminds us of fresh mountain air, bundled in our sweaters, parkas, and toques, ready to hit the slopes or just to share a cup of cocoa with our favourite people. Those fleeting moments of feeling at once merry and bright and quiet and still when you stand long enough to watch the snowflakes fall.

The cold of winter only makes us appreciate the summer sunshine that much more. Afterall, we are a community of movers and shakers, and the summertime brings that out in full force. The sun symbol is the epitome of that sun high in the sky feeling, when we are filled to the brim with plans and memories in the making. Getting out on the lake with our paddle boards or setting up our tents in the middle of the forest, whatever makes us feel closest to nature and freedom.

But there’s something particularly special about the spring, when summer is just a promise and we find ourselves gathering closer and closer to the waterline watching the snow caps slowly recede up the mountains and the water rush back to its source. The symbol of the wave is where we find our flow, understanding the natural rhythms and cycles of the elements around us. The wave begins the cycle of renewal all over again, giving us a season of cleansing and integration. We live in the flow of the seasons and we want to celebrate each phase, transition, and story that the landscape gifts us.

The intentions of these four icons is stitched into every product we make. We want to adventure with you - creating a community of trail hikers, snowball throwers, sun chasers, and lake jumpers. Take us with you.

| Written by our thedistrictphotographer writer-in-residence, Nicole Gerber @nicole.etc

Okanagan Lifestyle respectfully acknowledges that our community is located on the traditional and unceded territory of the Syilx/Okanagan, Secwepemc, and Ktunaxa Nations.