Want to get in touch with Dion? Email chair@similkameencountry.org!

Karen moved to the Similkameen in 2023 with her husband Brent, their three daughters, and their dog, Ella. Since then, she has quickly become a familiar and engaged presence in the community. Many will recognize Karen from her time as Assistant Manager at the Grist Mill, her performances with the Cawston Players, or her volunteer roles with the Cawston Hall Board and the Keremeos Volunteer Fire Department.

In early 2025, Karen took on a new chapter as the owner and operator of the Similkameen Makers Hub – the valley’s only art and craft retail store and creative space – located in the heart of the Similkameen.

Creative and community-driven, Karen has a passion for music, crafting, and building meaningful connections. She believes strongly in personal growth through active involvement and lifelong learning, and she is always eager to explore new opportunities to expand her skills while contributing to the community. Karen joined the SCDA Board in 2024.

Want to get in touch with Karen? Email vicechair@similkameencountry.org.

Sarah has been proud to live, work, and raise two children in the Similkameen Valley since 1998. As Executive Director of the Lower Similkameen Community Services Society (LSCSS), she is committed to supporting the area’s growth and well-being, with a focus on attracting working families and serving the Similkameen’s high senior demographic. Sarah advocates for sustainable development, social and economic diversity, and a vibrant downtown in partnership with Indigenous peoples and local government. In her fourth year on the SCDA Board as Secretary-Treasurer, she brings expertise in financial literacy and nonprofit management.

Curious about LSCSS? Click here.

Want to get in touch with Sarah? Email treasurer@similkameencountry.org.

Kim is a small business owner in Keremeos, where she has lived and worked for three years after many years of vacationing in the Okanagan and Similkameen. She is passionate about promoting the area’s beauty and fostering a strong sense of community. With over 30 years of experience in dynamic administrative roles, Kim also has a solid background in leadership, event planning and community involvement, including 19 years on Parent Advisory Committees and volunteering for social committees. She is committed to ensuring fair treatment for all people and businesses and enjoys contributing to the growth of the South Similkameen, serving on the SCDA Board of Directors since 2024.

Getting hungry? Check out Kim’s Food Truck business here.

Rachael, originally raised in the Similkameen, spent time exploring the world, primarily on Vancouver Island, before returning to be closer to family and support her community. With over 25 years of experience as a support worker and educator focused on children and youth, Rachael is also a professional musician, artist, and events manager. Known for her direct and straightforward approach, she brings fresh, outside-the-box thinking to everything she does. After working with various institutions across the Similkameen, she founded her own business, Aphoristic Productions, in 2024. Rachael has been an active member of the SCDA Board since 2022.

Joe and his wife Kaitlyn, local small business owners, were drawn to this area in search of the perfect place to raise their family. Inspired to support the community’s growth and prosperity, Joe joined the SCDA Board of Directors in 2022. He is also actively involved with the Similkameen Trails Society, contributing to the development of local trail infrastructure, and serves on the Similkameen Recreation Commission to enhance recreational opportunities. An electrician by trade with a passion for outdoor recreation, Joe is enthusiastic about the valley’s potential and the impactful work of the Similkameen Country Development Association.

Find out more about Joe’s business and the Similkameen Trail Society here.

Originally from England, Carole moved to the Similkameen in 2006 with her family. With a background working for organizations like the Lower Similkameen Indian Band, OneSky, and South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services, she now works as Program Coordinator for the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen. Carole is passionate about building stronger, more connected communities. She is deeply committed to the SCDA’s growth since 2023, believing in the power of collaboration to create opportunities, support and safe spaces.

To check out Carole’s work with the RDOS, visit their Facebook Page!

Stu is a co-founder of an agri-food business that was founded in Revelstoke and relocated to scale up in the Similkameen Valley. A former professional snowboarder, Stu brings the same discipline, adaptability, and drive from his years in sport into farming and food production. As a farmer and producer, he helps grow and transform organically cultivated specialty peppers into bold, all-natural products crafted on-farm. He is also a trained millwright, applying a hands-on, problem-solving approach to equipment, infrastructure, and scaling production. Deeply committed to local food systems, Stu is passionate about organic agriculture, sustainability, and resilient businesses built to last and joined the SCDA Board in 2025.

Find out more about Stu’s business here.

Originally from Germany, Vanessa earned her diploma in event and office administration before embarking on a Canadian adventure over a decade ago. That journey led her to Cawston, where she worked as a live-in nanny. While caring for two incredible girls, she fell in love with the Similkameen Valley and then her now-husband, Andrew (hence the impressively long last name!).

Now settled in Keremeos with her husband, Vanessa shares an agricultural property with the rest of his family and her passion for the region remains as strong as ever. Vanessa sees immense potential in the Similkameen Valley and is committed to helping it thrive. She believes respectful, open and honest relationships are the foundation of progress: Through valley-wide collaboration, she is dedicated to working hand-in-hand with the community to elevate the region to new heights.

After dedicating 33 years to a career in IT and project management in Victoria, Hugh and his wife Teresa decided to retire to the Okanagan in 2018. They were overjoyed when their daughters, Krista and Chelsea, along with Chelsea’s children, Landon and Olivia, also relocated to the region, settling in Penticton and Oliver respectively. Hugh and Teresa established their new home in Keremeos, joined by several of Teresa’s family members who moved to nearby Cawston around the same time.

As the newest member of SCDA, Hugh is thrilled to step into the role of our primary Tourism Counsellor. He enjoys engaging with people from all over the world, sharing his enthusiasm for the Similkameen, assisting visitors and proudly serving as an ambassador for the stunning region he now calls home.

Born and raised in the Similkameen Valley, Gurpreet grew up in Cawston, BC, where her family has been farming since 2000. Much of her childhood was shaped by life on the family orchard and the experience of growing up on a working farm. She attended local schools and also gained early work experiences in the valley.

After graduating high school, she moved to Vancouver to pursue a Bachelor of Science at the University of British Columbia, where she later worked in molecular biology research. Now back home for the summer, she is working as a tourism counsellor at the Keremeos Visitor Centre, where she hopes to connect visitors with the landscapes, local businesses, and welcoming community she grew up enjoying and calling home.