Big Auction Marks More Change to Come for Westside
by Deborah Greaves
On Thursday, the 25th of May, many Westsiders commuting to Rose Valley may have noticed an unusual convergence of huge pickup trucks, near the corner of Stevens and Westlake Road. They may also have noticed flags flying, a large ramp being built and an industrial yard filled with monster vehicles.
It looked unusual because it was. As a matter of fact, those who missed the many media stories that hit the press that week about the May 25th event need to know one thing:
When the storied and global Ritchie Brothers Auction company sold off every last piece of the Lind family’s logging equipment on that Thursday, it was the end of an era.
The Lind Brothers retirement from the logging business represents one more step along the new road that the Westside has embarked upon, a road that sends the heavy equipment onto the mountainsides more often to excavate for subdivisions and tidily curbed streets than strictly to harvest trees, a road filled more frequently now with real estate agents, retail construction designers and building contractors’ trucks.
Around the Westside, there are families like the Linds who have participated in the ponderous changes that have taken place on the Westside. Here are a few of those families, many of whose names you’ll see on local street signs:
The Ensign Brothers
Sons of local cattle rancher Russ Ensign, Rusty, Cam and Chris Ensign provided gravel and equipment to help build the “couplet” that splits Highway 97 in the original centre of Westbank. Along with sister Shauna Bakala, the brothers are also involved with land development, currently in the Shannon Heights subdivision at the top of Shannon Way, as well as a new industrial park. Watch for the sign on “Ensign Way.”
The Dobbin Family
One side of the couplet is now named Dobbin Road, after the family that has owned and continues to operate excavation firms in Westbank for decades, and is now watching the Smith Creek neighbourhood heading towards one of its once-isolated yards.
T. Lewis Trucking has hauled in this area for many years, and is the name on the gateway sign on one of the Westside’s last large ranches. Lewis has also been active in land development and building.
The Gorman Family
You’ve likely heard that this major business, now operated by Ross Gorman and son Ron, was started many decades ago as a packing box company. Gorman Brothers grew along with the community, and has rich, dynamic history as well as a reputation for taking care of its employees and for good corporate citizenship. Ever been curious about the insides of the mill? You can call to book a tour, every summer. Yes, there is a Gorman Road.
The Gellatly Family
You’ve probably visited the Nut Farm, the Heritage Park, or the promenade along Gellatly Bay. Ranching, farming, developing the Nut Orchard, and holding waterfront parties- these are just a few of the things this pioneer family was known for. See more about this family on the Experience Westbank parks and trails pages.
The Paynters
Known for everything from pottery to land development, members of this local family have managed agricultural land in the Westbank area and around Hayman lake for decades. Gillian Paynter operates a landmark pottery studio near – where else? - Paynters Market. Geoff Paynter developed the striking Shannon Woods subdivision. Once upon a time, confided matriarch Sheila Paynter in her book on golf, the Shannon Lake Golf Course was a potato farm.
The Reese Family
Yes, you’ve seen a street sign with this family’s name on it, too. Like the Gellatly family, they’ve been in the area over a hundred years. They own and operate Westbank Packers, and have developed much of the land that became Mission Hill Estates.
The Bennett Family
R.J. and M.J. have a lovely horse farm on Gellatly Road with pastures for their thoroughbred horses, and also developed much of the property around Mission Hill.
Other family members own contracting and excavation firms and industrial land. Several generations have made and continue to make the valley their home.
The Scott Family
Made their mark on the Westside with the development of a the forested residential area, West Kelowna Estates. John Scott is the developer of the Shannon Highlands, across Shannon Lake Road from Shannon Woods, and recently built one of the prettiest roads on the Westside leading to the site of new homes.
The Lind Family
Three generations of Linds, beginning with father Jim, whose name is memorialized on the new Westside Multiplex, have carried out logging activities on the mountainsides that Westsiders can see from almost every angle.
Bruce and Bob Lind have carried on for years the work their father began here, and Bruce recalls the days that Gorman Brothers Lumber, now the Westside’s largest employer, was a small firm. Bob and Bruce Lind were hands-on in the ultimate hot situation when they helped to fight the Okanagan Mountain Park forest fire of 2003. Bob is one of the owners of Shannon Lake Golf Course, and Bruce is planning to do some traveling with wife Donna while he considers “life after logging.”
Sign of the times
With the Lind family’s heavy equipment sold and the industrial yard soon to be cleared, another milestone has been reached on the Westside. The community is changing, and industrial yards are now landscaped. The meadows that until recently swept away from either side of Highway 97 are being cleared for big box retail outlets and a variety of housing.
Less than 20 years ago, Mission Hill Winery was the site of a rundown brewery; now it is a stunning landmark, complete with a bell tower. Less than ten years ago, there was no Gellatly Heritage Park.
Planners are contemplating the rezoning and development of a stunning area known as Goat’s Peak. Crystal Mountain Resort, currently the small ski hill at the end of Glenrosa Road, has an application in to dramatically expand their skiable terrain.
Soon, there will be double the employment opportunities that the Westside has offered in the past. These are interesting times, so we hope you’ll take an interest.
Join your neighbourhood association, attend public open houses, and help Westbank and District to be the best it can be.
More photos from the auction...
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