Welcome to The Kelowna Real estate Podcast. With your hosts, award-winning Realtor Matt Glen, & top-producing Mortgage Broker Taylor Atkinson.
Professionals in the industry, enthusiastic entrepreneurs, & successful investors, we’re transparent in our own real estate journey to help you be successful while bringing on guests who shape the city.
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Données mises à jour le 10/10/2026
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Episode 131: Matt and Taylor are re-joined by the incoming Mayor of West Kelowna Stephen Johnston.
Stephen is from West Kelowna, BC, and will be sworn in as it's Mayor this fall after running unopposed in the upcoming municipal election. Over the past 8 years, Stephen has served as both a two-term West Kelowna City Councillor and a Director with the RDCO, where he topped the polls in the last two elections while working full-time in construction.
Stephen's political history includes providing governance leadership and strategic oversight across key areas including infrastructure, housing, emergency services, and regional planning. He's helped guide multi-jurisdictional policies and budgets exceeding $150 million, while advancing community-driven decisions that support sustainable growth and long-term livability in the Central Okanagan.
In the private sector, Stephen serves as Director of Sales & Business Development at Kelowna Ready Mix, where he leads strategic growth initiatives, manages key partnerships, and drives operational excellence across sales, pricing, and customer service. Combining practical construction experience with a strong record of building trusted relationships — from corporate clients to constituents — to deliver results that matter.
Stephen is here to discuss:
→ His journey to becoming the Mayor of West Kelowna and his plans for the city in his first 4-year term.
→ What he's looking to accomplish in his first term including increasing efficiency at the government level for builders and partnering with the Westbank First Nation on a rec centre.
→ The provincial overreach of BC's bill 44 on municipal housing, the changes he would like to see to the bill, and his plan to bring back town halls.
→ The opportunities in West Kelowna with continued infrastructure and community projects including the electricity and the power substation, bridges, and a medical centre.
→ The specific areas he is looking to advocate for including the transportation corridor and dangerous intersections, water usage, and fire prevention.
→ HIs insights on the upcoming BC provincial election.
Episode 130: Matt and Taylor are joined by Deven Pakish.
Deven is the Founder and Owner of multiple local companies, including Everclear Pools & Spas, Old Fashioned Excavating, and Castle Retaining Walls, becoming a pillar of the Kelowna construction community over the past 20 years.
Having a larger group of specialized companies working together under one roof creates a unique integrated approach, allowing Deven and his team to control quality, timelines, and outcomes in a way other companies can't. At the end of day, the focus of all of Deven's companies is people: their clients, their crews, and the community they build in.
Deven is here to discuss:
→ The background in founding his companies and how they work both together and as separate entities, how he is integrating AI, and his where he sees them going in the future.
→ How hiring a business coach has changed his approach and why he wishes he would've done it sooner, his top 10 business books, and his 25-year goal.
→ The business fundamentals that have driven his success: customer service and client education, transparency, and integrity to always make things right.
→ The current cost to build a pool and the overall Okanagan pool market.
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129: Destination Unknown: The Ongoing Uncertainty of Interest Rates, Inflation, & Tariffs with RMG Mortgages' Bruno Valko
Episode 129: Matt and Taylor are joined by Bruno Valko.
Bruno is a Vice-President of National Sales at RMG Mortgages from Kitchener, ON, who has been in the mortgage industry since 1990, and held this position for the last 16 years.
RMG Mortgages is a Canadian mortgage lender who specializes in the residential mortgage space. An expert in providing smart mortgage solutions to homebuyers, they offer a wide range of products and programs delivered through independent mortgage brokers who work closely with prospective homebuyers and homeowners, negotiating on their behalf to get the best rates, terms, and solutions best suited to their unique needs.
Bruno is here to discuss:
→ The Bank of Canada's September 3rd rate hold and what it means for inflation and the bond markets moving forward.
→ The 3 measures of inflation, how they are calculated, and what they mean, with Canada's current headline at ~3% and core at ~2%.
→ The Canadian government's debt, which is currently at $1.3T+ (the U.S. is at $40T+), if we could ever lower our debt, and how the debt is driving inflation.
→ The Canadian economy - The attempt to diversify our trade partners, the importance of manufacturing, and the impact of immigrants by doing the jobs that no one else wants to.
128: Optimizing Profitability of Short-Term Rentals with Samson Waters' Derrick Sabourin
Episode 128: Matt and Taylor are joined by Derrick Sabourin.
Derrick is a Managing Partner of Samson Waters Vacation Rentals from Vernon, BC, a property management and optimization service for short-term rentals across Mexico and the Okanagan.
A former high school teacher of English and Spanish, Derrick realized he wasn't as fulfilled in that career path as he wanted to be. After a talk with his cousins, who founded Samson Waters, he moved to Mexico from Manitoba, thus starting his real estate journey. After a year, he decided to follow them to the Okanagan, and has been steadily growing their short-term rentals portfolio ever since.
Derrick is here to discuss:
→ His journey into short-term rentals, the benefits of working with him, and his future plans.
→ The pitfalls of self-managing rentals, what makes Samson Waters different from other property management companies, and the 2 tiers of their "hands off" approach.
→ The ultimate goal of STR and how to optimize pricing, the biggest revenue drivers, and the importance of amenities is profitability.
→ The current state of the short-term rental (STR) market and policies in the Okanagan and what makes a place like SilverStar different.
***
127: Commercial Real Estate Insurance for Dummies with Summit Insurance's Josh Pillsbury & Roche Gom
Episode 127: Matt and Taylor are joined by Josh Pillsbury & Roche Gom of Summit Commercial Solutions Inc.
Josh is the Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Summit Commercial Solutions Inc. from Kelowna, BC, with experience in both the Canadian and US markets, having launched insurance programs for some of North America's largest companies.
Roche is a Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker (CAIB) and a Commercial Insurance Broker at Summit Commercial Solutions Inc.
Summit Commercial Solutions Inc. is a national insurance brokerage and risk management firm headquartered in Kelowna, British Columbia, a cutting-edge venture-backed boutique commercial insurance firm serving clients across Canada. Their proprietary platform uses agentic AI workflows to run technical risk assessments, shop multiple carriers simultaneously, and build tailored coverage strategies.
Josh & Roche are here to discuss:
→ Their journey's in the industry, the founding of Summit, and the types of clients that they work with.
→ The most common mistake people make when getting insurance, ways to help lower your insurance cost, and when the best time is to renew in the Okanagan.
→ The value of an insurance broker, the importance of advising what's right for each individual client, and why you should always reach out to them in a real estate transaction.
126: How Credit Unions Are Reshaping Real Estate & Benefitting Our Communities with Valley First's Simon Mills
Episode 126: Matt and Taylor are joined by Simon Mills.
Simon is the President of Valley First, a division of Tru Cooperative Bank, from Kelowna, BC, who joined Valley First in 2019 as the Director of Commercial Banking before becoming President in 2023.
With over 16 years of experience in banking, Simon moved to Vancouver from the UK in 2014 while working for HSBC. When that job ended, he didn't want to leave, so he joined Valley First and made his home in the Okanagan.
Simon is a solution-focused leader and is passionate about building member relationships and driving member loyalty, drawing on his breadth of experiences in portfolio & risk management to make a difference in the community where he serves and lives. Simon is also active in Valley First’s signature cause, Feed the Valley, and is dedicated to strengthening the credit union movement across Canada.
With approximately $20 billion in total assets and assets under administration, and more than 291,000 members, Tru Cooperative Bank, formerly First West Credit Union, is one of Canada’s largest credit unions. Through four locally known brands that include Valley First, Envision Financial, Enderby & District Financial, and Island Savings, they provide service and advice that reflects local economies and meets the needs of those who live, work, and play in our communities.
Simon is here to discuss:
→ His journey through banking, how he ended up in Kelowna and became President of Valley First, and the changes he has seen to the city since arriving in 2019.
125: Building Generational Wealth: The Financial Lifecycle Every Canadian Needs to Know with Noble Pannu Wealth Management's Stefano Pannu
Episode 125: Matt and Taylor are joined by Stefano Pannu, B.A., CFP®, CLU®, CIM®, FCSI®.
Stefano is a Partner & Principal Financial Advisor at Noble Pannu Wealth Management Ltd from Kelowna, BC, who has been supporting high net worth clients since his Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation in 2016.
Stefano quickly developed a passion for holistic financial planning in helping clients reach their ultimate financial goals, carrying expertise across all six areas of financial planning: investment planning, retirement planning, tax planning, estate planning, cash management and risk management. With each client’s unique big picture in mind, Stefano creates detailed financial plans that give clients clarity and confidence.
Stefano and his wife Danielle moved to Kelowna in 2019 to be closer to family for their children. They love their little corner of Glenmore, and all the family time near the lakes and trails of the Okanagan. Stefano, a former midfielder on the Simon Fraser University varsity soccer team, holds Kelowna Rockets seasons tickets, and he’s a pretty big fan of just about every other sport, including the English Premier League and NFL. Every August, he participates in the 200-kilometre Ride to Conquer Cancer, cycling all the way from Vancouver to Hope in support of the BC Cancer Foundation.
Stefano is here to discuss:
→ What financial planning actually is - advice, guidance, concept, review, and monitoring - across six disciplines - investments, insurance, cashflow management, and estate, retirement, and tax planning.
124: Turning Diamond in the Rough Structures Into Iconic Kelowna Properties with Worman Commercial's Shane Worman
Episode 124: Matt and Taylor are joined by Shane Worman.
Shane is the Founder of Worman Commercial/Worman Homes from Kelowna, BC, who has been shaping the city for over 33 years with major residential and commercial projects. He is also a passionate community builder, with involvement in initiatives like Journey Home, the Downtown Kelowna Association, and the BC Cancer Foundation.
Shane is here to discuss:
→ His journey in real estate and what led him to Kelowna & Worman Commercial.
→ Why HGTV is the worst thing to happen to home builders, the impossibly high bar of consumer expectations, and who is really to blame for unaffordable housing expectations.
→ Shane's philosophy when it comes to commercial builds, why more builders don't take the same approach, and clashing with the city over what is best for their builds.
→ How he is able to find diamond in the rough properties, how he brainstorms designs for each project, and always looking for ways to bring out each buildings uniqueness.
→ The market in the next 5 years, the difference between investing & speculating, and why projects still can't pencil and investments are so hard to find today.
Worman Commercial/Worman Homes Website:
123: 2026 Interest Rate Predictions & the "Vibe" Economy with BCREA Chief Economist Brendon Ogmundson
Episode 123: Matt and Taylor are joined by Brendon Ogmundson.
Brendon is the Chief Economist at BCREA (BC Real Estate Association) from Vancouver, BC, who's specializes in housing market analysis and macroeconomic forecasting, and is a member of the BC Ministry of Finance’s Economic Forecast Council. Brendon was also recently named one of the most influential economists in BC by Business in Vancouver.
Brendon is here to discuss:
→ How his predictions held up from his last appearance a year ago.
→ Where variable & fixed interest rates are heading in the next 6 to 12 months, the factors that are contributing to them, and why inflation will always overrule GDP.
→ The a slow housing start to 2026, where we are at currently with housing supply and inventory, demand, and overall affordability, and the overall uncertainty of the market.
→ The impact of BC losing 60,000 private sector jobs so far in 2026, and how he created a "vibes index" to quantify how consumer sentiment is driving economic behaviour.
→ Kelowna's unique population demographic combination of the young Gen Z & Millennials with aging Boomers, and the impact the missing middle of housing has on them.
→ Which generation actually had it the worst when it comes to housing, the economy, and affordability - Boomers, Gen X, Millenials, or Gen Z.
122: A Crisis of Confidence: Restoring Faith in Kelowna's Economy, Tourism, & Small Businesses with Kelowna-Mission MLA Gavin Dew
Episode 122: Matt and Taylor are joined by Gavin Dew. Gavin is the MLA for Kelowna-Mission from Kelowna, BC, who was elected in October of 2024, and is also the Conservative Critic for Jobs, Economic Development, and Innovation (JEDI) & AI.
Born and raised in British Columbia, he is driven by a passion to renew and rebuild BC’s economic potential. Gavin’s career spans two decades at the intersection of business, public policy, and technology. He has played a key role in building public understanding and support for complex policies and projects across Canada, including affordable housing, energy infrastructure, and tech clusters. Most recently, Gavin served as Chief Strategy Officer for a $5 billion agricultural innovation and food security project in BC. He also has a strong academic background, with a BA from UBC and an MBA from the University of Oxford, where he focused on corporate social responsibility.
Prior to being elected, Gavin served on the boards of the Business Council of British Columbia and Resource Works. He has also served in governance roles with organizations like UBC, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, and Community Futures. Gavin continues to volunteer as chair of the Veterans Transition Network, a national mental health charity that played a crucial role in evacuating Afghan interpreters at risk from the Taliban. His community efforts have earned him recognition, including being named a “Forty Under 40” by Business in Vancouver for his leadership.
Gavin and his wife, Erin, recently launched Play Area, Kelowna’s newest indoor playground, to serve the growing number of young families in the Okanagan.
Gavin is here to discuss:
→ What his role is in the government as the Conservative Critic for Jobs, Economic Development, and Innovation (JEDI) & AI and holding the NDP accountable, and who he thinks will be the next leader of the BC Conservative Party.
Matt & Taylor discuss:
→ Moderating the upcoming UDI event on October 8th, the upcoming elections, and the addition of 2 sponsors to the show: ARG Contracting & Venture Realty Corp.
→ What a credit union is, the similarities and differences they have with the big banks, and how they are beneficial to the communities they serve.
→ Valley First's origins and recent rebrand, the benefits of merging under Tru Cooperative Bank, and what they are looking to invest in moving forward.
→ If Kelowna is moving in the right economic direction, what sectors are currently over or under performing, and the status of both it's residential and commercial markets.
→ The factors impacting affordability including which areas have room to give like land cost and taxes and if consumers expectations are too high.
→ How constant government intervention is destabilizing Canadian housing, citing the proposed $1.4B bailout of Vancouver condos, and harming long-term market health.
→ How to understand deductions and taxation as a salaried (T4) employee, and the difference between gross vs net income.
→ The truth about Canada's Pension Plan (CPP) - is it really going to collapse or is it all just panic?
→ The 2 ways to build wealth tax free, owning a primary residence or a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA), how they are tax-free, and the factors to consider when investing with your TFSA.
→ How RRSPs work as a deferring tax tool, and various situations where they could be utilized before retirement.
→ One of the best kept secrets in Canada, the First Home Savings Account (FHSA), and why everyone who has never been a home owner should register one today.
→ Wealth builders for your kids including how RESPs work, informal vs formal trusts, and why more parents are opting for whole life insurance as a generational wealth builder.
→ How non-registered accounts work and Canadian income tax is filed.
→ How the federal immigration policy has chased away the demand for rentals with the exodus of 80,000 non-permanent residents in BC 2025, while at the same time pushing to complete the most purpose-built rentals we have in decades, and the disparity in the supply of rental vs owner units.
→ If investors should be buying all these newly completed condos in Kelowna, and what markets he would look at today if he were investing in real estate.
→ If the Cowichan ruling has actually impacted BC from a data standpoint, or if it is currently more word-of-mouth and adding to overall uncertainty.
→ How closing the Strait of Hormuz is affecting Canada and the oil industry - why this is a "profit windfall" and not demand driven, meaning it won't lead to more production, how American companies own most of Canadian oil companies anyways so it won't benefit us, and why gas prices swing so much day to day.
→ If AI will help Canada's productivity crisis, the difference between digital immigrants & digital natives, and the considerations needed from government as it widens the wealth gap.
→ The integral role small businesses play in the community, and why we need to combat youth unemployment and hopelessness among gen Z to provide them a better future.
→ What would help Kelowna's economy, the importance of tourism to our ecosystem, and how getting the short-term rental (STR) exemption on June 1st is progress, albeit too little, too late for summer 2026.
→ Why "capitalism is a coward", how the lack of consumer confidence in the BC government is killing Kelowna, and if the damage can be reversed or if it's already been done.
→ Why every MLA should be made to learn economics, how governments create their own problems that they then have to fix, and the big issue of new public sector jobs outpacing new private sector jobs for years.
→ BC's provincial budget and their proposed cuts to health care, how hospitals around the province are in crisis due to terrible systems and mismanagement, and advocating for new leadership in interior health.
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