Entrepreneur and fruit grower David Machial has built a reputation for producing some of the Okanagan’s finest fruit.
Photo by Lyonel Doherty
For 21 years the SOSS Enrichment Fund Society has awarded scholarships to SOSS graduating students to pursue post-secondary education. This year we are highlighting four of our recipients that have returned to live and work in Oliver. You will see them quite active in our community.
Our 21st annual SOSS Enrichment Fund Society golf tournament will be held at Fairview Mountain golf course on April 9 and 10.
This year the society has committed a total of $17,000 to be awarded to 20 deserving students. In the past approximately 400 students have received financial assistance.
If you would like to know more about the SOSS Enrichment Fund Society or information on how to make a contribution to this worthwhile cause, contact Southern Okanagan Secondary School Enrichment Fund Society, Box 1445, Oliver, VOH 1T0 or Greg Casorso, office phone 250-498-4977.
Below are profiles of former graduates David Machial and Benita Baerg.
Name: David Machial
Parents: Joe and Anna Machial
Awards: Charlotte Campbell Memorial Bursary – $1,600.
Okanagan University College Tuition Scholarship.
Rudi Guidi Memorial Bursary – $400.
The Rudi Guidi Memorial Bursary is presented by the SOSS Enrichment Fund Society. Rudi was an all-star basketball player in the Okanagan Valley for many years. He was the principal of Oliver Elementary School from 1935 to 1973 where he ran sports programs and organized a large number of musical pageants for students. He also led the Christ the King music program for many years. Rudi was an active member of the Rotary Club of Oliver. He died in 1994.
David’s story:
I graduated from SOSS in 2001. The following fall I attended Okanagan University College in Kelowna for one year, where I took my prerequisites for a Bachelor of Commerce. In 2002, I was accepted into the Sauder School of Business’ commerce program at UBC Vancouver. I completed my B.Com degree in 2005, graduating with honours. My major is in marketing.
Work Experience:
In the summer of 2004 I was the research coordinator for the Oliver and District C Economic Development Society where I worked on the development of an Agricultural Area Plan for rural Oliver.
Upon completing my B.Com in 2005 I had two choices, move to Toronto and pursue a career in market research, or return to Oliver and operate the family orchard. I loved the Okanagan, liked the idea of having my own business, and since my parents were considering selling the family orchard, I chose to come home. I have nine acres of apples, 1.5 acres of cherries, and 0.5 acres of apricots/nectarines that I have been farming ever since.
In addition to operating the orchard, I also help my dad and uncle (Rick Machial) at their fruit packinghouse – Fairview Orchards.
I am currently the BC Fruit Growers’ Association’s southern regional chair, and sit on the board of directors of Summerland Varieties Corp. Summerland Varieties Corp is responsible for managing and commercializing new apple, cherry, and berry varieties.
Travel:
I have travelled to both Cuba and St. Vincent and the Grenadines with friends from UBC. My favourite travel experience was backpacking through Nicaragua and Costa Rica with my sister Laura in 2008.
Looking forward to in 2016:
Nothing specifically other than spending time with friends/family and hopefully having a successful, storm-free, fruit season.
Other interests:
I play indoor and outdoor soccer for team Oliver in the Penticton City Soccer League. I also curl for team Edward Jones in the Oliver Corporate Curling League (it is a lot of fun). I really enjoy hiking and love exploring the South Okanagan mountains.
Name: Benita Baerg
Parents: Gordon and Catherine Hahn
Spouse: Graeme Baerg
Children: Maya (8) and Gavin (5)
Graduated from SOSS: 1997
Awards: Oliver Soroptimist Youth Citizenship Award $500.
Robert McDowell Scholarship $1,500 – The SOSS Enrichment Fund presents this award in memory of Robert McDowell who had a career with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and served in the North West Territories (1928-1933).
McDowell assisted another officer who was shot in the chest during the arrest of the notorious “Mad Trapper” of Rat River. He moved to Oliver in 1955 and operated an orchard for 41 years.
Benita’s story
Life turns out in funny ways. When I left small town Oliver for university and the big city lights of Victoria 18 years ago, I would have laughed out loud if anyone had suggested Oliver would be a big part of my future. Now, I’m sitting at my office desk (aka: our kitchen table), a couple of “wingnut” five year olds chasing each other with Nerf guns in the background and our springer spaniel watching me with “please take me swimming in Tucelnuit” eyes . . . and I’m comfortably, happily, never-moving-anywhere-else home barely a kilometre as the crow flies from the house I grew up in.
Some things don’t change as much as we might think. I’m still the animal-loving kid with mucky boots (if you’ve gone canoeing along Tucel-nuit and been surprised to find a llama nibbling willows on the shore, that’s our graceful Juno guarding her flock of sheep and mini goats).
My job isn’t that far off the journalist job I described in a “When I Grow Up” essay for Miss Laver’s Grade 8 English class. I freelance for half a dozen magazines and contract write/communications and consult for a wide variety of businesses, from grocery chains to wineries to tech start-ups. The flexibility, independence and variety are phenomenal, but my favourite part of this career is that I get to jump right into the heart of each business I work with, ask the nosiest of questions, and get an incredibly intense look into what makes that business tick. Every day I talk to people who love what they do, which makes my job easy: I just translate that passion and excitement into readable form.
To all the soon-to-be grads trying to figure out which degree program to pursue, yup, with a little creativity, you too can turn an arts degree into an excellent career.
I wish I could say I came back to Oliver because the weather is the best in Canada (it is), the people are incredible (they are), and the opportunities and lifestyle are ideal for raising kids (absolutely true).
We actually jumped on the first ferry off Vancouver Island at the start of summer four years ago because my mum faced a health crisis. As the next school year started two months later, my husband was offered a job at SOSS. Our discussion about whether or not we should officially move here went something like this:
Him: “They offered me the job.”
Me: “So I guess we’re staying.”
Him: “Yup.”
It was meant to be.
I’m looking over the heads of my still-Nerf-shooting five year old and his equally gun-obsessed little friend (I’ve managed to convince them to start shooting water bottle targets instead of each other), down over the white backs of my very pregnant sheep, to the lakeshore below. What am I looking forward to? More of this: watching my kids (two-legged and four-legged) grow, building my communications business and our farm, being an involved part of making this community the very best it can be.
Thank you to the SOSS Enrichment Fund for being an important part of helping me leave Oliver for post-secondary studies . . . and for helping me want to return again years later.
A big part of my desire to raise our children in Oliver is based on the incredible support our community offers its young people, as exemplified by the SOSS Enrichment Fund’s phenomenal monetary support of our town’s high school grads.
Former SOSS graduate Benita Baerg is shown here with her family, husband Graeme and children Maya and Gavin. She currently operates her own business, Baerg Communications.
Photo by Shari Saysomsack
