Meet Matt & Helena! Matt and Helena have been living here in the beautiful Okanagan together for six years. They both enjoy exploring nature, traveling and spending quality time with each other and their son, Ezra.
Where are you from and how long have you lived in Penticton?
Matt is originally from Penticton. Helena is originally from the States, specifically Virginia. We have been living together in Penticton since 2013.
Who is your favourite person to spend time with and why?
Our favorite person to spend time with is one another and our seven-week-old son, Ezra.
What is your favourite local store in Penticton and why?
Petrasek Artisan Bakery is one of our favorite local stores in Penticton. We love food and the baked goods there are out of this world. Plus, they bake homemade challah bread which is an extra bonus for Helena as she is Jewish and it reminds her of home.
Describe yourself in one word.
Joyful.
If you could go anywhere in the world right at this moment where would you go and why?
Israel because we have always wanted to experience the food, history, and cultures in that specific part of the world together.
What is your favourite activity in Penticton?
We absolutely love exploring nature and walking the KVR as a family with our dog Winston.
What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?
One of us has walked around all day with a hole in their pants and did not know it.
What is the most inspiring thing that has happened to you?
This past Fall, we had the opportunity to create a photo shoot that shed awareness on sex trafficking. We partnered up with this amazing wedding dress designer in Texas - Isla Atropa. This particular designer was such an inspiration as she survived sex trafficking herself and to be able to be given the opportunity to give her dress a voice was such an honor.
Tell us your favourite childhood memory.
Matt's favorite childhood memory was attending Okanagan Hockey School during the summers. Helena's favorite childhood memory was being able to go to South Africa with her best friends. She fell in love with the people and the culture there. It was a once in a lifetime experience and she will never forget it.
Where do you volunteer or give back to in the community?
We love Young Life. It is an organization that has volunteers and staff who have been leaving their "adult comfort zone" to meet teens on "their turf". Young Life communities strive to create meaningful, mentoring relationships between leaders and teens to create spaces where teens are listened to, and where questions of life and faith can be discussed.
If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?
Persecution around the globe.
Where would you sneak away to in Penticton to spend some time alone?
The top of Campbell Mountain as it is beautiful and tranquil.
Where would you like to see positive change in Penticton and why?
We would like to see a shift in mental health in Penticton, especially with the younger generation. Over the past several years we've witnessed so many suicides in this community among teens and young adults. It is horrible to see that we are outliving the youth. The younger generation is the future and to see that there is a struggle with worth saddens us deeply. We would love to see a positive change in mentality with the younger generation and see them thrive.
What do you think makes Penticton great?
Penticton's entrepreneurial spirit and creativity.
What are 3 things on your bucket list?
Three things on our bucket list include traveling to Israel, going on a US & Canada cross country road trip eating only at Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives locations, and taking our son to his first NHL hockey game.
Tell us something that not everyone may know about you.
Helena has the strangest fruit and vegetable allergies.
How do people connect with you, personally, through social media? (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.)
Facebook, Instagram
What is the name of your business/organization?
Joyful Bits Wedding Design
Why did you get into/start this business?
This all grew out of planning our own wedding. Helena fell in love with designing and planning and Matt discovered later in life he likes building things with his hands.
What is the goal of your business?
To give clients the wedding they always envisioned, and to help people see the beauty in marriage.
What has been your biggest struggle either at work or in life?
Finding extra hours in the day.
If you could start all over again would you do things the same or would things be different?
We would probably have started it earlier.
What do you always find yourself saying?
Not my circus, not my monkeys.
Tell us your best piece of life advice.
“If there is a will there is a way.”
If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select?
Matt: Thomas Sowell
Helena: Joanna Gaines
Why do you think it is important to shop locally?
Shopping locally helps bring the community together. It helps foster individual creativity and problem-solving.
What has been your proudest accomplishment?
Giving birth to our son this March.
Give someone you think that deserves it a shout out and explain why!
Kristina at Minim Designs who is a local florist for putting together amazing bouquets for Mother's Day!
My choice for the PentictonNow In Focus spotlight is:
Whimsy & Wry
Some general comments I would like to share are:
Design & Styling - Joyful Bits Wedding Design
Photography - Melissa Hartmann Photography
Name Tags - Art By Andrea Leisegang
Makeup - Top Notch Makeup
Hair - Hair By Ashley
Models - Tig (Tyler) and Tylar Kirkland
Venue - Sanctuary Gardens
Florals - Ariela Nugteren
Stationery - To Have & To Hold Design
Cake - White Apron Custom Cakes
We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below and submit your own nomination by emailing [email protected]. You are also welcome to submit a form of your own by clicking HERE.
In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition of the people, businesses, and organizations that help make our city great. Thank you, Penticton!
