Meet Angela! She's originally from Scotland but came to Kelowna in 1997, and is now a private jeweller.
Who is your favourite person to spend time with and why?
My husband Mark, he’s insightful, always thinking, full of ideas and generously gives his time to everyone, and he’s a great cook.
What is your favourite local store in Kelowna and why?
I love Mosaic Books, I enjoy browsing there and never leave empty-handed.
Describe yourself in one word.
Different
If you could go anywhere in the world right at this moment where would you go and why?
I’d be off to Maui in a shot, I love the light and warmth, the people, the food and the beautiful scented air. Happy hour at Fleetwood’s in Lahaina is one of my favourite things.
What is your favourite activity in Kelowna?
Hiking up Knox Mountain with my girlfriends as soon as the weather allows, followed by brunch at one of downtown Kelowna’s great patios.
What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?
Letting the cat out of the bag about a surprise 40th birthday party to the person who was being surprised. I had no idea the party was a secret as I’d heard it from a friend who forgot to pass on the key piece of information. I bumped into the birthday guy the week of the party and I said “See you on Saturday”, he looked confused. His wife was not very pleased but we had wine and cake and got over it and laugh about it now.
What is the most inspiring thing that has happened to you?
I used to travel extensively for work and that included business breakfasts, lunches, dinners and social events. My fitness trainer encouraged me to start running, I barely made it through the first minute, but after much training and also becoming a lifetime member of Weight Watchers I participated in both the Vancouver and San Francisco marathons in the same year. Losing weight and getting fit is an amazing feeling but watching people in wheelchairs blow by me on the marathon course was the most inspirational thing of all.
Tell us your favourite childhood memory.
Holidays with my parents and grandparents on the northern white sandy beaches in Scotland, eating rainbow trout and salmon that I’d caught with my dad and staying up late as it was still light at 11:00 pm.
Where do you volunteer or give back to in the community?
I donate to local charities and want to get involved in mentoring again. I am a Director of the Board of the Canadian Jewellers Association.
If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?
Have a world without pollutants and plastics in our oceans and waterways, we’ve got to look after our precious planet and stop filling our landfill with plastics and single-use water bottles.
Where would you sneak away to in Kelowna to spend some time alone?
On the trails around Knox Mountain near Paul’s Tomb, particularly in the spring when all of the lilacs are in bloom, the colours and the scents are incredible.
Where would you like to see positive change in Kelowna and why?
I’d like to see affordable housing and more rental properties for people trying to get their foot on the property ladder. My dad encouraged me to start buying property as soon as possible and I bought my first flat (apartment) in Scotland when I was 21 when mortgages were around 15%. I have renovated my way through several properties, always making improvements and inching my way up the property ladder. I think it’s very hard, if not impossible for younger people today and I would like them to have a better chance to get started.
What do you think makes Kelowna great?
The sunshine and wineries of course and the locals, it’s a vibrant community where the majority of people are friendly and down to earth.
What are 3 things on your bucket list?
1. Learning to fly
2. A wine touring vacation in Italy
3. Living to be 100 (at least) my grandmother got to 99 years and 7 months so I want to get to 100 in her honour.
Tell us something that not everyone may know about you.
My last home in Scotland was on a farm that bred Clydesdale horses, the gentle giants you see in the Budweiser commercials.
How do people connect with you, personally, through social media? (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.)
Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter and my own website, I’m about to get started on Instagram too.
What is the name of your business/organization?
Angela Betteridge Jewellery
Why did you get into/start this business?
After I finished working for the Ekati diamond mine, people would ask me if I could still get them a diamond and I would send them to other people I trusted in the business. I was being asked so often I decided I should do be doing this myself. I’ve always been an artist and it felt like the right time to set up my own “by appointment studio” and be my own boss designing beautiful engagement and statement rings featuring Canadian diamonds.
What is the goal of your business?
To design and create custom jewellery for private clients who value quality, uniqueness, luxury, personal attention and connection over mass-produced generic brands. I love being a trusted local jeweller weaving tangible stories of diamonds, dreams and where people meet into jewellery pieces that will be cherished and become heirlooms, passed on through generations.
What has been your biggest struggle either at work or in life?
My biggest struggle is that I am never satisfied and I’m always striving for more, I wish I could be more content.
If you could start all over again would you do things the same or would things be different?
Life is a journey with many paths to take, I’m delighted to have met so many wonderful people and to have lived in great places along the way, however, I would have drank more water and learned to meditate sooner!
What do you always find yourself saying?
“It’s five o’clock somewhere” and “See, you can teach an old dog new tricks.”
Tell us your best piece of life advice.
Take time to relax, stop and smell the flowers and be present in the moment.
If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select?
I’d enjoy meeting Sir Richard Branson, he’s been extremely creative and such a risk taker in life. I think he’s an amazing business person and so driven, he was a guest speaker at a lunch I attended in Vancouver and I could have listened to him for hours
Why do you think it is important to shop locally?
Local merchants are the backbone of towns like Kelowna. In my business, seeing is believing and people still rely on my expertise and knowledge before making a purchase. Despite the recent rise in online shopping, people who talk to a jeweller during the research process are also more likely to buy from a local store rather than online, my clients increasingly prioritize their in-store shopping experience. I studied at the Gemological Institute of America and have worked in the industry for years, you can’t learn all of that by clicking on a keyboard and getting a quick and dirty education through the University of Google. One of the best ways to support your community is to “Shop Local.”
What has been your proudest accomplishment?
I recently passed my exams and became a Graduate Gemologist. It’s a rigorous 6-hour exam with a pass rate of 100% or nothing. Refer to the question about things I’m always saying…
Give someone you think that deserves a shout out and explain why!
I really like the people at the Wood Fire Bakery, they create good honest food and they are always consistent. They are constantly busy and I like the feeling every time I go there that it’s always exactly what I expect and I’m never disappointed. I don’t eat there very often or I’d be the size of a house but it’s a great comfort food treat every once in a while.
My choice for the KelownaNow In Focus spotlight is:
I would recommend James (Jim) Mutter of Whiteboard Law, he runs a boutique law firm in town and is connected to many aspects of our community. He’s honest and a really good person. Not what you always expect to hear about a lawyer…
Some general comments I would like to share are:
Kelowna is a fantastic small city that’s starting to feel a lot more sophisticated than when I arrived here 21 years ago. I wish there was a way to improve the not so pretty drive from the airport along Highway 97, I’m always apologizing to visitors about that. However, the minute we sip wine on a patio or have a picnic at a beach park it makes me remember everything I love about Kelowna and why I was delighted to have the chance to move back.
We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below and submit your own nomination by clicking HERE. 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, Kelowna!
