Local Community Advertising
In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition for the people, businesses, and organizations that help make our city great. The team at KelownaNow.com is passionate about this community and the people that make it amazing. We want to show our friends, neighbours, family and colleagues that we notice them and the fabulous things that they do.
What is your name?
Douglas Chan.
Where are you from and how long have you lived in Kelowna?
I’m from Toronto. I moved to Kelowna at the beginning of 2017 to own and operate the Cora Breakfast and Lunch at Orchard Park Mall.
Who is your favourite person to spend time with and why?
I don’t have just one favourite person, I have three. My nieces, Brianna and Cadence, and my nephew, Dante Gabriel. Unfortunately, they live in Hong Kong and I don’t get to see them often. On equal footing, is my mom, whom I most admire, as well as my two brothers, Johnny and Brilly.
If you could go anywhere in the world right at this moment where would you go and why?
I’m still absorbing the sights and sounds of the Okanagan valley, but otherwise, I would love to be in Hong Kong to see my family.
What is your favourite local store in Kelowna and why?
Of course it’s Cora Breakfast and Lunch, where I get to serve the most important meal of the day and work with happy, energetic staff!
What is your favourite activity?
Hands down, basketball. There’s nothing I love more than gearing up and shooting some hoops and getting my competitive game-face on.
If you had to choose: pizza, tacos, or burgers?
Being the foodie that I am, I’d combine them and create a 'tacoburgizza'.
What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?
Back when I was a teenager, I was hiking with a friend and had to relieve myself in the bushes. While emptying my bladder, I noticed a big moose with massive horns just three meters away from me! I immediately ran away and got 10 strides until I was clotheslined by a tree branch. My friend ran over and found me lying on the ground, bleeding from my mouth, with my pants down. Pure humiliation.
What is the most inspiring thing that has happened to you?
Seeing something created out of nothing. A random text from my cousin, Wendy Cheung, prompted me to visit Kelowna for a week back in September of 2016. During that visit, I fell in love with the city and found myself shaking hands to purchase Cora Breakfast and Lunch from the previous owners. After lots of hard work and a cross-country move, I became the official owner and operator of Cora Breakfast and Lunch on March 20, 2017. What a journey.
Tell us your favourite childhood memory.
I was raised by a single mom who had to work long hours to support me and my two brothers. So, my favourite memory is any Christmas when we got to spend quality time together.
Where do you volunteer or give back to in the community?
Through Cora Breakfast and Lunch, I’m looking to support a variety of community family-focused events through sponsorships and gift giveaways.
If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?
I would want to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, especially ‘spring forward’.
What is your favourite activity in Kelowna?
Since I’m surrounded by the best breakfast food in Kelowna, my favourite activity is to try the many wonderful dinner restaurants in town.
Where would you sneak away to in Kelowna to spend some time alone?
The boardwalk at Waterfront Park.
Where would you like to see positive change in Kelowna and why?
Coming from Toronto, where we have affordable and convenient access to public transportation, I would like to see Kelowna adopt the same access to buses, trains and potentially, Uber services.
What do you think makes Kelowna great?
The weather, people and food. When all three are great, how can you not be happy?
What are 3 things on your bucket list?
1) Watch the Raptors in action from court-side
2) Jump out of a plane (with a parachute)
3) Host a massive extended-family reunion
Tell us something that not everyone may know about you.
I’m exactly like Holden Caulfield from 'The Catcher in the Rye' and I have a tiny birth mark on my inner thigh.
How do people connect with you, personally, through social media? (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest)
I’m old-fashioned, connect with me by coming into Cora Breakfast and Lunch at Orchard Park Mall, and look for Douglas. I’ll be happy to meet with you any day. Nothing beats shaking hands and chatting over a cup of coffee, or a fruit cocktail of the day!
What is the name of your business/organization?
Cora Breakfast and Lunch located in Orchard Park Mall.
Why did you get into/start this business?
I’ve been in the food industry for almost 16 years. I started out as a dishwasher and worked my way up as a server, bartender, front of house, back of house, kitchen manager - basically every position you can name. The one thing I’ve never been is an owner, which is exactly why I’ve moved to Kelowna to operate Cora Breakfast and Lunch.
What is the goal of your business?
To provide healthy and wholesome offerings of breakfast and lunch to the beautiful people and families in Kelowna and surrounding areas, as well as the many tourists who come and visit during the spring and summer months. We have a friendly and relaxed environment and our happy and energetic staff are some of the best in town. I want people to come happy and leave even happier. Our hours are Monday to Friday, 6am to 3pm, Saturday, 6am to 4pm and Sunday from 7am to 4pm. We are conveniently located in Orchard Park Mall with ample, free parking.
What has been your biggest struggle either in work or life?
Uprooting my life in Toronto and leaving behind friends and family was scary and exhilarating. I’m out of my comfort zone now and everyday I find something in Kelowna that’s so different from Toronto, like those weird HOV lanes on Harvey.
If you could start all over again would you do things the same or would things be different?
I love my life exactly as it has panned out. I’ve enjoyed pretty much every step of the journey so far, so I really wouldn’t change a thing.
What do you always find yourself saying?
'You can’t make an omelet without cracking a few eggs.'
If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select?
My mom. I don’t get to see her very often, as she lives in California.
Why do you think it is important to shop locally?
Shopping locally helps business owners create services and products uniquely tailored to a community. These local shops and businesses then become the identity and character of a community. They make everyone feel better and more proud of the place where they live.
What has been your proudest accomplishment?
Owning a breakfast restaurant that is loved and supported by the community.
Give someone you think that deserves it a shout out and explain why!
Big props to the awesome team at Cora Breakfast and Lunch, including the managers, Robin and William, kitchen staff, servers and hostesses.
My choice for the KelownaNow In Focus spotlight is:
My business partner, Kenneth Chau, who’s a professor at UBC-Okanagan and a budding tech entrepreneur.
Some general comments I would like to share are:
'A ship is always safe at shore, but that is not what it’s built for.' - Albert Einstein.
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. Thank you, Kelowna.
Local Community Advertising