The John Thomson Report

Willow Inn And Westcorp

I first started to write about this property about two years ago. Realtor Larry Chalmers was talking a deal on the property owned by the Willow Inn on Queensway. No one was saying how big a deal this really was, but you just knew this was a big one. The first company from Calgary that tried to complete an offer was turned down. The owner wasn’t exactly enamored with their approach and presentation. Larry introduced an Edmonton developer for the property, Phil Milroy, the president of Westcorp Inc. in Edmonton. He liked the proposition the city was proposing for redevelopment of the area. This time the owner of the Willow Inn, Ken Noble, liked what he heard and probably more than anything it was time to take an opportunity to make a change. We are very fortunate that a man with such integrity and know how was the owner of that waterfront hotel all these years. It was a business and it was operated like one. He was always in control.

I believe that all that is left to do between the buyers and Nobel is to give him a time frame as to when they will move in to start the preliminary work. In other words if they want to begin this fall, then they are going to have to give Nobel the proper notice so he can deal with his longtime and very loyal staff.

The Westcorp group last year presented about three ideas to city planners I’m told, and they liked all of them. They were impressed with the Edmonton developer's vision for the property. In the meantime Westcorp Inc. purchased the property to the east of the hotel for more space for the proposed hotel, restaurants, condo’s and retail space.

A couple of weeks ago Mayor Walter Gray and five members of his council were in Edmonton for meetings and had the opportunity to be taken on a tour of the Westcorp properties in the city.

The company owns three boutique hotels: the Bonnyville Neighborhood Inn the Varscona our daughter Dianne managed that hotel at one time and their newest property just opened The Met an upscale boutique hotel located in the heart of the funky Old Strathcona area on Whyte avenue. It was recently voted one of the top ten coolest neighborhoods in Canada. The mayor and councilors were overwhelmed by the detail and quality of the work in these properties. The developer also has eleven residential neighborhoods, two major office complexes, and six retail locations. One of their office complexes for professionals, The College Plaza, is by the University of Alberta.

Westcorp have built a very strong reputation for the quality of work they require in anything they do.

This project is probably a five year build out so far the proposal is for four buildings and a tower, underground parking, the hotel to be as large as 200 rooms in a boutique style. This will be a people place and it is the best opportunity that has been presented to revitalize downtown Kelowna. It’s powerful.

What impressed me most about Phil Milroy, his staff and their organization, was their extreme vision for the future.

This is such good stuff!

I have received a note that someone has been selling the private information of the home owners that were burnt out in last year’s devastating fire. Like their unlisted phone numbers for instance. Surely that can’t be true? Does this mean someone of trust, a volunteer, or a member of city staff has done such a thing. I can’t believe for a moment these people would do that. These are proud people, who did a super job during our time of crisis with the highest of integrity. Then who is this person or persons?

And what kind of company would offer to buy such information knowing it was pilfered? I’d like to know the name of those companies as well.