Kettle Valley Memorial and the Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce are ecstatic to announce that Diana Stirling is now a two-time Top 40 Recipient, this time in the 40 and Over category.
Back in 2014 when Diana was named as a Penticton Top 40 Under 40, she ran LocoLanding Adventure Park employing 30 youth.
But she also had a goal of creating more unique tourism businesses and experiences staffed entirely by teens.
Today, Diana is the co-owner of not only LocoLanding but also Cherry on Top Shake Shop, Lickity Splitz Ice Cream, Cardle & Co., a proud copartner with Penticton Indian Band in Coyote Cruises, and now employs around 150 teenagers.
She has also helped create signature events like the Easter Egg fun day and the Wildstone Colour Run which has resulted in tens of thousands of dollars donated to the OSNS Child and Youth Development Centre and other outstanding organizations.
Diana has also focused on being a steward of the community, opting to use electric go-karts and bumper boats even though they are more expensive, and developed a new tube design that makes linking floaties together much safer when floating down the channel
If you’ve ever seen the gardens at LocoLanding, you’ll see the love that goes into them, as one of Diana’s favourite times is when the gates close after the summer.
With the gardens still in full bloom, the flowers are cut and made into over 150 gorgeous bouquets for the students at Out’ma school, who then get to take them home to their family. The result is hearing the heartfelt stories from elders, aunts, and moms of how special that gift from their child made them feel.
Another wonderful tradition is LocoLanding’s Food for Fun program, where every Grade 3 student in School District 67 gets to come to the park for free in exchange for a food bank donation. Not only does this week-long program see over 3,000 items of food collected each year, but it also ensures that every child, regardless of their financial circumstances, has the opportunity to experience LocoLanding.
But Diana’s most important goal is advocating for youth and the amazing workforce they are. When a guest walks through LocoLanding’s gates, into Lickety Splitz, or floats down the channel, having positive interactions with teenagers, her staff and our future, is the most meaningful mission her businesses can have.