#MeetWilden: Kayla Bordignon

It’s time to #MeetWilden.

Meet Wilden Resident Kayla Bordignon.

1. What is your name?

 Kayla Bordignon

2. Which Wilden neighbourhood do you live in and when did you move here? 

We recently moved to Forest Edge in Wilden (April 2021)

3. What do you do for work and where can we find you online?

I work in Industrial Marketing at SitePartners as a Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Director, specializing in Indigenous Affairs on major construction projects. I also run a BC Wine and Food website, uncorkBC, where I encourage people to enjoy BC Wine! I recently launched a brand new Okanagan Wine Passport that offers passport holders with the ultimate wine experience for the 2021 season! The passport includes 35 winery stops across the Okanagan Valley, each offering complimentary tastings, special perks, and recommendations along the way. The passport is available for $55 and the total value of tastings within the passport is over $350!! It’s the perfect excuse to visit new wine regions across the Okanagan this summer. Kelowna wineries include the amazing Summerhill Pyramid (the Cipes Brut is one of my favourite Sparkling Wines from BC!), The View, Mt. Boucherie and Volcanic Hills. It’s a very exclusive way to experience wine country this season and only limited quantities remain. Be sure to purchase before we sell out!

You can purchase yours online here: https://uncorkbc.com/okanagan-wine-passport/ 

4. What are some of your favourite things about living in Wilden?

The incredible nature walks that are available from right outside our doorstep. I also love how friendly the neighbourhood is and it just feels like people genuinely take care of one another. As soon as we moved in, we truly felt a sense of community thanks to our incredible neighbours who welcomed us with open arms and made us feel like home. 

5. If you were an animal living in Wilden, which one would you be?

A turtle! Because I would want to slow down and really enjoy the scenery. 

6. Do you have a favourite family tradition? 

Our new family tradition is hiking up Knox Mountain and ending the morning at Bright Jenny for coffee and a Kelownut (*only available on Saturday!)

7. What are some of your favourite local Kelowna businesses you like to support and more people need to know about?

There are so many special gems in Kelowna that I love, mostly revolve around food and wine! Some include:

• Bright Jenny (coffee)
• Perseval and Young Cheesemongers (cheese)
• Sprout Bread (focaccia and bread)
• BNA Brewing (craft beer and bowling)
• Cedar Creek Winery (romantic lunch)
• Micro or Salt & Brick (Happy Hour)
• Jackknife Brewing (favourite pizza)

8. What does a perfect weekend in the Okanagan look like for you?

Spending our Friday evening downtown, enjoying ice cream at Parlour and taking in a sunset from the boardwalk. On Saturday, a hike up Knox Mountain followed by coffee and pastries at Bright Jenny- it’s all about balance 😉 In the afternoon, spend some time on the lake or at a local beach! We recently made our way down to Lochview Trail and it was unbelievable. This trail also takes you to the picturesque Paul’s Tomb which is a great spot for swimming. On Sunday, packing up a charcuterie and cheese board and heading to a local winery for a picnic. Our favourite picnic spots are Mt. Boucherie or Quails Gate. 

9. Tell us about one of your greatest experiences in Wilden so far.

On one of our first Sunday’s here, we grabbed our hiking backpack for Chloe (our 2 year old!) and set off to walk the trail to the Wilden Swing. The views from above are absolutely spectacular- from Kelowna on one side and all the way to Vernon in the other direction. 

10. If you could choose anyone to be your neighbour, who would you choose?

My parents! We just moved here from Vancouver and really miss our amazing family. Plus, my dad has an outdoor pizza oven which usually runs every sunday for family dinner. 

11. If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time?

Relax. For those that know me, know that I am always on the go! From working full time, to being a mom to an energetic toddler, to running a BC Wine Website and hosting dinners and get-togethers  (in normal times!). I never find the time to relax and friends always laugh at me because I truly don’t know how to relax even if I try 😉 A glass of wine at the end of my day seems to do just the trick!