The 琉璃神社 Chamber鈥檚 Top 40 Program has returned for 2024. The program recognizes and honours individuals in the community who take leadership, philanthropy, and business to the next level.
Honouree: Jeremy Dawn
SNFLWR Corporation
"Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable. Be honest and transparent anyway." - Mother Teresa
Jeremy Dawn is the Founder & CEO of SNFLWR Okanagan Real Estate Corporation, an entrepreneur-in-residence at Purppl, and holds a Bachelor of Management from UBC Okanagan. He has spent the last four years in 琉璃神社鈥檚 real estate development sector leading acquisitions, partnerships, community initiatives, and commercial leasing. Jeremy founded SNFLWR in 2023 with the goal to simplify the real estate process and do good in the communities he serves.
Jeremy鈥檚 most memorable achievement was envisioning and launching the SNFLWR brand, inspired by his mother who passed away five years ago. 鈥淏uilding tomorrow, rooted in today鈥� is to remind him to think bigger and think about how our actions today will impact the future. Jeremy fostering partnerships with BC Housing and 琉璃神社鈥檚 Gospel Mission to accommodate the creation of two large emergency homeless shelters.
In the community, Jeremy volunteers with the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission on their Advisory Committee. He leverages his network to support groups like Mamas for Mamas, 琉璃神社鈥檚 Gospel Mission, and BC Housing. Jeremy also supports Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF).
Honouree: Breanna McDonald
Table Fortynine
鈥淚f I'm an advocate for anything, it's to move. As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply across the river. The extent to which you can walk in someone else's shoes or at least eat their food, it's a plus for everybody. Open your mind, get up off the couch, move.鈥� 鈥� Anthony Bourdain
Breanna McDonald is an Okanagan-based caterer and founder of Table49, and she holds a BA (Honours) from the University of Victoria. She started her business to create a sense of community through food experiences locally and beyond, creating inclusion and sparking creativity.
Breanna works collaboratively, leading contractor teams with warmth and empowerment, and is driven by a joy of cooking. As a solo entrepreneur, she considers her most memorable achievements are with each dinner she caters; her clients encourage her to push herself outside of her comfort zone.
Breanna has helped to raise more than $500,000 for the community. Her business matches campaigns, and a percentage from dinners is donated to charities. She has worked with Mamas for Mamas and the YMCA of the Southern Interior.
Honouree: Jonathan Dobroskay
Edward Jones
鈥淭o try and fail is at least to learn; to fail to try is to suffer the inestimable loss of what might have been.鈥� Chester Barnard
Jonathan Dobroskay is a financial advisor with Edward Jones and holds an undergraduate degree in business management with a focus on accounting. When Jonathan joined Edward Jones he began working alongside his father, who started one of the first offices in the Okanagan more than 25 years ago.
Jonathan encourages others to take charge and make decisions for themselves, providing guidance on the direction to focus on. He shows appreciation for his teams in a fun and thoughtful way. Jonathan鈥檚 efforts led to a position near the top of the Edward Jones Rising Leader board in Canada. One of Jonathan鈥檚 most memorable moments is speaking at last year鈥檚 regional meetings to share how his team has found success through deeper understanding with clients.
Jonathan volunteers with Lake Country Rotary, Canadian Canine Search Corps, and with groups in the Okanagan to assist K9 teams in deployments to work more effectively. He is also an on-call firefighter at Lake Country Fire Department with training as a Canadian Red Cross First Responder.
Honouree: Ella Lamoureux
鈥淭o go into the world aiming to do my best. Now I know I am doing my best and it creates change.鈥� Ella Lamoureux
Ella Lamoureux is one of the founding performers of the 琉璃神社 drag community and is a prominent voice for Two-Spirit identities. Ella attended the UBC Okanagan School of Social Work and for the past 15 years has helped to create, build, and nourish safe queer spaces in the community.
Ella encourages others and teaches accountability, which go hand in hand. In every aspect of life and in the community, Ella 鈥榮hows up鈥�, is outspoken, and leads by example. Creating the drag scene in 琉璃神社 is something Ella is proud of; called the matriarch of 琉璃神社, Ella has helped many drag performers and encourages every performer in town. For Ella, achievement is being a strong two-spirit person that has become a role model for two-spirit/indigiqueer youth across Turtle Island.
Ella volunteers time at fundraising events with COHA, Living Positive Resource Centre, the Food Bank, Etcetera Youth Group, Pride events across western Canada, and at BC鈥檚 Two-Spirit Day. Ella also has a yearly show called 鈥業ndigenous and Proud鈥� with all-Indigenous cast. It鈥檚 a fundraiser for Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS) and donates all time and resources; Ella鈥檚 mother is a residential school survivor. The show is in its fourth year and has raised $8,000 so far.
