Story and photography by Lia Crowe
Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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Officially, Camille is the Director of Entrepreneurship for the University of British Columbia, Okanagan and sits on the board of Opera 琉璃神社, while David has his hands in many pies 鈥� he鈥檚 on the Building Expansion Committee for the 琉璃神社 Art Gallery, he鈥檚 a mentor for the entrepreneurship program at UBC鈥檚 Okanagan campus, an advocate of clean-tech innovation and a pioneer in sustainable business development. Unofficially, they are retired.
鈥淏ut we really suck at retirement,鈥� David jokes when I meet them at their stunning Art Deco home in 琉璃神社.
Part of the early wave of 鈥淭rump Refugees,鈥� Camille and David moved to 琉璃神社 from San Diego, California with a desire to have better access to nature and a community where they could continue their work in innovation, community building and sustainable business.
鈥淚鈥檓 the total beneficiary of southern California,鈥� David explains. 鈥淚 grew up surfing from the age of four. We had a rich experience in southern California, but moving into the last third of our lives we thought a lot about eventually retiring somewhere in the Pacific North West.鈥�
He adds, 鈥淥ne of the attractions we had to the Okanagan Valley is that it鈥檚 quite unique as an ecosystem. Not only the watershed and the lake 鈥� water, food, ample power 鈥� but also as a young and growing community based on innovation. Also, it鈥檚 what we think of as a dynamic, high-IQ and high-human resource community that right now needs to decide what it wants to be when it grows up.鈥�
Originally from Canada, Camille met David while founding a trade organization to stimulate green tech in San Diego. They worked together for a year before becoming romantically involved. Now having just celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary, Camille laughed, saying, 鈥淲e were the last people in San Diego to know that we would end up together.鈥�
Asked what innate quality has contributed most to her success, Camille says, 鈥淚 bring people together who can add value for each other. I have an ability to see connections and put people together who then create deals and initiatives, or build community.鈥� Camille calls it 鈥樷�渇riend-raising.鈥�
鈥淲hen we looked at where we would want to live in Canada, I saw a lot of ingredients that would allow me to continue to do [my work] here. The university has all the pieces, all the firepower and it touches everyone. I鈥檓 working with the researchers, students and graduates to help them commercialize their innovations and discoveries.鈥�
David pipes up to say, 鈥淚 would add she鈥檚 also the most disciplined worker I鈥檝e ever seen, so it鈥檚 not a laissez faire position. Camille鈥檚 half time is better than most people鈥檚 full time.鈥�
Looking around their beautifully decorated and art-filled home, which is alive with two energetic Weimaraner rescue dogs, it is clear that there is a shared love of a mid-century modern aesthetic.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a very southern California aesthetic,鈥� David says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an open, more relaxed style which suits the Okanagan Valley perfectly.鈥�
Asked what good style means to her, Camille answers, 鈥淔or me style is design, and I love modern design 鈥� products, architecture, interiors, fashion, graphics, industrial, artistic expression. [I like] looking at the world in new ways; provoking thought and merging art and greater functionality.鈥�
With his many accomplishments, does David have a career highlight?
鈥淭he most fun I ever had was heading up a non-profit called Surfrider Foundation. A number of years ago we won the largest clean water act lawsuit in American history. It was a $100 million judgment against two pulp mills in California. We were a rag-tag group of surfers who took on the largest law firms and wound up winning. Surf Rider is still up and running with chapters all over the world 鈥� that is so fulfilling.鈥�
Asked where their passions lie outside of work, David answers, 鈥淪kiing, surfing. We love the north shore of Kauai with its world-class surfing. That kind of experience is really why we moved. San Diego is at the stage now where if you wanted that experience you have to travel. Where we are now, we have nature minutes away. What BC needs to do right now is preserve the last of its old-growth forests. If I had a church, it would be the big trees.鈥�
Camille:
Style Inspiration
Style Icon: 鈥淥ur daughter , who is countering violent extremism through innovation. She鈥檚 an ex-runway fashion model and global stylista.鈥�
Favourite Artist: Jean Dubuffet and Wassily Kandinsky.
Piece of art: Peggy Guggenheim鈥檚 Silver Bed Head by Alexander Calder in The Peggy Guggenheim Collection on the Grand Canal in Venice.
Favourite Fashion Designer: .
Favourite Musician: David Bowie.
Era of Time that inspires your style: Mid-century modern.
Film or Movie that inspired your style: All the original James Bond films.
Fashion & Beauty
Uniform: Wax Coated Skinny Jeans by .
All-time favourite piece: Hand-painted, hand-moulded dress by .
Favourite pair of shoes: Short boots by Christian Dior.
Favourite Daybag: Dinky with Tea Rose die-cut hand-painted blooms decorated with rivets by Coach.
Favourite jewellery piece or designer: 鈥檚 Jaipur collection.
Fashion Obsession: Rose gold aviator sunglasses by .
Accessory you spend the most money on: Necklaces by contemporary artist .
Necessary indulgence: Anything from in 琉璃神社.
Moisturizer: Shiseido Benefiance.
Scent: .
Must-have hair product: .
Beauty secret: Colin David Ford at in 琉璃神社.
Life
What do you read Online for style: WWD and Vogue.com
Fave Print magazine: Wallpaper Magazine.
Fave style Blog: 鈥淚 follow favourite boutique buyers on Instagram like in La Jolla and LBV Lifestyle on Pandosy in 琉璃神社.鈥�
Coffee table Book: Keith Haring.
Last great read: All the Light I Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.
Book currently reading: The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro.
Favourite book of all time: The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami.
Favourite local restaurant: and .
Favourite Cocktail/Wine: BRBN Aphrodisiac at .
Album on current rotation: Alice Merton, No Roots.
Favourite Flower: Camellia.
Favourite city to visit: London.
Favourite Hotel: .
Favourite App: 鈥淏itmoji 鈥� it鈥檚 the real me.鈥�
Favourite place in the whole world: North Shore Kauai.
David:
Clothes/Grooming
Favourite Denim, brand and cut: 鈥淚 still love my Levi鈥檚 made-to-measure; they fit me like a glove.鈥�
Current go-to clothing Item: In winter, Helly Hanson long underwear. In summer, flips and shorts.
Best new purchase: 鈥淚 scored a coat at London Fashion Week.鈥�
Currently Coveting: 鈥�. They get me in and out of trouble in the trees.鈥�
Daybag: : 鈥淭hey last forever.鈥�
Accessory you spend the most money on: 鈥淎 beautiful watch or two.鈥�
Favourite work tool: Troy-Bilt snow blower from .鈥淓volve or die.鈥�
Sunglasses: .
Scent: .
Necessary indulgence: Surf safaris and cat skiing adventures.
Who cuts your hair?: Colin David Ford at in 琉璃神社.
Favourite skincare products: .
Style Inspiration
Iconic Celebrity: 鈥淗ands down John Travolta in Pulp Fiction.鈥�
Favourite artist: 鈥淭here are so many. Mostly mid-century modern, starting with Calder鈥檚 mobiles to Rothko鈥檚 iconic canvases, up through Murakami, Banksy and Basquiat, with a basket of superheroes in between. Here in BC, , and have become friends and I have tremendous respect for their work.鈥�
Favourite Film you love for its style: 鈥淚 studied film at UCLA so it is next to impossible to choose just one, but if my life depended on it, I would have to go with the original Blade Runner and Seven Samurai by Kurosawa, which was made the year I was born but remains unrivaled.鈥�
Life
Book currently reading: Barkskins by Annie Proulx 鈥� 鈥淎 beautifully constructed historical fiction of early Canada.鈥�
Favourite book of all time: 鈥淚t is tough to beat Ulysses by James Joyce. A modern-day equivalent for me would be Gravity鈥檚 Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon.
Favourite Coffee Table Book: Murakami. 鈥淚f you ever have a chance to see his full size pieces, do not miss the opportunity.鈥�
Favourite Local Restaurant: 鈥� , with a close second. Breakfast at is right there in the mix.鈥�
Favourite Cocktail/Wine: 鈥淎re you kidding? A proper margarita for this kid, but wines from , and are in our cellar.鈥�
Album on current rotation: I鈥檝e been reliving the greats of jazz fusion, particularly Return to Forever by Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Al Di Meola and John McLaughlin. Insane!鈥�
Favourite Musician: 鈥淚mpossible question, but we do have to honour Tom Petty. He was my hero.鈥�
Favourite City to Visit: London.
Favourite App: 鈥淪eriously, Map Quest. I鈥檇 be lost without it.鈥�
Hotel: 鈥� 鈥淎mazing who you meet at that bar.鈥�
Favourite place in the whole world: 鈥淚鈥檓 not willing to reveal that secret other than this 鈥� it鈥檚 a small island off the tip of East Timor with the most perfect left point in the world.鈥�
