In Focus | The Grinch

In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition for the people, businesses, and organizations that help make our city great. Our team is passionate about this community and the people that make it amazing. We want to show our friends, neighbours, family and colleagues that we notice them and the fabulous things that they do.

What is your name?
The Grinch.

Where are you from and how long have you lived in Kelowna?
I live just North of Whoville, at the top of Mount Crumpit.

Who is your favourite person to spend time with and why?
My dog Max, he keeps me in line.

If you could go anywhere in the world right at this moment where would you go and why.
A deserted island that nobody in the world knows about so I can finally have some alone time and be far away from the incessant singing of the Whos of Whoville.

What is your favourite local store in Kelowna and why?
I like to go to the post office and assign unsuspecting Whos jury duty, the worst Christmas gift of all.

What is your favourite activity?
I've been known to steal a few Christmases....

If you had to choose: pizza, tacos, or burgers?
Roast Beast Tacos.

What is a hidden gem you enjoy in the Okanagan?
The Glenmore Landfill.

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?
When Mayor Augustus Maywho made fun of my beard in class when I was eight years old. That day, Martha May, my crush, said she loved Christmas so I worked so hard on an angel for her to put on the top of her Christmas tree. I wanted to look extra special, so I shaved my little green face, which resulted in a few nicks and scratches. My only solution was to put a paper bag on my head, you know, so I wouldn’t stand out. When I went to give Martha May her gift, the teacher made me take the bag off my head so everyone saw that I cut myself shaving.

What is the most inspiring thing that has happened to you?
One Christmas Eve, when I was doing my usual business of pretending to be Santa and stealing all of the Christmas gifts of Whoville, Cindy Lou Who caught me. I convinced her I was Santa, but what was inspiring is that, despite my smelly breath, clammy hands and overall hairiness, she wanted Santa to visit me. She even called me sweet. Despite that, I still stole her Christmas, I am the Grinch after all. After that, when I heard the Whos of Whoville singing, I realized that Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Christmas, in fact, means a little bit more.

Tell us your favourite childhood memory.
That time Martha May smiled at me in class.

Where do you volunteer or give back to in the community?
For years, I’ve been taking all of the Christmas gifts that end up in the Whoville dump and make use of them. I think it’s something called recycling?

If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?
Less Christmas cheer and more self-loathing.

What is your favourite activity in Kelowna?
I really enjoy digging through the city dump and finding items for dinner.

Where would you sneak away to in Kelowna to spend some time alone?
I spend all my time alone.

Where would you like to see positive change in Kelowna and why?
Well, after eating a vast amount of pudding, I would like to see some bigger chimneys so that I could break and enter a little easier to steal Christmas.

If you were granted one wish for work or in life, what would it be?
A car so I wouldn’t have to travel home in the stinky garbage shoot.

Tell us something that not everyone may know about you.
I once rode on the Chair of Cheer. I hated it.

What does your business do?
Well, in the beginning, it was focussed on ruining Christmas for all of the unsuspecting Whos of Whovillle.

Why did you get into/start this business?
It all started with my desire to ruin Christmas for the Whos of Whoville.

What is the goal of your business?
Like I said, it started with my desire to ruin Christmas, but ever since my heart grew three sizes bigger, I’ve come to realize the goal of my business is to remind families that togetherness is the best gift you can receive on Christmas.

What has been your biggest struggle either in work or life?
Trying to find time for myself in my busy schedule of self-loathing.

If you could start all over again would you do things the same or would things be different?
I probably could have recovered better from that time that everyone laughed at my hack-job of face shaving when I was eight.

Why do you think it is important to shop local?
Well, since Whoville is located inside of a snowflake, we don’t have many other options. Plus, it’s good to support the local Whos so they can put Roastbeast on the table.

Give someone that you think deserves it a shout out and explain why!
My dog Max. He really came through with pulling that giant sled of goodies up Mount Crumpit.

My nomination for the In Focus spotlight is:
Cindy Lou Who.

Other information you would like to share:
To all the single ladies out there, I've been told that I'm as cuddly as a cactus and as charming as an eel.

We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below and submit your own nomination by clicking HERE. You are also welcome to submit a form of your own by clicking HERE. Thank you, Kelowna.