In Focus | Christine Boisseau

Meet Christine. Christine has lived in Kelowna for six years. She works with Kelowna Homes and is passionate about working with people and helping them find a place to call their forever home. She is also quite passionate about giving back to her community; Christine is involved in MotionBall, the Okanagan Mission Rotary Group, sponsors families for Christmas and volunteers on Christmas eve every year giving out goody bags to the homeless.

Where are you from and how long have you lived in Kelowna?
I am from Quebec City and have been in Kelowna since 2012, so six years. Time flies when you're having fun!

Who is your favourite person to spend time with and why?
I have more than one person I like to spend time with but if I have to choose, I would say my sister Sonia. She is just an incredible person and has a soothing presence. She's my person.

What is your favourite local store in Kelowna and why?
I love Sunshine Market in the Upper Mission. The people are amazing and the food is great!

Describe yourself in one word.
Driven.

If you could go anywhere in the world right at this moment where would you go and why?
Iceland. I was there in 2014 and nature is just so powerful there. It makes you connect with nature in such an amazing way and I think we all need to go back to the basics once in a while.

What is your favourite activity in Kelowna?
I love the hiking here. There are so many different trails to enjoy. I also went on my first real wine tour this year and that was an amazing Experience. Kelowna has so much to offer and I've been a bad tourist in my own city and I want to change that.

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?
Oh...there's a lot of situations that come to mind. I am not a stranger to making a fool of myself. Ask me in private.

What is the most inspiring thing that has happened to you?
I get inspired daily by the people I meet. Everyone has a story to tell and I am lucky that in my line of work I get to connect with so many different people from different walks of life and learn from them. It's the small things that inspire me the most and fuel me to be better.

Tell us your favourite childhood memory.
I am so blessed to have had a great childhood. I have 2 sisters and 2 half sisters and amazing parents. My parents taught us to be inclusive and to help those in need from a young age and I am so grateful for that. I can't really pin point one memory, but we had 5 cats and 2 dogs and a squirrel at one point and I remember playing with them and my sisters and that makes me happy.

Where do you volunteer or give back to in the community?
Kelowna is an amazing community and people are so open to getting involved and giving back and the opportunities are endless. I have been involved in MotionBall Marathon Of Sports for the past four years and as a captain for the past two. I also am part of the Okanagan Mission Rotary group and get involved in community projects with them. I like to give back when I can, may it be buying a meal for a homeless person, sponsoring families for Christmas, or giving out goody bags to the homeless on Christmas eve. I don't really keep track though, I just do what I can when I can.

If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?
I would eliminate hate.

Where would you sneak away to in Kelowna to spend some time alone?
The top of Knox Mountain.

Where would you like to see positive change in Kelowna and why?
I think Kelowna has come a long way since I have moved here, and I think we are going in the right direction. Being an inclusive community where everyone gets treated with fairness and love would be the ideal for me, but I understand that that is a world wide challenge and our city is taking steps towards making that a reality here.

What do you think makes Kelowna great?
The people are always what make or break it.

What are 3 things on your bucket list?
1) African Safari, always wanted to do that!!
2) I'd love to take a road trip one day and go through every state in the US and learn from all the different cultures and people I meet along the way.
3)If the timing works out, I'd like to adopt a child one day

Tell us something that not everyone may know about you.
I feel like I am an open book. All you have to do is ask. But since you asked, when I was growing up I wanted to be a coroner for a while. Don't ask me why though.

How do people connect with you, personally, through social media?
Visit my Facebook page or @boiss83 on social media, or always through our business pages KelownaHomes Team. We are pretty easy to find.

What is the name of your business/organization?
KelownaHomes.ca Team with Royal LePage Kelowna.

Why did you get into/start this business?
Real Estate always attracted me. My dad was in the real estate business and I guess I just followed in his footsteps in some respect. My education background is in management and therefore growing a team of real estate professionals just came naturally.

What is the goal of your business?
To help as many people as we can reach their dreams of home ownership in a way that is fun and centred on the client experience.

What has been your biggest struggle either at work or in life?
This year has been extremely challenging for me on a personal level. I think the biggest challenge is to come back and learn from the difficult times.

If you could start all over again would you do things the same or would things be different?
There are some things I wish I could change, but if changing those would mean I am not who I am today, then I wouldn't change a thing.

What do you always find yourself saying?
WOW!!

Tell us your best piece of life advice.
One minute at a time.

If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select?
Probably an old monk somewhere lost in the mountains to learn more about self awareness and the pursuit of happiness. Or Oprah.

Why do you think it is important to shop locally?
It's important to shop locally so our community can thrive. We all depend on each other and need to help each other out.

What has been your proudest accomplishment?
In business, I recently passed my broker's licence with 97% and that felt really great! However, on a personal level, I have been able to push through a very difficult time and continue to grow every day..And I finally house broke my dog after 1 year! lol

Give someone you think that deserves it a shout out and explain why!
Sara Lussier, for being the most patient and understanding friend. Love you!!

My choice for the KelownaNow In Focus spotlight is:
Roz Huber, she's the best personal trainer by far!!

Some general comments I would like to share are:
Being from Quebec and moving to Kelowna by myself was a big decision but one that I don't regret for a second. This city has been so good to me and I have met some of the best people/friends here. Thank You Kelowna!

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.

In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition of the people, businesses, and organizations that help make our city great. Thank you, Kelowna!