The sale of wineries at steep discounts, the return of Olympians and the opening of a burger stand at the stadium — the top stories from British Columbia.
B.C. wineries selling at huge discounts after foreclosure
Three wineries have appeared on British Columbia’s real estate market for sale by court order after being seized from a Vancouver development company. The original asking prices for two of them were cut by millions of dollars, reflecting the sector’s difficulties and the developer’s financial troubles.
According to a piece from Vancouver Is Awesome, all three properties, owned by Minglian Holdings, are to be sold soon, with buyer offers due by Wednesday, Feb. 25, and a final sale subject to court approval. The most dramatic price drop is for the Terralux Estate Winery project in West Kelowna. This unfinished development, envisioned as a luxury complex with a restaurant, lounge, retail space and production facilities, was listed earlier this year for CAD 8.56 million. But just a month later, in a court-ordered sale, its price was cut nearly in half — to CAD 4.5 million. The site already has 8.8 acres of planted Chardonnay vines, but the main building is only a partially completed concrete shell with foundations, an elevator shaft and walls, giving the new owner considerable freedom to implement their own vision.
The second property, the 30-acre Chapman Vineyard near Okanagan Falls, was also heavily discounted. It was listed in October 2024 for CAD 5.99 million, but after several reductions and its move to a foreclosure sale, the price settled at CAD 3.5 million. The 26.5-acre vineyard grows Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, and there is a five-bedroom house on the property. The listing highlights that the scale of the plantings offers significant production potential that could support an existing winery or form the basis for a new brand focused on estate-grown wines.
Unlike the first two, the third and largest property, S'milka Vista in the Similkameen Valley, retained its listed value. This 86-acre estate, with 40 acres under various grape varieties, was listed in October 2025 for CAD 5.5 million and is being sold by the court at that price. The property is fully equipped for independent winery operations: it includes a production building, a wine shop and a workshop, as well as a residence. However, it’s important to note that the sale is for the real estate and facilities, not an operating business. The listing points to potential for a new or expanding enterprise in a region known for quality grapes and growing agrotourism.
These sales clearly illustrate the fallout from development failures, especially for capital-intensive, long-term projects like building a winery. The steep discount on the unfinished Terralux project reflects the risks and extra costs a buyer inherits, while the steadier valuation of the turnkey S'milka Vista complex underscores the value of established infrastructure. The situation may also signal pressure on vineyard land prices or a recalibration of expectations after a period of active investment. For potential investors, this is an opportunity to enter the sector at a significant discount, but it also requires additional capital and effort, particularly for unfinished projects. The outcome of these sales could set a new price benchmark for similar assets in the province’s wine regions.
Homecoming of heroes: British Columbia athletes return from the Olympics
Olympic fever has subsided, but emotions still ran high at Vancouver International Airport. After the conclusion of the major sporting celebration in Italy, Canada’s Olympians began coming home. CTV News reporters met the first group of athletes representing British Columbia at the Games at Vancouver’s YVR to hear their first impressions on returning.
As reported by CTV News Vancouver, despite fatigue from the long flight, the athletes’ faces showed mixed emotions: joy at being back on home soil, a touch of nostalgia for the concluded Olympic adventure and, of course, pride at having had the honor to represent their country on the world’s premier sporting stage. For many of these athletes, the Olympics are the culmination of years — sometimes a lifetime — of effort, countless hours of grueling training and tough selections. Coming home is the moment when the adrenaline of competition gives way to reflection on what they experienced and reunion with family, friends and fans who supported them from afar. Although the brief report does not name individuals or sports, the athletes’ presence at the airport served as a symbolic closing of the Olympic chapter for the province. The event marks a shift from global competition to local recognition, where personal stories of triumph, perseverance and sometimes disappointment become public. The athletes’ return is only the beginning of a new chapter in which their Olympic experience will inspire the next generation in British Columbia, and they themselves will analyze their performances, plan ahead and, very likely, enjoy some well-earned rest in the familiar surroundings of Canada’s West.
Triple O’s comes home: Legendary burger brand opens a kiosk at Nat Bailey Stadium
Sometimes sports and fast food make a perfect pairing that feels almost destined by history. That’s what Vancouver can expect this spring: the famed Triple O’s restaurant chain, known for its juicy burgers and legendary sauce, will open a kiosk at Nat Bailey Stadium. This is more than a new place to grab a bite during a baseball game — it’s a symbolic return to the roots, since the stadium is named for Nathaniel “Nat” Bailey, the founder of both the parent company White Spot and the Triple O’s brand.
The Triple O’s kiosk on the stadium’s main concourse, home to the Vancouver Canadians, coincides with the facility’s 75th anniversary. The stadium first opened in 1951 and was named for Nat Bailey, who not only founded one of British Columbia’s oldest and most beloved restaurant chains but was also inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. In that way, the circle is complete: a brand that grew from a classic restaurant returns to a venue bearing its founder’s name. As noted in a Daily Hive Vancouver article, the kiosk’s menu will include all the signature items that made Triple O’s iconic: burgers with the famed Triple “O” sauce, Dippin’ Chicken strips, Kennebec fries sourced locally, and handcrafted milkshakes.
For those unfamiliar, White Spot is the foundation from which Triple O’s grew. The first White Spot restaurant was opened by Nat Bailey in 1928 and became a local institution. In 1997 the company launched the Triple O’s format as a quicker, more accessible option aimed at customers on the go. The Triple “O” sauce, whose exact recipe is a closely guarded secret, is the brand’s hallmark and the key know-how fans have tried to recreate at home for decades. The stadium opening is not just a business move but a tribute to that legacy. “Baseball and burgers are just meant for each other,” said Trent Carroll, president of White Spot Hospitality. He emphasized that for generations the name Nat Bailey has been synonymous with great baseball and great burgers, and said the company is honored to deepen its partnership with the Vancouver Canadians.
Fan experience is expected to reach a new level. Walter Kosman, vice-president of sales and marketing for the Vancouver Canadians, expressed confidence that watching baseball at “The Nat” paired with Triple O’s comfort food will be a natural and tasty combination. Fans will get their first taste at the open game on April 7, when the Canadians host the Eugene Emeralds. The move fits the brand’s broader expansion strategy: in recent years Triple O’s returned to the Simon Fraser University campus in Burnaby and opened a new outlet at Vancouver International Airport (YVR), where the flagship White Spot restaurant has also returned. The Nat Bailey stadium opening is another step in strengthening presence at key locations for residents and visitors, turning a beloved flavor into an integral part of everyday life and special moments like a baseball night at the iconic stadium. It’s a story of a local business honoring its history while creating new traditions for future generations of fans who will associate the taste of a juicy burger with the crack of a bat and the atmosphere of a summer evening at the legendary ballpark.
