Good Talks

Penticton Mayor and rancher Julius Bloomfield grew up in British psychiatric hospital bedlam and now drives economic growth in the city cuddled between two lakes by turning an Okanagan playground into the ultimate home for the digital commuter

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Episode notes

#39: Hear the life journey of Penticton's Mayor, Julius Bloomfield. From his unconventional upbringing amidst the chaos of a British psychiatric hospital to his transformative role in shaping the future of a city nestled between two lakes, Julius's story is nothing short of extraordinary. From his roots in England, his journey to Canada, and his rise from running British pubs to becoming a prominent figure in Penticton's real estate and political scene. Through insightful conversations, we delve into Julius's unique perspectives on social issues, economic development, and his passion for sustainability, all while gaining a deeper understanding of his vision for Penticton's future.

• 00:00:13 Start

• 00:02:27 Okanagan wine! Two different wines to recognize the two different personalities/demographics in the biz

• 00:07:10 Hard year for the Okanagan wine industry

• 00:08:00 August rock slide

• 00:08:35 Julius from England

• 00:08:51 Moving around Britain from a young age

• 00:09:07 Growing up with parents in the mental health industry

• 00:10:05 1988, exploring Canada

• 00:11:34 Julius’s protective babysitter

• 00:12:44 Living with bohemian/gypsy-style parents

• 00:14:11 32 Running British pubs

• 00:14:41 Cams Adopting Journey

• 00:16:01 Cam’s people are from the Isle of Muck

• 00:17:28 Julius’s family tree

• 00:18:47 Why Canada

• 00:19:12 Starting with nothing to something by 19

• 00:19:52 British Society standards• 00:21:02 Choosing Canada

• 00:22:41 “The Okanagan is the place to go!”

• 00:24:16 Buying the Naramata Pub

• 00:27:26 Introducing the log cabin

• 00:28:51 Selling the pub and getting into Real Estate

• 00:29:02 Why Real Estate

• 00:29:50 Working in a job that pays for results and not for time

• 00:30:34 The difference between his son, the Serif vs. RCMP vs. City Police

• 00:31:39 Junior partner second, mayor first!

• 00:32:25 Needing purpose in your life

• 00:32:43 Getting into politics

• 00:32:54 Running for the Green Party

• 00:33:55 Social issues taking a toll on his mayorship

• 00:35:02 The level of drugs in different city centers

• 00:35:27 Recovery models, the four-pillar approach

• 00:37:19 Safe Places bylaw in Penticton

• 00:37:37 The argument of the people for change vs. the people who favour sameness

• 00:38:48 Fuzzy lines between productive services

• 00:39:34 2023 crime rates in Penticton, the traction is in the numbers

• 00:42:19 Car 40

• 00:44:06 The demand for housing in city centres

• 00:45:30 Social housing needs within Penticton and major city centres

• 00:45:56 Penticton bike path

• 00:49:51 Economic development

• 00:51:27 Pentictions natural amenities

• 00:51:50 Electric Mobility / EV Revolution

• 00:52:35 Rivian’s

• 00:54:46 Julius’s Solar Panel Ranch

• 01:00:42 Becoming a Horse Enthusiast

• 01:01:29 Endurance horse racing

• 01:04:34 The Iron Man Horse Race

• 01:06:03 Vision for Penticton

• 01:08:09 Critical on new development companies entering Penticton’s Real Estate scene

• 01:10:26 Lifestyle, lifestyle, lifestyle

• 01:12:28 Feeling failure

• 01:13:00 Being in service to the city you love

• 01:13:22 End