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Evolving With Our Craft

For every evolving brand, there comes a moment to pause, reflect, and consider the path ahead. Does it align with who the brand is today — or is it still shaped by where it began? Exceptional brands use this moment to take purposeful action, breathing new life into their essence while remaining rooted in what makes them remarkable.

Last year, as we celebrated a twenty-year milestone of designing and building communities whilst shaping Kelowna’s skyline, we found ourselves at a crossroads: it had become clear that the identity that carried us this far no longer reflected our full scope and story.

This realization coincided with two key changes taking place for us. First, in pursuit of a legacy that surpasses its founding vision, we appointed a new President and CFO to stand alongside our CEO and Founder. This leadership change ushers in a refined chapter of thoughtful growth, bold innovation, and enduring prosperity. Second, we were also in the process of relocating into our new headquarters at The Block, downtown Kelowna’s first commercial office tower — a space proudly designed and built by our very own. As we looked to the path ahead, we found ourselves having to rethink it all.

While things may change, what matters will endure.

These organizational changes had been made with the future in mind. Like any growth-minded person with an aspirational vision, we soon found ourselves stepping into surroundings that reflected a new standard — more generous in space, more poetic in form, and more attuned to the rhythm of the future. As we navigated these tides of change, we saw an opportunity to reflect and ask ourselves deep and thought-provoking questions that would lead us to realign who we’d become to who we were becoming.

This process resulted in us establishing a growth path for new dreams, wants, and needs for the betterment of our organization. During this reflection, two critical components remained the same: our values and our purpose. We continue to wake up each day with an enduring passion to design communities that seamlessly lead to human connection, within the walls of our buildings and the spaces in between.

As our brand evolution began to take shape, we knew certain updates were right when they felt authentic to our core belief system, allowing us to step more fully into who we’ve always been — this wasn’t about changing course. It was a renaissance.

Perhaps most notably, the refresh resulted in the discovery of a longstanding pattern in our operations. Again and again, we saw how our passion for craftsmanship has always been reflected in our work — it lives throughout the journey of creating, from the conception of an idea through its construction, shaped by the hearts, hands, and minds of those who brought it to life. From our very beginning, Mission Group’s resident artisans — our development and construction teams — have spent countless hours researching. They’ve poured over historical references found in the form of local historians and delved into the archives of the Okanagan Heritage Museum, finding the inspiration that sparked the masterpieces you see today; our gifts to the city we call home.

From the red brick woven into our Central Green and Urbana developments that pays homage to the historic Central School, to the building exteriors at Aqua Waterfront Village that intentionally reflect the patterns of waves seen in the breathtaking lake it overlooks. So many examples come to mind where the Mission Group artisans of past and present have crafted works of art that will long be admired by residents, locals, and visitors alike.

Architecture as artisanship, for the love of our craft.

Artisan. While this one simple word can be used in different contexts, through this evolution of our brand, it has come to carry a deep and specific meaning, referring to the meticulous passion with which we approach our craft. The Mission Group artisan — the thoughtful trailblazer — lives for the process, the details, and every nuance in between that is eventually used to create the end result: art.

There is a natural connection — architecture has long since been an artistic expression; visit Europe and you’ll see centuries-old architecture still revered in cities where millions of people flock to be inspired and awestruck. Recently our executive team took a trip to the UAE, and most notably Dubai — a city that began its modern development about 60 years ago and was very clearly painted by the brush of world-renowned artisans.

Those who crafted this city considered not only the design and form of Dubai’s structures but also the more practical elements such as supporting infrastructure. The foundation, materials, scale, structural systems, electrical outputs, laneways, programming, and beyond flow so easily, singing like an effervescent song composed to make one’s jaw drop, even as your head is bent all the way back to take in the record-breaking heights of buildings like the Burj Khalifa. This magic was all woven from the hearts, minds, and hands of human artisans.

As developers who identify as thoughtful trailblazers, we are deeply entrenched within a community of passionate individuals who challenge the status quo: visionary architects, dedicated local historians, talented designers, and artists.

These individuals cherish their relationship with their craft and with each other, creating time-honoured tools and techniques that pay homage to and celebrate the essence of their surroundings. They embrace the artistry, the craft, and the joy of getting their hands dirty, thinking beyond checklists and profits.

We celebrate this spirit of artisanship, and we are proud to dedicate a space and place for this longstanding ethos within the Mission Group brand as we tell their stories through our new Artisan Series.

Discover our Artisan Series, and answer the call for artists.

Artisan. The person who feels deeply and communicates through their heart, mind, and hands — we see you, we are you, and whatever modality of art you practice, we are calling on you.

As we enter our second year of hosting the Visiting Artist Showcase at The Block, applications open today as we search for our next featured artist. View the program details, and apply today.

Discover Mission Group’s Artisan Series and learn more about Mission Group’s Visiting Artist Showcase.