Castanet Editorial - click here
In every community, there are moments that remind us what truly matters. Moments when generosity meets creativity, when business leaders step beyond the expected, and when a simple idea lights up an entire city.
Kelowna is experiencing one of those moments now.
What began as a modest plan by Hymers Private Wealth of RBC Dominion Securities—led by Senior Portfolio Manager Rhonda Hymers—has evolved into a new holiday tradition for downtown Kelowna. And it all started with a float.
The spark of an idea
Earlier this year, Rhonda and her team committed to supporting the 6th Annual Parade With a Purpose, a grassroots event celebrated for bringing joy, philanthropy, and holiday spirit to thousands of local families. Their goal was to create a float that would capture the wonder and nostalgia of The Polar Express—a magical train overflowing with whimsy, lights, and childlike awe.
The float was intended as a one-day expression of holiday spirit and community generosity, giving children and grandchildren of clients a chance to ride through the parade in festive pajamas, waving to cheering crowds along downtown Kelowna’s streets.
But even at this early stage, one thing was clear: this wasn’t simply a float project—it was a passion project. The Hymers Private Wealth team has long championed initiatives that support youth, empower women entrepreneurs, and strengthen community connection. A Polar Express float felt like the perfect embodiment of those values.
Then something unexpected happened.
A bigger dream takes shape
When the team partnered with Purple Rhino Events to bring their float concept to life, founders Maegan Young and her creative counterpart at Jupiter Tree Learning, Dr. Andrea Strang, presented a bold new possibility.
What if the team didn’t just build a float? What if they helped bring a real, trackless, electric train experience to the community? Something magical that would last not only for parade day, but for seasons and years to come?
This idea was the seed that would become The Dreamer Express. A 40-passenger train that will carry families on a glowing 35-minute holiday journey along Kelowna’s waterfront, The Dreamer Express is B.C.’s first fully electric, zero-emission outdoor passenger train experience.
The moment the proposal was shared, Rhonda saw its potential. Not just as a creative initiative, but as an opportunity to invest in something that aligned perfectly with her team’s deepest values: community engagement, women-led entrepreneurship, and experiences that uplift children and families.
Supporting Maegan and Andrea—two talented, visionary local entrepreneurs—was a natural fit. Contributing to a magical seasonal attraction that would bring joy to thousands felt even more meaningful.
This was no longer simply a float—it was a legacy.
An investment in community
The decision to bring The Dreamer Express to life was immediate and wholehearted. Hymers Private Wealth made an investment not for financial return, but for people, for memories, and for the magic that happens when communities come together.
Their support helped transform the concept into reality. Today, The Dreamer Express departs from “Delta Grand Central Station” at the Delta Hotels Grand Okanagan Resort, where a conductor greets guests before they embark on a whimsical waterfront ride filled with lights, music, and wonder.
What was once a parade idea has become one of Kelowna’s most enchanting holiday experiences, inspiring excitement, connection, and local pride.
A final thought
Kelowna’s new holiday train is more than an attraction—it is a reminder that giving back can be transformative. Hymers Private Wealth, under the leadership of Rhonda Hymers, embraced a chance to create something lasting and imaginative that brings people together.
Because sometimes the most meaningful investments are made not in markets, but in moments.
Not in profit, but in people.
Not in portfolios, but in joy, connection, and community magic.
And for Kelowna, that magic now has a name: The Dreamer Express.
To book your ride on The Dreamer Express, visit www.thedreamerexpress.com.
Visit the KGH website to learn more about the Parade with a Purpose,