A colourful hot air balloon's surprise landing in the parking lot of a shopping centre on Kelowna's Harvey Avenue made commuters smile on July 7.
What people did not know is that those on board had an even more magical morning.
"This morning was an engagement," said Joy Klempner, the business manager of Okanagan Ballooning.
It鈥檚 officially hot air balloon surprise landing season. Read kelownacapnews.com for more info on where this balloon has landed over the years 馃巿馃寛
Klempner's husband is the balloon pilot and was the one who flew the happy couple high above Kelowna for the successful engagement.
The proposal had been planned months in advance, but a wildfire that sparked the evening before the balloon ride forced the Kelowna International Airport to close the airspace around the city, and threatened to derail the engagement. The closure of the airspace meant that the flight would be cancelled unless conditions changed.
Thankfully, the BC Wildfire Service, the Kelowna Fire Department and crews from surrounding areas worked the blaze and successfully "held" the fire before nightfall. The airspace was reopened at midnight 鈥� just hours before the balloon ride was scheduled to take off.
"It was a perfect morning," said Klempner. "It's just so peaceful and magical, and she said yes."
The flight set off from Scenic Road Cider, one hour after sunrise. Klempner said the conditions were calm and peaceful, a perfect backdrop for a successful proposal.
"Actually, it was a little too still."
Typically, the balloon lands in the fields along Benvoulin, but the exact landing site depends on wind direction. Since there was hardly a breath of wind, the rainbow balloon 鈥� which does not have a steering wheel 鈥� did not make it that far.
Instead, the three passengers landed safely in an empty grocery store parking lot, located along Harvey Avenue. The happy couple and driver were immediately scooped up by the follow truck and the balloon was packed away.
Over the years, the iconic rainbow balloon has made several surprise but always safe landings around Kelowna, adding whimsy to people's morning commutes.
is the only licensed hot air balloon in the entire province. It is a family-owned and- operated business run by the Klempner family and now their children.
