- Story by Toby Tannas Photography by Darren Hull

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
Like Boulevard Magazine on and follow them on

Jane Hoffman is a giant in the world of Kelowna Real Estate. Her name is synonymous with luxury, lakeshore listings. While Hoffman represents the lion香蕉视频直播檚 share of waterfront buyers and sellers in this city, for a good portion of her life, she considered herself more of a lamb.

香蕉视频直播淚 was the youngest child, I never said a word; I hardly talked,香蕉视频直播� she recalls. 香蕉视频直播淓ven as an adult, for the first years I was at this job, I just couldn香蕉视频直播檛 quite see that it was really me.香蕉视频直播�

A career in real estate was not even on the radar for the raven-haired, small town girl with kind eyes and a quiet strength. A young bride at the age of 19, Jane and her RCMP officer husband left her home town of Revelstoke for the big city of Vancouver. On weekends they built houses together. Glen Hoffman香蕉视频直播檚 construction dreams quickly overshadowed his RCMP career and the couple eventually moved to Kelowna to grow his company, Braniff Construction Ltd.

Jane kept busy with a young son (Michael); she helped Glen with the company and attended classes at nursing school. But the course of her life changed forever on a winter night in 1982 when one of her greatest fears became reality.

香蕉视频直播淕len always had a passion for flying. I was always nervous about him flying.香蕉视频直播�

Glen and his business partner, Jim, who was Jane香蕉视频直播檚 sister香蕉视频直播檚 husband, were flying home in their private, company plane and crashed before they could land at Kelowna airport.

香蕉视频直播淚 had a bad feeling and I was looking out my front door and down the hill came the RCMP. I knew. It had really happened, just the way I thought it was going to happen. It was like a nightmare,香蕉视频直播� she recounts with tears in her eyes.

As Jane and her sister grieved the tragic and sudden loss of their husbands, she came to a decision, one that to this day she believes was the most important of her life.

香蕉视频直播淚 remember thinking when the RCMP left, I can go upstairs in my bed and throw the comforter over my head and fall apart 香蕉视频直播� that香蕉视频直播檚 what I wanted to do,香蕉视频直播� she admits. 香蕉视频直播淥r I can keep going, ask for a few things from up above and be the person that survives.香蕉视频直播�

Jane chose to survive. She took the reigns of Glen香蕉视频直播檚 company, managed 150 employees and wrapped up the remaining projects that Braniff was committed to. It took five years and an incredible amount of strength. Jane admits to feeling like she had a helping hand from above.

香蕉视频直播淚 thought, oh Glen, I hope you help me somehow and I think he did. I think when people die you can take what you learned from them and you just kind of do it.香蕉视频直播�

As Braniff香蕉视频直播檚 operations wound down, a casual comment from her cousin David got Jane thinking about the next chapter of her life. He reminded her how much she loved the lake and lakeshore homes and suggested she think about selling them. Jane was quietly intrigued.

香蕉视频直播淲hen I took the real estate course, I didn香蕉视频直播檛 tell anybody.香蕉视频直播�

At the age of 34, Jane re-invented herself as an agent.

香蕉视频直播淚t was really hard. The first year I sold five homes in the whole year. The next it was 15 and then it started compounding.香蕉视频直播�

She recalls tons of work, rejection and disappointment in the beginning, but then something clicked. She bought herself a little cottage on the lake and her love for it naturally formed the basis of her selling strategy.

香蕉视频直播淪elling houses on the lake brings so much joy to people. I had a passion for it myself, so I香蕉视频直播檇 convince people they should do it too. That香蕉视频直播檚 how I started.香蕉视频直播�

As she threw herself into work, raising her son and acquiring more properties, Jane never let go of that first lake house and the healing comfort it provided her.

香蕉视频直播淚n the summer I would move to the little beach house. I was very lonely at the time and I香蕉视频直播檇 say to Michael, 香蕉视频直播業 love the lake. I feel like someone is always home when the water is there because it香蕉视频直播檚 ever changing.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈��

Jane lives in a beautiful waterfront home in Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 lower mission these days. Michael and his family live just a few blocks away, and Michael has followed in his father香蕉视频直播檚 footsteps, undertaking various development projects in the city. Thanks to Michael, Braniff Construction Ltd. has been re-born, something that makes his mother very proud.

香蕉视频直播淢y son took on all of Glen香蕉视频直播檚 qualities, except the desire to fly 香蕉视频直播� he didn香蕉视频直播檛 pick that up at all.香蕉视频直播�

After 35 years in the real estate business, 16-hour days are still the norm for Jane.

香蕉视频直播淚 may have gotten that from my mother,香蕉视频直播� she says with a smile, referring to Kay Beruschi 香蕉视频直播� a Revelstoke pioneer, who opened the renowned Regent Hotel in Revelstoke with her husband Fred during the great depression. They ran it together until Jane香蕉视频直播檚 dad died in 1976. Kay remained a constant presence at The Regent until the age of 92.

香蕉视频直播淓veryone knew Grandma Kay,香蕉视频直播� chuckles Jane. 香蕉视频直播淪he was a character, a true entrepreneur who was ahead of her time.香蕉视频直播�

Kay passed away at the age of 100 in 2014. Jane, her brother and sister still own The Regent and two other hotels in Revelstoke. Her nephew Brady operates them.

Jane香蕉视频直播檚 primary focus is The Jane Hoffmann Real Estate Team. With 14 people who have become her work family and more than 150 active listings, Jane doesn香蕉视频直播檛 take much time off. When she can get away, you香蕉视频直播檒l find her on the slopes or travelling to a favourite destination like Hawaii. Jane香蕉视频直播檚 other passions include raising money for various charities, including the Central Okanagan Hospice Association, and listening to live music. If you invite her to a concert, she will never say no.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檒l go to any concert, it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 matter the music, I just love the energy.香蕉视频直播�

Jane Hoffman brims with energy. At an age when some might consider retirement, she still feels that rush of excitement when a buyer and a house match up.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 like destiny. When I see it happen, I find it so fascinating,香蕉视频直播� she explains. 香蕉视频直播淪ometimes when a house isn香蕉视频直播檛 selling, I remind myself just to let go, someone is meant for that house and when it香蕉视频直播檚 right, it will all come together.香蕉视频直播�

Selling real estate doesn香蕉视频直播檛 come without stress and uncertainty but Jane takes it all in stride.

香蕉视频直播淚t seems to be good for me. It keeps me healthy, vibrant and relevant. I香蕉视频直播檓 so used to being busy and interacting, I香蕉视频直播檓 not sure what would happen to me if I retired.香蕉视频直播�

Jane has found love over the years but has never re-married. Through all of life香蕉视频直播檚 ups and downs, she香蕉视频直播檚 taken tremendous comfort in being near the lake. It香蕉视频直播檚 a deep, personal connection to the water that provided solace for a young widow so many years ago. These days it香蕉视频直播檚 a peaceful escape during chaotic times and even just a glance out the window is enough to fill her with an immense sense of gratitude.

The course of Jane Hoffman香蕉视频直播檚 life may have been altered by tragedy, but somewhere on that journey the once timid lamb found her voice and roared her way to the top.

香蕉视频直播淚 live stronger, better because I feel like I香蕉视频直播檓 living for two people not just one. I got to stay, so let香蕉视频直播檚 make it worthwhile.香蕉视频直播�

Check out some of Jane香蕉视频直播檚 listing on her .