From left to right: 
Dan Rogers, Kelowna Chamber Executive Director; Cheryl Browne, KidSport Kelowna;
Tom Dyas, Kelowna Chamber Board President
Dear Readers,

The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce selected KidSport Kelowna as their charity of choice once again this year for our 32nd Annual Golf Tournament. Proceeds from the Westjet Raffle, 50/50 raffle and Pro-takes-a-shot will support the registration fees for kids from financially disadvantaged families so they can participate in sports.

The 2017 golf tournament raised over $1,900.00 for KidSport Kelowna!

"The tournament was a great experience and I'm very honoured to have been the 
Aldrich Berrios with Kelowna Chamber Ambassador, Heather McColl
athlete ambassador for this event," said KidSport Kelowna Athlete Ambassador and 
player on the University of British Columbia Okanagan Heat Men's Basketball Team,  Aldrich Berrios. "To be able to share my story among all the golfers and sponsors, and to express how much of an impact their support can have on the success and future of young athletes, was an incredible privilege. It's really rewarding to know how much was raised and how much help we are able to provide for kids who are in the same shoes I was in growing up."

KidSport provides support to children in order to remove financial barriers that prevent them from playing organized sport. Find out more information on their organization here.

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Members please be aware that we are no longer hosting a Job Board on our website, but we are happy to direct all potential employers and employees to our member employment services here.

Thank you to all those who submitted a Business Excellence Awards nomination package by the submission deadline last week. We appreciate all of the work put into each and every package! Our judges will now work tirelessly over the next couple of weeks to select the well deserving finalists in each category. In the meantime, register for your Business Excellence Awards table here. Everyone is welcome to attend!

Warmest Regards,
The Kelowna Chamber Team
Upcoming Events
Tues, Sept 19 | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm | Chamber Boardroom
Thurs, Sept 21 | 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm | 3rd Floor - 1665 Ellis Street
Chamber Luncheon Series with Keynote Speaker
Charles Duncan, New President WestJet Encore
Sept 29 | 11:30 pm - 1:30 pm | Coast Capri Hotel

A chance to win 2 tickets to a WestJet destination with each registration!
Members in the News
  • BNA Brewing  is expanding and taking over the former Flashbacks building to increase the size of their establishment.
  • Congrats to Royal Star EnterprisesMcDougall Energy Inc.Esso and the Kelowna International Airport on their grand opening of the new YLW Plaza including Freshii, Tim Hortons, Esso and On the Run convenience store. We were on site to celebrate with all involved. (Pictured below)
  • The Canadian Cancer Society has opened up sponsorship opportunities for their 'Festival of Trees Kelowna' event this winter. Only ten spots available! Please contact Lori Stevenson for more info.
  • United Way CSO will be hosting their annual Kick off Breakfast on September 7th, 2017. Tickets are $30 at unitedwaycsokickoff.com.
  • Diversified Rehabilitation Group will be hosting their second annual Courtyard BBQ for Kidney Walk on September 8th from 12 - 3pm at 1495 Gordon Drive at Bernard Avenue.
  • Thanks to Apple Grove Auto Sales for donating $1500 to the Salvation Army for Fire and Flood victims in the Okanagan. 
  • Congrats to Jamie Schaab on starting her new business, Virtual Pro!
Artscape at the Kelowna Chamber Office
   FEATURED ARTISTS:     
   Ceren McKay   
Maria Bayford   
ARTSCO's Artscape program is excited to present paintings by Ceren McKay and Maria Bayford in the Kelowna Chamber offices. These artists invigorate the space through their use of vibrant colour and abstract movement.

Ceren McKay works primarily in acrylic, sometimes incorporating unconventional materials such as burlap and metal. The imagery in each painting is influenced by her life and mood at the moment of creation. For Ceren, inspiration comes from a variety of avenues: a feeling, memory, poem, or piece of music. 

Maria Bayford's artwork is about discovery. She relishes colour and movement, taking inspiration in everyday moments. Painting allows Maria to explore, take risks and be free, while also demanding self-control and discipline.

Stop by the Chamber office at 544 Harvey Avenue to see these beautiful pieces!

Artscape is a community exhibition program that has provided opportunities to local artists since 1995. There are currently nine active Artscape locations in Kelowna. The Artscape program creates opportunities for the public to experience art in significant communal venues. For more information about Arts Council of the Central Okanagan's Artscape program, or to apply to exhibit your work, contact us:
heythere@artsco.ca // 250-861-4123 // www.artsco.ca
Chambers Raising Concerns Over Proposed Tax Policy Changes
Information provided by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

The government has just proposed the most radical tax overhaul in 50 years. The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce is siding with the Canadian Chamber in being particularly worried about the impact on business from (1) a new tax on investment income in a corporation and (2) tough new rules for compensation in family businesses.

Hendrik Brakel, the Senior Director of Economic, Financial and Tax Policy at the Canadian Chamber, takes a look at what is driving the government's new crackdown on private corporations in this special edition of 5 Minutes for Business.

We encourage you to contact your local MP to tell him/her the government is proposing to hammer business with tax changes that will hurt families and punish entrepreneurs.

Survey: 'Hello, I'm Out Of The Office ... But Checking Email'
Are vacations where people completely disconnect from the office a thing of the past? Research shows 'workations' may be more common for professionals today. In a recent survey from staffing firm Accountemps, 54 per cent of workers said they typically check in with the office at least once or twice a week during their vacation, up from 41 per cent just one year ago.

On the bright side, those who do connect with the office do so fewer times during their break: 15 per cent of workers touch base at least once or twice a day, compared to 21 per cent in 2016. Their reasons for checking in include gaining peace of mind that things were under control (54 per cent), keeping projects moving along (53 per cent), avoiding coming back to extra work (47 per cent) and preventing colleagues from feeling undue stress (34 per cent)...

The Chartered Professionals in Human Resources of BC & Yukon (formerly the Human Resources Management Association) is pleased to provide monthly HR advice and information to the members of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce. 

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