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Dear Readers,
This Chamber Week was full of events, including the commencing of the 2016 Board of Directors' Election as well as the tabling of the provincial budget on Wednesday.
The 2016 provincial budget combines on-going fiscal discipline, including a continued focus on repaying operating debt and a number of forward-looking initiatives strongly advocated for by the BC Chamber network, such as the creation of a
Tax Competitiveness Commission
and the
BC Prosperity Fund,
to support future economic growth.
The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce has been advocating for reductions or elimination of the Property Transfer Tax since 2009, so we were pleased to see a step toward this with the PPT exemption on new builds under $750,000.
It is unclear if the budget for the Ministry of Environment will allow for permanent inspection stations at all B.C. access points to keep invasive mussel species out of our waters, which is a pressing concern of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce. On Thursday, our President Ken Carmichael had a chance to ask the Premier herself about this at our Luncheon. Click the image below to see her response.
Please remember to vote for next term's Board Directors. (Electronic ballots have been emailed to all the voting members we have on file.) Your vote is collected anonymously and the final results will be published in the next edition of our Connections newsletter.
Best Regards,
The Kelowna Chamber Team
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Canada's Credit Unions: "Tax Hike will take a toll"
Distinguished Panel to give insight on effects of BC's decision
In Kelowna and right across Canada, over 5 million Canadians trust their local credit union as their partner for day-to-day banking. Cooperatively owned financial institutions rank second in lending to small businesses, and credit unions state that the difference is all about service - to members, their businesses and communities.
Credit unions are also unique in the way they operate, as they cannot access capital markets like banks can. This was previously balanced out by their preferred tax rate, however this rate is
set to be phased out this year, causing a $20 Million increase across the nation.
Not only will this greatly affect
their ability to grow retained earnings, t
his impact will be passed on to the clients, members and business communities across Canada.
Besides the day-to-day loans issued to help small businesses grow, communities also benefit directly - as more than $17.6 million dollars are provided annually through community and economic projects. The Kelowna Chamber will continue to advocate for this
issue, and next week we will be hosting a distinguished group of panelists, so that anyone who will be affected by this can learn more.
When: Friday, February 26
Where: Kelowna Ramada
Who: Martha Durdin, President and CEO of the Canadian Credit Union Association with guest panelists
Jackie Baron, Sr. V.P. of Governance & Strategy, First West Credit Union; Shawn Good, CEO, Prospera Credit Union; and Kathy Conway, President & CEO of Interior Savings Credit Union
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Member Marketing Opportunities
Put your Swag in our Bag
Does your business have a bit of swag that you would like to put in the hands of our newest members?
Each month, our volunteer Member Ambassadors pay a visit to our new members to welcome them to the Kelowna Chamber community with a bag of goodies.
This is a unique opportunity to get your name out there by way of a tangible marketing piece, whether it be a discount/offer or a logo'ed trinket!
Have the bags? We'll use those, too!
Please contact
Diana
to participate.
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It's never too late to date
Humorous adventures of speed dating for 70-90 year olds
What is it like to be in your later years of life and yet still long for romantic love, companionship and affection?
 Film maker Steven Loring of Brooklyn, N.Y., made it his personal journey to find out.
Loring turned his curiosity into a speed dating event held for 70- to 90-year-olds in his hometown of Rochester, N.Y. He got permission to film the event and followed 10 of the participants who shared their stories and feelings.
The result became a documentary, The Age of Love; a poignant look at the ultimate desires of older adults. UBC Okanagan Associate Professor, Mary Ann Murphy, became an ambassador for the film, due to it's uncharted aspect of ageism. She's brought the director to the Okanagan and it will be played at various venues during the week of March 7-13, 2016.
The Kelowna Chamber will host a screening of the film on March 7th at the Kelowna Art Gallery.
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Members In the News
Recognizing our members' outstanding achievements
- Karen Hawes, Kelowna Chamber Past President, has been appointed Exec. Vice-Chair of the BC Chamber of Commerce
- Bellamy Homes has donated $30,000 toward the new Trades Training Complex at Okanagan College
- Best Western Kelowna Hotel & Suites & QuestUpon have partnered to create the virtual game BC Wildlife Adventure
- Gravity Float & Wellness will have their grand opening on February 20th
- Culligan Water Okanagan has received the 2015 Top Performance Award, beating out nearly 600 other dealerships
- Gallagher's Canyon Golf and Country Club will host The Mackenzie - PGA TOUR Canada from 2016-2019
Congrats to all!
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Chamber Breakfast: Canada's Credit Unions|Helping Main Street Prosper
Year over year, business leaders look to their local credit union for hands-on guidance with their start-ups, lower fees and reasonable financing. Join us for a hot breakfast to hear from the President & CEO of the Canadian Credit Union Association & her local guest panelists.
Friday February 26th
7:45 to 9:45 a.m.
Coast Capri Hotel
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Inspire Series presents Sandra Kochan
Sandra Kochan, Cultural Services Manager of the City of Kelowna, will be sharing her lessons learned, the events that shaped her life, and the challenges she's faced along her journey into leadership.
Wednesday February 24th
5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Kelowna Art Gallery
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Morning Business Smarts:
How to beat your competition on Google
Clayton Kessler, owner of First Page Solutions will teach three techniques to get on the fir
st page of Google
Tuesday March 15th
8:00 to 9:00 a.m.
Kelowna Chamber
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Business with Bevvies @ Summerhill Winery
Enjoy fabulous appies from the Sunset Organic Bistro paired with two complimentary glasses of Organic, Biodynamic - 100% BC wine while building valuable connections with the Central Okanagan business community.
Thursday March 17th
5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
4870 Chute Lake Road
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Noon Business Smarts:
How to get in the top 25% of your industry & stay there
Presented by Tim Young, Author of
How Much Money Can I Make? He will teach proven strategies for starting, managing and exiting a Canadian Small Business
Wednesday April 20th
12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
Kelowna Chamber
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Check out ALL Chamber & Community Event Listings:
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Click on each one to learn more
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