BUSINESS INSIGHTS WEBINAR THIS WEEK
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COVID-19 WEBINAR
Thursday April 16, 2020 @ 10:00am - 11:00am
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KPMG INSIGHTS: An update on the tax aspects of Government Assistance Programs
- Tax issues and implications to be aware of
- Insights and answers to your questions
Guest Speaker
Nicole Watson,
Senior Manager Tax
KPMG Enterprise, Kelowna
No charge to participate but registration required.
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VIRTUAL TOWN HALL ON TOURISM
Thursday April 16 @ 1:00pm - 2:30pm
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Join a virtual town hall hosted by Tourism Kelowna, where they and other organizations will share information and engage in dialogue on the issues facing the sector and the broader business community in light of COVID-19. Speakers include:
- Tourism Kelowna President & CEO, Lisanne Ballantyne
- City of West Kelowna Economic Development & Tourism Manager, John Perrott
- Downtown Kelowna Association Executive Director, Mark Burley
- Kelowna Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Dan Rogers
This is an opportunity to connect with local businesses in the tourism industry and to also learn more about each organization's plans and insights on recovery. Please register and submit your questions in advance by noon on Wednesday, April 15.
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An Okanagan original,
Adam Relvas
turned a passion for food into a career. Adam completed the Culinary Arts program at Okanagan College and worked as a Chef and Executive Chef at numerous local restaurants before venturing out on his own and starting Relvas Catering.
Adam has also been active in the community, helping train and mentor young chefs. He heads the kitchen for the Christmas Day Dinner at Parkinson Rec Centre, coordinating the feeding of 400 hungry guests. He's also helped raise money for Ronald MacDonald House, Food Bank fundraising dinners, Kelowna Hospice, and Joanna’s House, among others.
Read Adam's full story
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Ross Derrick
has worked as a Chef for several high profile resorts around the Okanagan before starting his own businesses - the Table Cafe and the Broken Anchor Food Truck.
Ross has also been involved in the community with various events and initiatives but has especially focused on mental health awareness. Ross implemented "Sauce for a Cause" in his restaurant and donated 100% of the Broken Anchor's opening day proceeds to the Foundry Kelowna.
Ross was honoured with the Okanagan Chefs Association Member of the Year 2019.
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OKANAGAN SPEAKER SERIES ONLINE - COMING SOON
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SPECIAL GUEST: Mayor Colin Basran
Wednesday April 23, 2020 @ Noon
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Join us as we shift to online presentation of our Okanagan School of Business Speaker Series. Mayor Basran will join us for a live update on the current state of things as the City works with businesses and citizens through the pandemic closings and orders from the provincial health officer.
The Mayor will also speak to efforts taking place across the City to maintain economic viability – including recent Council directives to temporarily change a number of financial practices.
There is no charge to participate by preregistration is required.
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OKANAGAN BUSINESS MAKING A DIFFERENCE
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Okanagan Spirits Offering Free Hand Sanitizer
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BYOB (Bring Your Own Bottle)
This upcoming Saturday, April 18th, Forbidden Spirits will be hosting their second Sanitizer Saturday. Their parking lot will be set up as a drive-thru and they will fill as many bottles as we can with sanitizer to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
All are welcome to visit the distillery at 4400 Wallace Hill Rd, Kelowna, between 12-5 p.m. Bring your own container to be filled with by the Forbidden Spirit's new sanitizer! Limit 1L per vehicle.
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Sun City Adapting to Help Patients
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Sun City Physiotherapy is providing access to treatment through online, virtual care or ‘Telehealth' appointments.
Virtual sessions are done through a secure private program, allowing patients to connect with a therapist to discuss their injury and receive guidance and answers. Patients will be provided with home techniques and exercises, as well as self-management tools. This alternative to in-person treatment is available for Physiotherapy, Kinesiology and Dietitian Services. Most extended health providers, including ICBC and Worksafe BC, have jumped on board and are covering Telehealth appointments.
Note
: In-person appointments are still possible for urgent care situations at the downtown Kelowna Sun City clinic.
More info on scheduling appointments can be found on Sun City's
website
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Local Media Doing Their Part
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KelownaNow
has initiated a number of pages on its site that promote local businesses that are finding ways to keep our economy moving. They have business listings noting what’s available in the local market place and that now includes listings for local e-commerce businesses. Registration for your business is free of charge. The page is also location sensitive so that you’re able to see businesses that are close to you when sharing your location via your device.
LEARN MORE
We also want to acknoweldge
Castanet
for their coverage of local issues throughout this crisis, including many positive good news stories of the community coming together. They too have a dedicated page on the their website that also includes a listing of restaurants offering takeout and businesses that remain open.
LEARN MORE
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CANADIAN CHAMBER UPDATE FOR THE WEEK
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Make sure you check out the Canadian Business Resilience Network (CBRN) coordinated by our partners with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. The website is great resource for small businesses and those looking to remain up to date on initiatives occurring nationally and decisions being made in Ottawa.
LEARN MORE
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BLOG:
The Business of Business: A Conversation with Minister NG
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In the first edition of the Business of Business, Hon. Perrin Beatty, our President & CEO, has a conversation with Hon. Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, on the effects of COVID-19 on SMEs.
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KELOWNA CHAMBER MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
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Okanagan Symphony Orchestra:
Unity through music a message more important now than ever
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The OSO’s vision is a thriving Okanagan community strengthened and united by music. In their words, "music is a universal experience that encourages unity over separation." That's a message more important today than it ever has been.
We caught up with representatives from the OSO to find out a little more.
Tell us about yourselves.
For the past 60 years, we have shared our music with residents and visitors to the Okanagan. Through our main stage performances and our community activities, we believe music is the vehicle that will continue to help educate, inform, entertain and inspire new ways of thinking.
What is something people might not know about your company?
Our musicians have very interesting and colourful lives off the stage. For many, music is just one of their talents and interests. They may look very serious during our performances, but among our core musicians, we have a business consultant, a homeschool teacher, a digital marketing analyst and a gym owner, to name just a few.
What are you looking forward to in the future?
The programming for our upcoming 2020/21 season! Through our leadership as an arts organization, we believe in supporting the cooperation and collaboration of groups and individuals throughout our valley and beyond. Next season will bring some new and exciting combinations of people, talent and cultures.
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Note: in response to COVID-19, the OSO has cancelled the remainder of their 2019/2020 season. A special donor has offered to double all contributions to the OSO through the end of May. If you are someone who particularly feels that music has a critical and lasting role in the Okanagan community, please consider donating. More info can be found on the OSO
website
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Member Milestones
A big thank you to the following chamber members for their longstanding support of the Okanagan business community! Now more than ever it's important to pull together. We are grateful to all our members in this difficult time.
20 years
- Expert Hearing Solutions Ltd
- FormaShape - a division of WhiteWater Composites Ltd
- Kon Kast Products
- Oasis Inn
- RE/MAX Kelowna
15 years
10 years
- Kelowna Elk's Lodge #52
- Okanagan Skin Care Centre
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UPCOMING PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
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Presented by Business Finders
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KELOWNA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | kelownachamber.org
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