January 5 | 2020
CHAMBER EVENTS & UPDATES
Know a Mentor or Unsung Hero who Deserves Recognition?
BDO's Top 40 Over 40 program celebrates remarkable individuals in our community over the age of 40 as a means to showcase mentors, community leaders, and role models who encourage and foster the future leaders of our community. Partnering with BDO, the Kelowna Chamber will be highlighting new Honourees between February and July 2021. Nominate someone today by clicking the link below.
Invest In Your Future - Invest in Your Team: Resiliency Training on the Schedule
Position yourself, your team, and your business for success both in the short term and post COVID-19 by registering for the Building Resilience to Thrive Program. This certificate program applies core competencies in leadership and customer service to set you up for long-term success. Sign up for one of the next two cohorts:
  • Jan 12 - Feb 16, Tues. @ 11am to 12pm
  • Feb 24 - Mar 31, Wed. @ 11am to 12pm

Your investment is just $70 and if you are a member of the Kelowna Chamber you receive 50% off. Sign up today.
UPDATES & EVENTS IN OUR NETWORK
What’s Next? Managing Your Business’s Finances in 2021 with BDC
While the Canadian economy should grow by 4% to 5% in 2021, a full recovery will likely not materialize until 2022. But no matter how well your business is performing, strong financial management is essential for positioning yourself to grow in the recovery.

In this free live webinar, January 18 at 9:00am, BDC experts will offer practical advice for optimizing your cash flow, effectively controlling costs and managing your financial needs.
Women's Enterprise Centre Offers Free Webinar Series on HR Strategy
Starting January 26, Women’s Enterprise Centre is hosting “Build Your HR Strategy Toolkit for 2021,” a free webinar series to help you attract new employees or engage your team for 2021. Sessions include:



COVID-19 UPDATES & RESOURCES
Stay Informed & Up to Date with the Canadian Business Resilience Network
The Canadian Business Resilience Network (CBRN), put on by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce provides recorded webinars and video resources on COVID-19 programs, recovery tips, and resources. The website is also a great source of information as it pertains to federal programs, financial support, and reopening toolkits.
Manage a Healthy & Safe Workplace with COVID-19 Information & Resources
Are you up to date with WorkSafeBC guidelines/requirements? WorkSafeBC is actively monitoring and adjusting to the COVID-19 pandemic to determine how they can best support workers, providers, and employers around the province. It is important to stay up to date on safety protocols as we navigate through the second wave. The most up-to-date information can be accessed on the WorkSafeBC website.
NEW MEMBERS & MEMBER MILESTONES
Welcome to our New Members
BUTTERFLY KISSES
CHILDCARE
MEET YOUR CHAMBER AMBASSADORS
Get to know the Kelowna Chamber's Board of Directors and Ambassadors in our new newsletter segment. This bi-weekly update will introduce you to the people behind-the-scenes at the Chamber, and learn what they love about serving our business community. This week we want to introduce you to Brian Stephenson, a wonderful (recently former) member of our fantastic Chamber Ambassadors. We want to thank Brian for his past 6 years of service, and wish him well in his next adventure! If you would like to learn more about our Ambassador program and get involved please EMAIL US.
BRIAN STEPHENSON | Pushor Mitchell LLP.

What is your position / title and company, and what do you do there?
Effective January 1, I was invited to become a Partner at Pushor Mitchell LLP, an invitation which I gratefully accepted!
 
As a lawyer, I practice mainly in the areas of real estate, commercial financing, business transactions and estate planning. I have also held the title of Director of Business Development as a result of my interests and efforts in assisting fellow professional service providers grow their businesses and key relationships.

How long have you been in the Okanagan? If you aren’t originally from the valley, what led you to call the Okanagan ‘home’? 
My parents moved back and forth between Barrie (Ontario) and Kelowna a few times when I was young before finally settling on Kelowna when I was 10 and I have been here ever since! The initial attraction began after my Dad went on a ski trip with some buddies to Big White and when he returned to Ontario I think the siren’s call of the Rockies never let him settle until we packed up and moved out West.
What did you enjoy most about your role with the Kelowna Chamber?
When I was first getting into my career I was looking for a way to get involved in the community and the Ambassador Committee with the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce was my first foray into the business world. It has been a great experience and I am very thankful to be able to say that I was with the Ambassador Committee since 2014, ceasing this year in the role only to provide an opportunity for others to take part of this great organization.
 
Being able to connect with new members and help them feel welcomed was a particularly enjoyable part about what the Ambassadors get to do and it felt like I was able to come full circle with my experience at the Chamber by going from someone who was looking to get connected to becoming someone who can help make those connections! 

What are you looking forward to / planning for the future?
I think it goes without saying that one thing I am looking forward to is COVID-19 being over, but in terms of what I have direct control over I am looking forward to continuing to watch, and try to be an involved part of, the growth of Kelowna and the Okanagan (which is happening at an increasingly exciting pace).
UPCOMING EVENTS AT A GLANCE
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KELOWNA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | kelownachamber.org