Federal Fiscal Statement Released |
The Federal Government's new Finance Minister tabled a Fall Fiscal Statement on Monday. The Kelowna Chamber joins those across the Chamber network in welcoming the Fall Statement while also calling for an early budget to set out the remainder of an economic growth strategy. READ THE RELEASE
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Open Letter from Chamber President on Public Health Order |
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CHAMBER BLOG POST
The strict public health orders currently in effect have been met with broad public acceptance in Kelowna. However, these orders are not without controversy, and a robust, informed debate about them serves us all. Unfortunately, there have been troubling incidents where opposition to these orders has been a pretext for hostile and uncivil behaviour directed at small business owners and their employees. This must stop. READ MORE
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Provincial Cabinet Announced with Focus on Fighting COVID-19 |
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Photo: BC Government News |
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Premier John Horgan announced a new cabinet late last week, whose members are tasked with continuing government’s cross-ministry response to the pandemic. The new cabinet includes 20 ministers and four ministers of state. The cabinet will be supported in its work by 13 parliamentary secretaries, with portfolios including Rural Development, Anti-Racism, and Technology and Innovation. READ MORE
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What Topics Provide Your Business Value? Help Shape Our 2021 Events Calendar. |
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Moving into the new year, we'd love to hear from you as to what programs, topics, or information you would like to see as part of our Okanagan School of Business Speaker Series or as part of our Associa Property Management Business Smarts Program. This survey should take no longer than a couple of minutes of your time and will help us shape a schedule that will provide you with value.
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Celebrate the Start of Giving Season; Today is (Virtual) Giving Tuesday! |
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The Giving Tuesday Okanagan civic movement kicked off in 2015 with mayoral proclamations and events in three cities: Penticton, Kelowna and Vernon. A bit like Black Friday kicking off the holiday shopping season. The impact of Giving Tuesday goes well beyond charitable donations, inspiring giving in all its forms. At a time when we are all experiencing the pandemic, Giving Tuesday is an opportunity for people around the world to stand together in unity—to use their individual power of generosity to remain connected and heal.
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Enter to Win by Supporting "Shop Local". |
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Your customers could win a Christmas decoration/gift package valued at over $400.00 just for shopping local this holiday season. By simply adding your business to the Kelowna ReStore's list of local places to shop this winter, and encouraging your customers to shop local, they can bring in their receipts to the Kelowna ReStore to enter to win. |
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Rotary Online Charity Auction Wraps Up Soon. |
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The Kelowna Sunrise Rotary Club is continuing its online auction until Dec. 6th. The auction is a fundraiser in support of The Foundry (operated by CMHA Kelowna). |
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CELEBRATING OUR BUSINESS LEADERS IN THE NEWS |
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Did you watch Kelowna's Top Business and Community Awards Program? |
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The central Okanagan's top business and community leaders were showcased at the Kelowna Business Excellence Awards. If you missed any of it - no problem. You can watch the highlights on the Chamber's You Tube Channel. Learn who took home all the hardware, listen to Kelowna singer and songwriter Joshua Smith, and hear from Business Leader of Year Laurel Douglas. |
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Wentworth Music Named One of the Top 100 Music Stores in the World. |
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Photo: KelownaNow (Archive Photo) |
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A Kelowna business has been named one of the top 100 music stores in the world. The award honours retailers who demonstrate exceptional commitment to their stores, neighbourhoods and customers, as well as share in a vision to create a more musical world. (KelownaNow)
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Winemaker John Peller Named to the Order of Canada |
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On Friday November 27, Governor General Julie Payette announced 114 leaders named to the Order of Canada, one of the country's highest civilian honours. Winemaker John Peller was among those on the list. In 1989, Andrew Peller's grandson, John, became the third generation to continue the family’s legacy of creating truly world-class wines and winery experiences for Canadians to enjoy with family and friends. Congratulations John!
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Emil Anderson Construction Wins Bid for Kicking Horse Mega-Project |
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A Kelowna-based company has been selected to be a part of the Kicking Horse Canyon mega-project. Emil Anderson Construction has won a portion of the $440 million contract for the final phase of construction on the stretch of Highway 1 near Golden, which has been described as one of the most rugged and scenic sections on the Trans-Canada Highway. (Castanet)
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Hotel Zed CEO Wins 2020 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Excellence Award |
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At the recent RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Virtual Awards Gala, CEO of Accent Inns and Hotel Zed, Mandy Farmer was awarded the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Excellence Award. Farmer’s approach to an award-winning business starts with her employees. When COVID-19 hit, Farmer sent $250 grocery gift certificates to all her employees - including employees who were temporarily laid off - because she didn’t want anyone to worry about how they were going to put food on their table during a global pandemic. Congratulations Mandy!
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COVID-19 UPDATES & RESOURCES |
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Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy Extended to June 2021 |
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On November 20, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) will be extended through to June 2021.
The federal government is also providing a new emergency rent subsidy for businesses that will go directly to tenants, not landlords. As of November 23, businesses can apply for the new subsidies and the subsidies are retroactive to the beginning of October 2020.
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Open for Applications: Small and Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grant Program |
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Small and medium-sized businesses are vital to British Columbia’s economy. The Small and Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grant program provides fully-funded grants to businesses to ensure they have the support they need during and beyond COVID-19. Grants of $10,000 to $30,000 are now available to BC businesses.
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A Deep Dive on How Restaurants & Hotels are Faring Amid COVID-19 |
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Data recently released by Statistics Canada and analyzed by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce underscores the dire situation these businesses are still facing. From lower revenue and more expenses, to the highest number of businesses with layoffs and the lowest liquidity levels, there is an urgent need for targeted support.
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Invest in Your Team and Build a Stronger Future. |
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The “Building Resilience to Thrive” online training program offers relief to businesses and will help mitigate the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic by teaching you how to adapt business models, re-engage your customers, and adjust your workplace culture. This is a special certificate based course developed by the BC Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the University of Victoria, Gustavson School of Business. The program has two cohorts still available:
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January 12 to February 16, 2021 - Tuesdays at 11am-12pm
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February 24 to March 31, 2021 - Wednesdays at 11am-12pm
The program is open to anyone for just $70 though there is also a 50% discount available for those who are members of the Kelowna Chamber!
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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT (SHOW LOCAL SOME LOVE) |
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PÜR & SIMPLE Invites You to Try Their Crave-worthy Breakfast & Lunch |
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If you haven’t already discovered it yet, PÜR & SIMPLE is a new breakfast and lunch spot that somehow already feels like home. They proudly deliver a menu where PÜR meets SIMPLE, and a space where you can get lost in a casual and warm atmosphere with great conversation. Be sure to check them out for lunch Monday-Friday as they are breakfast-only on the weekends to meet the high demand! This week we virtually connected with Amanda, co-owner of the Kelowna PÜR & SIMPLE location to discuss the first year of their business, opening amidst a pandemic, and what they're planning for the future of their business. |
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What is something you wish you knew when you first began?
Is it too obvious to say we wish we knew there was a pandemic coming?! Yes we opened December, 2019 so I think it’s fair to say we may have preferred to have delayed that opening a little. But all things considered, we are very happy with Kelowna’s enthusiastic response this year to our new restaurant, especially in light of such a challenging year for everyone!
What is something people might not know about your business?
We are a local franchise partner in this proudly Canadian company, which opened its first doors in Montreal. There are four of us - two couples who are friends - who own and manage the restaurant together and took a chance on a dream jumping into this (ad)venture! We were the first Pür & Simple that opened in BC and the Western Region.
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What are you looking forward to/planning for the future?
We were overjoyed with the enthusiastic response this summer – many visitors rave especially about our menu, friendly service and atmosphere in our restaurant – and we want more people to experience that!! We had many out-of-towners come in not just once, but every day during their stay in Kelowna which was so great! So, we look forward to continuing to strive to make our restaurant cozy, safe and extremely clean throughout the pandemic, but we are also very excited to resurface on the other side when we can really continue to build our community who love to return and visit us whether it’s daily or annually – we LOVE the connection with our guests and are honoured that they choose us to come back and visit.
We also just want to add how grateful we are to all those who have come to the restaurant with friends, family, for meetings or to work for a while. Thank you for continuing your support and spreading the word. We are honoured and can’t wait to deepen our roots here in Kelowna where we are happy to call home now!
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Need to add someone else in your organization to our mailing list? Drop us a line!
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KELOWNA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | kelownachamber.org |
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