2023 is off to a fast start!

As we quickly move through January we hope everyone is staying warm and looking forward to a positive year for your business and our local community.

If professional development, building a strong local economy, and giving back to your community is on your priority list this year there are many opportunities available to you.

If you haven't had a chance yet - grab your coffee or tea and have a read

through our SO Chamber 2022 year end update below.

Thank you to all of our members for being part of the collective

community building efforts here in the South Okanagan.

 Here's to a healthy, happy, and successful year for all of us.  

Call for Board Members and Ambassadors and Volunteers

Please join us at our AGM on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 starting at 6:30pm in the lobby at the Frank Venables Theatre in Oliver.

6100 Gala Street.

We are building and growing our Chamber and need your help!

Our Chamber has several opportunities in front of us that are going to allow us to continue building a strong business network and thriving economy here in our South Okanagan.



We are looking for people who have approximately 2-5 hours a month to volunteer to help us build a strong business network and thriving economy here in the South Okanagan.  

Knowledge, experience, interest or passion in a few of the following areas is welcome!

• Creating welcoming communities
• Business Events and Professional Development
• Business Networking - Virtual and In Real Life
• Vibrant and Welcoming Downtowns
• Meeting and supporting other local businesses
• Small business and entrepreneurship
• Agriculture and food security
• Chamber of Commerce 
• Community Leadership
• Local and Provincial Government
• Community and Economic Development
• Non profit financials
• Board Governance
• Advocacy and Policy

If you are interested in our local business community and the quality of life in our region - there is a place for you on our team and we would love to hear from you. Don't be shy! Interested members can email Denise at manager@sochamber.ca or Ryan Duffy, President at rduffyre@gmail.com to start a conversation.  

FREE ONLINE COURSE:

 DIGITAL MARKETING FOR YOUR BUSINESS

SMALL BUSINESS BREAK-IN

SELF ASSESSMENTS

With break-ins continuing to be a concern, particularly in our Oliver region, the SO Chamber, the Town of Oliver, and the local RCMP detachment are working together and visiting businesses to talk about this evolving situation and handing out Security Self Assessment questionnaires. 

For any businesses that we haven't visited that want to do the self assessment please click here for the pdf.

This Commercial Security Assessment is designed to help business owners, operators and staff to assess the security of their business. It covers potential areas of vulnerability, and provides suggestions for adapting your security to reduce the risk of crime against your business.

Complete each question in the Commercial Security Assessment and if you answer ‘No’ to any of the questions, review the suggested treatment options at the end of this checklist. The South Okanagan RCMP detachments are committed to ensuring the safety of members of the community and their property. 

Should you need any further information on the subjects covered by the Commercial Security Assessment, or would like an on-site security assessment, we encourage you to contact the Oliver RCMP Detachment at 250-498-3422.  

If you are outside of Oliver feel free to use this assessment and call your local detachment if you have any questions.

Osoyoos RCMP Detachment can be reached at 250-495-7236. Okanagan Falls and area - call the Penticton RCMP Detachment at 250-492-4300.

Community Futures is excited to share

the suite of supports available for local businesses through their

Taking Care of Business platform!

There are many benefits to registering and from now through 2024, eligible organizations can access sponsored training & consulting thanks to a funding program from Pacific Economic Development Canada, delivered via Community Futures BC to 17 CF regions across the Province.

Benefits for residents in these regions include:

• A large and diverse range of business workshops at NO cost thanks to the funding. Topics such as Bookkeeping, Data Privacy, HR, Strategic Planning and Tactics for leveraging the power of social media are available, delivered live over Zoom/Teams.

And if your business is operating and generated more than $15k in revenue last year, you can also access:



• 10 Consulting hours working one-on-one with an expert to increase skill sets that will help grow the business.

• 12 facilitated Peer Mentoring sessions to gain and share advice through problem solving conversations with like-minded business owners.

• Up to $5,000 reimbursement for training specific to the business that will help your business grow or pivot.

SIGN UP HERE or reach out to our Program Ambassadors for more help:

Jennifer at  jvincent@takingcareofbusiness.biz

Denise at dblashko@takingcareofbusiness.biz