Kelowna Chamber along with BC Chamber Releases Regional Recovery Guide |
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The Kelowna Chamber is extremely pleased to release a customized regional Recovery Guide for the Thompson Okanagan. This guide has been in the works for months and has involved both our team at the Kelowna Chamber and business leaders in the central Okanagan.
In partnership with the provincial government’s Sector Labour Market Partnership Program (SLMP) and funded by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training, the Resource Guides are designed to house a broad mix of region-specific resources in one spot for easy reference and to support businesses in this region as they navigate the challenging road to recovery. The seven regional Resource Guides will be updated throughout BC’s Restart Plan.
The resources outlined in the Guides address core aspects of pandemic recovery including:
Health and Safety, Government programming, sector-specific initiatives, and legal and regulatory requirements.
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Tighter Restrictions for Central Okanagan Announced Last Friday |
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Late last week the Province announced tighter restrictions in the central Okanagan following the continued and ongoing rise in COVID-19 cases. (See Saturday's Special Chamber Bulletin for full details of new restrictions.)
In response to the most recent health orders, the Chamber issued a release that calls for improved communication so businesses can better anticipate and plan for these rapid changes. The Chamber is also asking the province to consider specific financial assistance for those businesses most impacted by these new region-specific orders.
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NEXT WEEK: August Business Smarts: Goal Setting & Performance Management
Tuesday, August 17, 2021 | 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM | Virtual
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Time is running out for you to register for our special August Business Smarts Online session as we focus on KPIs, OKRs, metrics, Critical Success Factors, Goals, Targets and Initiatives.
Join us next week for Business Smarts with 2M Performance Measurement Specialist Robert Scott to find out why the largest and most successful companies use this essential skill to guarantee success and profitability.
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Okanagan College Speaker Series - How to Invite The World
Tuesday, September 28 | 11:45 AM - 1:30 PM | Coast Capri Hotel
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Former Tourism Vancouver President & CEO Rick Antonson (now a resident of the Okanagan, and a fan of the valley’s “reds, whites, and greens...”) reflects on his life experiences from the launching of BC’s bid for the 2010 Olympics to expanding a convention facility, and how to “invite the world” to visit your city. Limited seating for this "in-person" event.
He’ll be candid about mistakes made and lessons learned. And he will muse about the future opportunities for Kelowna businesses in the post-pandemic tourism decade with an eye to 2030.
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Maximizing Your Investment - Membership 101 (Members only)
Friday, August 27 | 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM | Virtual
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Whether you are a new member or have been with us for awhile, you're free to join us on Friday August 27 at 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM for a (virtual) briefing for you and your team on how you can get the most out of your investment in membership with the Kelowna Chamber.
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September Business Smarts: Boost Your Business with Happiness
Tuesday, September 21 | 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM | Virtual
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Join us for this motivational and interactive online session and bring every leader on your team. You will learn from Tia Graham, the Founder of Arrive At Happy and be inspired by the science of happiness. Happy employees create happy, loyal customers. You will walk away with tactics that you can implement immediately following the session. Each participant will receive a worksheet and the Arrive At Happy Resource Kit.
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NEWS & EVENTS IN OUR NETWORK |
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BREAK into New Global Markets Online with ICE, Registration Now Open |
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The Kelowna Chamber is pleased to be working with World Trade Centre Vancouver to present Integrated e-Commerce Essentials (ICE), a workshop that helps businesses discover, learn, and create an integrated online strategy to drive global sales.
Discover, learn, and create an integrated online strategy to drive your global sales. 100% of ICE graduates stated that they are better equipped for e-commerce following the workshop and would recommend ICE to other SMEs.
Full Bursaries are available for Chamber members. Contact the Kelowna Chamber to learn more. Email: hello@kelownachamber.org
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Kelowna to Host Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan) Branch |
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The Federal Government has announced details of the newly established Pacific Economic Development Agency (PacifiCan) including a Kelowna branch office. Since the announcement in 2020 of a Regional Development Agency focusing on the needs of BC, regional partners including the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce have advocated for a central Okanagan office.
“We are pleased with the announcement as it recognizes the central Okanagan’s growing economic strength by establishing a branch of the new agency in the region” says Dan Rogers, Kelowna Chamber Executive Director. “Much work is still needed, though, to ensure all those involved in the economic development - whether they are government funded or privately funded as is the case with the Chamber of Commerce - work cohesively and efficiently to ensure a strong economic environment.”
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The Great Kelowna Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, August 14 | 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM | Downtown Kelowna
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The Great Kelowna Scavenger Hunt presented by Urban Elegance homes and hosted by Elevation Outdoors and the BC Wine, Cider and Spirits Festival is a day long event to support some of the many businesses impacted by COVID-19 while also raising funds for Elevation Outdoors and the Rotary Club of Kelowna Morningside in their efforts to make a positive impact in our community. Participants will receive clues to help them find the prizes that will be scattered all across the Downtown area. First group to find the locations wins the prize for that spot.
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Tourism and Hospitality Student Work Placement Program Now Open |
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Aimed squarely at the tourism and hospitality sector, Propel is a new initiative to help the hardest-hit sector recover from the devastating impacts of the pandemic. The latest addition to the Government of Canada’s Student Work Placement Program, Propel offers post-secondary students opportunities to develop the work-ready skills required to secure meaningful employment upon graduation. Qualifying employers are provided with a wage subsidy of up to $7,500 for each student hired through the program. The application process is now open; click the link below to learn more.
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Canadian Chamber of Commerce: Workplace of the Future |
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While getting through the immediate phase of the pandemic is top of mind for businesses and government, it is critical to start to plan now for the workplace of the future. Planning now will mean companies are better placed to accelerate a return to normal operations, which will ultimately generate business activity. The Canadian Chamber has released this Workplace of the Future document, to act as a catalyst to accelerate the journey towards the new normal. Getting Canadian businesses there means taking action now.
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Okanagan Olympians Shine in Japan |
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We couldn't let this e-news go by without giving a shoutout to Malindi Elmore, Jerome Blake, Kierra Smith and the many other regional Olympians for making us proud as they performed on the world stage in Tokyo, Japan. It was a record setting Olympics for Canada and particularly for Canada's women. The Paris Olympics are just three short years away.
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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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