May 5 | 2020
BUSINESS SMARTS WEBINAR - THURSDAY MAY 7
How Mindfulness Reduces Stress
@ 9:30am - 10:30am

Guest Speaker:
IWONA SIENKO , RN, BScN, MBA,

Gain tools and foster a deeper understanding of mindfulness to reduce stress during this difficult time. Iwona is a trained and experienced coach, consultant, and lifelong mindfulness practitioner.

No charge to participate but registration is required.
TOP FORTY UNDER 40 - THIS WEEK'S NOMINEES
CHRIS STEPHENS - Twirling Umbrellas
Since Chris Stephens founded Twirling Umbrellas five years ago, it has become one of Kelowna's fastest-growing marketing agencies. Originally from Winnipeg, Chris moved to Kelowna twelve years ago just before his eldest son was born. As a busy entrepreneur and single father of two boys, Chris also finds time to help better the community. He teaches at the Centre for Arts and Technology, participates in UBC's Capstone program and provides internships to local students interested in business, marketing and design.

Twirling Umbrellas is also involved in the community, sponsoring and participating in local events for the United Way, Creative Okanagan, Heart and Stroke Foundation and more.
STEVEN MORRISON - Farris LLP

Steven has been working in Kelowna at Farris LLP since moving back home from a law firm in Calgary back in 2016. As a solicitor in Farris’ corporate and solicitor practice groups, Steven practices in the areas of corporate/business and commercial law, real estate, banking, financing, securities and wills and estates.

He also gratefully serves on the board of directors for the United Way of the Southern Interior BC and the YMCA of Okanagan. He is often recognized for his significant community involvement, including his work with University of British Columbia Okanagan Heat Athletics, alumniUBC, Okanagan College Basketball Program, and as a co-leader of November Project Kelowna.
Find resources, support your community, come together.
We are in this together and collaboration, innovation and cooperation will see us through to better days. Our health professionals and first responders are doing their part, now it is up to the rest of us to say “OK, we got this”.
NEWS
B.C. Government Creates COVID-19 Temporary Layoff Period

Some good news from the province today for small businesses that were concerned about the 13-week layoff provisions in the Employment Standards Act. The province has relaxed the rules somewhat for employers who've had to reduce their workforce due to COVID-19 announcing that the temporary layoff period under the ESA has been extended from 13 to 16 weeks. Previously, the classification would have changed from temporary layoff to "permanent layoff" at the 13 week mark, which would have required employers to provide written working notice of termination and/or severance pay. Now it's been extended to 16 weeks.  READ MORE

Official B.C. Opposition Leader to Hold Virtual Townhall on Tuesday May 5th.

Small businesses have been hit especially hard during COVID-19. Paying rent, trying to find solutions for employees who were laid off or are still being paid from dwindling savings, navigating the massive amounts of information regarding temporary benefits and supports — none of this is easy.

On Tuesday Opposition Leader Andrew Wilkinson is extending an invitation to small business owners to participate in a virtual telephone townhall with small businesses from around the province. It begins at 3:30 pm. Its being billed as an opportunity for you to share your concerns, issues, and ideas. For more info check out www.teletownhall.eventbrite.ca
 

Interior Savings Pledges $150,000 to Help Non-Profits through Pandemic

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to create financial, social and emotional challenges in our communities, Interior Savings Credit Union, a proud President’s Circle Member of the Kelowna Chamber has stepped up its support for non-profits. Many of the non-profits are being called upon to fill an increased need for food and basic essentials; to spend more on cleaning supplies and to invest in new technology to serve their clients. 

In response to this urgent need, Interior Savings is pledging $150,000 to help non-profits adapt their operations to continue providing essential services. This support will be delivered through a number of measures, the most significant of which is a $100,000 Community Relief Fund.

BC in decent shape, according to economist

BC has a chance to emerge financially better from the COVID-19 pandemic than every other Canadian province, according to one of the country’s leading economists.

Douglas Porter, BMO’s chief economist and managing director, said that the province has a variety of factors going for it when it comes to dealing with the worst economic disaster to hit the planet in the last century.

Porter sees the province ending up in the middle of the pack when it comes to the pandemic’s negative economic impact; he projects BC’s gross domestic product to drop by 5.5% in 2020. The provinces that are getting the double whammy of the pandemic and oil woes—Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland and Labrador—will be hardest hit, according to Porter. READ THE FULL STORY (via OkanaganEdge).
Member Milestones
The Kelowna Chamber would like to thank the following members for their long-standing partnership as we build a better Okanagan business community.

30 years
  • Dilworth Quality Homes Inc.
  • Kelowna Steel Fabricators Ltd.
 
25 years
  • Days Inn – Kelowna
  • Central Okanagan Community Food Bank
 
20 years
  • FH&P LLP
  • People In Motion
  • Kelowna Transmission & Auto Repair
  • Protech Consulting 2012
  • Sutton-Hymark Realty
 
15 years
  • Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers Society
FROM THE CANADIAN CHAMBER
Keeping Essential Workers and Goods Moving by Air Today and Tomorrow
The effects of COVID-19 are being felt around the world in all industries, and airports are no exception. With commercial flights slashed by 90 percent or more, and some airlines temporarily halting all service, at first it may appear that airports have become redundant. In fact, the opposite is true. 

Although airports are serving only a small fraction of their usual numbers of customers, they are perhaps even more important than ever, supporting the delivery of essential services, personnel and supplies to communities across the country. READ FULL STORY
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KELOWNA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | kelownachamber.org