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Message from the Vice-President
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Greetings! I am Robert Hacking, Vice-President of the Summerland Chamber of Commerce. I hope the summer has been a good one for you and your business!
If you hold a business license in Summerland, you are already a member of the Chamber. This means that even though the most visible aspects of what the chamber does might seem to be tourism and wineries; we advocate on behalf of all the diverse industries here in Summerland. Over the summer, the Chamber has been consulting with many of our key industries, including retail, technology, commercial agriculture, manufacturing, and other sectors.
This Fall, we will be diving deep into the information collected to build a comprehensive picture of our local job environment, our creators and our innovators; identifying critical needs and concerns of our members. The results of this project will be used to provide an accurate picture of our strengths and challenges, and to advocate identified solutions to our local, provincial, and federal governments.
Another project we undertake for our membership is providing a Federal All Candidate's meeting for the Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola Riding, which we are now a part of. Look for information about this very important event's location, date and time in the coming weeks.
Missed your chance to contribute at the sector meetings? No problem! We at the Chamber board would always like to hear from you. Contact us with your business successes, challenges, insight, or simply to say hello and thanks to our hardworking staff.
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Message from the Executive Director
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September will see the introduction of something new in our downtown area - a themed decorating plan called Harvest Days in Summerland. This initiative has been created by local residents, Linda Beaven and Maryann Dennison, and is sponsored by Summerland Rotary. Approx 25 businesses are already planning to participate and more are welcome.
Coordinated efforts of this kind are important in a community. They help us mark the seasons, they provide a sense of participation and cohesion in our main retail area, they create another reason for people to visit Summerland to shop and sightsee, they contribute to civic pride, they become part of our unique Summerland culture and they look amazing for residents and visitors alike.
Our downtown beautification seasons begin with hand painted banners created through the Summerland Arts Council. Flower baskets are also hung in the spring. The new fall displays will last through autumn. At the beginning of November the striking Remembrance Day banners are hung followed by the lights and snowflakes of the Christmas season.
The Chamber is currently working with the District to establish a formal calendar for the various changes, which will help with community promotion. Kudos to the many members of the community bringing forward these ideas and to the District of Summerland for supporting these beautification efforts.
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stepUP program accelerates entrepreneurs
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Accelerate Okanagan has expanded its program offering to further support the BC Southern Interior tech community. Developed for early stage entrepreneurs and career-changers, the stepUP Program supplies participants with the tools and resources to accelerate their idea to the next stage in their entrepreneurial journey.
stepUP is comprised of weekly sessions and seminars occurring from September to December 2015. Sessions are presented by community organizations as well as Accelerate Okanagan Executive in Residence mentors, partners, clients, and alumni. Each session is designed to educate the entrepreneur on the fundamentals essential to developing their startup.
Sessions Include:
* Entrepreneur Support Ecosystem
* Startup Basics: Legal & Accounting
* Value Proposition and Customer Discovery
* Turn your Idea into Reality: Prototyping and Testing
* Startup Basics: Project Management
* Legal: Protecting your Business
* Product and Market Fit
* Startup Basics: Metrics
* Hiring Contractors and Creating Contracts
* CEO vs. Co-Founder
* Funding Mechanics for Startups
* Perfecting Your Business Pitch
* Introduction to the Business Model Generation.
Please click
here
for session schedule and registration information. Each session is $25. Space is limited, so please register early!
Can't make it to Kelowna? Register to watch a live webinar of each scheduled session.
*Students, Accelerate Okanagan Members and Clients receive 20% registration discount. Email [email protected] for a special discount code to use when registering.
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| Small Business BC and the Province of British Columbia launch MyBizDay tour |
Throughout the fall, including during Small Business Month, Small Business BC will reach over 300 small business owners and entrepreneurs in the growing business hubs of the Thompson Okanagan, Northern B.C. and Vancouver Island through the launch of the new MyBizDay tour.
This full-day event connects small business owners to the programs and resources that are available to entrepreneurs. Attendees will have the opportunity to access information and support through a mix of education, interactive panel sessions, exhibitors and networking.
"Small businesses are critical to the economic health of every community in B.C. and we are delighted to partner with the Province of British Columbia to help strengthen small business across B.C.," says George Hunter, CEO of Small Business BC. "The MyBizDay events help entrepreneurs learn from successful local business owners and discover the tools and resources paramount to achieving long-term success."
MyBizDay is free to attend and will engage communities in
Kelowna at Laurel Packing House on September 16, 2015.
Topics to be covered by this year's industry experts include:
* Small business resources - presented by Small Business BC
* Market research - presented by Small Business BC
* Digital marketing - presented by Yellow Pages
* Technology at work - presented by Neil Squire Society
* Accounting - presented by Grant Thornton
* Overcoming business challenges - Interactive Panel Session.
"The upcoming MyBizDays in Kelowna, Prince George and Nanaimo will be great forums to talk about what makes entrepreneurs tick. Through our government's Small Business Accord we are making B.C. the most small-business friendly jurisdiction in Canada by helping give small business owners the resources they need so they can focus on what they do best - create jobs and spur innovation," said the Honourable Coralee Oakes, Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction.
The public and small business community is encouraged to join Small Business BC on the MyBizDay tour in Kelowna for a day of networking, discussion and education.
For more information, visit the
website
.
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New BC Government service aims to help agrifoods sector
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 For anyone looking to start or grow their agrifoods business, accessing information is now easier with AgriService BC. The new service links individuals to comprehensive information to help you succeed in the agrifoods sector.
AgriService BC can quickly connect you to programs and information that includes:
* Starting a new farm and effectively marketing your products.
* Hiring and supervising workers.
* Developing marketing plans and expanding your business.
* Responding to risks - resources available to help protect your business.
* Learning how to manage water and other resources effectively.
There are 20,000 family farms in the provincial agrifoods sector providing a vital role in B.C.'s food security and economy.
The B.C. agrifoods sector includes primary production in agriculture, sustainable aquaculture industry, commercial fisheries, and the processing of food and beverages. The sector generates almost $12 billion in combined gross revenues and in 2013 B.C. exported $2.7 billion worth of products to more than 140 markets.
More details about AgriService BC are available
online
.
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Preferential rates for your merchant credit and debit card services
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VersaPay is a leading provider of merchant credit and debit card services. The company offers custom solutions, local support, and an easy-to-use electronic invoicing and payment platform.
VersaPay offers BC Chamber members preferential processing rates on Visa, MasterCard, debit and e-commerce.
VersaPay has been partnered with the BC Chamber of Commerce for over 5 years and proudly offers members customized solutions to fit specific needs as well as PCI Compliance solutions in partnership with Kubera Payments Corporation.
VersaPay offers BC Chamber members exclusive e-commerce, credit and debit processing rates.
- 24/7 customer support & training
- no hidden fees or surcharges
- tailored to any size of business
- no switching bank accounts - VersaPay handles everything for you.
For more details visit the
website.
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Sessions and seminars
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Not just Surviving but Thriving on the Job: Tips and Tools for Women in Trades
Tuesday, September 15, 2015 | 10 am to 11 am (PST)
If you're a woman working in the construction trades, or thinking about a career in construction, the Women's Enterprise Centre invites you to join this free phone-in Mentor Advisory Forum. Learn from experienced women business owners, who have owned and operated construction companies, and receive tips and tools to help you stay positive and to grow in your career.
You will gain information about successful strategies that will help you to take an active part in shaping the construction site workplace culture. This phone-in session will also provide you with an opportunity to ask our panelists questions about working in trades.
Host: Dora Jessen, Women's Enterprise Centre.
Panelists:
- Betty Barton, Owner Barton Construction, Terrace, BC
- Lisa Langevin, BC representative for Build Together
- Laila McMillan, WaterMark Design, Victoria, BC.
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Small Business BC Seminar Series
Small Business BC continues its series of seminars throughout September. The seminars are offered at their offices in Vancouver and online by webinar. Prices range from $29-$69.
Seminar topics for this month include Business Finance, Retail Distribution, Marketing Essentials, and Small Business Sales Strategies
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Reading Room
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New Ministry as part of BC Cabinet Shuffle
The shuffle to the Cabinet was relatively small, but of particular importance is the appointment of The Hon. Coralee Oakes as the newly created Minister of Small Business, Red Tape Reduction and Minister Responsible for Liquor Distribution Branch. This Ministry is a recognition of the importance of small business to the province and places it as a priority for the government.
Futurpreneur Canada launches new interactive website
Did you know how valuable a mentor could be for the success of a young entrepreneur? Or, d
id you know that 70% of jobs in Canada come from small businesses? Futurpreneur Canada has just launched a new interactive website to teach and inspire Canadians about entrepreneurship and mentoring. Check out
FuturImpact.ca
to discover more interesting facts and inspire those around you by sharing them within your networks!
Setting up your device to use CRA online services
T
he Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) regularly updates its security protocols to safeguard the confidential information it holds.
Over the next two years, the computing industry will eliminate certain security protocols that are more than 10 years old and so the Agency is planning to phase out older software versions.
Therefore, the CRA encourages users to upgrade to TLS 1.2 or newer to avoid issues related to accessing CRA secure services or other services on the Internet.
Visit the
Setting up your device to use CRA online services
webpage for more information.
Changes to Serving it Right effective September 15, 2015
Of the 73 changes announced in the Liquor Policy Review in January 2014, a number impact Serving It Right (SIR) requirements for licensees, managers, sales and service staff. By September 15, 2015, exemptions will be removed and a number of new licensees, managers, sales and service staff will have to have SIR certification, including those in: food primary establishments (all servers); wine stores (licensees, managers and staff); rural agency stores (all agents and staff); and Liquor Primary Clubs (unpaid servers). There are also new requirements around special events.
In addition, all SIR certificates will have a 5-year validity period, after which they will expire and need to be renewed. Any current SIR certificates without an expiry date will be deemed to have expired on September 15, 2020.
For more details regarding these changes please click
here
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A Nation of Innovators: 2015 Canadian emerging companies' survey
A recent report on Canadian startups suggests that while they're not immune to the common challenges new businesses face, Canada's entrepreneurs "have repeatedly shown their capacity to overcome obstacles and continue to grow." Hence the report's title: A nation of innovators.
Published by PwC, the report surveys the Canadian entrepreneurial environment and spotlights the views of 150 startup CEOs on topics like funding, workplace culture, retaining talent and exit planning.
Here are a few of its most interesting findings: r
evenue is on the rise; there is an i
ncrease in women in charge;
9 out of 10 plan to exit their business within the next six years.
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| New members |
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A warm welcome to our newest members:
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District of Summerland News
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Summerland Encourages Water Conservation
Although Summerland's reservoirs are not in distress at this time, extreme hot, dry weather conditions, with no relief in the near future, have forced the Province to declare the Okanagan Valley as Drought Level 4, which is the highest possible rating. The District is taking proactive measures to ensure the water supply is not depleted. These initiatives encourage residents to reduce their use and include moving to Stage 2 watering restrictions, an extensive conservation awareness campaign, and meetings with agricultural users to promote best watering practices.
Residents are asked to think about conserving water in everyday routines such as taking shorter showers, turning the water off while brushing teeth or washing vegetables, and putting a jug of water in the fridge instead of running water until it is cold. Small changes can make big differences when everyone participates.
For more details click
here
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Cultural Task Force Seeks input
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| Member Benefit Chamber Group Insurance Plan |
| Tourism Summerland on Instagram |
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