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Message from the President
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This month we gather together as a business community to celebrate Small Business Week, which is earmarked for October 18th through the 24th.
Small business is defined as businesses that have 1-99 employees and the collective impact of this group of employers at a national level is significant. Today, there are 1.1 million small businesses in Canada who employ 64% of the Canadian workforce.
Interestingly enough the event got its start right here in British Columbia's Lower Mainland in 1979 when the Federal Business Development Bank, the precursor to the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), brought entrepreneurs together for a week of skills training.
This week long event has become a celebration of Canadian entrepreneurs and a recognition of the significant impact small business has on our economy.
With the involvement of Chambers and other business organizations this has become a truly national event. Across the country there are a variety of functions held during the week including conferences, workshops, luncheons and trade fairs, with the intent of bringing together small business owners and entrepreneurs to provide them with opportunities to learn, share ideas and socialize with their peers.
As a Chamber we are here to support small business in our community in any way we can. Check out the new chamber website for upcoming events and the services we offer for our business members. On behalf of our board of directors, many of whom are small business owners themselves, thank you for everything you do!
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Message from the Executive Director
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In honor of Small Business Week, Summerland will conduct its first ever Business Walk event on October 22nd. Business Walks were first initiated in Canada in 2012 by the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission. Since that time business walks have been conducted in many BC and Alberta communities and the majority of Okanagan communities.
The goal of a business walk is to provide an informal opportunity to connect with businesses face-to-face and take the pulse of the business community. On October 22
nd, Chamber Board members will team up with Summerland's Municipal Council to visit a number of local businesses in the James Lake, Bentley Road and Logie Road areas as well as downtown to ask some brief questions. We anticipate being able to reach over 100 local businesses in a half day.
Following the visits, the Chamber will create a report indicating common themes raised by the business community. Working together with Mayor and Council will provide us with an opportunity to celebrate and promote local businesses and provide our business members with an opportunity to share their views and build new relationships. This is a great way to celebrate Small Business Week.
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BC Chamber announces new President & CEO
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The Board of Directors of the British Columbia Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the appointment of Jon Garson as their new President and CEO.
Jon has dedicated over a decade of his career to the Chamber of Commerce movement. First as Director, Policy Development and Communication then as Vice president, Policy Development and Government Relations. Jon has been at the forefront of placing the BC Chamber of Commerce as the foremost business advocacy organization in the province.
As a recognised leader in public policy, Jon will ensure that the BC Chamber of Commerce will strengthen its role as the voice of business in BC. The Board of Directors were particularly impressed with Jon's vision for growing membership in the chamber network to better serve businesses in communities across the province.
We look forward to Jon's work and vision of moving the BC Chamber forward and taking advantage of the unique opportunities in the current business environment in British Columbia.
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Accelerate Okanagan offers programs as part of Small Business Month
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Accelerate Okanagan is offering services in October to help small businesses answer pressing questions.
As part of the Startup Basics program Accelerate Okanagan offers courses to develop fundamental entrepreneurial skills either as a package or individually. On October 7th from 5.30 -7.00 pm in Kelowna the
Startup Basics: Project Management
program t
o develop the skills to organize a project team and delegate tasks and make sure your project is a success from start to finish!
In addition, on every third Thursday of the month, Accelerate Okanagan's Partners will be in house to provide FREE legal & financial advice for your tech startup as part of their Expert Access initiative. The next session is on October 15th from 9 am - 12 pm in Kelowna and you can take advantage of this service by booking a 45 minute appointment up to 3-days in advance.
Potential discussion topics include: 
- Co-founder Agreements
- Basic Legal Issues and Documents for Early Stage Companies
- Patent and IP Protection
- Confidentiality, and Protection of Company Interests
- Business Plan Preparation and the Financial Components
- Understanding Financial Statements
- Bringing in Investors
- Structuring your Company - for Now and Future Growth
- Ensuring Compliance with Employment Laws
- and handling Conflict.
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Employers' Advisors Seminars
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Employers' Advisers offer
free educational seminars on the workers' compensation system.
Seminars are held at locations throughout the province including Kelowna and support the work of
WorkSafeBC
.
Some of the seminars on offer are:
- Bill 14 - Understanding Mental Disorder Claims Toggle. Accident Investigation
- Focus on Assessments
Toggle. Bullying and Harassment in the Workplace - What you need to know
- Claims Management Module 1 - Introduction
- Claims Management Module 2 - Stay at Work/Return to Work
- Claims Management Module 3 - Preparing a Written Submission
- Claims Management Module 4 - Preparing for an Oral Hearing
- Customized Seminar
- Due Diligence for Employers
- Intro to WorkSafeBC & Employment Standards
- Intro to WorkSafeBC
- Joint OHS Committee
- OHS Program Requirements
- Risk Assessment
- Small Business and WorkSafeBC
- Young/New Worker Orientation.
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iSTAND - Supporting women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
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The first event of iSTAND - a UBC Okanagan initiative to support women in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields - takes place in Kelowna on October 7 from 8 am - 4 pm.
Do you chalk your accomplishments as a fluke or "no big deal? Do you think, "If I can do it, anyone can"? Do you feel like you're just fooling your professors? If so, it's called the Impostor Syndrome.
The day will include a panel discussion with STEM and community professionals - including Women's Enterprise Centre CEO, Laurel Douglas - followed by interactive breakout sessions. World-renowned expert on the Impostor Syndrome, Dr. Valerie Young
will speak to provide advice on how to deal with this issue.
Dr. Young has spoken to tens of thousands of students, faculty, and staff at over 80 colleges and universities including Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, Cornell, and Cal Tech. The author of The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women (Random House), her advice has appeared in dozens of major publications around the world. She'll lead a dynamic session packed full of practical strategies for interrupting needless self-doubt.
Tickets: Professionals $80; Students $50
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Reading Room
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B.C. communities just a few clicks away for global investors
Communities, First Nations and businesses in British Columbia now have a platform to market their investment opportunities to the world. The newest addition to B.C.'s international website is a portal to attract global investors to opportunities throughout the province and discover new regions.
ITA Newsletter
The Industry Training Authority has a new newsletter,
Trades Talk: Your Ticket. Your Stories.
The newsletter, which is published quarterly, covers everything trades related in BC. If you're an employer, apprentice, trades trainer, career counselor, or just interested in industry training and the trades, you'll find stories that matter in Trades Talk.
Read the newsletter
HERE.
B.C. invests $2.2 million to promote new uses for wood
The B.C. government is investing $2.2 million in the Wood First program to promote the use of B.C. wood both locally and internationally, and help advance innovative wood-building systems and value-added wood products.
READ MORE.
BC Wine Institute promotes "Be Label Conscious" with funding
The British Columbia Wine Institute (BCWI) is raising a glass to thank British Columbians for their loyalty to BC VQA wines. To build and strengthen relationships with consumers, the BCWI is receiving $100,000 of Buy Local funding to market BC VQA wines in the province. READ MORE.
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| New members |
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A warm welcome to our newest members:
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Member & Community Hosted Events
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