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Welcome to our new members
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Message from the President
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This year we’re celebrating the 79th Annual Summerland Business and Community Awards. The awards gala is one of the longest running events in Summerland's history and the Chamber is proud to be the presenter.
Over the past few years I've had the pleasure of emceeing the event. It's always a fun evening and a great opportunity to connect with others in the business community.
There have been changes over the years and this year is no exception. We have added 3 new awards – an arts award, a customer service award and an agricultural excellence award. As well, the venue is new this year. We're having an "Oscar-style" gala (hopefully without the envelope mix-up) at Centre Stage Theatre. The change of venue has increased the number of available tickets.
Join us on March 11th for networking, entertainment, delicious appetizers, and a signature cocktail.
Please call the Chamber office for tickets at (250) 494-2686. See you there.
Erick Thompson
, President
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Message from the Executive Director
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In the past few years, the Chamber has worked with the District of Summerland and other Okanagan communities as we explore ag tech opportunities for our region. Each community has particular strengths and as a whole our region is well positioned to grow in the ag tech sector.
A South Okanagan study completed this past October showed that agriculture is our greatest area of local strength and within that sector, our areas of key competitive advantage include food processing, wineries/viticulture and bio-products.
The Chamber has recently received grant funding through the Rural Dividend Fund to study the feasibility of having an agricultural business incubator located in Summerland. An incubator would promote innovation and growth in our entire region, encourage entrepreneurship in a key business sector and ultimately create jobs.
A tall order, but we think it’s doable. We’ll update you in a few months when the study is completed.
Christine Petkau, Executive Director
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Water Shut-off
A Communications Centre will be set up at the Summerland Aquatic Centre (13205 Kelly Avenue) on Saturday and Sunday
between 9:00am – 3:00pm. If you have questions about the water supply, or would like an update – please drop by. Staff will be on hand to answer your questions.
You may contact staff at the Communications Centre during these hours by calling 250-486-3765.
Residents and business owners may also contact this number during business hours prior to the
weekend shutoff if you have questions about the project.
There is a Boil Water Advisory in affect until further notice.
Please check our Facebook page tomorrow for changes in operations for our downtown businesses during the water shut-off from March 3-5.
More Information
To keep up-to-date on the District's plans
click here
.
Click here for the District's emergency preparedness page.
Please do not hesitate to contact Devon van der Meulen, Manager of Utilities at 250-404-4075 or email dvandermeulen@summerland.ca with any questions or concerns.
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What’s on BC’s Mind – 2017 Provincial Election Survey
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The BC Chamber is committed to driving insights to our partners, government and each other. In pursuit of this goal, they are seeking to know what’s on YOUR mind for B.C.’s upcoming 2017 provincial election. These insights inform their advocacy efforts on behalf of B.C.’s business community.
The
survey will take 8-10 minutes to complete.
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2017 is the Year of Sustainable Tourism
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The United Nations has decreed 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism. The aim is to provide a myriad of opportunities for businesses to create lasting and positive change and economic growth in the communities they operate within.
What can you do?
- Raise awareness by getting the word out that sustainable tourism can have a huge impact
- Promote the tools to monitor and measure your business’s positive (and negative) impacts
- Consider implementing educational strategies that promote the contribution of your tourism business to development.
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Innovation Tour comes to Kelowna
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In early 2017, the
BC Innovation Council will be hosting a regional tour, the Regional Innovation Opportunities tour, in select cities throughout the province.
This Regional Innovation Opportunities tour will be a platform for industry, government, and regional stakeholders to communicate and discuss their innovation challenges with BC researchers, companies and entrepreneurs.
One of these events will be held this Friday, March 3 from 12:15 pm - 4:15 pm at the Coast Capri Hotel in Kelowna.
Details here.
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Would your business benefit from the Student Co-Op & Internship Programs
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The positive impact of increasing international visitor numbers to B.C. is supported in a new study of the economic value of tourism to British Columbia: Several organizations, including TOTA and Destination BC, covered the news from the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training.
READ MORE.
Learn more for your business: Find your focus with these twelve not-to-be-missed seminars, being offered this month at Small Business BC.
Construction starts on new trades centre at TRU: Ground was officially broken to mark the start of construction for the new $30-million Industrial Training and Technology Centre at Thompson Rivers University (TRU). This centre will provide more training opportunities for trades people in the region.
READ MORE
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Looking for an office space to call your own?
We have two offices available in a convenient location, with 24 hour access, storage, parking and more starting at $375 per month. Learn more
here.
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Every Tuesday
MLA Dan Ashton's office is available Tuesdays for drop-ins from 9 am - noon at 10122B Main Street, Summerland. (Note change of address.)
March
Cherry Tree Quilts Classes & Workshops
Cherry Tree Quilts has a number of classes and workshops starting in March including
Machine Quilting with Linda King, a
Kids Camp, and a Breakfast Club. Call 250-494-1313 to register or sign up
online.
March 1
Friends of the Summerland Ornamental Gardens AGM
7-9 pm
The short AGM meeting will be followed by the presentation, Exploring New Gardening Trends.
March 1 & 8
Have you ever wanted to...
The Arts Centre
7-9 pm, $15 with a $5 materials fee
Try something new. You don’t need any experience, you can be creative while having fun. March 1 Zentangling/March 8 Oil pastels
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March 1, 8 & 15
Print Making - After School Art Program
3.15-5.15 pm, $36 for 3 sessions
The Arts Centre
March 11
79th annual Summerland
Business & Community Excellence Awards
Centre Stage
7-11 pm, $30
Celebrate with this year's
award nominees over appies, with live entertainment and a signature cocktail.
March 30
Chamber AGM & Tourism Showcase
5-7 pm
Summerland Waterfront Resort & Spa
Join the Chamber for their
Annual General Meeting, while learning more about local tourism events and attractions.
Email
us to submit an event to the Calendar.
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Summerland Chamber of Commerce | 250-494-2686 | summerlandchamber.com
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