TRADE ACCELERATOR PROGRAM 
Offered by KELOWNA CHAMBER in partnership with the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade 
 
New trade agreements and a competitive Canadian dollar make it an ideal time to extend your company's reach through the export of goods and services. Participating organizations in the 2015 program saw an average international sales growth of 70% within one year of completing the program.

Full bursaries available for Chamber members; also open to non-members for a nominal charge.
 
Take your business to the next level, by applying for the program now.   
 
Scheduled for April 18, May 24 and May 25 

POLICY ALERT: The Kelowna Chamber has been working closely with a number of our members and the City of Kelowna Planning Department on the City's newly revised sign by-law.  The city was open to listening to our concerns and we're pleased to have been able to move the dial from a position of conflict and negative business impact to a much more acceptable rewriting of the language to address many of our members' concerns.
 
The final by-law reading is expected in late January or early February, and the Chamber is optimistic Council will endorse the new language.  
 
For more info on current Chamber Policies CLICK HERE   
Second Call for Nominations - Chamber Board of Directors
New January  Event
All-Candidates Forum Announcement
Wednesday January 31, 2018

The Westbank  Lions  Community Centre, West Kelowna
6:00 p.m. check in - Forum begins at 6:30 p.m.
Four Candidates for Kelowna-West MLA By-election are invited:
  • Ben Stewart, Liberal Party
  • Robert Stupka, Greens Party
  • Shelley Cook, NDP
  • Kyle Geronazzo, Libertarian Party

 Come listen to the candidates answer questions of importance and relevance
Event is co-hosted by the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Westside Board of Trade
Information on all candidates will be posted very soon on the Kelowna Chamber website.

 
Sponsorship Opportunities for Members
Mark Wednesday May 30, 2018 on your Calendar!

It's still January, but the 33rd annual Chamber Golf Tournament presented by Costco Wholesale is now open for registration.  

Shout-out to Fripp Warehousing. Claire Fripp was first out of the gate, confirming Fripp's sponsorship of Hole #6 at the Harvest plus two foursomes.
 
Don't wait too long to let us know YOU are interested - we will sell out early.
 
For more information, please CONTACT US .

If you're looking for access to the Okanagan business community and thought leaders, there is no better way than in partnership with the Kelowna Chamber!.  
 
Lease Announcement!

On or about July 1st, 2018
544 Harvey Avenue, Kelowna
Former Tourism Info Centre
 
No, the Chamber isn't moving - we need a new tenant to join us at our location after tourism moves out.
 
 Approximately 117 square metres plus: 94 SQM common space
Ample parking; downtown core; Ellis & Harvey
Preferred use: tourism or not-for-profit related. 
 
Contact Dan Rogers, Executive Director, to express interest.
telephone 250-469-7356

December's New Members 


 
January Member News
  • Campion Marine won the 2017 Award for Best Environmental Initiative at Amsterdam's METSTRADE show in November, a top international Environmental Award. Well done to our long-time member!
  • YLW soared to new (statistical) heights in 2017 - 1.9M passengers (nearly), a 9.3% increase over 2016. Our congratulations to the entire YLW team.    
  • Bowman Employment emailed us new information on FundCONNECT, a program to underwrite a portion of youth wages - telling us that additional funding has been released for hiring and training. Go to  www.getyouthworking.ca for more information.
  • The Chartered Professionals in Human Resources sends us their monthly article for members on managing stress at work. 

HOLD THE DATE: April 12, 2018 

2018 Presidents Dinner & Auction

 
We are pulling out all the gala stops for this brand-new event on our calendar.
 
On April 12th we are celebrating our many volunteers! Join us as we salute our outgoing volunteer Past President, Ken Carmichael, who has dedicated the better part of a decade to sitting on our Board.   
 
BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP
More on how you can purchase a ticket for this event in the weeks to come but for now we are looking for a few market-savvy organizations that would like to donate an auction item for this gala.   
 
Aside from this great brand promotion opportunity at the event you will also receive mentions in all promotional material leading up to and at the dinner.  All it takes is a donation of a gift basket or product valued at a minimum of $80-$100.
   
If you would like to participate, just send us a note and we will take it from there. email.  
 
February Luncheon Reminder

The Business of Cannabis

Canada's cannabis industry is young, entrepreneurial, rapidly evolving, and brimming with potential.

The market has surged over the years, creating an entrepreneurial industry. Now that recreational cannabis use is firmly entrenched on the horizon of July 1st, 2018, it's time to wrap our heads around how to manage the change; how to get our regulations right; and how the emerging industry will affect and improve business right here at home.
Come to this in-depth session and hear three experts offer guidance, cautions and outline their road map for the future.
PETER GUO
MNP
FOCUS: Policy, Risk Management and business processes

 
DAVID CRAM
  Faculty of Business Administration, Okanagan College
FOCUS: The impact on business & our economy
   
 
DAVID BROWN
Kent Employment Law   
FOCUS:  What business owners & operators need to know  
He calls legal cannabis a potential legal "quagmire" for employers and employees alike.  
 
  Sponsored in part by                                                                             Luncheon Series Sponsor
Last call for nominees!
Nominate an outstanding "under 40" individual in the community or self-nominate now. The Program ends June 6, and time is running out.

Honourees are selected by an independent judging panel and featured in the Kelowna Daily Courier, in Okanagan Edge and on AM1150 every week. 
                                                                    
For more information, and the Nomination Form, CLICK HERE . 


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