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Dan Rogers
Executive Director
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And so, it's
February
. Chamber Week is coming up February 19-23, but really, it's Chamber month here at the Kelowna Chamber. We co-hosted an All-Candidates Forum for the Kelowna-West by-election; are assisting with another (see below); hosting our usual raft of engaging and informative events - from finding out about the Business of Cannabis, to our Business Smarts, to having a KPMG-sponsored post-budget breakfast briefing the morning after the provincial budget is tabled February 20th. For more info visit our website or give us a call to get involved.
I also want to highlight a brand-new event we'll talk more about in our next newsletter: our Presidents Dinner on Thursday April 12. This is a chance for our Chamber to thank our volunteers, our Board, our presidents, incoming, outgoing, and past; and feature our Ambassador of the Year, and our Volunteer of the Year. In order to help cover some of the costs of this volunteer recognition event, we are seeking some community minded businesses who could provide a Silent Auction Item. This is a stellar opportunity for you to promote your product and/or services while helping your Chamber celebrate our many volunteers!
A donated item/service will garner attention and bids throughout the gala evening event. To find out how to be featured, or book a ticket to attend, send us an email. More details to follow.
Finally, because your Chamber is about much more than events - we know some of you have trouble getting away from your office or family - we are bringing you information and articles of interest in your business lives. Let us know what you think. Our mission is to engage you in our ongoing business conversations.
Regards,
Dan
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Final Call for Nominations - Chamber Board of Directors
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Nominations for Directors close at 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday February 6, 2018.
Click here f
or the nomination form. For more information on the Board and the 2018 nomination and voting process, go to our
webpage.
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Luncheon: "The Business of Cannabis"
Panel Presentation with Peter Guo, David Cram & David Brown.
Friday February 14, Coast Capri Hotel 11:15 am - 1:30 pm; Check-in &
Buffet lunch at 11:15 am
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Special General Meeting
Kelowna Chamber
All members welcome, no charge to attend
RE: Notice of Motion to Amend Bylaws
Friday, February 14
Coast Capri Hotel 12:00-12:05 pm
Registration of Voting Members begins at 11:15 am; Buffet lunch for all begins at 11:15 am; General registration begins at 11:15 am.
Luncheon Panel begins immediately after Special General Meeting at 12:05 pm. (Ticket purchase required, above.)
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Business Roundtable on Economy
Calista
Cheung
Regional Director BC & the Yukon, Bank of Canada
Friday February 16, Kelowna Yacht Club 7:30-9:30 am.
$25 + GST. Continental Breakfast followed by Presentation & Q&A.
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Post-Provincial Budget Briefing Breakfast
Nicole Watson & Judith Kaplan, KPMG
Dan Rogers, Kelowna Chamber of Commerce
Tuesday February 20 - 7:30 am - 9:30 am
Prestige Beach House. Includes hot Buffet Breakfast: $25 members; $30 non-members.
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Business Smarts: Advanced Performance Dynamics for Business - with Christine Patton of Power Within
Tuesday February 20 - 12 noon - 1:00 pm
Kelowna Chamber Boardroom
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Commerce Connex
T
hursday February 22 - 5:00 - 7:00 pm
Kelowna Hyundai
3260 Highway 97 North, Kelowna
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Spring Sponsorship
Opportunities for Members
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If you're seeking a business sponsorship platform
We offer unique opportunities around our many events, our signature programs, and other influential activities. Right now, our list includes:
Luncheon February 14 "The Business of Cannabis" -
Introducing the Panel; supporting sponsorships.
Luncheon March 13: AGM Keynote: Renee Wasylyk, CEO Troika Developments recently named one of Canada's Most Powerful Women.
All sponsorship levels available
Luncheon April 25: Business Recovery & Emergency Response for Municipalities. With Adam Legge, former CEO Calgary Chamber of Commerce; Ron Mattiussi, City Manager, City of Kelowna.
All sponsorship levels available.
Luncheon June 15: Keynote address from Deputy Commissioner of E District RCMP Brenda Butterworth-Carr. First woman, and the first aboriginal woman to be appointed to this post.
Thanking the Speaker and supporting sponsorship levels available.
Golf Tournament: May 30, 2018 The Harvest
Many sponsorship levels currently available.
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.
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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 Kelowna 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.
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All Candidates Forum - Tomorrow!
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The community is invited to meet the Kelowna-West candidates for the upcoming February 14th by-election.
Friday, February 2 in Kelowna.
This all-candidates forum will be held in the Okanagan Innovation Centre Theatre - main floor 460 Doyle Avenue. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. with candidates' opening statements at 12 noon sharp, followed by Q&A until 1:00 p.m.
The Forum is sponsored in part by the Okanagan Young Professionals, and offers an opportunity to get to know the candidates in a more intimate environment than some of the larger forums.
Following our co-hosted Forum Wednesday January 31 with the Greater Westside Board of Trade, this Friday event promises even more opportunities to get to know the candidates.
See the Candidates bios & answers to eight key questions online here.re h
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WestJet Airlines has added new flights to Kelowna and Penticton as part of a general schedule expansion. Kelowna International Airport will see seven new flights a week from Vancouver and two more each week from Calgary, plus additional flights from Edmonton. Calgary-Penticton flights will increase as well, as service between Vancouver and Kelowna grows to 49 flights weekly.
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Mullins Design Group has been creating award winning custom home designs since 1996. A Kelowna Chamber member since 2007, Mullins has something new to celebrate in 2019 - a free Chamber membership! By paying their 2018 member fees early, they were automatically entered into our contest to win next year's membership - and their name was drawn last week. We congratulate them - and thank them for their ten years+ of belonging to the largest, and most active Chamber in Interior BC and one of the ten most dynamic chambers in Canada.
- Cedar Creek Winery has shifted into Valentine's Day gear with numerous winery specials: what could be better than chocolate and wine? See their special email here.
- Boyd Autobody reports getting a Gold ARA Certification, and that their Rutland location is the recipient of the Gold Plus status. Boyd is excited to be an industry leader.
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Playtime Entertainment has re-branded their newly upgraded and updated casino property on Water Street in Kelowna at the Delta Grand. New almost-everything, including their branded pub "Match". Opening early March, this is a terrific addition to the downtown entertainment community. They invite you to stop by once everything is ready - although they have remained open throughout the renos they've now upped their game!
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One of our Past Chamber Directors sent us this story - he thought it would be of interest to members.
We thank him for the story (copied from the LinkedIn of Daimler Benz's Managing Director, Jonathan Braithwaite). He called it, "An interesting concept of what could lie ahead." Here are some of his thoughts:
- Braithwaite said their competitors are no longer other car companies but Tesla (obvious), Google, Apple, Amazon et al are.
- Software will disrupt most traditional industries in the next 5-10 years.
- Uber is just a software tool, they don't own any cars, and are now the biggest taxi company in the world. Read more.
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BC Chamber Collective Perspective Survey
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The 2017-18 Collective Perspective survey was conducted and compiled by respected Canadian public opinion research firm, Abacus Data. Bruce Anderson, chairman of Abacus, presented the findings at the BC Chamber's 2017 Collective Perspective Dinner on November 28, in Kelowna. We thank all our members who took part.
"We want to know what's keeping CEOs and business owners up at night," said Val Litwin, President & CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce. "This survey helps us identify what issues are top of mind for businesses in the province, and provides clarity on the choke points our members are facing."
Nearly 900 businesses of all sizes, representing all sectors of the economy, and from all regions of the province, participated in the survey.
"This is an essential snapshot of the sentiments of business in the province," said Bruce Anderson of Abacus Data. "People are pretty happy with the way their businesses are performing today," Anderson says. "Only eight percent say their business is in poor shape, 33 percent say acceptable, 61 say good or very good, so we are looking at a business community that is pleased with where they stand."
Below are several highlights extracted from the survey:
Insight #1 - Business Believes in Itself; Optimism is high
Insight #2 - Lack of Affordable Housing Challenges a Younger Workforce
Insight #3 - Taxes are top of mind (both provincial and federal)
Insight #4 - Access to/Cost of Labour is Choking Growth - But Trade Can Unlock It
Insight #5 - Kinder Morgan Receives Pan-Provincial Support
The BC Chamber is the province's largest and most broadly-based business organization driving insights to its partners, government and Chamber network. With 36,000 members hailing from every nook and cranny of the province, the BC Chamber knows what's on BC's mind.
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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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