June 4 | 2020
CHAMBER COVID-19 UPDATE & MORE
ON THE LOCAL FRONT
UBCO Announces Plan for Downtown Kelowna Campus
It may not be COVID related but we thought we would break from pandemic related info to acknowledge the positive news that was announced on Wednesday. After years of rapid growth, great news came from  UBC Okanagan  and the City of Kelowna . A multi-million dollar downtown campus is in the works to transform UBC’s presence and impact on the city and within the region. Early plans for the development include academic space, office space, and residences.
BUSINESS SMARTS ONLINE: Opening your Business while Protecting Customers & Employees
Join us Thurs. June 11 @ 9:30am to hear insights from the Retail Council of Canada on best practices and lessons learned in the retail sector. We will also be joined by Downtown Kelowna Executive Director Mark Burley to update on the state of downtown retail operations. The discussion will centre on the challenges ahead. There is no charge to attend but pre-registration is required.
Upcoming Chamber Speaker Series: Kickstarting BC Tourism Recovery
Tourism is a billion dollar industry for Kelowna but with COVID-19, a shift in focus is going to be needed. Join us Tuesday June 16 from 11:00am - 12:00pm for a dialogue with three experts in Tourism: CEO of Destination BC Marsha Walden, Big White Sr. VP Michael J Ballingall, and Jennifer Horsnell, Director of Business & Destination Development, Tourism Kelowna - in our next Okanagan School of Business Online Speaker Series.
Chamber Coalition Promotes Shopping, Eating & Investing Local
Chambers of Commerce from Osoyoos to Enderby have teamed up to help support our communities across the Okanagan Valley. We launched  #OK We Got This  as a way to share info and resources while also delivering the message that even a pandemic isn't going to destroy the entrepreneurial spirit that built this region into one of the best places to live on the face of the planet.

Join the campaign by displaying the #OK We Got This logo on your website and social media to promote shopping, eating, and investing local, and let others know you`re open for business! You can download the logo at the Resource Centre (below). Don`t forget to share your re-opening news on our "OK we got this" Facebook page  to get access to customers from across the valley.
Quick links to Valuable Resources

  • Check out the Chamber Office Safety Plan - CLICK HERE

  • Have you built you safety plan? No problem, check out our Fab Five list to get a sense of where to focus. - CLICK HERE

  • Have you visited WorksafeBC's website yet? You should have it bookmarked - CLICK HERE

  • Did you miss our Business Smarts for Not-For-Profits with BDO? No problem, watch the replay when you have time - CLICK HERE
Bell Media Launches Back to Business Contest
Let’s Get Back to Business. To celebrate and support our business community, Bell Media is giving away   a free, $15,000 custom-designed marketing campaign including radio advertising on one of their local stations and a full digital suite of tools including video pre-roll, geo-targeted display advertising on TSN and CTV and more. The Chamber is pleased to be a supporting sponsor with Bell in promoting this initiative. The resultant comprehensive marketing campaign running across the Bell Media platforms will let Bell's audiences know ON-AIR and ON-LINE that you are  BACK TO BUSINESS.

To learn more about the selection criteria and to apply, click the link below.
Another option to promote your business and make exclusive offers is available through Get in the Loop Kelowna.  The local franchise team has reached out to the Chamber to offer support and is offering a no obligation free profile on the Get in the Loop app, with absolutely no contract or payment information required upon sign up. 

If you are interested you can EMAIL  Jeff at Get in the Loop Kelowna to learn more.
Banding Together in Support of the Central Okanagan Food Bank
A group of local musicians are Banding Together in support of the food banks in the Okanagan. They will be streaming a free LIVE concert on Facebook and YouTube this Friday June 5 @ 5:00pm . Hosted by Sydney Morton of Global Okanagan TV, they promise lots of old-time rock and roll favourites and classic country tunes. Join in with friends from the comfort of your living rooms!
ON THE PROVINCIAL FRONT
BC Raises the Minimum Wage, BC Chamber Weighs In
June 1, the minimum wage in BC increased to $14.60 / hour at a critical time for businesses as they begin to plan their recovery and re-opening efforts. BC Chamber of Commerce`s Director of Policy Development, Government & Stakeholder Relations, Dan Baxter, weighed in on the increase this week speaking with CFAX 1070, "Our members are not saying 'no' to an increase, they want good wages and good employees, but right now BC businesses ne ed breathing room."
ON THE FEDERAL FRONT
Chambers Plan Offers Access to Expert HR, Legal & Financial Advice
Throughout this pandemic, many businesses have had to navigate uncharted territory while making difficult and unprecedented decisions with limited information and resources. The Chambers Plan is supporting organizations by extending access of their Business Assistance Services program. Embedded in all plans, the program gives businesses free access to legal, financial and human resource advice.

Not on Chambers Plan? No problem, just send us an EMAIL to learn more about the comprehensive extended health care benefits.
The Chambers Plan has also developed some extremely helpful tools and resources on their COVID Resources Page. Click the link below to learn more.
Industry Leaders Launch Canadian Tourism Roundtable
On May 29, leaders of the Canadian tourism and travel sectors announced the formation of the Canadian Tourism Roundtable , a coalition of industry representatives committed to restoring the Canadian tourism and travel sector in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. We will be monitoring the discussions and keeping you posted as Tourism is a billion dollar industry in our area and we all have a stake in supporting YLW's strong recovery.

Through the Round table, airports, airlines, hotels, chambers of commerce, and others – are coming together to discuss restarting the sector smoothly and safely, and committing to work together with all levels of government to restore the Canadian tourism industry to its potential. The group recently drafted a letter to the PM recently calling for action.
Upcoming Webinar - COVID-19: How to Adapt your Business to Thrive in the New Normal
The COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting our everyday habits and creating an unprecedented level of uncertainty for entrepreneurs, forcing business owners to adapt. Join BDC advisory services experts on Monday June 15 @ 9:00am as they present a step-by-step approach to managing risks, creating contingency plans and equipping your business with a strategic vision that considers the changed landscape. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce will present the results of the Canadian Survey on Business Conditions and will discuss how businesses of all sizes are adapting and innovating during this crisis. You will learn how this data can support your decision-making on resilience and recovery. A live Q&A will follow.
Free Advice for Navigating Your Business Recovery
Provided by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Business Resilience Service (BRS) allows you to connect with experienced business advisors from across Canada for guidance on which government relief programs will be most appropriate to support your small- to medium-sized business, not-for-profit or charity and how to respond and reshape amid uncertainty caused by the pandemic. Advisors are available seven days a week from 5:00am-5:00pm PDT at 1.866.989.1080.
Need to add someone else in your organization to our mailing list? Email us.
KELOWNA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | kelownachamber.org