October 27 | 2020
CHAMBER EVENTS & UPDATES
TODAY: Elevate Your Employment Practices Through Inclusivity
There's still time to join us TODAY at 12:00 Noon as we explore harnessing the power of an inclusive and diverse workforce throughout your employment practices. During the event we will engage experts from the Neil Squire Society and the Presidents Group in the strategic employment opportunities that can become available to you through accessing a largely untapped talent pool.

There is no cost to attend this event, but pre-registration is required.
Learn How to Adapt to Compete with the Resilience to Thrive Program
Join us and your fellow SMEs in the Building Resilience to Thrive business development program, powered by the BC Chamber and Peter B. Gustavson School of Business. The 6-week program is offered in three cohorts through March 2021 and features weekly seminars and resiliency round tables to help businesses stay viable and adapt to compete in the future.

As a member of the Chamber you receive 50% off the program. Space is limited, sign up today. You can view the schedule HERE.
Business Smarts Online is Back! The Way Forward with ITI Financial
A lot has changed over the past year, and this includes how we look at financial planning for the future. Financial security plays a large role in our future planning and ensuring you are informed as a business owner/operator, or consumer will help you to succeed in predicting your moves for the future both personally and professionally.

During this event, we meet with Financial Security expert Rhona Stanislaus from ITI Financial to discuss the role demographics and consumer spending play in the markets, cycles and the power to predict.
Registration for November's Board Governance Training is Now Open
A must-have for Board Directors, CEOs and those interested in becoming Directors; this workshop offers you the essential strategies and best practices of Boards who have discovered how to govern effectively, efficiently, and in a manner that is results-oriented.

Join us Saturday November 21 from 9:00am - 2:00pm for this workshop where Deb McClelland will lead you through strategies and best practiced that will help you and your board function better than ever before.
Top 40 Under 40 Certificates & Business Excellence Finalists Plaques Available
Were you a 2020 Top 40 Under 40 honouree, or are you a current finalist for the 2020 Business Excellence Awards? Certificates for our Top 40 Under 40 honourees, and plaques for our Business Excellence finalists are available for pick up at the Kelowna Chamber office from 8:30am - 4:30pm Monday to Friday.
Membership 101: Maximizing Your Membership Investment (members only)
Join us this Wednesday October 28 from 8:00am to 9:00am for Membership 101. The event is open to any and all members of the Chamber as a refresher of your membership benefits, and members of your team are also welcome to attend.

Our monthly member meet and greet is online and a great way to learn more about your Chamber membership while connecting with other local businesses.
UPDATES & EVENTS IN OUR NETWORK
Athabasca University President to Replace Hamilton at Okanagan College
Dr. Neil Fassina, an experienced and respected leader in post-secondary education, is going to be taking over the helm of Okanagan College when current President Jim Hamilton retires in 2021. Fassina is leaving the role as President of Athabasca University to assume the presidency at Okanagan College. The Kelowna Chamber would like to send an early congratulations to Jim Hamilton on his retirement, and we look forward to working with Dr. Fassina as he moves into the role in April of 2021.
Okanagan Young Professionals Hosts Virtual Coffee Halloween Social
Connect with new friends and other young professionals in a casual, friendly environment at a fun October Halloween Coffee Social, powered by the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission (COEDC) and Okanagan Young Professionals (OYP) on Wednesday, October 28, from 8:00am - 9:00am. With Halloween looking very different this year due to COVID, take this event as an opportunity to wear your costume or a Halloween-themed look - they will be giving away prizes for best costume!
Canadian Chamber of Commerce Announces Western Canada Executive Summit
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce Western Executive Summit takes place on November 24 from 8:00am - 2:00pm and will consist of three panel discussions that will take a deeper look into specific measures our political leaders must consider to ensure a sharp and lasting recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic:
 
·        Panel 1: Harnessing Canada's Tax System for Recovery
·        Panel 2: Regulatory Recovery, Removing Red Tape so Business Can Grow
·        Panel 3: Canadian Transportation & Trade Infrastructure, 2020 & Beyond
BC Cancer Foundation: Discovery 2020 - Breaking Down Women's Cancers
On Friday, November 27, 2020 from 1:00-1:45pm the BC Cancer Foundation invites you to attend their re-imagined 10th Annual Discovery Luncheon: Discovery 2020 presented by BMO and Sentes Automotive – a unique virtual event that will rally the community together to break down women’s cancers.

In 2020, The BC Cancer Foundation committed to change the outcome for the over 5,500 British Columbians who will be diagnosed with a women’s cancer this year - including 3,975 women who will face breast cancer. There is no cost to attend this event, however pre-registration is required.
MEET YOUR CHAMBER AMBASSADORS
Get to know the Kelowna Chamber's Board of Directors and Ambassadors in our new newsletter segment. This new bi-weekly update will introduce you to the people behind-the-scenes at the Chamber, and get to know more about them, why they got involved with the Chamber, and what they love about serving our business community. This week we want to introduce you to Kevin Commins, a wonderful member of our Ambassador Team. If you would like to learn more about our Ambassador program, and getting involved with the Chamber please EMAIL US.
KEVIN COMMINS | TD Canada Trust

What is your position / title and company, and what do you do there?
My position is Account Manager Small Business with TD Canada Trust. I work with business owners to provide exceptional service and sound financial advice in an effort to meet their diverse credit, deposit, cash management and payment processing needs.

How long have you been in the Okanagan? If you aren’t originally from the valley, what led you to call the Okanagan ‘home’? 
I am a true Kelowna local, born at KGH and having lived in Kelowna for over 35 years
What do you enjoy most about your role with the Kelowna Chamber?
I enjoy being an Ambassador with the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce because of the great team of other ambassadors I get to work with, and for the opportunity it gives me to meet business owners in the community and to learn more about their business and industry. Often, I'll discover businesses in sectors I was not aware even existed in the Kelowna market, so this role is full of surprises and provides a great pulse on business in our community.

What are you looking forward to / planning for the future?
My wife just started a new career and we are both eagerly anticipating completion of a new house we plan to move into during the Spring of 2021.
UPCOMING EVENTS AT A GLANCE
Need to add someone else in your organization to our mailing list? Drop us a line!