URBA ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP NOW AVAILABLE

Annual Membership Fee: $199

Interested in becoming an Associate Member of the Uptown Rutland Business Improvement Association (URBIA)?

Associate memberships are perfect for professional individuals, businesses, property owners or organizations that are not located within the physical boundaries of the URBIA and would like to be part of the thriving and supportive business community URBA has to offer. Home-based and remote businesses will be accepted.

Associate Members do not receive a vote at the Annual General Meeting.

Benefits of Associate Membership:

• Listing on the URBA website with a reciprocal link on the associate member’s website

• Receive URBA e-newsletters and group emails

• Serve on URBA committees

• Attend URBA After Hours and other events (grow your business network)

• Advertising opportunities – to be involved in various advertising ventures URBA undertakes ie. various Kelowna print & digital media

For any inquiries, please contact Executive Director

Karen Beaubier at executivedirector@uptownrutland.com

Q1 2023 Economic Indicators

The Q1 2023 Economic Indicators report includes cumulative statistics for 9 key economic indicators for January through March 2023.

Q1 2023 saw a 217.7% increase in new housing starts in the Central Okanagan, with multi-family homes accounting for 91% of these starts.

Check out the rest of the economic indicators below!

Rutland Proud: Faces of Rutland

Meet your local politicians

The community of Rutland has claimed the hearts of many over the years.

Among its advocates are business owners, doctors, lawyers, teachers and politicians who work tirelessly to improve the community and the lives of its residents.

Norm Letnick, Renee Merrifield and Tracy Gray are just a few of the politicians who have been caring for Rutland for years in hopes of seeing the community continue to flourish.

Meet Norm Letnick

Norm Letnick was elected as an MLA back in 2009 after sitting on Kelowna’s City Council for the 2005-2008 term.

Letnick believes Rutland is a wonderful community, made special by its residents who are “hard working and friendly.”



Over the years he has applauded the “increased migration of families and redevelopment of older properties” which he believes continuously make Rutland an “even better place to live, work and play.”

Alongside his position as a public servant, he has maintained many personal relationships with Rutland’s residents and imparted a great impact on the community through his contributions towards the new urgent primary care center, passing lane on Walker’s Hill, soccer dome at RSS, intersection improvements on Highway 97 and so many more projects.

In fact his favorite memory in Rutland occurred in one of the years he was helping out at the annual Christmas light up. “A lady came to me and thanked me for saving her daughter’s life by getting her the services she needed,” he explains.

His top priority and dream for Rutland includes a new middle school, which he believes “would be a huge boost to Rutland’s self image,” and essential in “providing appropriate facilities for our children to learn in.”

Meet Renee Merrifield

Renee Merrifield has been an MLA representing Kelowna-Mission since 2020.



She’s witnessed Rutland grow by leaps and bounds and has established some of her most important relationships in this uniquely diverse community which she describes as a mixture of “agriculture and entrepreneurial spirit.”

She admires the entrepreneurial spirit of Rutland’s residents, and is especially fond of Olympia Pizza for its one of a kind dishes and enduring spirit.

“The stories of the people I meet on a daily basis are my fuel!”

As a representative of the people, she aims to amplify these voices and stories.

“I work every day to make sure lines of communication are open for the residents of Rutland that I serve… it is always a pleasure to take their voices with me to Victoria!”

She’s always had a desire to be of service and give back to the community that has been so supportive of her growing up.

“I am grateful to have been entrusted with the opportunity to make a difference,” says Merrifield.



She hopes she can play a role in pushing Rutland closer to being a community where “attainable housing is available for young people and families to build a life—where the streets and parks are safe for all to enjoy.”

Meet Tracy Gray

Tracy Gray has been representing the people of Rutland since her 2014-2018 term on Kelowna City Council and she continues to do so in Ottawa as an MP for the riding of Kelowna-Lake Country.



For Gray, Rutland is “all about the people… [the] community spirit comes through in its people, murals, places, and activities which all make Rutland a very special place.”

“The strong connection to each other and community spirit always fill my heart. People in Rutland fiercely stand up for the betterment of the community,” she explains.



Gray maintains a “boots-on-the-ground” approach in the community, participating in local events, and volunteering “to connect with many people… hear their concerns and ideas and bring them to Ottawa.”

Wage Subsidy Funding for Youth

The Get Youth Working! Program offers eligible employers in BC a negotiated wage subsidy as an incentive to hire eligible youth age 16 to 29. 

You conduct your own recruiting. At any time during the recruiting process you can complete and submit an online application, which can be completed in less than 5 minutes. The approval process is quick and easy. If you and your proposed new hire meet the program criteria, you are eligible for the funding.

For program information click the button below, call 877.866.3100 option 1 or email gyw@bowmanemployment.com.

Want to Win Cash Prizes and Take Your Business Global?

Applications are now open for the 2023 Startup Global Pitch Competition!

The Startup Global Pitch Competition is back! This year, they are offering two ways to participate - virtually, through the general online application process or in-person at one of their Startup Canada Tour locations!

Strong and Impactful: Leadership Practices for Women Business Owners

Entrepreneurship and leadership go hand in hand. Your impact is the result of the big and small actions you take every day in your life and business.

If you would like to go from running your business to leading it, you're invited to join WeBC this June for: “Strong and Impactful: Leadership Practices for Women Business Owners”!

In this interactive series, you will develop three key skills that every woman needs as she grows her business: negotiation, overcoming imposter syndrome, and interrupting unconscious bias.

Program details:

• Where: ZOOM
• When: 3 sessions | Wed, 10am to 12pm PT | June 1, 8, 15
• Cost: $50

Wine Sector Support Program



Are you in the wine industry and looking for financial support? The Wine Sector Support Program (WSSP) provides short-term financial support to licensed Canadian wineries as they adapt to ongoing and emerging challenges that impact financial resilience and competitiveness of the wine industry.

Applications will be accepted from April 17 to May 26, 2023.