Considering Selling Your Business? Let's Talk Valuation, Strategy & Preparation |
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The Okanagan Chambers COVID Response Coalition is pleased to be teaming up to present a trio of valuable webinars for small business in the Okanagan. The first will be hosted by the Greater Vernon Chamber on Wednesday March 10 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
In this one-hour webinar, Chamber members can learn more about selling your business whether you are planning on doing so soon or may want to consider it in the future. The discussion will include insight into how to increase the value of your business and prepare for a sale. Leading the webinar is Rob Raybould, a business broker and business strategist with Business Finders Canada. Complimentary for Chamber members.
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Regional Chamber Webinar: A Conversation with WorkSafeBC |
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Join us for a special information session on Thursday March 11, 12:00 Noon - 1:00 PM as we team up with WorkSafeBC and the OK We Got This Initiative. WorkSafeBC Prevention Field Services will be providing information on what WorkSafeBC is currently doing in terms of COVID support, and provide an update on what to expect from WorkSafeBC’s high risk strategies and industry initiatives in 2021. They will provide information on where to find helpful resources, and will allow time to answer any questions regarding WorkSafeBC’s prevention activities, legislation, and available resources and services.
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Save the Date: The Kelowna Chamber's Annual General Meeting is March 23 |
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The Annual General Meeting of the Kelowna Chamber will be a virtual gathering and is open to all current members of the Chamber, on Tuesday March 23 at 11:30 AM. A formal invitation to members will follow.
Join us as President Jeffrey Robinson reviews 2020, summarizes the financial statements, introduces the new Board of Directors, and recognizes our dedicated and hard working volunteers. Mayor Colin Basran will present the Annual State of the City Address at noon on the same day (following the AGM).
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Want to Access Skilled Local Student Talent? |
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Find out how your organization can benefit by bringing local students on board to support your business needs. The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce is pleased to be hosting the “Connect to Student Talent: Kelowna” webinar on Tuesday, March 30 at 11:30 am in partnership with the University of British Columbia Okanagan, Okanagan College, and Talent Forward.
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BDO's Top 40 Over 40 program celebrates remarkable individuals in our community over the age of 40 as a means to showcase mentors, champions and role models who encourage and foster the future leaders of our community.
Partnering with the media in the valley, the Kelowna Chamber is highlighting new Honourees right through to July 2021. Check out our website to nominate your favorite mentor or business coach.
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MATT STEWART | The Bearded Leader, Staples Canada, Okanagan Society of Independent Filmmakers
Matt Stewart is a Community Cultivator, ‘Den Mother’ and Executive Coach to entrepreneurs. After a diagnosis of leukemia, Matt left his coaching practice in Canada’s Financial district and moved to the Okanagan. Originally from Hamilton, Ontario, Matt has been living here for four years now with his husband and 10-year-old dog. His "YES, AND..." approach has been fostered & developed over the past 20+ years from coaching, collaborating and advising Senior Leaders across North America in a variety of industries.
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PAUL LENZ | Spy vs. Spy
25 years ago Paul and his business partner started OK Communications Ltd. They soon found that as a dealer, the profit sharing wasn't in their favour and they needed to adapt quickly. After an unfortunate event sparked the need to install pinhole cameras at their shared workspace, their security business was born and they rebranded as Spy vs Spy. Paul volunteers his time to various organizations and believes that serving the community is everyone's duty. “We live here, we play here...this is us”.
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Salmon Arm, Kelowna, West Kelowna Rank Top 10 Most Resilient Cities in BC for 2021 |
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"In a revamped version of its annual “best cities for work” list, BC Business magazine ranked three Okanagan-Shuswap region cities in the top 10 for most resilient in the province with Langford sitting in the number one spot.
Salmon Arm ranked at number six in the province, while Kelowna placed tenth and for the first-time West Kelowna made the BC Business magazine list in the eighth spot." Read more from Kelowna Capital News at the link below.
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Discover, Learn & Connect with the Tech Industry During BDO's #VCPitchDay |
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Are you a Canadian tech startup looking to validate or grow your next big idea to an all-star panel of VCs (venture capitalists) and get private feedback too? BDO's #VCPitchDay is back again for its 6th year! Unlike other years, this event will be held virtually, with an opportunity to pitch and receive feedback from Top VCs. Looking for funding? Submit your application by Wednesday, March 10 at 8:59pm PST.
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Congratulations & Welcome in Order for Chamber Member Wiener's Plumbing |
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After 37 years, Wayne Schaeffer has sold Wiener’s Plumbing & Irrigation. The new owners, Dan and Crystal Benoit have relocated from Saskatchewan where they owned a plumbing company for three years and most recently, Dan was an employee of Wiener’s for the past three years.
The new slightly changed name is Wiener’s Plumbing and Drain Cleaning. Services offered include plumbing and drain cleaning, with 24-7 emergency plumbing and drain cleaning service, hot water heater installation, maintenance and replacement, gas fitting, backflow prevention installation, testing and replacement, bathroom and kitchen renovations and new construction. Read more on Straight from DeHart.
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Congratulations to Bell Media's Klein Felt, Early Edition Producer of AM1150 |
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Former Promotions Coordinator for Bell Media in Kelowna, Klein Felt is now The Early Edition Producer for Bell Media AM1150. You will now be hearing Klein with Phil Johnson and Ted Farr daily on the early morning radio show. Klein is taking over his new position from Daniel O’Hara who has relocated to Edmonton, Alberta.
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The Okanagan's Newest Bakery, Mill Creek Bakery, Opens Today! |
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Owners of the beloved Bread of Wheels and Sweet Caroline's, three siblings (Joanne Hlina, Steve Wiltse and Jim Wiltse), open their new retail outlet in Kelowna today, the Mill Creek Bakery. The new bakery will offer cakes and pastries from Sweet Caroline’s and artisan breads from Bread on Wheels. We recently chatted with Co-owner Joanne Hlina to learn more about their new business, the local favourites that you'll be sure to find when you arrive, as well as her advice to up and coming businesses and entrepreneurs.
You can now visit the new bakery at 4-2235 Leckie Road, at the corner of Leckie and Dilworth.
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What led to Mill Creek Bakery coming to be in Kelowna?
Sweet Caroline’s Bakery in Vernon has long been a favourite of Okanaganites. We have many customers from the Central Okanagan and we have been frequently asked to open a bakery in Kelowna. We decided to open a bakery that combines the popular pastries and cakes from Sweet Caroline’s and the artisan breads from Bread on Wheels.
What are some of the fan favourite popular items that customers can expect to see at the new bakery?
Our cakes are delicious: Lemon Classic, Black Forest, Chocolate Torte, Turtle, Chocolate Fudge, White Chocolate Torte are just some of the favourites. We have a wide selection of pastries; our most common comment is, “there’s so much to choose from”, followed by “I’ll take one of each…just kidding!” Our muffins sell briskly as do our other pastries, which include such classics as cream puffs, eclairs, lemon tarts and pumpkin tarts (when in season). Our fruit shells are lovely, marzipan squares are popular. The breads we carry include brioche burger buns, Portuguese buns, Okanagan Farmer Rye bread, focaccia, and our popular panini buns.
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As an experienced business owner / operator, what would be your advice to up and coming businesses or entrepreneurs?
My advice to new entrepreneurs is to pick a business you are passionate about, but don’t be afraid to let go of “pet” ideas if they aren’t working out. Give new products a chance to succeed—you never know what the public will take to the most! Customer service is the most important part of your business—it’s crucial that your customers trust that you are giving them the best product or service you can!
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COVID-19 UPDATES & RESOURCES |
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WorkSafeBC: Selecting and Using Face Shields in Non-Health Care Settings |
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A new resource from WorkSafeBC clarifies the use of face shields in the workplace. Face shields can be used in the workplace in combination with face masks to provide added protection. They cannot be used to replace face masks or other protective measures. This document provides guidance on using face shields specifically in non–health care settings.
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Empty Tables Don’t Pay Bills: New Data Reveals Ongoing Decline in Food Services |
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Recently, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce commented on newly-released data from Statistics Canada reconfirming the food services sector has been disproportionally affected by the ongoing pandemic.
The Canadian Chamber called for targeted supports and for the government to do no further harm by freezing the planned alcohol excise tax increase.
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COVID-19 Resources for Your Business |
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Visit the federal government’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan website for information about supporting your employees and your business.
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Consult the Canadian Business Resilience Network, a partnership between our government and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce to help your business prepare, persevere and prosper through this crisis.
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Contact your local financial institution. Since we know most small businesses have a relationship with their local financial institution already, we’ve worked with the financial sector to increase their lending capacity to support you in this challenging time. They are an excellent first resource.
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Need to add someone else in your organization to our mailing list? Drop us a line!
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KELOWNA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | kelownachamber.org |
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