Newsletter
August 11, 2021


August is a gentle reminder for not doing a single thing from your new year resolution for seven months and not doing it for next five.
Penticton Chamber announced the 30 finalists in the ten award categories this morning at Total Restoration Services. Meet your 2021 Business Excellence Award Finalists:

Adaptation & Resilience Excellence – Downtown Penticton Association
BRODO Kitchen 
Hoodoo Adventures 
The Hamlets at Penticton
Honourable Mention: South Okanagan Women in Needs Society (SOWINS)

Service Excellence – Greyback Construction
Fountain Tire
Penticton Meals on Wheels
Tin Whistle Brewing Co.
Honourable Mention: Lasting Impressions by Amelia Day Spa

Workplace Culture Excellence – South Okanagan Immigrant & Community Services (SOICS)
Co-Work Penticton
Ginza Sushi & Poke
Nautical Dog Cafe
Honourable Mention: Tim Hortons

Community Support Excellence – Penticton Western News
Barry Beecroft Fuel Distributors Ltd.
Graphically Hip
Total Restoration Services
Honourable Mention: Parker’s Chrysler
 
Not for Profit Excellence – Omland Heal Chartered Professional Accountants
OSNS Child & Youth Development
OneSky Community Resources
South Okanagan Similkameen Brain Injury Society
Honourable Mention: SOS Volunteer Centre

New Business Award – Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union
Loki’s Garage
Long-Haggerty Chartered Professional Accountants
Meeples & Milkshakes Board Game Cafe
Honourable Mention: Blackwell Construction

Hospitality Excellence – Travel Penticton
Skaha Rock Adventures Ltd.
Slackwater Brewing
The Nest
Honourable Mention: Jeffer’s Fryzz

Young Professional of the Year – JCI Penticton & Graphically Hip
Cameron Betts, Betts Electric
Nicolette Rodriguez, YMCA of the Okanagan
Hollie Tayal, Modern PURAIR
Honourable Mention: Jamela Van Steinbrug, VLS Developments

Business Leader of the Year – TD Canada Trust
Lee Agur, Bad Tattoo Brewing 
Cherry Fernandez, South Okanagan Immigrant & Community Services
Lee & Kevin Smith, Kettle Valley Memorial
Honourable Mention: Neil MacDonald, Sun Life Financial 

Business of the Year – Community Futures Okanagan Similkameen
Guerards Fine Furniture
Slimline Manufacturing Ltd.
Total Restoration Services
Honourable Mention: Maison Mulanti

View the 2021 Business Excellence Awards Reveal - Thank You Castanet
The 3rd Annual Golf Tournament August 27th is coming up fast!
Chef Ron Rochford has created an amazing Western BBQ dinner.
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Reconnect and Network with local business leaders
Chamber Members Only
Limited Tickets Available
Will you be joining us to showcase your business at our 1st Annual Chamber Biz Trade Show?
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Recent News
City of Penticton - Development of 955 Timmins
The City has received an application to develop 955 Timmins Street as a multi-family residential development. The development plans submitted with the application propose two, 5-storey apartment buildings and 81 townhouse units, totaling 229 units and would require a change to the OCP. An info session is scheduled for August 19th and there is an online survey available now. LEARN MORE AND PARTICIPATE

The Canadian business community appears to be largely supportive of the Quebec government’s move to impose the country’s first vaccine passport system.
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce says vaccine passports or digital vaccination certificates would help to prevent future waves of the pandemic from forcing a resurgence of financially disastrous lockdowns by enabling those with low risk to participate in events, move freely and go about their daily lives. “Absent that, what you have is people being held hostage,” chamber president Perrin Beatty said in an interview before the province announced the new system to curb the spread of COVID-19. LEARN MORE

Canadian Chamber of Commerce: Pandemic debt, climate change costs demand a serious, bold plan to grow our economy. Why doesn’t Canada have one?
Canadians everywhere want to look past the pandemic and know what comes next. While they can expect many spending announcements, lofty promises of jobs and boutique tax cuts during this coming election, what they’re looking for has been missing so far. LEARN MORE

BC Government is seeking input on the current paid sick leave programs
They are developing paid sick leave for employees in B.C., so they are able to stay home when sick or injured, without losing wages, for a set number of days each year. The new model will come into effect on January 1, 2022. Engagement timeline: Surveys will be open from August 5 to September 14, 2021 PARTICIPATE

Minister‘s statement on July Labour Force Survey results
Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation, has issued the following statement on the release of Statistics Canada‘s Labour Force Survey for July 2021: The Labour Force Survey for July shows for the second consecutive month, British Columbia was the only province in Canada with employment above pre-pandemic levels, with a job recovery rate of 100.5%. LEARN MORE

Penticton’s FireSmart team seeks feedback on services
The Penticton Fire Department’s FireSmart team wants to hear from residents who live in the wildland-urban interface about how we can work together to protect their homes from wildfires. Those who live in the wildland-urban interface are invited to share their views by completing a feedback form before August 30, 2021. PARTICIPATE

Previous issues of the Chamber Newsletter can be viewed HERE
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Government Funding & Programs
Attractions get support to anchor their communities
The provincial government announced grants up to $1 million for major tourism businesses and grants up to $500,000 for tour bus companies and rural attractions. Funds were approved for 83 business across BC, including in our region: Hoodoo Adventure Company, Kettle Valley Steam Railway, Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre, Penticton Art Gallery, SS Sicamous Heritage Park and Top Cat Tours. LEARN MORE

BC Chamber of Commerce Applauds Meat Licensing Changes and Increased Access for Local Products
Changes made last month by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries to streamline and improve the meat licensing regulations is welcome news for the BC Chamber of Commerce. Last month, the ministry announced a series of changes that will make significant improvements for local operators who focus on production and processing of livestock raised in their communities.  LEARN MORE

Canadian Chamber Talks About A Competitive Net-Zero Strategy
As Canada and Canadians move towards a greener, more sustainable, net-zero future, the business community is leading the way. Through leading investments in renewable energy, to a greener grid, to increasing climate action throughout our supply chains, there is much for Canada’s business community to be proud of and for government to support. LEARN MORE
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