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Barely Breaking Ground: women in business

Mar 6, 2024

The Slow Stride of Progress for Women in Business Leadership and Entrepreneurship The Canadian Chamber of Commerce released a new report Tuesday showing that while Canada has made some positive strides in advancing equality for women in business, ...

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Ambassador to Canada from the People's Republic of China

Mar 5, 2024

The Ambassador to Canada from the People’s Republic of China made a brief visit to Kelowna from Ottawa last Monday and Tuesday, visiting students from China at both Okanagan College and UBC Okanagan. Cong Peiwu and his staff hosted a local g...

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Updates to Securing Small Businesses Rebate Program

Mar 5, 2024

  The Province is making changes to offer a smoother and faster application process to help businesses access funding to offset the costs to repair and prevent vandalism to businesses, in consultation with the BC Chamber of Commerce. &ldqu...

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OP-ED: Recognizing Immigrants' Credentials (from Vancouver Sun)

Feb 26, 2024

The following in an excerpt from an opinion piece published in the Vancouver Sun, Feb 21 2024. B.C.’s International Credentials Recognition Act removes barriers to skilled immigrants in 29 regulated professions. We can, and should, build on ...

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BC Minimum Wage Increases June 1 2024

Feb 26, 2024

B.C.’s lowest-paid workers will get a pay raise when the general minimum wage increases from $16.75 to $17.40 per hour on June 1, 2024. This represents a 3.9% increase, consistent with B.C.’s average rate of inflation in 2023. T...

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BC Government Continues Support for Fairs, Festivals, Events

Feb 14, 2024

Province of BC providing $15 million in one-time grants. BC-based events will receive more government support for sustained recovery in response to calls from this sector for help. “Fairs, festivals and events are the heart of our co...

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Okanagan College Recognized as a 'BC Top Employer'

Feb 13, 2024

Kelowna Chamber congratulates Okanagan College (OC) in being recognized as one of the province's top employers, as announced today. For staff at Okanagan College, having a job in a place where there is a strong sense of connection to community...

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2024 BC Chamber Week: Feb 12 - 16

Feb 8, 2024

  In recognition of the important work that Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade undertake to support economically competitive and sustainable communities and regions, Feb 12-16 has been declared Chamber of Commerce Week in BC. Thank ...

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Canadian Chamber Launches Canada - U.S. Engagement Initiative

Feb 6, 2024

Business opportunities to increase ties with U.S. counterparts and policymakers. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Perrin Beatty announced the launch of a new Canada-U.S. Engagement Plan aimed at providing Canadian businesses oppo...

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Rotary Centre for the Arts Top 3 Finalist for a 2024 BC Tourism Industry Award

Feb 5, 2024

The Rotary Centre for the Arts (RCA), a Kelowna Chamber member, has been selected as a Top 3 Finalist for a 2024 BC Tourism Industry Award in the Remarkable Experience category. The 2024 BC Tourism Industry Awards will be presented at the Awards Gala...

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Business Data Lab Report: A Portrait of Small Business in Canada

Feb 1, 2024

Adaption, Agility, All At Once. On January 29, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Business Data Lab released its latest report in collaboration with Amazon Canada, highlighting the new reality for small businesses in Canada’s post-pandemic ret...

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Great Okanagan Waste Reduction Challenge

Jan 31, 2024

Kickstart this year with a commitment to reduce waste and sign up for the Great Okanagan Waste Reduction Challenge. GreenStep* is challenging the Okanagan Valley -- from Osoyoos to Vernon -- to significantly and measurably reduce the amount of was...

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CEBA Repayment Deadline Jan 18: our thoughts

Jan 16, 2024

The CEBA business loan deadline of Jan 18 is seeing many businesses moving their loans to their respective financial institutions – for refinancing if not paid off. Businesses have until the end of March to conclude those new loan details which...

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Personal Protection Privacy Act: essentials for your organization webinar Jan 30

Jan 11, 2024

How much do you know about British Columbia privacy laws? For small businesses, navigating these waters can be overwhelming. Some are familiar with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPP) which applies to more than 2,900 "...

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BDC: What Entrepreneurs Can Expect in 2024

Jan 9, 2024

Pierre Cleroux is the Vice President of Research and Chief Economist for the BDC. Back in November 2023, we invited him to address a fully engage crowd at our Speaker Series as he unpacked the latest updates for our global, Canadian, BC, and regional...

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Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives: Top 100 CEO Pay Report

Jan 2, 2024

For their January 2, 2024 report on CEO pay in Canada, the CCPA chose the title "Canada's New Gilded Age". And in the early hours of a new year, the country's top executives will have met the income of the average Canadian worker. W...

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Q4 2023 Canadian Survey on Business Conditions Report

Dec 20, 2023

On December 14 we joined the Canadian Chamber of Commerce's Chief Economist Stephen Tapp and Senior Director Patrick Gill of their Business Data Lab for a special Quarterly Briefing. The team spoke to some of the key findings from their in-depth ...

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OP-ED: A Road Warrior Talks About Retail Therapy (and chocolate)

Dec 14, 2023

I’ve been seeing folks wearing red fluffy Santa hats lately in Kelowna. Even though we don’t have reindeer, the Okanagan – especially at holiday time – is a great place to live and to give a helping hand to local business and ...

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New Dean to join Okanagan College's School of Business

Dec 12, 2023

Kelowna Chamber member Okanagan College has announced that Joe Baker has been named the new Dean of the OC School of Business. Baker spent nearly 15 years in academic leadership roles at George Brown College and Centennial College. Over the last ...

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Thank You Dr. William (Bill) Gillett, OC School of Business

Nov 30, 2023

The Kelowna Chamber would like to extend a heartfelt thank you and sincere best wishes to Dr. William Gillett on his retirement as Dean of the OC School of Business. Bill (as we know him) has been an advisor on our Board of Directors since 2020, and&...

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