New Initiative Aimed at Attracting and Retaining 

Okanagan Young Professionals

Recognizing the economic implications of the Okanagan's aging population, the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission has launched the Okanagan Young Professionals initiative which focuses on attracting and retaining young professionals and families. 

The program is designed to engage individuals in their 20's and 30's so that they become involved in the community and ultimately, to foster a culture around young professionals.

Check out the video for more information.
 

Okanagan Young Professionals

Citizenship and Immigration Canada has announced that the Labour Market Opinion (LMO) exemption for selected IT occupations has been extended to December 31, 2011.   

For more information click here.  

Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission Receives Two Excellence

in Economic Development Awards from the International Economic Development Council

The Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission has been recognized with two Excellence in Economic Development Awards from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).  The awards were presented on September 20th during the IEDC Annual Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The awards include the COEDC's Work Where you Play card deck in the category of General Purpose Promotion for Communities, and its Video.Engagement Redefined project in the category of New Media with Populations of 25,000 - 200,000.

"We recognize the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission for providing successful strategies to promote new standards in economic development in this period of global recovery," said Dennis Coleman, IEDC Chair.  "Our awards honour organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in communities.  The Commission is showing that it is at the forefront of the economic development profession and is using innovative and effective practices that can be replicated in other communities."

Economic Trading Cards  

The project consists of a deck of 13 double sided retro baseball style cards packaged with a piece of bubblegum advertising the Okanagan Valley as the place to work, live and play. The trading cards provide a brief description of the Region in terms of quality of place, business climate, education, health care, agriculture and wine, tourism and hospitality, technology, emigration, arts, culture and diversity, as well as services offered by the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission.   

The project is a one-to-one conversational video that helps the COEDC make strong connections with a number of target audience groups within the Central Okanagan's technology sector.  The entire project is aimed at bringing new investment, business expansion and growth to the sector.  HuStream Technology Inc. provided the technology for the video. 

The Excellence in Economic Awards Program annually recognizes the world's best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials, and the year's most influential leaders.  The program honours organizations and individuals in 28 categories for their efforts in creating positive change in urban, suburban, and rural communities.

 Okanagan Technology Start-up Wins

$40,000 Prize for Sustainability

Okanagan technology start-up, Awesense Wireless, has been declared the winner of the BCIC-New Ventures Competition's $40,000 BC Hydro Sustainability Prize for its mobile wireless smart sensors that help identify key areas of electrical loss.

From L-R: Jim Scouras (Manager, Commercial Acquisitions, Energy Planning and Procurement, BC Hydro); Mischa Steiner-Jovic (CEO, Awesense Wireless); Bob de Wit (Executive Director of New Ventures BC Society) and Dean Prelazzi (Vice President, Business Development Idea & Market Validation Stages, BCIC).