Voice of Business Newsletter

Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce members had great representation at the BC Chamber of Commerce Annual General meeting held in Victoria last week. President Chris Browne, Vice-President Jason Cox and District 6 Director Dan Albas all were there to assist in adopting a series of strong recommendations calling on government for action on a range of issues critical to the business community.

"The resolutions adopted by its members ensure that the BC Chamber has the most comprehensive and forward looking policy platform in the province of B.C. It is an incredible process which involved over 60 new policies submitted by Chambers from all across B.C.," says Chris Browne.

With the lead of our District 6 Director, Dan Albas, Penticton joined forces with fellow chambers in the Okanagan and put forward a group policy resolution regarding the need for a transportation infrastructure that encourages and supports economic growth as it is a fundamental element of a prosperous economy. It was passed unanimously as it is an issue that affects the entire province. (See link below).

The policy development process of the BC Chamber requests member chambers to submit proposed resolutions to the BC Chamber. These are then reviewed by the chamber's Policy Review Committee to ensure they meet the criteria of the BC Chamber. These resolutions are then presented to the membership for debate at the AGM, only those resolutions that receive two-thirds of the votes are adopted as policy positions of the BC Chamber of Commerce.

CEO and President of the BC Chamber of Commerce, John Winter states "These policy statements represent recommendations to government from those best placed to develop solutions, the businesses that face these issues on a regular basis."

Read entire policy

Tourism Development Services

by Kelly Reid

The final round of spring consumer shows has been completed. Penticton & Wine Country was represented at golf shows in Calgary, Vancouver and Seattle, and at the Buildex show in Edmonton. The shows were well attended, and interest in Penticton was excellent.

Media interest in Penticton & Wine Country continues to grow. Kelly Reid attended several media marketplaces this spring targeting Canadian and US media outlets, with solid appointments. She reports an increased interest in media visits, which should result in increased coverage. During the Spring Wine Festival, a group of 11 media were hosted representing outlets such as City Food, NUVO Magazine, the Vancouver Province, the Calgary Herald, and Western Living. Recent coverage (following visits in 2006) includes the Seattle Post Intelligencer, the Vancouver Province, CARP 55 Plus, the Coloradan, and Fifty-Five Plus magazine.

Tourism Kelowna hosted the recent National Tour Association Spring Meet. They did an excellent job of showcasing the Okanagan Valley, and all that it has to offer. Penticton participated as a sponsor, manning a Penticton & Wine Country tourism booth during the event, hosting a group of tour operators in Penticton as part of a pre-conference tour, and networking at the event. Several tour operators have expressed interest in returning to the Okanagan, and one has already committed to a mystery tour featuring Penticton on the itinerary.

We are pleased to announce the addition of Kerry Stansfield to the Penticton & Wine Country Tourism marketing team. One of Kerry's first projects has been to compile a shot list for ACE film productions. Penticton has partnered with TOTA, Kamloops, Vernon, Kelowna and Osoyoos to create a library of high definition video footage in preparation for the 2010 Olympics. This footage will be available to various media outlets before, during and after the games. In addition, each partner will be provided with a promotional segment for their marketing initiatives. Kerry is also currently updating the photo catalogue for the 2008 Visitors Guide.

Chamber turns 100 years

By Rick Thorpe

Minister of Small Business and Revenue

The Penticton and Wine Country Chamber of Commerce celebrates its centennial this month - and commemorates 100 years of building a thriving community for future generations. Since 1907, volunteers and local citizens have worked together in partnership to develop Penticton's small business sector, recreational facilities, education and the arts, and quite frankly made our community a better place to live.

The Chamber of Commerce, as it was renamed in 1960, has been a strong advocate and a voice for small business, supporting their growth and development.

I'm proud of the chamber's strong membership and its foresight to develop key sectors such as tourism and wine country. Developing tourism has been at the heart of the chamber for many years, and it's exciting to see the region attracting more and more visitors each year. Times have changed, and the chamber has changed with those times and developed industries that will take Penticton into the next century. Adding "Wine Country" to the name truly reflects the chamber's commitment to the future.

Looking back on 100 years, we see the influence of the original Board of Trade. The tree fruit industry is particularly important to the region and the chamber has carried on the work of the Board of Trade from 1908 when it lobbied the Dominion Government to establish the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre south of Summerland. The work done at the research centre is vital to the development of the fruit industry and maintaining the area's reputation for world-class agricultural products.

The South Okanagan is brimming with opportunities to grow and prosper - and the chamber is helping members seize those opportunities to diversify and grow the economy.

I'd like to extend my sincerest congratulations to the chamber, its members and the volunteers whose vision, enthusiasm and strength have made Penticton, and the South Okanagan, what it is today. The work of the chamber is vital to the community and I'm proud of what it has accomplished in the past 100 years.

I know this celebration is an opportunity to look at the successes of the past 100 years, but it's also a time to look forward to reaching new goals and reaching higher than ever before.

I'm proud to call Penticton my home and I know the Okanagan, and the rest of British Columbia, will remain the best place on Earth to live, work, build a business and raise a family.

Thanks to the chamber and happy birthday!

Merchants Against Money Laundering

Red Flags of Suspicious Activities: The Customer:

1. Is reluctant to provide ID.

2. Is paying cash (especially small bills) for an item worth

thousands of dollars.

3. Asks that the item be put in someone else's name.

4. Does not seem to be able to afford such an expense or have an income which justifies such an expense.

5. Has difficulty explaining source of his/her money.

6. Does not seem very concerned with price.

7. Acts in other ways which strike you as questionable or shady.

You could unknowingly participate in a money laundering scheme by ignoring these red flags. When this happens, it is called willful blindness. (Willful Blindness is a criminal offence).

Questions You Could Ask Yourself To Spot A Suspicious Transaction:

1. How well do I know this customer?

2. Do I fully understand the transaction?

3. Am I comfortable with this transaction?

4. Does the transaction make sense when considering the

customer's profile?

5. Is this a usual method for conducting other similar business transactions?

For more information, please contact Al Sismey at Community Policing, 770-4721.

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