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Monthly Survey Question 
The Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce wants to know what you think!
Thanks to all those who responded to last month's survey question. |
| Manager's Report by Lorraine Renyard
We are now in the middle of August and nearing the completion of another successful summer tourist season. Our visitor stats this year have increased again as more become accustomed to looking to the Visitor Centre for their accommodation, tours and entertainment.
The 25th anniversary of Penticton's Suburu Ironman Triathlon is next weekend and we will begin seeing more athletes come into the city this week getting prepared for the race. All the accommodation in Penticton and in the surrounding area has been booked for this event. It is a huge economic driver for the businesses of Penticton as each of those participants bring along many friends and family to encourage them throughout the race.
A number of special celebrations are planned for this special anniversary and many former champions are returning to participate one more year. The city has become involved by featuring an Ironman Canada exhibit and an Ironman Canada Art Contest at the Museum.
Former President, Paul McCann and owner of Penticton's Home Hardware is running his first triathlon this year. It has taken a year and a half and much dedication on his part to get ready for this race. We are looking forward to cheering him on as well as many others as they cross the finish line.
Thank you to all the 4,500 volunteers that assist in making this a truly fantastic event each and every year. |
| Economic Development Services
by Wayne Tebbutt 
Pacific Coastal Airlines Brings new service and connections to Penticton
Starting September 10, a Richmond based carrier will provide additional service to the South Okanagan by offering three new flights per day to Vancouver and several daily flights per week to Calgary. Pacific Coastal Airlines is a family based business currently operating 23 aircraft with nearly 400 employees. The company operates out of the South Terminal at Vancouver's International Airport and has been flying the west coast for over 35 years. The south terminal in Vancouver is much like the Penticton airport facility providing easy access and personal service. Free "inside" shuttle service is provided to the main terminal for connecting flights.
Service to/from Penticton will begin September 10th and a special promotion will be held at the Penticton Airport September 9th to publicly launch the service.
Air Canada Jazz currently serves the Penticton - Vancouver route with weekday service of three flights per day and a reduced schedule on the weekend. The AC Jazz service to Calgary was discontinued in May of 2004 and repeated attempts by the Penticton community to have Jazz reinstate the route were not successful.
Pacific Coastal will begin service here with the 19 seat Beech Craft 1900 and will supplement that service if necessary with the 30 seat Saab 340A.
In announcing the new service Quentin Smith, President of Pacific Coastal stated "We are excited about entering this market and bringing the flexibility of a mid sized company to the valley," "if the regional events warrant larger aircraft or if the city is hosting a large convention, our company can respond very quickly to the regional needs."
Schedules and bookings may be made on line at www.pacificcoastal.com |
Penticton & Wine Country Tourism
by Kelly Reid 
Book your ad today in the Official 2008 Penticton & Wine Country Visitors Guide!
REDESIGNED FOR 2008:
· Less advertising space, more information
· 4 additional pages
· Ad design option included in price of ad
· Enhanced listing with hyperlinks on the
Of the 120,000 guides produced, 80,000 are distributed externally in target markets and 40,000 locally. The guide is distributed through Visitor Centres in BC, Alberta and Washington, airports, local businesses, Automobile Associations and the Penticton & Wine Country Visitor Centre. It is mailed out to travel agents and tour operators throughout Western Canada and the United States, and in response to media, economic development, direct mail, phone, email and website inquiries. It is showcased at trade and travel shows throughout North America and in Canadian Consulates and Embassies around the world. It is also included in packages for events such as Ironman Canada, the Okanagan School of the Arts, the Okanagan Hockey Academy, conventions and conferences.
OFFICIAL 2008 PENTICTON & WINE COUNTRY VISITORS GUIDE
FULL COLOUR DISPLAY ADVERTISING RATES
(plus applicable taxes)
Outside Back Cover $4,400.00
Inside Covers $4,050.00
Full Page $3,850.00
½ Page (horizontal) $2,160.00
1/3 Page (square) $1,530.00
1/6 Page (vertical) $ 810.00
1/6 Page (horizontal) $ 810.00
1/12 Page $ 450.00
*Terms: 50% deposit at time of booking. Ad materials submitted at booking. Balance on approval of proof or ad will not appear. |
Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Canadian Chamber Responds to WHTI Notice of Proposed Rule Making
Earlier this summer, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of State (DOS) released the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for the land and sea portions of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). This document contains the proposed rules and implementation date of WHTI at land and sea ports-of-entry.
While the NPRM does take some positive steps forward with some exceptions for children and the willingness of DHS to develop alternative documents (i.e. enhanced drivers' licences) with interested parties, there are still numerous areas of concern. For instance, the NPRM proposes a summer 2008 implementation date, however, this does not leave enough time for the completion of an enhanced driver's licence pilot project or ensuring that a critical mass of WHTI-compliant documentation is available to the traveling public. Furthermore, there is no mention in the NPRM of a communications strategy to ensure that the public is aware of the upcoming WHTI rules.
Read entire article |
 Celebrating a Century
Penticton will celebrate its 100th Anniversary in 2008 and we invite everyone to join in the year long celebration. The official signing date of the incorporation of the City of Penticton was December 31st, 1908.
As part of the centennial celebrations, local story tellers, historians and photographers are collaborating to produce a centennial book titled Penticton: Celebrating a Century. The book will have 100 pages and will feature stories and pictures never before published. It will be a 'must have,' not only for yourselves, but also for your personal and company guests. What's more, the book will be available in November, right in time for Christmas. You are invited to take advantage of our pre-order special prices, $25.00 per hard cover book (regular price $50.00) and $15.00 per soft cover book (regular price $30.00). Our special prices are in effect until September 30, 2007. Kindly complete and mail (with your cheque) the pre-order form to the Centennial Office.
Thank you,
the Centennial Advisory Committee
Pre-order form |
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The newest JobWave is delivered under the framework of the provincial government's BC Employment Program. The program was launched in July 2006 and has already achieved significant results. In the past year, over 7,800 clients have been supported to achieve their employment potential.
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With programs like JobWave and Triumph Vocational Services (for British Columbians with disabilities), WCG International HR Solutions has helped clients attain over 65,000 job placements since 1995. |
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Do You Have Medical  Emergency Coverage For Dependents at School?
Many group benefit plans provide emergency health insurance for travelers. But what if the traveler is your dependent child, whose destination is a post-secondary school outside your home province? With Chambers Plan, dependent students are covered.
To qualify, your firm must include one of the Chamber Plan's health benefits in its group benefit plan. And the employee has to be insured for family, rather than individual, benefits. This extends coverage to a spouse and dependent children.
Under the Chambers Plan, family benefits include all dependent children up to age 21. Over that age, dependents whom are full time students are covered up to age 25 (age 26 in Quebec).
When an eligible dependent is at school outside the employee's normal province of residence, the Chambers Plan can provide emergency medical benefits. An emergency would include an accident or an acute illness, but not routine medical services. Regular check-ups and predictable appointments must still be scheduled at home!
The plan will cover many expenses arising from an emergency, if the student contacts the out-of-country coordinator at the outset. The experts at the emergency centre will help the student find appropriate treatment and will work with the student's medical practitioners to consider repatriating the student as quickly as possible.
Benefits also include help with travel arrangements, a bedside visit by a parent, and return of vehicle services.
However an emergency unfolds, the Chambers Plan's emergency medical benefits provide a safety net for students enrolled outside their home territory. If you have a family member planning on studying abroad, be sure you send them off to school with details of this coverage. Include your firm number, your employee certificate number, and the toll-free contact information for the emergency help line.
Once you've done your homework, your child can concentrate on school confident that they know what to do, even in a medical emergency far from home.
201 - 2141 Springfield Road Kelowna, BC V1Y 7X1
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NEW MEMBERS
The Beach Salon & Spa
Sandra Brietzke
102-1070 Lakeshore Drive
Penticton, BC V2A 1C1
492-9193
Pacific Coastal Airlines
Sarah Curtiss
204-4440 Cowley Crescent
Richmond BC V7B 1B8
(604) 214-2366
Toll-free 1-800-663-2782
www.pacificcoastal.com
Divine Valley Tour Company Ltd.
Elaine Gowing
P.O. Box 611
Okanagan Falls BC V0H 1R0
497-8627
Toll Free: 1-888-846-6425
divinevalley@shaw.ca
www.divinevalleytours.com
Summerland Golf & Country Club
Ken Oleschuk
Box 348 2405 Mountain Ave.
Summerland BC V0H 1Z0
494-7745
Toll Free: 1-877-955-7955
www.summerlandgolf.com
summerlandgolf@shawbiz.ca
Beds &
Julian Freeman
2964 Skaha Lake Road
Penticton BC V2A 6P1
492-2370
www.bedsand.com
The Resting Place Lodge
Ann Widmer
883 Fish Lake Road
Summerland BC
V0H 1Z8
494-0760
Penticton Naturopathic Clinic
Dr. Alex Mazurin
106-3310 Skaha Lake Road
Penticton BC V2A 6G4
492-3181
Ponderosa Golf Club
Scott Dawson
4000 Ponderosa Place
Peachland, BC V0H 1X5
767-2149
scott@golfponderosa.com
www.golfponderosa.com
Create Design and Marketing
Susie Gay
Summerland, BC V0H 1Z7
462-4438
susie@create-design.ca
www.create-design.ca
Raejen Contracting Ltd.
Jennifer Hagblom
210 Roy Avenue
Penticton, BC V2A 3M9
487-1310
raejencontracting@shaw.ca |
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