Voice of Business Newsletter

A 90-year-old Ponderosa Pine tree felled in Skaha Park by a devastating windstorm last November will be a key part of a unique display ceiling to be erected in Robson Square for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

The Province of BC, through its BC Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Secretariat, is developing hosting facilities at Robson Square in Vancouver to promote British Columbia before, during and after the 2010 Olympics. A key design element for this structure will be a unique ceiling that will be created from a variety of wood planks gathered from communities around the province.

RONA dealers throughout BC will coordinate the collection of the planks and deliver them to a central point, where they can be finished and integrated into the display ceiling. LiveEdge Design in Duncan has been chosen to prepare the wood for the ceiling.

This was a great volunteer team effort initiated by Peter Ord of Penticton's Spirit of BC Committee and assisted by Barb Sheppard of the Peach City Management Group. He contacted Phil Rippen from the City of Penticton's Parks Department who agreed to release a piece of wood from the fallen trees from Skaha Lake park to be part of history. Dick Campbell, from Okanagan Wood Fibre, cut the wood to size and it was delivered to Rick Mielke, manager of Penticton's RONA Store.

"The three pieces of wood are three inches, by 16 inches by 20 feet and have been delivered to the RONA Distribution Centre in Surrey and the 2010 LegaciesNow Team in Vancouver have already picked them up to take them to LiveEdge in Duncan," said Mielke.

Penticton Spirit of BC Committee co-chairs Lorraine Renyard and Nora Haft congratulated everyone involved for the team effort that will ensure Penticton is part of a unique 2010 project.

"The City's Parks and Recreation Department should be commended for the extraordinary work they have done in ensuring this wood gets used in projects throughout the community," said Renyard.

Supported by 2010 Legacies Now and the Province of BC, Spirit of BC is a province-wide program that promotes community innovation, pride and excellence and involves British Columbians in opportunities arising from the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. About 100 Spirit of BC Committees, representing over 200 communities, tell a different part of BC's story by working to inspire people of all ages to bring together people, projects and ideas that engage residents.

Business After Business Skaha Ford Business After Business

Thank you to everyone at Skaha Ford for hosting another successful Business after Business on Thursday, March 13th. There was a good crowd, lots of networking and passport self-guided tours. Door prizes, goodie bags, great food and refreshments, and a showroom full of top-of-the-line vehicles - a great time was had by all.

District 6 Report by Dan Albas

Premier's Visit to the BC Chamber of Commmerce

From l to r:

Dan Albas, District 6 Director,

Norm LeCavalier, Kelowna Chamber,

Premier Gordon Campbell,

Dawn Lasby, Vernon Chamber & Lorraine Renyard

I had the pleasure, along with President, Randy Kowalchuk and Manager Lorraine Renyard of hearing Premier Campbell speak at the recent Premier's Luncheon put on by the BC Chamber of Commerce in Vancouver.

The sold out event at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver started with BC Chamber of Commerce chair Daren Hancott congratulating the Premier and his government on their commitment to enact sound policies that allow small business and industry to do what they do best: create jobs and build the economy. He noted that the BC Chamber of Commerce will remove or amend 30 standing policies from their policy resolutions book due to substantive government attention and action.

The Premier then spoke on the recent budget and how it is more than just a 'green' document. While there are many such green initiatives in the budget such as a revenue neutral carbon tax, investment in a research institute on climate change and steps towards implementation of a 'cap and trade' system. All of these are initiatives that put BC in a leadership position in North America.

Premier Campbell also spoke extensively on the importance of embracing more of a long term perspective. He outlined the necessity for thinking and planning for our children and grandchildren. This is to ensure that they inherit a province where they can live, work and raise families of their own. A BC that balances both environmental and economic sustainability. He mentioned the increased strain on the health care system and how the government can play a productive role in decreasing chronic illness and disease through the promotion of healthier living and communities. This felt especially true for me as I can attest to the commitment of our own community being part of the solution with successful programs like Penticton Steps Out and the South Okanagan Health Fair.

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