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Monthly Survey Question 
The Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce wants to know what you think!
Click here to view this month's survey question regarding the temporary Highway 97 closure.
Thanks to all those who responded to last month's survey question.
Here are the stats from last month's survey:
During the Union of BC Municipalities Convention September 22-26th did you record an increase in your business with the influx of delegates?
Yes 20%
No 60%
Marginal 20% |
President's Report by Randy Kowalchuk 
Congratulations to the newly elected Mayor and Council. We are looking forward to working with you all throughout the next three years.
Yesterday we heard from the 12 candidates vying for positions for our Board of Directors Elections coming up next week. You will have the opportunity to vote online all day Wednesday and Thursday, November 26th and 27th.
The candidates are Cal Meiklejohn of Meiklejohn Architects, David Newman of Skaha Ford, Don Dumesnil of Telerx, Peter Benson of Okanagan Books, Gitta Schoenne of Centum LendingMax Corp., Janet Stein with AdvoCare Health Services, Claire Daniels of Prospera Credit Union, Joy Huebert, The Sisters - RE/Max Front Street Realty, Charles Cornell with Community Futures, Derek Badger, Erin Moubray and Lauren Cornish.
We have a great slate of candidates and we wish them the best of luck in the election.
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Manager's Report by Lorraine Renyard
The Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce is proud to present the Annual Business Excellence Awards being held on Saturday January 31, 2009. The awards recognize businesses and persons in Penticton and area that have achieved excellence in the community through their own abilities, efforts and initiatives. Award selection is based upon criteria listed in the synopsis of each award category.
The categories are: Community Booster Award, Hospitality/Tourism Business Award, Home Based Business Award, Industrial Business Award, Retail/Service Business Award, New Business Award, Young Citizen of the Year, Young Entrepreneur, Business of the Year, and Business Leader of the Year.
Nomination forms have been distributed to businesses all over town. If you haven't received one and would like to, please contact the Chamber office at 492-4103.
We are excited to announce that this year's Gala Evening is themed around "Excellence Rocks", featuring many rock songs and bands from past and present. This formal evening includes a sit down dinner, silent auction, awards presentations and entertainment. Tickets are $55 each or $400 for a reserved table of 8.
Items are now being accepted for the Silent Auction portion of the evening. This will be your opportunity to showcase your business to others at the largest annual celebration held by the Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce.
For more information on tickets, nomination forms, sponsorship opportunities and silent auction donations, please call the Chamber office at
492-4103.
Thanks go to . . .
Judy Poole of Raymond James and Community Futures Ltd. were both great supporters of the recent Chamber of Commerce luncheon with Michael Campbell. Without this kind of support we wouldn't be able to bring such high quality speakers to Penticton. Speaking to a sold out crowd of almost 200 people, Business Analyst Michael Campbell touched on the many issues facing British Columbia, Canada and the global market.
A huge thank you also goes to Kevin Burke, Kevin Lauer, Art Taylor, Janet Stein and Barb Haynes for their assistance throughout the three All Candidates meetings that the Chamber hosted for Penticton. A big thank you to these four people who took time out of their busy schedules to ensure that our events went smoothly. |
Canadian Chamber of Commerce 
Chamber Releases Report On Skills Crisis: Calls for Action to Address Critical Labour Shortage
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has released the Building a Twenty-First Century Workforce: A Business Strategy to Overcome Canada's Skills.
This report's recommendations call on the federal and provincial/territorial governments, as well as business, to act quickly to combat this real threat to Canadian prosperity, especially in times of global economic turmoil.
Members will recall that the Canadian Chamber initiated a broad consultation of its members and their members and staff to hear views on this important issue. The Chamber received feedback from all areas of the country and all sectors of the economy.
This consultation provided the foundation for the in-depth report being released on November 10, and is a critical step in identifying just how Canada can confront this skills shortage head on, with recommendations to government, as well as business.
By 2010, 75% of all new jobs created will be high skilled, meaning that those without skills will be hard pressed to find work. By 2010, only 6% of jobs will be open to those with less than a high school diploma. The challenge for Canada is to act quickly and wisely to prosper from these changes rather than allow them impede.
This research paper is available at www.chamber.ca |
| Michael Campbell Luncheon
Sponsored by Community Futures, Raymond James & SW Audio
Speaking to a sold out crowd of almost 200 people, Business Analyst Michael Campbell touched on the many issues facing British Columbia, Canada and the global market.
We are all aware that times are tough, but Canada is still in a strong position economically. Mr. Campbell believes that our country will not be impacted as significantly as our neighbours to the south.
We hope this presentation was informative and valuable to all who attended! |
| Business After Business
On October 23rd, the OSNS Child Development Centre hosted a very successful Business After Business in their centre.
Great food was served by Earl's Restaurant, and refreshments were provided by Sumac Ridge Estate Winery and the Cannery Brewing Company.
A great time was had by all! |
Ambassador of the Month
Joy Huebert has just joined our Ambassador Team this fall! She is very much looking forward to greeting you and getting to know more about you at our upcoming Chamber of Commerce events.
Joy is ½ of "The Sisters" Real Estate Team over at Re/Max Front Street Realty. The offices are located at #2 Front Street, Penticton, BC. Joy is a Realtor who assists people in their purchase of real estate and marketing properties for sale.
In her spare time Joy enjoys travelling, cooking, golfing and hiking.
Joy has volunteered her time in the community for the Penticton Alliance Church by organizing the women's events. She has also volunteered her time for Ironman, the Fest of Ale and Dry Grad.
Joy is definitely an asset to our Ambassador team! |
Local Group Benefit Expert Wins National Award 
The Okanagan's Don Brown of db financial was recognized as a leading representative of the Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan at the program's national conference held this past month in Whistler. This bi-annual conference honours Chamber Plan experts who meet stringent qualifying criteria. Don Brown was awarded top honours out of 125 advisors for outstanding customer service, persistency and sales volume. db financial is the exclusive plan Agency serving businesses throughout the Okanagan Valley and specializes in group medical and dental benefits, pension plans, partnership insurance, individual life, critical illness and disability insurance.
Don Brown is well known in the Okanagan area and has been providing benefit services for 10 years, 8 of them associated with the Chamber of Commerce Group Insurance Plan. He is active with youth soccer and has coached for years while proudly raising his three children.
db financial welcomes inquiries and can be contacted by calling the phone numbers or visiting their websites listed below.
Phone: 250-763-4284
Toll Free: 1-866-685-8366
Fax: 1-877-818-0904
Email: dbfinancial@shawbiz.ca
Website: www.bcbenefitplans.com |
Literacy Now 
In collaboration with the Literacy Now Task Group, and many community groups and individuals, our challenge is to address the goals, and implement the recommendations, identified in last year's region-wide survey of literacy programs and initiatives. Many of you will have contributed to, or read, the Tapestry of Stories, put together by my predecessor, Danielle Robinson.
The 4th edition of our newsletter The Buzz on Literacy is now available.
Please click here for the entire newsletter.
Caroline Pennelli
Literacy Now Coordinator |
Crime Tip of the Month 
Scam artists are always adding new twists and finding more victims. The adage that "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is" applies today more than ever.
The best way to protect yourself is knowledge - know the danger signs and exercise caution at all times.
Over the next ten months, we will be listing the Top 10 Scams identified by the Better Business Bureau and how you can ensure that you do not become a victim.
#7
Bogus Health & Wellness Claims
Fraudulent health treatment claims are a growing concern in the marketplace. They target the most vulnerable consumer such as the seriously overweight and the ill. Beware of too good to be true advertisements promising "rapid and effortless" weight-loss or "miracle cures" and "newly discovered" treatments for disease and illness. These scams are designed to steal your money and potentially put your health at risk if proper medical treatment is delayed.
Quick Tip: Before buying any treatment or medication consult your physician, pharmacist or other health care professional. Report bogus health and wellness claims to the Competition Bureau of Canada at 1-800-348-5358 or at www.competitionbureau.gc.ca
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How to Think Outside the Box
On January 19, 1998, I wrote a Monday Morning Memo titled, Creativity is an Inert Gas. It was published as chapter 89 in The Wizard of Ads. These are a few of its paragraphs:
Moments of emotional recovery are the best times to think about problems you have not been able to solve. Great, creative insights follow times of great stress. It's a law of the universe.
Read more | |
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Photo by David Szabo
NEW MEMBERS
Lauren J. Cornish
Penticton, BC
250-487-8524
Erin Moubray
Penticton, BC
250-809-0031
TD Waterhouse Private Investment Advice
Brandon Moore & Andrew MacLean
2nd Floor 390 Main Street
Penticton, BC V2A 5C3
250-486-6553
Toll Free: 1-800-470-3023
brandon.moore@td.com
Derek Badger
Penticton, BC
250-770-1603
dbadger@its.jnj.com
Daryl Clarke
Penticton, BC
250-490-6043 |
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