Dan Proulx is General Manager of the Vernon Chamber of Commerce
VERNON – The Greater Vernon Chamber and chambers from Enderby to Osoyoos are celebrating Small Business Week with events, webinars and support for small business.
BDC Small Business Week takes place in Canada from Oct. 19 to 23, and it’s been organized by the Business Development Bank of Canada for more than 40 years.
“Small businesses are the heartbeat of our communities, creating employment, supporting our non-profits and sports teams, and adding diversity to our economy,” said Dan Proulx, Greater Vernon Chamber general manager.
“The Okanagan We Got This coalition of chambers wants to celebrate the importance of small business and that is the primary focus of our OK We Got This video and its message of staying positive, working together and showing local some love.”
To view the video, go to https://www.okanaganwegotthis.com/love-local/
The coalition consists of the chambers of commerce in Enderby, Armstrong Spallumcheen, Greater Vernon, Lake Country, Kelowna, Peachland, Summerland, Penticton and the South Okanagan, as well as the Greater Westside Board of Trade.
SMALL BUSINESS WEEK ACTIVITIES IN THE OKANAGAN
- In partnership with Community Futures – Valleywide Small Business Week showcases webinars aimed at helping Small Businesses in the Okanagan. To find out more check out: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/small-business-week-tickets-124192889275
- October 20 Small Business Financials sponsored by BDO
- October 21 Marketing and Cyber Security sponsored by VantageOne Credit Union
- October 22 HR and Workplace Culture
- On Oct. 21 at noon, the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce hosts Michael Denham, president and CEO of the BDC in a special event, Forging The Way Forward: How Entrepreneurs Are Adapting to the Pandemic. The link to register is: https://bit.ly/34sGiUV
- On Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., the Penticton Chamber of Commerce is celebrating Small Business Week with a Chamber Cash Mob. The chamber will host the event in-person and online, visiting three stores, over 10 hours, in a hybrid-mob format. More information on the event can be found here: https://bit.ly/353HwWV
- On Friday Oct. 23 from 6-8pm, the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce hosts the 2020 Business Excellence Awards, Presented by Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union. Headlining the virtual celebration are guest speakers Jillian Harris, founder and creative director of Jillian Harris Design, former Bachelorette and co-host of Love It Or List It Vancouver; and Ken Holland, Vernon native and general manager of the Edmonton Oilers. And Vernon’s Andrew Allen will take to the stage and perform. The link to register for this event is: https://bit.ly/3dvcZoS
- Throughout Small Business Week, the Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce will be checking in with its members from Monday to Friday during a Business Walk. On Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. until noon, there will be a Coffee with the Chair at the Wild Oak Café on Pleasant Valley Blvd. for members to stop in and have a chat with the president and vice-resident.
Dan Proulx is General Manager of the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce. He can be reached at E: manager@vernonchamber.ca P: 250-545-0771