The Okanagan’s four chamber leaders, Vernon’s Sonja Harkness, Westside’s Bryan Fitzpatrick, Penticton’s Jordan Knox and Kelowna’s Derek Gratz, meeting earlier this week. Photo: Kelowna Chamber
KELOWNA – This week, two more chambers of commerce signed the Memorandum of Understanding already in force between The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Westside Board of Trade – renaming the expanded working group as the Okanagan Business Advisory Council (OBAC).
New members include the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce, and the Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce, providing broader geographic reach to advocate for businesses and residents up and down the valley. “It’s critical for our member businesses,” said Jordan Knox, Penticton President, “to have as much weight as possible behind us when we send messages to the governments working with us on our members’ interests – whether municipal, regional, provincial or national.”
“Transportation, agriculture, economic policy – we all face similar issues and are stronger when we look for common solutions,” said Greater Vernon Chamber’s new Executive Director, Sonja Harkness. “Our chamber is keen to get more involved in valley wide policy and advocacy issues.”
Derek Gratz, President of the Kelowna Chamber, was part of the founding MOU for the joint council, at the time named “COBAT”. Gratz applauds the widening of the Council from its two founders, Greater Westside Board of Trade and Kelowna Chamber, to include Penticton and Vernon. “It’s clear we’re more effective together, when we petition elected officials at all levels for change. We’re pleased to welcome both chambers to our joint efforts.”
Bryan Fitzpatrick, President of the Greater Westside Board of Trade took the first joint policy of the Council to the BC Chamber Policy AGM in June 2025. “It was good to develop a policy with Kelowna. “Why is it so hard to move people and goods through and within British Columbia?” resonated at the provincial policy session with our chamber colleagues in the Thompson Okanagan, and across B.C. We look forward to working on a new and meaningful topic for the spring 2026 conference in Fort St John.”
The Kelowna Chamber is hosting its annual Policy Development Forum in Kelowna November 13, and members of all four chambers will be in attendance to debate and determine policy directions for 2026.
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