STEADY ROOTS, STRONG BUSINESSES RESILIENT COMMUNITY
CHAMBER CHAMBER CHAMBER CONNECTION CONNECTION
FROMTHECHAMBER
TOPIC
Let’s be honest, how many times has your business reinvented itself?
A) Never, we’re holding steady
B) Once or twice
C) More times than I can count
D) We’re reinventing ourselves right now
E) At this point, reinvention is part of the business plan
Respond to our email with your choice and you could win a $20 giftcard :) DarylMeyerswonthe$20giftcardfortheJulyPoll Contactustoclaimyourprize!
MEET YOUR BOARD DIRECTOR IAN LINDSAY
WHO’SWHO?
Ian Lindsay is serving his second term on the Penticton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. As CEO of the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation and the Chamber's 2025 Business Leader of the Year, Ian brings leadership, collaboration, and a strong commitment to our community.
Ian believes healthy communities and strong local businesses go hand in hand. As a Chamber Director, he also serves as the Board liaison to the Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) Council
At the Medical Foundation, Ian helped lead the successful $10 million Oncology Centre campaign and is now leading fundraising efforts for the Women & Children's Centre at Penticton Regional Hospital.
Thank you, Ian, for sharing your time, experience, and leadership with the Chamber and our business community.
CHAMBEREVENTS
Behind every successful business is a story of hard work, commitment, and people who care about what they do. Some have been serving our communities for decades. Others are newer but have already made a lasting impression.
The 2026 Business Excellence Awards, presented by Doane Grant Thornton LLP, celebrate businesses, organizations, and leaders whose contributions help our communities grow and thrive.
With 10 award categories, there's an opportunity to recognize outstanding customer service, hospitality, workplace culture, marketing, community leadership, business growth, and more.
If there's a business or leader whose service, leadership, innovation, or community involvement deserves to be recognized, now is the time to nominate them.
Nominations close Friday, August 7. It only takes one nomination to get a business or leader started in the awards process.
Learn more about the award categories, eligibility, and submit a nomination today.
MEMBER APPRECIATION EVENT
This year's Member Appreciation event is unlike anything we've done before. Inspired by the spirit of teamwork and community, you'll begin your journey as a Community Explorer, tackle fun challenges, build new connections, and work toward one unforgettable finale.
Because many of the activities are team-based, registration is required in advance so we can prepare the experience and assign everyone to their adventure.
�� Wednesday, August 19 �� 4:00 – 7:30 PM �� $10 per Chamber Member (Members Only)
Spots are limited, so don't wait! Register early and join us as we celebrate YOU! 4 - 7:30 PM 4 - 7:30 PM 4 - 7:30 PM
JULYSPONSOR
Trista
Splashes
Kitchen&Bath
KorriM A&WRiverside
CorrinaHerman SweepingBeauty CleaningServices
CLICKHERETONOMINATE
TheChamberwasaHoleSponsoratthe BannisterFordStaffGolfDayatSt.AndrewsbytheLake. WeplayedahilariousgameofSayitWithaSmile!
COMMUNITYNEWS
Getreadyforfivedaysof communityspirit,live entertainment&familyfun asthe79thPenticton PeachFestivaltakesover OkanaganLakePark! August5–9,enjoyfree performances,exciting activities,thePeachNʼ BeachParadeandplenty ofopportunitiesto celebrateeverythingthat makesourcommunity special.Seeyouthere!
How It Works
Visit a participating Downtown Penticton business.
Find a Find Your Rhythm poster.
Scan the QR code.
Complete the quick online entry form.
Visit another participating business in a different neighbourhood to unlock another entry. The more neighbourhood rhythms you discover, the more chances you have to win.
ROOTED IN CONNECTION
Frog City Cafe & Linden Gardens
Sometimes the best networking doesn't feel like networking. That's exactly what Rooted in Connection was all about. We gathered at Linden Gardens & Frog City Café to enjoy a self-guided Garden Quest, share a delicious meal, and connect in a relaxed setting. It was a chance to step away from the busyness of everyday life and simply spend time together.
Presented in partnership with Community Futures South Okanagan Similkameen, Penticton Women in Business, and funded by WeBC.
GRAND OPENING BLOOM & VOW
Okanagan Floral & Wedding Boutique
Main Street has a beautiful new addition! We were excited to celebrate the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting for Bloom & Vow.
If you haven't stopped by yet, be sure to ask about The Bloom Bar it's a unique way to share fresh flowers with someone special (or treat yourself!).
Congratulations to the Bloom & Vow team.
GARNETVALLEYGRAVELMINE
The Chamber is continuing its opposition to the proposed Garnet Valley gravel mine. While recognizing the importance of aggregate resources to the provincial economy, the Chamber has consistently maintained that industrial developments should be appropriately located where they do not jeopardize established economic drivers. In the case of the Garnet Valley proposal, the Chamber believes the potential economic costs to existing businesses outweigh the anticipated benefits of the project and has therefore urged decision-makers to reject the application in favour of protecting the longterm prosperity and reputation of the South Okanagan. Click here to read letter opposing mining in Garnet Valley
WESTCOASTCORRIDORRESILIENCYPARTNERSHIP
We have written the Prime Minister for increased federal infrastructure investment to strengthen transportation resiliency across the South Okanagan and British Columbia by supporting the West Coast Corridor Resiliency Partnership (WCCRP). Recognizing that the South Okanagan is the largest population centre in British Columbia served by a single primary highway, the Chamber has urged the federal government to prioritize strategic investments that improve the reliability of critical transportation corridors from the Fraser Valley through the Interior. The Chamber argues that repeated disruptions caused by floods, wildfires, landslides, severe weather, and major collisions have demonstrated that resilient transportation infrastructure is essential not only for the uninterrupted movement of people and goods, but also for protecting Canada's supply chains, emergency preparedness, food security, economic competitiveness, and the long-term prosperity of communities throughout the province.
PROVINCIALGOVERNMENTANNOUNCEMENTS
1.Province issues environmental assessment certificate for Angus silica sand mine allowing the project to proceed to permitting. The certificate includes 19 legally binding conditions, and is expected to generate 150 jobs and $300M in investment.
2.British Columbia is taking action to secure more fibre for value-added businesses, creating local jobs by making more in B.C.
3.Ontario joins BC and other provinces on the Securities Passport system, which is a regulatory framework managed by the Canadian Securities Administrators and lets a business or person get market access in multiple Canadian provinces by dealing only with their home “principal regulator”.
4.B.C. Gov’t and Simpcw sign consent agreement for proposed Yellowhead copper mine environmental assessment.
5.Advancing B.C.’s first major battery storage project on Vancouver Island to strengthen reliability, support demand, and deliver 100 megawatts of flexible capacity by 2030.
FEDERALGOVERNMENTANNOUNCEMENTS
1.Canada-British Columbia Cooperative Prosperity Agreement to pursue economic growth including steel manufacturing, softwood lumber, LNG, George Massey tunnel replacement, energy development, and more.
2.Regional Tariff Response Initiative in B.C. includes additional funding to support SME’s affected by trade disruptions, including those impacted by steel, aluminum, and copper taaariffs, those in the forest sector, and those in the food sector.
Support for Plan Members Affected by Wildfires
We recognize that the recent wildfires across Canada have had a devastating impact damaging homes and forcing families to evacuate. In difficult times like these, access to medication should not be an added concern. To help, TELUS Health is continuing to support early refills of medications that may be lost due to natural disasters (as defined by Public Safety Canada). Plan members can refill prescriptions up to one month after the event. If a pharmacy receives an “early refill” rejection message, they can use the appropriate intervention code to indicate that the medication is being replaced due to a natural disaster.
Canadian SME buyers interested in sourcing products or developing supplier relationships in Colombia are invited to the Internation Matchmaking Event.
For one representative from each selected company, the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce will cover: Round-trip international economy airfare, Two nights of accommodation, Airport-tohotel transfers, offer support throughout the matchmaking process and on-site meetings.
