SEPTEMBER 2026
SUPPORTING THE LOCAL BUSINESSES WHO SUPPORT US
CHAMBER CONNECTION
FROM THE CHAMBER TOPIC How did the Bald Range Wildfire impact your Business’ Revenue while Summerland was evacuated? A. My Business is in Summerland so I had to close it and could not generate any revenue. B. My Business is in Summerland but I was still able to sell my product by other means (eg: another location, online) C. My Business had a significant decrease in revenue during the evacuation. D. My Business had a small decrease in revenue during the evacuation. E. Thankfully my busienss was unaffected by the evactuation. Respond to our email with your choice and you could win a $20 giftcard
Diane with Penticton Optical won the $20 Safeway gift card for the August Poll. Diane please contact us to claim your prize!
MEET YOUR BOARD DIRECTOR HARPREET SIDHU
WHO’S WHO?
Harpreet Sidhu is a well-known South Okanagan business and community leader with nearly two decades of experience in sales, journalism, communications and marketing. A former sports editor and public relations and marketing professional, she is now co-owner and Business Development Partner at HEK Yeah Media, helping businesses and non-profits strengthen their presence in the community. Harpreet is the current President of the Rotary Club of Penticton and has an extensive record of volunteer leadership, including involvement with JCI Penticton, Penticton Women in Business and Penticton Peach Festival, as well as service on the Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, where she has previously served as First Vice-President. She has also represented the Chamber with Travel Penticton, reflecting a longstanding commitment to strengthening local business, community organizations and the South Okanagan.
Join Us
ON OUR NEXT TRAVEL ADVENTURE
SAVE
THE DATE
This is a phishing email; Not from the Chamber: I ' m f o l l o w i n g u p i f yo u ' r e i n t e r e s t e d t o g e t t h e Re g i s t ra n t s / m e m b e r l i s t .
ALERT
Pe n t i c t o n & W i n e C o u n t r y C h a m b e r o f Commerce 2026 (British Columbia, Canada, 2026) 1,000+ Contacts I ' m wa i t i n g f o r yo u r r e s p o n s e s o I c a n l e t yo u k n o w t h e c o s t & m o r e d e t a i l s . H o p i n g t o r e c e i ve yo u r r e p l y s o o n .
DO NOT RESPOND AND DO NOT PAY
NEW TEAM MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENT
Tourism A L E RT:
2,100 athletes across 81 teams will be visiting Penticton next weekend!
The 25th Annual Penticton Dragon Boat Festival September 12 & 13, 2026
CHAMBER EVENTS
General Local Government Elections
COMMUNITY HUB When the Bald Range wildfire forced thousands from their homes, JCI Penticton knew our community needed to act. What started out as an opportunity to cook hotdogs for lunch for those in need turned into a 24-hour wildfire relief tent outside the Penticton Community Centre, providing hot meals, cold drinks, snacks and essential supplies to evacuees. What began as a small volunteer effort quickly became a community-wide response. The support was overwhelming.
Local businesses stepped forward with food, supplies, donations and resources. Volunteers worked day and night, often with little more than a willingness to help. The Penticton Sikh Temple became an incredible partner, providing hundreds of hot meals and essential supplies while working closely with JCI to support evacuees. From pancakes & sausages to fresh fruit, hygiene products and everyday JCI is a dynamic nonprofit organization of necessities, the community continued to leaders aged 18 to 40 who are dedicated to making a positive change in their community. give. The tent became more than a place to get food—it became a symbol of what Penticton does best: show up for one another.
They are not your average networking group – they are creators, leaders, entrepreneurs, trendsetters, movers and shakers who believe in creating a better future for ourselves and our communities.
JCI Penticton is incredibly grateful to every volunteer, business, donor and For more information, visit: community organization that stood www.jcipenticton.com beside us. When our neighbours Penticton answered.
needed
help,
CHAMBER MEMBERS! AUGUST SPONSOR
CK
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LI
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E TO NOM
A IN
AUGUST NOMINATIONS Miss Sharan Uplands YMCA Child Care
Vishant Starbucks
The Barber Lounge
Mary Lou Balcomo
Lisa Frilly Lilly Home
Ryan Granville Mercantile Penticton Trade and Convention Centre
August Winner
Lisa Frilly Lilly Home
COMMUNITY NEWS
Interested in volunteering and getting more involved in our community? Click here to explore volunteer opportunities and learn how you can make a difference.
NEW AUGUST MEMBERS WELCOME TO THE CHAMBER!
Biz Supporting Biz
The Chamber will provide the stamps and stamp cards and feature participating businesses and their rewards on our website. You can choose how many rewards you’re able to offer, recognizing that many businesses have been deeply affected by the loss of August tourism, harvest disruptions and other impacts of the wildfire. To provide additional support for Summerland’s recovery, purchases made at participating Summerland businesses will receive two stamps. LEARN MORE AND JOIN ROOTED IN RECOVERY Thank you to everyone who chooses to participate —and to our entire business community for the kindness, generosity and resilience you have shown throughout this extraordinary time.
As our region moves into the economic recovery stage following the Bald Range wildfire, the Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce is launching Rooted in Recovery—a simple businessto-business program encouraging South Okanagan businesses to support one another. The program will run until December 31, 2026. Participating businesses are asked to offer a reward valued at up to $150. This could be a discount, an in-kind service or another offer that works for your business. In return, you’ll receive stamp cards to encourage your team to purchase products and services from other participating businesses—keeping more spending within our local communities rather than online.
The Case for an Attached Hotel The Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce is supporting a ‘Yes’ vote in the October referendum because we believe that an attached convention centre hotel represents an important opportunity to strengthen Penticton’s shoulderseason economy. The economic fallout from wildfires in 2023 and again this year has demonstrated the risks of relying too heavily on July and August. Attracting more conferences and events during the spring, fall and winter would help create steadier year-round visitation and provide greater economic stability for our tourism operators, restaurants, retailers and other local businesses.
YOUR VOICE
A recent economic study estimates an additional $29M in local economic activity each year, support 70-90 jobs, and provide the City with a new source of revenue from a land-lease deal.
Read our Press Release Here Businesses Are Victims of Crime Too After learning that both the Crown and Defence Council recommended a concurrent sentence for the Penticton Toyota Arsonist (who recently pleaded guilty to that crime resulting in $5.75M in damage) resulting in no additional prison time while serving a 4.5 year sentence for witness intimidation, the Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce is advocating for greater recognition that businesses are victims of crime too, and restitution should reflect the detrimental impact criminals have on owners, employees, suppliers, and customers. When a business experiences theft, vandalism, arson or property damage, the impact extends far beyond an insurance claim - owners and employees face financial losses, disruptions, increased security costs and the emotional toll of being repeatedly targeted. We are calling for a justice system that ensures crimes against businesses carry meaningful consequences, particularly when repeat offenders are involved, and that recognizes the very real impact these crimes have on our local businesses and community.
Watch Story on Global BC
PROVINCIAL NEWS & BUSINESS Farmers, Ranchers, and Orchardists, click here if your property has been has been affected by wildfire. If your business has been affected by US Tariffs, please share your story here to help shape supports that will be needed. PST Expands October 1: Click here for your Step-by-Step How-To Guide
NATIONAL NEWS & BUSINESS Letter from Canadian Chamber’s CEO Candace Laing to Canadian Businesses regarding 50% US Tariffs. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is collecting concrete examples of how the new tariffs could affect Canadian businesses and jobs. Click here to complete this 5 minute survey. Learn about BDC’s LIFT (Lead with Innovation and Focus on Technology) Funding opportunity to invest in Canadian technology that improves efficiency, increases productivity and competitiveness Learn about the AgriMarketing Program – Market Diversification for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, which offers targeted support to encourage greater diversification to respond to market instability in the Canadian agriculture, agri-food and agri-products sector, including fish and seafoods Learn about Indigenous Forestry Initiative (IFI) Grant Funding Learn about Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) which includes various funding opportunities Information and Applications for 2027's Canada Summer Jobs Grant
Help Make Vees Games More Accessible A new community initiative is working with the City of Penticton to create a Sensory Sensitive Suite at select Penticton Vees games. The suite will offer a quieter, lower-stimulation environment for individuals and families who may find the regular game experience too loud, busy or overwhelming—giving more people the opportunity to enjoy a Vees game and take part in this community experience. Local businesses and organizations are invited to sponsor one or more of the eight participating games: $893 to sponsor one game Opportunities available for up to eight games Sponsors will be recognized in the game programming as a sponsor of the Sensory Sensitive Suite This is a sponsorship opportunity that includes advertising and business recognition; it is not being presented as a charitable donation. To learn more or discuss sponsorship, please contact Amanda Locke, M.H.Sc., SLP (C) Owner & Registered Speech-Language Pathologist She/Her WordPlay Therapy Services. #201- 3115 Skaha Lake Road, Penticton, V2A 6G5 Office: 236-700-4099 | Cell: 250-258-1512 This initiative is being organized independently in collaboration with the City of Penticton. The Chamber is pleased to help share this opportunity with our business community.