The Chamber Board appreciated the opportunity to host the new council at the chamber office last week.
We were able to highlight the chamber’s key areas of work, as well as some of the special projects from the past year.
2014 has been an exceptional year of new projects and exciting opportunities for the Summerland Chamber, and we thought we’d put together a short list of some of those accomplishments:
o Summerland Investment and Relocation Guide: From climate to labour markets and education, this new guide was launched in February and helps put Summerland on the map for entrepreneurs and individuals looking to relocate to the Okanagan. Go to the Chamber website to read it online or download your copy.
o Summerland Business and Community Awards Gala: Held the last Saturday of February, the 76th awards Gala celebrated of the best of Summerland. Nomination forms for the 77th Gala are out now –head to the Chamber website or office to download or pick one up.
o Tourism website: Summerland’s new tourism website was launched in May. Eye-catching photos promote everything Summerland has to offer, and the site’s responsive design means it is user friendly on all digital platforms, from laptops to handheld devices.
o Tourism video: Also launched in May, Summerland’s first tourism video is designed to offer viewers a chance to experience Summerland’s unique features and lifestyle. Visit the Tourism Summerland website or the Chamber’s YouTube channel to watch it.
o Economic Development Videos: In 2014 the Chamber released five economic development videos. The first introductory video promotes Summerland as a great place to do business, and the following four are targeted videos to highlight specific sectors or opportunities: Investing in Summerland, Science and Technology, Agriculture and Wineries, and Manufacturing.
o Sister City Reception: The Chamber facilitated a meeting of Toyokoro delegates and Chamber members, to explore trade opportunities between the two communities.
o Regional Networking: More and more, collaboration is becoming a key to economic success, and the Chamber continues to work to ensure Summerland is represented at a regional level in endeavors that range from the creation of valley-wide cycling paths, to important developing sectors such as wine tourism and agriculture technology.
o Municipal Election Forum: With twice-weekly questions from candidates on the Chamber blog viewed more than 3000 times, and an All Candidates Forum attended by more than 600 people, the Chamber was able to provide our members and the community with extensive information leading up to the election.
o Festival of Lights: Despite this year’s chilly weather, Light-up continues to grow and attract visitors from around B.C. In fact, there were more than 14,000 visits to the Summerland Light-up website in November.
Please continue to read our articles and follow the Chamber online to find out about more exciting projects in 2015. The Summerland Chamber of Commerce wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
We always appreciate your feedback. Please contact me at president@summerlandchamber.com or Christine Petkau at manager@summerlandchamber.com.
Arlene Fenrich is president of the Summerland Chamber of Commerce. All of the members of the board of directors serve as volunteers.
