By Shaylyn Robertson
This month we are starting to see a return of visitors to the area as our busy season continues ramping up.
With the provincial state of emergency declared, many out-of-province visitors to the area are feeling a bit apprehensive about travelling to B.C. Thankfully, our tourism operators, local businesses and visitor staff have been doing an excellent job sending a positive message to visitors - and many have resumed their plans accordingly as a result.
We continue to encourage our business and community members to keep up the great work in promoting Summerland as an exceptional destination.
We expect to see the regular influx of visitors as we enter into the month of August, with a potentially greater number as campers look for alternate travel destinations due to various closed provincial and regional parks. Keep up the great work!
New chamber members
• Wine Glasswriter Inc. offers products to help your guests keep track of their wine glasses.
• Tru-remote Industrial Welding Equipment Ltd. offers products to meet the needs of any welder, including installation services.
• JSR Electric is offering electrical contracting services.
• The Last Stand Food Co. Ltd. is a new mobile food trailer.
• Man Vs. Yard Landscaping offers landscaping services.
Winemaker honoured
Matt Dumayne of Okanagan Crush Pad has been named one of 10 Foodies of the Year by Western Living Magazine for 2017.
Deemed ‘The Visionary’, they commend him for his success in evolving the Haywire and Narrative wine spirits, and championing natural winemaking practices. Congratulations to Matt and the whole team at Okanagan Crush Pad.
Artistic director
The board of the Ryga Festival Society has announced the appointment of Heather Davies as the Festival’s first Artistic Director.
Heather has many years of experience working with local groups and major professional festivals to develop teaching and leadership skills in the arts.
She has a proven commitment and passion for George Ryga’s work and values, and is excited to bring her expertise to the event. The Ryga Festival takes place at various venues in Summerland from Aug. 30 to Sept. 3. Full details can be found on the Festival website.
Third anniversary
Congratulations to Rock Star District Premium Apparel and Accessories on celebrating their three-year anniversary this month. Owner Kari Harding says “being able to grow up, and then grow a business in Summerland has been such a wonderful experience. I love our little town. The best is yet to come!”
Sommelier Express
Bottleneck Drive Winery Association has hosted another successful Grand Sommelier Express event. The event raised $2,508 for the Kettle Valley Railway Station.
The ongoing support for this popular local and visitor attraction has ensured its continued success in the community.
Upcoming events
• Ultra520k Canada is happening Aug. 5 to 7 and is in its final years, so join in or watch while you still can. The event combines swim, bike and race totalling to 550 kilometres.
• An exciting part of Okanagan Race Week, the Giant’s Head Regatta is hosted by the Summerland Yacht Club.
• Thousands of athletes from across the world will come to Penticton for the 2017 Multisport Festival from Aug. 17 to 27 to compete for the gold. Up to 50 countries will be competing in six different World Championship Races.
Emergency preparedness
In light of the recent BC Wildfire situation, the British Columbia Economic Development Association has created a 10-step Guide to Prepare your Business for Evacuation.
In Summerland, we are fortunate enough to be away from any currently burning wildfires, however the risk for fire activity remains very high in our region.
This resource provides some tips to help you prepare your business in the case that an evacuation becomes necessary. In addition, they have set up an Economic Disaster Recovery Page where you can find a manual on community and business preparation.
Upgrade work
The Parkdale Place Housing Society and B.C. Housing Corporation have announced the commencement of the Parkdale Lodge — Building Envelope Remediation Project.
The main scope of the work will include low-sloped roof replacement, full window and balcony door replacement, deck retrofits and wood/stucco exterior finish replacement with horizontal cementitious siding.
The Parkdale Place Housing Society says this project will significantly improve the comfort and quality of life of Parkdale Lodge residents upon project completion, in addition to aesthetically complimenting the downtown core.
Want a refresher on your chamber benefits? Book an appointment to discuss marketing opportunities, membership benefits and more! E-mail us: membership@summerlandchamber.com.
Shaylyn Robertson is the Communications and Membership Coordinator at the Summerland Chamber of Commerce