News Archives - Page 6 of 14 - Community Futures North Okanagan

RNIP program evolves to ‘meet local economic needs’

August 23, 2022/in News

Rural Northern Immigration Pilot policy changes effective Sept. 1

VERNON, BC—More businesses will be able to take advantage of a program that connects local employers with skilled international workers.

Launched in February 2020, the Rural Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) helps smaller communities benefit from the immigration of skilled workers by creating a path to permanent residency. Once there’s a match between qualified employers and applicants, a Community Futures North Okanagan committee reviews applications and recommends candidates for the program.

Starting on Sept. 1, employers are limited to six community recommendations per year. Each candidate can now apply for two recommendations throughout the entire program. Before the changes, there was no limit on the number of community recommendations for employers and skilled workers.

“Due to significantly increased demand for the program, these limits help ensure more employers in our community have a chance to benefit from the RNIP program,” says Leigha Horsfield, Executive Director, Community Futures North Okanagan.

However, Horsfield says, priority jobs such as registered and licensed practical nurses, medical lab techs, nurse aids, early childhood educators and assistants as well as certain skilled trades workers are exempt from this new cap.

Vernon is one of two communities in B.C. and one of 11 in Canada selected to participate in the pilot. Through the program, the community can recommend up to 220 applicants per year.

“The program’s ability to fill skill shortages in our workforce is exceptional,” says Horsfield. “Through the program, we’ve seen the North Okanagan promoted as a destination of choice for skilled immigrants and their families.”

Businesses interested in hiring skilled workers through the program attend training sessions with Community Futures. Employers must meet several eligibility requirements, including offering full-time, non-seasonal employment, have at least three full-time employees, and offer competitive wages.

To learn more about the RNIP program and stay up to date with new changes, visit www.rnip-vernon.ca.

‘Make the employer’s job easier’: Community Futures team, services grow

July 19, 2022/in News

VERNON, BC—Community Futures North Okanagan has a new support system to help local employers combat the national labour shortage.

“Many employers are focused on just making it work right now,” says Johanna Currie, Community Futures North Okanagan’s new Business Services Advisor with WorkBC Vernon specializing in employer support. “It’s my job to help business owners identify needs and get back to work on the business instead of working head down in the business.”

Through WorkBC’s employer support services, Currie offers tools, resources and one-on-one coaching that supports small businesses throughout the employee experience. Currie brings to the team more than 20 years of management experience across a variety of industries and a background in adult education.

“There has been a shift in the market, and we realized we needed to elevate the employer support that comes with that,” says Currie. “Gone are the days of multiple applications. Instead, employers are looking to attract the same candidates and need support creating engaging job postings and an HR toolkit built to keep employees happy and engaged.”

According to the City of Vernon’s 2020 Community Profile, 52.8% of Vernon residents are employed. For local employers looking to hire, whether to fill vacancies or grow their business, Currie says selling your business’s culture and benefits is critical to finding success in today’s labour market.

“We have to get creative with the demographic pockets we don’t normally target, such as seniors supplementing their pension income and stay-at-home parents, and ask ourselves how we can encourage flexibility. There are people out there that we need to support, and it’s a great opportunity for employers willing to make the shift,” says Currie. “Employers need to ask how they can give the job seekers what they need. It’s not about finding the right person for the right job anymore. It’s about creating the right job to fit the right person.”

And, once employers have found the right person, Currie’s customized retention programs can help small business owners keep current employees happy and motivated.

“I’m passionate about helping people,” says Currie. “For me, it’s a win when I can help people make connections. It’s my job to make the employer’s job easier, and any time that happens, it’s a big win.”

Community Futures North Okanagan names 2022 Volunteer of the Year

July 12, 2022/in News

Penny McDonald loves helping businesses grow. That’s why she started volunteering for Community Futures North Okanagan in 2012, and that’s what keeps McDonald volunteering a decade later.

But when McDonald, the Community Futures North Okanagan 2022 volunteer of the year, originally joined the Community Futures Self-Employment Committee, the North Okanagan business landscape looked far different than it does today.

“The local business community has become more diversified. With the growing population, there’s more opportunity for entrepreneurs than ever before,” says McDonald, CGA, CPA and senior manager with KPMG LLP. “Overall, that has kept me engaged for all these years. I have a personal interest in businesses of all types and it’s exciting to see what businesses are succeeding today.”

With more than 20 years of experience in providing accounting and tax services, McDonald sits on the Board of Directors and is the Community Futures North Okanagan treasurer.

“Community Futures is continually evolving, and its strength comes from the people that work there,” says McDonald. “We’re very fortunate to have this organization in our community. What they give to the community and people from all walks of life is amazing.”

A strong supporter of business development, McDonald spearheaded Community Futures’ popular Enterprize Challenge competition and continues to support the initiative.

“We are very grateful to Penny for sharing her valuable time and expertise to improve and enhance the organization and the community we serve,” says Leigha Horsfield, CF North Okanagan executive director. “Her passion for business and devotion to owner-managed businesses makes Penny an invaluable member of the Community Futures North Okanagan team.”

Volunteers are the reason Community Futures can contribute meaningfully to the North Okanagan business community. For more information about how to volunteer with CF North Okanagan, visit futuresbc.com.

May 18, 2022/in News

Tasha Swite, owner of Spirit of the Lake Native Boutique, speaks to School District No. 22 students at the district head office May 5 for the Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurship Day. Organizers hope to expand the event next year to include more learning, business pitches and opportunities to gain materials they need to take their business ideas forward.

When Tasha Swite introduces herself at the inaugural Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurship Day in Vernon, she says: “I’m a mother. I’m a wife. And I’m a fourth-generation entrepreneur.” Also, the first woman among that long line of self-employed Swites. Tasha Swite is the owner of N’ha-itk, Spirit of the Lake Native Boutique in West Kelowna, and she was one of several people sharing her story of entrepreneurship to help educate and inspire Indigenous high school students Thursday.

“I put my whole life into my business—and I love every minute,” Swite told the students, now three years after taking the leap to open the gift shop that sells everything from intricately beaded earrings to handcrafted-in-BC rabbit fur moccasins. In addition to supporting Indigenous artisans, she says it’s also her way of sharing Syilx culture. Her great-grandfather was a trapper on Swite Mountain, her grandpa ran a horse corral and sold firewood, and her father ran a fruit stand and is now a contractor. “This, now, is my legacy as well.”

Giving Indigenous students from across School District 22 a chance to see themselves in other entrepreneurs was just one of several reasons why the district, along with Community Futures North Okanagan, set up the first Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurship Day, which ran May 5 at the district office.

“One of our wishes is that these students who want to start their own business someday will know that it’s absolutely possible, with hard work,” says Debbie Meyer, career coordinator, School District No. 22. “We also want them to know that they don’t have to do it alone—there are resources in the community to support them. And we wanted them to have that connection with mentors to make it more of a reality for them.”

(from left) Budding entrepreneurs and fellow Charles Bloom Secondary School students Chase Martin, 16, and Daniel Drysdale, 17, learn about what it takes to launch a business from several speakers during the inaugural Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurship Day.

Twelve students from across the school district attended the event, filled with activities and speakers from the local Indigenous entrepreneur community.

Daniel Drysdale, a 17-year-old Charles Bloom Secondary School student said the day has helped him begin to imagine his dream of running an HVAC business after he graduates.

“I liked hearing about other business owners’ stories, the challenges they’ve been through and how they’ve overcome them.”

Andrea Mack, a 16-year-old Kalamalka Secondary School student, says, “It has been a great learning experience. Now I know that starting a business is probably not going to be a straight line,” and her hands zig and zag to indicate the winding road that is running a small business.

Chase Martin, another Grade 11 student at Charles Bloom has already started a business, Insight Glowing, selling glow sticks and LED rings often sported at raves. What would he take away from the speakers? “That you need to follow your passion if you really want it to go further.”

Overhearing the excitement and imagining among the participants is a welcome response for Kazia Mullin, business services manager at Community Futures North Okanagan, co-organizer of the event.

“Entrepreneurship is really an important skill for any young person to have, whatever path they take It’s using your creativity and problem-solving skills, and we already know that these students come from a culture of creativity and overcoming obstacles, and they’re makers, so it’s a natural fit and we always want to support any opportunity to give young entrepreneurs a great start.”

Tasha Swite, owner of Spirit of the Lake Native Boutique, speaks to School District No. 22 students at the district head office Thursday for the Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurship Day. Organizers hope to expand the event next year to include more learning, business pitches and opportunities to gain materials they need to take their business ideas forward.

Next generation of Vernon business leaders find success with Community Futures

May 3, 2022/in News

Community Futures North Okanagan’s Fresh Trax program is a 16-week business launching pad for entrepreneurs aged 15-29

They’re young, they’re ambitious, and thanks to the support of a youth entrepreneurship program, they’re ready to launch their new businesses.

Vernon’s newest entrepreneurs have officially wrapped up Community Futures North Okanagan’s Fresh Trax program. Funded by the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada through the Canada-BC Workforce Development Agreement, Fresh Trax equipped business-minded youth aged 15-29 with the skills, tools, coaching and funds needed to take a business from idea to launch in 16 weeks.

“Fresh Trax has really helped me take my business a lot more seriously. It helped give me a foundation and solid business plan,” says Theo Hansen, a musician and professional music instructor who teaches students how to DJ through his business Theo Hansen Music. “I was just looking for extra part-time work, went to Community Futures North Okanagan and it all sounded almost too good to be true. It truly has been a golden opportunity for me and my business.”

Separated into two parts, Fresh Trax kicked off with 10 weeks of business development. Each week, Hansen and other members of his cohort used interactive digital business planning tools and engaged in virtual group workshops and one-on-one mentoring. In the final six weeks, the participants took the findings of their self-paced learning and put them to work while implementing their business plans.

Throughout the program, participants also received living supports to help make building and launching a new business possible.

When Louis Saitowitz first heard about the program, he was skeptical. The Red Seal chef already had years of business experience behind him but sought extra support as he shifted into the owner-operator role of Okanagan Foothills Poultry.

Saitowitz sought to expand Okanagan Foothills Poultry through an innovative approach to expanding farmland. By renting land from local property owners, Saitowitz can expand production while the landowner earns money and the multiple benefits of farm status.

That’s when he met the Community Futures North Okanagan team and signed up for Fresh Trax.

“Fresh Trax is one of those opportunities that doesn’t come up often. I believe it’s time well spent,” says Saitowitz. “Even as someone who had business knowledge, it was good to go through the program. It was a great explanatory course that answers what it means to start a business, step by step.”

The program helped Saitowitz better understand the process for many of the administrative tasks he had done in the past. But, for Saitowitz, the real value was growing his network and hearing others’ business stories.

“I loved hearing how guest speakers started their businesses, got over the humps and refused to give up,” says Saitowitz. “You leave the program with the resources you need and a great support team standing behind you.”

Kitty Boda also had three years of experience running Miscellany + Co. before enrolling in Fresh Trax. Like many creators, Boda turned her passion for making wooden spoons, cold-pressed soaps and floral arrangements into a side business. After finishing the 2021 harvest at her farming job, Boda shifted her focus to Miscellany + Co.

“I came into it thinking Fresh Trax will help me figure out bookkeeping and the administrative side of my business. It did that, but it also got to the emotional side and talked about how to run a business sustainably,” says Boda. “It gave me a lot more confidence. I’m investing in myself and my business, and I can already feel it paying off.”

Before Fresh Trax, Boda says she felt like she was “just winging it. Now, I feel like I know what’s worked. I’m winging it wisely.”

Conspiracy Cosmetics crowned 2022 Enterprize Challenge champion

April 28, 2022/in News

VERNON, BC—”Did you know the average woman eats four to nine pounds of lipstick in her lifetime?”

From her opening line during the 2022 Enterprize Challenge finale at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre April 27 to the moment she was declared the first-place winner, Olive Butler of Conspiracy Cosmetics impressed the live audience and panel of volunteer judges with her thorough business pitch.

“I’m really surprised and thrilled,” says Butler. “I think it’s going to take a bit for it to fully sink in, but I’m so happy.”

Butler takes home more than $20,000 in prizes, including $5,000 in start-up capital, free business banking for one year, a legal package, marketing and web packages and more.

“I’m going to use the capital on packaging for my product so I can have a more polished-looking product,” says Butler. “I’m really looking forward to all of the support that comes from this Challenge.”

With the help of mentor Teresa Sanders, owner of FILL-Vernon’s Refill Store and the 2019 Enterprize Challenge victor, Butler refined her business plan for Conspiracy Cosmetics—a makeup brand that sells natural, low waste, vegan cosmetics with minimal and compostable packaging.

With an online store that connects customers with cosmetics no matter where they live and partnerships with local storefronts throughout the Okanagan, Butler is focused on growing her business and team with the support of the Enterprize Challenge and Community Futures.

Presented by VantageOne Credit Union, the 2022 Enterprize Challenge welcomed 28 participants and saw seven competitors present their final pitches to volunteer judges from VantageOne Credit Union, Sproing Creative, Nixon Wenger LLP, Wayside, and BDO Canada LLP.

With a plan to create a natural fertilizer by, “Turning a waste into a want,” Waste Not Wool’s Leanna Maksymik took home the People’s Choice Award sponsored by Sproing Creative.

In second place, Sean Ling-Allen of Centred Pilates leaves the Enterprize Challenge finale with nearly $10,000 in prizes. Third place, with a package valued at $6,000, went to James Stuart and Uplift Aero Greens.

“A common theme tonight is a care and concern for the environment,” says Beach Radio’s Rebecca Barton, emcee. “The Enterprize Challenge is about creating opportunity for North Okanagan businesses to start off on the right foot. They’ve all worked so hard on these pitches and should be proud to be up here tonight.”

The seven final pitch participants include:

Louis Saitowitz, Okanagan Foothills Poultry

Olive Butler, Conspiracy Cosmetics

Sean Ling-Allen, Centred Pilates Studio

Stephlynne Wilbrink, Wildflower General Store

Leanna Maksymik, Waste Not Wool

Adrianna Stange, Townships and Tales

James Stuart, Uplift Aero Greens

Wednesday’s finale marked the return of the Enterprize Challenge’s in-person pitching after a cancelled challenge in 2020 and a virtual event in 2021.

“The last two years have really been about flexibility and seeking new opportunities,” says Kazia Mullin, business services manager, Community Futures North Okanagan. “These seven finalists are great examples of entrepreneurs who have a dream, see possibility and understand that there are new opportunities in the market.”

Creativity leads the way for Enterprize Challenge finalists

April 25, 2022/in News

Community Futures North Okanagan’s business bootcamp returns to the stage, live at the Performing Arts Centre April 27

Inspired by businesses who were forced to pivot and find new ways to be successful, innovation is a key driver for this year’s Enterprize Challenge finalists.

“The last two years have really been about flexibility and seeking new opportunities,” says Kazia Mullin, business services manager, Community Futures North Okanagan. “These seven finalists are great examples of entrepreneurs who have a dream, see possibility and understand that there are new opportunities in the market.”

Hosted by CF North Okanagan and presenting sponsor VantageOne Credit Union, the 2022 Enterprize Challenge connected 28 new entrepreneurs with local business mentors. Over the three months leading up to the final pitch at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre on April 27, participants accessed online workshops and one-to-one coaching as they refined their business plans.

All 28 entrepreneurs who began the program in February had a unique business concept. The thread tying each of this year’s finalists together is a dedication to the environment.

“Many of the program’s participants are coming into the market with a product that is not only strong on its own but also has a low carbon footprint, is eco-friendly or uses compostable packaging,” says Mullin. “The environment is so important to young entrepreneurs.”

The seven finalists will share their business ideas with the community in a Dragons’ Den-style night of live pitches before a group of volunteer judges. The winner takes home start-up capital and thousands in business services prize packages.

This year’s finalists include:

Stephlynne, Wildflower General Store

The new Wildflower General Store is a modern take on general store shopping in downtown Vernon. With a relaxing and comfortable shopping experience, Wildflower sells a curated assortment of unique and affordable home goods including everything from stationery to table wear, jewellery, gifts and beauty items.

Leanna Maksymik, Waste Not Wool

As a rancher who raises sheep for fibre, Maksymik knows firsthand how much wool ends up in the landfill. After selling out of her own wool clip, Maksymik decided to gather fleeces wasted by other ranchers and process them for wool. But, with the incredible amount of dirty, unusable wool, Maksymik sought a way to keep wool out of the landfill. Through Waste Not Wool, Maksymik purchased a wool pelleting machine that turns unusable wool into natural fertilizer. As a result, Waste Not Wool is now a zero-waste business.

Adrianna Stange, Townships and Tales

Create a ripple of kindness through e-commerce: that’s the inspiration behind Townships and Tales. This curated subscription box supports small-town B.C. entrepreneurs and artisans through regionally themed seasonal boxes. Each box features between five and seven items, ranging from houseware and décor to personal care and artwork, and a hand-written note detailing an act of kindness made possible by the purchase. Through Townships and Tales, Stange has partnered with local mechanics to give single mothers free automotive repairs, completed yard work for seniors and even fixed a leaking roof.

James Stuart, Uplift Aero Greens

What if there were a way to increase year-round food security and save water at the same time? That’s the question that sparked Uplift Aero Greens. Stuart’s indoor lettuce farm uses aeroponic technology he designed himself to produce hundreds of heads of lettuce per week in an 800 square-foot, artificially lit building without any sprays or pesticides. And, Stuart says, each head of lettuce required only half a litre of water compared to an estimated 56 litres when grown in traditional outdoor methods.

Tickets for April 27 final pitch at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre are free. Register online through Eventbrite to reserve a spot in the audience. Stay tuned for details about how to watch the event via livestream. Doors open at 3 p.m. Pitches start at 4 p.m. with the winners announced before the finale ends at 7 p.m.

First set of Community Futures’ Enterprize Challenge finalists announced

April 25, 2022/in News

Seven entrepreneurs to compete in Dragon’s Den-style pitch live at Performing Arts Centre

It’s a night two years in the making. After a cancelled challenge in 2020 and a virtual showcase in 2021, the next generation of North Okanagan entrepreneurs is ready to share their businesses with the community—live.

Community Futures North Okanagan’s seventh annual Enterprize Challenge is returning to the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre stage April 27.

“We’re thrilled to put on the finale in person at the Performing Arts Centre once again. It really adds a whole new level of energy and reinvigorates the whole team and participants. It brings energy back to the program,” says Kazia Mullin, business services manager, CF North Okanagan.

“When we first met in February, one of the most commonly asked questions was if participants will be pitching in person. When we made that decision in March, you could feel the excitement among the participants. It elevated the whole Enterprize Challenge experience.”

Hosted by Community Futures North Okanagan and presenting sponsor VantageOne Credit Union, the 2022 Enterprize Challenge connected 20 budding entrepreneurs with mentors from the local business community. Between the start of February and the final pitch on April 27, participants refined their pitch as they engaged in online workshops and one-on-one coaching.

The challenge culminates in a Dragons Den-style night of live pitches at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre where a group of volunteer judges selects a winner to take home start-up capital plus thousands of dollars in business services prize packages. The event will also be livestreamed for online viewing.

This year’s diverse and nature-friendly finalists include:

Louis Saitowitz, Okanagan Foothills Poultry

A small poultry farm producer, Okanagan Foothills Poultry raises up to 2,000 birds annually and offers poultry processing to local farmers. Under Saitowitz’s new leadership, Okanagan Foothills Poultry will expand to partner with local landowners, who have a minimum five-acre property, to raise poultry. As a result, the property owners attain farm status and the accompanying tax benefits while empowering Okanagan Foothills Poultry to raise more birds on their land. As Okanagan Foothills Poultry continues to grow, Saitowitz envisions working with local grocers to sell the company’s fresh and sustainable poultry. In the future, Saitowitz looks to use his connections as a Red Seal chef to partner with local restaurants to promote Okanagan Foothills Poultry.

Olive Butler, Conspiracy Cosmetics

Conspiracy Cosmetics is a makeup brand that sells natural, low waste, vegan cosmetics with minimal and compostable packaging. Conspiracy Cosmetics encourages its customers to live authentically as themselves through self-expression and their personal lifestyle choices. The brand operates an online store through our website, conspiracycosmetics.ca, so that customers can access our makeup products, no matter where they live. Conspiracy Cosmetics also partners with local storefronts throughout the Okanagan that carry our products.

Sean Ling-Allen, Centred Pilates Studio

Situated on a private orchard in the BX region of the North Okanagan, Centred Pilates Studio began as Ling-Allen’s private home studio. In November 2021, Centred Pilates Studio expanded to offer group classes in a dedicated studio. With two instructors and plans to add a third instructor soon, the studio is dedicated to giving a high-quality Pilates experience to small groups.

Empowered by the City of Vernon’s slogan, Activate Life, Centred Pilates Studio dreams of becoming a household name in health and fitness that offers wellness retreats, Pilates education, workshops and other health-focused modalities.

Tickets for the April 27 final pitch are free. Register online through Eventbrite to reserve a spot in the audience. Doors open at 3 p.m. Pitches start at 4 p.m. with the winners announced before the finale ends at 7 p.m.

Overnight success: Export Navigator helps Okanagan businesses reach new markets

February 25, 2022/in News

A trend of mid-life entrepreneurs idea to international sales potential with help from the free Export Navigator program

Imagine waking up from a dream with a business idea. You peel back the layers, the fog shrouding that dream dissipates and, in three short months, you’re running a successful business. It may sound like a fable, but for local export advisor Amber Piché, it’s a reality she’s seen come true time and time again.

“There’s a surprising number of entrepreneurs in the Thompson-Okanagan region who wake up with an idea that balloons into a viable business almost overnight,” says Piché, Thompson-Okanagan Export Advisor, Export Navigator.

The provincial Export Navigator program supports entrepreneurs with free advice from export specialists and helps entrepreneurs determine export readiness and develop strategies. Export Advisors also help businesses with everything from product development to marketing, financials, networking and logistics.

“Our unique market breeds passionate entrepreneurs who excel at finding success in an evolving business landscape,” says Piché.

June Alexander, owner of Sugar Free Please, embodies this type of emerging entrepreneur.

When Alexander started baking healthier treats made without sugar and gluten, she had no intention of running a business. The former interior designer loved making her sugar-free baked goods on the side. But, after selling out at farmer’s markets across the Okanagan, Alexander knew she had tapped into something bigger.

“I had no idea how many people out there ate a restricted diet like me,” says Alexander. “There was this whole silent world of people out there trying to avoid sugar.”

From humble beginnings as a lineup of delicious snacks sold at Okanagan farmer’s markets, Sugar Free Please has grown into a successful business with products available on shelves in local markets and retailers. Alexander quickly moved operations from her home kitchen to a commercial space in Kelowna. And, during peak business times, her team swelled to as a many as eight employees.

That’s when she met Piché. With the help of Piché and the Export Navigator program, business skyrocketed with Sugar Free Please more than doubling its revenue in 2021.

“You don’t know what you don’t know, and as I began working with Amber, she filled in gaps that existed in my knowledge because I was not coming from a grocery or manufacturing background,” says Alexander. “She had a lot of insight into that world that I did not.”

Piché works with select business across the gamut of industries to help them expand their product or services to reach new markets beyond B.C.’s borders. And for Piché, Alexander’s story of fast success is more common than people think.

In five short months, Kamloops rancher John Hollstedt turned his idea for a ground-adjustable support system for pole-mounted solar panels into a business with domestic sales projections nearing $1 million in his first year. Hollstedt reached out to Piché to help realize the potential for JH Solar Systems and is now scaling as the pair navigates interprovincial and international exporting.

“I love helping these entrepreneurs improve their business operations in the areas of marketing and business development,” says Piché. “It’s powerful to see others realize their dreams. I’m grateful that I get to be part of the process.”

For Armilla Tech’s Lance Heron, the idea for a new product actually did come to him in a dream: wearable football technology that empowers instant play-calling from the sidelines. Within a few short months of having his dream, the military veteran and football coach had a prototype.

“Most people can’t believe we created an entirely new system in such a short time,” says Heron, who quickly expanded beyond his home market in Salmon Arm with sales as far as Mexico and leads in Japan.

“Amber has been amazing and put us in touch with border brokers to help us bring Armilla Tech to international markets. She’s introduced us to people, helped us with our pitch, put us in contact with potential manufacturers, and started conversations with Canadian trade commissioners to really help us get out there and showcase our product.”

Through Export Navigator, Piché helps entrepreneurs tap into new markets every day.

“When entrepreneurs are getting started, even inter-community exporting can feel like a big step. These small steps are a great way to see what’s possible while building confidence in yourself and your business. It’s so inspiring to see entrepreneurs like June, Lance, and so many of my other clients turn their dreams into successful businesses,” says Piché.

“The reality is that you can export without me. A lot of companies export without using the Export Navigator program. But the purpose of the program and the reason why I like to work with clients one on one is to help make the process easier. We navigate the export process together as we work to bring your product, your service, your dream to new markets.”

To learn more about Export Navigator, book a free expert consultation with Piché, Thompson-Okanagan Advisor. Contact Piché via email at amber@exportnavigator.ca or 1-250-869-5323. Limited spots are available.

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Recovery & Innovation and the Government of Canada through Western Economic Diversification Canada.

Enterprize Challenge returns to Vernon stage for seventh year

January 18, 2022/in News

When her video camera turned on suddenly after the announcement was made, Amanda Homeniuk’s cheerful smile filled the screen.

In a matter of minutes, Homeniuk had gone from sitting in a virtual green room with six other North Okanagan entrepreneurs to speaking in front of a live audience before the cameras turned off and she was alone in her store. She had just won first place and a business services package valued at more than $20,000. But, more importantly, she learned everything she needed to make KALECO a success.

Through the 2021 Enterprize Challenge, Homeniuk and her fellow contestants met business advisors, mentors and specialists who helped turn their business dreams into a reality.

“I really valued the process. The Enterprize Challenge is structured in a way that not only prepares for the contest but teaches you everything you need to know to start a business,” says Homeniuk. “Working with the mentors helped me understand where my skill set lies.”

Hosted by Community Futures North Okanagan and presenting sponsor VantageOne Credit Union, the seventh annual Enterprize Challenge returns to the virtual stage in 2022.

“This year, we’re striving to make the Enterprize Challenge even more accessible to those with young families and those who live outside of Vernon,” says Kazia Mullin, CF North Okanagan Business Services Manager. “As our business landscape continues to develop, innovative businesses are transforming traditional business ideas to find success in a changing marketplace. We can’t wait to see how this year’s participants are rising to the challenge.”

Challengers are paired with mentors from the local business community to help refine their pitch as they attend online workshops that cover everything from financials to marketing. After weeks of training, the 2022 Enterprize Challenge culminates in a night of pitches live-streamed from the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre April 28. The winner, selected by a group of volunteer judges, takes home start-up capital plus thousands of dollars in business services prize packages.

But, for Tiffany and Olivier Asselin of OTA Gear Rental, the learning opportunities and network they cultivated through the program were worth more than their second-place win.

“The support system we have now would not have been achievable as easily or as quickly without going through the program,” says Tiffany. “The relationships we built are irreplaceable.”

And, through the workshops, OTA Gear Rental found plenty of room to grow.

“We were thinking too small. When we got our feedback from the first pitch and started the deep dive into the financials, we realized we could do so much more,” says Tiffany. “The Enterprize Challenge helped us discover our start-up cost would be minimal with little overhead. When we were doing our finances, we thought we were doing something wrong because we didn’t think it could possibly be that simple. Being paired with an accountant to help us was one of the best parts of the whole experience.”

Working with the financial advisor was also a critical learning experience for Homeniuk.

“I had pulled loose numbers together, but it was different for me because I had already started my business. I had real numbers to work with. Having that mentor to go over the numbers and what they mean was really helpful,” says Homeniuk. “I felt very confident in the numbers because I had someone to help me work through it.”

Since participating in the 2021 Enterprize Challenge, both KALECO and OTA Gear Rental have continued to grow and solidify their footprints in the North Okanagan.

“If you’re thinking about applying, do it. You lose nothing and gain so much. We didn’t even think we would get into the program, never mind making it to the finale and placing. The knowledge we got and the relationships we gained were worth it, even if we hadn’t made it as far as we did,” says Tiffany. “The world needs more people with new ideas. The Enterprize Challenge will help you define that idea and make it a reality.”

For Homeniuk, the Enterprize Challenge helped her gain a more holistic view of her business.

“As an entrepreneur, you don’t have to do everything on your own,” says Homeniuk. “You’re creating something bigger than yourself.”

Registration for the 2022 Enterprize Challenge closes Feb. 11 at 12 p.m. For more information about the challenge, prizes and registration, visit futuresbc.com/enterprizechallenge.