Regional partners have united to create a Business Resiliency Task Force aimed at supporting local businesses, welcoming visitors back to our communities and helping strengthen the region’s economy following the Bald Range wildfire.
Facilitated by the City of Penticton, the task force brings together representatives from throughout Penticton, Summerland, the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) and the snpink’tn Indian Band to establish a coordinated forum focused on business recovery and long-term economic resilience.
“Recovery is strongest when we work together,” said Anthony Haddad, Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Penticton. “Throughout the wildfire, we saw neighbours helping neighbours and organizations stepping up to support one another. This task force connects partners around one table to coordinate our response to assist businesses through this period and help build back stronger.”
Task force members include the District of Summerland, the RDOS, City of Penticton, snpink’tn Indian Band, Visit Penticton, Destination Summerland, Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA), the Penticton and Wine Country Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Penticton Business Improvement Association (DPBIA), the BC Economic Development Association (BCEDA), Community Futures Okanagan Similkameen and the BC Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth.
Among its initial priorities, the task force will focus on coordinating “doors open” recovery messaging, supporting tourism and visitor confidence, gathering business impact data, identifying funding opportunities and advocating for resources that help businesses and communities recover.
Quotes:
"The Bald Range wildfire reminded us that no community stands alone. The impacts of these fires are felt across the entire Okanagan region, and we must work together to support recovery and build stronger, safer communities. We need to come together and take a serious look at long-term solutions, including forest management practices, drought conditions and community resilience. We must also improve emergency preparedness by ensuring safe and reliable alternative evacuation routes when major transportation corridors, such as Highway 97, are disrupted. Recovery will take trust, shared responsibility and a commitment to working together. If we carry that spirit forward, we can strengthen our communities, support local businesses and emerge from this challenge more connected and resilient than ever."
— Chief Greg Gabriel, snpink'tn Indian Band
“This is new territory for us all. All businesses in the area have been affected by the wildfire and recovery will take time. The Business Resiliency Task Force will help us find the strength and ensure we travel the road to recovery together.”
— Graham Statt, CAO, District of Summerland
“The Bald Range wildfire affected communities across the South Okanagan, demonstrating that our recovery must be a regional effort. The RDOS is proud to join our partners in supporting local businesses, rebuilding economic confidence and ensuring our communities emerge stronger and more resilient. By working together, we can help businesses recover, support local jobs and reinforce the long-term vitality of our region.”
— Jim Zaffino, CAO, Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS)
“The Community of Summerland is expressing our sincere thanks to Penticton and regional partners for the tremendous outpouring of support during the Bald Range wildfire from which we were all evacuated. You have welcomed us with arms wide open and we look forward to working collaboratively with the regional Business Resiliency Task Force team to send the message that now our doors are open to welcome everyone back.”
— Sally Pierce, Executive Director, Destination Summerland
"Penticton and Summerland have shown the power of strong partnership and collaboration, as have all of the communities throughout the Okanagan and the Thompson Okanagan as a region. We appreciate the City of Penticton bringing together key agencies to move our communities forward into recovery and beyond. Working in lockstep will benefit all of us in the long term."
— Ellen Walker-Matthews, President and CEO, Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association
“Our region has so much to look forward to, and it’s important that visitors hear that message. Our doors are open, our businesses are ready, and our community is ready to welcome people back. With the Penticton Dragonboat Festival, Vancouver Canucks Training Camp and the Bryan Adams concert ahead, followed by a full season of winter recreation, there’s a lot happening in the months ahead. There’s a reason they call Penticton the fun-sized city and we’re excited to share it with visitors again.”
— Kevin Pearce, Executive Director, Visit Penticton
“It was incredible to see how quickly businesses and non-profit organizations from across Penticton stepped up when Summerland needed them most. Now, as we move from response into recovery, our organizations will be bringing that same energy to help our business communities recover the revenue that was lost. That means working together to remind people that our doors are open, encouraging residents and visitors to support local, and doing everything we can to strengthen the economic recovery of Summerland, Penticton and the entire South Okanagan.”
— Michael Magnusson, Executive Director, Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce
"What we’re hearing from our downtown businesses is that the cumulative impact of the past few weeks has been significant, particularly at such an important time of year. Our focus now is making sure businesses feel supported, and that people know Penticton is open, welcoming and ready for them. There is real strength in having our regional partners around one table, listening to businesses and working together on meaningful ways to support recovery."
— Shawna Tinga, Executive Director, Downtown Penticton BIA
"BCEDA and DisasterSmartBC commend the City of Penticton for bringing together such a strong and representative group of partners to support business recovery. Recovery takes time and no single organization or community can do it alone. By working together, communities can better identify needs, coordinate resources, deliver consistent messaging and advocate with a stronger collective voice, strengthening recovery for businesses and the region."
— Dale Wheeldon, President & CEO of the BC Economic Development Association / DisasterSmartBC
Next Steps
The task force will continue meeting regularly in the coming weeks as partners work together to assess impacts, advance recovery efforts and support businesses, employees and local communities. Residents, businesses and visitors are encouraged to watch for updates from participating organizations as recovery initiatives and promotional campaigns continue to roll out across the region.