By Roy Wood, Special to the Times Chronicle
A fledgling business advocacy group likely came away disappointed after its attempt to have town council give it special recognition was met with little enthusiasm from council members.
Martin Hahn, owner of C3 Industries in Osoyoos, told a council committee meeting in late January that the newly formed Osoyoos Business Association (OBA) would like to become “a bit of bridge of communication between the business community and the town.”
To make that happen, Hahn suggested, council should take an active role in the organization.
“What we are asking for is for someone from council to be appointed to come and sit at our monthly meetings so that we can all be on the same page at the same time,” he said.
The response from council was to ask for more information about the organization and to suggest that the OBA work with the South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce (SOCC) to achieve its goals.
Hahn agreed to send the group’s constitution and bylaws to the town and said the OBA board of directors includes the owners of several local businesses, including Junction 3, Ondrus Construction, McLean Construction, Matrix, Sierre Self-Storage and C3 Industries.
Hahn asked what council would suggest the OBA should do as it moves forward. “What can we as a business association do that makes everybody’s lives easier and creates (a) clear and concise communication channel?”
Councillor Johnny Cheong raised the issue of working with the SOCC.
“Is there an appetite to work closely … with the South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce, either as a subcommittee or just to build that organizational structure?’ he asked.
“There is a lot of strength with the (chamber),” he said. “They are a board of trade, which gives them a larger and stronger voice for advocacy. What is broken?”
Hahn said the OBA has had conversations with the chamber and with Destination Osoyoos but doesn’t believe those organizations adequately represent local businesses not involved in tourism or wine.
“There’s a slight difference in our mandate. And then, the chamber tends to focus more on things like tourism and (the) winery industry. … There’s also slight differences in how we and who we support,” he said.
“That’s part of the reason we started the Osoyoos Business Association … because there’s a difference in the focus of what we are trying to accomplish.”
Cheong continued to push the group toward working with the chamber. “I think everyone can work together. I agree with you; there is a gap,” he said.
“(But) I feel it would be a fantastic fit to liaise and work with the chamber of commerce using existing infrastructure to then increase and enhance that communication.”
Closing out his presentation, Hahn said: “Our first goal here today was just to figure out whether or not you’re actually interested in listening to what we have to say,” he said. “If there’s something of interest to you, we would love to support and work with you.”
