OKGo Marketing Campaign earns an EDAC 2024 Marketing Canada Award

Uncategorized November 14, 2024

The Regional District of Central Okanagan’s Economic Development Commission (COEDC) and partners, Accelerate Okanagan and Tourism Kelowna, won an Economic Developers Association of Canada’s (EDAC) 2024 Marketing Canada Award for their OKGo Marketing Campaign in the Community Collaboration category. The EDAC award program is open to organizations that promote Canada to improve the economic well-being of Canadians.

The OKGo campaign was created through a partnership between the COEDC, Accelerate Okanagan and Tourism Kelowna to highlight the business support ecosystem available in the Central Okanagan as well as showcase local companies as it relates to innovation, entrepreneurship and infrastructure. The campaign currently showcases local companies, entrepreneurs and businesses across seven targeted sectors: Agriculture, Manufacturing, Viticulture, Aerospace, Digital Technology, Clean Technology and Postsecondary.

In addition to print and digital assets, the campaign includes targeted digital campaigns in major Canadian cities and the US Pacific Northwest to promote the region’s competitive positioning to business development organizations, investors and other audiences at a provincial, federal and international level.

“The OKGo campaign demonstrates what we can achieve through collaboration across industries. Winning the EDAC Marketing Canada Award in the Community Collaboration category highlights our shared commitment to showcasing the Central Okanagan as a thriving ecosystem of innovation and investment opportunities,” said Krista Mallory, Manager of the COEDC.

The campaign uses engaging multimedia stories featuring innovative businesses, entrepreneurs and institutions to showcase the region’s strengths and opportunities to attract industry events, talent and business investments. By leveraging their collective resources and expertise, the OKGo partners take a collaborative approach to increase the impact of the campaign’s messaging to shape the region’s economic landscape.

“Together with the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission and Accelerate Okanagan, we are thrilled to see how this collaborative campaign has increased awareness of the thriving industries and innovative entrepreneurs that make Kelowna such a desirable destination to host business events,” said Tourism Kelowna President & CEO Lisanne Ballantyne.

The OKGo campaign also partners with various industry and post-secondary institutions, such as Okanagan College and the University of British Columbia, Okanagan campus. These collaborations enrich the campaign’s reach by highlighting the region’s educational strengths and resources, fostering a strong workforce that supports innovation, technology, workforce development and research.

“Technology is a driving force present in different sectors across the Central Okanagan and Accelerate Okanagan is looking forward to a continued collaboration on the OKGo Campaign to drive innovation and propel economic growth in the tech-enabled sectors within the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Brea Lake, CEO of Accelerate Okanagan.

For more information on the OKGo campaign visit ok-go.ca.

Background:
EDAC is Canada’s national association of economic development professionals, representing every province and territory across Canada with nearly 1,000 members. The Association’s mission is to enhance the professional competence of economic development professionals, advance economic development as a profession and to contribute to Canada’s well-being.