#ReadySetOKGo

OKGo January 21, 2021

For an area celebrated as a four-season playground, it’s electrifying to see how much entrepreneurial energy exists in the Central Okanagan. OKGo, a new partnership between the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission, Tourism Kelowna and Accelerate Okanagan, tells the stories of innovators and entrepreneurs in key business sectors and positions the region for future economic prosperity.

The three organizations have always worked alongside each other in raising awareness of the Central Okanagan’s economic and tourism opportunities. Now, due to the Covid-19 impact, the organizations are collaborating in a new initiative, leveraging their shared audiences, mutual messaging and common goal of long-term economic recovery to promote the region as a knowledge centre for Advanced Manufacturing, Aerospace, Agriculture, Viticulture and Digital Tech. The new OKGo campaign will attract new talent, entrepreneurs, business investment and events to the region, ultimately increasing growth across all economic sectors.

“Following the lead of our national destination marketing organization, Destination Canada, we will promote stories of local innovation and success that will help attract meetings and conferences using this new strategy.  With the necessary cancellation of the majority of meetings and business events that were booked in Kelowna in 2020, unique partnerships like OKGo, help us successfully position Kelowna for their future return in addition to attracting new business.” Lisanne Ballantyne, President & CEO, Tourism Kelowna.

Telling the story of the Okanagan through our local entrepreneurs sparks connection and communicates our values as a region. The multi-year sector strategy includes plans for targeted campaigns  in key markets including the Pacific Northwest and select major Canadian centres. Central Okanagan residents, businesses and organizations are encouraged to share the OKGo stories through their local, national and international networks.

“While we continue to feel the impacts of Covid-19 in our community and around the globe, a medical resolution is underway and recovery is on the horizon. This has been an intensely difficult year for our community and many of our local entrepreneurs. While the COEDC and our partners continue to support businesses in navigating the immediate impacts of the pandemic, with the OKGo campaign we are also preparing for new economic opportunities. When the time is right, the region will be ready.” Krista Mallory, Manager, COEDC

Companies featured include Yeti Farm Creative, Pela, and SunRype. These entrepreneurs opened up to share the benefits of growing a business in the region and what has been the economic factors driving their success. The OKGo campaign includes aligned print and digital assets that tell a cohesive regional story and showcase local companies in the target industry sectors as it relates to innovation, entrepreneurship and infrastructure.

“Entrepreneurs in our region have always been eager to share their experience doing business in the Okanagan. OKGo gives the community a tangible representation of the diverse and vibrant energy in the valley that they can use to tell the world of how much is happening here.”  Brea Lake, CEO, Accelerate Okanagan

The project was funded with matching dollars from Global Affairs Canada as the OKGo campaign supports Canada’s economic recovery by improving the Central Okanagan’s capacity to support local businesses, highlight the region’s competitive advantages and attract investment, talent and business events to the Central Okanagan.

More information about the OKGo campaign, including a promotional video of the region, a digital copy of a high-end magazine that showcases the stories of some of the region’s local companies and a media kit, can be found on the campaign’s website ok-go.ca.

A recording of the launch session for the OKGo campaign can be found here. If you don’t have time to listen to the entire recording, you can hear stories from local entrepreneurs starting at 26 minutes.

 

For more information, contact:

Krista Mallory

Manager, Economic Development

Regional District of Central Okanagan

250-212-4024 or kmallory@investkelowna.com