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Working together for equitable, diverse, and inclusive environments.

A pillar in our strategic framework, the Kelowna Chamber strives to champion equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) for our organization and our members. It's a commitment we have made as an organization, and one we recognize requires some work on our part. Here we start, humbly, and with our doors open.

As businesses and organizations, each day brings opportunity to look at how we operate and do business. Creating diversified, equitable, and inclusive workplaces can happen through small steps that lead to larger impacts to build sustainable operations. 

We invite you to take this journey with us as we move toward a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive landscape for our community.

Organizations

Local Resources

Kelowna Community Resources

Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society

University of British Columbia Okanagan

Okanagan College

National Resources

Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Canadian Centre for Diversity & Inclusion

Provincial Government


The Benefits of Greater Inclusion

The benefits are clear for organizations of all sizes. Research highlights the positive impact on organizations and society as a whole, drawing direct correlations between EDI and innovation and competitiveness. 

  • Diversity of thoughts and backgrounds foster creative thinking, innovation, and problem solving, providing organizations and the country a competitive advantage.
  • Through inclusive growth, which can best be achieved by ensuring people from all economic sectors, all regions and all backgrounds can take part in, and benefit from, a healthy, innovative economy.
  • Ensuring equal opportunity for every Canadian, including Indigenous people, women, […] to participate in our economy [help] Canada to remain globally competitive.
  • Inclusion can help address the skills gaps by providing access to a greater talent pool and improving employee retention.

The study How Inclusion Matters, published by McKinsey in May 2020, substantiates the economic benefits of EDI. Based on sample of 1,039 companies across 15 countries globally, the study finds that inclusive businesses are more likely to outperform others in terms of innovation, productivity and profitability. Focused specifically on gender and ethnicity as main differentiators, the study also concludes that promoting diversity does not guarantee a culture of inclusion – highlight the fact that the two concepts are complementary but require specifically targeted actions.

These and other socio-economic drivers point clearly to the relevance of the Chamber in being a greater proponent of diversity and inclusion as a means to improving business competitiveness in the region, and why we are asking our community to join us in this work.