Making policy ‘sexy again’
Trevor Nichols - Jul 07, 2017 - Biz Profiles

Photo: Contributed

The new executive director of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce wants to beef up the chamber’s role as an advocate, pushing for changes that will positively impact the Okanagan the way only a chamber of commerce can: through the exciting and fast-paced pursuit of policy development.

“We’re trying to make policy analysis sexy again,” says Dan Rogers.

Although the “again” in his statement may be somewhat suspect, Rogers is serious about using the influence he says the Kelowna Chamber has to push for improvements in the Okanagan.

With the full weight several chambers behind an issue, combined with smart policy analysis, Rogers says governments can be pressured to make decisions that will benefit the region.

Those issues? More spending on infrastructure to clear bottlenecks in provincial highways; more investment in local post-secondary institutions; tax credits to encourage the growth of startups.

“We have the opportunity to create a very strong region if we collectively work together and address the issues that are important to us,” Rogers says.

That eye to the entire region is significant, because Rogers appears to view his new role as an advocate not just for Kelowna, but for the entire valley.

He points out that, as one of the largest chambers of commerce in British Columbia, “we have the opportunity to play a leadership role, and will play a leadership role in addressing issues beyond our boundaries.”

“We will only succeed in Kelowna with the success of the Okanagan,” he says.

Rogers quit his gig as the head of the Vernon Chamber of Commerce to take his new job in Kelowna. Prior to that, he worked in marketing and spent well over a decade in municipal politics, as a councillor and eventually mayor of Prince George.

He says his experience has taught him that business in the Okanagan need to think well beyond their neighbours down the street, or even in the next city.

“You think your competition is across the street, but it’s not, it’s across the world, across the border, and we can only remain competitive if we think in regional terms,” he says.

Rogers says he was happy working with the Vernon chamber, but a big part of his decision to take the job in Kelowna was the opportunity to head an organization with the “capacity” of the Kelowna chamber— and he wants to put that capacity to use.

Over the course of a 30-minute interview Rogers talked about the chamber being better at engaging its members, and said more than once those members’ needs come first. However, he returned again and again to the idea that business here need to think beyond the city boundaries.

Kelowna has come a long way, he said, and the economy here is beginning to diversify beyond the tourism industry.

“We have to respect that tourism is a huge driver of our economy, but we should be thankful that we’ve diversified our economy both in the private sector and the public sector,” he said, referring to things like the city’s post-secondary institutions and medical institutions.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for the Kelowna chamber to take the lessons it’s learned over the last number of years … to go to the next level. We’ve made great progress with the city, we need to share a bit of that knowledge and help the region grow as much as we’ve seen growth happen here.”

The biggest obstacle standing in the way of that goal? The line of communication to the province’s new government.

Rogers says that, given the changes in government, there “could not be a more crucial time” for the Kelowna chamber to ensure the interests of the region are addressed.

With the majority of the government representing regions in the lower mainland, it may be tougher to protect the interests of the more rural parts of the province, including Kelowna.

“One of the lessons that comes out of the last provincial election is Metro Vancouver has become the battleground for power, and that is not necessarily healthy for the interior or other parts of the province,” Rogers said.

While Tom Dyas, the president of the Kelowna chamber, has in the past called the BC Liberal Party “the most business-friendly party” in the province, Rogers said the chamber isn’t a political organization, and will work closely with local MLAs, as well as the sitting government, “to make sure we don’t get lost in the shuffle.”


All Biz Profiles Stories