Penticton Lakeside Resort & Conference Centre

21 Lakeshore Dr W, Penticton, BC

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Hosted by:

Program Outline

(draft outline and content, subject to change)

Learning Streams:
Safety (S)
Policy/Advocacy (P/A)
MKtg + Events (M+E)
Economic Development (ED)
Placemaking (PL)
Leadership/ Org Dev (L) (OD)
Revenue (R)

Sunday May 24

2:30 - 6:00 p.m. Registration Open (lobby of host hotel)

4:30 - 5:30 p.m. New Executive Directors Workshop

6:00 - 8:30 p.m. Opening Reception
Kick off the conference at the opening reception at BNA — Penticton’s newest and most dynamic gathering space. Designed for connection and conversation, this vibrant venue offers plenty of room to mingle alongside playful experiences, including complimentary bowling, arcade games, and darts on the upper level — perfect for breaking the ice and sparking new relationships.

In true Channeling Connections style, you will enter through the newly activated Slack Alley — transformed with fresh artwork, enhanced lighting, and live acoustic music to set the tone for the days ahead. This unique arrival experience invites attendees to connect from the moment they step in, turning a simple welcome into a memorable first gathering.

(location: BNA Penticton, 218 Martin St, Penticton)

Monday May 25

7:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Registration Open

7:00 - 8:00 a.m. Breakfast and Networking

8:00 - 8:30 a.m. Opening Remarks & Welcome

8:30 - 9:15 a.m. Opening Keynote
Honourable Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth

9:20 - 10:35 a.m. Breakout Sessions

Thriving together: BIAs and Municipal Economic Development (L)
Bylaw Renewals without the Panic: Practical strategies for BIAs of every size (P/A)

10:35 - 10:50 a.m. Networking Break & Tradeshow

10:35 a.m. - 12:05 p.m. Mobile Tour

10:50 a.m. - 12:05 p.m. Breakout Sessions

Holding Space: The Role of Events in Community Vibrancy and How BIAs are Stepping Up (M+E)
AI for BIAs: Cut the Hype, Keep the Value (L)

12:05 - 1:00 p.m. Lunch & Tradeshow

1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Mobile Tour

1:15 - 2:30 p.m. Plenary Session

Cybersecurity Beasts and How to Fix Them (L)

2:30 - 3:00 p.m. Networking Break & Tradeshow

3:00 - 4:15 p.m. Breakout Sessions

Commercial affordability (P/A)
The AI Curmudgeon Speaks: A Skeptic's walkthrough of the ridiculous hype, the astonishing possibilities, and the actual realities of using AI in your business (L)

4:15 - 5:15 p.m. Tradeshow Reception

6:00 p.m. Dine Around Groups depart from lobby of hotel

Tuesday May 26

7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Registration Open

7:00 - 8:00 a.m. Breakfast and Regional Roundtable Talks

8:00 - 8:15 a.m. Daily Remarks

8:15 - 9:00 a.m. Keynote - Main Street Metrics: Making Data Driven Decisions and Measuring Impact (ED)

This session will introduce what the Canadian Urban Institute has learned about data and analytics best practices for business improvement areas and other place-based organizations. There will be a demonstration of the CUI’s Main Street Metrics dashboard which is being actively used by over 100 BIAs across Canada. Specific use-cases of the dashboard for gap analysis, event planning, and BIA marketing will be presented. Attendees will come away from the session with a better understanding of how to apply data for strategic decision-making and impact analysis in BIAs.
Greg Spencer, Director of Research, Canadian Urban Institute

9:15 - 10:30 a.m. Keynote - Art ≠ $: a new formula for cultural impact (PL)

The case for arts is often made in the language of money. Place managers justify investments into the arts, culture, and creative placemaking through economic impact — jobs created, dollars spent, property values raised. While this narrative has helped to secure funding, it has impoverished public understanding of the impact of arts in cities. As we enter an era marked by overlapping crises of skepticism about systems, urban displacement, and resource scarcity, the arts are once being reframed. But as what?

Those who work at the intersection of creativity and place are in urgent need of a new paradigm, a broader vocabulary, a more powerful case for support. In this session, keynote speaker Philip Barash will share emerging frameworks that are reenergizing places and mobilizing new sources of funding. The session will not only examine the recent history of the creative placemaking movement — but guide participants beyond its constraints.
Jennie Kovalcik, Director of Operations, PublicSphere Projects
Philip Barash, Principal - Strategic planning and placemaking, PublicSphere Projects

10:30 - 10:50 a.m. Networking Break & Tradeshow

10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Mobile Tour

10:50 a.m. - 12:05 p.m. Breakout Sessions

Measuring Main Streets - a Deeper Dive into the Challenges and Solutions of Data Analytics for BIAs (ED)
Creative placemaking is dead, long live creative placemaking (PL)

12:05 - 1:15 p.m. Best in the West Awards Luncheon

1:15 - 2:45 p.m. Mobile Tours

1:20 - 2:35 p.m. Breakout Sessions

BIABC Listening Session (P/A)
Beyond the Numbers: Measuring the Real Impact of Crime on Businesses (S)

2:35 - 3:00 p.m. Networking Break & Tradeshow

3:00 - 4:15 p.m. Keynote Session (P/A)

Reconciliation in British Columbia – What Does the Future Hold?
Reconciliation in British Columbia continues to evolve through landmark agreements and court decisions that are reshaping relationships between governments, Indigenous Nations, and industry. In this timely keynote, Thomas Isaac of Cassels will examine the recent Haida and Musqueam agreements, the 2025 Cowichan decision, and the 2025 B.C. Court of Appeal ruling on UNDRIP. Attendees will gain practical insight into what these developments mean for municipalities, economic development, governance, and the path forward in B.C.
Thomas Isaac, Chair of Cassels’ National Aboriginal Law Group & Co-Chairs Cassels’ National Major Projects Team

4:15 p.m. - onwards Free Time & Dinner on Your Own

Wednesday May 27

7:00 - 8:15 a.m. Breakfast and Networking

8:15 - 8:45 a.m. BIABC 2025 AGM & Update (Salon D)

8:50- 9:35 a.m. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - A Closer Look at BC's Economy (ED) (Salon D)

So much uncertainty. From demographics to deficits to doomsday scenarios, this session will try to make sense of what we truly can make sense of.

Mike Stolte, President, Centre for Innovative and Entrepreneurial Leadership

9:35 - 10:00 a.m. Networking Break & Hotel Check Out

10:00 - 11:15 a.m. Power of Partnerships in Public Safety (S) (Salon D)

This session explores how the City of Penticton, the Downtown BIA, and key partners have come together to tackle complex challenges and create meaningful progress in community safety and wellbeing.

Through real-world case studies—including coordinated responses to encampments, the implementation of a temporary winter shelter, and innovative programs like the downtown camera initiative—this panel will unpack what partnership looks like in practice. If you’re navigating similar challenges in your community, this session will offer practical takeaways—and a reminder that meaningful change starts with partnership.

Julie Czeck, General Manager of Public Safety and Partnerships, City of Penticton
Deanne Burleigh, Bylaw Services Manager, City of Penticton
Superintendent Beth McAndie, M.O.M, Chief of Police, Officer in Charge Penticton South Okanagan Similkameen Regional Detachment Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Mike Larson, Fire Chief and Director of Fire Services & Emergency Management, City of Penticton
Mike Magnusson, Executive Director, Penticton Chamber of Commerce
Cameron Betts, President, PIDA (Penticton Industrial Development Association)
Brett Turner & Shawna Tinga, Executive Directors, Downtown Penticton BIA

11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Closing Keynote Session (Salon D)
From Influence to Impact: Building Trusted Brands That Strengthen Communities (M+E)
What does it take to turn attention into lasting economic impact? In this candid fireside chat, Julia Freeman will explore how The Jilly Box evolved from a trusted personal platform into a nationally recognized, values-led business supporting Canadian and women-owned brands. From B Corp certification to advocacy-based selling, this conversation will unpack how trust becomes infrastructure — and how small businesses and BIAs can build brands, districts, and communities people don’t just support, but champion.
Julia Freeman, CEO, The Jilly Box

12:00 p.m. Closing Remarks + 2027 Conference Location