This year's Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference (AWC) was held virtually on November 22 and 23. The comprehensive two-day conference offered numerous virtual networking opportunities as well as the chance to learn about important topics affecting the Canadian agriculture industry. With hundreds of women from across North America participating, there was wide representation from across the sector including ag producers, ag-tech innovators, and researchers as well as those who support the agriculture industry including legal firms, insurance bureaus, financial institutions, and supply chain experts. 

During the various networking sessions, I was able to meet with women, learn about their roles, and explain why Tourism Kelowna would be attending a conference for women in agriculture—that is, to leverage our destination's expertise in agriculture, in alignment with Destination Canada's Business Events Economic Sector Strategy. Kelowna is a logical solution for those looking to enhance future conferences with direct access to our area's innovative farming operations and brilliant local experts. 

The award-winning OKGo marketing campaign—a collaborative project between the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission, Accelerate Okanagan, and Tourism Kelowna that focuses on sharing the business success stories of the region to attract meetings and conferences, new talent, and business investment—further supports our business development team networking and participating at events like AWC. These types of events allow our team to use our region’s strength in key sectors, including agriculture, to demonstrate Kelowna's unique value proposition and differentiate us from other destinations. 

I look forward to continuing discussions with those I met during the conference and expect this business development strategy will help drive not only economic impact to our region, but will also meet the needs of our community by welcoming sustainable events that align with our area's strengths.

Connect with me at nicolle@tourismkelowna.com or (587) 716-5599 to learn more or to discuss how Kelowna can be the ideal fit for your next meeting, conference, or event.

To learn more about the sectors and industries that make up the Central Okanagan, visit the OKGo website.