Oy Vey – while waiting for an OWP from CIC, we scheduled a chat with the OYP Collective.

 That roughly translates into:  “Woe is me, while biding my time in anticipation of receiving an Open Work Permit from Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Elaine and I participated in an informational interview with the team leader of the Okanagan Young Professionals Collective (www.oypcollective.com).

 

 

 

 

That quarterback would be Donnie Ungaro, Culture Development Officer and entrepreneurial Sherpa of a flock of young professionals representing the current and next generation of business accelerators and influencers in Kelowna. Contracted through the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission, the OYP’s demographic stretches generously from ages 18-45.

 

 

 

“Our mission is to attract and retain young professionals to the Okanagan Valley through a variety of volunteer, social, professional, sports, and cultural events and activities,” Ungaro, a master chef, opined. “We have streamlined processes and active members dedicated to helping these like-minded thinkers and innovators connect into the community. We’re an established program with planned events and multiple opportunities to get involved.

 

 

 

“We’re looking for young professionals who bring ideas and diversity, working in one unified culture. We want them all – lawyers, architects, accountants, programmers, engineers, educators, writers, artists, college students, junior chamber people, and more.”

The OYP has its tentacles in a boatload of community pies. One primary example would be with Futurpreneur Canada (formerly the Canadian Youth Business Foundation, or CYBF). It’s the only national, non-profit organization providing a full spectrum of financing, mentoring, and support tools to aspiring business owners ages 18-39. The mentoring program hand matches young entrepreneurs with a business expert from a network of more than 2,800 volunteer mentors (www.futurpreneur.ca/mentoring).

 

“For the mentors, it’s all about paying it forward and fueling passion,” Ungaro mused. “The Okanagan way is to make it happen. We have the resources.”

 

Other local groups affiliated with the collective include:  Gennext Kelowna (www.gennextkelowna.com), Accelerate Okanagan (www.accelerateokanagan.com), Digital Okanagan (www.digitalokanagan.com), and Enactus Okanagan (www.enactusoc.ca). The entire list is viewable on the OYP website.

 

 

 

 

Sounds like a networking Mecca for job-seekers. Then Ungaro unleashed this zinger – 80 percent of jobs in the Okanagan are not listed! Uh-oh, not exactly music to my ears. Gotta re-strategize.

Three years into its people-positioning posture, the OYP has seen slow and steady membership growth. Building teams and brainstorming across multiple verticals has been creatively fruitful. There is no shortage of member activities and events dipping into the local community and culture. I asked Ungaro for a list of his consortium’s s upcoming schedule – he didn’t spare any details or links:

Resume editing station for UBCO students, Feb 4th

InternsPIT competition and social – March 5th www.internspit2015.eventbrite.ca

Just Because Coffee – every other Monday https://www.facebook.com/OYPcollective/events 

Brown Bag TEDxKelowna Lunches – Every other Thursday, Jan 29, Feb 12, Feb 26. Link to past event info at: https://www.facebook.com/events/1525168874436428/

 

 

 

 

Urban Rec OYP Sports League (Wed nights) – http://www.urbanrec.ca/Okanagan/default.aspx?id=OYP+Leagues

Opera outing – Come join us for a night of opera, culture, food and wine on Feb 14th at the Eldorado for Opera Kelowna’s Belle Nuit D’Amour. We have once again secured special pricing for OYP members. Email [email protected] if you would like more details or to attend. http://www.operakelowna.com/#!belle-nuit-damour/c5dq

Symphony outing in April TBD

#timeDRIVE May 2015, event page still be launched, video link at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpobNaFCJjY, link to description and photos http://www.gennextkelowna.com/timeline/timedrive-2014/ and more info at https://www.facebook.com/events/1418480421723218/

TEDxKelowna – June 10, 2015, www.tedxkelowna.com – site will be updated with 2015 info soon

motionball marathon of sport 2015 presented by Interior Savings Credit Union – June 20 – http://oypcollective.com/motionball-exceeds-expectations-on-all-fronts/  and www.motionball.com

 

 

motionball NHL PRO AM presented by Best Western Hotel and Suites– July 10/11 – event page going up soon. 30 NHL legends and super stars coming to Kelowna to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics at the first-annual golf tournament

Growing Chefs Okanagan – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Growing-Chefs-Okanagan/267250490114607 andwww.growingchefs.ca

We are also working on the event formerly known as Start Up week (June 5-13) which will include TEDxKelowna, Metabridge, start up weekend, a Wet Ape production music event, art events, film events, and possibly culinary events. Details to follow soon.

INFO on Culinary Ink Food Bikes and top 40 under 40  www.culinaryink.comhttp://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/business_news/article_6123fde2-4407-11e4-ab82-001a4bcf6878.html

Ungaro took one last swing at his like-minded professional playbook: “We want to be the one-stop hub for all things concerning young professionals in the valley. Volunteering is a good place to start.”

 OMG – I smell a fresh batch of volunteer opps wafting on the K-Town horizon.