The Diamond Valley Chamber of Commerce launched a new education series on Sept. 29.
The Thirsty (For Knowledge) Presentation Series is a chance to get to know chamber members, local business owners and others in the community while guest speakers share expertise or ideas on a variety of topics.
Chamber vice-president Murray Rodgers said the aim of the monthly series is to provide education while making the chamber accessible and functional for members.
He said the series will explore the question: “How do we live on this planet in a mutually beneficial way?”
Rodgers said that through his experience in the business world, he has developed several ideas about how communities or businesses should see themselves.
“Not just as little profit-making engines that are isolated from everyone else, but as part of a bigger ecosystem,” he said.
The series kicked off with Larry Kapustka giving a presentation via Zoom about Core Initiatives of the Diamond Valley Sustainable Living Centre.
“We want to work on food, energy and water security issues,” Kapustka said.
Above all, he said, the centre wants to foster a spirit of community that will allow members of the public to work together towards common goals.
As he introduced Kapustka, Rodgers said sustainability is an important subject that asks people to re-examine what a community can be.
“How do we thrive as a community and integrate with the ecosystem around us and with one another,” Rodgers said.
Later, Nick Shipley of the Hartell Homestead Farm Store spoke about challenges he is facing with his business as he tries to navigate regulatory hurdles around operating a small on-farm business.
The next presentation in the series is Black Diamond Elk Ranch: A Foothills Farming Business Model with Steve Koeckhoven on Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. The series is held at 151 Third Street Northeast in Black Diamond.
There is no admission fee and membership in the chamber is not required to attend events in the series.
For more information, visit diamondvalleychamber.ca.
