The Kicking Horse Country Chamber of Commerce is wasting no time easing into the new year.
Its latest member newsletter is very much a roll-up-your-sleeves update that speaks to what the Chamber actually does day in and day out. Advocacy that takes patience, partnerships that take persistence, and community initiatives that only work when local businesses step up and take part.
• Membership renewals are up first. Invoices for 2026 will be landing in inboxes over the next few weeks, and the Chamber is reminding members to keep an eye out and flag the right contact if emails need to go somewhere specific.
Prompt payment helps keep the organization running, but there is also a three-month grace period built in. It is a practical reminder that membership dollars are what allow the Chamber to keep showing up on behalf of Golden businesses.
Behind the scenes, the Chamber notes it has been working on a wide range of files and partnerships that stretch well beyond a single calendar year. Policy development and advocacy can feel slow, and often is.
The Chamber is candid about that reality, but also clear that progress happens through steady pressure and small wins.
Those wins add up, especially when they affect local business conditions at the regional and national level.
• Zonal Immigration Partnership – One concrete way members can contribute right now is through a regional employer survey being led by the East Kootenay Zonal Immigration Partnership.
The survey takes about ten minutes and focuses on the real-world experience of employers when it comes to attracting, hiring, onboarding, and retaining immigrant talent.
The feedback will directly inform the EKZIP Community Plan, making it a chance for Golden employers to shape policy and support structures that actually reflect on-the-ground realities.
• GoBy Bike BC – The newsletter also shines a light on active transportation and workplace wellness through GoBy Bike BC. Whether staff bike year-round or only when the roads are bare, businesses can register as bike-friendly at no cost and take part in seasonal GoByBike weeks. It is an easy way to support healthier commuting, environmental goals, and a more bike-positive culture in town.
Looking ahead to February, the Chamber is encouraging businesses to get involved with Emberfest (see more details below), a week-long winter celebration being coordinated by Kicking Horse Culture. There are specific opportunities for business participation, and the message is clear: events like this work best when the whole community leans in. For retailers, restaurants, and service providers, it is both a chance to have some fun in the quieter winter season and a chance to connect with locals and visitors alike.
Taken together, the newsletter is a solid snapshot of what the Chamber is about right now.
Supporting members, pushing on longer-term issues, and inviting businesses to be part of something bigger than their own front door.
It is not flashy work, but it is the kind that keeps a small-town economy moving forward, one renewal, one survey, and one winter festival at a time.
EmberFest 2026: how local businesses can get involved in the festivities
This year’s EmberFest is shaping up to be something special. Running from February 14 to 21, EmberFest 2026 also marks a milestone moment, celebrating 20 years of this homegrown winter festival led by Kicking Horse Culture.
The theme, Positive Futurisms: Portals of Possibility, invites the whole community to imagine what comes next, not just for art, but for how we live, work, and connect in Golden.
The goal is ambitious but grounded. Organizers want to turn downtown Golden into a lively, creative hub for a full week, and local businesses are a key part of making that happen.
Participation does not have to be big or complicated. What matters is leaning into the spirit of imagination.
• Doorfront transformations – Businesses are invited to decorate their storefronts or entrances with a futuristic or imaginative theme.
Think neon forests, retro robotics, eco utopias, or playful sci-fi nods. This is about visual storytelling and creating a sense of wonder as people move through downtown. Even small touches can make a big impact when everyone joins in.
• Feature menu items or drinks – Restaurants, cafés, and bars can get creative with special EmberFest offerings inspired by Positive Futurisms. That could mean bold flavours, glowing cocktails, nutrient-dense “future foods,” playful presentations, or zero-waste concepts. There is no single right approach. If it sparks curiosity or conversation, it fits.
• Host a workshop or experience – If your business or team has an idea for a workshop, talk, tasting, or hands-on experience during the festival week, the EmberFest team wants to hear from you. These events help deepen the festival experience and give people a reason to linger, learn, and connect.
The invitation is intentionally open-ended. Participation can be small or spectacular, quiet or bold. The emphasis is on doing what feels energizing and authentic for you and your team. EmberFest has always worked best when it reflects the creativity already present in the community, rather than trying to import something artificial.
Businesses interested in taking part, or simply wanting to bounce around an idea, are encouraged to reach out. The Kicking Horse Country Chamber of Commerce can be contacted at manager@goldenchamber.bc.ca, and Kicking Horse Culture at info@kickinghorseculture.ca. Participating businesses will be included in festival promotions leading up to February.
For local businesses, EmberFest is more than a festival. It is a chance to experiment, have some fun in the heart of winter, and remind both locals and visitors that Golden is a place where creativity and imagination are taken seriously.
