The Chamber is here for business, to do what is necessary in our advocacy role to improve and maintain a positive business climate".

WEEKLY NEWS - JANUARY 2017
January 17, 2017   

SAT MAY 13 2017
A SPECIAL INVITATION TO ALL BUSINESS IN SPRUCE GROVE AND DISTRICT

WHY YOU SHOULD
PARTICIPATE:
This is Spruce Grove & District Chamber's Signature Event! It is unique to us, and has been specifically planned to connect our business community and our area residents in a meaningful and powerful way. It's created for the community as a whole, where everyone will experience a true celebration of our amazing region.

Be recognized as an active business leader by joining us for a day in the park where business meets community and shares in the celebration.

The feedback from 2016 was so positive, that we simply can't wait to celebrate with you on Sat. May 13th!

HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE:
Showcase your business with an activity, item or service geared toward "the family" and the residents of our community.

We can help with your ideas for a healthy ROI and we especially welcome yours!

Suggestions for activities include:
  • build something
  • hit a target
  • offer races
  • safety checks
  • build a healthy snack
  • manage a popcorn or candy floss stand
  • shoot some hoops
  • kick some balls
  • organize small competitions
  • teach something
  • create something
  • paint something
.....the list is virtually as big as the imagination of our business community!

Participation is a great way to expose your business to the consumers in our Tri Area, and in a way that positively connects to our community to your establishment.

This outdoor event will move indoors to the Agrena building in the case of inclement weather.
 
*A deposit will be required as our 40 available spaces are filling very fast. 

Spruce Grove Chamber of Commerce Members $250; Non-Members $400


A survey is in distribution asking the above question to our chamber membership.

To date answers are speculative, however, the majority relates to increased costs to business.

Preliminary estimates for Parkland School Division No. 70 show it cost PSD more than $170,000 per year.  This does not include fuel for buses (contracted services so PSD does not pay for fuel) or take into account any price increases for items and services that will increase in cost due to the carbon tax being levied against those we purchase goods/services from.  The Government of Alberta indicated that PSD No. 70 will not be rebated.
 
The Spruce Grove & District Chamber of Commerce will continue to monitor the effects of carbon tax.

With almost 600 members in our business community, we continue   to be a valuable conduit in a B2B and B2C environment. 
 
Our  New Year/New Connections Mixer  on  Wednesday ,  January 25th
has been organized with YOU in mind!  Take advantage of the opportunity, and enjoy the relaxed and non formal event that will help grow your business.
  • Re-connect with your fellow Chamber members.
  • Re-establish key contacts and partnerships.
  • All members and staff of your team are invited to join us - they are important and we would love to meet them too. 

Re-energize your business for a new year of growth and opportunity!  
A new year represents a time of renewal and a re-commitment to growth, both personally and professionally. 

How to Create a Healthier Workplace

In an effort to support Healthy(ier) Workplaces in 2017 your Spruce Grove & District Chamber of Commerce will be setting some examples in our workplace (admin office and board / committee meetings) anticipating that your workplace may consider doing the same:
1. Cell phones parked at the door for meetings (board meetings and committee meetings

2. Cell phone on vibrate / mutes while at office desk with a daily timeline when to check and Why? So productivity and our focus stays on track

3. Getting up and walking in the park for 20 minutes a day when weather allows

4. Frequent breaks for a brief stretch and chat at the water cooler or photocopier

"Talk about some simple changes you can make in your workplace to keep your staff more connected and their lifestyle a bit more active"....
Brenda Johnson


B. Johnson, CEO
Spruce Grove & District Chamber of Commerce

NEWS WE ARE FOLLOWING   
Jan 13, 2017      By Kyle Muzyka, CBC News
Trudeau's 'phase out' oilsands comments spark outrage in Alberta  'If [Trudeau] wants to shut down Alberta's oilsands ... he'll have to go through me,' says Wildrose leader

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sparked immediate anger among Alberta politicians on Friday by suggesting Canada should "phase out" the oilsands.

Speaking at a town hall in Peterborough, Ont., Trudeau was asked about his government's approval of pipelines and his commitment to the environment.
"You can't make a choice between what's good for the environment and what's good for the economy," Trudeau said. "We can't shut down the oilsands tomorrow. We need to phase them out. We need to manage the transition off of our dependence on fossil fuels.
"That is going to take time. And in the meantime, we have to manage that transition."
In Alberta, both the Wildrose Party and the Progressive Conservatives were quick to condemn the statement.
"I am sick and tired of people attacking our oilsands," Wildrose Leader Brian Jean told CBC... read more



Government Is Considering Taxing Employer-paid Health and Dental Benefits
The federal government is considering taxing employer-paid health and dental benefits. Along with adding hundreds or thousands of dollars to Canadians' tax bills, this proposal could cause many employers to stop offering coverage to employees. When Quebec introduced a similar tax, 20% of employers dropped health and dental benefits for employees. Studies suggest the removal of this tax benefit across the board could result in a decrease of 50% of small firms that will be able to offer health benefits.

Please tell your MP this move would harm the people the federal government promised to champion: the middle class.

We have created a template email for you to send to the Minister of Finance and your local MP, whose name and email are available here by entering your postal code.

For more information, please contact Susanna Cluff-Clyburne, Director, Parliamentary Affairs.
2017 Webinar:  January 19 | 1 p.m. (ET)
Economic and Political Outlook 2017-2018

Shock and Opportunity: Adapting to a Volatile World

Please join us for our first webinar of 2017. Our Senior Director, Economics and Finance Hendrik Brakel will provide his  Economic and Political Outlook 2017-2018 for Canada and the global economy, on January 19.
The global economy went through a tough 2016, hampered by sluggish growth and unexpected shocks from a surprising US election and the British vote to leave the EU. Global political risk is rising as never before and financial markets are increasingly volatile. Canada is facing vulnerabilities at home (consumer debt and bubbly real estate prices) and abroad (the renegotiation of NAFTA), but there are also exciting opportunities. 
Hendrik will explore: 
  • Why is global growth so slow? Can we break out of our funk?
  • What will happen to the Canadian economy? Will questions about NAFTA chill business investment and hiring?
.......read more
E-Marketing Minute:
Edit Your Profile
 
ChamberMaster is your direct connection to the  Spruce Grove & District Chamber of Commerce.  As a member of the Spruce Grove & District Chamber of Commerce you have the opportunity to market your business to consumers visiting    sprucegrovechamber.com  by enhancing your i nformational home page with pictures and text.  You can also post hot deals job openings and events, add keywords to help consumers find you when they run searches, and run reports to see hit statistics for your home page and other advertised items.
 
Whether at work, at home, or traveling, anywhere that you have access to the internet you will be able to edit your information by logging into the ChamberMaster website.  If you have any questions regarding this site please contact your Spruce Grove & District Chamber of Commerce representative.
 
Take advantage of this great marketing option and  Update Your Profile today!

Get Noticed. Save Money.

To Our Members
January 2017 Membership Renewal Invoices have been forwarded electronically to the email we have on file as your accounts representative.

If your renewal anniversary date is January and you did not receive your renewal invoice please contact the chamber administration office at your earliest convenience.

Please note that January renewals are due upon receipt of invoice.


Della Saunders,  Marketing Coordinator
Spr uce Grove Chamber of Commerce 
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