Energy Efficient
Alberta Luncheon
Save Energy - Save Money
June 22 - Learn more about Alberta's Energy Efficiency Rebate Program
We are pleased to invite you to learn more about the Government of Alberta's Business, Non-Profit and Institutional Energy Savings Program at a luncheon on
Thursday, June 22, hosted by the Stony Plain and Spruce Grove & District Chambers of Commerce.
Attendees will enjoy lunch at the Best Western Sunrise Inn and Suites. Guest speaker, David Courte of ICF Canada, will discuss how businesses can take advantage of the Energy Efficiency Program, what products qualify for rebates, and how to claim.
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Stay tuned to our website as we post policy updates determined at the
79th AGM and Policy Plenary Session
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Join us Tuesdays - 8am-9am
for Business at Breakfast. Our Business at Breakfast aims to provide the tools and education necessary to succeed in entrepreneurship, economic growth, and competitiveness; our breakfasts focus on business education in our region. For further information, call Dianne 780.962-2561
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Opinion: More women on boards is good for business
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| In 2016 just 12 per cent of seats on Canadian corporate boards were held by women. DUTKO PNG |
Frederick Pinto June 2, 2017
In 2014, the federal government's Advisory Council for Promoting Women on Boards recommended as a "reasonable national goal" that 30 per cent of corporate board positions be filled by women by 2019, with gender balance being the longer-term aim.
The advisory council reported that only 10.1 per cent of seats on Canadian boards in 2012 were held by women. By 2016, according to data collected by securities regulators across Canada, the number had risen to just 12 per cent.
Fewer than one in six of the 521 board vacancies that year were filled by women, according to Ontario Securities Commission chairwoman and CEO Maureen Jensen
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MOTIVATION AND ENGAGEMENT
The basic needs of staff and how to keep your employees motivated and engaged in their work.
Keeping employees motivated and engaged is the key to every organisation's success.
The basic job factors that keep employees motivated
Motivational needs
Professor of psychology David McClelland described three types of motivational need:
- achievement
- authority and power
- affiliation.
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National Council for Voluntary Organisations NCVO Knowhow Nonprofit offers advice and support for voluntary organisations. Learn from experts and your peers, and share your experiences with the community.
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Member Benefits
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Why Chambers Plan?
Employee benefits are an important tool used by employers to attract new employees and retain experienced employees.
The Chambers Plan is administered by Johnston Group Inc., a leading benefit plan administrator with over 40 years of experience. Affordable insurance options, unbeatable guarantees and unsurpassed value - these are the reasons why over 25,000 small to medium-sized businesses use Chambers Plan, from coast-to-coast.
This not-for-profit program is overseen by the Chambers of Commerce Insurance Corporation of Canada. Any surpluses go back to the Plan to support all participating firms. Business owners truly get more for their dollar with the Chambers Plan.
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Spruce Grove's
first Amazing Race!
Perpetual Fitness in collaboration with Spruce Grove & District Chamber of Commerce are excited to announce our community's Amazing Race!
Participating teams (18+) will travel within the Tri Region community, stopping in at local businesses where they will meet some Amazing challenges to win a
cash prize of
$1000.00.
Bragging rights will be priceless!
Perpetual Fitness's Amazing Race is hosted in part by your Spruce Grove & District Chamber of Commerce.
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NEWS WE ARE FOLLOWING
Alberta has some of the oldest workplace legislation in Canada. Both the Employment Standards Code and Labour Relations Code have not been significantly updated in almost 30 years and the nature of work and family life has changed a lot since then.
Workplace legislation review
From March 13 to April 18, 2017, Albertans provided feedback to the Employment Standards and Labour Relations code reviews. All input was reviewed as part of the development of Bill 17.
Employment Standards Code review
Close to 5,000 Albertan's took an online survey and nearly 400 written submissions were sent in. Consultation sessions were held in Grande Prairie, Edmonton, Lethbridge and Calgary to gather input from a range of stakeholders that included community and social groups, employers and employer groups, labour organizations, academics and municipalities.
Labour Relations Code review
Alberta Labour received 340 written submissions from employers, business associations, organized labour and advocacy groups in a wide array of industries and sectors. The Minister and the department also met with employer stakeholders to get their input. In addition to this direct input, a third-party expert, Mr. Andrew Sims, QC, was hired to assist with the review.
NDP: No decision yet on labour review
by James Wood, Postmedia May 11, 2017
Labour Minister Christina Gray says the NDP government has made no decisions yet on whether to change the process of union certification or even when it will proceed with its overhaul of labour laws.
The minister made the comments Wednesday at an announcement of new skills training funding.
The government's two-pronged review of the Labour Relations Code and the Employment Standards Code has caused concern among many business groups who feel consultations have been rushed.
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continue reading
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June 17, 2017
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2:00 - 10:00 pm
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Bring It On:
Canadian Chamber Welcomes Opportunity to Improve NAFTA for Canadian Businesses
Guillaum (Will) Dubreuil May 18, 2017
"We've been waiting for this and we're ready. NAFTA has been a positive agreement for all three countries involved but it is over 22 years old. A number of improvements can be made, and we look forward to working with the Canadian government to get a better, modern deal for Canadian businesses," said the Hon. Perrin Beatty, President of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, reacting to the U.S. Administration's triggering renegotiation of the North American free-trade agreement.
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce intends to focus on digital trade, e-commerce, worker mobility and regulatory cooperation as the main areas of improvement for a new NAFTA. "This agreement was negotiated nearly 25 years ago, and the economies of all three countries have changed considerably in that time. Many of the changes that we want to see in this document will also benefit businesses in the U.S. and Mexico, which is why we think we can end up with a better agreement for Canadians," said Mr. Beatty....continue reading |
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Jason Macfarlane owner of Wimpy's Diner in Downtown Guelphwonders what the effect minimum wage increases will have on businesses like his. Tony Saxon GuelphToday
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The two sides of the minimum wage debate
Poverty advocates applaud proposed $15 minimum wage but business community feels it's too much, too soon
Jun 1, 2017 by Tony Saxon
Small business owner Jason Macfarlane, like many employers in Ontario, sees the proposed new minimum wage increases as "too much, too soon."
Macfarlane, who owns Wimpy's Diner on Wyndham Street, agrees with the increases in principle and many of his small staff are already making above the proposed new minimum wage of $15 an hour. But he believes such a jump will create hardship for small business owners operating on narrow profit margins.
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Don't miss the annual
Chambers' Golf Tournament
Putting green
in support of Parkland Food Bank.
Texas Scramble; all skills welcome!
Stony Plain Golf Course
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The Best Reason Ever To Take A Two Week Vacation
Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.
Kristi Hedges, Contributor
Summer's here and many of us are counting the days to much-needed vacations. Finally (we hope) work will subside in order for us to get a real break. Or sort of, anyway. Vacation isn't what it used to be as we're rarely unconnected. Some of us don't take proper vacations at all, but opt for short getaways. We fear that too much vacation (the 2-3 week kind) will be frowned upon -- regardless of our allotted vacation days.
Benefits of Longer Vacation
1. Burnout is a high price to pay for employees - and businesses.
2. People report feeling better and ready for work after some time off.
3. Vacations help us manage stress now - and in the future.
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Della Saunders,
Marketing Coordinator
Spr
uce Grove Chamber of Commerce
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