Spruce Grove's
first Amazing Race!
Our business comm
unity came together to challenge teams of 4 in an Amazing Race. Special Thanks to Perpetual Fitness for teaming up with your Chamber to make it happen! The challengers were:
- @The Trax Public House
- Cheesecake Café
- Domestic Goddess Business Center
- Golden Spike Lumber
- Moondance Hot Tubs and Spas
- Muscle Beach
- OK Tire
- Perpetual Fitness
- Primerica Financial Services - Hennig
- Putting Horse Ranch
- The Black Dirt Company
Thank you all! See you next year.
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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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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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IMPROVING STAFF LOYALTY
How to build and increase staff loyalty with clear values, consultation and policies on equal treatment.
A main reason for leaving an organisation is poor management. Many people will stay, even in an organisation they dislike, if they have a manager they enjoy working with and feel loyal towards. Here we look at developing loyalty among staff.
Encouraging employee loyalty
Leadership
Provide clear vision, goals and objectives that involve people at all levels of the organisation. See the Know how leadership section for more.
Involvement
Involve employees in the decision making processes. Employees often have a valuable perspective that is not obvious to members of the management team.
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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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For a limited time, enjoy a special price break on our Business Banking Package when you sign up for ATB Merchant Solutions.
* Merchant solutions rates starting at 1.55%
* No setup fees for your merchant account
* Unlimited Business Banking account for $30/month (regular price $60/month)
* No annual fee on an ATB business MasterCard® for one year*....
read more
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The Spruce Grove & District Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Taste of Spruce Grove on Saturday, June 17th in Columbus Park. The Taste is offering numerous food vendors, spirit, wine, beer tasting and a beer garden. There will be entertainment in the afternoon by Soap Box Duo, children's face painting, and a bouncy castle followed by a family street dance from 7-10pm.
Sponsored by:
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NEWS WE ARE FOLLOWING
Government to speed up permit processing for foreign high-skilled workers
CBC News Posted: Jun 12, 2017
Global Skills Strategy will also allow short, permit-free stays for certain workers from abroad
New federal government initiatives promise to make it easier and faster for companies to bring high-skilled, temporary workers to Canada.
The Global Talent Stream, part of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, is available to employers who meet one of two criteria.
Employers that can demonstrate a need for foreign workers with specific skills in order to grow their business can be referred to the program by designated partner organizations of Employment and Social Development Canada. The Global Talent Stream program is also open to companies that need skilled foreign workers with specific in-demand skills, as determined by EDSC's Global Talent Occupations List.
"The Global Skills Strategy will allow Canadian employers, who are investing in people and skills here in Canada, to continue to grow by attracting top talent from around the world," said Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Navdeep Bains....continue reading
Business breathing a sigh of relief: Suspension of unfair provision in anti-spamming le
gislation applauded by Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Erika Beauchesne
Ottawa, June 7, 2017
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is celebrating the federal government's decision to halt the coming into force of the Private Right of Action provision of Canada's anti-spam legislation that would have hurt Canadian businesses.
The PRA was particularly worrisome as it would have exposed business to potentially unjust and costly litigation. The Private Right of Action Provision would have allowed individuals to take legal action against any company which sent them an email they did not want to receive, without proof of damages.
"This is a big win for all Canadians. Businesses rely on their capacity to communicate with their clients, and some of these measures would have limited their capacity to do this," said the Hon. Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Chamber. "Additionally, this provision would cost Canadians heavily in lost productivity and mischievous litigation," he added....
continue reading
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5 Minutes for Business June 8, 2017
How Europe Got Her Groove Back
Now that the European elections have come and gone with favourable results, in this edition of 5 Minutes for Business, Hendrik Brakel, Senior Director, Economic, Financial and Tax Policy, reflects on the prosperous impact these elections have fostered for both the European and Canadian economies.
With Europe already proving to be one of Canada's growing export markets for 2017, investors have begun to take note. Read this edition of 5 Minutes for Business to find out what opportunities Hendrik foresees for Canadian business now that Europe has her confidence back. ...continue reading |
Alberta Businesses Aren't Looking for a Handout
by
Paige MacPherson
June 1, 2017
Corporate welfare is on the rise in Alberta. While politicians are picking and choosing which businesses they favour for subsidies, they're taking that cash out of the pockets of other job creators, restricting the growth of other industries and businesses that put food on tables.
While the government is increasing taxes and acting as if those increases are out of necessity, it is also increasing the tax burden for future generations. The Alberta government is borrowing heavily, with the debt level in line to hit a record-setting $72 billion by 2020. Someone has to pay for it sooner or later.
...
continue reading
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Weekly Economic Review
Labour market continues to rebound
Labour Market
Alberta labour market balancing
Alberta's labour market recovery is fully underway. The 2,100 jobs added in May brought employment to the highest level since October 2015. With the participation rate falling back to 72.5% after hitting a high of 73.1% in March, the unemployment rate fell a notch to 7.8%. The ongoing recovery has shifted towards more full-time employment in the private sector...
continue reading
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Unification Committee Update
June 2017
This committee has been tasked by both Stony Plain & Spruce Grove & District Chambers of Commerce board of directors to look at how the two chambers can become more collaborative in the representation of their members.
Stony Plain & District Chamber of Commerce represented by: Harold Pawlechko, Kevin White, Laverne Pankratz & Penny Gould
Spruce Grove & District Chamber of Commerce represented by: Rik Kaminsky, Dave Grobman, Melissa Johnson, and Brenda Johnson
Wabamun & District Chamber of Commerce represented by: Ray Porter
Committee members met again Thursday, June 8 to review information gathered by chamber administration and share conversations had with members. The committee will host four member round tables over the summer (2 in Stony Plain and 2 in Spruce Grove) to have members provide direction concerns and recommendations to the Unification committee. If you as a member, would like an invitation to one of these round tables, please contact your chamber.
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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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HAVE YOUR SAY
Alberta Chamber of Commerce is collaborating with Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC), a provincial Crown Corporation that has provided farmers, agribusinesses and other small businesses loans for over 40 years.
A survey has been designed to collect feedback from Alberta stakeholders to be used as information for market research and serve as a guide in the refining of existing AFSC programs, as well as the development of new AFSC products. This survey is not intended to solicit or market programs currently offered by AFSC.
This short survey will take approximately 5 to 10 minutes of your time and your response will be anonymous.
Thank you for your participation. To start the survey, please
click here.
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Della Saunders,
Marketing Coordinator
Spr
uce Grove Chamber of Commerce
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