Greetings from your CEO
May 2022
Dear Members,
Congratulations! To all the winners from our 5th Annual Business Awards Gala celebrations on April 21, at Mill River Resort. It was a wonderful evening and I am thankful we were fortunate enough to gather in person this year! Thank you to everyone who contributed to our event, you are all truly appreciated, and know that we could not have done it without you.
It's great to finally see some lovely faces not covered with masks. Mask mandates ended May 7, businesses and organizations may continue to set their own rules on mask-wearing for staff and visitors.
The end of mask mandates for most locations leaves few pandemic restrictions in place on P.E.I. People diagnosed with COVID-19 must still self-isolate, and some visitor restrictions remain for long-term care facilities. PEI was one of the last provinces to require mask-wearing. Please respect those who continue to wear a mask for their own reasons.
Many businesses continue to work through staffing shortages due to COVID-19 sickness and vacant positions. The supply chain is also being affected by continuous waves of COIVID-19 emerging in different parts of the world. Take Shanghai, for example, one of the busiest trade container ports in the world was in lockdown for four weeks. Despite isolating workers and running 24 hours a day, delays are happening and container shipments have fallen behind.
According to the BDC "The combined effects of limited supply and strong demand
have led to shortages of consumer goods and inputs. The result of all this is strong inflation and on top of this, the Russian invasion complicates things."
"We are currently witnessing an annual price increase in Canada that exceeds 5%, something not seen since the early 90s."
Business Development Bank of Canada
Please keep this information in mind when dealing with those businesses and staff working in these situations. Much of this is beyond our control. Below I have listed some tips for communicating with customers and suppliers during a crisis. Slow down, take care and enjoy the spring air!
Tips for Communicating with Clients and Suppliers during a Crisis
- Reach out and check-in. Call your clients and suppliers. Don’t email them and don’t avoid their calls. A personal touch is extremely important. Ask your clients how they are doing, both personally and professionally.
- Be honest and listen. Be upfront with clients and suppliers about your issues as soon as possible so they can start to deal with the situation. Be ready to hear them out. Your clients will likely have a lot of questions, and it is important to answer them to the best of your ability.
- Show empathy and concern. Clients and suppliers will be worried about a wide range of issues, such as future income, losing contracts or laying off employees. Or, they may be worried about their health or a loved one.
- Respect clients’ comfort levels. Respect that some clients may not want to speak with you right away. There are various stages in accepting a crisis, and if and when clients want to reach out, they will.
- Follow up. Take notes and ask follow-up questions every time you speak with a client or a supplier. Acknowledge their concerns and show that you care.
Sincerely Yours,
Tammy Rix
Chief Executive Officer
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Congratulations
to our 2022
Business Excellence Awards
Winners
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Ambassador of the Year Award: John Maynard & Denis Gallant
Marketing & Communications Award: Moth Lane Brewing
Emerging Business Growth Award: Sari-Sari Retail Store
People's Choice Service Excellence Award: Iron Haven Gym
Community Impact Award: Kathleen & Herb Dickieson
Lifetime Business Achievement 20+ Years Award: Noonan Petroleum
Technology Innovator Award: Martin's Machine Shop
Business of the Year Excellence Award: Dennis Motors
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May 9-15
Family Violence Prevention Week
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Wear PURPLE on
Wednesday May 11th to show your support
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May 9 to 15 is National Nursing Week #WeAnswerTheCall |
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May 9 to 15 is National Nursing Week in Canada. Nurses play a pivotal role in the health care of Islanders, working tirelessly at every level of the health care system, be they Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, or Nurse Practitioners.
“PEI’s nurses have always been the face of health care for Islanders. Nurses provide comfort, answer questions and deliver help to people in need of care. When ailing Islanders face some of the most trying times of their lives, nurses are there. On behalf of all Islanders, I want to say ‘Thank you’ to the nurses of Prince Edward Island.”
- Ernie Hudson, Minister of Health and Wellness. “
The week was chosen to coincide with the May 12 birth date of nursing icon Florence Nightingale. The theme this year is #WeAnswerTheCall and was developed by Canadian Nurses Association to showcase the many roles that nurses play in a patient’s health-care journey. The pandemic brought to light the courage and commitment that nurses work under every day and showed the important role that nurses play in the community.
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As of April 19, additional transit PEI routes have been added in Western PEI. With a $2 one-way fare, operating Monday to Friday, these routes will provide connections to:
O'Leary < > Alberton < > Tignish
Tignish < > Slemon Park/ Summerside < > Charlottetown
Borden < > Charlottetown
Additional routes will be added starting April 25:
Borden < > Summerside/ Slemon Park
Slemon Park < > Charlottetown
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Interested in being a guest on our "BIZY IN THE STICKS" podcast? Share your entrepreneur story of business successes and failures to our communities to increase everyone's opportunity of success and knowledge.
Sharing your story will help them to realize that they aren't alone, that others have been in similar predicaments and made it out alive.
Contact Kester Nurse, Labour Market Resource at 902-726-9378 or email: Kester@westprincechamber.com
www.ruralpeilabourmarket.com
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Follow "BIZY IN THE STICKS" on Podbean to get notifications:
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Do you have news or important information you would like to share with other members? Chamber E-News goes out monthly!
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PEIBWA Launches Sensational Summer PitchFest |
The Sensational Summer PitchFest is the first of its kind to be offered exclusively to women entrepreneurs across Prince Edward Island! A competitive pitch competition for women entrepreneurs in early growth-stage businesses seeking growth capital for an innovative business venture or to further develop or launch a new product or service.
Deadline to Apply: June 3rd, 2022.
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Contact: Tessa Bell-Buchanan
884 Mill River East Road, Alberton.
902-859-2031
A Full Service Esthetics Spa.
Services:
Manicure, Pedicure, Waxing, Facial, Massage.
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Contact: Mark Simmons
902-314-9449
SynergyScreens a FORE! Publications Inc. business is a digital advertising company with both Indoor & Outdoor Digital Signs for advertising opportunities spread across Prince Edward Island. Our indoor digital signage network (with locations such as Liquor Stores, Restaurants, etc) is one of the largest in Atlantic Canada. Our Outdoor Digital Signs can be found in the City of Summerside and coming in June 2022 the Town of Alberton. Website
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Cascumpec Seed Oyster Inc.
Contact: Dr. Gary Morgan
57 Seamans Lane
O'Leary, PE
902-853-7013
Our goal is to use our local oyster genetics to improve the shape and decrease the time to market Prince Edward Islands world Famous Malpeque Oysters.
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Membership Resources & Programs |
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Did you know our Chamber signs Certificates of Origin for export? This is one of our many member benefits.
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Have you taken advantage of our B2B Program? The Business 2 Business Member Benefit Program offers discounted prices to chamber members only. Call or email today to be a B2B Business Sponsor.
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B2B Programs helps promote its members and the services they offer. Support & promote our local economy, stimulate new business through increased exposure and word of mouth referals. You can also create new business contacts and leads to customers.
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Thank you Business Sponsors!
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Supporting Small Businesses and Creating Good Jobs
Small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of the Canadian economy and the heart of our communities. That’s why the Government of Canada is proposing new measures in Budget 2022 to support small and medium-sized businesses so they can grow, innovate, and stay competitive while creating good, middle-class jobs.
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today highlighted key measures included in Budget 2022: A Plan to Grow Our Economy and Make Life More Affordable to help small and medium-sized businesses.
The measures proposed in Budget 2022 include:
- Cutting taxes for Canada’s growing small businesses by ensuring growing businesses can take advantage of Canada’s low small business tax rate until their taxable capital reaches $50 million, rather than $15 million. This will encourage small businesses to continue growing and creating jobs.
- Growing Canada’s health-focused small and medium-sized businesses by investing $30 million to expand the Coordinated Accessible National Health Network to Quebec, the territories, and Indigenous communities to help health technology businesses grow, create good middle-class jobs, and deliver better care to Canadians.
- Increasing access to Canada’s trade remedy system by providing $4.7 million over five years and $1.1 million ongoing to create a Trade Remedy Counselling Unit within the Canada Border Services Agency to help companies understand and access Canada’s trade remedy system, with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises.
- Encouraging employee ownership of a business by creating the Employee Ownership Trust under the Income Tax Act to facilitate the transition of privately owned businesses to employees.
- Supporting recovery and growth for businesses by making smart investments to minimize the impacts of changes in global trade and other disruptions on sectors including transport, agriculture, and tourism and help them increase economic activity.
- Continuing consultations to reduce credit card transaction fees in a way that benefits small businesses and protects existing reward points for consumers.
Budget 2022 is proposing strategic investments and measures to ensure that small and medium-sized businesses continue to drive economic growth, create good middle-class jobs, and lead global production and innovation – now and for decades to come.
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Government providing property tax relief to Islanders
The Government of Prince Edward Island is providing a one-time subsidy to offset the increase in 2022 provincial residential tax due to the 2021 Consumer Price Index (CPI).
The Property Tax Subsidy will be administered through the Provincial Taxation Office and will provide a one-time subsidy to owner-occupied residential properties across PEI that will match the CPI increase in provincial taxes payable on their 2022 tax assessment.
“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our government has been here to support Islanders, and we will continue to be here to offer assistance as global events such as COVID-19 induced supply issues, and the war in Ukraine continue to cause economic impacts in our Province."
- Finance Minister Darlene Compton.
Through the Real Property Assessment Act, the Provincial Taxation Office is mandated to complete annual property assessments on owner-occupied properties based on CPI, which in 2021 was identified as 5.1 percent, resulting in a maximum allowable increase of 5 percent to be applied to this year’s assessments.
“We have all felt the pressures of inflation caused by global events, and we recognize that this has been incredibly difficult for Islanders as we work together to emerge from a global pandemic,” added Minister Compton. “This initiative, coupled with the cost-of-living supports are examples of ways that government can directly help Islanders keep more money in their pockets, and we remain committed to ensuring that Islanders have the supports they need to continue to strengthen our Provincial economy.” For more information Click Here!
If you have ideas you would like Chamber to work on send us an email!
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Application deadline: May 11th, 2022
Program Details: The Arts Grants program offers three types of grants to support art and artists of Prince Edward Island - Creation grant and professional development grant.
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Trusted, Engaged, Responsive, and in your Community! Refer a local business to join today!
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