Chamber News - Budget Discussions, Ribbon Cutting, Mixer, Business Quickies, LAUNCH, and even MORE info for business!

The Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce cordially invites you to this exclusive Chamber members only event on Friday, March 24, 2023 from 9:00 - 11:00 AM at Centre 2000.

Please join the President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance, the Hon. Travis Toews, MLA for Grande Prairie-Wapiti, and the Hon. Brian Jean, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Northern Development for a post Budget 2023 discussion.

As the end of the first quarter of 2023 approaches, we look to Minister Toews to provide further insights into the newly announced provincial budget and outline how the government plans to speed up economic recovery and attract investment for our province from across Canada and globally.

Following Minister Toews's address, we welcome guests to ask the Minister's questions about how Alberta's Government can best navigate our economic and fiscal challenges to ensure a resilient recovery and secure future for all Albertans.

There is no cost to attend but registration is required.

This event is only open to Active Chamber Members.

The Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce welcomes you to a Ribbon Cutting set for Tuesday, March 28, 2023 hosted by Paul Davis. The location is #103, 16102 102 Street, located in their new office. The Ribbon Cutting ceremony is scheduled for 3:00 PM. This event runs from 3:00-4:30 PM. Come celebrate with Paul Davis for their grand opening with some food and drinks. There's no cost to attend and no registration is required.

"Founded in 1966, Paul Davis pioneered the insurance restoration industry. Today, our network of more than 370 franchises spans North America. Paul Davis professionals are certified leaders in emergency restoration, reconstruction and remodeling. From multi-million dollar commercial reconstruction to restoring precious belongings, Paul Davis puts people first. We look forward to further growth as a business leader in this community. WEBSITE: https://pauldavis.ca

The Federal Government announced it will table its 2023 Budget on March 28th. Delve into what the announcements could entail, and how any changes might impact you and your business during this post-budget review. MNP Grande Prairie tax leaders Tracy Leishman & Heather Hilhorst will discuss specific details and answer questions during this informative session that will help you prepare for the future.

For your convenience, we are offering this virtual event on Wednesday, March 29, from 11:00 AM-12:00 PM. There is no cost to participate, but registration is required to receive the Zoom link.

Are you a TTN? (tongue -tied networker)
Does the mere thought of networking cause you anxiety?
Would you rather go skydiving without a parachute than attend business networking events in a roomful of strangers?
Just need to brush-up and learn some new networking skills?

The Chamber of Commerce in partnership with our Chamber Champions are proud to invite you to our first of three Business Quickies.

Business Quickies are designed to be a relaxed & safe interactive way to learn new networking skills & speed networking with a small group of other Chamber business members in a stress-free environment.

You will: Learn the do's & don'ts of networking, learn how to talk about yourself and your business in an engaging, memorable and compelling way, practice with some speed networking* and walk away more confident when breaking the ice.

Cost $25.00 per person includes a variety of breakfast treats and coffee

Limited space available: 18 seats maximum

This is event is for Chamber Members only.

The Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce welcomes our members and invited guests to a Business After 5 Mixer hosted by the Northwestern Polytechnic (NWP) Students Association on March 30, 2023 from 5:00-7:00 PM.

NWP is located at is located at 10726 106 Avenue, Grande Prairie.

Join us for an evening of networking, appetizers, refreshments and door prizes as well as finding out more about the host NWP Students Association.

For more information, visit Home | NWPSA

There's no cost to attend but registration is required for catering and capacity purposes.

LAUNCH - LUNCHTIME LEARNING - Achieving Balance and Meaning in Your Work

Have you achieved a work-life balance?

Do you feel meaning in your work every day?

Technology has blurred the line between personal and professional time.

What's the best way to bring back balance and meaning to your work?

What's the best way to get back balance for your team?

We will explore the simple yet impactful ways you can create balance and meaning while staying motivated and energized in your work.

Speaker - Jennifer (Caseley) Ireson - Balanced Perspectives - President and Principle Consultant. With 20 years as a human resources practitioner and consultant for organizations like Parkland Fuel Corporation, the Government of Nunavut and Novartis, she now offers HR support, and advisory services throughout Northwest Alberta and Northeast British Columbia.

MUST REGISTER - Please advise if there are any food allergies

LIMIT: 46 Seats

Cost: Chamber Member Price $30.00 Non-Chamber Member Price $40.00

WHAT IS LAUNCH - LUNCHTIME LEARNING? It is an 8-part educational series on different business topics throughout the year, brought to you by the Chamber of Commerce and our Chamber Champion Partners. Each topic is taught by Chamber business professionals from a variety of different industries. Each learning session will help you gain practical knowledge, tools and applications to advance your business know how as you learn from leading business experts in our community. Each session is 2 hours in length and does include lunch. Please register in advance as space will be limited and required for catering purposes.

Our Chamber received an update on the City of Grande Prairie's Rural Renewal Stream. To date, 153 candidates have been endorsed and 485 positions are now available and vacant. For more information about the Rural Renewal Stream, visit https://cityofgp.com/culture-community/about-grande-prairie/moving-grande-prairie/immigration-rural-renewal-stream

Our Chamber met with representatives from Deloitte regarding local funding eligibility for the Green Industrial Facilities and Manufacturing Program. Eligible projects include those that support the implementation of energy efficiency and energy management solutions. These activities are intended for industrial facilities that are engaged in energy consuming processes that involve the physical or chemical transformation of materials or substances into new products. For more information, CLICK HERE

Next week, our Chamber will be attending the Alberta Chambers of Commerce Political Action Day and MLA Dinner in Edmonton.

For rate information, contract terms and design guidelines, please contact Kim Brown by phone at 780-532-5340 or email kim@gpchamber.com

You’re invited to attend the free webinar

“Grow Your Own” Healthcare Professionals: Post-secondary Pathways in Northwestern Alberta

Learn how you can start growing your community’s next generation of healthcare heroes right here at home!

Date: Tuesday, March 21

Time: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. MST

Location: Zoom

Learn more and register now at Eventbrite.co m

This community conversation is proudly presented by AHS and the Lesser Slave Lake, Peace and True North Health Advisory Councils, in partnership with the Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP).

COMMUNITY GROUP FUNDING APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE

Community Group Funding applications for the 2024-2025 funding cycle are being accepted by the City of Grande Prairie until April 30, 2023. The funding is available for programs and services that benefit the community and its residents.

Recommendations for funding allocation are based on community need and a community group’s ability to respond to that need. Grants are provided on a one-year or two-year cycle beginning in 2024.

For more information about Community Group Funding, including the application form and submission process, search and select ‘Community Group Funding’ at cityofgp.com/funding.

Application Support Sessions

The City of Grande Prairie is offering virtual and in-person Community Group Funding application support sessions in March. The sessions will help applicants ensure all necessary paperwork and supporting documents are included with their applications and will provide answers to any general application questions.

Application support sessions are taking place on the following days:

Virtual session: March 27 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. via Zoom (pre-registration required).
In-person session: March 28 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. the Grande Prairie Museum located at 10329 101 Avenue (no pre-registration required).

Pre-registration for the virtual application support session is available by contacting grants@cityofgp.com.

View on cityofgp.com

ALBERTA BUSINESS AWARDS OF DISTINCTION Submission Deadline - March 27, 2023

If you nominated a business, now is your chance to reach out to them to encourage them to complete their application submission!

Submit your application

Deadline to submit is March 27.

ABAD will take place in Edmonton on June 15, 2023. Come celebrate with an evening of business excellence! Tickets on sale soon.

Business Transition Forum

Alberta Chambers of Commerce President & CEO Shauna Feth will be moderating a panel called ‘Growth By Acquisition: What You Need to Know Before Buying a Business’ and the Business Transitions Forum in Calgary at the Telus Convention Centre on April 12th.

Get funding on new tech for your business!

The Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) is celebrating 1 year of helping thousands of businesses like yours get funding for expert advice and new tech products for their business. Get in on the action!

The program includes all of these features:

Up to $15,000 in grants to hire a Digital Advisor who will produce a tailored plan for your business
Up to $100,000 in 0% financing with BDC to buy technology that will make your business more efficient
Up to $7,300 in subsidies to hire a young worker with the skills to help you implement new digital tools

Apply online in under 10 minutes.

Are you avoiding these top 5 mistakes?

Business owners, if you want to learn how to manage your business finances, join us this webinar series. Each webinar is a standalone webinar delivered by an accredited CPA, and is ideal for any business under 3 years old. Learn more about taxes, what your business structure means, how protect your business better, and the top 5 mistakes start ups make.

(ATB Entrepreneur Centre)

5 Ways to Drive your Business by Telling Stories

Gather a deeper understanding on how to refine your business and drive profits. Leave this session with information you can act on and apply to your business right away. March 23, Register Now.

Level Up Series: Digital Advertising

March 23

It’s never been easier to learn marketing—and make a positive impact on your business. Join our FREE webinar series, where Kelly Doody will walk you through the essentials of Facebook Ads Manager, LinkedIn Campaign Manager, and Google Ads.

Level Up Series: Recurring Revenue

April 6

Learn how to package your products or services into a scalable digital form, and the infinite possibilities once you do. You’ll also map a plan for continued future-proofing of your business with an increased focus on digital channels and broadening your audience base beyond existing borders.

Do you have a guide to financial survival?

Don’t let your business finances get out of control. Instead, get the tools you need to build a survival guide. This upcoming webinar on April 11th will walk you through the basics of understanding your financial statements and provide you with the tools to monitor and manage your business financials.

Business Foundation Series: Market Research for Success

April 13

Market research is an essential part of successful business marketing. You can learn how to quickly access the data you need from various online sources to make better business decisions and develop a targeted marketing strategy.

Optimizing for Search Engines - Understanding SEO Basics

Mar 28, 10:00 AM EST Online

Often you will hear about needing to optimize for search engines or SEO. But what is it, and how does it impact your digital presence? In this webinar, the Digital Service Squad will explain search engine optimization and the best tactics you as a business can use towards increasing your ranking in the search engine result pages.

EXECUTIVE SUMMIT SERIES

Net-Zero | March 28 | Join us in-person or virtually

Join a unique conversation on Canada’s path to a net-zero future, one year after Canada released its 2030 Emissions Reductions Plan.

Learn More and Register

Cybersecurity: Defence and the Cloud

In our latest guest blog post, Alkarim Amlani, General Dynamics Director of Cyber Programs, discusses the power of the cloud and how businesses can reduce risk and protect sensitive data and customer information while using it.

Read the Blog

March is Fraud Prevention Month

In recognition of Fraud Prevention Month in March, the team at the Canadian Bankers Association (CBA) has launched fraud prevention toolkits to help Canadians protect themselves against common and emerging scams. The toolkits are customized for individuals, small businesses and older adults and offer actionable tips and useful checklists to protect themselves from scammers.

For small businesses, the toolkit provides business owners and managers with crucial information to protect their companies from business email compromise, ransomware and phishing scams.

Access the SME Toolkits

Our Open Letter to Government Opposing the Imposition of a Digital Services Tax

Digital commerce is a key driver of global economic growth. Yet Canada’s unilateral, discriminatory Digital Services Tax (DST) only adds to the headwinds facing Canadian businesses. As Canada prepares to welcome President Biden, we are urging the government to stand still on the Digital Services Tax Act, drop its retroactive application and fully support the implementation of the G20/OECD two-pillar plan that has been agreed to by over 130 countries.

Read Our Letter

Businesses – Tax information

What’s new with the Confirm My Representative service for business owners

With the Confirm My Representative service, businesses now have to sign in to My Business Account to confirm or deny pending authorization requests submitted through Represent a Client or EFILE. If no action is taken by the business owner or their delegated authority within a 10-day period, the request will be canceled.

As of February 2023, sole proprietors who meet certain conditions and have the same representative for their business and personal taxes may not need to register for My Business Account and use the Confirm my Representative service. When certain conditions are met, new authorization requests submitted electronically by their representative will be approved automatically.

The CRA is aware that some business clients are not able to register for My Business Account to confirm an authorization request. In this situation, once the representative has submitted an authorization request, the business owner may contact the CRA at 1-800-959-5525 for more information and assistance.

To learn more about this service, please go to Confirm my representative’s authorization request.

Find webinars for business in the CRA Business Video Gallery

Businesses have unique needs. Understanding your tax obligations and the different requirements you may face when making changes to your business is important. Access webinars and transcripts from the CRA Business Video Gallery to help you manage your business’s tax affairs.

The CRA is pleased to announce it will be hosting the following webinar on March 29, 2023:

GST/HST Filing responsibilities for businesses

Webinar details and registration information will be posted on the CRA’s social media accounts and on the CRA’s Upcoming events webpage.

Does the new Underused Housing Tax affect your business? Here’s what you need to know

Canada has a new 1% annual Underused Housing Tax on the ownership of vacant or underused residential housing in Canada. The tax usually applies to non-resident, non-Canadian owners of residential property, but in some situations, it also applies to Canadian individuals and corporations. If your corporation is an “affected owner” of residential property in Canada, you must file a return for the Underused Housing Tax by April 30, 2023, for each property you owned on December 31, 2022. To determine if the Underused Housing Tax applies to you or your business, please visit Canada.ca/cra-uht

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