CHAMBER CHAT - AUGUST
We are still here!
As always the summer slips by right before us... we've been here at the Log Cabin, meeting visitors, cleaning up paperwork, taking some much needed vacation and starting to line up events for the Fall.

We've also welcomed a few new members and attended a couple of grand openings - please read below for their details! Our City continues to grow!

The Ontario Chamber has also been working hard - please see a link below to the Letters to Queen's Park and a link to their release in response to yesterday's budget announcement.

A couple of dates to put on your calendar now - you can find registration links for the highlighted dates later in this message.

Thursday, September 8 - Member Appreciation Mingle hosted by QBA, Quinte Paint & Wallpaper, Shoeless Joes & Sugar Mama's at the Bell Tower plaza.
Friday, September 16 - 51st Annual Golf Tournament (co-hosted with Quinte Crime Stoppers)
Wednesday, September 28 - Chamber Breakfast
Thursday, October 5 - Municipal Candidate's Forum
October 17-21 - Small Business Week
Tuesday, October 18 - Mega Mingle
Thursday, October 20 - QBAA Dinner
(if you have been nominated and missed my email offering you some help with your application, don't hesitate to reach out)
Monday, October 24 - Municipal Election Day

More events will come up as we get into Fall and we look forward to seeing you sometime soon!
No words... how does this even happen???
Board Director, Brian Pennell brought along Lindsay Taylor to help him out at the Bell Information Tent.
Through our contract with the City, the Chamber team put together our two major summer events with Canada Day and Waterfront over the first couple weekends in July. With record attendance this year for both, my thanks to all the community sponsors and the team here for making it happen (even after they rolled their ankles and broke their feet).

It was baptism by fire for our newest team members, Yona & Tiffany. A quick shout out to Bill Glisky and Barry Raycroft for helping out as well - often in the "voluntold" category. And Susan's husband, Kevin was backstage again this year - serving the much needed role of Susan's legs).
Still standing on Sunday afternoon - Tiffany (our newest member), Fiona - our valiant volunteer, Susan (who still thought she'd just sprained her ankle) along with me and puppy, Pekoe...
Meet Yona Harvey!
Yona joined our team mid-June in the role of Visitor Services & Promotions Coordinator.

As a former entrepreneur from the Lansdowne area, Yona connected with the Chamber here right away. Her degree in journalism, her customer service experience at BMO and her work at excursion planning makes her a perfect fit for the tourism component of Discover Belleville and our efforts to welcome newcomers and visitors alike at the Log Cabin.

If you're looking for any information about Belleville, the region or even across Ontario - we might have just what you need! Stop in and say hello! any time!

Thanks to Bell, we still have some dog biscuits, too.
SAVE THE DATE:
Member Appreciation Mingle Block Party
Thursday, September 8th 4 - 7 pm
Hosted by: our Chamber members at the Bell Tower Marketplace
Your membership and continued investment in the Chamber have been even more important during the challenging times that our business community continues to navigate through. We very much appreciate your support.
Along with our hosts, we look forward to welcoming our members and guests. 
IT'S TIME TO GOLF!
Did you know that the M2M savings programs can be extended to your employees as well?
CLICK HERE for more about these programs.
Call Lisa at 613-962-4597 ext. 2 or email lisa@bellevillechamber.ca
There are lots of savings available to you and your employees.
And the program is growing.
M2M is one more way you can connect to Chamber members
and increase customers.

DO YOU HAVE AN OFFER
you would like to extend to Members.
Contact Lisa at 613-962-4597 ext. 2
HERE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF THE M2M OFFERS!
Your membership connects you to more than 450 businesses.
Find what you need from people and businesses you can trust.
Following yesterday's throne speech, the OCC's response highlighted the labour shortage.
Across sectors, employers in Ontario cannot find enough qualified candidates to fill job vacancies. Labour shortages are significant in healthcare, construction, early childhood education, aviation, agriculture, food and beverage manufacturing, and more. These are having substantial impacts on the broader workforce and economy.

On April 28, the Government of Ontario released its 2022 Budget: Ontario’s Plan to Build. Developing on previous commitments, Budget 2022 proposes a series of new measures to support workforce development, transportation infrastructure, health care capacity, and other priority areas. The following is a summary of highlights from the perspective of Ontario’s business community.


The OCC - Letters to Queen's Park
The work of the Chamber network across the province leads to a variety of work the OCC undertakes on behalf of you, our member.

The attached report includes the letters to the responsible ministries for the issues we identified as priorities at April's AGM & Conference. Please see how they've taken your concerns and are advocating for your needs.

“The past few years have been characterized by tremendous uncertainty: a prolonged pandemic, record-high inflation, supply chain disruptions, labour shortages, and geopolitical turmoil. If we want our economy and people to emerge stronger amid so much uncertainty, Ontario must focus on creating the right conditions to support competitiveness, productivity, and growth,” said Rocco Rossi, President and CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “We are providing all Ministers with a blueprint for steps that can be taken to ensure we are bolstering Ontario’s prosperity – we look forward to continued collaboration with the Government of Ontario and all parties over the next four years.”
Grow Your Business Online Grant
The Government of Canada and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce have
partnered together to deliver Government of Canada grants to
small businesses that want to grow their business online. 
To learn more about the program, eligibility requirements and to pre-register, please visit: https://occ.ca/growyourbusinessonline/  
If you have any questions about the Canada Digital Adoption Program,
please contact cdap@occ.ca 
The program will continue through December, 2022
We know that the safety of your workplace is still important to you.
Rapid antigen test kits
are available at the cabin.
The portal is open for
new and repeat orders.
Watch your inbox after ordering for pick-up instructions.
Paid Infectious Disease Emergency Leave
Extended to March 31, 2023
providing eligible employees with up to three days paid leave.
Find the right programs and services, whether you are starting out or scaling up.  
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
Luke Joseph Carpentry
Proudly serving the Quinte region with high quality carpentry services including renovations and additions, decks and gazebos and fencing.

Their full-service certified shop specialized in custom metal and stainless steel fabrication, production welding, project design, installations, and modifications.

James Feenstra
Full-service provider for equipment and audiovisual solutions for your event - big or small. Their experience includes music festivals, corporate conferences, and fundraising galas.

Providing outstanding service - willing and able to answer all of your questions about the process of buying or selling property including complex commercial real estate. Joe will help you every step of the way.

People have trusted their experts to provide medical equipment for more than 20 years. Includes; Sleep Apnea CPAP, Mobility products, Wheelchairs, Walkers, Scooters, Bracing, Incontinence and more.

Christene Gilbey
Retail sales of succulents, air plants, and related floral items. Classes, workshops, custom arrangments, favours for baby and bridal showers.

Real Estate Agent
Now with the Rufo Real Estate team, Yakov has been investing in real estate for several years. Experienced in construction and the management of long and short-term rental properties, he will assist you whether it's your first home or an investment property.

Meet Heather Tapp ~ Belleville Pregnancy & Family Care Centre
Heather leads a team of people dedicated to providing support for families challenged by pregnancy.
The Centre offers several programs and one-on-one support that help both expecting mothers and fathers through the pre and postnatal periods, with additional programs and services that offer education on parenting and relationship building, as well as material support including baby clothing, diapers and more.
MEET OUR MEMBERS features stories and details about our member businesses and themselves.
DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO SHARE?
CONGRATULATIONS TRENVAL on their 35th Anniversary!
Check out what Chamber
Past-President Peter Kempenaar has been up to...
Some local paddlers brought home medals from the International Dragon Boat Federation World Championships, held recently in Sarasota, Florida. The next event is slated for Italy.
Chamber Celebrates New Business!
The Chamber is always on hand to help businesses
old and new, celebrate milestones and grand openings.
President Anthony Callaghan presents Clark Thomas and
Marc Sutton with a certificate at the grand opening of
This global fitness community specializes in innovative, high-intensity
group workouts. A proud Chamber Member!
Several local dignitaries joined Chamber President, Anthony Callaghan as they officially cut the ribbon at
10/6 Barber Company.
Delayed by COVID-19, the opening was celebrated on the shop's one-year anniversary.
Jill Raycroft joined Peter Goyer of MYCOR Insurance Solutions in welcoming guests to the celebration at the Bayview Mall. Pete entered the insurance industry in 2000, and worked for several brokerages over the years. With 22 years of experience, he felt the time was right to
“do his own thing.”
The Chamber of Commerce LOVES to celebrate any and all business in Belleville.
Do you know of a business celebrating a grand opening?
Have you moved or expanded your business?
We can help.
Let us know and we'll invite dignitaries, media and
we even bring the ribbon and scissors for your special event.
DO YOU HAVE A MESSAGE TO SHARE?
DO YOU NEED A NEW PLAQUE?
Call Lisa at 613.962.4597 ext. 2 or email
lisa@bellevillechamber.ca
DID YOU KNOW?
You can add your Google My Business Listing to your Chamber profile.
Using your login, just add the URL to your Google Listing, along with the links to your social media pages.
NOT SURE HOW TO DO THAT?
and go to STEP 5 of
"8 ways to optimize your Google My Business Profile".
DISCOVER OUR OWN BACKYARD
www.discoverbelleville.ca
THE LOG CABIN IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK
Mon - Fri 8:30 am - 6:00 pm · Sat - Sun 10 am - 4 pm
5 Moira Street East, Belleville · 613-962-4597