In this issue...

A Message From the CEO | Upcoming Chamber Events

2023-24 Directory Advertising

Welcome New Members! | Updates from the Chamber Network

With our Canadian winter finally arriving last week, we made the difficult but safe decision to post-pone our Business Excellence Awards Finalists Reception to Wednesday, February 15^th at the Rope Factory Event Hall. We joined a number of community organizations in making the safe decision, due to a number of invitees required to travel into or out of our region, and the intensity of the storm leading into and throughout the scheduled time. We look forward to a great event in a few weeks, and thank all of our sponsors, including presenting partner BDO Canada, for their support and understanding. Having just wrapped up the interview filming, I can share that businesses and organizations in our region are inspiring and heartwarming, in addition to being great organizations. I hope you will be able to join us on May 4^th to help celebrate the finalists and winners, or to be able to use or visit the businesses personally.

Chamber staff is working hard on our popular print Directory, closing out our year end audit, and planning for a number of traditional and new events in 2023, as well as a number of advocacy issues at all three levels of government, from the homelessness/addictions/mental health file to labour, to the cost of doing business and transportation issues. Look for the opportunity to attend the annual MP/MPP Breakfast on Friday, March 3^rd to learn about how our federal and provincial representatives are working on our behalf to address these and other issues.

Have a great week! 

Dave

We're now booking ad space for the

2023-24 Membership Directory! 

Contact Greg at (226) 387-2991 or greg@brcc.ca to book your ad space today! 

Click here for ad sizes and rates.

LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE - BOOK NOW!

Click on their logo to learn more about their business!

OCC's Small Business Tech Adoption Policy Brief

While the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated technology adoption within organizations, many are being left behind. The Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s policy brief, Broken Links: Driving Technology Adoption within Ontario’s Small Businesses, explores solutions to address the key barriers small businesses face in adopting and implementing technology. 



Ontario’s economy and communities thrive when small businesses succeed. We must ensure they are not left behind in the transition to an increasingly digitized economy. Click here to read.  

Looking for something new and innovative to help you attract and retain staff?

Career Pathways is an innovative tool that promotes in-demand, entry-level careers with opportunities for growth across Hamilton, Niagara, and Grand Erie. It gives employers local information about jobs, skills, and training to assist in recruitment, career development and employee retention.

You can help to test and refine the Career Pathways tool. It’s easy. Simply view the demonstration video, then complete a short 2-question survey plus basic corporate information and consent. It should take less than 5 minutes. Check it out here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/B3TB22L.

Why participate in Career Pathways?

• It addresses labour challenges faced by your organization by enabling you find and keep the right person, in the right job, with the right motivation.
• It can boost your profile. Opt-in in the survey and your organization’s logo and website will be featured on our contributor’s page and viewed by job seekers.
• You could win 1 of 5 $50 gift cards! Draws will be held, and winners announced until the end of March 2023.

We are looking to hear from employers in these sectors                   

• Construction
• Wholesale and Retail Trade 
• Other Services
• Transportation and Warehousing    
• Accommodations and Food Services
• Business, Building and Other Support Services        
• Agriculture    
• Education

For further information, email support@abea.on.ca.

Career Pathways is a Skills Development Fund project funded by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.

Celebrating Random Acts of Kindness Day 2023

The Brant Community Foundation is encouraging our community to do something kind for someone on Friday, February 17 for Random Act of Kindness Day.

This year’s theme is “Celebration of Kindness”, and organizations are invited to participate in a sign challenge by posting a message of kindness on their sign.

We are hoping to engage the entire City of Brantford, Brant County, Six Nations of the Grand River and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation to participate in Random Acts of Kindness.

Robert Nagy of Brant Mutual Insurance is the Chair of the Random Act of Kindness Day Committee, “Our aim is to have the community come together and we encourage people throughout our community get out and do something kind. We want our friends to think about kindness 365 days per year, and RAK day is just one day for people to start thinking about kindness."

of another and make our world a better place. Please help us to put a human face on our community by becoming a community partner celebrating Random Act of Kindness Day!

If you have any questions about celebrating kindness this year, please call the Foundation at 519-756-2499.

EmployerOne: Spotlight on Quality of Work

EmployerOne is a survey that collects valuable first-hand information from businesses in Six Nations, New Credit, Brantford and Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk counties.

The survey is officially being conducted during January 2023. The 2023 EmployerOne survey has a special focus on Quality of Work from the perspective of employers.

Click on the image to access the survey!