May 2023
Dear Members,
Our Signature Business Excellence Awards Gala is a West Prince event and an exciting night for business owners and residents within our communities! Thank you to each and every one of you who attended and contributed to our amazing night. As you listened to each individual business story and their passion to make what works in our small communities it truly makes this event so important to continue to recognize the people in our small businesses.
The Gala is a celebration of business excellence, recognizing business owners and residents who have made exceptional contributions through their involvement and leadership in the community. It is a time for the community to come together and show their appreciation towards businesses and exceptional people that have helped shape Western PEI as a strong professional community and a wonderful place to live.
Please check out our member and partner news below to stay up-to-date on current events in our communities. Happy Spring, I believe it has finally arrived.
Sincerely Yours,
Tammy Rix
Chief Executive Officer
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Congratulations to our 2023
Business Excellence Awards Winners
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Congratulations to our 2023 Business Excellence Awards winners. It was an amazing evening to recognize our local entrepreneurs, successes, innovations, community volunteers, and overall business achievements. Thank you to each and every one of you for sharing your own story.
A big thank you to the talented Lisa Enam Photography for always doing a great job! You can view all photos from the evening on our website at www.westprincechamber.com
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Skills PEI Chamber Ambassador Award Lisa Reid, Briarwood Coastal Cottages & Lodge |
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CBDC Western PEI Emerging Business Growth Award Kayla Ellis, Aster & Ash |
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Holland College Marketing & Cummications Stacy MacWilliams, Moments - Floral Gifts & Custom Design |
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MRSB Group Community Impact Award, Rev. Bethe & Rick Cameron |
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Key Murray Law, Lifetiime Business Achievement 20+ Years Award, Geoffrey Irving accepting on behalf of his father Kent Irving, West Prince Auto Glass |
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North Cape Coastal Drive People's Choice "Service Excellence" Award, Judy Morrissey, M.J.'s Bakery & Caboose Cafe |
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Innovation PEI Technology Innovator Award, Jamie, Nicole and Collin Rayner Kildare Fisheries Limited |
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Provinicial Credit Union Business Excellence of the Year, Erica Wagner, Backwoods Burger |
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Business Excellence Awards Gala 2023 |
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May 15-21, 2023
Family Violence Prevention Week
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Family Violence Prevention Week is from May 15th to May 21st this year. Karen McCarville is happy to report they will be starting the week off with a walk in Tignish at 6 p.m. down at the Tignish Shore Board Walk. Tina Richard will be on the bbq getting hot dogs ready and Kali Pineau the new Executive Director of Go West PEI will be there to walk with the participants. There will be a door prize of a beautiful quilt made by the Thimbles and Thread group. It is beautiful! Hope to see you all out. |
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The deadline for applications is 1:00 p.m. (Atlantic Daylight Time) on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. Extensions will not be considered. Applications will be submitted by email to IgnitionFund@gov.pe.ca and formatted as one (1) Microsoft Word or Portable Document File (.pdf). Once you submit your application you should receive an automatic response. If you do not receive an automatic reply that your application is received, please contact Innovation PEI at (902) 368-6300.
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Thinking of a family business transition? Join us!
You take immense pride in the legacy of your family business—a journey that hasn’t been without sacrifice, challenge, and possibility for you and those before you. Knowing when and how to embark on the next step in your family business’s succession journey can feel overwhelming. If you wait too long, you could miss out on an opportunity to put a plan in place under the current Bill C-208 rules used to facilitate intergenerational business transfers. Recently introduced modifications to the rules will implement new restrictions and will apply to business transfers on or after January 1, 2024. Register for the event now!
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How businesses can push back against the pinch of inflation |
Grant Thornton Advisory Services Article May 2022
With inflation at a high not felt for decades, many businesses are feeling squeezed as the cost of goods and services continues to rise. And while interest rates are being hiked to tame surging prices, inflation is expected to remain elevated until 2024.
- Get a better grip on your cash flow
- Reduce your tax burden
- Reach out to your lenders
- Refresh your strategies to guide growth
- Embrace digital transformation
- Align your operations
To read the full article please click HERE!
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Develop West Prince Housing Initiative |
West Prince is experiencing an increased demand for housing from a variety of factors. The private sector has responded by increasing the number of apartment units and individuals are constructing family dwellings. The government has also made significant investments in its deeply affordable housing units through agreements with private developers. Click the link below to learn more about individual sessions being offered through Develop West Prince or contact Tracy Pineau, Housing Project Coordinator.
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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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Contact: Tracy Wedge
24 Palm Lane, Tignish
902-856-1556
Real estate with a focus on Western PEI
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Forestview Meadow
Contact: Maureen Sweet
1659 Howlan Road
O'Leary, PE
902-856-0724
Forestview Meadow's Mission is to deliver comforting equine-assisted farm experiences. Forestview Meadow's interactions with horses are not only about riding and horsemanship as it is about increasing one's self-respect, and self-esteem, improving adjustment to routines, focus, friendships, and communications. Click here to visit their Facebook Page.
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West Prince Berry Cooperative
Contact: Christa Gaudet
110 Hogan Road,
Tignish
Email:gaudetchrista@hotmail.com
Phone: 9025-882-3668
Blueberry Farm & Custom Work operation
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Westend Overhead Doors Ltd.
Contact: Krystal & Blair Sweet
12463 Cascumpec Road, O'Leary
Email:westendoverheaddoorsltd@gmail.com
Phone: 902-853-6406
Specializing in sales, services, and installation of commercial and residential overhead doors.
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Membership Resources & Programs |
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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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Government Programs and Updates |
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Feedback needed from Island residents on the future of energy
The Government of Prince Edward Island is asking Islanders to provide input on a reliable, affordable, and accountable energy future for the province.
The PEI Energy Blueprint Discussion Paper, developed to show the status of energy in PEI, will kick off a public engagement process to help develop an updated energy strategy for the province.
“We need to make big changes to how and where we generate energy in PEI, and how we can improve the resiliency of our electrical grid over the long term,” said Environment, Energy and Climate Action Minister Steven Myers. “We need feedback from Islanders so that we can design a plan that works for all of us and helps our province meet our net zero goals.”
Beginning today, Islanders can provide feedback through an online survey at (www.princeedwardisland.ca/peienergyblueprint). Community conversation sessions will also be held for the public to provide input, and dates and locations for those sessions will be announced soon. Government is reaching out to key sectoral stakeholders such as utilities, industry and academia to get their feedback as well.
PEI’s energy comes from:
- fossil fuels such as gas, diesel and furnace oil (63.5 percent)
- electricity, including wind power generated on the Island and imported electricity (24.3per cent)
- biofuels, including biomass, natural gas or other sources (12.2per cent)
Key themes for discussion in PEI’s Energy Blueprint are:
- rapid action on climate change
- taking advantage of declining costs, new technologies and rate designs
- accelerating electrification
- shifting to sustainable fuels
- innovation and economic development
- building the green energy workforce
- improving accountability
- collaborating with them Government of Canada, our neighbouring provinces, and key industries
After the engagement process, government will release a summary of the feedback, followed by the new energy strategy, and action plans for the recommendations.
Ignition Fund – Start-Up Capital
Application Period Open to compete for $25,000 seed capital
Innovation PEI’s Ignition Fund is a competition-based fund for entrepreneurs seeking start-up capital for their new innovative business venture or product. Innovation PEI will award up to $25,000 to each successful applicant, helping them turn their idea
into a tangible and viable business. A matching contribution is not required. Got questions? Attend an in-person or virtual information session. Check HERE for details.
Small Business Investment Grant
Small Business Investment Grant runs from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024.
The program is completed in two steps - application and claim.
Innovation PEI’s Small Business Investment Grant helps small businesses improve efficiency and innovation by way of a grant toward the purchase of eligible capital asset costs. Payment will be based on 15 percent of the actual eligible cost as determined at the time of the request for payment - resulting in a maximum grant of $3,750. Eligible purchases include
equipment, technology upgrades, and energy efficiency upgrades. Find details and Apply HERE.
Community Service Bursary for Island Students
The Community Service Bursary program provides high school students with the opportunity to develop skills, gain work experience, give back to their community, meet new people, and develop social skills. It gives students an opportunity to help pay for a portion of their post-secondary education through volunteering in their community. This applies to students attending a post-secondary institution anywhere in Canada.
The bursary is awarded to graduating high school students who volunteer a minimum number of hours at a registered volunteer organization during their grade 10 – 12 years. Students are encouraged to register before they begin volunteering and they can accumulate volunteer hours until June 30th in their graduating year.
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Business Assistance Service, standard with Chambers Plan employee benefits. Access to professional accounting, counseling, legal, and human resource experts who understand the challenges faced by small business owners.
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Member Employee Spotlight |
This is a section in the newsletter where employers can recognize one of their employees! Please send a brief write-up and picture to admin@westprincechamber.com
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Advertising Opportunities |
The West Prince Chamber of Commerce offers a number of advertising opportunities to help promote your business within the West Prince Area. From E-Blasts to Web Banners, our advertising opportunities will get your organization in front of the local business community.
For more information on available options, visit our website HERE or email us today.
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Trusted, Engaged, Responsive, and in your Community! Refer a local business to join today!
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