Chamber Chatter - November 10 2020
Thank you for supporting the Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce! This WEEKLY email highlights information and updates from our Chamber, the Alberta and Canadian Chambers of Commerce, and our municipal, provincial, and federal government partners.  
 
Be sure to watch for our weekly Chamber Member Connections newsletter on Thursdays featuring sales, promotions, accomplishments, events, and general awareness of our membership. Email tom@gpchamber.com for info. 
Connecting Business. Creating Opportunity.
CHAMBER AGM AND AWARDS presented by CANWEST

The Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting and Awards presented by Canwest is held annually on the first Thursday of December. The meeting is open to all Chamber Members and includes a review of our activities over the past year as well as the election of our new Board of Directors, and the presentation of our Chamber Awards.

The 2020 Chamber AGM and Awards presented by Canwest is scheduled for Thursday, December 3. The meeting will include a review of our activities in 2020 and election of our 2021 Board of Directors.

There is no cost to attend the event but a reminder that each Member business is limited to one vote. The agenda will include election of directors to the Board; 2020 Membership, Advocacy, Chair, and CEO reports; and our Chamber Awards. All attendees will receive a Zoom link to access the meeting. TO REGISTER, CLICK HERE.

* If you are interested in running for the Board:
Contact the Chamber Office to request a Board Nomination Package:
Call 780-532-5340 or Email tanya@gpchamber.com 

Completed board nomination forms must be received by the Chamber office prior to 12:00 PM THIS Friday, November 20 to be considered by the Board Nomination Committee.
The Chamber Member Quick Connect follows our goal of Connecting Business and Creating Opportunity. Quick Connect is based on the speed networking model allowing members to meet other members in a structured but relaxed environment.

This event is scheduled for Thursday, November 26 from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM via Zoom. CLICK HERE to register.

Members will meet each other in virtual rooms sharing information about themselves including who they are, what they do, and anything else they can squeeze into the time allotted. After the allotted time period, the members will move to a different room for their next connections. Each member will have a chance to exchange information with all other members during the event.

There is no cost to participate but you must be a Chamber Member. For more information, contact our office by phone at 780-532-5340 or email cindy@gpchamber.com.
The Chamber CHRISTMAS Virtual Business Showcase is set for Thursday, December 10 from 5:00-7:00 PM on Zoom. 

Each presenter will have up to 3 minutes to showcase their business or product to our attendees and other exhibitors. You can share your screen with a power point, or .pdfs, or "go live" and give us a tour of your business products and services! This is your chance to shine as we head into the holiday season. Show everyone why they should take advantage of your amazing offers! You must be a Chamber member to be an exhibitor. We ask that exhibitors provide a minimum $25 gift card or coupon for their business to share in prize draws. CLICK HERE to register.

All attendees and exhibitors are also welcome to have beverages and snacks on hand as we virtually visit with businesses for presentations and information.

Please register as an exhibitor or attendee as soon as possible! For more information, please contact our office at 780-532-5340 or email cindy@gpchamber.com. 
Have you taken a recent look at our Member to Member Offers page on our webiste? Chamber Members are able to take advantage of discounts from fellow Member businesses including:

  • Peace Power
  • Payworks
  • In Honour of Them
  • Social FX Design & Bookkeeping
  • Willy's Trucking Service
  • Timewell Bookkeeping Services
  • Wild Blue Yonder Rafting Adventures
  • Business Innovation Group
  • Elite Promotional Marketing
  • Chiv Labs Digital

For more information, including how YOU can make an offer, visit https://business.grandeprairiechamber.com/membertomemberoffers

or contact our office at 780-532-5340 or email Leah@gpchamber.com

AND while you are visiting our website, take a look at our Member Benefits page for a variety of value-added programs through local member businesses as well as the Alberta and Canadian Chambers of Commerce

GetintheLoop is the fastest growing Franchise in Canada and has the largest network of local merchant offers in the Country; a professional platform serving hundreds of thousands of members, all while empowering small business owners with simple and affordable tools to make their local marketing efforts easier and more effective.

Our Chamber was awarded an Economic Recovery Grant from the City of Grande Prairie, and thanks to the City's generosity we are offering the remainder of 2020 FREE for all businesses in our area to become partners and test drive the platform as a part of your recovery efforts and experience firsthand how it can work for you. Chamber Members will receive preferred pricing on the monthly subscription rate beginning in January 2021. Join as a partner and start creating your offers now! https://www.grandeprairiechamber.com/getintheloop/

We encourage everyone to download the free app to start accessing our offers on GetintheLoop and we look forward to working with our Member businesses who will benefit from this platform. 
You asked and we listened! The County of Grande Prairie Business Support Network (BSN) is excited to launch the Blue Pin – Customer Service Excellence certification program for Managers and Front-Line Workers.
 
In an effort to ensure the training covers Employers’ needs, we wanted to get your input into the course offerings. At this time, we have two streams – Management and Front Line Worker.
 
For Blue Pin Certification, Managers will be required to compete 5 Core Courses and 3 Options; Front Line Workers would complete 3 Core Courses and 3 Options. A couple of exclusive offerings will also be available once or twice throughout the year to elevate our Customer Service brand in the region.
 
We have created a survey to find out more about your needs so we can cater our program for you.
 
Follow this link to tell us more.
 

Follow the County of Grande Prairie Business Support Network to watch for upcoming events and register on our Eventbrite page.
Statistics Canada is currently recruiting positions for the upcoming census in May 2021. The following job opportunities are available in our region:
 
Field Operations Supervisor
 
Recruitment Clerk

The closing date for both positions is November 30th. 
How would a lockdown impact your business? It takes 1 minute to have your say!

Your opinions and feedback mean a lot to us We have a new 1 minute survey to better understand:
  • How a potential lockdown would affect your business
  • How you feel about stronger enforcement of personal health measures and social gatherings


If you are unable to click the link, please copy and paste the full URL below into your browser:


Thank you!

Alberta Perspectives
You're invited: Meeting with Advanced Education Minister

The Alberta Chambers of Commerce will host a virtual meeting for chambers and chamber members with Alberta's Advanced Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides on Wednesday, November 18.
Leduc & Wetaskiwin Chamber virtual luncheon (November 19)
 
The Leduc & Wetaskiwin Chambers are hosting featured speaker David Yager, Energy Policy Analyst/Oil & Gas Writer/Author of 'Miracle to Menace: Alberta, A Carbon Story' on Thursday, November 19. His presentation The Future of Oil will sort fact from fiction and show why the world isn't going out of the oil business anytime soon.  

ACC applauds GOA red tape reduction

The Alberta Chambers of Commerce (ACC) is expressing its support for Bill 48—the Government of Alberta's latest red tape reduction measure.
 
Among other measures, Bill 48 proposes to standardize municipal subdivision and development timelines—addressing a key concern of respondents to the ACC's survey program, Alberta Perspectives.
New measures to curb the rapid growth of COVID-19

Alberta’s government is implementing additional health measures.
  • As of Nov. 13, all restaurants, bars, lounges and pubs in regions under enhanced status must cease liquor sales by 10 p.m. and close by 11 p.m. The restriction will remain in place until Nov. 27.
  • There will be a two-week ban on indoor group fitness classes, team sport activities and group performance activities in Edmonton and surrounding areas, Calgary and surrounding areas, Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray, Red Deer and Lethbridge.
  • Additional public health measures will also be implemented in all regions under an enhanced status.
Government of Canada supports 3900 jobs in Alberta through targeted help for businesses

The Honourable Jim Carr, the Prime Minister’s Special Advisor for the Prairies, announced more than $5 million for business ecosystem support in southern and northern Alberta.

EDC webinar: How Canadian companies can navigate "business as usual" (November 18)

Find out how your company can manage risk and stay the course during these challenging times with this free webinar.
CCC webinar: Canada-Japan Trade and Investment Opportunities (November 19)

The Japan-Canada Chambers Council (JCCC) is a joint initiative of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The JCCC focuses on enhancing commercial relationships between our respective business communities. Japan is a key market for Canadian businesses as the world’s third-largest economy and a member of the CPTPP.

This event will allow Canadian companies to learn about current market conditions and potential opportunities.
Women's Entrepreneurship Day 2020 (November 19-20)

Join business women from all over the world to celebrate Women Entrepreneur's Day on November 19th. The Alberta division of the global Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization is excited to be hosting an innovative VIRTUAL CONFERENCE.
Canadian Chamber of Commerce Executive Summit Series 

The Executive Summit Series brings together senior executives and thought leaders for a dialogue on top issues affecting Canadian business. 

The Western event, taking place on November 24, will feature the Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos, President of the Treasury Board, and panel discussions surrounding Canadian transportation and trade. 
CCC webinar: Hospitality and Alcohol Industry Survival and Competitiveness through COVID-19 (November 30)

Canadian restaurants, pubs and bars have been devastated by the impacts of COVID-19, with more of these businesses closing their doors permanently every day. The effects of lockdowns and closures extend far beyond these businesses as Canada’s beverage alcohol industry has seen a collapse in bar and restaurant sales of their products. While restaurants and bars fight for their survival, they must also contend with Canada’s rising alcohol taxes, which are some of the highest in the world. This tax burden is scheduled to increase again next year due to the alcohol escalator tax, which raises alcohol taxes on April 1 every year. This panel discussion will focus on what the industry is doing to survive the pandemic and what Canada can do mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on restaurants and bars while improving the competitiveness of breweries, wineries, distilleries and all of the agricultural and other supply chain members that contribute to this industry.
CCC webinar: Successfully Managing Your Workplace During a Global Pandemic (December 1)

Canadian businesses are facing unique challenges in managing through COVID-19. Including issues related to: 
  • Health and safety 
  • Increased absenteeism 
  • Work refusals 
  • Accommodating human rights 
  • Implications of a vaccine 
  • Workplace restructuring 
This session will provide employers with practical tips and tools to address these issues when they arise and to minimize related legal liability as they move into 2021.
CCC webinar: Supporting Local Business; Essential to Our Economy and Communities (December 10)

To coincide with Canadian Western Bank’s (CWB) newest full-service banking centre and first physical location in Ontario, we are partnering with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) and the Mississauga Board of Trade (MBOT) to host a discussion on the realities facing small business and how we can work together to support local through the pandemic and into recovery.