South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce - What's New

June update

2011-06-01T12:23:00.001-07:00

Good afternoon Members. Since May, we have had a number of businesses join the Chamber. Welcome to: A & B Photo, Jacob Transport, SPH Consultancy Inc, ESP Consulting.

In today's update:

CANCELLED June 8 lunch with Northern Development Initiative Trust;
regular Chamber lunch Wednesday June 15;
Communities in Bloom update;
Youth Skills BC Workplace Pilot Program

Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT)
The Chamber lunch originally scheduled for June 8 has been cancelled. Northern Development Initiative Trust will instead be doing a single presentation in the evening on Wednesday June 8 at the Valley Room of the Lodge. Doors open at 6, with the presentation starting at 7 pm. This presentation will focus on funding opportunities and programs for business and community organizations alike.

Chamber Lunch June 15
The Chamber will be holding its regular lunch on the third Wednesday as usual, June 15. The lunch will be in the downstairs room of the Red Rock Grill and will be $17 each. The speaker will be announced shortly.

Two "spotlights on business" will be given out at lunch. Bring your business card for a draw and, if your card is drawn, you'll have 3 minutes to update those in attendance on your respective business or item of interest.

Communities in Bloom update
A message from Chamber Vice President Tom Bachynski:

I just wanted to take a moment to comment on this past weekend's Communities in Bloom Get Growing event. I personally wanted to thank Chamber members:

Cariboo Plant Ranch
Horse Lake Garden Center
Timbr-Mart
for participating. While we had no idea what to expect from the event, the positive spirit by these Chamber members made the event a huge success. A great deal of plant material was taken away as well as other gardening accessories. As part of the organizing committee, we learned a great deal about what else to provide next year.

All in all it was a great experience working with the above mentioned members and I look forward to a bigger, better Get Growing event next year.

Time now to get ready for the community barbeque in July that wraps up this year's Communities in Bloom.

Youth Skills BC Workplace Pilot Program
As mentioned in previous broadcasts, the Youth Skills BC Workplace Pilot Program is designed to assist unemployed youth in BC, who are between 15 and 29 years old and who are not Employment Insurance clients, to attain employment and to build workplace skills. This unique program will also assist the employers who hire these youth. For more information, visit Bowman Employment Services or call toll-free 1 877 866-3100 or 1-888-466-1375.

If you would like to hear a local perspective on this program, South Cariboo Chamber member fascination street has signed up and Chris Pettman is happy to answer any questions you may have regarding the process (250-395-1133).

Little Britches Rodeo Parade Postponed Until Further Notice

2011-05-19T10:35:00.000-07:00

Because the Little Britches Rodeo and Rough Stock Rodeo have been postponed for the May long weekend, the South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce has made the decision to postpone the Little Britches Rodeo Parade, originally scheduled for Saturday May 21 2011.

The equine community is concerned about an outbreak of equine herpes virus (EHV-1) and is taking precautionary steps to prevent the spread of any possible disease.

The Parade organized by the Chamber is an event traditionally held in support of the Little Britches Rodeo, as part of local celebrations of Western Week. The Parade has been postponed until further notice.

If you have any further questions, please contact the Chamber office at 250-395-6124.

Vern Peever, President

Ralph Myhill-Jones, Parade Organizer

May update

2011-05-09T13:39:00.001-07:00

The Chamber continues to buzz with activity. In April, we held a successful Business Excellence and Citizen of the Year Awards Banquet, as well as a well-attended All-Candidates Forum. A quick note to watch out for next week's edition of the 100 Mile Free Press in which our 2 page Chamber Opportunities will be featured.

In today's update:

Communities in Bloom;
Chamber Coins program;
upcoming Chamber dates;
new Tourism web tools;
Youth Skills BC update;
BC Lawyers' Directory.

Communities in Bloom
Following the community clean-up last week, the Committee is now preparing for a plant sale on Saturday May 28, venue and timing to be announced. The Chamber is actively encouraging interest from Chamber members to be part of this 'Let's Get Growing' event. Local Chamber members are encouraged to sell at the event: plants, pots, soils are all needed (small fee will be charged).

The judging for the Communities in Bloom competition will be on July 20th and requires sponsorship support from Chamber members. Business leaders are encouraged to donate a hotel room for 1 night, a breakfast and a lunch as well. A town barbeque is planned for evening of July 19th. Sponsors for burgers, hot dogs, refreshments, etc are encouraged.

This is a tremendous opportunity for the Chamber and its members to showcase what we have and what we are all about. Let's participate!

Chamber Coins Program
The Board of Directors at their last meeting resolved to discontinue the Chamber Coins program, given low participation rates in recent years. The Chamber will not be selling any further Chamber Coins. The Board is therefore requesting all retailers to please redeem what stock they may have. Chamber Coins will be honoured for another year, until May 1 2012. The Board is currently in the process of developing a new shop local strategy. Please forward any suggestions you may have to Chamber President Vern Peever.

Upcoming Chamber Dates

Wednesday May 18 -   Chamber lunch at the Happy Landing, 12 noon
                                        Speaker still to be confirmed - watch for next week's update

Thursday May 19 - deadline for submitting parade entry forms
Saturday May 21 - Little Britches Rodeo Parade
Saturday May 28 - Let's Get Growing - Communities in Bloom
Wednesday June 8 - Chamber lunch at the Red Rock Grill
                                    Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT) information session

New Tourism Web Tools:
Tourism BC Announces new online Tourism Industry Resources
As part of the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation, Tourism BC’s mandate is to support and promote the business of tourism throughout the province. Tourism BC is structured to develop and deliver programs and services that attract visitors to British Columbia and help ensure that the quality of their vacation experience keeps them coming back for more. In partnership with the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Region, they work closely with communities in our region.

Tourism BC has a number of NEW resources available to assist tourism operators, communities and sectors in growing and developing their businesses. Explore the collection of tools by clicking the following link to the new Tourism Industry Resource area of the Tourism BC website: www.tti.gov.bc.ca/industryresources. They aim to continue to grow this resource so watch for updates on new content.

Youth Skills BC Update
Reminder to all businesses about the $2000 Hiring Incentive from Youth Skills BC
44 businesses have received $2000 to hire youth throughout BC. 73 BC youth have attained employment and 16 are getting additional training.
The YSBC application process has proven to be easy to use with a turn-around time of 2 - 4 business days.
Go to http://www.bowmanemployment.com/ysbc to see if you're eligible for this BC Hiring Incentive.

BC Lawyers' Directory
The Canadian Bar Association BC Branch publishes annually the BC Lawyers' Directory, a comprehensive and up-to-date listing, both alphabetically and geographically, of all lawyers including corporate counsel and lawyers in government. Extensive listings of law-related organizations, courts, judges, commissions and other professional services make the Directory an invaluable resource. Each year more than 10,000 lawyers, judges, legal assistants, legal secretaries, government officials, businesses and community groups purchase and use the BC Lawyers' Directory. Print Directory order form available here: http://www.cba.org/BC/OnlineDirectory_Documents/directory_order_form.pdf.

All Candidates Forum - April 25

2011-04-20T11:16:00.000-07:00

Our Chamber event for this April is the All-Candidates Forum being held on Monday April 25, from 7pm until 9pm, at the Valley Room of the Lodge. All five candidates for our riding will be in attendance.

Questions can be submitted in advance to the Chamber office.

Thanks to the BC Northern Real Estate Board for sponsoring the venue costs and to Maureen Pinkney for organizing the event.

This is our opportunity to engage directly with our federal candidates and hear what they have to say.

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions.
Christine

Congratulations to the Winners of the Business Excellence & Citizen of the Year Awards

2011-04-13T10:07:00.000-07:00

The Western Ball Room of the Hills Health Ranch was abuzz with enthusiasm and energy on Saturday night. Sincere thanks goes to Chris Pettman for organizing the event, as well as Directors of the Chamber who assisted in putting together the evening.

The winners are:
Entrepreneur of the Year (sponsored by: Investment Planning Counsel)
    Theo Wiering

South Caribooster (sponsored by Regency Chrysler) TWO WINNERS
    Birgit Bienek
    South Cariboo Garlic Festival

Home-Based Business of the Year (sponsored by Bank of Montreal)
    In/Ex Virtual Photo Tours

Newsmaker of the Year (sponsored by the 100 Mile House Free Press)
    Donna Barnett, MLA Cariboo Chilcotin

Greatest Improvement (sponsored by: Western Financial Group)
    Mount Timothy Ski Area

New Business of the Year (sponsored by Williams Lake & District Credit Union)
    Cariboo Locksmiths

Non-profit Organization of the Year (sponsored by Work n Play Clothing)
    100 Mile House Soccer Association

Business of the Year (sponsored by: RBC Royal Bank)
    108 Resort

Customer Service (sponsored by: CIBC)
    Donex Pharmacy & Dept. Store

People's Choice Award Best Business (sponsored by Tim Hortons)
    Williams Lake & District Credit Union

South Cariboo Citizen of the Year
(sponsored by Donna Barnett, MLA & the S.C. Chamber)
TWO WINNERS
    Arla Driver
    Chris Nickless

Congratulations to all the nominees, as well as to the winners, for being recognized for their contributions to our community.

2011-03-28T11:08:00.000-07:00

Good morning Members.

There are four items to communicate to you today:

results from the Chamber AGM held March 23;
Business Excellence & Citizen of the Year Awards Banquet;
Information Session in Kamloops;
Youth Skills BC Workplace Pilot Program.

Chamber AGM
On Wednesday March 23, at our well-attended Annual General Meeting, the membership elected a new Board of Directors:
    President - Vern Peever, Investment Planning Counsel
    Vice-President - Tom Bachynski, Central GM
    Treasurer - Dave Dickie, Donex Pharmacy & Department Store
    Secretary - Chris Monnon, WLD Financial Services
    Past President - Chris Nickless, 100 Mile House Free Press
    Directors:
        Rita Giesbrecht, Chris Harris Studio Gallery
        Carina Krahn, Easy Go Ranch
        Jeanette McCrea, Larry McCrea Law Corp
        Rainer Meyer, Rainer's Health House
        Ralph Myhill-Jones, TIM-BR Mart
        Maddi Newman, Keyboard Graphic Design
        Maureen Pinkney, Cariboo Accents/Blinds by Maureen
        Rick Takagi, Ainsworth Engineered

My sincere appreciation goes to the outgoing Directors and I look forward to working with the new Board.

Business Excellence & Citizen of the Year Awards Banquet
Tickets are selling well for the Chamber's big social event of the year, to be held on Saturday April 9 at the Hills Health Ranch. If you wish to attend, please contact me to reserve your tickets. Tickets are $30 and are available from the Chamber office, Donex or fascination street.

Remember that voting in 8 awards categories is open to Chamber members until April 1. Please drop me a line if you did not receive your ballot earlier this week.

If you are interested in contributing to our silent auction, please contact Chamber Director Rita Giesbrecht at 250-791-6631 or rita@chrisharris.com. As silent auction items come in, they are put on display at the Chamber office for advance viewing.

BDC Information Session in Kamloops

INFORMATION SESSION
AND SOCIAL

We are pleased to invite you to a special presentation on the current wood market conditions and opportunities for exporting log and lumber products to international markets, particularly Asia. The presentation will be facilitated by Mr. Russ Taylor – President, International WOOD Markets Group.

The presentation will be followed by refreshments and networking opportunities.

We look forward to welcoming you!

03.29.11
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
3:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

St. Andrews On The Square
159 Seymour Street
Kamloops, British Columbia V2C 2C6

R.S.V.P. before March 23, 2011
Pamela Schilling
pamela.schilling@bdc.ca | 250 851-4917

If you wish to attend this session, please RSVP to BDC right away ... apologies for the short notice...

Youth Skills BC Workplace Pilot Program
I have mentioned this initiative in a previous update but thought I'd include the information once again.
This is a new program, offering BC employers a $2000 hiring incentive (up to 3 employees at $2000 each) to hire eligible youth between the ages of 15 and 29. The Youth Skills BC program, funded through the Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Agreement, has been specifically created as easy-to-use for employers and employees. There is also an additional training allowance, of up to $1000, available should an employer wish to train their new employee externally.

The criteria for the employer to qualify for YSBC:
* In business for a minimum of one year
* In good standing with WCB
To learn more about the program (available until March 2012) please visit http://www.bowmanemployment.com/ysbc/.

Call for Silent Auction Items

2011-02-17T09:24:00.000-08:00

As we prepare for the Business Excellence Awards and Citizen of the Year Award Celebration on Saturday April 9 at the Hills Health Ranch, please find a message below from one of our Directors, Rita Giesbrecht.

Dear community supporters;

This year’s Business Excellence Awards/Citizen of the Year Banquet will see some changes, which we hope everyone will enjoy. One of the aspects of Awards Night has always been the silent auction. It’s fun and popular, and it helps to fund this important evening. Historically the silent auction has relied on donated goods and services; much appreciated and very well presented.

This year we want to approach the auction using a different formula for acquiring donated items.

I’ll use our business, Chris Harris Gallery, as an illustration;
Our donation policy is to give everyone who asks, one of our publications. It’s easy, straight forward and economically easy to absorb.
In some instances, however, we contribute a larger item for which we cannot absorb the entire cost, such as a framed print or canvas.

When doing that, the auction is set at a minimum bid that is enough to cover our outright production costs, plus give the organization a small return. After that initial minimum bid, however high it goes is the gain of the organization. In other words, we donate our regular retail profit, but do not absorb the actual cash outlay for production.
We on the Board are thinking that this option may appeal to some of our members and donors, depending on the types of goods and services your firm or organization offers.

In this way, we are asking for a donation to the Business Excellence Awards/Citizen of the Year Banquet that properly represents your business, and if applicable wish to offset the cost of the donation.

We hope that this approach makes it possible for you, the donor, to make available an item more reflective of the quality of the product you offer, and showcase it in this prestigious setting.

Contact me at 250-791-6631 or rita@chrisharris.com to contribute; or to find out more.

The Hospice Amazing Challenge

2011-02-17T09:21:00.000-08:00

You are invited...

The 100 Mile District Hospice Palliative Care Society invites you to have an absolutely amazing fun filled day competing in The Hospice Amazing Challenge”. Yes, it is loosely based on the TV reality show “The Amazing Race”.

*The first ever challenge will be held on May 28, 2011.

*Four members per team.

*Some mental and physical agility required. (walk an hour)

*Fee to enter is $200 donation to 100 Mile Hospice per team.

*Entry deadline May1, 2011.

*For more info or to register phone Jackie @ 250-791-5592.

All non-profit societies search for the perfect fund raiser in order to continue offering their services to the community. This is true for the 100 Mile District Hospice Palliative Care Society. We are very excited as we believe we have found a one day fund raiser that offers the perfect balance of challenge, fun, skill and profit.

February update

2011-02-03T13:38:00.000-08:00

We have had a tremendous start to the New Year, with members submitting their dues for the 2011 year and another eight new members joining in the past few weeks. Welcome to: Darrel Warman, Realtor; Bank of Montreal; Kayanara Guest Ranch; South Cariboo Meat Co-op; Words & More; South Cariboo Sustainability Committee; Horse Lake Garden Centre; Your Style Interior Design.

In today's update:

2011 Membership Survey;
Business Excellence Awards: call for nominations;
follow up from the Business After Hours at Parkside Art Gallery;
invitation from the Business Development Bank (BDC);
Youth Skills BC Workplace Pilot Program;
upcoming Chamber Events.

2011 Membership Survey
The Chamber is member-driven and I invite you to participate in our first membership survey, which involves 10 quick questions designed to assist the Chamber in ensuring that we are meeting our members' expectations. Please complete the survey by Friday February 25 by following this link, http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LZDH7BC. Summary results from this confidential survey will be communicated to the membership early in March.

Business Excellence Awards
Please contact me for a nomination form for the 17th Annual Business Excellence Awards (previously known as the Academy Awards of Business). Nominations in any of the 10 categories will be accepted until March 4th. We encourage all of our members, as well as members of the public, to nominate in as many categories as they wish. The Business Excellence Awards, together with Citizen of the Year, will be handed out at our gala event on Saturday April 9th.

Business After Hours
Sincere appreciation goes to the South Cariboo Arts & Culture Society for hosting our Business After Hours event on January 26th at Parkside Art Gallery. If you would like to receive their regular newsletters to keep up to date on upcoming shows and events of the Society, please email parksidecentre@shaw.ca.

Business Development Bank (BDC) President's Roundtable
During our lunch meeting on January 19th, Michael Eibl, Senior Manager with BDC Consulting presented the concept of a President's Roundtable at which an experienced BDC consultant would facilitate three sessions with business leaders from the South Cariboo. The sessions would be held once a month, starting in March, here at the Chamber. Please note that there is a cost associated with this forum. Please contact me for the invitation and fax registration form.

Youth Skills BC Workplace Pilot Program
An new program funded under the Canada/British Columbia Labour Market Agreement was launched last week by the Ministry of Regional Economic and Skills Development. The Youth Skills BC Workplace Pilot Program (YSBC-WPP), delivered throughout British Columbia by Bowman Employment Services, is designed to assist approximately 650 unemployed youth in BC, who are between 15 and 29 years old and who are not Employment Insurance clients, to attain employment and to build workplace skills. This unique program will also assist the employers who hire these youth. For more information, visit Bowman Employment Services or call toll-free 1 877 866-3100 or 1-888-466-1375.

Upcoming Chamber Events
On our February Chamber lunch on Wednesday February 16th, organizers from the 2011 BCSA (B) Cup Provincial Soccer Tournament will speak to members. The tournament will take place July 7-9 and presents a great opportunity for us to showcase our area to the 800+ people coming into the South Cariboo from around the province. Hugh Gage, our Chamber Group Insurance Plan broker will also be at the lunch to speak briefly about one of the most effective and popular benefits available to Chamber members.

Looking ahead to March, the South Cariboo Chamber Annual General Meeting will be held over lunch on Wednesday March 23. Details to follow.

Finally, if you have not yet renewed your membership for 2011, please do so within the next week.

Sustainable Community Film Series

2011-01-26T13:57:00.000-08:00

Here's a notice from the South Cariboo Sustainability Committee, one of our new non-profit assiciation members, about a Film Series that they are putting on at the 100 Mile Library.

Sustainable Community Film Series

(Sponsored by the South Cariboo Sustainability Committee)

Come out and enjoy the films!

There will be time for an informal discussion after each film.

Where: 100 Mile Library

When: 7:30 PM (after our meeting at 6:30 PM)

Admission by donation (suggested donation $2 to $5)

For more information call 250.791.1901

Films are shown on the third Tuesday of each month:

February 15^th: “Escape from Suburbia”(sequel to “End of Suburbia”)

In ESCAPE From SUBURBIA director Greg Greene once again takes us “through the looking glass” on a journey of discovery – a sobering yet vital and ultimately positive exploration of what the second half of the Oil Age has in store for us. Through personal stories and interviews we examine how declining world oil production has already begun to affect modern life in North America. Expert scientific opinion is balanced with “on the street” portraits from an emerging global movement of citizen’s groups who are confronting the challenges of Peak Oil in extraordinary ways.

March 15^th:“What A Way To Go: Life at the End of the Empire”

A middle class white guy comes to grips with Peak Oil, Climate Change, Mass Extinction, Population Overshoot and the demise of the American lifestyle. A disturbing, compassionate, sometimes humorous personal essay about our present global predicament, as oil depletion, climate change, species extinction and population overshoot converge in a “perfect storm” of cataclysmic dimensions. Produced independently by Sally Erickson and Tim Bennet, this personal essay explores the cultural stories and assumptions that have brought us to this point, and provides a larger context for thinking about, and feeling our way through, our global situation.

April 19^th: “In Transition”

This film is about the worldwide “Transition Town” movement and about how communities around the world are responding to peak oil and climate change with creativity, imagination and humour; and how they are setting about rebuilding their local economies and communities. Transition Towns envision a future where communities have reduced dependency on fossil fuels and increased resiliency.

2011-01-24T13:09:00.001-08:00

20th Anniversary of Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB) 100 Mile House and District Chapter White Cane Club

2011-01-17T10:07:00.000-08:00

A message from our 100 Mile House & District White Cane Club:

The Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB) 100 Mile House and District Chapter White Cane Club is currently making plans to celebrate our 20^th anniversary which will take place in conjunction with National white Cane Week February 6 through 12, 2011. We would like to extend this invitation for you to join us on Saturday, February 5, 2011 from 10:00 am through 3:00 pm as we launch White Cane Week with this worthwhile community event.

The event will include many hands-on tools that will provide everyone the opportunity to experience a visual impairment; displays of visual aids & assistive devices along with educational information on blindness and related topics will be on site; a toonie auction, live music, and lunch will all form part of the exhibits and festivities.

The entire community will be invited to take part in this celebration at the 100 Mile House Community Hall in what we hope will be the largest undertaking our club has ever experienced since receiving our Charter in February 1991. Since that time, the generosity and support received from retailers, residents and organizations throughout the South Cariboo has been exceptional and greatly appreciated. We look forward to another twenty years or more of working together and welcome any donations of auction items you are able to contribute.

Join us and see how our club hopes to bring the reality of blindness out of the dark!

Thanks to Lori Fry for submitting the above information. If you have anything to donate towards this event, please contact Lori.

Chamber Update - January 2011

2011-01-05T14:28:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the many members who have already renewed their dues for 2011. Congratulations to Cariboo Truck and Equipment Repair, winner of the draw for $100 in Chamber Coins for renewing by December 31. For those members who have not done so already, I encourage you to renew membership by January 31. Payment can be made by Visa, Mastercard, cheque or cash. Please contact me if you did not receive your invoice, which was sent the end of the November.

A warm welcome is extended to our two newest members, Sheridan Lake Bed and Breakfast and Canada's Log People, who recently joined the South Cariboo Chamber.

In today's update:

establish a simple web presence for your business or organization through the Chamber website;
Citizen of the Year 2010 call for nominations;
upcoming Chamber events.

Develop Your Web Presence Using The Chamber Website
As you may know, the Chamber posts member contact information on the Chamber website, including hot links to existing websites, as a basic service provided with membership. As an extended service to our members, we also provide hosting for simple web pages at an additional cost of $90 + HST. A page like this can be helpful for those who either don't have a site or would like to expand their online presence and send more traffic to their main site. When completed, a link to your Chamber Page will be added to your membership listing.

To keep costs down and implementation relatively simple, Member Chamber Pages are based on a template, created by the Chamber's website designer, JN Web Design. The first page, for Work 'n Play, is now up and launched. Click here to visit and get an idea of what your Chamber Page would look like. After completion, simple changes or updates (e.g. prices, dates, names, replacing photo etc.) would be $10. More extensive changes would be at JN Web Design's Chamber discount rate of $38/hour ($19/half-hour) + HST.

For details, contact either me or Jeffrey Newman at JN Web Design.

2010 Citizen of the Year: Call for Nominations
It is that time of year again when we look back and seek to acknowledge the community-building contributions of our dedicated residents. A Committee of past Citizen of the Year winners, chaired by our MLA Donna Barnett, will review nominations. I invite you to give some thought towards who has made an outstanding contribution of their time and energy for the betterment of our South Cariboo community. Nomination forms can be obtained at the Chamber office, fascination street, the Free Press or the Visitors Centre. All nominations must be submitted by January 31.

Upcoming Chamber Events
On Wednesday January 19, Sean Crouse from the Business Development Bank of Canada will be speaking at our Chamber lunch. Sean is a Senior Manager for Business Development at BDC. The lunch will be held at the Happy Landing Restaurant. More details to follow next week.

On Wednesday January 26 from 5:30 until 7pm, the South Cariboo Arts and Culture Society will be hosting a Chamber Business After Hours at Parkside Art Gallery. "After Hours" is an opportunity to network with other Chamber members and to learn about one of our members. Several local artists will be on hand, as well as the Society's Board of Directors to share their passion for art. Again, more details to follow.

Summary of the Minimum Wage Survey

2011-01-05T09:31:00.000-08:00

Members of the South Cariboo Chamber were invited to participate in an on-line survey from December 10 to 15, 2010, to gauge their opinions on whether the minimum wage in British Columbia should be increased. In all, 34 members participated.

The survey was carried out to provide the South Cariboo Chamber with an accurate snapshot of members’ opinions to be passed onto the BC Chamber, which is in the process of engaging the provincial government on this topic.

Below is a summary of the results from the survey.

____________________________________

How many people does your business employ?

29% responded none/self-employed

37% responded 1-5 employees

11% responded 6-9 employees

9% responded 10-15 employees

0% responded 16-20 employees

11% responded 21-50 employees

3% responded 51+ employees

Do you currently employ any staff at minimum wage?

15% responded yes

85% responded no

Which of the following statements do you most agree with:

23% - The minimum wage should be left unchanged for now

35% - The BC Government should implement a one-time increase to the minimum wage in the near future

42% - Increases to the minimum wage should occur annually based on a clear and predictable formula

If the BC minimum wage is increased, please rate the impact this would have on your business.

55% - negligible impact

14% - negligible to moderate impact

14% - moderate impact

17% - moderate to severe impact

0% - severe impact

If the BC Government were to increase the minimum wage, what should it be increased to?

16% - $8.00/hr – wage should stay the same

10% - increase to $8.50/hr

32% - increase to $9.00/hr

10% - increase to $9.50/hr

29% - increase to $10.00/hr

0% - increase to $10.50/hr

3% - increase to $11.00/hr or more

Numerous additional comments were received, including:

· Wrong year for an increase

· Training wage should be eliminated

· As basic cost of living increases, minimum wage should follow, but so should the allowable deductions for small businesses

· Rebate taxes (carbon, HST, etc) back to low income workers

· Let the market determine wages

· Link minimum wage to CPI (Consumer Price Index) – this will take the politicization out of the issue – businesses would know to expect an annual increase based on cost of living

· Minimum wage should be a liveable wage. This is not currently the situation.

Carole James resigns - News1130

2010-12-06T11:29:00.000-08:00

Carole James resigns - News1130

Celebration of Trees

2010-11-22T10:30:00.000-08:00

YOU ARE INVITED TO THE CELEBRATION OF TREES

PUBLIC VIEWING NOV 16th – Dec 2nd 9-5

Tumble time tea & Story December 3rd

at Central GM Showroom, 100 Mile House

Last year this event helped raise over $5000.00 while showcasing the town as a winter wonderland for anyone driving through in the evening. The event will be open for the public from November 17- December 2nd during normal business hours. Please bring children families and anyone who enjoys celebrating the wonders of Christmas. Vote for the festival favourite, most original and children’s favourite!

The evening of December 2nd Local auctioneer Donna Nivison will begin the auction of a few trees to the highest bid. Other trees will be selling various items under the tree as well as the decorations itself. This will be a community event to remember.

Participants include: BMO, Central GM, CCRR-Success by Six, Credit Union, Heritage Signworks, Newo Drywall & Renovations Ltd., Pharmasave, Tim Hortons, TimbrMart, The Free Press, Gemini Services, Canadian Mental Health Association, The Food Bank, Women’s Centre & more

Contact: Celebrationoftrees@gmail.com or phone 250-395-4066 for more details

Chamber update

2010-11-22T10:25:00.001-08:00

There are several items to inform you of this morning, starting with the exciting news that the South Cariboo Chamber now accepts VISA and Mastercard! With your membership dues coming up for renewal (invoices will be sent out in the next two weeks), this is perfect timing for those of you who wish to renew using a credit card, rather than cash or cheque.

As mentioned earlier this fall, the South Cariboo Chamber is facilitating registrations for Service Canada's Record Of Employment (ROE) Web service. Carole Morrison will be here at the South Cariboo Chamber office on Wednesday November 24 carrying out short seminars (approx an hour and a quarter) to walk employers through the process of registering for ROE Web. Carole asks that employers come to the session with their forms completed. Please find attached information on accessing a sample authorization letter and the employer agreement form. There will be two sessions, one at 1 pm and the other at 5 pm. If you are interested in attending, please let me know as soon as possible which session you will be at.

Finally, don't forget to register for the upcoming Santa Claus Parade. This free community event gets underway on Friday November 26 at 5pm and is a great way to showcase your business or community group while having a whole lot of fun at the same time! The deadline for registrations is Wednesday November 24 at noon. Forms can be picked up from and dropped off at fascination street, the Visitors Centre or here at the Chamber. Following the parade, the annual Midnight Madness event kicks off here in town, giving residents a chance to start their Christmas shopping and enjoy the festive atmosphere around town. If you are a retail business operating in 100 Mile House, we encourage you to participate in this great evening.

Any questions? Please do not hesitate to contact me by email or phone.
Have a great week!
Christine

Premier stepping down

2010-11-04T10:36:00.000-07:00

As most of you will already be aware, the Premier stepped down yesterday. Below is the statement that was released by the Premier's office, for your information. Following the Premier's statement is a press release from the BC Chamber of Commerce, again, for your information.

VANCOUVER – Premier Gordon Campbell issued the following statement today (November 3):

“After considerable soul searching and discussion with my family I have decided to ask the BC Liberal Party executive to hold a leadership convention at the earliest possible date to select a new leader for our party.

“Over the last few weeks, our government has continued to move forward with initiatives that will create jobs, build a stronger economy and support families across British Columbia. We made the second-largest reduction in personal income taxes in B.C. history. We launched new initiatives that will tailor our education system so that children get the best possible opportunity to succeed.

“Yet it is clear to me that those initiatives are being overshadowed. When public debate becomes focused on one person, instead of what is in the best interest of British Columbians, we have lost sight about what is important. When that happens, it’s time for a change.

“This decision is what I believe is in the best interest of British Columbia, our government, our party and the people of our province. At a time like this, everyone’s attention should be focused on helping our economy rebound from the global recession and moving forward with an agenda that families can see is in their long-term interest.

“It’s time for a new person to lead. I am asking the party to move as quickly as possible to organize a leadership convention. I intend to ensure a smooth and orderly transition. My goal is to return public attention to what is important to British Columbians – their jobs, their families and how government can best support them.

“That is what the decision on the HST was all about. I hope that my announcement today will allow British Columbians to move forward and fully consider the HST and the alternative on their merits between now and September, 2011.

“It's not always popular to do what you believe in your heart is right. But whether it was restoring B.C.’s economic leadership, leading the way on climate action, building a new relationship with First Nations, getting our fiscal house in order, opening up our Pacific Gateway or making our taxation system one of the most competitive in North America, it was always worth the effort and I am proud of what we’ve accomplished together.

“I want to thank all of those who have supported me and my government through one of the most exciting yet challenging times in our province's history. I want to thank my colleagues and those who stood for election. I want to thank the dedicated workers in the public service who have led B.C. in so many ways. I want to thank the people of British Columbia for the opportunity to serve.

“And finally, if you will allow me a personal note, I want to thank all my family, especially my wife Nancy. They all paid a price for my 26 years in public service. Politics can be a very nasty business and at times that spilled over, through no fault of their own, to all of my family. I am sorry for that and I want to thank them all for their support and love.

“I have always felt public life is important. It is what defines us as British Columbians and as Canadians. I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to serve in this position longer than most of my predecessors and to have been a part of this incredible time in B.C. history.

“It’s been quite a run and more fun than not. I have always been motivated by what is best for this great province and this great country. Thank you. It’s been a privilege.”

FOR CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE ACROSS BC Vancouver, November 3, 2010 - Hon. Gordon Campbell has announced today that he will be stepping down as the Premier of BC, and has called for a leadership convention at the earliest possible date.

    * As motivation for his resignation Premier Campbell stated that the current debate in BC became too focused on one person, and has lost sight of what is in the best interest of British Columbians.
    * No time frame was given for the nomination of a new leader of the Liberal Party and Premier of BC, though Premier Campbell has called for a smooth and orderly transition.
    * During this period of transition, business in BC and the Provincial Government will go forward.
    * The BC Chamber will continue to focus on issues of importance to businesses in BC and the wider economy as the leadership contest gets underway. We hope for speedy resolution to the leadership question and for continued focus on the short and long term growth of our provincial economy.

Since 2001, BC has undergone a profound transformation as a province and as an economy. Perhaps the most important impact of his time in office is how the Premier has transformed the economic discussion in BC. He has shifted it to the extent that competitive taxation, reduced regulation and balanced budgets are now considered as foundations of a strong provincial economy.

October is Small Business Month

2010-10-26T10:10:00.000-07:00

In recognition of October being Small Business Month, I thought it might be of interest to share a few statistics relating to small businesses in British Columbia. These statistics have been compiled by BC Stats, using data from Statistics Canada. Small businesses are defined as businesses with fewer than 50 employees and includes self-employed businesses without paid help.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SMALL BUSINESS PROFILE 2010

Small business makes up 98 per cent of all business in the province. At the South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce, 90% of members are small businesses, 8% are non-profit associations, 1% are non-voting associates and 1% are businesses with more than 50 employees.
About 395,900 small businesses were operating in the province last year – up three per cent from 2008.
Small business provides nearly 57 per cent of all private-sector jobs in British Columbia, the highest rate in the country. B.C. small businesses employed over a million people last year.
British Columbia ranks second in Canada for the number of small businesses per capita, with 88.9 businesses per 1,000 people.
Women make up 35 per cent of self-employed people in British Columbia, the fourth-highest rate in the country.
Small business accounts for 32 per cent of British Columbia’s gross domestic product, above the Canadian average of 28 per cent.
For the third straight year, British Columbia’s share of self-employed workers was the highest in the country, accounting for 19.7 per cent of total employment.
The number of self-employed people in British Columbia rose 14 per cent between 2004 and 2009, well above the national average of 10.1 per cent.
More British Columbians receive wages from small business than anywhere else in Canada. In 2009, B.C. small businesses accounted for 33 per cent of wages paid to workers – the national average was 27 per cent.

For the complete Small Business Profile report released October 18, please visit http://www.resourcecentre.gov.bc.ca/pdf/SmallBusProfileEngWeb.pdf

Invitation to join "100milefood" conversation

2010-10-25T09:36:00.000-07:00

Please join the South Cariboo conversation on all things related to our foodshed. This listserv offered through the B.C. Food Systems Network can serve as an excellent vehicle to sustain a dialogue on all local food issues and the many issues surrounding this critically important aspect of our community.

To join, an individual or organization just has to submit a subscription request found at this web address: http://bcfsn.org/mailman/listinfo/100milefood_bcfsn.org. While the current volume of postings is minimal, we hope to expand both the membership and the flow of information and commentary. If e-mail volume is an issue, you can elect to batch all correspondence into one daily file.

For more information, please contact Howard McMillan at 250-395-6775.

Chamber Opportunities

2010-10-14T14:24:00.000-07:00

Watch for the next edition of the 100 Mile House Free Press, to be published Wednesday October 20. There will be a two page Chamber Opportunities feature on the South Cariboo Chamber, its members, benefits and activities. Featured this edition will be profiles on three Chamber Members Central GM, South Cariboo Creations, and GP Recovery Services.

Chamber Lunch October 19

2010-10-14T14:12:00.000-07:00

As mentioned previously, we are holding lunch at the Community Kitchen and will enjoy a fabulous meal prepared from local ingredients, grass fed beef and produce out of the Community Garden.

Date: Tuesday October 19
Time: 12 noon to 1 pm
(always a good idea to come a few minutes early)
Venue: Valley Room of the Lodge (behind the Red Coach Inn)

We will collect $15 from each member and donate the money collected to the Community Kitchen program, which is a branch of the Cariboo Family Enrichment Centre.

We have two speakers lined up to follow lunch. First, Trish Chung, will speak about the Community Kitchen program. Second, Howie MacMillan will update Chamber members on the development of the South Cariboo Meat Co-op. Both individuals are well versed on local food issues and will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

To attend, please RSVP by emailing at me or please leave me a message at 250-395-6124.

Volunteer for the Chamber, Halloween Town coming up & Chamber lunch October 19

2010-10-07T11:55:00.000-07:00

First up this morning, the Chamber is fortunate to have a volunteer assisting us from now until the end of the year. Dawn McGrath will be assisting me with some of the Chamber's event planning, as well as updating our members' contact information, among other things. Please give Dawn a few minutes of your time when she phones to update your contact details. As a non-profit organization operating on a tight budget, we are really pleased to have a volunteer on board to help us be that much more effective for our members.

On another note, many of you will have already been contacted by Bev Lund from the South Cariboo Recreation Centre. Each Halloween, the South Cariboo Chamber partners with the Rec Centre to put on a community celebration and fireworks display. Please support our Halloween Town efforts this year, which will include a huge bonfire, free skate, candy and tattoos for the kids, prizes for best costumes, and of course the highly anticipated fireworks. For more information or to sponsor the event, feel free to contact me at 250-395-6124 or Bev at 250-395-1353.

Finally, please take note that our Chamber lunch this month will be held on a Tuesday and will be a little bit different from the usual. We will be having lunch at the Community Kitchen, in the Valley Room of the Lodge on Tuesday October 19. The $15 collected from each Chamber member in attendance will be donated back to the Community Kitchen program. The Community Kitchen is a program of the Cariboo Family Enrichment Centre, one of the Chamber's non-profit members, focused on teaching participants to cook, using local food and trying new healthy recipes. After lunch, Trish Chung, the organizer of the Community Kitchen will be giving an overview about what the program is all about. Howie MacMillan will also be joining us to speak to us about another food-related initiative underway, the South Cariboo Meat Co-op. Come and see what this fantastic program is doing for our community.

2010-09-30T10:28:00.000-07:00

~Made in the Cariboo Fair ~

At the Tourism Discovery Centre, Williams Lake

Saturday November 27^th 10-4pm

$20 per Space

Limited Space available please register by Monday November 16th

Please pass this along to anyone that may be interested in

showing or selling their local product

For more information or to register, Call the

Williams Lake Chamber of Commerce office @ 250-392-5025

or email to visitors@telus.net

2010-09-23T13:47:00.000-07:00

Chamber Coins - a reminder

2010-09-16T10:33:00.000-07:00

It has come to our attention that some members are still accepting paper Chamber Bucks, which were replaced years ago by the Chamber Coins. The last call for redeeming paper Chamber Bucks went out in 2008 or so.

The Chamber will not redeem paper Chamber Bucks. Please ensure that you inform your staff that only Chamber Coins are valid. The coins are all the same size and come in denominations of $1 (silver colour), $5 (blue) and $10 (gold).

While we are on the subject of Chamber Coins, Christmas is not far off and it is time to start thinking about employee bonuses. Chamber Coins make a perfect bonus, giving more flexibility than gift certificates and also encouraging your staff to support local businesses. Click here for the list of businesses that accept Chamber Coins.

Chamber lunch September 22

2010-09-16T10:30:00.000-07:00

Good morning! I am taking lunch orders for our Chamber meeting on next week Wednesday, September 22.

We will be meeting at the Happy Landing Restaurant, lunch to start at 12 noon. It is always a good idea to arrive a couple of minutes early to pay for lunch and get a seat.

Al Richmond, the Cariboo Regional District Chair, will speak and take questions from 12:30 onwards. Up for discussion is the Forest Capital of Canada designation that the Cariboo Regional District has been honoured with for 2010-2011. I have asked Al to speak about what this designation means for business in the South Cariboo. We are aiming to wrap up by 1 pm.

Lunch will be $15, tax and gratuity included.

Please confirm your attendance with me and let me know what menu choice you would like one of three selections:
bacon swiss cheese burger with Caesar or garden salad;
open-face shrimp sandwich with Caesar or garden salad;
Cariboo lunch schnitzel with mushroom sauce, pasta and veg
Coffee and tea will be served after lunch.

Book your seat at 250-395-6124 or manager@southcariboochamber.org

MLA Donna Barnett invites Chamber members to Wine & Cheese Social

2010-08-30T09:34:00.000-07:00

The Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, the Honorable Shirley Bond, is visiting the Cariboo and MLA Donna Barnett is hoping you will join her at a wine and cheese social she will be hosting for Minister Bond at her 100 Mile House Office on Monday Aug 30th.

Date: Monday, Aug 30th

Time: 7:30 PM

Location: 7-530 Horse Lake Rd (Donna's office at Pinkney Complex)

Please RSVP Dorothy at dhartshorne@gmail.com or dorothy.hartshorne@leg.bc.ca or call 250-593-9383 or 250-395-3916 and leave a message

Look forward to seeing you there!!

New Program from BC Chamber Benefit Provider, Accent Inns

2010-08-30T09:29:00.000-07:00

New Accent Inns ‘Fish for the Future’ program supports British Columbia’s natural environment

Victoria, B.C. – Accent Inns hotels has just launched a new program that will see to the long-term viability of British Columbia’s natural resources, as they continue to fulfill their vision of supporting local groups that strive towards improving the B.C. environment.

“Building business and building community truly go hand-in-hand,” said Accent Inns CEO Mandy Farmer. “And in launching ‘Fish for the Future’ program, we’re showing that it’s possible for every one of us to make a positive difference in our world – a core value held by Accent Inns.”

The program, underway this month, is simple to support. For each guest who stays at any one of the hotel’s locations and shows a valid freshwater or salt water fishing license, Accent Inns will donate $2.00. Accent Inns ‘Fish for the Future’ partners are: Freshwater Fisheries Society of B.C. and Pacific Salmon Foundation. In addition, the Accent Inns Vancouver Airport also has supporting services for the fishing enthusiasts with shuttle service to the South Terminal / float plane terminal for the ‘fly-in’ fisherman as well as providing freezer service on site.

Contact South Cariboo Chamber Manager, Christine Jordaan, for the Accent Inns rate sheet for Chamber members.

Chamber Office has a new sign!

2010-08-20T16:31:00.000-07:00

Check out our new sign! Made by South Cariboo Chamber member, Canadian Carved Creations, our new sign is made from a beautiful piece of cedar and nicely complements the log-sided building that we are located in. Thanks to Glen for doing such beautiful work.

Webinar presented by Business Development Bank

2010-08-17T12:50:00.000-07:00

Webinar: Helping Canadian entrepreneurs start and grow their business

August 4th, 2010 • Starting a Business, Growth and Innovation,Grants and Finances

Starting or growing a business? If so, learn about financing and venture capital opportunities, and get expert advice from the Business Development Bank of Canada. The BDC is presenting a free webinar that will introduce you to the financing, investment and consulting services that are available to help your business succeed.

The webinar is offered in English and takes place on Tuesday, August 24, 2010, at 2:00 p.m. EST. If you're interested in attending, complete the registration form.

For more information, please send an email to SBTBWebinar@ic.gc.ca.

About BDC

From 100 offices across the country, BDC promotes entrepreneurship by providing highly tailored financing, venture capital and consulting services to entrepreneurs. It helps more than 28,000 businesses reach their full potential and focuses on small- and medium-sized enterprises. It pays particular attention to start-ups, innovators, fast growth companies, manufacturers and exporters.

About the presenter

Since joining BDC in September 1997, Patrick Latour has worked in increasing roles of responsibility in Montreal, Calgary and Ottawa. Patrick has spent the majority of his BDC career helping companies finance Working Capital, Real Estate, Equipment, MBO's (Management Buy-outs), and Acquisitions. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a Chartered Business Valuator (CBV). Patrick's approach to helping business grow and strive is simple: take the time to understand the business and its needs.

2010-08-16T11:31:00.000-07:00

Good morning members.

I have available some information from Carole Morrison of Service Canada regarding the programs that Service Canada is running for employers. These programs and services may be of considerable use to you. Carole is the Citizen Service Specialist based in Prince George who is responsible for our area. Contact me if you would like me to send you the summary sheet of programs and services for employers.

One of the programs that Carole is currently involved with is the transition over to web-based Records of Employment: ROE Web. If you are responsible for completing ROEs for a small, medium-sized, or large business, or if you are an accountant, bookkeeper, or small payroll processor, Service Canada encourages you to submit your ROEs electronically. ROE Web is a secure online application that allows you to create, submit, and print 53-week ROEs on the Internet.

Carole would like to come to 100 Mile House in the fall to run ROE Web information and registration sessions. If you are interested in ROE Web, please let me know and I will set up a couple of sessions for October.

ROE Web is an efficient, reliable, and convenient way to submit ROEs. It provides flexibility for employers by aligning ROE issuance with their pay cycles, reducing the administrative burden, and improving the quality of information received by Service Canada. ROE Web also improves service to employees who are applying for Employment Insurance benefits.

The benefits of ROE Web
* It saves time and increases productivity - You can submit more than 900 electronic ROEs at once.
* It improves the quality and accuracy of ROEs - Using ROE Web, your ROEs are instantly validated, which means more accurate data and fewer follow-up phone calls and requests for payroll information from Service Canada.
* It's easy to use - ROE Web is a user-friendly and interactive application with online help features. It also makes modifying ROEs easier. If you need to amend an ROE, you can easily retrieve, view, and amend it without having to re-enter all the information. In addition, dedicated Business Service Centre Help Desk agents are available to answer any technical questions you may have.
* It reduces paper burden - ROE Web eliminates the need to order or store paper ROE forms, or to keep paper copies on file. Also, there is no need to print copies of ROEs for your employees or to mail paper copies of ROEs to Service Canada-so no more mailing costs.
* It's secure - ROE Web uses an online security and authentication service that verifies the identity of the individual who is submitting the ROE Web data.

For more information about the advantages of ROE Web, or to register for ROE Web:
CLICK servicecanada.gc.ca/roeweb
CALL 1-800-385-5470

Venue for July 29th meeting

2010-07-26T09:41:00.001-07:00

Good morning all! We have confirmed a venue for our Thursday July 29th meeting with Minister of Finance Colin Hansen. We will be at the Happy Landing Restaurant in 100 Mile from 2:30 until 4pm on July 29th.

Members are invited to preregister with me at 250-395-6124 or manager@southcariboochamber.org.

It looks as though we are going to have a good turn-out for what will be, I'm sure, an interesting discussion about the HST and building a strong BC economy. Please register with me before Tuesday afternoon.

A busy month of July at the Chamber

2010-07-15T09:34:00.001-07:00

For our first official blog posting, I thought I should start with reporting on the recent successes of the past week.

The Hot July Nights car and bike show kicked off last Friday evening with great success. The three day event saw over 200 entries and attracted many curious onlookers to view the wide variety of cars and bikes on display. See the Hot July Nights website for photos of this year's fabulous event.

After the excitement of the Hot July Nights weekend, Chamber members were invited on Wednesday July 14 to a Business After Hours function at the new Century 21 Seaside Realty (100 Mile) office on Alder. Hosts Ingrid and Gerhard Berger had arranged for a local artist, Vivian Zuba, to display her work at the event.

Coming up at the end of this month, on Thursday July 29, Finance Minister Colin Hansen will be speaking to Chamber members on the HST. Keep an eye out in the next few days for the venue to be announced.

In the meantime, enjoy the fantastic Cariboo summer!

Welcome to the South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce blog.

2010-07-08T12:04:00.000-07:00

This blog will be used to provide information about current and upcoming events and activities involving the Chamber.

Drop by from time to time or subscribe (link in left-hand column).