Promo Project Niagara Returns for 2019

Prom Project Niagara is a one-day, three-site fun free formal wear extravaganza for any student graduating from grades 8 or 12. The event is hosted by the Education Foundation of Niagara and presented by PenFinancial Credit Union.

Donations of gently used dresses, suits, shirts, shoes or accessories can be made to any PenFinancial Credit Union. For a complete list of drop off locations please visit efnniagara.ca/events.

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Tom Rankin Receives 2018 Canadian Construction Association Person of the Year Award

The Niagara Construction Association is pleased and proud to announce that Niagara businessman and construction icon Tom Rankin has received the prestigious 2018 CCA Person of the Year Award during the CCA’s annual conference and awards event. These awards recognize the important contributions of individuals, companies and associations that promote and enhance the Canadian construction industry.

Niagara Construction Association general manager Karin Sheldrick said “Tom’s ambitions, inspirational leadership skills, and accomplishments exceed the expectations for this award, and his community efforts complement and make him highly deserving of (this) honour.”

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Niagara Region Special Olympics Athletes Attending World Games

The 2019 Invitational Youth Games will bring 2,500 Special Olympics athletes to Toronto in May 2019 for a first-ever international high school aged competition. Eight Niagara Region high schools have qualified and will send teams to the Games.

The goal of the Invitational Youth Games is to “draft” all of these student-athletes and get them to the Games at no cost to the school or the individual. 100% of all funds received directly benefit these students from Niagara Region. Niagara’s fundraising page can be viewed here.

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Are You Compliant? Microbeads in Toiletries Ban Incoming

The Microbeads in Toiletries Regulations contains a retail ban on certain toiletry products containing plastic microbeads, which can include bath and body products, toothpastes and exfoliants. Manufacturing bans are already in place; a sales ban of these toiletries comes into effect on July 1, 2019.

These regulations are designed to prevent the release of plastic microbeads from toiletries that rinse off and wash down household drains, contributing to plastic pollution in our oceans, rivers and lakes.

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Building Dreams: Niagara College Student Receives Women in Construction Faculty Award

It’s not always easy to pursue career dreams — especially for female students entering industries traditionally dominated by men, such as construction. In advance of International Women’s Day, a Niagara College construction student received a helping hand, as the recipient of the College’s first Women in Construction Faculty Award.

Established through the generosity of Welland resident Jan Erion, the award is a $500 donation toward a student’s tuition, designated specifically for a female student in one of the College’s construction programs. The award recipient is third-year Construction Engineering Technology student Jessica Garrett of Niagara Falls.

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Caregiver Wellness Workshop Returns April 10

The Alzheimer Society Niagara Region is hosting another Caregiver Wellness workshop on April 10. This series offers an opportunity for care partners, families and friends of individuals diagnosed with dementia to gain a more in-depth knowledge of dementia and community resources and supports.

The 2½-hour introductory workshop covers an overview of normal aging and dementia, how to get a diagnosis, how to manage difficult conversations, and self-care strategies. Respite services are available for those in need. Contact the Alzheimer Society to discuss eligibility.

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Pop-up Patios Coming to Port Colborne

A pilot project in Port Colborne could lead to pop-up patios popping up across the city this summer. Mayor Bill Steele said rather than “reinvent the wheel,” the city is borrowing a pop-up patio model used in the Muskoka region.

“It will be neat this summer to see how this pilot project works out,” said Steele, who noted that there are already two restaurants in the downtown core that will be applying for a pop-up patio licence. The city’s bylaw manager said the project will be limited to specific areas of the city.

Read more in the Welland Tribune

United Way Niagara Surpasses $5 Million Campaign Goal

Volunteers and staff of United Way Niagara stepped into uncharted territory when they set a $5-million campaign goal, and started working to reach it. Board chair Peter Partridge said he didn’t know what to expect in their first campaign since the United Way agencies of St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and Fort Erie, and South Niagara were amalgamated.

But after months of promoting the campaign and focusing on the needs of people throughout the region, United Way Niagara’s 2018 campaign chair Sean Simpson said it soon became apparent that “people across Niagara really did identify with a single United Way within the region.”

Read more in the Niagara Falls Review

Niagara Parks to Implement Chinese Pay Options

Starting next month, Chinese visitors will have Chinese mobile payment options at Niagara Parks attractions. After a procurement process, OTT Pay Inc. was selected as the preferred vendor, catering to the emerging Chinese tourism market. The agreement was finalized with a signing ceremony on March 14.

Once implemented, Niagara Parks will be able to accept the preferred payment methods used by Chinese travellers (WeChat Pay and Alipay) at its attractions, stores, restaurants and the renovated Table Rock Centre. It will also use the service to leverage marketing opportunities to the Chinese tourism market.

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Federal Budget Misses Mark on Challenges Businesses Face

Newmarket Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Tracy Walter acknowledges there were a number of wins for individuals in the recent unveiling of the federal budget but she fears there were missed opportunities when it comes to supporting local businesses.

While the general public may think local businesses have little impact on their daily lives, Walter said the entire community is connected. Newmarket businesses create jobs, drive the economy and put money back into the community through sponsorships or giving to charity.

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Finance Minister Pushes Back at Business Concerns that Budget Overlooked Competitiveness Worries

The Honourable Bill Morneau, Federal Minister of Finance is pushing back at concerns from business groups that his most recent federal budget “failed to address the fundamental issues” facing Canadian companies.

In an interview with Global News’ Mercedes Stephenson, Morneau said the argument from some business advocates (including the Canadian Chamber of Commerce) saying the budget didn’t do enough to help businesses become more globally competitive isn’t accurate because there are measures that propose making it easier to attract and train employees.

See more on Global News

Federal Budget Puts Businesses on the Sidelines

According to an analysis by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce and the Qualicum Beach Chamber of Commerce, the 2019 federal budget fails to address the fundamental issues undermining the ability of Canada’s business owners to create more jobs and economic prosperity for all Canadians.

“While the budget delivers on some of our advocacy priorities, particularly in the areas of skills and infrastructure, it fails to provide concrete measures to address the tax and regulatory burden on businesses,” said Dave Willie, president of the Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce.

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If you’re thinking of adding group benefits to your company, there are a lot of good reasons to put your Chamber membership to work for you. Not the least is exclusivity: only members have access to the Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan®.

To contact your local insurance rep, call Jim Garrett or Cindy Haines at 905-468-8575

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MEMBER 2 MEMBER SAVINGS PROGRAM

Many other Chamber of Commerce members feature discounts and special offers — tailored specifically for other GNCC members. Check out the full Member 2 Member database. If you’d like to add an offer for your company, sign in to your account. You can add and update your offer any time you wish.

BUSINESS SAVINGS PROGRAMS

The GNCC offers many business resources that are regionally, provincially or nationally endorsed – programs offered to Chamber Members through the OCC (Ontario Chamber of Commerce) or the CCC (Canadian Chamber of Commerce). Affinity programs include the Chamber Group Insurance, FedEx savings, Gales Gas discounts, Desjardins payroll service, Chase Paymentech and FirstData merchant services, etc. For more information click HERE.

If your organization is interested in partnering with the GNCC on an affinity program, please feel free to reach out to Mishka Balsom, CEO, at mishka@gncc.ca.

GNCC REFERRAL PROGRAM

From the beginning, the GNCC has grown because of your word-of-mouth support.

This Referral Program is our way of saying thanks.

Get your choice of a $25 Starbucks Gift Card for every new member you refer and who joins the Chamber -OR- $50 in GNCC Cash for every new member you refer and joins the Chamber towards GNCC ads, sponsorship or event tickets.

More program information HERE.