Business After 5
Hosted in January by Ruth’s Chris Steak House
January 9, 2018 • 5:00pm—7:00pm

State of the City St. Catharines
January 30, 2018 • 4:30—7:00pm
FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre

Business After 5
Hosted in February by Yoga By Sarah
February 6, 2018 • 5:00pm—7:00pm

I Challenge Diabetes Challenges For The Amazing Race Canada

Chris Jarvis of I Challenge Diabetes was nominated for the Amazing Race Canada as a hero to people with Type 1 Diabetes. Chris and Angie Jarvis put together a video to apply for the popular Canadian reality show.

Cheer on a local Niagara team’s bid to join the Amazing Race. If you think they’d make a good team, share their video and let them (and Amazing Race Canada) know what you think of this dream team!

Watch Their Video

Meridian Holiday Family Skate Returns December 29

Join Meridian Credit Union for their free annual skate at the Meridian Centre on December 29th. There will be hot chocolate, giveaways, and more!

Bones from the Niagara IceDogs will also be making a special appearance. Skate with Bones from 12:00 to 1:00 pm.

Find out more

Community Care of St. Catharines & Thorold Selected as Niagara College’s Many Hands Recipient

The 21st recipient of Niagara College’s Many Hands project has been announced: Community Care of St. Catharines & Thorold. The annual project sees Niagara College students support a local community non-profit organization with fundraising, marketing and public awareness of the agency.

“Community Care St. Catharines & Thorold is extremely pleased to have been identified as the recipient of the Many Hands Project this year. It further solidifies the strong partnership the agency has with Niagara College,” said Community Care Executive Director Betty-Lou Souter. “We look forward to working with the College on this exciting venture.”

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Gifts From The Heart Holiday Campaign Returns

Give a gift that feels good this holiday season by joining Red Roof Retreat in celebrating their 7th Annual Gifts from the Heart Holiday Campaign! The 7th annual campaign goal will help provide another year of respite and recreational programs for children and young adults with special needs.

Red Roof Retreat’s Gifts from the Heart campaign evolved out of the Arthur Dalfen Gift Matching Challenge in 2011. The campaign was so successful, bringing in $60,000, they decided to keep it going. The following year it was re launched as the Gifts from the Heart Campaign and continued with the same goal of $60,000.

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Walker Environmental Continues to Invest in Resource Recovery

Walker Environmental Group Inc. has announced the acquisition of Gro-Bark®, the leading mulch and potting soil manufacturer in Ontario. Based in Caledon, Ontario, the addition of Gro-Bark® now makes Walker the largest fully integrated organics recovery company in Canada.

Gro-Bark® services the Ontario and US Great Lakes region horticultural industry with high quality, sustainable and innovative materials that help plants grow. In addition to the soil blending facility in Caledon, there are composting, mulch production and several aged bark reclamation sites throughout Ontario.

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Niagara Women Entrepreneurs Mentorship Program

The Welland Heritage Council and Multicultural Centre is offering a Niagara Women Entrepreneurs Mentorship Program. In response to requests for mentorship from Niagara woman business owners, this program has been developed based on research into which skills and personality traits are most associated with success.

The program intake is running throughout December 2017 for pairings running from January to June 2018. This round only will be available at no cost to mentees. Pairings will be made on the best possible match. Mentor and mentee applicants are welcome.

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Mayor’s Invitational Golf Tournament donates $10,000 to Gillian’s Place

St. Catharines Mayor Walter Sendzik and the Mayor’s Invitational Golf Tournament committee have made a $10,000 donation to Gillian’s Place from the proceeds of the summer tournament. The donation will assist Gillian’s Place in providing necessary items and programs for women and children seeking safety and support at the St. Catharines shelter.

“For 40 years, Gillian’s Place has been a shining light of hope for women and children to transform their lives. While I am proud we are able to make this donation to Gillian’s Place, like many of us, I also hope for a day when shelters for women and children who are escaping violence and abuse will no longer be necessary.” stated Mayor Walter Sendzik.

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GNCC Members invited to St. Catharines Night at the Niagara IceDogs

On March 4, 2018, the Niagara IceDogs are inviting members of the GNCC to their Night at the IceDogs hockey game against the Peterborough Petes. Tickets are just $13 if purchased in advance.

Dylan Wells and Danial Singer will be presented with a special award for representing the IceDogs and St. Catharines in the highest level of minor hockey legues in the world. Come and show your pride in the IceDogs.

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Help the Seaway Mall Make 500 Meals Come True this Holiday Season

Make a Meal Come True this holiday season is one way of giving back to those who need it the most. Last year, the Seaway Mall and the Hope Centre asked customers to buy someone in need a Christmas dinner and they were overwhelmed with the response.

This year, the Seaway Mall wishes to double the amount of meals. To do so, they are asking for help to reach their goal of feeding 500 people. Each meal will cost $10 and people wishing to donate can do so at Seaway’s Customer Service desk.

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Small-business advocates lament ‘appalling’ lack of detail ahead of Jan. 1 tax changes

The federal government will impose new restrictions on how small-business owners can divide income among family members as of Jan. 1, even though the promised details of the changes still haven’t been released. Anxious business owners are warning the lack of information will create big headaches in the new year.

Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), said the new rules could force companies to make complex revisions to their ownership structures.

Read more in The Globe & Mail 

Supreme Court Case Challenges Inter-Provincial Trade Barriers

The Supreme Court of Canada will hear a case this week which could significantly break down unnecessary barriers to the trade of goods and services throughout the country, says the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).

The Chamber and CFIB are both interveners in the R vs Comeau case, which arose after a New Brunswick retiree, Mr. Comeau, was fined for purchasing alcohol in Quebec and transporting it over the border between the two provinces. He challenged the fine and won. The province appealed the case to the Supreme Court.

Read more in The Business Examiner 

Queen’s Park Update: 2017 Auditor General Report Released

On Wednesday, the office of the auditor general released it 2017 annual report. The Report, presented in two volumes, contains results of value-for-money audits of provincial spending in agriculture, emergency management, energy, health care, education, services for newcomers, government owned real estate, and social housing.

Volume 1 of the Report contains 14 value-for-money audits while Volume 2 contains follow-up reports on the recommendations made by the auditor general in 2015.

Read Volume 1 Read Volume 2