Chamber This Week – February 3, 2017
February 3, 2017 | Submissions? email brad@gncc.ca |
UPCOMING
EVENTS
Business After 5
St. Catharines Club
February 7, 2017 • 5:00pm—7:00pm
77 Ontario St., St. Catharines
Full BA5 Schedule coming soon.
Table Talks
February 16, 2017 • 12:00pm—1:30pm
Big Marco’s Italian Restaurant
274 Fourth Ave.
St. Catharines
Learning Session with Brandon Currie:
Ensure You Have Money For Life
February 17, 2017 • 12:00pm—2:00pm
Coppola’s Ristorante & Banquet Facility
203 Carlton Street
St. Catharines
Lunch and Learn: Sales is a Give and Take
February 28, 2017 • 12:00pm—1:30pm
Coppola’s Ristorante & Banquet Facility
203 Carlton Street
St. Catharines
International Women’s Day
March 3, 2017 • 11:00am—2:00pm
Club Roma
125 Vansickle Road
St. Catharines
State of the Region
March 24, 2017 • 11:00am—2:00pm
John Michael’s Banquet & Conference Centre
1368 Uppers Lane
Thorold
NEW MEMBERS:
January 2017
Please join us in welcoming the new members who joined in January 2017.
Balsom on 610 CKTB Roundtable with Tim Denis
On January 26, Mishka Balsom joined Tim Denis on 610 CKTB for their morning Round Table, where the history of the State of the City and the record attendance for this year’s address were both discussed.
The mayor’s annual address to the business community was held for the first time at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines. Over 500 people attended the event.
Niagara: The Land of Opportunity
“I’ve had many opportunities to meet and collaborate with amazing organizations and individuals who share a great passion for engaging Niagara’s emerging generation in community leadership,” says NEXTNiagara chair Rachel Crane.
Crane compiled a list of amazing contributions these community-minded people have made in our community, specifically with a focus on governance.
Teresa Cascioli to speak at International Women’s Day
Teresa Cascioli is one of Canada’s top business minds. She is the former CEO of Lakeport Brewing, who took the company from bankruptcy to a $201 million sale, and the author of M is for Money, a book series that introuduces children to the world of financial literacy
Cascioli has been featured on Profit and Chatelaine Magazine’s lists of Canada’s most successful women and was named one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women. She will speak on March 3 at the International Women’s Day celebration, held this year at Club Roma in St. Catharines.
Balsom: Go outside the box with tax system
Ontario’s cap and trade program went into effect on Jan. 1. At Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce, we recognize the importance of fighting climate change and passing on a habitable planet to our children, and we acknowledge that costs for some services will have to rise.
What we don’t accept are policies conceived and implemented in isolation, without balancing incentives to businesses that would stimulate growth and investment.
Pitch series will ignite businesses
Entrepreneurs from across the region will have their chance to pitch their business ideas to win money and prizes to help get their enterprise off the ground in a series of Niagara’s own pitch competitions.
This year, Meridian Credit Union has partnered with Niagara College and the GNCC to support these local entrepreneurs through the Meridian Ignite! series, including Niagara College’s Pitch Perfect competition, the Startup Weekend event and the the GNCC’s Ignite pitch competition.
Niagara-US trade built on enduring relationships
Thomas Beach is an optimist. He has to be. Currency markets, business shocks and surprises must be deftly navigated in his world. So the shock-election of Donald Trump as America’s next president won’t change things for his Grimsby company.
“I have relationships that I believe in,” said Beach, president of Handling Specialty. “And I believe they will outlive a short-term ripple effect of Trump’s appointment.”
Members
In the News
Walk The Coldest Night of the Year
The Coldest Night of the Year is a fantastically fun, family-friendly 2, 5 or 10km walk that raises money for the hungry, homeless and hurting in 80+ communities across Canada.
Proceeds raised will support Project SHARE’s emergency services and provide participants the opportunity to experience a hint of the challenges faced by those experiencing homelessness in their own community. All walkers receive a signature Coldest Night of the Year toque, welcome swag and a light hot meal and beverages.
Seaway Mall Job Fair February 28
Register your booth today for the largest job fair event in Niagara. Almost 100 employers have already registered for this event — click here to see the list.
The job fair is open to the public and there is no fee for employers. For more information contact Melissa Wilson, Job Gym.
Energy Innovation Conference Comes to Golden Horseshoe
Niagara Sustainability Initiative (NSI) and Sustainable Hamilton Burlington (SHB) are pleased to present “Energy Innovation in the Golden Horseshoe.&dquo; This day-long conference will explore the future of energy in our region.
The conference includes educational sessions covering Cap and Trade, Energy Management, and Energy Technologies, as well as opportunities to connect with individuals from across local business sustainability networks
Up to 80% of the cost of our Professional Leadership Development Certificate Program could be funded through Canada Ontario Job Grant
The Professional Leadership Development Certificate Program is a collaboration between the GNCC and the Goodman School of Business’s Centre for Innovation, Management and Enterprise Education (CIMEE) at Brock University.
Are you part of an organization looking to invest in your employees? An individual seeking to advance to leadership positions? A leader in Niagara looking to expand your professional development? Then this program is for you. Newly announced, the Canada Ontario Job Grant may cover up to 80% of the cost of the program.
Denim, Diamonds & Diplomas
The Denim, Diamonds & Diplomas Gala is returning on February 11 for a second year. The evening will include great food and entertainment to raise money for the Education Foundation of Niagara’s DSBN Academy bursary fund.
Wear your favourite pair of jeans, and glitz them up with your best jewelry. Denim, Diamonds & Diplomas is proudly hosted by the Brock Leaders Citizenship Society, a group of academically driven students at Brock University with a passion for community service and philanthropy.
A Family Experience of Taste & Sound
Journey Through Italy is a relaxed, family-friendly experience of taste and sound where guests have the opportunity to explore cultural aspects of Italy through food and entertainment. There will be children’s games and crafts available, as well as raffle tickets and a cash bar.
Experience a night of culinary, culture, and cappuccinos — journey through Italy with the Many Hands Project and event management students from Niagara College.
Network
News
The year when populism meets policy
If 2016 was the year of Populist Surprise (none of us predicted Brexit or the victory of Mr. Trump), then 2017 will be the year of Populist Policy. More precisely, this will be the year we find out whether this global wave of populism will translate into concrete policies.
A new U.S. president has taken office and his supporters’ expectations are beyond sky-high. Mr. Trump didn’t just promise to strengthen the economy, he promised a people’s revolution to bring back manufacturing and coal mines… and “unleash massive wealth for American workers.”
Closing the Tourism Gap
On November 17, the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce (GNCC) in partnership with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) has released new data that reveals a significant tourism opportunity gap when compared to international growth rates.
According to the organization’s report, Closing the Tourism Gap: Creating a Long-Term Advantage for Ontario, Ontario has foregone nearly $16 billion in visitor spending between 2006 and 2012 by not keeping up with global growth trends.
Mr. Trump and the Economy: Making Bond Yields Great Again
Market reaction to Mr. Trump’s victory has been mixed, but one part of the world economy is unambiguously grumpy. In the month following his surprise election win, a staggering $1.7 trillion was been wiped off global bond markets.
So what does it mean for Canadian business? Who cares if bond yields rise? We do. Canadian rates closely follow those in the U.S.
Renewing MEMBERS:
January 2017
The following members renewed their membership in January for another year. Thank you for supporting the Chamber — and supporting business in Niagara.
MEMBER
PROGRAMS
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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Contact: 905-934-0966
sales@h2only.ca
www.h2only.ca
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.
MEMBER
PARTNERS
