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Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce

Home / Daily Update  /  Daily Update: September 30, 2025

Daily Update: September 30, 2025

September 30, 2025 | Daily Update

In this edition:

  • Canada observes National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
  • Service at new Confederation GO Station to begin October 27
  • Local businesses help Grimsby achieve fundraising goals for Peach King Centre
  • US to begin furniture, wood import tariffs on Oct. 14
  • Starbucks shuttering stores, laying off 900 workers in Canada and U.S.
  • Focus on Technology

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Photo credit: Iwan / Adobe Stock

Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.

This federal statutory holiday was created through legislative amendments made by Parliament.

Click here to read more.

The side of a GO train passenger carriage at a station

Photo credit: Reimar / Adobe Stock

Service at new Confederation GO Station to begin October 27

The Ontario government has completed construction of the new Confederation GO Station in Hamilton. The station is part of the Niagara Extension of the Lakeshore West Line GO Expansion Project which will expand service for current and proposed stations in Grimsby, Lincoln, St. Catharines and Niagara Falls.

Service at the Confederation GO Station will begin October 27, 2025, with all existing trains to and from Niagara Falls stopping at the station.

Click here to read more.

Picture credit: Town of Grimsby

Local businesses help Grimsby achieve fundraising goals for Peach King Centre Expansion

The Town of Grimsby officially kicked off the Peach King Centre Expansion and Renovation sponsorship campaign with an ambitious $1 million goal—and thanks to the incredible support of local businesses, that goal has been achieved, paving the way for the success of Grimsby’s vibrant new community and wellness hub.

Click here to read more.

Stacks of sheet wood products

Photo credit: Dmytro / Adobe Stock

US to begin furniture, wood import tariffs on Oct. 14

The U.S. will implement new tariffs on wood imports as well as derivative products such as upholstered furniture and kitchen cabinets beginning Oct. 14, per an executive order signed by President Donald Trump Monday.

Click here to read more.

The Starbucks logo on the side of a Starbucks coffee shop

Photo credit: ManuPadilla / Adobe Stock

Starbucks shuttering stores, laying off 900 workers in Canada and U.S.

Starbucks is laying off around 900 non-retail employees and closing some U.S. and Canadian stores as it focuses more of its resources on a turnaround.

The Seattle coffee giant will notify employees whose positions are being eliminated early Friday and said that it plans to close an undetermined number of stores in North America in the coming days.

Click here to read more.

Focus on Technology

With economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions on the rise, Canadian manufacturers using lean methodologies must think and behave proactively to reduce potential adverse effects. Where should they start to get the biggest impacts?

Process optimization is already a hallmark characteristic of lean manufacturing, but producers can conquer slow-growth economies by looking for additional improvements. One option is to speak to factory floor workers about their most time-consuming or error-prone steps. Input given by both newer and seasoned employees provides a broad perspective that helps decision-makers separate inefficient processes from issues caused by a lack of experience.

Leaders should also consider tackling current challenges that could become highly disruptive if not addressed. That was the approach taken at lighting and electrical manufacturer Leviton Canada. The company purchased a new conveyor system that handles 30 boxes per minute, making it twice as fast as the replaced equipment. Executives said the old setup needed frequent repairs, which posed business risks.

Click here to read more.

Through the Daily Updates, the GNCC aims to deliver important business news in a timely manner. We disseminate all news and information we feel will be important to businesses. Inclusion in the Daily Update is not an endorsement by the GNCC.

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