2017 A N N U A L
H I G H L I G H T S
YOUR PARTNER FOR ENTERPRISE PRODUCTIVITY & COMMUNITY PROSPERITY
C
elebrating 130 years, The Brampton
ranges from multinational corporations to
Board of Trade is the go to organization
small startups and individual entrepreneurs.
where businesses of all sectors, con-
The Brampton Board of Trade represents a
vene, collaborate and create solutions to boost
diverse range of businesses from across Peel
regional economic prosperity. We provide so-
Region. Members of the Board of Trade have
lutions to the toughest problems businesses
access to countless tools to help grow their
face every day including overcoming barriers
business, increase productivity and control
to growth, attracting and retaining talent and
their bottom line.
making the right connections. Membership 1
LEADERS’ MESSAGE
Brampton is poised for greatness, and the Board of Trade, along with its members, volunteers and key partners, truly demonstrated that this year. Together we celebrated our 130th anniversary, welcomed many new members, and worked to make Brampton an even more attractive location to do business. Together with our partners, BBOT volunteers were actively involved in supporting important economic development initiatives including: successful efforts to recruit Ryerson University to Brampton; development of an advanced
EVAN MOORE TODD LETTS Chair
CEO
manufacturing supercluster along the innovation corridor from Toronto to Waterloo; and more trade initiatives including investment in
our trade certification service and a life sciences mission to Dubai. Brampton’s business community also celebrated the inaugural Top 40 Under 40 Awards, shining a light on the achievements of leaders that are not only making a difference today but also for our collective future. The Board of Directors made a number of strategic investments in new technologies for customer relationship management, an enhanced website, and office refresh to better accommodate the growing number of business volunteers. This year’s success can be attributed to the hard work of volunteers, dedicated staff, members for their continued support and enthusiasm, and to community partners for important collaborations. As we look forward, Brampton continues on a path of prosperity envied by many across the country. Your continued contribution to the Board of Trade helps ensure the collective health of our regional economy. Thank you for your continued support.
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2017 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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EVAN MOORE
BADAR SHAMIM
HEATHER STRATI
Chair, Board of Directors Partner Prouse, Dash & Crouch LLP
Past Chair, Board of Directors Vice President Trapeze Asset Management Inc.
Chair Elect Deloitte Private Partner, Assurance & Advisory
TODD LETTS
MANPREET MANN TINA CHIU
Chief Executive Officer Brampton Board of Trade
Vice-chair, Finance Branch Manager, BDC
Chief Operating Officer Mandarin Corporation
JOSH BELCZYK
HEATHER ARTHUR HARPREET ZINGH
Partner Acretiv Partners
Director, Business Care Rogers Communications
Co-founder LAB B
IAIN MCNAB
DON CUMMING
KEITH REARDON
Dean, Faculty of Applied Science and Technology, Sheridan College
Manager, Business Development TD GTA West Commercial Banking
Vice President, Intermodal CN
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BBOT’S VITAL SIGNS BRAMPTON’S LARGEST
50+ EVENTS
2400 ATTENDEES
42,000 EMPLOYED
28 CAMPAIGNS
2350+ VOLUNTEER HOURS
38.6%
56%
70%
20%
8%
6%
network of businesses and business professionals
by BBOT members
increase in new membership sign ups in 2017
increase in businesses using BBOT’s marketing and advertising tools 5
and other networking opportunities
run to support policy and advocacy efforts
increase in social media engagement and reach
increase in businesses protected through ChamberPlan benefits
at Board of Trade events
spent on business development initiatives
increase in annual economic development sponsorship investments
increase in trade documents processed through the Brampton Board of Trade
I BRAMPTON
F
or the past year, the Brampton
Board
of
Trade has been on a
mission to foster stronger city pride in Brampton through our ‘I Love Brampton’ Campaign. So far the Board of Trade has handed out hundreds of t-shirts, sweaters, water bottles and other swag, allowing Brampton business owners and members of the community to take their love and passion for Brampton into the community and onto the world stage.
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WHAT’S NEW?
NEW WEBSITE
BBOT launched a new and up-to-date website that gives members easier access to information about our upcoming events, advocacy campaigns, costsavings programs and other business related resources.
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I LOVE BRAMPTON
In 2017, BBOT launched a civic pride campaign, where we worked to foster stronger city pride and grow Brampton’s presence across the province, Canada and the world through our ‘I Love Brampton’ swag.
OFFICE REFRESH
Over 200 volunteers and businesses meet at BBOT’s office each month. This year we refreshed our workspaces and boardroom to better serve our members and to offer more room for collaboration and growth.
NEW TEAM MEMBERS
A number of talented new people have joined the BBOT team this year. The new team dynamics are allowing us to better serve our members and continue to work for the business community in Brampton.
TEA WITH TODD
Each month new members were invited to a casual group meeting with the Board’s CEO, Todd Letts, to learn more about the services and resources available to them as members.
MORE ADVOCACY
This year BBOT actively ran more advocacy campaigns than last year. We listened to members and brought their key issues, such as tax reform and workplace legislation, to the attention of decision makers, and worked to keep those issues top of mind.
MORE NETWORKS
We love to connect businesses! After identifying a need in the community, BBOT officially launched Connectwork, a personal and professional development group for businesswomen in the Brampton area.
MORE WAYS TO ENGAGE
This year BBOT launched some exciting new events that gave members more opportunities to engage with BBOT and fellow members — among those events were the Top 40 Under 40 Awards and the Transportation Challenge.
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CELEBRATING 130 YEARS OF PRODUCTIVITY & PROSPERITY I
n 2017 Brampton Board of Trade celebrated 130 years serving the Brampton business community by honouring past successes and looking ahead at the bright future as we work together to contribute to Brampton’s success.
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WINS IN 2017
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hrough the efforts of staff and volunteers, the Board of Trade was successful in influencing key issues affecting businesses and Brampton’s overall economic vitality.
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CREATED NEW PARTNERSHIPS ABROAD Brampton Board of Trade had the opportunity to help lead a trade mission to Dubai in partnership with the World Trade Centre Toronto. Brampton business leaders and dignitaries were able to create valuable partnerships in health and life sciences, a growing sector in the city.
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OFFERED VALUABLE FACE TIME This year members had the opportunity to meet with a number of elected officials and key decision makers. They spoke on issues affecting their businesses and their bottom line. Federal Minister of International Trade, Francois Philippe Champagne; Ontario Minister of Education Deb Matthews; Federal Minister of Finance Bill Morneau and Leader of the Ontario PC Party Patrick Brown, among others, were welcomed by BBOT to have meaningful discussions about key issues.
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FURTHERED BRAMPTON’S INNOVATION AGENDA Along with other area Chambers, Brampton Board of Trade has been working for three years to better position Brampton on the innovation corridor from Toronto to Waterloo through the Canada’s Innovation Corridor Working Group. BBOT has continued its work by contributing to a bid to build an advanced manufacturing supercluster in the GTHA.
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HELPED REDUCE THE REGULATORY BURDEN BBOT has been actively working with its network across the province and the country to decrease the growing regulatory burden being placed on businesses. In last year’s municipal budget consultations, BBOT offered recommendations that resulted in a lower than forecasted tax increase by city council. BBOT also played an active role in the reversal of the proposed federal tax changes and the reduction in the small business tax rate from 10.5% to 9%.
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PROSPERITY AGENDA T
his year the Brampton Board of Trade worked with its members to identify major issues affecting the Brampton business community. Through the Prosperity Roundtable, BBOT developed five areas of focus to guide the organization’s policy and advocacy agenda in late 2016 and 2017. The Board of Trade plans to carry these five pillars into 2018 to guide our advocacy work and collaborations with stakeholders.
TALENT & THE NEXT GENERATION
BBOT is advocating for an increase in access to post-secondary education, jobs and transit infrastructure in order to retain talent and set the stage for young innovators to succeed and carry the community forward.
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TRANSIT & TRANSPORTATION
INVESTMENT ATTRACTIVENESS
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
CIVIC LEADERSHIP
An effective, efficient, and regionally connected transit and transportation system is the backbone of a strong and competitive economy and livable city.
Encouraging local businesses to find new markets in the US, Europe and emerging markets will accelerate regional economic growth. BBOT orients and equips businesses on export strategies that build both confidence and capacity.
The Board of Trade is working with local decision makers and community partners to attract more commercial and industrial investment.
BBOT believes that public and private leaders need to align to develop a common plan, secure resources and oversee implementation of the activities required to move Brampton forward.
YOU WERE HEARD IN 2017
Addressing Ontario’s skills gap by bridging the expectations of the business community and post secondary institutions. Advocating for more robust transit and transportation networks in Brampton and the surrounding region.
Positioning Brampton as a more attractive place to invest and do business.
Growing Brampton’s post secondary Reducing the impact of impending legislation and regulatory changes
offerings by securing a new university for the city.
on businesses.
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BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS 15
2017 Recipients: Community Impact: JN Asen-
national Ambassador: Howard Eng, Greater
sio Realty Inc. Communications: Brampton Fo-
Toronto Airport Authority. Leadership: Coca-
cus. Healthy Workplace: Zgemi. Community
Cola Refreshments Canada. Teamwork: Khanu-
Impact (Nonprofit): Rotary Club of Brampton.
ja Dentistry. Spirit of Innovation: Armacell Can-
Mentoring: Razor Creative Solutions Inc. Inter-
ada Inc. Chairman’s Award: Kanwar Dhanjal.
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n 2017 the Board of Trade had the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the achievements of some outstanding busi-
nesses and business people. This year’s awards honoured Mohamad Fakih, President and Founder of Paramount Fine Foods as Business Person of the Year. The 2017 awards also saw a significant increase in nominees! The Board of Trade is excited to take the momentum and enthusiasm into the 2018 Business Excellence Awards.
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THE VOICE OF THE BRAMPTON BUSINESS COMMUNITY T
his year we focused on bringing businesses to the table with decision makers so they could be heard on the issues affecting them.
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FEDERAL ISSUES FORUM
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PROSPERITY ROUNDTABLE
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STATE OF THE CITY 2017
Businesses had the opportunity
BBOT brought together some of
Hundreds of businesses heard
to meet with Minister Francois
Brampton’s biggest employers
from Mayor Linda Jeffrey in her
Philippe
Minister
for a half day of workshopping to
annual address to the business
of International Trade and local
identify key issues and challeng-
community. The Mayor focused
Members of Parliament to dis-
es facing their businesses and to
on innovation and rising above
cuss key issues including trade,
conceptualize tangible solutions
the status quo. Howard Eng, CEO
innovation, taxation, infrastruc-
to these issues.
of GTAA also spoke at the event
Champagne,
ture and more.
about the airport’s future regional transit hub.
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BRAMPTON U: SHAPING SUCCESS
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TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGE
The Board of Trade hosted On-
BBOT brought together leaders
tario Minister of Education Deb
from across the region including
Matthews to discuss the prov-
Leslie Woo, Chief Planning Officer
ince’s skills gap and the business
of Metrolinx, Keith Reardon of
community’s role in fixing it. Mat-
CN and the Mayor of Waterloo to
thews also opened the request
discuss transit and transportation
for proposals process for Bramp-
challenges in the region, and how
ton’s future post-secondary insti-
cities across the GTHA can work
tution.
together moving forward.
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IN CONVERSATION WITH LARRY BEASLEY
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ECONOMIC GROWTH ROUNDTABLE I
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ECONOMIC GROWTH ROUNDTABLE II
Urban planning visionary, and
Minister of Finance Bill Morneau
The Board of Trade hosted On-
special advisor to Brampton’s
joined a small focus group of
tario PC Leader Patrick Brown to
Chief
Beasley
businesses to discuss challenges
discuss opportunities and chal-
joined BBOT members to discuss
Planner,
Larry
and opportunities in transit and
lenges currently facing Brampton
how to propel Brampton into a
transportation, trade, investment
businesses including the cumu-
more forward-thinking city of the
attractiveness, taxation and the
lative regulatory burden, issues
future.
need for ongoing consultation
with impending legislation and
with the business community.
more.
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SAY HELLO TO BRAMPTON’S INAUGURAL TOP 40 UNDER 40 21
B
rampton is filled with talented and inspiring individuals deserving of recognition. It is with this foresight that the Brampton Board of Trade has made a commitment to
recognize, mentor, and encourage these individuals to climb to greater heights by initiating the Top 40 Under 40 Awards. The inaugural awards recognized entrepreneurs, business owners, professionals and community advocates who are actively shaping Brampton positively, contributing to the community and taking Brampton to the world stage.
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HOW CAN WE HELP YOU? TODD LETTS
NAYAN THAKER
KRISTI MACGIBBON
Chief Executive Officer
Manager, Finance & Operations
Manager, Volunteer & Business Development
NIKITA BROWN
DAVID MCGREW
SUZANNE HIGHGATE
Manager, Communications & Business Development
Manager, Business Development
Office Manager
Get in touch
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BRAMPTON BOARD OF TRADE 36 QUEEN STREET EAST, SUITE 101 BRAMPTON, ON L6V 1A2 T: 905-451-1122 F: 905-450-0295
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