Glance
A Message from Your President
ANUNPRECEDENTEDLAUNCHINTO2025
The first few weeks of this year have been nothing if not tumultuous,asCanadianshavebeenonarollercoasterride marked by the threat of a trade war, on-again-off-again, delayed for the time-being tariffs, and a general unease as ouronce-friendlyneighbourstothesouthhavebeenmusing about our country melding into theirs This marks the third time that I have re-written this message in less than a week, asthesituationcontinuestoevolve Fornow,thethreatofUS tariffs has been placed on hold until early March Should the US proceed with the tariffs, within a matter of days, Canadians would see significant impacts in prices and availability of many products. Obviously, businesses from across our country, and right here in Brandon would see impacted sales, reduced margins, and significantly interrupted supply chains. Economists suggest that if the tariffsweretostayinplaceforafewmonths,ourcountry,and perhapstheglobaleconomycouldbethrustintoarecession bythemiddleof2025
A coordinated response from Canada, federally and across allprovinces,isvitalandIampleasedtoseethatimmediate reaction to this news was consistent across provincial and federal governments. To me, the 30-day reprieve should be seen as nothing more than more days to get our collective houseinorderandcreateaproactive,coordinatedresponse to the situation The federal government, and all provincial leadersmustremainfocusedonmovingeveryleverpossible tofocusontheeconomicwell-beingofourcountry
Oneofthelargestandmostimpactfulleversavailabletothe federal government and Canadian premiers is the reduction or removal or inter-provincial trade barriers. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce recently commented that breaking down these outdated, self-imposed barriers is one of the greatest economic opportunities that we have, and in fact they act like a 21% tariff, whose removal could boost our GDP by4% Whenyouconsiderotherrecentdata,suggestingthat 25% American tariffs could supress our GDP by 26%, removing inter-provincial trade barriers could have a significant,andpositiveimpactonCanada’seconomy
Secondly, it is of critical importance that moving forward, we encourage Canadian investment in manufacturing and the processing of the high-quality resources that are produced within our borders. Perhaps a focus on rebuilding supply chains within Canada and investing in production within our country will bolster our self-reliance and minimize the threat that international uncertainties can have in the years to come
The Brandon Chamber of Commerce has always worked diligently to shore up relationships with all levels of government, as well as provincial and national connections within the Chamber network. Rest assured that we are leaning into these relationships now morethanever,aswestrivetolearnasmuchas possible about the impacts of potential tariffs and counter-tariffs, as well advocating for our business community and the best interests of our entire region In these uncertain times, your Chamberisworkinghardtoadvocateonbehalf of all members as we participate in meetings, roundtablesandlearningopportunitiesatevery juncture. Much as we did during the pandemic, the Chamber is committed to finding answers toyourquestions,andactingasaresourcehub for queries, concerns and new information as it becomesavailable
I must admit, my eternally optimistic view has been a little shady these days, but one thing thatIamveryconfidentinisthestrengthofour country when we pull together for a common cause. Inthepastfewdays,Ihavewitnesseda patriotism and coming together of Canadians that hasn’t been seen in quite a few years. May we continue to work together on this vital issue and take this opportunity to build our nation’s economy in solidarity and with a strong focus onourfuture
Lois Ruston
Events Lineup
FIRSTFRIDAYCOFFEE
FEB,7,2025|9:00-10:00AM|1043ROSSERAVE FREEEVENT,NOREGISTRATIONREQUIRED!
EMPOWERINGYOUTHRETENTIONLUNCHEON
FEB,20,2025|11:00AM-1:00PM|CLARIONHOTEL TICKETSONSALE,REGISTRATIONREQUIRED
WOMENOFWESTMAN-TICKETSONSALE
MARCH5,2025|ALLDAYEVENT|KEYSTONE TICKETSONSALENOW
MAY1,2025|KEYSTONECENTRE MOREDETAILSTBA*
2025 - 2026 EVENT LINE-UP
FEBRUARY2025
7th:FirstFridayCoffee
20th:EmpoweringYouthRetentionLuncheon
TBA:BusinessAfterFive
MARCH2025
5th:WomenofWestmanConference
7th:FirstFridayCoffee
20th:BuildingBridgesandCommunityLuncheon
TBA:BusinessAfterFive
APRIL2025
4th:FirstFridayCoffee
17th:StateoftheCityLuncheon
TBA:BusinessAfterFive
MAY2025
TBA:AnnualAwardsGala
9th:FirstFridayCoffee
15th:StateoftheProvinceLuncheon
TBA:BusinessAfterFive
JUNE2025
5th:StateoftheChamberLuncheon
TBA:ChamberBBQ
TBA:ChamberGolfTournament
SEPTEMBER2025
5th:FirstFridayCoffee
10th:AnnualGeneralMeeting
18th:StateoftheProvinceLuncheon
TBA:BusinessAfterFive
OCTOBER2025
3rd:FirstFridayCoffee 16th:SmallBusinessLuncheon
NOVEMBER2025
7th:FirstFridayCoffee 20th:EconomicOutlookLuncheon
DECEMBER2025
5th:FirstFridayCoffee 11th:HolidayHappyHour
THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE
EVENTRECAP
On January 16th, we kicked off the new year with the Future of Agriculture luncheon at the Victoria Inn. With more than 200 attendees in the room, it was a fantastic afternoon filled with learning, meaningful conversations, and a chance to celebrateourvibrantbusinesscommunity.
FUTURE-FOCUSEDDISCUSSIONS
WewerehonoredtowelcomeDr.SantoshKumar,a wheat breeder from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, as our keynote speaker. His presentation on wheat innovation, sustainability, and genomics shed light on the groundbreaking research shaping the future of agriculture. It was great to hear how advancements in our region are contributingtothebroaderindustry.
THANKYOU,SPONSORS
Events like these wouldn’t be possible without our generous sponsors A special thank you to MyITSource and Frank Arndt for their support and thoughtful remarks We also appreciate our booth sponsors AssiniboineCollege,PattisonMedia,and Chambers Plan for engaging with attendees and sharing valuable insights And, of course, a big shoutout to the Victoria Inn for a delicious meal and Trident for making sure everything ran smoothlybehindthescenes
STRENGTHENINGCONNECTIONS
This luncheon was a great reminder of why the Chamber exists to bring people together, spark conversations, and strengthen the connections that make our business community thrive The energy in the room was incredible, and we’re gratefultoeveryonewhojoinedus
We can’t wait to see you at our next luncheon as we continue to explore important topics and create more opportunities to learn, connect, and grow Here’stoanexcitingyearahead!
Women of Westman
WelcomeStephanieStaplestothe 2025WOWConference!
Master motivator and psychosocial wellness expert Stephanie Staples travels internationally as a keynote speakerfromtheMayoClinictothe Middle East delivering idea-packed programs proven to increase feelings of hope, happiness, empowerment and ability to apply actionable, positive change for participants.Plustheyarefun!
ThisreWirednurse,MomandLolliof three, wife of one and a (lastplaced) Triathlete has burned out and bounced forward. She is a 3 x entrepreneur (2 successful, one a bust-youcan’twinthemall!)andis a past winner of the Manitoba Entrepreneur of the Year award for Contributions to Community and was the host of Your Life, Unlimited onCJOBfor12years.
Therearestillafewsponsorshipopportunitiesavailable. PleasecontactMacaylaatevents@brandonchamberca formoredetails
BroughttoyoubytheBrandonChamberofCommerceand Westoba,adivisionofAssiniboineCreditUnion,theWomenof WestmanConferenceisadaydedicatedtoinspiration, connection,andgrowth.
Thisyear’stheme,EmpowerHer,isallaboutchampioning womeninbusiness,leadership,andlife
Asamulti-titledauthorwitheclectic qualifications that combine learnings from her background in healthcare, journalism, fitness and communications-Stephhassome unique insights and tools to share. Buckle up, we are going for a ride thatyouwon’tsoonforget!
leadershiprecap
LEADERSHIPBRANDONEXPLORESBRANDON’SLEARNING&TRAININGINSTITUTIONS
On Friday, January 31, the Leadership Brandon cohort spent the day getting a behind-the-scenes look at some of Brandon’s key educational and training institutions. We started the morning at Cranberry’s Family Restaurant, where we fueled up with coffee and a debrief before heading to our firststop:ManitobaEmergencyServicesCollege(MESC).
BEHINDTHESCENESATMESC
At MESC, we received a warm welcome and an in-depth tour of their state-of-the-art facilities. We got up close with millions of dollars’ worth of top-tier emergency response equipment, tested our strengthbreakingdownatrainingdoor(spoiler:it’smuchharderthanitlooks!),andgainedadeeper understandingofMESC’svitalrole notjustinBrandon,butacrosstheprovinceandbeyond.
EXPLORINGBRANDONUNIVERSITY
After a great lunch back at Cranberry’s, we made our way to Brandon University’s Healthy Living Centre for a guided tour. We explored key facilities, including the library, archives, and the Rural Development Institute. We wrapped up our visit with a leadership reflection session, identifying key takeaways from our experiences so far. These insights will help us grow as leaders and share valuablelessonswithothersinournetworks
ADAYOFLEARNING&CONNECTION
Thedaywasfilledwithhands-onexperiences,insightfulconversations,andafew“wow”moments A hugethank-youtoManitobaEmergencyServicesCollegeandBrandonUniversityforhostingusand givingusaglimpseintotheincredibleworktheydo
POLICY MATTERS: BUSINESS DATA LAB CANADA-US TRADE TRACKER
Canada and the United States stand at crossroads in their trade and economic partnership, with tariffs emerging as the most pressing challenge for businesses on both sides of the border. To clearly map out the vital importance of these relationships and the risks they face, the Canadian ChamberofCommerce’sBusinessDataLab has introduced the Canada-U.S. Trade Tracker—a new tool designed to illustrate thetiesbetweenourtwoeconomies.
A 25% tariff could shrink Canada’s GDP by 2.6%, costing Canadian households an average of $1,900 annually. For the U.S., this would mean a 16% GDP drop, with families losing$1,300peryear Beyondtheeconomic impact, tariffs would disrupt industries like automotive,agriculture,andenergy,making everything from groceries to cars more expensive
The Canada-US Trade Tracker delivers realtime insights into trade flows, industry trends, and data-backed analysis, helping businesses and policymakers navigate the uncertainty posed by tariffs and other barriers with clarity and confidence so we can safeguard North America’s most successful trade relationship for thebenefitofall.
Toaccessthefullarticle,visit:https://chamberca/news/the-cost-of-canada-u-s-trade-disruption-on-full-display-with-new-trade-tracker/
Jessica Saler | 204-578-2772 | jessicasaler@brhcfoundation.ca brhcfoundation.ca/thriveconference May 8, 2025 | Keystone Centre, Brandon
Support the BRHC Foundation’s Thrive Conference, a revitalizing half-day event dedicated to supporting, inspiring, and providing practical tools to our regional healthcare workers. Contact Jessica to learn more about the sponsorship packages and see how you can support our local healthcare workers!
THEMANITOBAACCESSIBILITYFUND(MAF)GRANTPROGRAMNOWOPEN
TheManitobaAccessibilityFundwillfundproposedprojectsuptoamaximumof$50,000,including upto10percentforadministration.
Applications must support The Accessibility for Manitobans Act and the standards listed above by addressing at least one of three Manitoba Accessibility Fund objectives. Select one or more of the threeManitobaAccessibilityFundobjectivesthattheprojectwilladdress:
2.
1Raiseawarenessaboutthepreventionandremovalofbarriers Developtools,resourcesandtrainingtosupportcompliancewithTheAccessibilityfor ManitobansActstandards.
3Removebarrierstoinformationandcommunicationselectronically,inprintandinperson. .
Applicationsclose:February14,2025
Information about the MAF grant program for 2025/2026 and how to apply is available online at AccessibilityMB.ca.PleasecontactMAF@gov.mb.caifyouhaveadditionalquestions.
COMMUNITYDEVELOPMENTGRANTPROGRAMSNOWOPEN
The Manitoba Government is offering funding through two community development programs: From the Ground Up and the Urban/Hometown Green Team program. These initiatives aim to supportyouthemployment,communitycapacity-building,andeconomicdevelopment
The Urban/Hometown Green Team Program supports youth employment on community projects from May to September. Eligible applicants include municipal governments (excluding Winnipeg), NorthernAffairscommunitycouncils,andnon-profitorganizations.
FromtheGroundUpGrantProgramfocusesoncommunitycapacity-buildinginthreecategories: Communityeconomicdevelopment Well-beingandrecreation Housingandsafetycoordinationsupports
Eligible applicants include municipal governments, planning and recreation districts, Northern Affairs community councils, and non-profit organizations. Funding streams provide up to 80% of eligibleprojectcostsfornon-profitsandcouncils,andupto50%formunicipalities.
Applicationsclose:February18,2025
InformationabouttheUrban/HometownGreenTeamProgramandtheGroundUpGrantProgramis availableonlineathttps://gov.mb.ca/grants.
MANITOBA BUSINESSES FACE NEW CHALLENGES
In addition to continued challenges regarding workforce shortages and inflationary pressures, two out of three (67 per cent) business leaders are concerned thattherecentUnitedStateselectionresults willbebadforManitoba’stradewiththeU.S.
In addition to concerns about US trade relations, the 7th annual Manitoba Business Outlook Survey, commissioned by the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce (MCC) andconductedbyLegerbetweenNovember 7 and December 9, 2024, showed that Manitoba’s business community continues to grapple with increased costs and labour shortages:oneinfiverespondents(19%)said attracting new staff is their number one currentbusinesschallenge.
The Manitoba Business Outlook Survey also revealed that inflation continues to rank high on the list of concerns, with more than three quarters (77%) saying it has had an impact on their business In response to inflation challenges, 50% said they haveraisedprices,47%havereduced internal costs, 45% have reduced profit margins and 33% delayed or cancelled investments due to inflationin2024.
“This survey helps the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce track changes, patterns and challenges, and to identify issues and assess the confidence of leaders from organizationsacrossManitoba These insights are valuable so we can continue to support Manitoba’s businesses and advocate on their behalf,” Davidson says “Attracting and retaining Manitoba talent – both young people and newcomers to Canada – needs to be a priority for theprovince.”
Toaccessthefullarticle,visit:https://mbchambermbca/2025/01/31/new-challenge-on-the-horizon-for-manitoba-businesses-latest-manitobabusiness-outlook-survey-results-show/#: :text=While%20the%20most%20significant%20current,compared%20to%2030%25%20in%202023
TheCo-opCommunitySpacesprogramprovidesfundingbetween$25,000and$150,000tosupport projectsthatbenefitcommunitiesacrossWesternCanada.Projectsmustfallunderoneormoreof thefollowingcategories:
Recreation–Creatingspacesthatencouragephysicalactivityandwell-being EnvironmentalConservation–Supportingsustainabilityandconservationinitiatives UrbanAgriculture–Enhancingfoodsecurityandlocalagricultureefforts.
Organizations are encouraged to apply if their project aligns with these funding categories and contributestocommunitydevelopment.
ApplicationsClose:March3,2025
Formoredetailsoneligibilityandtheapplicationprocess,visitCo-opCommunitySpaces https://wwwco-opcrs/articles/detail/community-spaces-funding
Chamberata Chamberata
BoardofDirectors
LOISRUSTON|PRESIDENT YWCAWestman
JENNIFERLUDWIG|VICEPRESIDENT SuperThriftyDrugsCanadaLtd
EMELIOBROWN |SECRETARY-TREASURER IntritechMarketing
MATTBERG
LivingstoneOutdoor&Livingstone LandscapingLtd
TILDAFORTIER GreenstoneBuildingProducts
MEREDYTHLEECH LeechGroup
BRENTMILLER VictoriaInn
ROBSTARKELL West-CanHRSolutions
CHRISFINLEY Mazergroup
KARINGRIFFIN AlternativeGroup
AMBERWHITE AnytimeFitness
CHARLESTWEED TweediaSocialMedia Agency
ENVERNAIDOO WestmanImmigrant Services
ChamberStaff
OLIVIABOYCE
GeneralManager gm@brandonchamberca
MACAYLALYONS
Events&MarketingCoordinator events@brandonchamberca
FREDERICRAMSAY
Office&MarketingCoordinator info@brandonchamberca
WeacknowledgethatBrandonislocatedonTreaty2territory, traditionallandsoftheCree,Oji-Cree,Dakota, Anishinaabe/Ojibwepeoples,andthehomelandoftheRed RiverMétisNation.Wehonorthehistories,cultures,and contributionsofIndigenouspeoplestoourcommunity.
SETTING THE PACE FOR A GREATER BRANDON SINCE 1883
TheBrandonChamberofCommerceisanindependent, membershipfunded,non-profitorganizationthatrepresents Brandonbusinessfromthegrassrootslevel.
OurmissionistoencouragegrowthintheBrandoncommunityby fosteringaprogressivebusinessenvironment,favourableto enhancingexistingandattractingnewbusiness.