FEBRUARY 2021
Chamber at a
Glance
In This Issue Owning Your Business Recovery
Dine-in Restaurant Relief Program Meet Our New Members!
Mark Your Calendars 02.05.21
First Friday Coffee
02.09.21
Leading Inclusion Workshop
02.26.21 Speaker Series with Kyle Dahms
OWNING YOUR BUSINESS RECOVERY
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want to start off by sending an incredible thank you to our entire Brandon Chamber network for the support you have shown one another throughout 2020 and particularly the holiday season. You took advantage of so many of our Shop Local initiatives and really proved what it means to support one another through such a difficult stretch. To say I am impressed by the resiliency and adaptability of our business community to start the year would be an understatement. I have already had the opportunity to utilize of a lot your new websites, apps, new processes and experience the way your business has embraced the challenges of the pandemic. Keep up the good work! I hope that you have all taken time over the past few weeks to continue to support each other until all our doors our allowed to reopen. Our hands may be tied from physically supporting each other, but I know everyone figured out how to shop virtually where they live over the past couple of months, so let us continue to do that!
As the calendar flipped to 2021, we have continued our lobbying efforts with our Provincial government to get our business community reopened as soon and as safely as possible. We have had ongoing engagement with our network for recommendations, and we will continue to make your voices heard in a constructive, concise manor. I would welcome you to visit the Chamber website to view all recent correspondence between the Brandon Chamber and the Provincial government.
"...visit the Chamber website to view all recent correspondence between the Brandon Chamber and the Provincial government" SPENCER DAY
cont'd pg 4.
THE zone MEMBERSHIP
MEET A MEMBER LightandMe
155-A W Hangar Rd | Winnipeg MB R3J 3Z1 (204) 786-4647 cmayer@stars.ca stars.ca
What exactly does your organization do? LightandMe is 3D visualization studio specializing in architectural, landscape architectural and interior design visualization. Using the latest 3D modelling and rendering software, the quality of our work is at the top of the industry. What really sets us apart, however, is our attention to detail and the relationships we build with our clients. By putting our clients' needs first, we always deliver on the vision of the project. Still images, architectural videos, and 3D animations are all within our capabilities. A large part of our client base consists of interior designers, contractors and real estate developers. Our artists can take architectural blueprints with basic descriptions of finishes and create life-like renders of any residential project, big or small. Our vast experience allows us to interpret and visualize all types of architectural styles. What is your favourite part of your job? Learning new things and mentorship.
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What is a product or service your organization provides that people might not know about? We model and render any object, product, buildings, architecture for our clients projects. Using our renderings before you build, aids in the conceptualization or for marketing visuals. We put their vision to life from a sketch or 2D plan and create beautiful 3D images, animation, interactive tours. Not only for builders, developers, furniture companies, etc. we can also create showrooms for businesses/shops and create a more interactive experience for their clients without physical going into the location especially this Covid times. The possibilities are endless. We are very flexible with our packages. We will cater to their requirements within their budget. What are the most important issues facing your organization today? Our studio is young, and any new business is faced the problem of how to grow their business.
Welcome New Members!
Clean Dimensions Commercial Cleaning 372 Park Avenue East Brandon, MB R7A 7A8 (204) 717-5550 (work) info@clean-dimensions.com clean-dimensions.com Compass Coach Lines 46 Balmoral Bay Brandon, MB R7A 6E4 (204) 999-9746 (work) compasscoachlines@gmail.com compasscoachlines.com Joey's Seafood Restaurant Unit D, 1212 18th St Brandon, MB R7A 5C3 (204) 729-3700 (work) joeysbrandon@gmail.com joeys.ca Mosaic Engagement 1714 10th Street Brandon, MB R7A 6C9 (204) 761-5073 (work) hello@mosaicengagement.ca mosaicengagement.ca Red Kayak Flooring Co. 389 Park Avenue East, Unit 3G Brandon, MB R7A 7A5 (204) 574-8270 (work) mark@redkayakflooring.ca redkayakflooring.ca Resilient Family Chiropractic 40-3300 Victoria Avenue Brandon, MB R7A 5Y 4 (204) 728-9930 (work) info@resilientfamilychiro.ca resilientfamilychiro.ca
CHAMBER AT A GLANCE | FEBRUARY 2021
BRANDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
news
MANITOBA DINE-IN RESTAURANT RELIEF Are you a restaurant operator who has shifted to a food delivery model amid Code Red pandemic restrictions? This program can help you defray associated costs. On January 6, 2021, the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, in partnership with the Manitoba Restaurant and Foodservices Association, opened the online application process for a new COVID-19 emergency support fund for businesses, the Dine-in Restaurant Relief Program. For information about the Dine-In Restaurant Relief Program, including eligibility criteria and to begin the application process, restaurant operators should go to: https://rrf.mbchamber.mb.ca/
2021 BUSINESS CLIMATE SURVEY The Brandon Chamber of Commerce is excited to open the 2021 Business Climate Survey. We conducted our last survey in 2017 and with many in our business community experiencing both challenges and successes, we anticipate fascinating results. As we work to secure Westman's future, it is crucial that the Brandon Chamber of Commerce understand what issues are most important to businesses. The purpose of the Business Climate Survey is to track trends and issues affecting businesses and to inform elected officials about the issues and concerns of the our business community. Stay tuned ! The survey will open soon in partnership with MNP, LLP.
LOVE LOCAL GIFTCARD PROGRAM The Chamber has developed a platform to allow customers to purchase multiple gift cards, for multiple businesses all at the same time! Are you a member business interested in participating? Visit the website below to fill out a registration form. Once your form is complete and submitted, a Chamber staff member will reach out to confirm and finalize the process. Your business will then be added to our live webpage. Visit to check out the program: brandonchamber.ca/shop-brandon/love-local-giftcard-campaign/
BE FEATURED IN A CHAMBER PUBLICATION! Get Featured! The Brandon Chamber of Commerce is currently looking for local business stories to fill up our editorial calendar for 2021 and 2022. We are looking for stories on perseverance, adaptability, community support, if you have won a prestigious award, have moved locations, have changed your business dramatically or just have a great fun story to brighten our days! Send your submissions to members@brandonchamber.ca Please note that due to the volume of submissions we receive, we cannot guarantee publications for all entries.
CHAMBER AT A GLANCE | FEBRUARY 2021
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cont'd from pg. 1 Chamber at a Glance is published twelve times per year by the Brandon Chamber of Commerce 1043 Rosser Avenue | Brandon, MB R7A 0L5 Phone: (204) 571-5340 | Fax: (204) 571-5347 info@brandonchamber.ca www.brandonchamber.ca BOARD OF DIRECTORS Spencer Day | President Progressive Westman Barry Cooper | Vice-President Heritage Co-op Tanya LaBuick | Secretary/Treasurer LaBuick & Co.
One of the recommendations we had put forth to the province after we moved into the critical phase back in November, was that their plan needed to be (immediate), incremental, and sustainable. We simply could not afford to take any steps backward once we started to reopen, that it is simply to tough on small businesses. Although we did not get the immediate action we were looking for, I am confident that as we start to reopen, there will only be steps forward. I am a glass half full kind of guy, and I have simply convinced myself that by pushing back our opening dates a few more weeks, it may be in prevention of taking a step backwards in a couple more. When we reopen, we are reopening for good! Our immunization site should be well under way by the time you read this. When I toured the Manitoba Room site a couple weeks ago, it filled me with a refreshed sense of optimism to start off the new year. We really are close folks, and now is the time to look forward, and start to focus on what this next phase of recovery is going to look like for you and your business. Our Chamber leadership group is hard at work establishing a taskforce to help better serve our membership by leveraging funding and resource opportunities from various levels of government that are on the horizon. Now is the time to reimagine what the future looks like in your industry. 2021 is a time of opportunity and a time to look forward. We have 365 new chances to make a substantial difference in our lives, businesses, and communities. The resources and opportunities are out there for each one of us to achieve something great, let us make the most of it!
Cathy Snelgrove | Past President Siere Laurie Brugger Century 21 Westman Realty Ltd.
Spencer Day President The Brandon Chamber of Commerce
Andrea Epp Epp Law Office Chris Finley Mazergroup Ryan Jacobson Forbidden Flavours Roastery, Affordable Storage Brandon Meredyth Leech Leech Printing Ltd. Lois MacDonald Alternative Landscaping Ltd. Scott Norosky South End Lumber (1978) Ltd. Jaime Pugh MNP LLP. Aida Tahhan Aida's Catering CHAMBER STAFF Carolynn Cancade General Manager
ASK AN EXPERT: Tax Time Tips
Tax season is a stressful time for everyone, in order to mitigate some of those stresses we at W.L Buck & Associates have a few tips for you. Be Organized. Take the time to go through your receipts and files and put them in order. This is a good review for you to see if anything could be missing. It also helps ensure that the accountant does not miss anything important and saves them time which will save you money. Include Everything. Don’t worry about knowing what all the tax rules are, that’s something is tax deductible include it anyway and let your accountant use their knowledge to make those judgement calls. If they don’t know it exists, they can’t include it! Sooner is Better. Take your files and paperwork into your accountant as early as possible. This gives them time to review your file more thoroughly for information that might be missing and to have time to ask you questions that could save you money in the end. In the end trusting your accountant is an important part of the process. We will always have your best personal or professional interests in mind when calculating the best opportunities for you. Author: Sharon Biehn CPA, CGA, Partner W.L. Buck & Associates wlbuck.com | (204) 727-1022
Erin Houck Events & Program Coordinator Alix Coucill Director of Member Relations Samantha Chapman Office Coordinator
brandonchamber.ca/advocacy-issues Who We Are: The Brandon Chamber of Commerce is an independent, membership funded, non-profit organization that represents Brandon business from the grassroots level. Our Mission: To encourage growth in the Brandon community by fostering a progressive business environment, favourable to enhancing existing and attracting new business.