As we embrace the spring season, the Brandon Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for a series of impactful events that underscore the significance of collaboration, advocacy, and celebration within our community. Looking ahead to April and May, we have some key highlights that showcase the connections between the government, local businesses, and the community at large.
State of our City Luncheon with Mayor Fawcett – April 18th: Building on the theme of collaboration, our community eagerly awaits the State of our City Luncheon featuring Mayor Fawcett. This event provides a crucial opportunity for the municipal government to address and connect with the Brandon business community. Mayor Fawcett, in his second address, will articulate his vision for the city, emphasizing the role of businesses in its growth and development. Through vetted questions from our Government Relations committee, we seek direct answers that address the barriers faced by our local businesses, fostering a transparent and constructive dialogue.
Address - May 16th: A momentous occasion awaits us as we welcome Premier Wab Kinew to deliver his inaugural State of the Province address to our Chamber of Commerce membership. This event serves as a powerful
platform for the provincial government to engage directly with the Brandon business community, recognizing our integral role in shaping the economic landscape of our province. It signifies a commitment to open dialogue, collaboration, and an understanding of the challenges and opportunities that our businesses face. As we anticipate insights into the government's vision, this occasion reinforces the mutual importance of a strong partnership between the public and private sectors.
Manitoba Chamber of Commerce AGM & Summit - April 26th: On April 26th, Brandon takes center stage as the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce brings its Annual General Meeting and Summit to our city. Hosting such provincial events outside Winnipeg not only showcases our community's capabilities but also injects a distinctive Brandon & region flavor into these gatherings. This summit presents an excellent opportunity for networking, knowledge-sharing, and aligning provincial strategies with the unique needs of our region, acknowledging the diversity and vitality of business landscapes across the province.
Brandon Chamber of Commerce Business Awards Gala - May 2nd: Our most anticipated event of the year is the Brandon Chamber of Commerce Business Awards Gala on May 2nd. This flagship celebration
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brings our community together to honor the achievements of 20 finalists across nine prestigious categories. The gala serves as a moment of reflection, highlighting the successes and contributions of our members and businesses over the past year. Beyond recognition, it reinforces the sense of community and shared purpose that defines the Brandon Chamber of Commerce and our business community.
In these upcoming months, our focus remains on fostering connections, advocating for our business community, and celebrating the accomplishments that make Brandon a dynamic and thriving hub. As we engage with government leaders, stakeholders, and fellow businesses, we strengthen the bonds that propel our community toward a prosperous future. Together, we are building a resilient and collaborative foundation for Brandon's continued success.
Sincerely,
Connor Ketchen General Manager Brandon Chamber of Commerce
March 1, 2024 | 9am-10am 1043 Rosser Ave (Chamber office)
Sponsored by
With keynote presentations, one-on-one conversations, and panel discussions, the summit showcases influential leaders in Manitoba. This event brings together stakeholders from a variety of sectors, chamber representatives, government decisionmakers, and members of academia to delve into current trends and challenges, exploring their impact on businesses in Manitoba.
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vanishskinclinic.com | 1431 Princess Avenue
My name is Diane Finley and I am part Owner and the Managing Partner of Vanish Skin Clinic. At Vanish we focus on helping clients achieve all their skin care goals We offer a variety of Medical Facials, Photofacials, Laser hair removal, Botox and Juvéderm. We also offer complimentary Skin Care Consultations with one of our Skin Experts that will help you set up an at home product routine and show you what treatments would be most beneficial. We carry iS Clinical, Hydrinity, Tizo, Colorscience and SkinBetter. Our vision at Vanish is to provide our clients with exceptional services and top quality, personalizedcare.
ThisyearIammostexcitedaboutourbrandnewlocation!VanishSkinClinicisnowlocated on1431PrincessAvenue,andwearehappyto be a part of Downtown Brandon. Small businesses are the backbone of Brandon and to be able to help draw business downtown andrevitalizethecommunityissomethingwe are proud to be a part of. Our totally renovated Clinic is not only stunning, but we tookthetimetothinkofeachandeverydetail that will help give our clients the best experience possible and make everyone feel comfortable I can’t wait for you to come see us in our new space and we look forward to seeingyousoon!
I started in the Beauty industry 21 years ago with the goal to own my own business. I successfully did that by the time I was 25. It was not easy, it took a lot of sacrifices, long hours, and self-growth. For me, it was very important to listen to my staff, always be available to communicate with them Ultimately, we need staff to operate a business and I try very hard to lead by example and work as a team. At times I did feel defeated and had some very hard roadblocks, but that is all part of owning a business Running a business is my passion, and I will do anything I can to help my business succeed, not only for my amazing staff,butourloyalclientsaswell!Thataloneis veryrewardingforme.Nevergiveup!
“Women’s
In the Summer of 2023, Westcap announced a new $81 million private equity fund focused exclusively on the growth and development of Manitoba companies.
The new Connect Manitoba Growth Fund (CMGF) provides small and medium-sized Manitoba businesses with patient and strategic growth capital to further the development and success of Manitoba’s communities and economy. CMGF is the first investment fund funded under the Manitoba First Fund and is championed by leading Manitoba Credit Unions as limited partner investors.
Our Fund, while having no minimum investment, is designed to typically invest between $2 to $8 million per transaction or greater through syndication with one of our sister funds. We focus on companies that have strong leadership teams that can execute strategies and exhibit potential for growth and value creation.
The Fund is sector agnostic and given its geographic focus, fund investments will generally reflect the Manitoba economy. Flexible in form of investment and deal structure and expecting market-level returns, the types of investments considered include:
Late-stage venture capital is for companies that have moved beyond the initial startup phase and are now seeking additional funding to further scale their operations. These companies have proven business models, a solid customer base, and consistent revenue growth. They are on the cusp of becoming of becoming market leaders and are preparing for significant market or product expansion or strategic acquisitions.
Growth equity investments target companies that have reached a point where they are looking to expand significantly. These investments are typically less risky than venture capital as they are made in established companies with a history of profitability and positive cash flows. The capital is often used to finance manufacturing capacity expansion, geographic market expansion, or synergistic acquisitions.
An MBO is an event where a company’s existing management team purchases a majority or minority stake of the company from the founder who is seeking to take
“chips off the table” as part of ownership succession planning. The Fund would provide the necessary capital and strategic support, guidance and expertise. MBOs are ideal for ensuring the continuity of a business’s operations and preserving its corporate culture and local leadership identity while remaining locally owned.
Westcap prides itself on being more than just a financial investor and seeks to build sustainable, long-term partnerships with the vendors, management, and employees of its portfolio companies.
We are not company operators, preferring to work alongside management partners to provide a combination of strategic, operational, and financial support with a patient capital approach to allow companies the time they need to thrive and achieve their growth objectives.
If you are interested to learn more about Westcap and the CMGF, reach out to me anytime at l.jebb@westcapmgt.ca or my colleague Ty Wirvin at t.wirvin@westcapmgt.ca. Our web page is www.connectmb.ca.
Westcap is a private equity and venture capital fund manager with 25 years of experience and over $1.0 billion in assets under management supporting leadership teams to grow Western Canadian based companies of all sizes.
Lee Jebb joined Westcap’s senior management team in 2020, in part to bring Westcap’s private equity approach to growth capital to the underdeveloped Manitoba capital market
In February the Leadership Brandon participants got to have insightful discussions and presentations by Assiniboine Community College and Brandon University. These conversations provided participants insight into what our post-secondary institutions are currently working on and their plans for the future.
Assiniboine Community College gave a tour of one of their campuses in Brandon, and showed them some of their newer facilities, including what they plan to work on in the near future. Stay tuned!
Brandon University gave a presentation that focused on their research facilities, what they are researching currently, and why it’s important for our economy. This was followed by engaging discussions on the importance of these projects.
Thank you to our Leadership Brandon sponsors:
Lois Ruston | President YWCA Westman
Jennifer Ludwig | Vice President Super Thrifty Drugs Canada Ltd.
Emelio Brown | Secretary-Treasurer IntriTech Digital Marketing
Tanya LaBuick | Past-President CW2 Construction & Design Guardian Fencing LaBuick & Co
Courtney Baxter Bushel Plus
Matt Berg Livingstone Outdoor
Andrea Epp Epp Law Office
Samantha Falloon Myphone - TELUS & KOODO Authorized Dealer
Chris Finley Mazergroup
Tilda Fortier Greenstone Building Products
Meredyth Leech Leech Group
Brent Miller Victoria Inn
Rob Starkell West-Can HR Solutions
CHAMBER STAFF
Connor Ketchen General Manager
Jessica Saler Member Relations & Communications Manager
Erin Houck Office & Project Manager
Destiny Maluga Events & Marketing Assistant
Setting the pace for a greater Brandon since 1883
February was a busy month with advocacy meetings, discussions with local leaders, and collaboration opportunities.
Our Government Relations Committee met with the Brandon School Division to hear their top priorities as they plan for the 2024 budget. Our committee ensured that although maintaining the infrastructure of our schools is crucial, we must always keep the students’ learning at the top of mind. We are very appreciative for the opportunity to have an open, honest, and engaging conversation about our future work force.
Connor travelled to Winnipeg to participate in his first Business & Jobs Council meeting, which Premier Kinew spent a lot of time in. There are multiple different categories and subcommittees this council will focus on, and we look forward to seeing what this council can do for the province of Manitoba and the Westman region.
Many members have expressed concern over increase in theft and violence in their businesses, and the Brandon Chamber of Commerce heard their concerns and reached out to the Brandon Police Service. Interim Chief Lewis offered to come have a round table discussion with some of our members to hear their concerns, gain a better understanding of what small businesses can do for security, and to provide our members with a better understanding of what the Brandon Police Service can do.
Lastly, the women on our Board of Directors were asked to participate in a focus group that discusses the challenges women face when trying to enter into municipal politics Led by Megan Foster and Tracy Baker, the women on our board were able to be a voice for professional women in our community and provide valuable insights on some of the barriers that women face.
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