Whatamonthithasbeen,somuchpackedinto31days. I’msureI’mnottheonlyonewhofeelslikeIjustneeded togettothefirstweekofNovemberforabitofabreak Likelyafallacy
IhadthepleasureofattendingtheCanadianChamber ofCommerceAGMinOttawawithourSecretary Treasurer,LoisRuston(GMR&MHomes),andConnor KetchentheGMoftheBrandonChamber Wealsohad onenightwithErinHouck,EventsCoordinatorforour Chamber ItwasalongfewdaysofmeetingsbutwhatI foundmostinterestingwasthepolicyresolutions,61in total.AdmittedlysomeofitwasarduousbutI appreciatedthedifferentworkandfocusthatother CanadianChambersaredoingandwhatisrelevantto them.Onethatreallycaughtoureyewaspresentedby Yarmouth,NS.TheirpolicywasaboutAddressingRural FamilyPhysicianShortagesUsingTaxDeduction Incentives.SomeChambersfeltthiswasnotabusiness issue,whereourteamwasfirmlyinsupportofitbecause webelievethathealthcarehasadirectlinktolabour stability.Webelievethatifpeoplehaveaccessto consistentandnecessaryhealthcare,theyaremore likelytostayemployedandbeabletoprovidesteady labourtobusinesses Thepolicypassed,andwe connectedwithYarmouthonthedetailsofhowtheyare workingtosecurehealthprofessionals Wehopetoshare moreonthisinthecomingmonths
AnotherhighlightformewastheinterviewwiththeUS AmbassadorwhereIlearnedwhyIcan’tgetmyNexus cardupdated(Ihavebeentryingforabouttwoyears) becauseallNexusofficesremaincloseddueadispute overlegalprotectionsforAmericancustomsofficers.This haskeptNexusenrolmentcentresclosedinCanada morethansixmonthsaftertheyreopenedsouthofthe border–dueinparttoaclashoverU.S.agents’rightto carrygunsonCanadiansoil.(Source: https://globalnews.ca/news/9010222/nexus-centresclosed-clash-us-canada/)
CanadianNexusapplicationshaveincreasedby27% sinceApril,71,688intotal Somecriticssaythisisadirect causeforairportsecurityclearancedelays,otherssay thelackofstafftorunsecuritylinesisthebiggestissue Likeanything,itdependsonwhichsideoftheissueyou sit
Thereisalottolearnwithhowourgovernmentswork, andtheyareconstantlychangingandmoving,soitfeels alittlebitlikearaceIneverfinish However,Ihavefound almostallofthegovernmentofficials,staff,andelected memberstobeengaging,andhelpful.
Lastly,IampleasedtosharethatIhavebeeninvitedto participateastheruralrepresentativeforthePremiere’s EconomicAdvisoryCouncilforCompetitiveness.The pressreleasesaid,“ReportingtotheEconomic DevelopmentCommitteeofCabinet,thePremier’s EconomicAdvisoryCouncilonCompetitivenesswillfocus onthecompetitivenessoftheprovinceinrelationto otherprovincesandU.S.states,andprovideadvice, guidanceandrecommendationsonissuespertainingto Manitoba’seconomicgrowthandprosperity.”Iam hopefulIcanbealeadingvoiceforBrandonandother ruralcommunities
Thankstoallofyouwhocontinuetosupportourevents andourteamdownat1043RosserAvenue,Iassureyou, wenotice
Untilnexttime,staywell,andhopefully,alittlebitwildtoo
TheBrandonChamberofCommercehadawildOctober thisyear!WekickedoffanothersuccessfulFirstFriday CoffeesponsoredbyTimHorton's.Ifyou'veneverbeento oneoftheseawesomenetworkingevents,theyarethe bestwaytostartaFriday!
ConnorandourEventsCoordinator,Erin,wenttoOttawa foraweektotheCanadianChambersofCommerce AGMConference,wheretheywereabletogetinspired, learnsomenewideastobringhome,andconnectwith otherChambersfromacrossCanada!OurBoard President,Tanya,andourSecretary-Treasurer,Lois, joinedthempartwaythroughtheweek Upontheirreturn wediscussedsomeofwhattheylearnedandcan'twait toimplementsomeoftheseideashereinBrandon.
WhileConnorandErinwereaway,EmilyandIhelddown theforthereinBrandon.Althoughitwasashortweek,it wasabusyonetoo.Wespentalotoftimeinmeetingsor gettingreadyforupcomingevents.Weenjoyedabreak atourBusinessAfter5,hostedbyCareerConnections Inc.Theydidafantasticjobshowingthedifferent programstheyhave,andevengottheattendees involved!Prizeswerewonbyeverybody,andtheyhad somegreatactivities.
Ofcourse,theMunicipalElectionwaskeepingusbusyas well WeheldaMayoralDebateonthe17thandgavethe communityanopportunitytolearnmoreaboutour MayoralCandidates,JeffFawcettandElliottOleson Kerry Auriat,ourModerator,askedsometoughquestions focusedaroundbusinesses,downtowndevelopment,tax increases,andmore Wewouldliketosendaspecial thankyoutotheKeystoneCentre,TridentX,andWCGtv forbeinginvolvedinthisprocess Andaspecialthank youtobothMayoralCandidatesforparticipating.We alsosentoutCityCouncilCandidatescorecardstoall memberswiththehopeitcanprovidesomeinsightto whotheirWard'scandidatesare.
Thankyoutoour OctoberLuncheon sponsor!
WecontinuedtheweekofOctober16-22bycelebrating SmallBusinessWeek Wedidthisinanumberofways, includingasocialmedia"SmallBusinessWeekBingo", givingpeopletheopportunitytoplayagame,enterto winaprize,andsupportlocal
WealsocelebratedSmallBusinessWeekatourOctober Luncheon.KariHammersley,ownerofMuseBridal, sharedhersuccessstoryasasmallbusinessownerright hereinBrandon.Itwasarefreshing,funny,andinspiring speechbyKari,andwewouldliketothankherfortaking part!WealsotookthetimetocelebrateBrandon'ssmall businessesbycelebratingsomebusinessanniversaries. Wehandedoutsomeanniversarycertificatestosay congratulationstothesebusinesses,aswellasthank themforbeingmembershereattheBrandonChamber.
WewrappedupthemonthbyhostingtheManitoba Government'sannouncementthattheywillbeinvesting $400000towardsthedevelopmentandrevitalizationof DowntownBrandon Welookforwardtoseeingwhatthis candoforourcommunity
WelookforwardtoNovember,andallthatitbrings!
Allthebest, Jessica Saler, Member
Relations & Marketing Coordinator
Stop by the Brandon Chamber of Commerce office and enjoy some delicious coffee and donuts while you chat with other business owners, board members, and your Chamber staff!
9:00am-10:00am| Friday, November 4th, 2022
Free |1043 Rosser Avenue | No registration Required
This month's luncheon will look slightly different. Rather than one speaker, we have an entire panel. There will be time for networking, lunch, and an interesting and important conversation regarding our future economic outlook.
Sponsored by
Sponsored by 11:30am-1:00pm |Thursday, November 17th, 2022
Victoria Inn | Registration Required
If you can't attend a Chamber event during the day, that's okay! This month's Business After 5 will be with the Green Spot, Bloom Box, and Chez Angela. This is a fantastic place to see how community business owners help one another thrive in their individual businesses It's completely free, but we do ask for you to register.
5:00pm-7:00pm | Thursday, November 10th, 2022
Free | 1451 Rosser Ave E| Registration Required
TechnologySolvehasbeenoperatinginBrandonandthesurrounding communityfor5years.OeloffisaCrocusPlainsGradworkinginITand multiplebusinessenvironmentsforthepast21years.Christinahasbeen workinginbusinessmanagementandoperationsforthepast20years. TechnologySolveisasmalltomediumbusinessITmanagement company TheyspecializeinITSecurityandIToperations
Whatisthebiggestchallengewithyourjob?
Technologyisalwaysachallenge.wesimplywanttomakesurewe deliveragreatservicetoourclients.“Earnasmile!”
Whatisyourfavouritepartofyourjob?
Thereisnothingbetterthanhelpingsomeonethathasatechnicalissue Therealityistechsometimesbreaksand thatiswherewecomeintohelpyouwhenyoureallyneedit ImagineyoucouldhaveanITguyonspeeddialthat couldfixanissue(withinreason)within20minutes(sometimesfaster)andifnot,wewillfindafixoratleastgive youthebestoption Evenbetter,wecanhelpyoustayprotectedanduptodate “likeagenieinthebottle”,rubthe lampandgethelp OrinTechwhispererlanguage,hitthe“smileface”
Whatareyoumostexcitedforthisyearforyourbusiness?
Newphoneappfor2023
Wearealwaysinneedofhelpwhetherthisiswithwrappinggifts,packing hampersordeliveringhampers.Pleasecall727-2559tovolunteer.
Donationsofnewunwrappedtoys,knitteditemsforchildren,andfoodare alwaysappreciatedaswebuildapproximately1100hampersatourfacility. Pleasecontacttheofficeforalistofwhatisrequired.
Werelyonthegenerosityofourcommunitytocontinueouroperationand helpusmakeChristmasmerrierforhundredsoffamilies Ifyouwishto donateataxreceiptisprovidedandwewillacknowledgeyourcontribution inourBrandonSunlisting.
ADOPT A FAMILY
Ifyourbusinessororganizationwouldliketoadoptfamilypleasecallusat 204-727-8933oremailusatxmaschr@gmail.com
Pleasedropinandseeourelvesatwork.Wearelocatedin thebasementofthelibrary,throughthedoorontheSW cornerof7thstreetandRosserAvenue,notthroughthe library. Thereisapaintedwreathonourdoor.Allare welcomeatouropengeneralmeetingonNovember1stat1:15 pm.
