5 minute read
Chamber Members Achieving Success
Member Notables
WWDSS partners with TWB Brewing to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day
On March 21st, Waterloo Wellington Down Syndrome Society (WWDSS) celebrated World Down Syndrome Day by partnering with TWB Brewing. One of our members, Anthony Tamming has been working at TWB Brewing in Kitchener since 2019. He started out, like all new staff, helping with tasks at the bar - labeling beers, pouring pints, and greeting customers! He has always had an interest in the brewing process itself, and this is the first beer he had a hand in brewing. The beer was crafted with Anthony’s involvement at every step: from sampling, where he identified flavours and styles he liked; to brewing the beer itself; and, selecting the name: AJ & Zeus, to honour his dog. With overwhelming popularity, individual cans/6-packs/24s are sold out but you can still buy the WWDSS sets (2 cans with WWDSS swag). AJ & Zeus will also be on draught in TWB’s Taproom. Toast us to show your support!
Jony Studios partners with publisher Penguin Random House
Jony Studios (a client-focused recording studio offering audio/video production, podcasting, and audiobook services) based in Waterloo was chosen to partner with one of the biggest book publishers in the world, Penguin Random House. Jony Mansilla and his team helped in the recording and production, working alongside PRH senior audio engineer, Richard Romaniello based in NY, who has worked with Glenn Close, Matt Dillon, Michael Douglas, Michael Moore, Dolly Parton, Christopher Plummer, and many others. “Working with the Jony Studios team on our audiobook project was fantastic! They were very professional, attentive, and always happy to help. I would definitely recommend Jony and his team, and we look forward to collaborating with them again soon.” - Julie Wilson (Senior Manager, Penguin Random House).
Your Neighbourhood Credit Union (YNCU) is proud to celebrate and reflect on 75 years of being a committed community partner and trusted financial institution in the Waterloo region and beyond. YNCU’s foundation is built on connectedness to the communities where it operates. With 17 branches, Ontarians can bank close to home across southwestern and northern Ontario with one of the largest credit unions in the province. In honour of their milestone anniversary, YNCU has created a year-long Random Acts of Kindness program. Over the course of 2022 every employee will be given $75 to perform a random act of kindness in their community. From dropping off treats to local hospital staff to paying for groceries for the person in line behind them, staff are finding creative and heart-warming ways to spread kindness. Be sure to check out the YNCU social channels or search #YNCUcares to follow along. As a community-based organization, not only do YNCU’s partnerships and investments make a difference, its employees live and work in the communities they serve. Together with its members, employees and community partners, YNCU is helping to make life better in the places Ontarians live, work, learn and play!
Member Notables
ApplyBoard buys Panda Portal
ApplyBoard, the platform that simplifies the study abroad search, application, and acceptance process for international students around the world, announced its first acquisition on March 22, 2022. The tech unicorn acquired Panda Portal, an international education industry training ecosystem, software platform, and proprietary technology. As part of the acquisition, Panda Portal has now been rebranded as TrainHub, and will remain a stand alone platform powered by ApplyBoard.
The acquisition of TrainHub is part of ApplyBoard’s overall global strategy to enable recruitment partners worldwide to ensure international students consistently receive bestin-class support and accurate information to position them for success, helping to bridge gaps in the study abroad journey and support global economies. This acquisition comes less than a year after ApplyBoard announced its US$300M Series D funding round at a postmoney valuation of US$3.2 billion.
Former University of Waterloo President James Downey Passes in March 2022
The fourth president and vice-chancellor of the University of Waterloo, James Downey, passed away in late March of 2022 at the age of 82. Dr. Downey led the institution from 1993 to 1999, during an era of major change in provincial post-secondary education. He also served as chair of the Council of Ontario Universities and chair of the Association of Commonwealth Universities. He became an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1996. Dr. Downey was also the founding president of the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario. Current University of Waterloo president Vivek Goel noted “the University and indeed Canada’s post-secondary sector has lost one of its champions with the sad passing of Jim Downey.” There will be a funeral service for the family and the University plans to hold a memorial on campus.
Local Chambers Support Local Businesses
Chamber Check is a program developed by the Greater Kitchener Waterloo and Cambridge Chambers of Commerce to support businesses through the pandemic. One of the ways that our Chambers have led the way in supporting SMEs in Waterloo Region is through the Rapid Screening distribution program that we launched in April 2021, which was the first of its kind in Canada. During the past year, we have distributed over 1 million free rapid screening kits to 7,500+ SMEs in our Region through the Chamber Check program. We are proud to have been the catalyst in the development of a National Chamber program, where hundreds of Chambers across Canada have implemented similar rapid screening distribution programs. In addition to the rapid screening program, Chamber Check has also provided businesses with COVID related training, information about government support programs, as well as partnering with the Region of Waterloo and NSF International to launch the COVID-19 Safe Ambassador program. This service provides free education and one-on-one guidance to help SMEs operate safely and minimize COVID-19 risks. Since the program launched in June 2021, 7,000+ businesses have completed a visit with an ambassador from the program. For more information about these programs, please visit chambercheck.ca.
Plan your event, your way.
THE GRANDWAY HALL 3,800 SF | 250 people
Room can be split by divider wall: 110 & 130 people The GrandWay Hall is an open concept room with large windows, a beautiful partially covered patio, and a neutral colour palette that embraces a rustic yet elegant style. It is the ideal location to create your perfect wedding or special event.
THE RIVER ROOM 945 SF | 45 people
The River Room is smaller than the GrandWay Hall but has all the same finishings and access to all the same amenities, such as A/V set up, customized room configurations, and its own private entrance.
THE IRVINE BOARDROOM 580 SF | 16 people
If you’re looking for a modern and professional space to host your next meeting, look no further! Our new state-of-the-art boardroom is ready to accommodate all your needs.
