by admin | Sep 29, 2020 | Chamber News
Burlington Safe Restart Program to provide eligible small businesses with grants of up to $2500 to purchase PPE equipment and/or renovate their physical space to adhere to reopening guidelines
September 29, 2020 – Burlington, ON – Team Burlington (Burlington Economic Development, Burlington Chamber of Commerce, Burlington Downtown Business Association, Aldershot Village BIA and Tourism Burlington), has teamed up with the City of Burlington and POST Promise to deliver an innovative new program to provide financial support to Burlington’s small business community during COVID-19. A direct outcome of the Burlington Economic Recovery Network (BERN) also led by Team Burlington, the one-time grant of up to $2500 can be used towards related COVID-19 costs such as purchasing PPE, renovating a physical space to adhere to public health guidelines, purchasing of signage and/or barriers, and much more.
Carla Y. Nell, President and CEO of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce offered a statement on behalf of the Team Burlington organizations. “As a result of COVID-19, public-facing businesses such as food services and retail stores have seen a decline in revenues anywhere from 60-70%. These businesses are under tremendous pressure to adapt their physical spaces to adhere to reopening guidelines. Through speaking with stakeholders, it became clear that the City could support in restarting the economy and rebuilding consumer and employee trust by offering financial support to adapt to the reopening guidelines laid out by the province.” She continued, “We are very proud that Burlington is the first municipality we know of to launch a program of this kind and to be taking actionable steps toward helping businesses reopen safely and effectively.”
The Burlington Safe Restart Program is also proud to be partnering with POST Promise, a private-sector initiative, in collaboration with various levels of government, designed to help Canadians confidently and safely visit public spaces and the workplace. Businesses who apply for the Burlington Safe Restart grant are required to make the POST Promise, which provides education and training on how to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“The POST Promise is honoured to be a part of the City of Burlington’s Safe Restart Program, and Team Burlington’s efforts to support local businesses during this challenging time,” said Laura Hearn, President & Executive Director of the POST Promise. “This initiative not only provides businesses with the tools they need to keep their customers and employees safe but is also critical to rebuilding consumer confidence and supporting our economy. I applaud all businesses who have already made the POST Promise and encourage all others to learn more at postpromise.com.”
Grant recipients will be able to display Burlington Safe Restart signage as well as the POST Promise logo in their storefront window, demonstrating their commitment to doing their part to protect the public’s health during COVID-19.
“The Burlington Safe Restart Program grant is another way to support our local businesses in adapting, as well as helping to increase consumer confidence in participating in the economy again – that, in turn, will hopefully help the public feel more comfortable in visiting their favourite local shops,” said Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward. “Businesses are already putting in safety and health protocols, and that’s good to see. Connecting the grant to the POST Promise is also a great idea because it’s a simple and visible way for businesses to let their customers know the steps they are taking. Once people start seeing the same logo at many businesses — and you’ll also see it at City Hall — it’ll start creating confidence again in participating in the economy. I want to thank the Burlington Economic Recovery Network and Team Burlington for spearheading and supporting these initiatives and encouraging businesses to participate.”
The Burlington Safe Restart program will be accepting applications from eligible businesses from September 29 to October 13. More information on the program including eligibility requirements and the application form can be found at www.investburlington.ca/covid19.
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Media Contact
Claire Green
Manager, Marketing and Attraction
Burlington Economic Development
Claire.Green@burlington.ca
by admin | Sep 18, 2020 | Uncategorized
2020 Small Business Week Virtual Conference
Small business week is an annual celebration of entrepreneurship that Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) has organized for over 40 years. Each year, the Burlington Chamber of Commerce champions local educational and networking opportunities to keep the Burlington business community informed and connected.
The Small Business Week Virtual Conference will provide participants with insight and inspiration from prominent thought leaders and experts to help organizations become more resilient and develop the leadership skills necessary to succeed in the new normal.
We recognize that different industries are facing unique barriers and pressures during these turbulent times. With the rapidly changing landscape that COVID-19 has brought on, industry experts will speak to important topics in business operations including, human resources, finance, accounting, Chamber support and marketing & branding.
Whether you are business as usual or facing unforeseen challenges, we invite all Chamber members and guests to take part in this virtual conference!
All participants will receive signed copies of our wonderful Keynote Speaker, David Kincaid’s latest publication, The Brand-Driven CEO: Embedding Brand into Business Strategy, valued at $32.95.
The Brand-Driven CEO demonstrates how senior leadership can use their brand to align and guide the behaviours, decisions, and operations of their entire organization and drive brand and shareholder value. Author David Kincaid delivers practical assessments and game plans for senior executives and managers across functional areas, clarifying the confusion.
As the Founder of Level5, David has had the opportunity to build a firm dedicated to creating value for client partners’ most important asset: their brand. This has provided David with a unique insight into a global range of market sectors.
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As a result, he has been able to work alongside progressive, brand-driven business leaders in creating and delivering brands that have been successful financially, socially, and culturally. David’s rich corporate and consulting experience allows him to thrive in uncovering provocative insight and potential – in people, brands, and businesses. He has a proven strategic business sense and is both a world-class communicator and facilitator.
Entrepreneurs, business professionals, and students want to hear what David has to say. He is a frequent lecturer and speaker at Canada’s leading business schools and conferences – David is an Adjunct Professor of Marketing at both the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University and the Schulich Executive Education Centre at York University. He has published three books: The Brand-Driven CEO, The Value of a Promise Consistently Kept, and Brand Forward, Brand Back. In 2013, he was honoured for his outstanding work and contributions by being inducted into the American Marketing Association’s Marketing Hall of Legends.
David loves music, golf, and travelling with his family, where together they can laugh and learn.
Kenna is the President / CEO and founding partner of Danyliw & Mann, a boutique firm that specializes in providing business management, tax and accounting services to the music industry. The business started 15 years ago in the spare bedroom of her family’s home while she had two young daughters, a stepson and one very supportive husband.
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Danyliw & Mann has grown out of that bedroom and into one of the leading Canadian firms in the industry and represents several Juno and Grammy award-winning or nominated artists across Canada, the United States and beyond. Kenna is a CPA, CA who started her career with Coopers & Lybrand and also worked with Laidlaw and Pricewaterhouse Coopers before founding Danyliw & Mann. Kenna and her family are Burlington residents who have lived in the community for 20 years. Kenna is the Treasurer on the Sarah McLachlan Foundation board, is the former Vice-Chair of the Art Gallery of Burlington Board of Directors, is a new member of the Hamilton Community Foundation’s Women4Change group, is a member of the JR Digs Acoustic Christmas organizing committee, volunteers services for The Avril Lavigne Foundation and was on the board of the Southern Ontario Chamber Music Institute and Planned Parenthood Hamilton.
Leadership Development Speakers
Carolyn is on a mission to shift our workplaces from transactional jobs to places where people can grow, transform and thrive while feeling energized, inspired and motivated to do their best work. She designed Purposeful Workplace Experiences (PWE) to empower individuals and teams to transform workplace culture by becoming change agents and driving culture from the bottom up.
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As a Workplace Culture Architect, Carolyn works with business leaders who place their people at the core of business success to create organizational systems and practices that are people-centred, forward-thinking and prepared for demanding and challenging business climates.
Carolyn is the owner of Pinnacle Culture. She has a 25-year track record helping organizations enhance the employee experience and evolve their workplace culture. She has worked with clients across various industries, ranging from small businesses to large corporations, and as a Senior Business Leader in the pharmaceutical industry leading teams through significant change. Her real-life experience is bolstered by her love of learning.
She has a Master of Arts in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Adler University in Chicago, a Human Resource Management Diploma from Sheridan College, a Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Kinesiology from McMaster. She is also proud to be part of a global team of independent Certified Dare to Lead Facilitators who are trained and certified to bring the Dare to Lead™ research by Brené Brown to organizations.
Her podcast PWE & ME, now in its fourth season, is designed to inspire people at all organizational levels to create purposeful workplace experiences and close the gap between what people say should happen to transform the workplace and what is actually happening. She is also the author of Amazon best-seller Rules of Engagement: Building a workplace culture to thrive in an uncertain world.
With 24 years of experience in wealth management and financial planning, Lisa-Marie has worked for both bank-owned and full-service brokerage firms before making the choice to join IG Private Wealth Management in 2005.
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She holds 5 designations in the investment industry: Financial Management Advisor (FMA), Registered Retirement Consultant (RRC), Qualified Associate Financial Planner (QAFP), Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute which is reserved solely for financial services professionals who meet the highest standards for advanced education, ethical conduct, industry experience and endorsement from peers. Lisa-Marie also holds the Certified International Wealth Manager (CIWM) designation, which recognizes her unique expertise in managing the complex requirements of affluent clients.
Lisa-Marie believes in balancing one’s professional and personal life. She is married with 3 children and lives in Downtown Burlington. She is also very active in supporting her local community, is involved in many charitable organizations and has competed in several prominent sports events, including the New York and Chicago Marathons.
Designed, sourced and made-in-Canada, the award-winning Joseph Tassoni brand is a celebration of Canadian quality, craftsmanship and creativity. Joseph came from humble beginnings, starting his fashion career by studying at the Ryerson School of Fashion, where he
then worked in corporate apparel for 18 years before starting his own, successful brand that exists today.
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In 2017, Joseph launched his outerwear label to great reception during Toronto Women’s Fashion Week. The Joseph Tassoni brand is known for its best in class materials and inventive designs that ensure the women and men wearing this clothing don’t have to sacrifice comfort for style.
Joseph’s design aesthetic is one of bold femininity and high fashion, while remaining focused on uncompromising fit. From his Cashmere 2016 winning bathroom tissue gown to outfitting red carpet looks for TIFF 2017, 2018 and 2019, where his heart-shaped backless silhouette was a favourite among photographers and media, Joseph’s designs are always of high calibre. His capsule collection for Toronto Women’s Fashion Week’s runway celebration of Canada’s 150th brought luxury and couture to the runway in a powerful way that was uniquely Canadian.
In addition to constantly elevating his brand, Joseph remains passionate about elevating the state of Canadian home-grown fashion through mentorship programs at George Brown, Humber College, and through his advocacy towards made-in-Canada brands. In 2020, Joseph paved the way for fashion designers in Canada by pivoting his studio to produce protective equipment, including masks and gloves, to aid in the fight against COVID-19. Joseph was the first made-in Canada fashion label to bring masks to the market, with proceeds from each purchase going towards his local hospital in Burlington. His passion for his craft, and for the country that inspires him, is evident in everything Joseph does; where his designs and brand model are representations of his passion and love for the Canadian fashion industry.
Julie Ellis has 15 years of experience in the financial services industry and was most recently the Chief Operating Officer for a privately held omni channel retailer in Canada, responsible for driving the company’s growth toward operational excellence, team integration and market expansion.
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She is the co-founder of the successful Canadian small business Mabel’s Labels and has been involved in the business and startup communities for many years. She was Chair of the Board at Innovation Factory in Hamilton, ON., which offers programs that accelerate the innovation process for up-and-coming companies through collaboration with community-based resources from business, science, government, academia and finance. She is the current Board Chair at Angel One Investor Network, one of the most active angel groups in Canada. Julie has extensive experience mentoring leaders of all levels across several industries to achieve their professional goals and is a sought-after speaker and presenter on topics ranging from leadership development to corporate culture building, to growth and scale. Julie is also a two-time winner of the Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards, in the category of RBC Momentum (2009) and Profit Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship (2014).
Ask the Expert: COVID-19 Response Team
Lynn Beechey is a Certified Personnel Consultant, at Beechey Management Resources. She has business experience in almost all industry sectors. She specializes in providing Recruitment/Talent Acquisition & H.R. Solutions to strengthen her client’s teams and develop structure for their businesses.
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Lynn started her career in a Chemical Manufacturing firm in Mississauga, as an H.R. Generalist. After being laid off, she quickly found a home in the recruitment world. Lynn spent several years with a full-service executive search firm in Mississauga, learning the recruitment craft. She developed the Company’s hiring processes, created their in-house Policies and Procedures as well as a full onboarding & orientation program. She was instrumental in creating an enhanced industry specific training program to develop and teach new talent acquisition professionals. The organization grew from 5 full time staff to over 20 staff across 3 locations in a few short years.
Lynn decided to start her own business, Beechey Management Resources in 2001! As an extension of her clients’ own teams, she brings a strategic approach to identifying and evaluating top talent, ensuring skill and culture fit every time. For many of her small business clients, who would not have the capacity to have a full time H.R. Professional, she provides a variety of H.R. support on a consulting basis ensuring they have the right programs in place. These programs include strategic planning, policy development, onboarding & orientation development, performance management programs and employee relations support.
Lynn has been an active member of the Burlington Community, leading fundraising initiatives for Breast Cancer causes as well as support services and continues to be an active member of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce.
Mary Ann looks after the GTA West Area of the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC). In this role, she leads a team of professionals dedicated to serving Canadian businesses through financing, venture capital and advisory services with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises.
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In addition, she is the Regional Sponsor for Ontario Women Entrepreneurs. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Mississauga Board of Trade and One Spark Foundation Board.
Before joining BDC, she spent a number of years working in commercial banking in the Windsor area. Mary Ann is a former director of St. Joe’s Hospital Foundation in London and Board of Governors for Grand River Hospital Foundation. She sat on various committees supporting entrepreneurship and automotive growth in Ontario & Canada.
Alex is a Manager of the Assurance Team providing audit, review and notice to reader financial statements and preparation of corporate income tax returns. Prior to joining Bateman MacKay, Alex held a role with one of the big four accounting firms as a key member in their Financial Institutions and Real Estate Group, specializing in the real estate sector.
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Alex is committed to delivering financial services that meet the specific needs of each of his clients. With a thoughtful approach, he consistently provides professional and proficient expertise to his client base.
A dedicated learner, Alex became a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) in 2013 and earned his Public Accountant (LPA) license in 2018. He graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (accounting) from Wilfrid Laurier University.
In his personal time, Alex enjoys soccer, snowboarding, and golf and is well-travelled.
Carla Y. Nell has more than 25 years of senior leadership experience in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors and is widely known for her transformational and collaborative leadership style. Prior to taking on her role with the Chamber in July of 2019, she recently served as the Vice-President, Municipal and Stakeholder Relations at the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC).
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Throughout her career, she has also gained extensive experience as principal of a professional services consulting firm, has served as a trusted strategic advisor on complex issues to a diverse range of clients, stakeholders and organizations, and was previously a part-time professor at Seneca College in the Faculty of Business. She holds numerous degrees and professional designations and is a sought after contributor and speaker by organizations and associations serving both the private and public sectors with provincial, national and international profile. Carla is a highly regarded thought leader whose commitment to customers and partnerships is a signature of her leadership.
Lara is an award-winning, results-driven brand positioning expert with over 25 years as a Business Growth Consultant. Basically, she teaches business owners how to become the ONLY one in their industry instead of being one of the many. She’s advised multinationals like Johnson & Johnson, Kraft, Shell and Benjamin Moore as well as small businesses around the globe.
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Lara travels the world as a keynote speaker and workshop facilitator. She’s the recipient of Connect Magazine’s Top 40 under 40, Rejuvenate Magazine’s Top 40 under 40, has been bestowed the title of Industry Innovator by BizBash magazine, received the coveted Spirit of the Industry Award by the CEIA and is proud to have been honoured with Dedication & Leadership Awards by ILEA. She graduated from Ivy Business School’s Executive Program, but it’s the title of Mom that brings Lara the most pride. When she’s not building Lego with her son, she’s been known to board down active volcanoes, spelunk 16 stories underground, camp in -10 degree temps beside a glacier, bungee jump over a rainforest, swim with sharks and jump from a plane at 15,000 feet.
Support our Local Restaurants during Small Business Week
To further support the business community and to accommodate for not being able to host this workshop in person, we encourage you to visit a local Chamber member restaurants from October 18 – 24th! The following restaurants have special offers that week.
Enjoy 20% off food and non-alcoholic beverages.
$15 Lunch & $25 Dinner special.
$25 Lunch and $40 Dinner special.
2020 Small Business Week Sponsors
Sponsorship Opportunities are available! Please contact ashlee@ourforte.ca to become a sponsor and help us celebrate entrepreneurship and small businesses in Burlington.
by admin | Sep 16, 2020 | Chamber News
Canadians, and their local restaurants and pubs, already pay some of the highest alcohol taxes anywhere in the world. Next April 1, the government is going to want even more money from cash-strapped Canadians and desperate small business owners.
The timing could not be any worse as the global pandemic continues to crater the Canadian economy. Just as households are struggling to make ends meet and local restaurants are disappearing, the federal government continues to apply an automatic tax increase on beer, wine and spirits.
“Surely, amid a global pandemic and a once-a-century economic downturn, there is cause to stop an automatic tax increase to ensure we help everyday Canadians to cope with the impacts of COVID-19. That’s why asking the government to freeze this unfair tax increase to give consumers a break and to support the economic recovery of Canadian bars, restaurants and domestic producers,” said Perrin Beatty, President and CEO, Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
Few Canadians are aware that the alcohol escalator tax automatically increases the excise duty rate on beer, wine and spirits every year on April 1. This automatic yearly increase was introduced by the federal government in Budget 2017 without any consultation or economic analysis of its impact on consumers, the foodservice industry, producers and their agricultural suppliers.
Canadians and business owners believe this automatic increase is unfair under normal circumstances, and inexcusable amid COVID-19. That is why the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Beer Canada, Spirits Canada and various Canadian hospitality industry businesses launched the Freeze the Alcohol Tax campaign, which calls on the federal government to put an end to the unfair alcohol escalator tax in the next federal budget and give Canadians a much-deserved break.
“Hotels, restaurants and bars having been hit the hardest by the pandemic, with over a million jobs lost and thousands of restaurants closed permanently. Keeping the escalator tax in place does nothing but cause harm to businesses and the thousands of Canadians they employ,” says Luke Chapman, Interim President of Beer Canada
“Canadians wouldn’t stand for automatic tax increases on their take home pay, and they shouldn’t stand for it on their favourite Canadian whisky or cocktail that they enjoy as they socialize or celebrate key life moments with family and friends. Canadians elect parliamentarians to scrutinize how money is collected as well as spent, and taxes going up without such scrutiny is completely undemocratic”, said Jan Westcott President of Spirits Canada.
The Freeze the Alcohol Tax is a campaign led by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and is supported by:
- Arterra Wines Canada
- Barley Council of Canada
- Beer Canada
- Big Rig
- Boston Pizza
- CWB Franchise Finance
- Firkin Group of Pubs
- Foodtastic
- Grain Growers of Canada
- Northland Restaurant Group
- Ontario Federation of Agriculture
- Restaurants Canada
- Service Inspired Restaurants (SIR Corp)
- Spirits Canada
- St. Louis Bar and Grill Restaurants
- The Beer Store
For more information on the Freeze the Alcohol Tax campaign, who is already involved and what you can do to help, visit: https://www.freezethealcoholtax.ca/.
About the Canadian Chamber of Commerce – Because Business Matters
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce helps build the businesses that support our families, our communities and our country. We do this by influencing government policy, by providing essential business services and by connecting businesses to information they can use, to opportunities for growth and to a network of local chambers, businesses, decision-makers and peers from across the country, in every sector of the economy and at all levels of government, as well as internationally. We are unapologetic in our support for business and the vital role it plays in building and sustaining our great nation.
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For more information, please contact:
Phil Taylor
ptaylor@chamber.ca (preferred and fastest response time)
by admin | Sep 14, 2020 | Chamber News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Support for Women Critical to Canada’s Economic Recovery
Ontario Chamber Network’s latest report offers timely solutions to confront the most pressing challenges currently faced by women
(BURLINGTON, SEPTEMBER 9) –Today, the Burlington Chamber of Commerce and Ontario Chamber of Commerce released, The She-Covery Project: Confronting the Gendered Economic Impacts of COVID-19 in Ontario. This policy brief lays out a path to Ontario’s economic recovery offering practical recommendations to confront both immediate and longer-term challenges faced by women.
“With women’s labour force participation at a record low, decades of progress towards gender equality are at stake,” said Rocco Rossi, President and CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “This is not only a watershed moment for women but for Ontario’s economy and society more broadly, as women’s participation in the labour market is a precondition to its fulsome economic recovery and future prosperity.”
“The economic impacts of the pandemic were direct and immediate for women in Ontario,” said Carla Y. Nell, President & CEO. “Temporary business shutdowns during the state of emergency most severely affected sectors that predominantly employ women. Restrictions on schools and paid child care facilities have shifted additional hours of unpaid family care onto parents, and this work has largely been taken up by mothers.”
Major takeaways from the report include:
- Leadership and accountability begin with a commitment from stakeholders to set collective targets, reward diversity, include women in decision-making bodies, and apply a gender and diversity lens to their strategies, policies, and programs for recovery.
- Child care requires a short-term strategy to weather the pandemic and longer-term, system-wide reforms to improve accessibility and affordability.
- Workforce development initiatives should focus on defining critical skills, accelerating women’s reskilling, and ensuring their skills are utilized – with a focus on increasing their participation in skilled trade, technology, and engineering roles in fast-growing sectors.
- Entrepreneurship should be understood as a pathway to economic growth, and an inclusive ecosystem is critical to supporting women entrepreneurs.
- Flexible work arrangements are one way to level the playing field for women and improve organizational outcomes.
Click here to read the full report.
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For more information, please contact:
Lindsay Stevenson
Strategic Communications Coordinator
lindsay@burlingtonchamber.com
by admin | Jul 24, 2020 | Chamber News
New Program Will Help Local Businesses go Digital in Response to COVID-19
Recovery Activation Program expands to Burlington
BURLINGTON, JULY 24 – COVID-19 has changed everything, requiring telecommuting, on-demand delivery and services, supply chain resiliency and virtual collaborations. Even as the province begins to reopen, the pandemic has heightened the urgency for businesses to digitize to survive.
To address this change, Toronto Region Board of Trade and World Trade Centre Toronto created the Recovery Activation Program, or RAP. RAP offers businesses the know-how, blueprint and partners to address the conditions that COVID-19 has created by implementing digital solutions to their front, middle and back-offices. It will not only equip them to come through COVID-19 intact, but to thrive.
With the support of a $7.7 million investment from the Government of Canada and Government of Ontario, RAP is now expanding to businesses of all sizes throughout the province, including Burlington. The Burlington Chamber of Commerce has been selected as an important partner to help ensure local businesses benefit from the customized services and mentorship that RAP offers. The goal is to help participants develop an effective strategy to attack their unique barriers to connectivity and support their digital restructuring.
“The Burlington Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to offer this timely and important support for our membership and the Burlington business community. As we continue moving through the staged approach to reopening, this program will allow business to strengthen their digital presence and infrastructure to support their economic recovery in the long term,” said President & CEO Carla Y. Nell.
By enabling this partnership between the Burlington Chamber of Commerce and the Toronto Region Board of Trade, the governments’ investment in RAP will also help make sure at least half of RAP’s participants are based outside of Toronto.
“The Recovery Activation Program is a direct response to what we’re hearing from our members and the business community at large: digital tools and services are crucial to success, but challenging to implement,” said Jan De Silva, President and CEO of the Toronto Region Board of Trade. “The Burlington Chamber of Commerce’s involvement in this program will result in the digital transformation of businesses outside of Toronto who will now be in a position to shore up their current business offerings, create new businesses opportunities and explore new markets.”
With recruitment currently open, the first RAP cohort will run through July 2020. Interested businesses can apply here.
ABOUT THE TORONTO REGION BOARD OF TRADE
The Toronto Region Board of Trade is one of the largest and most influential chambers of commerce in North America and is a catalyst for the region’s economic growth agenda. Backed by more than 13,500 members, we pursue policy change to drive the growth and competitiveness of the Toronto region and facilitate market opportunities with programs, partnerships and connections to help our members succeed – domestically and internationally. We want Toronto to be recognized as one of the most competitive and sought-after business regions in the world, and believe this reputation starts with our businesses. Learn more at bot.com and follow us at @TorontoRBOT.
To book an interview, please contact:
Rebecca Tsehay
Toronto Region Board of Trade
647-216-2686
RTsehay@bot.com
by admin | Jul 22, 2020 | Chamber News
Burlington Chamber of Commerce joins Canada United to support local businesses and accelerate small business recovery
Created by RBC in collaboration with the national network of Chambers of Commerce and over 50 corporate partners Burlington Chamber of Commerce to support local businesses as part of the nationwide movement
July 22, 2020 (Burlington, Ontario) – The Burlington Chamber of Commerce announced today it is joining Canada United, a national movement to support local businesses in communities across the country. As part of the movement, RBC has brought together more than 50 of Canada’s leading brands, Business Associations and the national Chamber network to rally Canadians to “show local some love” by buying, dining and shopping local.
“The Burlington Chamber of Commerce is pleased to support the Canada United movement and help bolster businesses in and around our community. Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy and key to a thriving community,” says President & CEO, Carla Y. Nell. The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for businesses in the Halton Region and across the province. We need to continue to support SMEs who create jobs, drive innovation, and generate wealth for communities across Ontario – they will play an integral role in helping the province bounce back.
Canadians are invited to join the Canada United movement by buying and dining local, including celebrating and supporting local businesses during the Canada United Weekend from August 28 to 30, 2020.
Canadians are also encouraged to watch the Canada United videos online at GoCanadaUnited.ca, like posts from @GoCanadaUnited on social media and use #CanadaUnited to demonstrate their support. For each of these actions until August 31, 2020, RBC will contribute 5 cents up to a maximum contribution amount of $2 million to the new Canada United Small Business Relief Fund, while working with government and corporate partners to source additional contributions to the fund during the course of the campaign. The Fund will provide small businesses with grants of up to $5,000 to cover expenses related to personal protective equipment (PPE) renovations to accommodate re-opening guidelines and developing or improving e-commerce capabilities.
Small Canadian businesses across the country will be able to apply for up to $5,000 in grant funding. The program intends to support small Canadian businesses of all kinds from across the country. The Canada United Small Business Relief Fund will be administered by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the national Chamber network. Small business owners who are interested in the program can visit GoCanadaUnited.ca to learn more about grant application details, including eligibility criteria, and to apply.
“We are excited to welcome the Burlington Chamber of Commerce to Canada United to help local businesses and Canada’s economy come back strong,” said Neil McLaughlin, Group Head, Personal & Commercial Banking, Royal Bank of Canada. “Canada United has created to kick-start an economic rebound by rallying consumers to give local businesses the support they need to re-open during these uncertain times. By bringing together government, business associations and corporate Canada, we are looking to start a movement to get Canadians to buy local and support businesses across the country. We are genuinely excited by the energy all of our partners are bringing to this effort.”
“If there has been one silver lining in all the tragedy and sacrifices of the current crisis, it has been the spirit of collaboration and unity of purpose that has been evident between levels of government, across provinces and across sectors,” said Rocco Rossi, President and CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce.
“We are calling on that same unity of purpose with Canada United. Small, local businesses are the heart of our communities, our Main Streets and our economy. Together, it is time to show local some love.”
About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 84,000+ employees who bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada’s biggest bank, and one of the largest in the world based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 34 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.
We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact.
Media Contact
Lindsay Stevenson
Burlington Chamber of Commerce
289-208-2844
lindsay@burlingtonchamber.com
by admin | Jun 29, 2020 | Chamber News
(Burlington) – June 29, 2020 – The Canadian Chamber of Commerce announced 62 $10,000 grant recipients from its Canadian Business Resilience Network Small Business Relief Fund today, including Supreme Cheerleading Inc., located in Burlington, Ontario.
“We are delighted to see a hard-working and dedicated Chamber member receive this $10,000 grant from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Salesforce. Owners Tracey Page and Vicki Seguire are active members of the Burlington community and among our membership. Supreme Cheerleading Inc. have adapted to the challenges that have been brought on by COVID-19 by offering virtual training options for their Supreme Cheerleaders at the onset of the outbreak. We are excited to see how they will continue to innovate over the next few months and beyond the pandemic.” said President & CEO, Carla Y. Nell.
More than 1100 small businesses across Canada applied for the 62 grants available. The lucky recipients were those that best demonstrated their financial strain, how the business will use the grant to change or innovate, how the change or innovation will sustain the business’s recovery and allow it to prosper, and how the grant will support the role each business plays in their community.
The fund was managed by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and made possible through the generosity of Salesforce (NYSE:CRM). The funding was designed to help small businesses across the country stay afloat and support their recovery efforts, paying salaries, retrofitting their workplaces and acquiring technology to adapt their business model. Salesforce has also provided grants to small businesses in Canada, the U.S., the U.K. and Australia, in addition to providing other resources.
“Reviewing the applications was both heartbreaking and inspiring, We saw how seriously small businesses across Canada have been hurt by the pandemic, but we also saw how determined these entrepreneurs are to preserve their employees’ jobs and to serve their customers and their communities. Today is a happy waypoint, not an endpoint, and we won’t stop finding new ways to help Canada’s businesses reopen and recover. We’ll be with them every step of the way,” said Perrin Beatty, President and CEO, Canadian Chamber.
“It has been incredible to see the resilience coming from Canada’s small business owners over the last few months. We know it hasn’t been easy,” said Margaret Stuart, Canada Country Manager, Salesforce. “The applicants have further demonstrated what we at Salesforce already knew to be true – that Canada is rich with innovation and entrepreneurial talent. We’re hopeful that these grants will provide essential support to small business owners as they return to work.”
A complete list of the winners can be found here.
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For more information, please contact:
Phil Taylor
Canadian Chamber of Commerce
ptaylor@chamber.ca
Lindsay Stevenson
Burlington Chamber of Commerce
lindsay@burlingtonchamber.com
by admin | Jun 24, 2020 | Uncategorized
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 24, 2020
BURLINGTON, ONTARIO
Burlington, Ontario (June 24, 2020) – The Burlington Chamber of Commerce was delighted to host the 2020 Business Excellence Gala through a reimagined, community-driven, virtual experience. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the original date was set for April 2nd, 2020 and was rescheduled for last evening, June 23rd, 2020.
As the voice of business in Burlington and beyond, the Burlington Chamber of Commerce has been working tirelessly to create new virtual opportunities to connect leaders. We were pleased to continue the tradition of supporting Chamber members, showcasing leadership, and celebrating business excellence by transforming our annual Business Excellence Awards into a live, virtual awards ceremony.
As always, the Business Awards Task Force Committee was impressed by the calibre of companies represented this year and every company that is nominated receives careful attention. All nominated companies are evaluated based on the following criteria: Business Leadership, Technology & Product Innovation, Community Contributions, Environmental Leadership, Customer/Stakeholder Relations, Sales and Market Growth, Entrepreneurship, and Employee Welfare. This year, winners were chosen for the following categories: Not-for-Profit, Retail/Wholesale, Service – Micro, Small, Medium and Large, and Young Entrepreneur. A special award was also added this year at the Task Force’s discretion – the Heritage Award – to recognize an organization demonstrating an outstanding legacy of success in Burlington.
The 21 finalists have shown great resilience overcoming the challenges that businesses are currently facing by adapting their operations and stepping up as community leaders. We were thrilled to be able to celebrate and honour them during this particularly challenging time for business.
The Burlington Chamber of Commerce’s 2020 Business Excellence Awards Winners are:
The Mayor’s Community Service and Burlington Economic Development Award Winners who were also honoured at the Gala are:
Mayor’s Community Service Awards:
Burlington Economic Development Awards:
“We were pleased to move forward with this time-honoured tradition despite not being able to host in person. While this year’s award ceremony may have looked different, we were delighted to recognize and honour this year’s finalists through a reimagined, virtual experience. The priority for this event was to not only adapt to the changing landscape that COVID-19 has brought on but to showcase business excellence while at the same time reinvesting in our community and local economy,” said President & CEO Carla Y. Nell
Taking advantage of the opportunity to support and reinvest in our business community, ticket holders were given exclusive access to the live, interactive event production. As a part of this one-of-a-kind experience, each ticket holder also received their choice of an awards night 3-course meal and gift bags showcasing a broad array of products from Chamber members and the broader business community.
Thank you to our event sponsors and everyone who attended this one-of-a-kind experience! It was wonderful to take advantage of this opportunity to celebrate business excellence and leadership despite not being able to connect in person. Sincere congratulations to our 2020 Business Excellence Award Winners!
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Media Contact
Lindsay Stevenson
Manager, Strategic Communications and Marketing
Burlington Chamber of Commerce
lindsay@burlingtonchamber.com
289-208-2844
by admin | Jun 22, 2020 | Chamber News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA RELEASE
JUNE 22, 2020
SPOTLIGHTING ONTARIO SMALL BUSINESS #DIFFERENCEMAKERS
(BURLINGTON, JUNE 22, 2020) – Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been at the center of the economic crisis caused by COVID-19. Faced with reduced revenue, poor liquidity, disrupted supply chains, and a host of unprecedented challenges, many small businesses have used this as an opportunity to pivot their business model and grow. The Burlington Chamber of Commerce and Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s (OCC) latest policy brief, Small Business, Big Impact: How SMEs are Pivoting During COVID-19, highlights a range of Ontario’s SMEs that have successfully adapted during this difficult time.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and key to thriving communities,” says Carla Y. Nell, President & CEO of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce. “Ontario is home to almost 430,000 SMEs, employing 88 percent of the workforce. These small businesses create jobs, drive innovation, and generate wealth for communities in Halton Region and across Ontario.
Throughout the pandemic the Ontario Chamber Network has been highlighting #DifferenceMakers, businesses who are successfully pivoting their operations and finding creative ways of supporting their communities.
“Given the important role SMEs play, it is critical for organizations like the OCC to help shine a light on how smaller firms are showing resilience, despite the odds. Equally important is ensuring that policies and programs are developed with urgency for the SMEs in sectors and regions that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, an issue explored in depth in RBC’s latest report, Small Business, Big Pivot,” states Rocco Rossi, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.
The OCC’s latest policy brief highlights 28 SMEs from the Chamber’s network that have adapted their operations and displayed tremendous leadership. Some quickly retooled their operations to manufacture essential products while others modified existing products or services to continue serving clients and remain resilient. Throughout the economic crisis, other SMEs featured in this brief found creative ways to support frontline workers in their communities.
“The SMEs profiled in this brief are true difference makers. Many of these companies recognized the shifting business environment and new economic trends, such as digital delivery, and took immediate steps to fill a gap, leverage technology, or develop critical partnerships during this challenging period. Together, they demonstrate the nimbleness, ingenuity, and generosity of Ontario’s SMEs,” explains report author, Catrina Kronfli, Senior Policy Analyst.
Small Business, Big Impact is the third in a series of COVID-19 policy briefs to be released in the coming months, providing insights on the impact the pandemic is having on the business community.
Read the report.
by admin | Jun 16, 2020 | Chamber News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA RELEASE
JUNE 16, 2020
OCC and Chamber Network report outlines need for strong data governance in modern, post-pandemic economy
(BURLINGTON, JUNE 16) – Today, the Burlington Chamber of Commerce and Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) released their latest report, In Data We Trust: Unlocking the Value of Data in Ontario. With the COVID-19 crisis rapidly transforming the modern economy, the report outlines the need for Ontario to unlock opportunities and manage the threats of its increasingly data-driven economy.
“Long before COVID-19, it was evident that data has quickly become one of the most valuable resources in our economy, revolutionizing traditional business models across finance, health care, manufacturing, and many other sectors,” said Rocco Rossi, President and CEO of the OCC. “The reality is that almost everything we do as consumers relies on and is made possible to some extent by data analytics and related technologies, from fraud detection to supply chain optimization. In many ways, the pandemic has accelerated this transformation, as the need for digitization and the integration of health data have become more critical than ever.”
In Data We Trust reflects on the value of data innovation, explores lessons from COVID-19, and outlines organizational best practices and policy recommendations focused on privacy, cybersecurity, data sharing, and artificial intelligence (AI).
“Digital contact tracing, adoption of AI technologies, and expansion of 5G networks: all of these will benefit our society, and will require mobilizing data in responsible and innovative ways,” explains report author Claudia Dessanti, Senior Policy Analyst at the OCC.
Key takeaways include:
- Privacy frameworks should protect individual rights while encouraging data-driven innovation. Ontario and Canada should reinforce their principles-based approach with strong industry standards. Businesses and other organizations have an important role to play to ensure their own privacy practices enhance public trust.
- Cybersecurity breaches are affecting organizations of all kinds. More can be done to build capacity and limit future attacks with stronger adoption of industry standards, information sharing, and best practices around risk assessments, staff training, technology adoption, and insurance.
- Data sharing is an opportunity to improve efficiencies and spur innovation across the economy. Organizations should collaborate on shared standards and infrastructure to enable data sharing across all sectors, including health care, without compromising privacy. Meanwhile, governments should improve the use of their open data programs.
- AI is a competitive advantage that Ontario should leverage. Going forward, the province should prioritize expansion of regional broadband infrastructure, translate AI research expertise into widespread adoption of the technology, prepare the workforce for an AI-driven economy, and mitigate ethical risks related to AI use.
“The data revolution does come with certain risks, including the erosion of personal privacy, data security breaches, labour market disruption, ethical challenges, and increasing regional inequality,” says Carla Y. Nell, President & CEO. “That is why the Burlington Chamber of Commerce is committed to working with our community to create an environment that encourages data-driven innovation while protecting against these very real challenges.”
In Data We Trust was informed by a Data Working Group composed of leading experts from a range of sectors across the province.
Read the report.
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About the Ontario Chamber of Commerce
For more than a century, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) has been the independent, non-partisan, indispensable partner of Ontario business. The OCC’s mission is to support economic growth in Ontario by defending business priorities at Queen’s Park on behalf of its network’s diverse 60,000 members.
For more information, please contact:
Michelle Eaton
Vice President, Public Affairs
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
michelleeaton@occ.ca or 647-261-4594
