Houston & District Chamber of Commerce Newsletter August 2017 In This Issue Small Town Love Upcoming Events Members Business Anniversaies 2016/2017...Board of Directors Supply Chain Connector The...Official Visitor's Guide...Houston B.C Constant Contacts BC Chamber of Commerce Travel Discount Program Houston & District Chamber News Chamber Members' News... Northern Development Initiative Trust:...Entrepreneurial Mindset Grant for Northern BC Featured Houston & District Chamber of Commerce Members Community Events The CASL transition period is ending and the private right of action comes into force...are you r... Houston Merchant Gift Certificates BC Chamber releases 2017/2018 Policy & Positions Manual Article from the Province - Opinion: Make Small Business Tax Benefit to Credit Unions Permanent BC Chamber -...Val Litwin: Trade will play increasingly important role in B.C. business growth RCA -...The Canada Revenue Agency is moving its web presence to Canada.ca. RCA - Find out how your feedback is helping the CRA serve small and medium businesses better!. Article from Globe & Mail:...B.C. aims for $15 minimum wage by 2021, Canadian Chamber Top 10 Barriers to Competitiveness for 2016 Quick Links Houston Chamber District of Houston Supply Chain Connector Greetings! Due to programming issues we are having some issues with formatting of the Newsletter Houston & District Chamber News Houston & District Chamber Welcomed the Girl Guides of S.O.A.R 2017 The Houston & District Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Centre welcomed the Girl Guides of S.O.A.R 2017 through out the week of July 24th to July 28th. Over 2600 Girl Guides from all over Canada, the U.S. and Internationally including Japan, Russia, Scotland, and England. The Spirit of Adventure Rendezvous, SOAR for short, is a week-long provincial 'back to basics' outdoor camp sponsored by the BC Council of Girl Guides of Canada, for girls between the ages of 11 and 18. which includes BC Guides, Pathfinders and Rangers. This event happens every 3 years and Smithers was the setting for S.O.A.R 2017 other communities that have hosted in the past include: Enderby, Prince George, Sooke, Trail, Merritt, Parksville, and Aggasiz giving girls an opportunity to see various parts of BC. This year the girls explored Smithers, Hazelton, and Houston with different activities in each community. In Houston they had a chance to take part in a walking tour of the Town of Houston, Stroll through Steelhead Park and the Houston Museum Society's "Walk through History". They enjoyed completing a treasure hunt and visiting at the Houston Visitor Centre. The girls used the Houston Leisure Facility for recreational swimming and were entertained at the Pleasant Valley Plaza, they visited many businesses in town and ice cream seemed to be a popular treat. It was a fun-filled week and w, at the Houston Visitor Centre, enjoyed each group visit from the Girl Guides of S.O.A.R. 2017. Are you taking advantage of the Northern BC App? Visitors and consumers are using their smart phones to research their trips. This app covers all of Northern BC and helps visitors determine what restaurants, lodgings and attractions are nearby using GPS. Download the Northern BC app on your smartphone and make sure your business is listed and up to date. Please contact the Houston & District Chamber of Commerce if your business information needs updating. Houston & District Chamber of Commerce Treasure Hunt Through Steelhead Park The Houston & District Chamber of Commerce and Houston Visitor Centre once again will have a treasure hunt for kids of all ages! A Great way to Explore Steelhead Park I Spy Treasure Hunt for children 7yrs. and under & Steelhead Treasure Hunt for children 7 yrs. and older Pick up your treasure hunt questions at the Houston Visitor Centre then adventure through Steelhead Park and then return to get your treasure! There is no cost for this program. For more information, please call our office at 250-845-7640 The Official Houston Visitor Guide
Transcript
Houston & District Chamber ofCommerce Newsletter August 2017
In This IssueSmall Town Love
Upcoming Events
Members Business Anniversaies
2016/2017...Board of Directors
Supply Chain Connector
The...Official Visitor'sGuide...Houston B.C
Constant Contacts
BC Chamber of CommerceTravel Discount Program
Houston & District ChamberNews
Chamber Members' News...
Northern Development InitiativeTrust:...Entrepreneurial Mindset
Grant for Northern BC
Featured Houston & DistrictChamber of Commerce Members
Community Events
The CASL transition period isending and the private right of
action comes into force...are your...
Houston Merchant GiftCertificates
BC Chamber releases2017/2018 Policy & Positions
Manual
Article from the Province -Opinion: Make Small Business
Tax Benefit to Credit UnionsPermanent
BC Chamber -...Val Litwin:Trade will play increasingly
important role in B.C. businessgrowth
RCA -...The Canada RevenueAgency is moving its web
presence to Canada.ca.
RCA - Find out how yourfeedback is helping the CRA
serve small and mediumbusinesses better!.
Article from Globe & Mail:...B.C.aims for $15 minimum wage by
2021,
Canadian Chamber Top 10Barriers to Competitiveness
for 2016
Quick Links
Houston ChamberDistrict of Houston
Supply Chain Connector
Greetings!Due to programming issues we are having some issues withformatting of the Newsletter
Houston & District Chamber News
Houston & District Chamber Welcomed the Girl Guides ofS.O.A.R 2017The Houston & District Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Centrewelcomed the Girl Guides of S.O.A.R2017 through out the week of July 24thto July 28th. Over 2600 Girl Guidesfrom all over Canada, the U.S. andInternationally including Japan, Russia,Scotland, and England.
The Spirit of Adventure Rendezvous,SOAR for short, is a week-longprovincial 'back to basics' outdoorcamp sponsored by the BC Council ofGirl Guides of Canada, for girlsbetween the ages of 11 and 18. whichincludes BC Guides, Pathfinders andRangers. This event happens every 3years and Smithers was the setting for S.O.A.R 2017 other communitiesthat have hosted in the past include: Enderby, Prince George, Sooke,Trail, Merritt, Parksville, and Aggasiz giving girls an opportunity to seevarious parts of BC.
This year the girls exploredSmithers, Hazelton, and Houstonwith different activities in eachcommunity. In Houston they had achance to take part in a walkingtour of the Town of Houston, Strollthrough Steelhead Park and theHouston Museum Society's "Walkthrough History". They enjoyedcompleting a treasure hunt andvisiting at the Houston Visitor
Centre. The girls used the Houston Leisure Facility for recreationalswimming and were entertained at the Pleasant Valley Plaza, theyvisited many businesses in town and ice cream seemed to be a populartreat.
It was a fun-filled week and w, at the Houston Visitor Centre, enjoyedeach group visit from the Girl Guides of S.O.A.R. 2017.
Are you taking advantage of the Northern BC App?Visitors and consumers are using their smartphones to research their trips. This app coversall of Northern BC and helps visitors determinewhat restaurants, lodgings and attractions arenearby using GPS.
Download the Northern BC app on yoursmartphone and make sure your business islisted and up to date. Please contact the Houston& District Chamber of Commerce if your business information needsupdating.
Houston & District Chamber of Commerce TreasureHunt Through Steelhead ParkThe Houston & District Chamber of Commerce and Houston VisitorCentre once again will have a treasure hunt forkids of all ages!
A Great way to Explore Steelhead ParkI Spy Treasure Hunt for children 7yrs. andunder & Steelhead Treasure Hunt for children7 yrs. and older Pick up your treasure hunt questions at theHouston Visitor Centre then adventure throughSteelhead Park and then return to get yourtreasure!There is no cost for this program.For more information, please call our office at 250-845-7640
This is a great opportunity for allsmall locally owned and non-
franchise businesses, includingartisans, crafters, and musicians. If you have found it overwhelmingto try to produce professional andpolished advertising campaigns
and having a personalizedprofessional website for your
products is something you havewanted but don't have the
resources to maintain read on...
Northern Development InitiativeTrust has heavily invested in this
project to help build smallbusinesses in the North. All sign-
up costs go directly back tosupporting the local advertisingcampaign, and are only used to
support the Love Houston BCproject. Interested? Follow the
link below for more info:Check out Love Houston BC!
Upcoming Events
August 18Houston Farmer's Market
10:00am - 3:00pmSteelhead Park
August 18Passport Photos with Mark Zagwyn
Photos12:00pm - 4:00pm
Houston Public Library
August 18 - August 26Bronze Lifesaving Camp
Monday - Friday8:30am- 4:30pm
Houston Leisure Facility
August 18 - 20Houston Drags 1/8 Mile
Friday 6:00pm - 9:00pmSaturday & Sunday 8:00am -
6:00pmHouston Airport
August 19Canfor Annual Pancake Breakfast
9:00am -11:00amSteelhead Park
August 19Beanstalk Daycare FUNdraiser
11:00amPleasant valley Plaza
August 20
Annual Houston Show & Shine10:00am - 2:00pm
Steelhead Park
August23
Do you want to explore Houston's back country playground! Come downto the Houston Visitor Centre and we cansuggest some amazing spots for you to visitfrom hiking and walking trails to ourbeautiful Provincial Parks located just outour back door.
Need some ideas of where to gofishing...we have many suggestions to offerfor lake fishing and locations on ouramazing Morice River.
Would like to find that amazing lake forcanoeing or kayaking we got you covered. You can also pick up a copy of our AmazingHouston Official Visitor's Guide that has tons of information and withmaps and directions to get you to your destination.Drop by and let us help you to explore our Amazing area!
Chamber Members' News
A message from our member: Tahtsa Timber Ltd. The POSTMEN: Disaster Relief for the People by the PeopleTogether We can Make a DifferenceAccepting donations for the Wildfire Fighters, Emergency Personnel, aswel l as Evacuees that have beenimpacted by the unprecedentedwildfires of British Columbia.Donations can be dropped off atSullivan Motor Products in Houston. The Postmen is non-profit disasterrelief group who have depots setup through out the province andare collecting donations anddistributing them directly tofirefighters and evacuees. It is all volunteer based fromsecuring a warehouse, collectingdonations, loading, unloading, andrepacking supplies to distributethem directly where they areneeded most. People volunteer their time, vehicles, and fuel to thiscause. If you wish to donate the easiest way would be prepaid Visa cards, fuelcards, Save On, Wal Mart, Super store, or Real Canadian Super Storegift cards, so the depots can buy fresh produce and items not in stockat the moment to give out. Perishable food items are accepted as welland there is a list of Fire Fighters supplies found on their website at: https://thepostmen2016.wixsite.com/disastersFor more information, please call Anelika at 250-692-6683 or Charlieat 250-692-6447
Beanstalk Daycare would love to see you at the Pleasant Valley Plaza tosupport their FUNdraiserCost: by donationAugust 19Bowling: 1:00pmFace Painting and Crafts: 11:00amSponsored Family Movie:11:00amContact Beanstalk Daycare with any questions at250-845-7777They will be selling a 50/50 board and striptickets that enter you in to win a wide variety ofawesome prizes.
Free BBQ for Bowling at the PlazaAre you interested in joining a BowlingLeague this season?Come on down to The Pleasant ValleyPlaza Saturday, September 2nd at12:00pm - 2:00pmGrab a burger and check out theinformation on our upcoming BowlingLeagues!Whether its Youth Bowling, Seniors Bowling,Doubles, or Teams, Houston Leagues hasgot it all!Information on leagues will be provided. Grab a burger, bowl a game, and find out why Bowling is such a great
"Nothin but love Tour"6:00pm -8:00pmBrewstir's Cafe
September 15Houston Farmer's Market
10:00am - 3:00pmSteelhead Park
September 15 & 16
Ladies Texas Scramble GolfTournament
Willow Grove Golf & Country Club
September 22Passport Photos with Mark Zagwyn
Photos12:00pm - 4:00pm
Houston Public Library
September 22Houston Farmer's Market
10:00am - 3:00pmSteelhead Park
September 23
Harvest Festival11:00am - 4:00pmJamie Baxter Park
September 23Legion Fall Dance
9:00pmUpstairs Houston Legion
September 29
Houston Farmer's Market10:00am - 3:00pm
Steelhead Park
August Members'Business
Anniversaries
sport!For more information, contact The Plaza at 250-845-2298 The Summer Reading Club is at the Houston Public LibraryChildren ages 3-5 years old Every Wednesday from 10:00am -11:00amChildren must be accompanied by an adult Children ages 6 to 8 years old Every Wednesday from 1:00pm - 2;00pmChildren under 7 years old must beaccompanied by an adult Children ages 9 - 12 years oldEvery Thursday from 1:00pm - 2:00pm
The Houston Public Library will be holding their Summer Reading ClubWind-Up Party on Wednesday August 23rd from 1:00pm to 3:00pm.Join them for games, crafts, awards, refreshments and more! For more information or to registered, please contact the HoustonPublic Library at 250-845-2256
The Houston Leisure Facility is offering a Bronze Lifesaving CampAugust 18th to August 26th Monday - Friday from 8:30am - 4:30pmThis camp is for ages 13+Bronze medallion/Cross teaches the four components of water rescueeducation-judgement, knowledge, skills, andfitness. Rescuers learn self-rescue techniques,defense, and release methods, and tows andcarries in preparations for challenging rescuesinvolving conscious and unconscious victims orvarious types. Lifesavers develop strokeefficiency and endurance in a timed swim.Bronze Cross is also worth 2 Grade 11 highschool credits.For more information, please contact the Houston Leisure Facility at250-845-7420
Houston Leisure Facility - Annual Maintenance ClosureIn respect of being in operation for over 10years, staff are preparing for a 9 week shutdown to complete major renovations.During the 9 weeks, staff will be giving thefacility a small face lift as well as improvingthe facility to become more "green"efficient.
Canfor is holding their Annual CommunityPancake Breakfast on Saturday, August 19thfrom 9:00am to 11:00am at Steelhead Park.
Free Giveaway to the first 100 guestsEveryone is welcome to join them at this freecommunity event.
For more information, please visit the eventspage at facebook.com/CanforCorporation formore information
2017 KIDS TRIATHLON! August 26th!Saturday, August 26 at 9:30 AM - 2 PM Swim, Bike, and Run!! Join us at the HoustonLeisure Facility for our 19th Annual KidsTriathlon! Ages 4-14. Race starts at 11:00am onAugust 26th, registration and check-in runs from9:30-10:15am. Stop by the leisure facility todayto register! Pre-registration discount ends onAugust 21st.
Mark your Calendars! The Royal Canadian Houston Legion Pleasant
Houston & District Chamber ofCommerce would like to wish
Making it easy for business tobusiness connections in
northern B.C. The Supply Chain Connector is theprimary search tool for industrialservice and supply business incentral and northern B.C. In orderto connect local businesses withmajor project procurementopportunities, the Supply ChainConnector offers easy access toa fully searchable database ofbusinesses throughout the region.Whether you are looking forqualified businesses to send atender package or seeking toprocure supplies or services or alocal business looking for a jointventure partner, the Supply ChainConnector will make it easy for
Valley Branch # 249 is hosting a dance.
Legion Fall DanceLive music will be performed by: The Johnnie Rockers
Date: Saturday, September 23rd, 2017Time: 9:00pm ( Doors will open at 8:00pm)Place: Upstairs at the Houston LegionPrice $15.00 per personDetails for ticket sales will follow soon
Houston Link to Learning is hosting the HarvestFestival again for 2017. The event will behappening on Saturday September 23 from11:00am to 4:00pm at Jamie Baxter Park They are in search of entertainment for theevent. If you are interested in being anentertainer for this event, please contactHouston Link to Learning at 250-845-2727
Willow Grove Golf and Country Club`s weekly events will run fromMay to Mid SeptemberJunior`s Day is every Monday starting June 26th All day with prizes at5:30pmLadies` Night Tuesday evenings at 6:30pm shotgun startMen`s Night Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm shotgun startSenior`s Day every Thursday starting at 9:30am with a 10:00amshotgun startFor more information, please contact Willow Grove at 250-845-2100 or250-845-4955email at: [email protected]
Live entertainment at Brewstir's CaféCome down to Brewstir's Café and listen to TylerSkyy & Erik Chirkoff at their ALL AGES Houstonstop on the Nothin' but Love Tour in support oftheir new album "i now pronounce you, in love."
*FREE entry*Tuesday, September 126:00pm - 8:00pm
Houston & District Chamber of Commerce
Events Calendar & FacebookIf your business, group, or organization is hosting an event and youwish to promote it throughout the community, our Facebook page andCalendar of Events on our website are great opportunities to do soeffectively and efficiently.
Our face book page is becoming popular with the community as aresource for current events. Weare seeing many of our postsreaching over 950 readers and ourpage has accumulated over 470likes. Your event will surely makeits way throughout the community.
Our Events Calendar is located on our web site atwww.houstonchamber.ca under the category events. It is an easy, userfriendly calendar to receive highlights for events happening in ourcommunity for every month of the year.
To advertise with us please email your information to:[email protected] note: Posters need to be in a Jpeg format for Facebook. Weusually schedule the post a few weeks in advance, prior to the event togive the community ample time to view. If you have any questionsplease give us a call at 250-845-7640
BC Chamber - BC Wildfires: Resources forBusinesses
The BC Chamber of Commerce would like to recognize the tremendousefforts of emergency response workers, community leaders andorganizations on or near the front lines of the BC wildfires.
Across the province, Chambers of Commerce are stepping up tosupport the business community in a number of ways, and the BCChamber commends the network for demonstrating its commitment to
The British Columbia Economic Development Association (BCEDA) hasalso developed a list of the top 10 most important steps to preparebusinesses for evacuation. The BCEDA has also set up an EconomicDisaster Recovery Page where you may find a manual on communityand business preparation along with a Business Recovery Hotline. The Business Recovery Hotline begn operation on July 24, Mondaythrough Friday during the hours of 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., for the first twoweeks after evacuees begin to return back to their communities.This may be extended if the need is there. The number for thehotline is 1-877-4BC-EDRP (1-877-422-3377).
Destination British Columbia has compiled a detailed list of resourceswhich you may find here.
Featured Houston & District Chamber ofCommerce Members:
Hoskins Ford Sales Ltd.Hoskins Ford Sales Ltd. has been amember of the Houston & DistrictChamber of Commerce since August17 1999. In the spring of 1933 Oswald Hoskins
built Hoskins Garage Ltd., a one bay Service Station at the intersectionof what is now Highway 16 and Main Street. In 1944 Ford of Canadaapproached Oswald regarding becoming a dealer. He was awarded thefranchise later on that year.In 1935 Gordon Williams Sr. (Oswald's brother-in-law) joined Oswaldas a mechanic apprentice. In 1946 he purchased a minor interest inHoskins Garage Ltd. assuming full control of the dealership in 1967.In 1949 Frank Parker joined the firm as a salesperson and laterbecame the Sales Manager. He also became a shareholder in 1966.In 1987, Gordon's sons, Colin and Gordon Jr. became shareholders andthen in 2011, Colin's son Mark purchased the dealership now known asHoskins Ford Sales Ltd. This makes the dealership one of the oldestfamily dealer operations in Canada. The dealership is the only fully serviced dealer in the Bulkley Valley withNew & Used car sales, a fully stocked parts department along with aservice shop and body shop. We pride ourselves in our commitment and support of all ourcommunities in the Bulkley Valley. Hoskins Ford Sales offers many automotive products and services toour Smithers area customers. From quality new Ford vehicles to usedcars, we know anyone looking for a vehicle near Smithers will find whatthey want at our dealership. Hoskins Ford Sales Ltd. Business hours are:Monday - Saturday 7:30 AM to 5:30 PMSunday Closed Their Dealership Location:3145 Hyw.16 SmithersPhone: 250-847-2237 1-800-663-7765Fax: 250-847-4653Web site: www.hoskinsford.com
SMS Equipment Inc.SMS Equipment has been a memberof the Houston & District Chamber ofCommerce since 2007.On May 12, 2008, three Canadianequipment dealers; FederalEquipment, Coneco Equipment, andTranswest Mining Systems merged to
become SMS Equipment.
SMS Equipment holds a unique position in the industry as a one-stopsupplier of the most complete range of equipment. They offer onlyworld-renowned brand names that meet your standards of reliability
and productivity. They also offer a select range of productionattachments for specific market segments such as construction,forestry, mining and utility industries. SMS continuously analyzes themarket and listens to their customers in order to provide them with allthe equipment they may require in the completion of the most diverseapplications. Supporting world-renowned brands. With locations toserve you across Canada, SMS Equipment is your local equipment andsolutions provider. SMS Equipment locally offers the following services and sales:Equipment Sales, Equipment Rentals, Equipment Service & Repair,Parts Sales.Manufacturing Metal such as:Engine or Cylinder Manufacturing and repairWelding parts and servicesSMS is one of the largest Komatsu dealers in the world with a networkof business centres across Canada SMS Equipment support the causes important to their employees andthe communities where they live and work. In keeping with this value,SMS Equipment is committed to enhancing the quality of life for thepeople that live in the communities where we operate.They show this by: promoting amateur sports, education, arts andculture, youth, health services, and supporting the volunteer efforts andcharitable giving of their employees. SMS Equipment proudly providesfinancial support to many diverse community groups, events andinitiatives in their operating areas. Some of the organizations theysupport include: Children's Miracle Network, Big Brothers, Big Sisters,Hooked on Miracles, MacDonald Island Park Leisure Centre, CanadianCancer Society, and Movember Their Houston location:Unit #1, 2350 Nadina North AvePhone: 250-845-7911Fax: 250-845-7917Web Site: www.smseqip.com
Sullivan Motor ProductsThe Sullivan Family arrived in Houstonin July 1948. Charles Sullivan hadhorses for logging and farming. Theywere into many different projects andbusinesses: Sawmilling, Service
Station, 1st Chevron bulk plant, a tireshop, constructing a subdivision, builtThe Idylwild Motel. In 1973 they
started their Pontiac Buick GMC dealership selling out of a trailer. Theyare now the largest dealership west of Prince George. they built, in2011, a new 25,000 sq ft state of the art dealership with 14 service baysand a six car show room. Sullivan Motor Products now employs 50people. Bill followed Charles as dealer principal in 1989. John andMurray are now in the process of succeeding Bill and Louise.
They have been very involved in the Chamber of Commerce for manyyears. Charles was a director from inception in 1961 to 1987, except afew years when he was elected Mayor in 1974. In 1987, Charlesstepped down for health reasons and Bill joined as a director and still istoday. John became a director in 2007 and past president. They arefirm believers in the Chamber of Commerce and look forward to manymore years' involvement. Sullivan Motor Products are also members ofthe Houston Merchant Program and have been involved with otherChamber events such as the Houston Business Excellence Awards, ourChristmas tree/wreath contest, and Pitch-in.
As your premier Houston, BC Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC dealer, they'rehappy to serve you right here in their hometown! Providing sales in newand used vehicles and recreation vehicle that you can also search ontheir visitor friendly website. They also provide financing, service, andparts making Sullivan Motor Products the one-stop-shop in Houston forall your automotive needs. Hours of operation are Monday to Saturdayfrom 8:00am to 6:00pm.
Sullivan Motor Products are very community oriented and support manygroups and events throughout the year. Here are just some of themany examples of Sullivan Motor Products support: Safe Grad,Houston Hospice Society and Gala, Twain Sullivan Grade 4 trips,Houston Ringette Association, Nadina Offroad Society, Willow GroveGolf & Country Club's Men's and Ladies' Nights, Pleasant Valley HorseClub, The Ernie Michelle Memorial Golf Tournament, the District ofHouston Leisure Facility programs, St. Anthony's Garden Party, HoustonChristian Hockey Program, Houston Minor Hockey, Morice MountainNordic Ski Club, Houston Minor Softball, Chamber of Commerce AnnualBusiness Excellence Awards, and B.V. Soccer Association.
cents per Transaction Fee (waivedfor $100 or more) and 5 cents per
transaction for Interac DirectDebit.
For more information onVersaPay, please contact Houston
& District Chamber ofCommerce.
Esso Business CardProgram
The BC Chamber of Commerceand Imperial Oil are please tooffer the Esso Business Card
Program to all members.Delivered through Esso, thisprogram saves a member
business 3.5 cents per liter off theposted pump price at any ESSO-
branded service station inCanada. You can also collect
valuable Aeroplan miles on yourpurchases. Stop by our office and
pick up an application form.
Petro Canada
Petro Canada offers Chambermembers 2.0 cents per litre off allgrades of gasoline & diesel. 5%
discount on all parts and labour atCentigard Car Care Centres. 5%
discount on vehicle propane.Individually numbered credit card
for each vehicle.For more information, pleasecontact the Houston & District
Chamber of Commerce.
Hotline to HR
2670 Highway 16 - HoustonPhone: 250-845-2244 or 877-410-6214Website: www.sulivangm.com
Community News & Events
Mark your calendar for the Houston Drags 1/8 Mile Cars, Trucks, Bikes& Sleds brought to you by: B.V.D.R.A
August 18th -August 20th 2017Located at the Houston AirportFriday August 18 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Saturday & Sunday August 19 & 20th
8:00am - 6:00pmAdmission:Racers: $55.00 a day, $100.00weekend, or $20.00 Friday nightSpectators: $5.00 per day, Seniors and Children 12 and under are freeBring your lawn chairsFor more information, please contact Mardy at 250-846-5827
Mark your Calendar for the 5th Annual HoustonShow & ShineSunday, August 20, 201710:00am to 2:00pmLocated at Steelhead Park & Houston VisitorInformation Centre$5.00 entry FeeCome on down to Steelhead Park and check outall the vehicles!
Come down to Steelhead Park to Houston's Farmers Market!Houston Farmers Market will be heldon Fridays starting June 9th toSeptember 29th at Steelhead Parkfrom 10:00am to 3:00pmCome check out all the local vendorsfrom our valley! Everything is locallyMade, Baked, or Grown! Please call 250 845 2727 to register as a vendor.Please note all vendors do have to be 'make bake or grow'!
Houston Secondary School Summer Office Hours:July 3 to July 14 2017 & August 21 toSeptember 1 20178:30am - 3:00pm (Closed 12:00p, -12:30pm for lunch)The Office will be closed September 4 & 52017
First day of school is September 6 th
The school counsellor will be available: August 28 - August 31st
Cougar
ARTICLE - FROM LOGGING & SAWMILLING
JOURNAL: UP IN SMOKE- NOTGREAT JOB TAHTSA GROUP
A new sawmill came on stream this spring in the B.C. Interior-thanks tothe co-operation of three forest industry parties-and the end result isthat wood fibre that would havebeen piled and literally gone up inpolluting smoke will now beconverted to viable wood products.t's amazing what a little creativeco-operation can achieve-andthere is a great example of thatwithin the forest industry of westcentral British Columbia.
A new sawmill is on stream principally because of an agreementbetween a large licencee, an associated wood pellet manufacturer anda log harvesting and milling contractor. The result is that wood fibrethat would have been piled and literally gone up in polluting smoke willnow be converted to viable wood products. New jobs are being created
Staples Advantage is the world'slargest business-to-business
supplier of office essentials, printsolutions, promotional productsand office furniture solutions.
Businesses know the challengesthey face; Staples Advantage
works with companies to build aspecialty program that meets
their demands.
in the process and regional forest industry-reliant communities likeBurns Lake and Houston have an improved economic future.
The principals in the agreement are Canfor Corporation's Houstonoperation, Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc's wood pellet manufacturingplant in Houston and the Tahtsa Group, the last which has rebuilt andupgraded the old Corewood mill site operation, also in Houston.
Canfor supplies low grade material that won't make the standards forconversion to commodity lumber products. Tahtsa's new mill extractsvalue from the material in the creative form of other wood products,while Pinnacle receives Corewood's residuals for wood pelletmanufacture. Pinnacle's pellet manufacturing facility in Houston is ajoint venture with Canfor.
"The five year supply agreementwith Canfor and the off-trade withPinnacle's pellet plant supports thenew investment in Houston,"explained Klaus Posselt, Presidentand CEO of the Tahtsa Group,based in Burns Lake. "Canfor andPinnacle have been very fair andsupportive."
The Tahtsa Group also includesTahtsa Timber Ltd., a well established log harvesting contractor, PacificTimber, a sawmill in Burns Lake, and the Sheraton Custom Milling Ltd.,operation east of Burns Lake.
Please follow the link to continue article Up in Smoke-Not
Houston Merchant Gift CertificatesDo you sometime find it difficult to find that perfect gift for someonespecial? Finding that great gift for someone who has everything can bea challenge. We have the solution! How about a Houston Merchant Certificate! There are many businesses in Houston that participate in the programgiving a wide variety of selection. You can purchase the gift certificatesat the Houston & District Chamber of Commerce, CountrywideSports, and Reitsma's Home Hardware. For a list of participating merchants please [email protected] or call our office at 250-845-7640
BC Chamber releases 2017/2018 Policy &Positions Manual
The BC Chamber of Commerce has released its 2017-2018 Policy &Positions Manual outlining its business advocacy priorities for theupcoming year, as defined by itsprovince-wide network.
2017 marked a banner year for theBC Chamber with 64 policiessubmitted and supported by 47individual chambers, including theColumbia Valley Chamber ofCommerce and Tumbler RidgeChamber of Commerce whosubmitted policies for the first time. This is an increase of 31% inchamber participation and an increase of over 12% in overall policyresolutions submitted, which truly exemplifies the growth ofengagement in BC's largest and most broadly-based business network.
Read more about the BC Chamber's advocacy focus for the upcomingyear.
Chamber members can nowreceive hotel and car rental
discounts in Canada and aroundthe world for unlimited businessand leisure travel. Hotel savingsmay be as much as 50%, and
average 10 to 20% below marketrates. Savings on car rentals mayexceed 35%, with over 1200 carrental suppliers at over 30,000locations across 175 countries
around the world.
For more information or to apply.
Article from the Province - Opinion: MakeSmall Business Tax Benefit to Credit UnionsPermanentThe B.C. Chamber of Commerce hopes the new B.C. government will showleadership by permanently granting the small business tax benefit to credit unions, aswell as work with the business community toreverse the change made by the federalgovernment in 2013. JonghyunKim / PNG For Les Bellamy, owner of BellamyHomes (the Kelowna Chamber's 2016Small Business of the Year), choosingto work with a credit union madesense. The national, award-winninghome builder has been a loyal customer of Interior Savings CreditUnion for 25 years, and says that a combination of its services andcommunity-oriented approach allowed him to grow a top-tier brand thatearns accolades.
Les is not alone. Business owners and entrepreneurs across B.C. sharehis enthusiasm for the relationships they've built with credit unionsservicing their local community, particularly in regions where creditunions are the only financial institution accessible to them. CreditUnions' deeply-local knowledge and relationships, in cases where theyare the sole institution, helps their SME community overcome a keybarrier: access to capital.
Credit unions are member-owned co-operatives and, unlike our valuedchartered bank partners, they cannot access capital markets to growtheir earnings. Instead, they must rely on retained earnings for capital.That means any income taxes paid by a credit union cannot berecovered by issuing stocks, rather they simply have less availablefunds to invest into projects and people in their communities. In areaswhere a credit union is the only financial institution, the stakes are highto ensure that it can meet the needs of under-serviced communitiesand support local economic development.Click on link to read more
BC Chamber - Val Litwin: Trade will playincreasingly important role in B.C. businessgrowth Trade has been a cornerstone of our provincial economy for more thana century, thanks to abundant natural resources, an entrepreneurialpopulation and prime location. But, over the last decade, geopolitical,social and economic unrest have generated instability. Conversationsaround the NorthAmerican Free TradeAgreement have re-entered the news cycleand former primeminister Brian Mulroney,who negotiated thecurrent deal more than 20years ago, has indicatedrenegotiations mayconclude in time for the2019 federal election.So, what does this mean for our province's economic outlook?The good news is this uncertain global trade environment hasn'tdampened the ambitions of B.C.'s business community. According to arecent B.C. Chamber of Commerce survey, 80 per cent of B.C. businessowners expect to grow their operations over the next decade andinternational trade is one of the primary ways they're going to do it.But to realize the full potential we need to adapt, make changes andcollectively lead from the front or risk falling behind those who do.
Read the full op-ed in the Province here.
RCA - The Canada Revenue Agency is movingits web presence to Canada.ca In 2013, as part of its commitment to better serve citizens and businesses,the Government of Canada launched the Web Renewal Initiative (WRI)to make its online information and services easier to find and use through asingle, user-centric website - Canada.ca. The WRI is led by the TreasuryBoard of Canada Secretariat and Service Canada. As part of the WRI, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will be joiningCanada.ca this July. As of July 11, 2017, all information concerning taxes,benefits, and charities will be moving to Canada.ca. Moving forward, the majority of CRA's content will be located on theTaxestheme. The remaining content will be found on:
Spark Insurance* is offeringmembers significant discounts on
non-profit insurance packagesand has created an efficient
online application process thattakes less than 5 minutes; saving
your non-profit andcharity organizations time and
money
Spark Insurance offer nine typesof nonprofit insurance in one
package.
For more information on SparkInsurance, please contact
Houston & District Chamber ofCommerce at 250-845-7640
o CRA's institutional profile (corporate information);o Open Government (proactive disclosure content); oro One of our theme partner's pages (Benefits, Money andfinances, Business and industry, or Jobs and the workplace).
Those accessing the CRA website will be automatically redirected toCanada.ca. This wil l be in place for one year to ensure that Canadiansare taken to the appropriate page on Canada.ca, and that they willhave sufficient time to update their bookmarks. If any of your webpageslink to the CRA website, please ensure that the links are updatedaccordingly. Canadians will have a consistent user experience on Canada.ca. Thisnew site is organized by 15 themes and top tasks (most frequently usedinformation and services), making it easier for Canadians to find informationand services.
RCA - Find out how your feedback is helpingthe CRA serve small and medium businessesbetter!In 2016, the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPACanada) partnered with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to holdface-to-face sessions between accountants and CRA senior officials incities across Canada. Now you can now read the Report on the Canada Revenue Agency's2016 Serving You Better consultations with small and mediumbusinesses based on the feedback shared by accountants like you. Thisreport includes a clear and achievable action plan that will deliverservice improvements for small and medium businesses from nowthrough 2019. The CRA's Serving You Better action plan contains meaningful actions toimprove services for small and medium businesses and accountants.Below are the top ten things that you will be able to do:
1. 1. Get a CRA security code by email.2. 2. Call a new dedicated telephone service that helps tax
preparers with more complex technical issues (3-year pilotproject).
3. 3. Request a Liaison Officer visit.4. 4. Provide T4 information slips to employees in electronic
format (certain conditions apply).5. 5. Us T2 Auto-fill through commercial software.6. 6. Create your own filing and balance confirmation letters
online.7. 7. View short "how-to" videos that explain the services on My
Business Account.8. 8. Experience telephone service improvements as we transition
to the Government of Canada telephony platform over the nextfour years.
9. 9. Share feedback about your audit experience in a new post-audit survey.
10. 10. Resolve objections faster.
The CRA is thankful to have a productive partnership with CPA Canada,and we want to extend our thanks to all the local CPA Canadaorganizations who hosted sessions. This report shows just how muchwe can accomplish together when we take an active role to make surethe Government of Canada has an evolving, world-class tax andbenefits administration.
To find out more about the CRA's action plan to serve small and
medium business go to canada.ca/cra-serving-you-better .
Suggested tweet: #CPACanada: the CRA is hearing your feedback and#ServingYouBetter. Read the report to find out how.
B.C. aims for $15 minimum wage by 2021,lagging behind other provinces
British Columbia's government says it will bring the province to a $15-an-hour minimum wage by 2021, a time frame that would put thisprovince well behind Alberta and Ontario. Labour Minister Harry Bains said Tuesday the NDP will follow through ona Liberal pledge to raise the minimum wage by 50 cents an hourstarting on Sept. 15, to $11.35. He said the raise will take B.C.'sminimum wage from seventh placeamong the provinces to third. "Today's announcement is abouthelping everyday workers makeends meet. It's not always easy todo that and it's even harder whenyou're making a minimum wage,"he told reporters. Approximately 93,800 B.C. workers - or 4.8 per cent of paid employees- earned the minimum wage last year. That does not include peoplewho are self-employed and compares with a national average of 6.9per cent. The NDP had vowed in its election platform to raise theminimum wage to $15 by 2021, with increases each year.
Click on link to continue article at:https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-aims-for-15-minimum-wage-by-2021-lagging-behind-other-provinces/article35996718/
