Abbotsford News www.abbynews.com A28 Friday, March 16, 2018 It’s Been a Busy Year for the Abbotsford Chamber The Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce represents 700+ members and is THE voice for business in Abbotsford. Our mission is to build and sustain a thriving business community through our strategic objectives to Advocate, Benefit and Connect. This week we held our Annual General Meeting which provides us with an opportunity to elect new members to our Board, present the organization’s audited financial statements and to report to our members on the Chamber’s activities for the past year. 2017 was a very active year for our Chamber in all areas of our focus. Advocate: At the BC Chamber level we brought forward a policy dealing with regulating marijuana in the workplace to ensure the safety of workers and businesses. Another resolution asked for equal treatment between wineries and breweries, distilleries and meaderies on ALR land. Our recommendations were implemented by the BC government in December 2017. Our other policies concerned the elimination of 7% PST on legal fees, strengthening the BC hops industry and ways to address transportation issues in the Fraser Valley. We will continue to press the provincial government regarding widening of Highway 1. At the federal level, concerns regarding proposed tax changes were at the forefront. Earlier in the year we successfully argued against changes negatively affecting employee health and dental plans. In the fall we joined with Chambers from across Canada to demand the federal government revisit proposed tax changes affecting business. This has resulted in major changes to the original measures put forward by Ottawa. Locally your Chamber has been very involved in providing input to the City on issues arising from the new Official Community Plan. We have been actively engaged in workshops and stakeholder engagement events regarding Plan 200K. The Chamber is actively represented on numerous City committees and working groups. Benefit: Chamber members have access to a wide variety of benefits such as products and services that will help build their business as well as save time and money. The gasoline discount plans are becoming much more popular with the rising gas prices and our merchant services - Visa/ Mastercard plans through FIrst Data are providing members with great rates and equipment. Our Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan continues to be our most popular benefit with almost half of our members taking advantage of this important aid to recruitment and retention of employees. Watch for some exciting new benefits coming online shortly. Connect: Last year the Chamber hosted over 31 events with over 2,300 members and guests in attendance. Our events are tailored to a wide range of attendees, from monthly luncheons and small group “Lunch and Learns”, to our annual Agricultural Bus Tour, and to premier events like our Business Excellence Awards with over 500 at the event at Tradex. The Chamber is well known for the quality and variety of its events as we bring members together to network, engage with government and business leaders, meet new customers and make some new friends. Check us out online at www. abbotsfordchamber.com for our calendar of events, details on our benefit programs and information on how to become a Chamber member.
Transcript
Abbotsford News www.abbynews.comA28 Friday, March 16, 2018
It’s Been a Busy Year for the Abbotsford Chamber
The Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce represents 700+ members and is THE voice for business in Abbotsford. Our mission is to build and sustain a thriving business community through our strategic objectives to Advocate, Benefit and Connect.
This week we held our Annual General Meeting which provides us with an opportunity to elect new members to our Board, present the organization’s audited financial statements and to report to our members on the Chamber’s activities for the past year.
2017 was a very active year for our Chamber in all areas of our focus.
Advocate:At the BC Chamber level we brought
forward a policy dealing with regulating marijuana in the workplace to ensure the safety of workers and businesses. Another resolution asked for equal treatment between wineries and breweries, distilleries and meaderies on ALR land. Our recommendations were implemented by the BC government in December 2017.
Our other policies concerned the elimination of 7% PST on legal fees, strengthening the BC hops industry and ways to address transportation issues in the Fraser Valley. We will continue to press the provincial government regarding widening of Highway 1.
At the federal level, concerns regarding proposed tax changes were at the forefront. Earlier in the year we successfully argued against changes negatively affecting employee health and dental plans. In the fall we joined with Chambers from across Canada to demand the federal government revisit proposed tax changes
affecting business. This has resulted in major changes to the original measures put forward by Ottawa.
Locally your Chamber has been very involved in providing input to the City on issues arising from the new Official
Community Plan. We have been actively engaged in workshops and stakeholder engagement events regarding Plan 200K. The Chamber is actively represented on numerous City committees and working groups.
Benefit:Chamber members have access to a
wide variety of benefits such as productsand services that will help build theirbusiness as well as save time and money.The gasoline discount plans are becomingmuch more popular with the rising gasprices and our merchant services - Visa/Mastercard plans through FIrst Data areproviding members with great rates andequipment.
Our Chambers of Commerce GroupInsurance Plan continues to be our mostpopular benefit with almost half ofour members taking advantage of thisimportant aid to recruitment and retentionof employees.
Watch for some exciting new benefitscoming online shortly.
Connect:Last year the Chamber hosted over 31
events with over 2,300 members and guestsin attendance. Our events are tailored to awide range of attendees, from monthlyluncheons and small group “Lunch andLearns”, to our annual Agricultural Bus Tour,and to premier events like our BusinessExcellence Awards with over 500 at theevent at Tradex.
The Chamber is well known for thequality and variety of its events as we bringmembers together to network, engagewith government and business leaders,meet new customers and make some newfriends.
Check us out online at www.abbotsfordchamber.com for our calendarof events, details on our benefit programsand information on how to become aChamber member.
Abbotsford News Friday, March 16, 2018 A29www.abbynews.com
The Abbotsford Chamber would like to welcome the following businesses:
N E W B U S I N E S S E S :
Becoming a member of the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce provides substantial benefi ts to generate more business and reach the heart of your community.
With our annual general meeting scheduled this week, it’s worth asking what your Chamber has done over the last year. Here are the highlights:
We reviewed and updated our strategic plan, including a focus on improved communications.
Our committees were reconstituted to tie in better with our board and our strategic plan.
Email communications have been redesigned to make them cleaner and simpler.
We embarked on a major revision of our website and social media communications, which will be rolled out in a few months.
The following policies were presented to BC Chamber of Commerce,
and were successfully adopted, on issues relevant to our Abbotsford members: moving forward with the east-west corridor between Abbotsford airport and Highway 99; upgrading Highway 1 to six lanes; creation of clear employer guidelines for marijuana use in the workplace; strengthening the BC hops industry; and allowing breweries to operate on ALR land as do wineries. This last policy was recently implemented by the BC government, and will be a huge boost to our local brewery industry.
We also successfully presented policies to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, including the upgrading of Highway 1. This means the case for Highway 1 upgrades is being presented repeatedly and consistently at the municipal,
provincial and federal levels of government.
The Chamber movement at all levels fought hard against proposed federal tax grabs aimed at small business. Most of these were abandoned in the most recent federal budget.
Finally, your Chamber continues to speak up for local business through participating as a stakeholder in AgRefresh and the City Centre Neighbourhood Plan, supporting the removal of select lands from ALR in specifi c key industrial areas, ongoing membership on variety of City committees.
Chamber work is never done. We acknowledge our staff and our many volunteers for their eff orts. And we will continue to be the voice of Abbotsford business in the upcoming year.
Mark Warkentin, President
C H A M B E R LU N C H E O N : T H E B U S I N E S S O F C A N N A B I SDATE: Wednesday, April 25
LOCATION: Sandman Hotel & Suites
TIME: 11:30am – 1:30pm
F R A S E R VA L L E Y C H A M B E R S O F CO M M E R C E B U S I N E S S S H O W C A S E
DATE: Wednesday, April 18
LOCATION: Quality Hotel & Conference Centre
TIME: 2:00pm – 6:00pm
What Has the Chamber Accomplished In the Last Year?
R B C LU N C H A N D L E A R N
DATE: Wednesday, March 21
LOCATION: Seven Oaks Boardroom
TIME: 11:45am – 1:00pm
• Purewal & Associates LLP – www.purewalcpa.ca• Paul Penner Re/Max Little Oak – www.paulpenner.com• BC Hop Company Ltd. – www.bchop.ca• Peace & Harmony Naturalz – www.peaceharmonynaturalz.com• Fraser River Funeral Home – www.frccs.com• Adult & Teen Challenge BC – www.teenchallengebc.com• Planet Group Realty Inc. – www.planetgrouprealty.com• Premium Electric Ltd. – www.premium-electric.ca• X-Pressions Plus – www.xpressionsplus.ca• Cobs Bread – https://www.cobsbread.com/local-bakery/gladwin-crossing-abbotsford/
11th Annual Fraser Valley Chambers of Commerce Business
ShowcaseWednesday, April 18, 2018
2:00PM - 6:00PMQuality Hotel &
Conference Centre (36035 North Parallel Road,
Abbotsford)
You are invited to attend the Fraser Valley’s most inclusivenetworking event of the year!
Presented by the Fraser Valley Chambers of Commerce:
Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Cloverdale, Langley, Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows,
Mission, South Surrey-White Rock and Surrey Board of Trade.
Want to exhibit?Chamber Member Exhibit Space
Starting at $275Non-Member Exhibit Space
Starting at $325
Who should exhibit?Fraser Valley businesses small to large
Companies with business to business salesNot for profi t organizations
Home based businesses Why should you attend?
Meet hundreds of people from all over the Fraser Valley for the
opportunity to expand your networkVisit over 60 exhibitor booths
Complimentary admission includes refreshments
Visit our website for more information
www.abbotsfordchamber.com. Follow us on social media #FVBizShow.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Abbotsford News www.abbynews.comA30 Friday, March 16, 2018
Network with 8 Cities Under 1 Roof!
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Offi ce AdministrationSales & MarketingPlant & Industrial
The Fraser Valley Chambers of Commerce Business Showcase is back for the 11th year on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 from 2:00pm-6:00pm at the Quality Hotel & Conference Centre (36035 North Parallel Road, Abbotsford).
The event is sponsored by CDW & Associates RE/MAX Little Oak Realty - Commercial, City of Abbotsford Economic Development, Loomo Marketing and Praise 106.5.
As the largest Fraser Valley Chamber networking event
of the year, they expect more than 500 people to attend the tradeshow and over 60 businesses to exhibit.
The show is presented by participating Chambers: Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Cloverdale, Langley, Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows, Mission, South Surrey-White Rock and Surrey Board of Trade. With a membership exceeding 4,500 businesses, it is a great opportunity for businesses to promote themselves to a targeted audience of business
leaders and decision makers.
With exhibit space starting at only $275 for members, it’s an incredible chance for organizations of all sizes to get involved.
This networking event is FREE to attend, but registration is required forcatering purposes. Exhibitor informationand registration is available at www.abbotsfordchamber.com.
