c o n n e c t • i n f l u e n c e • p r o s p e r
M i s s i o n C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e
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Mission 2014 BC Winter GamesCreating a community legacy
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M i s s i o n C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e
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In February 2014 the District of Mis-sion will be hosting as many as 2,200 participants from across British Co-
lumbia as they arrive in our community to take part in the 27th BC Winter Games. This is the first time Mission has hosted a BC Games event and the community will rally over 2,500 volunteers in order to host athletes, coaches and officials.
The Games, which will be held from February 20–23, 2014, will include par-ticipants in 18 sports. Most of the com-petitions will take place in Mission with some events in Hemlock, Whistler, the Township of Langley, Maple Ridge, and Abbotsford.
Local volunteers make the Games happen – they are the driving force and heart and soul of the BC Games. From meal preparation, to transportation, to hospitality, and sport competitions, the enthusiasm and expertise of volunteers is what makes it all happen. Members of the
community are encouraged to volunteer and contribute to making the Games a memorable experience for the participat-ing athletes, coaches, and officials. Gen-erally there is close to one volunteer for every Games participant so that means we need over 2,200 volunteers for pre-Games and Games-time roles.
In addition to the many volunteers who will be onsite at various venues in February 2014, a number of volunteers work for up to two years in advance of the Opening Ceremony in order to ensure the Games are a success. A community-based Board of Directors was elected in the spring of 2012 and has been working to plan the Games ever since. The Board is led by a President and Vice President and includes 14 Directorates, dividing the tasks into like-areas. Liaisons from various community organizations also join the Board to provide support to the Games. The Directors lead teams of Com-
mittee Chairs each responsible for spe-cific aspects of planning and staging the Games. In all there are over 100 Chairs. Each volunteer Director and Chair is committed to ensure that the community comes together in a celebration of pride and that participants have an unforget-table experience.
The BC Winter Games is a significant event for Mission and will have an esti-mated economic impact to our commu-nity of over $1.8 million. The Games are supported by provincial Corporate and Funding Partners but, the support of local businesses is key to the success of the Games. Businesses can become involved through the Friends of the Games pro-gram which has a range of contribution levels for both cash and gifts-in-kind.
“One of our greatest expenses is food for the athletes.” states Friends of the Games Director, Grant Mottershead. “Contributions to provide healthy snacks
for athletes and volunteers are being sought. There are many other areas that local businesses can support, ranging from office equipment and supplies, dec-orations, and infrastructure needs.”
Support the community of Mission and be part of making the Games an amazing experience for British Columbia’s young athletes. Your contribution will help make this an experience that will last a lifetime for participants – the Games can be a springboard for athletes, coaches, and officials as they move on to higher levels of competition, as well as providing a memorable experience for organizers and volunteers. You will also be helping to create a legacy in sport, recreation, and culture for the District of Mission.
Contact the Friends of the Games Di-rectorate to learn more about how you can support the Games at 778-879-0710 or [email protected] or visit us at www.bcwintergames.org.
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2013
BOA
RD O
F DI
RECT
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Sean Melia PRESIDENT
Ann HarperVICE PRESIDENT
Cal CrawfordDIRECTOR
Dave SawatzkyDIRECTOR
Elyssa LockhartPAST PRESIDENT
Tricia TownsendDIRECTOR
Carol HamiltonDIRECTOR
Pam AlexisDIRECTOR
Satti GrewalDIRECTOR
That is a question that will be asked many times as we move into the spring of next year. Why will it be asked? Well for the many people who have chosen to be involved in the exciting opportunity that the Mission 2014 Winter Games offers; they will be asking if you took part in some way in the premier event that drew province wide attention to Mission. I know many people who became more taken with an event after it had passed by simply because of the buzz and glow it had generated but at the time they didn’t take the opportunity to be involved. Don’t miss out on your chance to help create the best Winter Games and to really help enhance the image that Mission has both inside and outside our boundaries. Please go to www.bcgames.org to volunteer or to become a financial supporter or provider for our 2014 BC Winter Games!
Shop local, spend local, eat local, enjoy local! Pay It Forward is back. In support of all business in our District and the Christmas Bureau, the Chamber has brought back this highly successful promotion launched last year. With over 40,000 receipts turned in 2012 that represented holiday spending at local businesses, a donation of $4,863 was made to the Mission Christmas Bureau. We are pleased to have the support of BC Hydro, Prospera, Vancity and TD to help make this year’s program another huge success and who knows; maybe we will hit the 60,000 receipts mark this year!
Lend your voice to advocating for business in Mission... be part of your Chamber of Commerce!
Corey JongDIRECTOR
Allan MainLIAISON, C.F.N.F.
MayorTed Adlem
DOM LIAISON
President's message:Where were you when...?
Mission business plans on thanking shoppers again this year for choosing to shop local. As we go into the holiday season, the Mission Regional Chamber of Commerce would like to thank you on behalf of Mission business by paying it forward. For every receipt that customers send us or drop in one of the marked boxes at local retailers between November 22 and December 15, the Chamber will donate 5¢ to the Mission Christmas Bureau.
Last year the program raised $4,863 for the Mission Christmas Bureau that
helped more than 700 families during the holiday season.
When you shop at a locally owned retailer your always pay it forward as $73 of every $100 spent stays in the community. Shop at a large chain, still $47 remains in the community through wages and additional purchasing. Those dollars then circulate in the community 75 times. The simple act of shopping in Mission provides continual community benefit that lasts throughout the year.
During the holiday season, we encourage you to visit local businesses
and pay it forward. Ask for a copy of your receipt or gift receipt, and drop it into one of the many boxes around town or at the Chamber Offices at 34033 Lougheed Highway. Feel free to blank out the amounts.
Businesses encourage your customers to submit receipts by making up a box for collection and displaying the Pay It Forward Sticker. This program is open to all businesses in Mission. Final results will be revealed at the Chamber’s Christmas Luncheon on December 19.
So support your community this holiday season by shopping local!
Pay It Forward…Shop Local is Back!
Your Comfort is our Calling.
Serving the Fraser Valley for over 13 years.
TRUE NORTH MECHANICAL35220 Riverside Road, Mission BC
Phone: 604-854-0322
or Page: 604-854-7034
24 SERVICE
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• Furnaces • Heat Pumps• Commercial Refrigeration
By Kathleen Rake , Click Media Works
“We owe our success to our clients,” said Carol Bisgard, owner of Natural Reflextions Day Spa on Horne Street in Mission.
Bisgard opened her business in 2003, originally providing reflexology and massage services. But that changed quickly. “We listened to our clients. They really liked what we were doing, but they wanted more. So we obliged them,” said Bis-gard.
Today a long list of esthetic services for men and women – from pedicures and manicures, to waxing, facials and more – complements the therapeutic massage and reflexology treatments on the Natural Reflextions menu. “In 2009 we ex-panded our original premises so we could provide more ser-vices to more people. Now we have seven treatment rooms and a central lounge area,” she added.
This year, Bisgard, along with co-owner and husband Ken Bisgard, office manager Susan Kirchmayer, spa manager Di-anna Palma, and seven professional staff members celebrate
Natural Reflextions’ 10th anniversary.“This industry, like most others, experiences low and high
cycles,” said Palma. “During both slow and busy times, we try to have enough staff on to accommodate walk-ins and last-minute bookings. We know how busy people are these days and we want to make sure all clients get the services they want, as conveniently as possible.”
But it’s not just a matter of enough staff. According to Palma, the staff at Natural Reflextions is “trained, profes-sional and committed to providing a thoughtful, relaxing and client-centered experience.”
One piece of advice for people wanting to start their own businesses: “Research,” said Bisgard. “Research before you start so you don’t have to learn the hard way. The Mission Chamber is a great resource.”
Natural Reflextions is wheelchair accessible and open to serve clients six days a week, with extended hours on Wednesdays and Thursdays. For more information, call 604-826-8265 or visit online at www.NaturalReflextions.com.
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CHAMBER COM
ING EVEN
TS
Scan this QR code with your
smart phone to see
details on our website
Natural Reflextions: Head-to-toe customer satisfaction
Chamber Snapshots: A close-up look at members that keep Mission humming
Natural Reflextions massage suite: A place to relax and renew.CLICK MEDIA WORKS PHOTO
NOVEMBER/ DECEMBER
November 14Speed Networking AM
Place: ABC Restaurant
Time: 8am-9:30am
November 21Chamber Luncheon
Speaker: Riverside College, Employee Training
Place: Chapel Room, Rockwell’s
Time: 11:30am – 1pm
December 630th Candlelight Parade
Largest Nighttime Parade in BC
Place: First Ave
Time: 7:30-8:30pm
Enter a Float!
December 19Chamber Christmas Luncheon
Report on the Year
Place: Ballroom, Mission Best Western
Time: 11:30am – 1pm
When you know the local real estate market like I do, sales happen faster.
Looking? Listing? CALL TODAY!
604-854-039232386 Fletcher Avenue,Mission
email: [email protected]
Cal CrawfordOver 30 years experience
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BusinessTRACK20
13 C
HAM
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Candlelight Parade can market your business
M i s s i o n R e g i o n a l C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c ew w w . m i s s i o n c h a m b e r. b c . c a 6 0 4 - 8 2 6 - 6 9 1 43 4 0 3 3 L o u g h e e d H w y , M i s s i o n B C V 2 V 5 X 8
“Membership has its
benefi ts!”
Also, your centre for Mission & BC TouristInformation
Allison JackAdministration
Adm
in@M
ission
Cham
ber.b
c.ca
Michelle FaveroExecutive Director
exec
dir@
Miss
ionCh
ambe
r .bc
ca
Raj SaranMember Services
mem
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serv
ices@
Miss
ionCh
ambe
r .bc
ca
Clare SeeleyVisitor Services
Info@
Miss
ionCh
ambe
r.bc.c
aPreparation has begun for the 30th Candlelight Parade which is a great vehicle for local businesses to get noticed at the beginning of the holiday season.“The parade is the largest nighttime one held in BC,” notes parade chair, Cal Crawford. “It takes many volunteers and of course the support of our sponsors to achieve its ongoing success.”With an average annual attendance of 14,000 over the last 5 years, the Mission parade is one of the largest. Families come from as far as Washington State, Vancouver and Hope to watch this down home celebration of the Christmas season wind down 1st Avenue from Horne to Park. The parade is a great opportunity
for business to highlight themselves as a supporter of the community. Sponsorship opportunities start at as little as $500 and will align your business with this historic event. Partner as the presenting sponsor for only $2,000 and keep your business top of mind in our media coverage.Unable to sponsor, then invest in a float. It is free to enter the parade and a great opportunity to showcase what you offer. Past winner Fraser Valley Building Supplies tested this and increased sales the following day.Market your business and be connected to the largest community event in Mission. Contact Allison Jack at the Chamber office, 604-826-6914 for more info.
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INTERIOR DESIGNR inside and out • Commercial & Residential • Colour Co-ordinating• Design - Advice - Assistance • Renovations - Construction• Decorating - Furnishings • “Staging” to sell
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DAVIESDAVIESSand & Gravel Ltd.
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11496 DEWDNEY TRUNK RD., MISSION, BC • MAIL - BOX 3663 • V2V 4L2
“Promoting Business and Tourism Development in Mission”I N F O R M AT I O N AVA I L A B L E
• Mission Community Profi le• Commercial and Industrial Property Inventory
• Business Opportunities34033 LOUGHEED HWY., MISSION, BC V2V 5X8Tel: 604.820.3789 • Fax: 604.820.6738 • Toll Free: 1.866.814.1222
email: [email protected] • www.mission.ca
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Gordon W. Ruley B.A., LL.B.• Real Estate & Mortgages• Commercial Development• Business Acquisitions• Corporate• Wills/Estate Planning
Donna Maser B.Comm., LL.B.• Family Law• General Litigation• Real Estate Law• Municipal Law• First Nations Issues
Eleanor L. MacDonald B.A., LL.B.• Real Estate & Mortgages• Wills/Estate Planning• Committeeships• Separation Agreements• Uncontested Divorces• Marriage Contract • Estates
Chris Stenerson B.A., LL.B• Divorce/Family Law Litigation• Separation Agreements• Marriage Contracts • Personal Injury (ICBC claims)• Wills/Estate Planning• General Litigation• Collections • Foreclosures
Troy A. Dickson B.Comm., J.D.• Articled Student
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120
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“The most wonderful time of the year” is fast approaching and it would not
be complete without the Mission Regional Chamber of Commerce Candlelight Parade.
Mission held Christmas Parades on a Saturday afternoon for de-cades, until the decision to move it to an evening production was made in 1984. With bright light displays illuminating the crowds and festive music playing, the magic was created and we now host the largest nighttime parade in British Columbia. Today the event draws in crowds in excess of 14,000, with more than 75 partici-pating floats.
Initially started by local busi-ness, they took the opportunity to host the event as a “thank you” to residents for supporting them throughout the year. It was also the ideal time to raise aware-ness and support for the Mission Christmas Bureau and to this day
volunteers walk the parade route collecting non-perishable goods. With floats run and sponsored by companies, they were soon joined by local schools, sports teams and community groups, showing the overwhelming community spirit that remains Mission’s signature today.
The route has changed little over the years and still runs along 1st Avenue from Horne to Park.
This year for the 30th anniver-sary of the nighttime parade the Mission Chamber will add an additional theme, the BC Winter Games. To celebrate Mission hosting the upcoming sporting event this February 20th-23rd, floats have been asked to also highlight the 18 sports featured, which include skiing, karate, hockey and archery as well as their holiday spirit.
So, mark the date! Come get your first glimpse of Santa on Fri-day December 6 at 7:30pm – see you there!
Candlelight Parade celebrates 30 years!
Santa Claus during the Annual Candlelight Parade in Mission. MISSION RECORD PHOTO
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