Business After 5 Tomorrow - Wednesday August 26
Up On The Roof!
The St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital Foundation is an incredible centre of community service and support. With the largest fundraising campaign in Elgin County history underway now, Foundation staff and volunteers will host a special Business After 5 on-site event at OUR Hospital to update our Members on progress and to showcase some dynamic events on their calendar.
Our location for this special edition of Business After 5 tomorrow will be the large rooftop patio area adjacent to the Atrium. Here's a preview of the activities to be previewed:
Calendar Girls - The Elgin Theatre Guild (ETG) and the St Thomas Elgin General Hospital Foundation have joined together to create a 'Calendar Girls' 2016 calendar to benefit the Great Expansion at the Hospital.
Railway City Road Races - The 2nd annual race takes place on Sunday September 20 from the CASO Station. Proceeds support orthopaedic surgical equipment.
Black Tie & Pearls with special guest Chef Michael Smith - Saturday November 21 at St. Anne's Centre in support of the Patient Resource Centre.
T14OT - Take One For
OUR Team, Family Day weekend 2016 -
OUR newest and most ambitious event to benefit
OUR Special Care Nursery.
DOOR PRIZE DRAWS THIS MONTH - as we do every month, some great prizes will be given to people attending our event. Our main prize this month is valued at $375 and will be the first two tickets (#001 & #002) to the Black Tie & Pearls event on Saturday November 21 with special guest Chef Michael Smith. This prize also includes a set of 3 Chef Michael Smith cookbooks that our winners can bring to the event and have signed as they personally meet the guest of honour! You could also win VIP Passes from the Elgin Theatre Guild and/or gift cards from Railway City Brewery, M&M Meats and The Bistro.
BEST HOSPITAL FOOD EVER! - Our hosts have arranged an exceptional selection of hot & cold hors d'oeuvres ranging from mini sliders with chipotle aoli to chicken satay skewers, coconut shrimp, taco cups, melon berry shots and goat cheese/strawberry balsamic glaze baguettes.
As always, Business After 5 is open and free of charge to anyone and everyone from any business or organization that is a Member of the St. Thomas & District Chamber. Together with our host and sponsor, the Chamber is also extending an invitation this month to all Members of the Aylmer & Area Chamber of Commerce to attend our event.
FREE PARKING - the south and east parking lots at the hospital will be open and FREE for everyone attending Business After 5. Watch for the hospital staff for directions and guidance to our event on arrival.
Business After 5 - Wednesday September 30
Our September edition of Business After 5 takes place at Fanshawe's St. Thomas / Elgin Regional Campus at 120 Bill Martyn Parkway.
Mark the date now and plan to join us for an exceptional connection opportunity. Mix and mingle with your business neighbours and enjoy complimentary hors d'oeuvres, your favourite refreshments, and some great door prizes.
As always, admission to Business After 5 is free and open to anyone and everyone from any business or organization that is a Member of the Chamber.
National Small Business Week October 18 - 24
Business Sample Show - Wednesday October 21
Exhibitor Registration Open Now
Call the Chamber office for details at 519-631-1981 or check the info posted in the Events section of the Chamber website
Register Now - 5 $1000 cash prizes to be won if you act by next Monday, August 31
Shop the Neighbourhood Returns November 28
The St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce is participating in
Shop The Neighbourhood - Saturday, November 28, 2015.
Mark your calendars and join us in this FREE national initiative that shines a light on small businesses.
How can you get involved?
Sign up early, as
free registration is now open for businesses. In fact, if you register before the end of the month - next Monday, August 31, 2015, you’ll be in the running to
win one of five $1,000 cash prizes!
In the coming weeks, those who register will begin to receive information about how to get the most out of this important initiative.
Click here to register for 2015 now.
Help us remind Canadians about the important role small businesses play in creating healthy, thriving neighbourhoods. Join the movement!
Business News & Updates
Harnessing the Power of the Sharing Economy
The St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce is pleased to join the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and dozens of our affiliated community Chambers across Ontario to release a major new report and research today. Our focus is to what is termed "the sharing economy". Fueled by globally-recognized names such as Uber, Autoshare and Airbnb, this new dimension of the economy enables individuals to obtain rides, accommodation and a wide range of goods and services from peers via online platforms. Global revenue from sharing economy companies right now is pegged at $15 billion this year. By 2025 it is forecast to be $335 billion.
Included in our new report is research showing that nearly 40 percent of young Ontarians (ages 18 to 34) are already consumers in the sharing economy, and that nearly two-thirds of the people in Ontario believe that growth of the sharing economy is good.
With governments and regulators having yet to take significant steps to act and capture the potential of the sharing economy, our report calls for swift and immediate action to fill insurance gaps and ensure tax compliance in an adaptable framework.
To view the full report
click here.
Power - at what Price??
The Chamber - and our Members - are asking for assurance
In a
letter submitted to Premier Kathleen Wynne last Thursday, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) and a coalition of 36 Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade requested evidence that the sale of a portion of Hydro One will not directly impact electricity prices in the future.
While we are cautiously optimistic about the sale, there are details that have yet to be determined. The OCC and the Chamber Network are concerned that it could adversely affect the cost of doing business in the province, including adding to the rising price of electricity. As such, we are seeking clarity from government on how the sale will impact electricity prices.
The Ontario Chamber Network is committed to being an active participant in any discussions about the future of Ontario’s electricity system. On July 8, the OCC released the most widely consulted report in the history of the organization and our membership,
Empowering Ontario: Constraining Costs and Staying Competitive in the Electricity Market.
Our
Esso Fleet Fuel program reduces your gasoline price by 3.5 cents per litre at more than 1,000 Esso stations in Canada and over 18,000 Exxon or Mobil stations across the US. You can now register as a business or organization, or as an individual.
For details just click here.
Two great group insurance plans... One for people, one for property and vehicles:
Perhaps you've seen our ads in the last few weeks on BNN, the Business News Network, promoting our national
Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Program. It
brings huge savings on personal insurance such as life insurance and drug/dental plans. Get in the pool! Last year, we welcomed 3,200 new businesses choosing the Chambers Plan for their employees. At April 1, we included 30,506 businesses and 132,543 employees across Canada as Chamber Plan customers. ARC Financial Group, with offices in St. Thomas and London, is licensed to handle all local sales and service work on the Plan on our behalf. See
their website for more.
Our
NOVEX Group plan brings big savings on property and vehicle insurance. It's offered locally through Reith & Associates Insurance and Financial Services. For more information on our Novex group plan and the new
my Driving Discount call 519-631-3862 or
CLICK HERE.
