Treaty Six Flag Raising

Chamber Board Member, Rob Saunders joins the dignitaries at the Treaty
6 Flag Raising Ceremony at City Hall today.

Chief Wallace Fox & Mayor Jeff Mulligan
lead the procession of dignitaries at the
Treaty 6 Ceremony.

Busy, rainy days of summer.....

Harvesting a Major Win 

The decades-long monopoly of the Canadian Wheat Board comes to an end Aug. 1 with the enactment of the Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act. This legislation fulfils an Alberta Chamber of Commerce (ACC) policy, which arose out of Red Deer in 2001. The winds of change have been blowing in Alberta's agri-business in preparation for the 2012 harvest. The new act means western farmers will, for the first time, gain the opportunity to sell their own grain crops, as befitting business people who market internationally. It also plows the way for greater value-added and investment opportunities in an open-market system. Brad Severin, ACC Policy Chair    
As a Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce member, our members are also members of the Alberta Chamber. Your local Chamber sits on the ACC policy committee and has input into the policy development and adoption of the Alberta policy resolutions. The above policy resolution which was taken to the policy debate of the Canadian Chamber by the Alberta Chamber, and adopted there, and subsequently taken to the Canadian government,and  is just one more way that your Chamber membership works for you. 

Over 40 Executive Directors of Alberta Chambers of Commerce met in Brooks last week for their annual professional development summit. This is a great opportunity to learn from one another as well as from the professional speakers. It was just one year ago that the Alberta Chamber Executives were in Lloydminster learning from our local professionals and getting to know our City better. I enjoy this time of networking and fun & supportive camaraderie with my colleagues from across Alberta & Saskatchewan. 

Northern Gateway -- CALL TO ACTION  On Monday, our members will receive a Call to Action advocacy package designed to assist chamber members interested in writing Letters of Comment to the Joint Review Panel, which is seeking public input on the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project. The deadline for the Letters of Comment is Aug. 31.  I encourage members to provide comment on this project as it is viewed as critical to Alberta's sustained economic success because it will diversify our markets for crude oil. This advocacy thrust is based on the ACC recently adopted policy, Northern Gateway Pipelines Project.  Our float entry in the parade was very well done thanks to our awesome staff and board members. I missed the parade once again due to the ACE conference, however I heard that the parade was colorful and interesting, the two breakfasts held by Leckie & Associates and City of Lloydminster/NewCap were delicious and the Lloyd Ex did their usual bang up job of hosting record crowds at the fair. When I am away from our City and visiting with folks from other municipalities, I fully appreciate what we have here ... a forward thinking city council and administration, hardworking and progressive organizations, honest and integral business leaders and friendly and helpful people. Who would want to live or run a business anywhere else? I have been busy this week, along with Karin, our resident photographer, visiting with and taking pictures for our Business Awards presentation. It has been interesting and fun meeting with nominees and getting a tour of their business or organization. I hope that everyone will come out and celebrate with us in October during business week when we showcase our nominated businesses and announce the recipients of the Business awards.    New West Partnership blows in more benefits for business  Alberta, B.C. and Saskatchewan have launched a new streamlined system of business registration. As of July 1, businesses only have to register in one of the provinces to operate in each province. The system was created under the New West Partnership, which is a venture among the three provinces to eliminate barriers to trade. ACC's longstanding policy, Elimination on Interprovincial Trade Barriers, seeks this kind of collaboration.   Till next time ....... Pat

Congratulations to the Lloydminster Handivan Society and RE/MAX of Lloydminster on their partnership to provide wheel chair accessible transportation services to our community. Transportation services have become increasingly important as our city grows and prospers. It is great to see one of our Chamber members applying an interesting marketing opportunity  in partnership with a long standing community organization like the Handivan Society to provide for this essential service. 

What a great time we had at the Lloyd Ex last Thursday when they hosted the June noon hour Connect. Corinne and Mike updated everyone on the upcoming Lloydminster Exhibition and great food and "fair" games were enjoyed by those in attendance. Our fearless leader, President Leana Ross, takes a lesson in wild cow milking. 






The Community Leaders Group met with the  Honorable Tim McMillan and newly elected MLA Richard Starke last week. A good discussions was held about several areas of interest to our community. 

Be sure to watch for the Chamber of Commerce and the Streetscapes Co float entry in the parade next week.

I will have to miss the parade again this year as our Alberta Chamber Executive Director's professional development summit is held those days in Brooks.

Till next time......
Pat