Isn't this winter great ....

Wow! Who needs to go south with this kind of weather. Haven't even pulled out the winter boots yet. Sure makes the winter shorter.

The Chamber has been a strong supporter of the Regional Business Accelerator and it looks like they have an interesting workshop coming up - The Inventor's Toolkit, "Navigating to Commercialization"  I talked to Janet last night at the Chamber Connect and she let me know that it wasn't just for brand new inventors, but for those looking to move to the next level as well. January 19th is the date and more information can be had at events@smallbusinessinformation.ca.

The Chamber Connect held at Digital Connections last night was well attended. Troy and his staff were great hosts serving the wine and cheese. Congratulations to Michelle Duzchek on winning the "most frequent attendee" at the Chamber Connect in 2011. Michelle's prize was $500.00 in Chamber bucks to be spent at any one of our 580 Chamber members.

Congratulations as well to the Gold Star Service With A Smile recipients. Kayla Marcy from Fabutan Sun Tan Studio, Melinda Bottorff from Safeway Pharmacy and Vickie Lamb from Marketplace Solution were all recognized for giving exceptional customer service.

Next Tuesday, January 17th we will be hard at work developing the policy resolutions for 2012. Come out to the lunch time event and assist your Chamber to set the policy direction for the next year. Call the Chamber office to register. On Wednesday, January 18th our Community Leaders will be off to Edmonton to meet with the Deputy Minister. In September 2011, the Leaders Group met with the Deputy Minister's in Saskatchewan and Phase 3 will be getting the provincial DM's together in Lloydminster so that our Communnity Leaders can work together with them to solve some of the complex issues that we encounter trying to do business, run an organization or a municipality in this border city of ours.

 Business Education month is in March. There are several good speakers coming to town for both the kick-off event on Feb. 29th, the Women's wrap up event on March 28th and for the workshops in between. The Chamber will hold their annual Labour Standards workshop on March 8th. Stay tuned for the complete line up of events coming soon.

Dabir Naqvi has been working hard with his committee to continue the dialogue on the work done by the Premiers Council on Economic Strategy. A class of business students at the college will also be working with us on this project and we are excited to be meeting with them on Feb. 17th.

Perhaps I will see you out to the   open house at the new Thorpe Recovery Centre tomorrow. It looks impressive from the outside, and I am looking forward to seeing the rest of it. It is exciting that we will have a facility of this kind serving our community and our provinces.

Till next time....
Pat

Vacation was enjoyable ...

It has been over a month since I attended to this blog. My vacation to points south was very relaxing and enjoyable however the weather was not much different than here, in fact the desert between Vegas and Yuma had more snow that we have.  San Diego is one of my favorite spots next to Lloydminster and the weather lived up to my expectations. One thing about a road trip to another country, it makes you appreciate what we have here in Lloydminster Canada ... the very best place in the world to live. Our steady economy, great people, caring polititions, and an abundance of jobs makes us blessed indeed.

Speaking of caring people ... our Chamber has felt priveleged to participate with the Musgrave family for the past seven years in honoring the Emergency Services Workers .. the RCMP, Britannia Wilton Fire Department, Rescue Squad and Ambulance Workers as well as the Lloydminster Fire Department. These individuals put themselves out there on a daily basis to help to protect our community. The Musgrave family was also recognized this year by Synergy Credit Union for all that they, as a company, do for this community. We are pleased to have them as a Corporate member of our Chamber.

The Chamber is winding down for the year with the final board meeting of the year next week. The Chamber board, and in particilar our president, Kevin Lundell, has put in many hours this past year representing the Chamber and the interests of our Chamber members. Being a Chamber board member is an important job and these folks take their job seriously and share their time and talents without reservation. I personally would like to thank them for all of their support and encouragement over the year.

We also have an incrediable staff at the Chamber office. Their daily commitment to our members and our community is appreciated. Without their patience, skills, wisdom and knowledge our Chamber would not be able to function as one of the best in the country. They are a great team to be proud of. 

Our over 560 members is what makes this community rock. Your community support is what makes it possible for Lloydminster to have the sports, culture, recreation and social supports that we have. The standard of living in our community is directly related to the growing, innovative & dyanamic business community that we are pleased to represent. When we pair that up with a forward thinking, skilled and progressive City council and city administration, we can't lose.

I look forward to the new heights that our community and our Chamber will reach in 2012. I wish you all a relaxing, safe and blessed Christmas.

Till next year .....
Pat

I was pleased to attend the Alberta Chamber Executives meeting, the Alberta Chamber Board of Director's Meeting and the Deputy Minister's Dinner in Edmonton last week. The new Chief Deputy Mininster, Peter Watson (above) addressed the over 300 Chamber members in attendance. It was interesting to meet the new Deputy Ministers, some of them very new to their posts, and hear about the agenda of this new government of Premier Redford. I had an opportunity to speak briefly with Mr. Watson towards the goal of coordinating between our Lloydminster Leaders Group and the  Deputy Ministers in Alberta, similar to the one held last in late September in Regina.

I'm off shortly to the Servus Credit Union sponsored Chamber Connect where their President & CEO will inform the Chamber members in attendance about the economic forcast.

Next week will be a busy week for our Chamber and our community. The Lloydminster Christmas Trade Show and Craft and Antique show will be held at the Lloydminster Exhibition Grounds from Nov. 18 - 20. This is a huge revenue generator for our Chamber and our community. Be sure to come out and visit the show. If you have a bit of time to volutneer, we will welcome that as well.

Till next time.
pat

The chimes toll again ...

A good crowd came out to help celebrate the sound of the chimes ringing again on the old post office downtown. This heritage building is one of a very few that we have left in Lloydminster and thanks to Larry & Robert Olynyk of Furniture Clinic, the City of Lloydminster, Mark Elliott from Enhanced Engineering and Braden Stolz and James Anderson from Bi-Systems Electric & Control for all the work they did to source parts, re-build the mechanisms and get it running. In the recognized style of Larry Olynyk, the chimes started with a bang and a colorful flair when Mayor Jeff Mulligan and former Mayor, Pat Gulak pushed the button.
Thanks to Ernie's Coffee House for making the special cake and for hosting the coffee time after the outdoor program.

Tonight I will be off to the Saskatchewan election All Candidates Forum at Lakeland College at 7:00 pm. This is a regular event coordinated by the Chamber when ever there is an election, either municipal, provincial or federal. It is a great opportunity to meet the candidates, hear what they have to say and ask some questions. Attending will be Meggan Hougham of the Green Party, Wayne Byers NDP candiate and Tim McMillan with the Saskatchewan Party.  It's open to the public with doors opening at 6:30.

We are busy at the office getting ready for the Christmas Trade Show on Nov. 18, 19,. 20 at the Lloyd Ex Alberta Building and Prairie Room. This three day event, held in conjunction with the Christmas Craft Fair has over 12,000 people through the gate over the three days. The spin off is huge  to the Lloydminster economy with hotels nights, restaruant visits, shopping and other consumer purchases in addition to the economic benefit to the vendors in the two shows. Hope to see you there.

Till next time ...... Pat

Mayor Jeff & former Mayor
Pat Gulak cut the cake

 

Getting a way ahead of myself..

Please by advised that the All Candidates Forum for the Saskatchewan election will be held on Oct. 27th at 7:00 pm at Lakeland College cafeteria instead of the next month as reported in my Thursday blog.
See you there
Pat

Business excellence celebrated ..

President Kevin Lundell & the Chamber of Commerce celebrated buisness excellence in Lloydminster with the Business Week Gala Awards on Wednesday night. Congratulations to Ken Kay on receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award. It is individuals like Ken who contribute so much to our community that make Lloydminster the best place to work, live and do business.  Congratulations as well to Lloydminster Animal hospital for receiving the Business of the Year award and to all of the recipients and nominees. The new format and location for the Gala appears to have been well received. Lakeland College provided some excellent appetizers and a huge thanks to Dale Beaudry and his staff from ATB for their excellent wine and service. Lloydminster Co-op very generously provided the appetizers for the intermission and Murray MacDonnell and his jazz band had great reviews. Thanks to the Vic Juba Theatre staff for their cooperation and to Ruth Knipsel for her beautiful piano contribution. Angela Rugama's singing of O Canada made us all proud to be Canadian. Glamour and Glitz as usual provided a special touch with their decorating talents. Karin Winter and Rob Anderson were a great team for the big screen presentation and vice president, Leana Ross and the  presenters did a fine job of handing out the awards. Thanks to all of you for making this a special night for Chamber members.

Once again Lloydminster has been recognized nationally, this time by CFIB, as one of the top two entrepreneurial cities in Canada for the 3rd time in 3 years. Businesses like the ones honored at the Business Awards gala are an example of why Lloydminster is repeatedly recognized as the one of the best locations to start a business. Many of our honored individuals and businesses have provided a fertile ground for business success, support and mentorship.

The work of the primary health care working groups is winding down and it has been an interesting and fruitful endeavor. Lloydminster will see some changes in the way health care is delivered in our community. It will be a longer term process but one that will benefit our residents and our health care professionals.  

I hope that I will see many of you out for the Saskatchewan election forum on Thursday, Nov. 27th at 7:00 pm at Lakeland College cafeteria. This is your opportunity to hear from the candidates prior to the election.

Till next time........

Pat

Small Business Week is here ....

Chamber president Kevin Lundell makes
presentation to Lloydminster Rotary club

Small Business Week will be celebrated in Lloydminster Oct. 17 - 21. Today, president Kevin Lundell gave an update on what the Chamber has been doing over the past year to the Lloydminster Rotary Club. It was interesting to see how many past presidents of the Chamber are also Rotary members. Rotarian, Hnatiuk started off his introduction of Kevin with the words something like .. "If you want something done, ask a busy person" and that is certainly an apt statement when you look at those in attendance at the Rotary luncheon today. Each person there has contributed in a significant way to helping to make Lloydminster the best place to live, work and do business. We have alot to celebrate in our community and Business Week is a great time to it.

Last week I attended the Saskatchewan Chamber Executive Leaders meeting in Humboldt. We were treated to some inspiring speakers and great networking with counterparts from across Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan  has had some exciting announcements and wins in the past week ... from the 2013 Memorial Cup in Saskatoon to the Grey Cup in Regina as well as the 2012 Briar and Tournament of Hearts in Saskatoon and Humboldt respectively. These are just a few events that I can think of off the top of my head and these kinds of events are possible due to dedicated volunteerism and a strong  business environment.  The Lloydminster business community has consistantly been an economic contributor for the province of Saskatchewan and has made possible in our community the many events that we have been so successful at hosting.

Congratulations to one of our contract staff, Vickie Lamb, on being awarded the Sask High School Athletics Assoc. Official of the Year for 2011. Vickie has devoted countless hours to officiating herself and mentoring and supporting other officials.

I hope to see you at the Business Week awards gala on Wednesday night at the Vic Juba Theatre.

Until next time......
Pat