Membership Newsletter - March 2019
March 15, 2019
Canadian Businesses Need Alberta Role Models
In our huge country, with its diverse geography, people, and industries, we need to hear stories from all regions that demonstrate a strategic approach to creating healthy, prosperous companies. 

That's why Excellence Canada created the Canadian Business Excellence Awards program. It’s an opportunity for private businesses across Canada to examine themselves under three main drivers: people, customers, and innovation. They receive external validation of their successes and in the process, they learn about opportunities for improvement. They share their stories with the world and inspire others to strive for excellence, too. 

Excellence Canada's mission is to enable excellence in every organization in Canada. The success of our businesses and the health of our economy depend on it. With our teaching, measuring, and recognition programs, we help those who are striving for excellence, and we celebrate those who have achieved it.

How does your company measure up? Visit CBEAwards.com to find out.
Chamber News:
Chamber of the Year Awards
Is your chamber a champion? Don't be shy!

We are now accepting submissions for the 2019 Chamber(s) of the Year. This is a self-nomination process as we do require some details only you can know. This is no time to be shy!

  • Every chamber is eligible in one of the size categories. You will only be competing against other Chambers of similar size.
  • Submission deadline is April 30, 2019

If there are any questions, please contact Tracy Acorn, Chamber Services & Administration Manager, (780) 425-4180 ext 3

For more information on requirements and to download a fillable PDF, click below:
Announcing the winners of the 2019 Alberta Business Awards of Distinction
Thank you to all the sponsors, nominators, finalists, and volunteers for helping make these awards possible – we quite literally could not do it without you!

This was one of the most competitive years ever, and while all our finalists are INCREDIBLE, without further ado, a HUGE congratulations to the winners of the 2019 Alberta Business Awards of Distinction:
Thank you all so much for being a part of these awards – we can’t wait to see what ABAD 2020 brings!

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with us, learn more about our finalists and winners, and stay in the loop for next year!

The full award show will air in some Alberta Communities:

Central Alberta (Red Deer, Hinton) and Fort McMurray will air:
Monday, March 11 at 5:30 pm
Saturday, March 16 at 7 pm
Sunday, March 17 at 2 pm
 
Medicine Hat will air: 
Monday, March 11 at 5:30 pm
Saturday, March 16 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, March 17 at 2 pm
 
Lethbridge/Pincher Creek will air: 
Monday, March 11 at 5:30 pm
Saturday, March 16 at 7 pm
Sunday, March 17 at 2 pm

To check out photos from our event, head to Facebook or to the 2019 event gallery!

See you in 2020!
ACE Executive Nominations are now Open!
The nominations for ACE Executive of the Year are officially open!

Each year this award is presented to a member of the Alberta Chamber Executives whose contribution to ACE has been outstanding, as demonstrated by their participation level at meetings and their leadership shown throughout the previous year. 

Please take the time to nominate one of your peers for this prestigious award which will be presented at the ACC AGM in Camrose. The recipient will receive a presentation plaque and a personal cheque for $350.

Note: The current President of ACE is not eligible to be considered for this award. Self nominations will not be accepted. All nominations must be submitted by a current ACE member in good standing. You may only nominate or be nominated if you are a member of ACE.
 
Nomination Deadline: April 1, 2019
ACC Annual General Meeting 2019 Bursary Application
The purpose of the ACC AGM bursaries is for Chambers Plan to provide financial assistance for ACC members to attend the Annual General Meeting and Policy Plenary Session.

Deadline for application is April 5th, 2019, 4:00 PM

Each bursary is awarded to one chamber staff or volunteer. These bursaries may be awarded each year, up to a maximum amount of $1,000, to cover the registration fee, three nights accommodation, and travel. Receipts must be provided to Chambers Plan within 30 days of the conference. (Mileage is not covered, but gas and food receipts are accepted.)
Alberta Chambers 2019/2020 Executive Committee - Call for Nominations
In accordance with the Alberta Chambers of Commerce bylaws, the Nominating Committee is seeking names of individuals interested in participating on the Alberta Chambers of Commerce Executive Committee.

Working on behalf of 124-member Chambers of Commerce, representing over 25,000 businesses, the Alberta Chambers of Commerce Executive Committee is responsible to the Board of Directors, which is made up of the Presidents/Chairs of member Chambers of Commerce.

Click the button below for more information on eligibility, commitment, and vacancies.
2019 Annual Provincial Conference & Policy Session
Don't forget to save the date!

Policy Session Host: ACC Past Chair Carman McNary
Camrose Fun Fact: The original chamber motto was "community betterment"

Speaker: Vivian Krause
Past Chair's Forum: Carman, Brad, Jack, Chris

Ginny Flood, CCC Chair will be bringing greetings
Call to host the 2021 Provincial Conference and Policy Session
The ACC is now accepting expressions of interest to host the 2021 Provincial Conference and Policy Session. EVERY CHAMBER is eligible, and we encourage all Chambers to consider hosting the session.

Submission Deadline: April 26, 2019

Click the button below for more information on eligibility, commitment, and vacancies.

For further questions, please contact Ken Kobly, President & CEO, at (780) 425-4180 ext. 5 or email [email protected]
Step Up Challenge for Prostate Cancer Canada
ACC network, let's get the momentum going:

Team ACC PlaidStars is starting awareness and fundraising for Prostate Cancer early this year with the YEG Step Up Challenge!

Last year, the Alberta and Ontario Chambers went head-to-head in a friendly fundraising competition during Prostate Cancer's Plaid for Dad campaign. Hats of to OCC and captain Rocco Rossi for leading the nation in fundraising and awareness, but the ACC is already getting ready for round 2 by a sprint fundraiser/awareness campaign with the Step Up Challenge!

Coach Ken Kobly will be getting us through the grueling 6 tower climb, and we really appreciate any support from our network to help keep us motivated and supporting the great cause of Prostate Cancer research being conducted here in Alberta.
International Women's Day in Alberta
Although International Women's Day was last week, we wanted to share a special spotlight on Alberta girls already leading in business & elected office, check it out :
MicroSociety program teaches students how to build a...

The MicroSociety project running at Red Deer's Aspen Heights Elementary School is the sort of program that prompts people to say, 'I wish they had that when I went to school'. The program has students create their own society, complete with...

Read more
edmontonjournal.com
2018 Deal Flow Study shows female founders of AB tech companies lead the nation
Entrepreneurship is part of Alberta’s DNA, and this is an exciting time of growth for technology companies. Female participation in Alberta’s tech sector has seen impressive growth with the proportion of female tech founders reaching 30% (a 50% increase over 2016), compared to the national average of 13% in 2018.

Lastly, we'd like to recognize and introduce the three female executives that make up half our executive team:
Shauna Feth

Shauna is the Executive Director of the Alberta Business Family Institute at the University Of Alberta, School Of Business, Shauna is a designated Family Enterprise Advisor™, who has been actively and effectively promoting, educating and supporting outreach programs for family enterprises and their advisors for over 10 years.

Shawna Miller

Shawna Miller is an entrepreneur and business‐woman with almost two decades of experience. As the owner of Subway Restaurants across Northwest Alberta, an oilfield service company, and a property investment company, Shawna’s varied experience includes incredible success. 

Rosetta Taylor, First Vice-Chair

Rosetta Taylor has years of progressive corporate experience in her background. Currently, Rosetta is the Manager of the ATB Financial Branch in Spruce Grove, Alberta, one of the busiest branches in the province. Her career in banking has spanned over 30 years. She is born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta and today resides in Spruce Grove, Alberta.

Articles & News
CAPP President and CEO to speak at Chamber Lunch and Learn
March 6, Medicine Hat - CAPP’s CEO, Tim McMillan, will highlight the challenges facing Alberta’s oil and natural gas industry, as well as solutions-based recommendations. This lunch hour address will focus on a strong growth scenario for the oil and natural gas industry in Alberta, increasing its competitiveness in the global energy market and attracting investment back to the province. 

Date: March 6, 2019 
Time: 11:30 a.m. Registration 
Noon – 1 p.m. Program 
Location: Desert Blume – Banquet Room – 107 Clubhouse Dr. 
CCEC WEBINAR: Productivity Ninja 101 with Jennifer Fox
The Chambers of Commerce Executives of Canada invite chambers to participate in webinar on how to de-stress your work and align your best energy with your most meaningful tasks. We’ll explore brain science and best practices with speaker Jennifer Fox to help with your workflow, email, and the art of recovering from constant interruptions.

Date: March 13, 2019

Time: 1:00 - 2:00 PM EDT
Alberta Small Business Resources
Government of Alberta Small Business Team Updates:


Events:
February 20, 2019 (Red Deer) - The Winter's Edge Investment Forum is a one-day event taking place in Red Deer where Alberta Entrepreneurs will present to investors. Learn more

February 20, 2019 (Leduc) - Join the Leduc Chamber of Commerce and Business Link for the 2019 inforMEMBERS luncheon about the Immigrant Entrepreneur Program.  Learn more

February 27, 2019 (Red Deer) - Discover the Foundation of Success. The ATB Entrepreneur Centre is hosting a pop-up workshop for entrepreneurs at their North Red Deer location.  Learn more

Go to Alberta's small business resource website for more information and small business programming.
Canadian Chamber of Commerce - Chamber Pharmacare Op-Ed in Hill Times
On February 25, 2019, an opinion editorial appeared in The Hill Times regarding pharmacare and was submitted by a particular community chamber of commerce. This article does not reflect the views of all chambers of commerce across the country, the ACC or the CCC. In response, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce has written a response to that letter sent to The Hill Times.


Read the CCC's submission to the Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare.
ACC Value Added Program:
Alberta Business Awards of Distinction Featured Winner:
2019 Alberta's Best of Business Award of Distinction Recipient:
Carbon Credit Solutions!
Alberta launched North American’s first carbon market in 2007, which is an essential bridge to the low carbon economy. CCSI has gone from start up to Canada’s most successful cleantech company and a global leader.

It is now the largest aggregator of agricultural carbon credits in North America. CCSI has created over $40 million in income streams for Alberta farmers and saved the energy industry $30 million in compliance costs.

Their team has created the most advanced software platform on the planet for measuring, reporting and verifying carbon credits. The company has grown 806% since 2014 and enjoys fortune 100 companies as clients, retaining over 94% of their customers over a 7-year period.

As a proud Alberta-based cleantech company, CCSI is creating knowledge-based jobs in Alberta for the long term. The 40-member growing team is marketing its software and experience to the USA, Brazil, and soon China. For his remarkable leadership in technology and the environment in Canada and around the world, Chair and CEO Ed Alfke received the 2017 EY Entrepreneur of the Year for Cleantech & Environment.

We are proud to have awarded them our 2019 Alberta's Best of Business Award of Distinction!



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Alberta Chambers of Commerce
Tracy Acorn, Manager of Chamber Services & Admin
780.425.4180 Ext.3