Last Week at the Chamber...

Nominations Have Closed - What's Next?

Let's hear it for the 135 amazing nominees for this year’s Business Excellence Awards! We're equal parts excited and proud to see so many outstanding businesses, organizations and individuals celebrated and recognized for all of their hard work.

A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate — your support helps highlight the hard work and heart behind our local business community.

Nominees are now being reviewed, and those moving forward will soon be in the hands of our judges meeting next week. After that — it’s your turn to weigh in! We can’t wait to see those “I’ve Been Nominated” frames lighting up your feeds — don’t forget to tag us so we can share the excitement. Public voting opens October 24. In the meantime, grab your tickets for the Squamish Chamber Business Excellence Awards Presented by RE/MAX Sea to Sky Real Estate and get ready to celebrate the best in local business.

Last week’s Chamber Connect brought together a full table of participants — including Board Directors, current members, and future members — for a lively and engaging session.

Anne led an informative presentation on membership, while Chambers Plan representative Agustina Coccaro shared insights into one of the most valuable perks of joining the Chamber: access to the Chambers Plan benefits. Chamber Connect sessions are designed to spark conversation, foster connections, and share resources that help local businesses grow. We’re already looking forward to hosting our next one in early 2026!

We're excited to highlight the Cheakamus Centre, a dedicated member of the Squamish Chamber of Commerce for over 25 years! 


The Cheakamus Centre, established in 1969 and owned by the North Vancouver School District, is an overnight field school and environmental learning facility set on 165 hectares in Paradise Valley. It offers a range of nature-based educational programs for children and adults, including cultural experiences, leadership training, and outdoor activities aligned with the BC curriculum. The Centre also hosts global visitors for events and conferences, supported by its LEED® Platinum BlueShore Environmental Learning Centre and a partnership with Listel Hospitality Group to promote sustainability and excellence in education.

Thank you to the Cheakamus team for their unwavering commitment to educational excellence and for your collaboration over the last two and a half decades, we look forward to many more successful years to come!

Venue Rental Opportunity - Squamish Legion

Are you looking for a place to hold a special function, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Weddings, Family Reunions Celebration of Life or Funerals etc. for a small gathering at a reasonable rate then look no further than the Squamish Legion at Glenalder Place in Garibaldi Highlands. We offer an 80 seat cozy, comfortable lounge, complete with kitchen facilities and bar service. Rental rates are very competitive in today’s market and we will go out of our way to meet your requirements where ever possible.

Joint Engagement Committee Seeks Transparency Around Fuel Pricing

Fuel prices have been a recurring challenge in our community, affecting everything from transportation and supply chain costs to the affordability of daily operations for small businesses. Following this discussion, the committee drafted and submitted a formal letter to MP Patrick Weiler, outlining these concerns and urging for government attention and potential action to mitigate the economic strain. The letter emphasizes the importance of equitable pricing, regional transparency, and long-term solutions to support the sustainability and competitiveness of Squamish’s business community.

The Joint Engagement Committee, is an advocacy group comprised of members from the Squamish Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Squamish and the Downtown Squamish BIA. Established to foster collaboration and coordination across the three organizations, the committee meets monthly to address emerging issues and represent the interests and economic growth of Squamish.

The RBC Gran Fondo is an annual event that sees 5000+ riders pass through our community. The Squamish Chamber, in collaboration with Tourism Squamish, SLRD and the Downtown BIA are conducting a survey to better understand the impact of this event on the Squamish Community.  


This year’s survey looks a little different and now includes a section asking for ideas on opportunities that could be created in Squamish during the Fondo. Your feedback will provide valuable insight into the events' effects on local residents and businesses. This year, the event was held on Saturday, September 6th. Please consider this year's event when providing your feedback and thank you for taking the time to offer your insights.

Now is the perfect time to boost your business visibility with the Chamber’s affordable marketing add-ons. Before the holiday season kicks into high gear, take advantage of our low-cost promotional options to reach a highly engaged local audience. From featured member spotlights and newsletter highlights to social media promotions and website ads, these packages are designed to fit any budget and help your business stand out all year round. Strengthen your brand presence and connect with the community—reserve your marketing package today before holiday campaigns fill up!

With the Christmas holidays just around the corner, many of you are bound to be in the late stages of trip preparation! Here's one more thing to tick off the list. The BC Chamber has partnered with Park n' Fly to offer all of its members a substantial discount for airport parking. All Squamish Chamber member get to enjoy the perks and benefits offered by the BC Chamber.

In partnership with the BC Chamber of Commerce, CopperTeams.AI is proud to present the AI Edge Program—a 3-month, action-driven training designed to help small to mid-size businesses in BC practically implement AI tools and workflows into their operations. While AI is already woven into our daily lives—from the voice assistants we rely on to the facial recognition that unlocks our phones—Canadian enterprises continue to lag behind their G7 counterparts in adopting these transformative technologies. This gap isn’t just about missed opportunities; it’s holding back Canada’s productivity and competitiveness at a time when AI has shifted from an emerging technology to a fundamental driver of how organizations operate, innovate, and deliver value.

Yes! This Program is Eligible for Grant Funding!

Thanks to the BC Employer Training Grant, BC businesses can access this $4,000 program (member pricing) for just $800/person, bringing enterprise-level AI training within budget for small and mid-size BC businesses. 

The BC Chamber of Commerce Small Business Week Summit, taking place October 20–24, 2025, celebrates the vital role small businesses play in B.C.’s economy while equipping them with practical tools for success. Under the theme Built to Thrive: Practical Skills for Small Business Success, the virtual summit will feature four complimentary Zoom webinars offering hands-on insights, real-world strategies, and actionable advice from entrepreneurs and thought leaders. Topics will range from navigating U.S. tariffs and adopting AI, to inclusive hiring and integrating social purpose, helping small business owners turn ideas into action with confidence.

Upcoming Webinars:

• Navigating Tariffs: Strategies for Business
• Inclusive Hiring: Strategies to Build Resilient and Diverse Work Forces
• AI In Action: Practical Ways to Save Hours Every Week
• From Every Day Actions to Big Change: Putting Purpose to Work Small Business

Google Ads Workshop with Mary Demers of L8P Digital Marketing

Ever feel like online advertising is a money pit and wonder, "How do I make this actually work for my business?" You’re not alone. And the good news? You don’t need a massive budget or a marketing degree to succeed. In this workshop, we’ll demystify Google Ads and Meta Ads, showing you how to make smarter decisions with your advertising dollars. With Google Ads becoming more complex, it’s more important than ever to understand how to target your audience effectively and avoid costly mistakes. We’ll also explore how Meta Ads (like Facebook and Instagram) can complement your strategy and help you reach your goals.

This interactive session will teach you how to:

• Create ad campaigns that actually convert (no more wasted clicks!)
• Understand the customer journey and target the right audience at the right time
• Avoid common pitfalls that drain your budget
• Use Google and Meta Ads together for maximum impact

This workshop is for:

• Business owners who want to grow their business online without breaking the bank
• Marketing managers looking to sharpen their online advertising skills
• Entrepreneurs launching new products or services who need to get the word out
• Anyone who wants to stop wasting money and start seeing results from their ads

Join us in this approachable, no-jargon session where you’ll gain practical, actionable tips to make every advertising dollar count. Step into the world of online advertising with confidence and clarity!

Join Us for the Last Après 5 of 2025!

We’re wrapping up our 2025 Après 5 season with Create Makerspace, Squamish’s hub for creativity, innovation, and collaboration! Led by Oscar Radevsky and his passionate team, Create Makerspace provides a welcoming space filled with tools, technology, and resources where makers of all ages and skill levels can bring ideas to life. From woodworking and 3D printing to community workshops and events, it’s a place where imagination comes to life. We can’t wait to celebrate our final Après 5 of the year in this inspiring space!

Training: Food Safe Level One with Connect Hospitality Strategies

You asked, and we listened! Our fall Food Safe course will now run on a Saturday—perfect for those with busy weekday schedules.

Get Food Safe certified in Squamish! This mandatory course for cooks, servers, and dishwashers covers food contamination, safe storage, dishwashing, and more.

The course is led by Caroline Bagnall, a seasoned hospitality professional, educator, and strategist with over 20 years of experience in food & beverage management and training.

Squamish Chamber Business Excellence Awards

The Squamish Chamber Business Excellence Awards Presented by RE/MAX Sea to Sky Real Estate are a celebrated signature event. With 12 award categories - including Business Leader of the Year, Emerging Entrepreneur, Bill Manson Citizen of the Year and others - the Squamish Chamber Business Excellence Awards highlight the diversity of talent and innovation that define the Squamish business community. From long-standing organizations to emerging enterprises, the awards are an opportunity to acknowledge the hard work that sustains our local economy and strengthens our connections to one another. Beyond the awards themselves, this event is an opportunity to celebrate our achievements, recognize our peers, and reflect on the challenges and successes of the past year.

Unleash Your Joy: A Morning of Community for BIA Small Business Owners & Staff

Behind every small business is a dream, a vision, and a whole lot of heart. But in the day-to-day hustle, it’s easy to lose touch with the joy that inspired you to start in the first place. This interactive workshop and social event is your chance to pause, recharge, and reconnect with the spark that keeps you energized; in life and in business.

Joy isn’t just “nice to have.” For entrepreneurs, it fuels creativity, strengthens resilience, and helps you show up as your best self for your team, your customers, and your community.

What You Can Expect:

• Reflect on what joy means to you personally and professionally.
• Learn about the three types of joy; Boosters, Activators, and Glimmers and how to spot them in your everyday business and life.
• Identify common blockers that keep small business owners from joy (like guilt, lack of time, or always putting the business first).
• Create a personalized Joy Plan that supports both your wellbeing and your business growth.
• Reconnect joy to your bigger “why” to stay motivated through the highs and lows of entrepreneurship.

You’ll leave feeling refreshed, inspired, and equipped with simple tools to bring more joy into your daily routine and business practices. Plus enjoy a this social workshop to connect with fellow Squamish business owners. This workshop is hosted by the Downtown Squamish BIA & Laura Van der Veer, Co-founder of She Summits. 

The Squamish Chamber operates on the unceded lands of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation (Squamish) on whose territory we are grateful to work, live and play.