This course is geared towards small to medium sized business owners looking to gain insights into strategic financial planning, including bookkeeping and tax fundamentals that will help them reduce risk of CRA headaches and optimize their taxes. 

A huge thank you to our 2025 Chamber Champions for making this series possible:

• Massage Therapy Collective 
• RIVR Solutions Ltd
• Nitrogen Technologies of Canada
• Two Twelve Consulting 
• Empire Oilfield Solutions 
• Mr. Mikes Steakhouse 

JANUARY BUSINESS AFTER 5 MIXER - HORNBROOK HOLLOWS FUNHOUSE

Thursday, January 30

5:00-7:00 PM

The Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce welcomes our members and invited guests to a Business After 5 Mixer hosted by Hornbrook Hollows Funhouse! Join us for an evening of networking, appetizers, refreshments and door prizes as well as finding out more about the host. Guests will also have the opportunity to participate in a "Mini" Mini Golf tournament and try out the Funhouse's other games! 

There is no cost to attend but we ask you please register in advance for catering and capacity purposes. 

The 16th Annual Growing the North Conference is set for February 18-20 at Evergreen Park!

Meet and network with Chamber members at the opening mixer on February 18.

For the first time, you have an option to join us for Day One of the conference on February 19 for sessions focused on innovation, industry trends, and practical strategies for growth. BUT we hope you stay for Day Two to engage in discussions about economic policy, regional development, and collaboration opportunities. We need your perspective in truly Growing the NORTH!

Confirmed plenary session speakers include Jackie Forrest, Waneek Horn-Miller, Shawn Kanungo, Mark Parsons, David Usher, and more!

Thank you to our sponsors and partners:

PLATINUM

The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta

Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers

Prairies Economic Development Canada

GOLD

Alberta Innovates

Athabasca University

CN

Edmonton International Airport

Grande Prairie Destination Marketing Fund

Grande Prairie Regional Innovation Network

IG Wealth Management

Northwestern Polytechnic

MEDIA

Pattison Media

HOST HOTEL

Pomeroy Hotel & Conference Centre

SILVER

Alberta Securities Commission

Aquatera

Canadian Fiber Optics

City of Dawson Creek

Co-operatives First

County of Northern Lights

Farm Credit Canada

Grande Prairie Friendship Centre

International Paper

MD of Greenview

Peace Region Economic Development Alliance / Northern Transportation Advocacy Bureau

Rotary Clubs of Grande Prairie

University of Alberta – Northern Alberta Medical Program / Office of Rural and Regional Health

MIXER CO-HOSTS

MNP

Neil & Associates

Women of Influence Award Nominations Now Open Featuring New Award Categories

Nominations are now open for the City of Grande Prairie’s Women of Influence Awards 2025 presented by Peace Diagnostic Imaging, now featuring five award categories to recognize women across various sectors in the community.

The Women of Influence Awards seek to recognize the women driving innovation and entrepreneurship in the region, creating opportunity for everyone in Grande Prairie. The awards highlight women who are championing gender equality, breaking barriers in their field, achieving new heights and advocating for greater access for all.

The nomination categories for 2025 are:

• Next Generation Award: Recognizing young women demonstrating exceptional promise, leadership, and impact in their community or field.
• Game Changer Award: Celebrating women disrupting norms, challenging the status quo, and paving the way in their field or community.
• Workplace Leadership Award: Honoring women who excel in leadership roles, fostering growth and inclusion within the workplace.
• Community Leadership Award: Recognizing women making significant contributions to the betterment of their community.
• Lifetime Impact Award: Honoring women whose enduring contributions have left a lasting legacy in their field or community.

Applications are available at cityofgp.com/WOI and open until January 24, 2025.

Join us for The Sweater Sessions: Insights from the Balcony

What will the impact of recent policies, emerging movements and global events have on the Alberta Energy Sector? Join MNP and the Grande Prairie Petroleum Association as we host this critical discussion on the shifting political and policy landscape and what it will mean for the future.

Together, we’ll navigate a variety of crucial topics pivotal to the industry's trajectory, including:

• Oil and gas development

• Carbon capture initiatives

• Renewables projects

• Federal emissions regulations

• Indigenous partnerships

• Energy security measures

• Canadian Political Climate

• The evolving relationship between Alberta and the Federal Government

You’ll hear valuable insights from:

Mike Simpson, Principal, Simpsonite Consulting Group

Lanny Westersund, National Government Relations Leader, MNP

Event details

Date: Thursday, January 30, 2025

Time: Breakfast: 7:30 AM Presentation and Q&A: 8:00–9:30 AM

Location: Pomeroy Hotel & Conference Centre - Ballroom 1

11633 100 Street, Grande Prairie

Don’t miss your chance to attend this event!

Register Now

Have questions or problems registering? Please contact Jen Macdonald at jen.macdonald@mnp.ca

Hiring Made Easier with the Work NW Alberta Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Portal!

Looking to hire students from Northwestern Polytechnic (NWP) while accessing up to $7,000 in wage subsidies? The Work NW Alberta Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Portal offers a simple, cost-effective solution to build your future workforce.

Need help navigating the portal? Join our weekly virtual office hours to learn how to:

• Post jobs and target qualified student candidates
• Apply for wage subsidies through the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)

Every Thursday until February 20, 2025 at 11:00 AM

Register now at WorkNWAlberta.ca and make the most of this opportunity!

Upcoming live webinars on employment standards

Employment standards legislation sets out the rights and obligations of employers and employees in Alberta. These include the minimum standards that employers must provide to their employees.

Upcoming webinars (including live Q&A) :

• Temporary Foreign Worker Advisory Office – TFW & Employer Rights and Responsibilities: January 23 at 1:30 PM 
• Employment Standards in Alberta – Wages and Overtime: January 28 at 1:30 PM
• Employment Standards in Alberta - Vacation Pay and General Holiday Pay: February 6 at 1:30 PM

For more information, or to register, please visit alberta.ca/employment-standards-webinars.aspx. To request a presentation for your company or organization, email EOP.Presentations@gov.ab.ca.

Free webinar on occupational health and safety and disability management

Alberta OHS and WCB-Alberta are hosting a free upcoming webinar to provide employers with information about occupational health and safety and disability management, including:

• how to develop and implement health and safety management systems,
• how to achieve a Certificate of Recognition (COR) or a Small Employer Certificate of Recognition (SECOR) and earn rebates from participating in these programs,
• an overview of Alberta’s workplace injury statistics,
• the illness and injury prevention resources that are available on the OHS Resource Portal,
• how you can support your workers with effective disability management practices,
• resources that can help build return-to-work plans so your injured workers get back to work safely, and
• steps you can take to help reduce workers’ time away from work and reduce your overall premium costs.

This free webinar will take place on January 28, 2025, at 9:00 AM . To register or get more details, click here or email JET.Connect@gov.ab.ca.

Hiring Intentions Market Research

What critical skills does your business need to grow?

We heard from businesses – hiring skilled talent is a challenge!

The Alberta Chambers network has partnered with industry partners and the Government of Alberta to better understand what talent and skills your business needs to grow and succeed.

We want to learn more about your experience hiring people with the skills that your business needs to succeed.

This quick research activity will take ~4 minutes to complete and is open until 5:00 P.M. on January 31st, 2025.

Thank you in advance for your participation.

Jasper Webinar - Work Sharing

Join us on Wednesday, January 22nd at 10am for an informative session on special temporary work-share agreements designed to support employers and employees impacted by the recent wildfires in Jasper.

We are honoured to welcome Mrs. Nancy Healey, Commissioner for Employers, who will share her expert insights and answer your questions about the work-sharing program.

You'll learn:

• Eligibility requirements
• Documentation needed before applying
• Step-by-step guidance on the application process

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how these measures can benefit your business.

Register Now

Please register in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Eye on Alberta Business

President Trump’s new tariffs on Canadian goods and services are raising concerns for Alberta businesses. Jason Leslie, ACC COO, explains why a solid economic partnership between the US and Canada is vital for future success.

Watch the clip

How are Tariffs Impacting Your Business?

Tariffs are driving up costs, disrupting trade, and threatening jobs across Canadian industries. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is collecting your stories to illustrate the real impact on businesses like yours. Help shape the conversation and influence government action by sharing your experience.

Submit your story

$200M Canada Service Corps Boosts Youth Skill Development

The investment in 85 projects through the CSC will provide youth with opportunities to practice leadership, develop key hireability skills, and grow their personal and professional networks. Over the next three years, up to 20,000 young people in Canada, aged 12 to 30, will benefit from these volunteer service opportunities.

Learn more

Explore and apply

Grant funding opportunities

Discover a range of funding opportunities and resources available this January to support businesses, non-profits, and communities. These include grants for workforce development, innovation, sustainability, infrastructure projects, and more, designed to help you achieve your goals and drive growth.

Learn more

This week, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce was in Washington, D.C., during the U.S. inauguration, working to ensure that decisionmakers understand the risks posed by proposed tariffs. Through direct engagement with key partners, we made the case that imposing tariffs doesn’t strengthen economies but weakens them by driving up costs, disrupting cross-border trade, and putting millions of jobs at risk on both sides of the border.

While in Washington, we emphasized that tariffs act as a tax on American families and businesses, and are not a win for the U.S. economy. Instead, we called for collaborative solutions to grow our $1.3 trillion annual trade relationship and protect the millions of jobs it supports.

Beyond this week, our advocacy continues at full speed. We’re championing policies to remove barriers, diversify trading partners, and prepare Canada for potential economic impacts. Tools like our Canada-U.S. Trade Tracker, paired with ongoing dialogue with government, business leaders and media in both countries, are critical to driving this message home. For Canada and the U.S., the path to prosperity lies in working together, not apart.

Explore the Tracker

Our Statement on the Conservative Party’s Commitment to Reversing the Capital Gains Tax Hike 

For months, we have warned that the government’s increase to the capital gains inclusion rate is bad for business. 

At such a sensitive time for Canadians and our businesses, we’re happy to see the Conservative Party of Canada commit to reversing this tax increase to the Capital Gains Inclusion Rate, if elected. 

Read Our Full Statement

Understand Commercial Leasing

Learn how to secure the best lease terms for your business. Join us on Thursday, January 30, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, to review strategies for negotiating your commercial lease. Learn key terms and how to leverage timelines to your advantage. Discover how to make informed decisions and protect your business.

Register Now

Meet Indigenous Entrepreneurs

Are you an Indigenous entrepreneur who has been in business for over one year and wants to connect with other Indigenous-led small businesses? Join Business Link's free Indigenous Peerpreneur Sessions in March. Over four weekly virtual sessions, you'll share experiences, learn from your peers, and gain access to a community of Indigenous entrepreneurs.

Apply Now

Entrepreneur's Learning Centre - Online

Ongoing - BDC

Boost your business skills with free, self-paced courses from BDC’s Entrepreneur Learning Centre. Learn financial management, marketing, and more to drive your success.

Register Now

Launch a Successful Social Media Campaign for Your Small Business

Thursday January 23rd, 11:30 AM ET Online

Successful social media marketing campaigns are a powerful way for small businesses to connect with customers, drive sales, and build lasting brand loyalty. However, without a solid marketing plan, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the challenges of executing a successful campaign. This webinar offers the solution—a step-by-step structured timeline designed to guide you through planning, creating, and execution of an engaging social media campaign. 

This webinar is designed specifically for small business owners who want to create impactful, results-driven social media campaigns—without the need for big budgets or outside help. Using a conceptual example of a local retail store, we’ll showcase actionable strategies and creative content ideas that you can easily adapt to your business. 

What you will gain insight into: 

• How to Plan Like a Pro: Set achievable goals, understand your audience’s needs and pain points, and pick the right platforms for your message.
• Creative Content Made Simple: Develop visually engaging content that connects with your customers and highlights your offerings.
• Building Hype and Engagement: Use teasers, interactive polls, and engaging posts to create excitement and drive traffic.
• Tracking and Adjusting for Success: Learn how to monitor your results and adapt your strategy to maximize impact. 

Register Now