July 2023

Chamber Update

Chamber Member Spotlight



Renfrew & Burnstown Castle


Did you know:


Renfrew and Burnstown Castle Building Centres are the Ottawa Valley’s destination for their home building and renovation needs. We are deeply committed to making a positive impact on our community, providing high quality products and expert advice.


In the summer of 2016, Wood Works of Renfrew was purchased by Bruce Gannon and Laurie Wichers-Schreur, who are focussed on maintaining the customer-service oriented values of the store, as well as the family run atmosphere. In 2018 Bruce and

Laurie expanded the organization once again with the purchase of Burnstown Building Supply (Burnstown Castle), formerly operated by the McLoed family. This completely renovated location has allowed us to increase our product offering and level of service across the entire Valley. You can even watch a YouTube Series on our channel which shows you the whole process we went through to open the store!

We are excited to continue to grow and find new and innovative ways to service our customers and the community as a whole!

Renfrew and Burnstown Castle Building Centres are an expanding group of Home Improvement Centres servicing builders, contractors, DIYers, and homeowners across the Ottawa Valley. With over 10,000 square feet of combined retail space, two lumber yards and over 15 acres of property, a fleet of different vehicles, and over 30 amazing staff we are truly full-service!

We stock all the building materials you need including lumber, drywall, insulation, roofing, siding, windows and doors. Not to mention a wide array of interior finishes including kitchen and bathroom products, moulding, paint, and hardware.


In addition to our quality products, we are most proud of our incredible staff and the amazing services they are able to offer. We have an on staff Interior Design Consultant to work with you on whatever your next project may be. We can help design kitchens, bathrooms, and more. Looking to build a new home or garage? We also offer complete building packages, whether you want to choose from some of our existing plans or design something completely unique our estimators are here to help. This is just a small sample of what we can do – so contact us today about your next project!




New Member Alert!


Welcome to the



Bonnechere Bakery and Bistro


"We are a family-owned bakery, bistro, and fine foods emporium. We make farm-style bread, soup, and salads fresh every day. Bonnechere at Home is located next to our dining room, following our passion for good food, great company, and feeling satisfied with a hard day's work, it was only natural for us to provide the place to go for all of your kitchen and home living needs. Our goal is to elevate your daily lifestyle through our hand-selected collection of unique kitchen and home necessities. From preparation, to serving + entertaining, to cleaning, and of course relaxing + lounging, we strive to make your life easy + beautiful."


Contact Tel: 613-431-1602 email:bonnecherefinefoods@gmail.com

https://www.bonnecherebakeryandbistro.com/

Chamber Office

Ottawa Valley Business Hive - Earlier this month we had the opportunity to tour our new office space. The Ottawa Valley Business Hive office space will be awesome.

Photo credit: Dan Laverdure


Please update your records with our new address:

127 Raglan Street South,

Renfrew Ontario

K7V 1P8

613-432-7015, email: info@renfrewareachamber.ca


***Please be advised our phone number will change when our new office space is ready. Our new phone number will be 613-432-4848 ext.181.


********

The Chamber Board of Directors continues to meet in person and by Zoom meetings. Our next Board of Directors Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday August 15 2023, beginning at 8:00 a.m.in the the Town of Renfrew Upstairs Boardroom.

Community Events

We have seven tables remaining. This is a perfect opportunity to showcase your business, or organization to the community. Contact Gail at the Chamber office to reserve your table, 613-432-7015 or info@renfrewareachamber.ca

Enterprise Renfrew County is hosting two information sessions for entrepreneurs wishing to participate in the 2023 autumn intake of the Starter Company Plus program, which is funded by the Government of Ontario. Interested entrepreneurs may contact Heather Inwood-Montrose, Small Business Advisor, at HInwoodMontrose@countyofrenfrew.on.ca, to book an appointment to discuss their business idea and obtain an invite to register for an information session. Additionally, entrepreneurs are encouraged to follow Enterprise Renfrew County on Facebook and Instagram and watch for posts with the registration link. Participants must attend one information session to obtain an application to the program. Options are either Tuesday, August 15, 10-11am or Thursday, August 17, 12-1pm via Zoom. 

 

At the end of the information session when participants are familiar with the Starter Company Plus program requirements, benefits and timelines, they will be invited to apply to the program. The deadline for applications for the 2023 autumn intake is Friday, August 25, 2023. Starter Company Plus is a highly competitive program with limited spaces available. 

 

Enterprise Renfrew County is a non-profit government organization funded by the Government of Ontario, County of Renfrew, Town of Renfrew and the City of Pembroke. Its’ mandate is to encourage and contribute to the enterprising spirit and economic development of Renfrew County by assisting entrepreneurs with the development of new or existing companies.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Heather Inwood-Montrose, Small Business Advisor                      613-735-7288

Tina Peplinskie, Media Relations Coordinator                                613-735-7288     

Discover how AI is reshaping the business landscape and creating opportunities for Small Businesses!

Learning outcomes:

• Understand AI's potential impact on small businesses.

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• Explore AI's different roles: co-pilot, enhancement or pivot within your operations.

This webinar is tailored for small businesses and entrepreneurs in various sectors, including retail, restaurants, and services. Whether you have limited knowledge of AI or are simply curious about its applications and impact on businesses, this webinar is ideal for you. Join us to gain a basic understanding of AI, explore its potential uses, and discover how it can impact your business, regardless of your current level of AI knowledge.

Date: Tuesday Aug 15th 2023

Time: 9am – 10:30am

Register now: valleycfdc.ca/support/webinars

Delivered by Valley Heartland Community Futures in collaboration with partnering Community Futures offices. Supported by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. @FedDevOntario

#WebinarAlert #SmallBusinesses #AIRevolution #BusinessOpportunities

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Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) is a not-for-profit organization committed to protecting Ontario’s workers and businesses. It serves more than 174,000 member firms and 4.2 million workers across the agricultural, manufacturing and service sectors. A proud partner in the province’s occupational health and safety system and a trusted safety advisor since 1917, WSPS has a rich history of making workplaces safer.



Follow the link to view several articles of interest. Articles



 Browse our resources Contact us at1-800-387-0750

Chambers of Commerce

Group Insurance Plan

 

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You can also contact the Chamber office for more information regarding this plan.



info@renfrewareachamber.ca

Canadian Chamber of Commerce - Access to up-to-date information that affect Canadian Businesses. Visit the Canadian Chamber of Commerce website.. http://www.chamber.ca

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