RESULTS: Regional Business Impact
and Recovery Survey
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Impact & Recovery survey
Survey Highlights:
  • 50% of businesses have had supply chain issues with goods sourced in Canada
  • Businesses are/were facing a loss in revenue, some up to 98%. Figures such as $300,000 and $40,000/month were shared
  • 33.6% of businesses have accessed the Canada Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
  • 15.3% of businesses describe themselves as doing well
  • 37.7% of businesses have accessed the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)
Alberta Labour Law Updates
Bill 32, the Restoring Balance in Alberta’s Workplaces Act supports economic recovery, restores balance in the workplace and gets Albertans back to work.
The act provides employees and employers with clearer and more transparent rules promoting fairness and productivity, including rest periods and temporary layoff notices.

Updates will:
  • Give employees at least 30 minutes of rest every 5 hours for shifts longer than 5 hours. The break can be within or immediately after the 5 hours of work, or at any time mutually agreed upon by the employer and employee.
  • Expand the types of jobs 13 and 14-year olds are allowed to do without first needing a permit – such as coaching and tutoring
  • Provide employers with more flexible timelines for paying employees their final pay
  • Create simpler and more flexible rules for general holiday pay and certain payroll processes
  • Provide more flexibility for employers to set up hours of work averaging arrangements, create schedules, and calculate overtime
  • Remove specific timing requirements for temporary layoff notices
  • Allow an employer and union to agree to alter employment standards rules such as hours of work, notice of work times, days of rest, and overtime hours

Canada United Small Business Relief Fund
Grants of up to $5,000 available
Created by RBC, Canada United is a movement to support local businesses in communities across the country. The Canada United Small Business Relief Fund (CUSBRF) was established to help small businesses offset the cost of expenses to reopen safely or adopt digital technologies to move more of their business online.

Over $14 Million has been contributed by the Federal Government, RBC, and Canada United partners to support recovery efforts due to COVID-19. We are now able to extend relief grants to more small businesses and restart accepting grant applications from small businesses across all Provinces for expenses incurred no earlier than March 15, 2020.
Congratulation to our Business Awards of Distinction Winners!
First Annual Small Business Week Conference
Thank you to our sponsors for Small Business Week. We could not have done this without the cooperation and support of our municipalities, City of Spruce Grove, Parkland County and Town of Stony Plain. Thank you to BDC, for supporting entrepreneurs across the country, and for your support during SBW.

Our Presenting Sponsor, The Shop Local Company, is a huge supporter of all small businesses and can help your business ensure you are getting the maximum exposure online.

Mirror Image Decals & Signs was our lunch sponsor. Each person who attended to conference received a swag bag, and the food vouchers for Freson Bros and Edo Japan Stony Plain, were provided by their sponsorship.
Presenting Sponsor
ShopSpruceGrove.com is an online marketplace similar to Amazon.com, but dedicated to local businesses in Spruce Grove, Alberta.Our goal is to make it fast, fun and easy for you to find the products and services you need from trusted local businesses, whether they're retailers, service providers or professionals.
The small merchants that participate on this site are working hard to earn your business and are reaching out to you to make it easy to support them.
Before you spend your hard-earned money with a one-size-fits-all big box store, consider the little guy in your community that could offer you better value and customer service - and give them a chance to earn your business.
Lunch Sponsor
Mirror Image Decals & Signs can help you with:
  • Exterior & interior signage
  • Vehicle graphics
  • Canvas prints and wall art
  • Business printing
  • Promotional items
Chair's Blog
Through all the moments of instability and uncertainty, GPRC adopted an active role engaging with our members to help them through this difficult period. Although, we are not completely out of the woods yet, I think we should take a moment to celebrate our accomplishments and commitment to making our region a safe and healthy place to visit, shop, work and play.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Chamber in a Bottle
TONIGHT!
There is still time to register! Join us in chatting with Jordan Blundell, Head Coach and Director of Baseball Operations as we get ready for the opening of the new Spruce Grove Ball Park and the arrival of the Edmonton Prospects of the WCBL to the region.

Money from registration fees will be donated to the Kinsmen/Kinette's Christmas Hampers
Todd Hirsch - ATB Financial Alberta's Evolving Economy in a COVID World
November 18!
Join Todd Hirsch, Chief Economist at ATB Financial, as he discusses how to build you business in a COVID world.
Kinsmen & Kinette Christmas Hampers
Donations Being Accepted
The Spruce Grove Kinettes lead the Hamper program for Spruce Grove & East Parkland residents, the Stony Plain Kinsmen lead the Hamper program for Stony Plain & West Parkland residents, and working together, they make Christmas brighter for local families struggling with a limited income.
Check the Chamber's website for
our full events calendar!
New Members for October
Feature Member - SPA TECH
Spa Tech has over 38 years combined experience servicing all types of hot tubs and pools. Spa Tech services all makes & models of hot tubs including Beachcomber, Arctic, Polar, Sundance, Jacuzzi, Dynasty, Master Spas, in ground and above ground pools, including residential and commercial. They can install, repair, clean, maintain, balance and open & close your pool.

The Spa Tech Online Shop currently offers hot tub chemicals, & filters, new and rebuilt hot tub pumps, parts & online hot tub purchasing from Canadian Spa Company. The Spa Tech Online Shop has you covered and safe with SSL technology to protect you and your payment information while shopping online with us. We accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express through the online shop.
Follow Spa Tech on social media
Feature Member - FABCO PLASTICS
Established in 1962, Fabco Plastics is a supplier of plastic products used within industries most demanding fluid process and mechanical applications. Being supported by the world’s most notable and progressive manufacturers, enables our offering to include a diverse range of technology leading, quality-built products.

We are committed to our business relationships and fair customer service ethics. Our investments into the latest IT systems provide an infrastructure that enables us to be a truly modern operative that is responsive and aware.
This e-Blast is from: The Greater Parkland Regional Chamber of Commerce

Name: Kendra Wambold
Title: Communications & Media Specialist
Company: Greater Parkland Regional Chamber of Commerce
Contact: 780-963-4545