Hello, Rebecca

It's almost the end of August, and we hope you've had a chance to enjoy the hot, hot summer!

We took a much-needed break in August, and are now back in the swing of things, planning for a busy fall, full of great events to engage, connect, and support you and your business.

From Health & Wellness, to Employee Attraction & Retention (who isn't thinking about this right now?), to networking (BA5s are back!), to engaging candidates running in the October 24 election, we have you covered! Registration for all of these great events will open over the next week, so stay tuned! (You spoke, we listened...we're working on an October "Fraud Prevention for Business" event, too.)

We look forward to seeing you over the fall!

-Grimsby Chamber Team

Save the Date - Wed, Sep 14

In-Person Lunch & Learn

Kinetic Elements Dance and Tammy Snow-Johnston Fitness are teaming up to share some easy-to-implement Health and Wellness tips to keep you moving and reduce stress every day.

Registration opens late August.

Save the Date - Wed, Sep 28

Virtual Lunch & Learn

Employee Attraction and Retention are top of mind for many of us right now. Join the three West Niagara Chambers as we hear from Essential HR and Garrett Group to learn ways YOU can attract the talent you're looking for, and keep them happy in the long run.

Registration opens late August.

In the meantime, you can read some tips here from Workplace Safety & Prevention Services on finding and keeping employees.

Save the Date - Thurs, Sep 29

BA5s are Back!

We know you’ve been missing these great networking events, and we thought it fitting to bookend the pandemic with an event at the Library and Art Gallery. Our last BA5, just before COVID hit, showcased these two incredible institutions, so it made sense that our first BA5 back included this important community connection. Save the date – we hope you’ll join us!

Save the Date - Thurs, Oct 6

We know how important it is to be connected to the issues that shape our community. We'll be hosting a Meet Your Candidates event in advance of the October 24 municipal elections.

Stay tuned for more information and to submit your questions in advance.

Request For Proposals for 5-year Strategic and Tactical Marketing Plan and the Development of Marketing Elements



The President & CEO of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce & Tourism NOTL invites proposals for the development of a 5-year Strategic and Tactical Marketing Plan and the development of marketing elements. 

The deadline for submission of proposals is August 26, 2022. The funding guidelines for this project mandate that the project must be completed and approved before December 31, 2022.

What is the Grimsby Arts Walk?

To commemorate Grimsby’s 100th year, the inaugural Grimsby Arts Walk happening on September 24, 2022. This will be an annual juried art festival. Visitors will walk through vendor areas staged throughout the downtown from Nelles Manor and Grimsby Museum on the west through Coronation Park and ending at Carnegie Building and the Grimsby Public Art Gallery on the east side of downtown.

LAST CHANCE!

If you haven't had a chance to check out this free program yet, we highly recommend you do so. Here at the office, we completed the online course, and we're so happy we took the time to learn, reflect, and start talking about what reconciliation looks like for us here at the chamber. "Truly transformative" is an understatement.

Reconciliation is one of the most important social movements of our time. RBC has partnered with First Nations University of Canada to bring an online Indigenous awareness program to Canadians.

If you’d like more information about RBC’s programs and initiatives, or to connect with a local representative, please reach out to Chris Rupp via email or give him a call at 289-213-3024. You can register for the online course BEFORE AUGUST 31, 2022 and complete it at your own pace up to the end of December this year.

Grow Your Business Online 

The Government of Canada and Ontario Chamber of Commerce have partnered together to deliver Government of Canada grants to small businesses that want to grow their business online. 

To learn more about the program, eligibility requirements and to register, please visit: https://occ.ca/growyourbusinessonline/  

If you have any questions about the Canada Digital Adoption Program, please contact cdap@occ.ca.  

OCC ADVOCACY WIN!

ADVOCACY WIN: Ontario announces funding to address labour shortage in the auto-manufacturing sector

Ask: Our 2022 provincial budget submission called on the Ontario government to work with stakeholders to address labour shortages by promoting skills training and career opportunities in sectors facing large labour shortages. In addition, we recommended government provide financial support to individuals and small businesses for reskilling, upskilling, and micro-credentials. We highlighted the need to ensure specific skills training support is afforded to those demographic groups disproportionately affected by the pandemic and looking to join or re-enter the labour force.

Win: In August 2022, the Government of Ontario announced an investment of $5 million to provide free training to 500 people from underrepresented groups to prepare them for jobs in the auto-manufacturing sector. This training will be offered by the Automotive Parks Manufacturers Association with program participants receiving a job offer following three-month paid job placements. Employers can receive up to $4,600 in wage subsidies for each trainee. 

The Grimsby Chamber joins its peers across the Ontario Chamber network in supporting a Blueprint to Ontario’s Prosperity

Establishing a Psychologically Healthy and Safe Workplace: A New Resource for Hospitality and Retail Sectors

The Mental Health Commission of Canada has made available a guide designed to help retail and hospitality industry decision-makers create a foundation for good workplace mental health. It includes tips, training suggestions, important programs and conversation guidelines to get started. 

10 Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know about Canadian SMEs

It is constantly said that SMEs are the backbone of our economy, but how much do you really know about them? Our member BDC has put a list of facts together, and it’s a must-read.

Congratulations to the NRPH team on a fantastic program that will continue to impact the health and well-being of Niagara residents for years to come!

​Niagara Region Public Health's Nurse-Family Partnership celebrates its first group of graduates.

On Saturday, August 13, 2022, Niagara Region Public Health’s Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) hosted an event to celebrate the program’s first graduates. Thirty-five young parents were recognized for their commitment to creating the best future for themselves and their families.

To learn more about the NFP in Niagara and program eligibility, visit https://www.niagararegion.ca/parents/becoming-a-parent/home-visit.aspx.

There's still time to join the Niagara Workforce Planning Board's Engaging SMEs project.

Hiring and retaining newcomer talent is an important way to diversify your workforce for high performance outcomes, and address the labour market crunch facing nearly every industry.

Reach out to Rebecca for more details, and be part of this unique design labs project that is being rolled out in just six communities across Canada - and Grimsby is one of them!

Let's innovate together!

Prepare now: 9 steps to get ready for a fall COVID surge.

With labour in short supply, workplaces can’t afford to ignore any threat to employee health and productivity. Start taking these steps now.