ThinkLocalGP.ca and the Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce are proud supporters of the Best of Alberta Curling Championships. We are offering our members an opportunity to win pairs of tickets which are good for ALL THREE DRAWS ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 6. Between draws or after, our guests are invited for excellent food and beverages at the adjacent Grande Prairie Curling Centre Best of Alberta Lounge. Special Discounts are offered. Our guests will be provided with lanyards which will give them access to both venues and the special VIP Seating area for Thursday's games at 9:00 AM, 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM. To enter to win a pair of passes, please email our office [email protected] with the subject line BEST OF ALBERTA CURLING CHAMPIONSHIPS TICKET DRAW

COVID-19 RAPID TESTING KITS FOR BUSINESSES The Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the Government of Alberta and the Alberta Chambers of Commerce to provide complimentary COVID-19 rapid testing kits to small and medium-sized businesses. By frequently testing employees, businesses can stop outbreaks before they happen, keeping employees and customers safe. * A Chamber membership is NOT required. Register for the Program Please download the Alberta Rapid Screening Tests Business Application form, carefully read the form as well as the terms and conditions, and should you wish to proceed, complete the form in full and email to [email protected] with the email subject line: Rapid test program participant application GPCC Rapid-Screening-Business-Application-Form Once we have received your completed form we will review and return a signed copy for your records, along with instructions on how and when to pick up your testing kits. THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN EXTENDED UNTIL MARCH 31, 2022. For more information, please call 780-532-5340 or email [email protected] More information on our website https://www.grandeprairiechamber.com/covid-19-business-resiliency/

Nominations and submissions for the 2022 Alberta Business Awards of Distinction are now open! There are 14 diverse award categories this year, including two new awards - the Indigenous Business Award of Distinction and the Indigenous Relations - Best Practice Award of Distinction.* Does your business have a story that deserves to be recognized? Submit your story Do you know a deserving Alberta business? Nominate them now The closing date for nominations and submissions is February 14, 2022. Finalists will be announced in April 2022. *These two categories replace the Indigenous Award of Distinction

The Government of Canada launches applications for the expanded Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit  Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit (CWLB) Apply for the benefit Eligibility criteria  More information

Canada Summer Jobs 2022: Application period for employers is now open. Deadline: January 25, 2022. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/news/2021/12/canada-summer-jobs-2022-application-period-for-employers-begins-today.html Discovering Potential Youth Internship and Training Program provides up to maximum of $25,000 per participant. https://electricityhr.ca/resources/discovering-potential-program/ Youth Employment Program funds up to 80% of a new employee's wages to a maximum of $30,000. Learn more: https://nrc.canada.ca/en/support-technology-innovation/nrc-irap-funding-hire-young-graduates You can get up to $32,000 towards your employees salary and training expenses through Carreer Launcher's Natural Resources Internships. Learn more:   https://www.careerlauncher.ca/employers/our-internship-programs/natural-resources/ The Apprenticeship Incentive Grant for Women (AIG-W) helps you pay for expenses while you train as an apprentice. Learn more:  https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/funding/apprenticeship-incentive-women-overview.html Making Cultural Spaces Safe During COVID-19 Initiative. Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis for projects to be carried out before March 31, 2022. https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/funding/cultural-spaces-fund/fund.html Additional supports for the tourism sector are available by allowing eligible accommodation providers to keep the tourism levy amounts they collect from Oct. 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022. Learn more: https://www.alberta.ca/tourism-levy.aspx The Government of Alberta has committed $20 million in funding for the Restrictions Exemption Program Implementation Grant. https://www.alberta.ca/restrictions-exemption-program-implementation-grant.aspx The Digital Economy Program is designed to help small businesses take their businesses online. https://businesslink.ca/digital-economy-program/ Stay updated to government's COVID-19 Support measures.  https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2021/10/targeting-covid-19-support-measures.html

Webinar Wednesday Series Held Wednesdays at noon this FREE series has been a huge success!  We have more in store for 2022! Thank you to all who have participated and provided us with ideas. Here are the Webinars we have planned so far in January:  EDA Awards of Excellence Program Wednesday, January 12 12:00 - 1:00 PM  The EDA Awards of Excellence Program recognizes the province’s best economic development marketing materials, programs, partnerships and professionals that have made significant contributions to the profession. Join us to learn about the important changes designed to make the application process more streamlined. Register Here Tourism Relief Fund Update  Wednesday, January 19 12:00 - 1:00 PM Are you interested in knowing more about the Tourism Relief Fund and how it may be able to support your tourism product or destination development? Then join us for this FREE Wednesday Webinar. We will be joined by Tamara Kane, from Prairies Economic Development Canada who will explain the program.   Register Here

Invest Grande Prairie December Economic Development Update VIEW HERE

New and updated OHS resources Visit the OHS Resource Portal for bulletins, infographics and webinars supporting workplace health and safety in Alberta. New Change highlights: the 2020 Occupational Health and Safety Act –webinar Updated Health and safety committees and representatives – webinar Reporting and investigating a potentially serious incident – webinar Guide to OHS: Workers – bulletin Guide to OHS: Employers – bulletin   The updated Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act and regulations took effect Dec. 1, 2021. The updates eliminate duplication and simplify language. This makes OHS laws easier to understand and follow, resulting in healthier and safer workplaces and supporting investment attraction and job creation. Workers continue to have the same rights and protections under the revised OHS laws. Learn more, read: Changes to OHS laws

Employees are engaged if they display the following three engagement behaviours: Say: Employees say positive things about the organization to those both within and outside the organization. Stay: Employees display an intense desire to obtain/maintain affiliation with the organization. Strive: Employees exert discretionary effort and direct their behaviours toward achieving organizational success. The pinnacle of employee engagement is discretionary effort. It's the difference between what employees have to do, and want they want to do. Join us on Wednesday January 12, 2022 at 12:00PM CST to explore employee engagement in a post-pandemic lens.  REGISTER NOW

Thank you for supporting the Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce! Our Member Marketplace on Thursdays highlights our Chamber businesses. Email [email protected] with your ads.  The most recent issue can be viewed here.

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