In this Week's Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce Newsletter:



Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce updates

• Chamber team meets with Minister of Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth
• One-on-On with Mayor Matthew Shoemaker. Join us for our Fireside Chat on May 26th
• Get up to $5000 in wage subsidies when you hire an eligible post-secondary student on a work-integrated learning placement
• Pics from Take 5 at Spark Rehabilitation Services
• SME businesses... access over 60 FREE courses in Skills Bridge! FREE, unlimited access extended until August 31st!

Ontario / Canadian Chamber updates

• Canadian Chamber reaction to the new national electricity strategy
• Ontario Chamber Calls for Transparent Selection Process for Global Defence Bank Headquarters
• Canadian Chamber response to the implementation agreement between the governments of Canada and Alberta

Business insights and Workshops

• Next-Level AI: From Chatbot to Business Partner - June 2nd

Chamber team meets with Minister of Minister of

Northern Economic Development and Growth

Northern Ontario is central to Ontario’s economic competitiveness, supplying energy and resources and anchoring supply chains that support growth across the province.

On May 14th, the Chamber CEO, Robert Burns and Director of Operations and Policy, Don Ferguson were able to join Ontario Chamber of Commerce leadership and representatives from several key Ontario private sector stakeholders to meet with Hon. George Pirie, Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth.

This special meeting of the Ontario Chamber's Business Advisory Council focused on accelerating regional growth in the North while delivering economic benefits for all Ontarians.

Northern Ontario Chambers were front-and-centre during this meeting highlighting concerns and opportunities in our own individual communities and extending advice and suggestions on priorities across Northern Ontario.

Join us for our annual Fireside Chat with Sault Ste. Marie Mayor, Matthew Shoemaker, as we discuss issues impacting local businesses and the local economy.

When: Tuesday, May 26th, 2026, from 2:00pm to 3:30pm

Where: The Water Tower Inn

Refreshments: Light Fare & Charcuterie, accompanied by a Starbucks coffee/tea station

Advance registration is required for this event, as seats are limited. You will receive a confirmation email after registering, along with a reminder email on Monday, May 25th.

$29.00+hst for Chamber of Commerce members and their employees

$39.00+hst for non-Chamber members

The Talent Opportunities Program offers up to $5,000 in wage subsidies to hire an eligible post-secondary student

Are you an employer hiring post-secondary students on quality work-integrated learning (WIL) placements, such as cooperative education and internships, related to the student’s field of study?

The application portal is now open for the Summer 2026 term (May – August 2026)

If so, you may be eligible for a wage subsidy of up to $5,000 per student!

The Talent Opportunities Program (TOP) is an initiative of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce designed to help employers hire college and university students on quality WIL placements related to the student’s field of study. Employers hiring eligible students may receive a wage subsidy up to 50% of the wages (to a maximum of $5,000) for each placement (‘net new’ requirements apply to businesses of 100 or more employees).

IMPORTANT: Once you apply, please be sure to contact the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce and advise us so that we can follow up on your behalf. E-mail info@ssmcoc.com and include ‘Talent Opportunities Program application’ in the subject line.

Take 5 at Spark Rehabilitation Services

Thank you to everyone that joined us for Take 5 at Spark Rehabilitation on May 21st!

Attendees had the chance to tour the facility, meet the team behind Spark's innovative approach to care, and connect directly with some of the practitioners and clinicians who deliver these services every day.

Thanks to the team at Spark for hosting this fantastic event! You can check out all of the services offered by Spark Rehabilitation Services at https://www.sparkrehabilitation.ca/

FREE, unlimited access to curated training content EXTENDED until August 31, 2026 - Get started to today!

SME businesses! Access over 60 FREE courses

in Skills Bridge until May 31st August 31st

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) and the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce invite you to explore Skills Bridge, a program developed to help businesses upskill and reskill employees.

Powered by Magnet, Skills Bridge was created by the OCC in partnership with the Diversity Institute, and with funding from the Future Skills Centre and the Government of Canada, to address skills gaps in small- to medium-sized businesses.

Until August 31, 2026, you and up to 10 employees can access over 60 courses on the Skills Bridge learning platform at NO COST.

Courses cover areas such as AI, Management; Customer Service; Sales and Marketing; Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI); Digital Skills (Excel, SEO, Social Media and E-Commerce) and more.

What can you expect?

• Top-notch programs tailored to upskilling your employees
• Flexible learning accessible anytime, anywhere, at your own pace
• Earn certificates of completion on some of our most popular courses
• Easy management and tracking of your employees’ course progress through a custom dashboard

Learn more about Skills Bridge programs here or click the link below to register your organization today.

Canadian Chamber reaction to the new national electricity strategy

(May 14, 2026) "We welcome today’s launch of the new national electricity strategy. It centres us around the fact that affordable, reliable and modern electricity infrastructure is essential to Canada’s economic growth, competitiveness and energy security. 

"As electricity demand continues to rise across sectors, from manufacturing and critical minerals to AI data centres and transportation, Canada must expand our electricity supply by making major investments in electricity generation. We also believe this is the right time to explore upgrading our existing grid by leveraging new technologies that will make the electricity we produce go further for longer.  

"Collaboration between governments, utilities, Indigenous partners and the private sector will be key to delivering the scale of infrastructure Canada requires. We look forward to the government consulting industry on this strategy in the weeks to come. This is a nation building opportunity. With the right policies and investment environment, Canada can build a stronger, more connected electricity system that supports economic growth, attracts investment and strengthens our long-term competitiveness."

• Bryan Detchou, Senior Director, Natural Resources, Environment and Sustainability, Canadian Chamber of Commerce 

Ontario Chamber Calls for Transparent Selection Process

for Global Defence Bank Headquarters

(May 19, 2026) Following Canada’s success in securing the headquarters of the new multilateral Defence, Security and Resilience Bank, the OCC is calling on the federal government to release clear, transparent criteria and timelines to guide the selection of the Canadian host city.

“We commend Prime Minister Carney and the federal government for bringing this global financial institution to Canada – and call on them to choose the host city in a way that reflects Canadian values. With several of Canada’s great global cities putting forward bids, the federal government must establish a fair, transparent and merit-based selection process that earns trust and confidence from both Canadians and international investors,” Daniel Tisch, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce said.

“In establishing the criteria, there are obvious priorities. The host city needs the financial depth, global talent, economic base, innovation ecosystem and connectivity to the country and the world. That will help the bank attract capital, scale quickly, and deliver results from day one,” Tisch added.

Canadian Chamber response to the implementation agreement between the governments of Canada and Alberta

(May 15, 2026) On Friday, the Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta announced that Canada and Alberta have reached a landmark Implementation Agreement to deliver on the shared commitments outlined in the MOU that was signed in November 2025. 

“Today’s historic agreement puts politics aside for progress,” said Candace Laing, our President and CEO, in a statement.

Next-Level AI: From Chatbot to Business Partner

Are you an SME owner in the Algoma-Manitoulin region who has used an AI chatbot to draft an email or answer a quick question?

What if AI could also help you make business decisions, refine strategy, and support real operational tasks?

SMEs in the Algoma-Manitoulin region are invited to join this FREE in-person hands-on AI workshop, delivered by Camp Tech.

Date: June 2, 2026, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Where: Delta Hotels by Marriott Sault Ste. Marie Waterfront

To get the most out of this hands-on workshop, participants are encouraged to have prior experience using AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini, bring a laptop, and have access to a ChatGPT Plus or Claude Pro account for the interactive exercises.

The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce represents the interests of 600 plus business and agencies in Sault Ste. Marie and has been serving the needs of this community since 1889. The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce will lead the way as the voice of business, advancing economic prosperity for its membership and the business community.