Hadih and hello. Hope you’re all having a good summer. The warm, sunny weather and the near complete absence of forest fire smoke has been nice. Let’s hope it stays that way, while we keep our friends in Jasper, as well as other parts of B.C. affected by wildfires, in our thoughts.

It’s been a busy summer for us at the Chamber as we head into a hectic fall.

Last week, we hosted a breakfast event in partnership with BC Hydro, featuring the utility’s president and CEO Chris O’Riley, who took direct questions from Chamber members about rates, First Nations partnerships, and the push to fully electrify the economy. This Friday, we’ll be hosting another breakfast event, this time with Cariboo-Prince George MP Todd Doherty, at the Marriott. It’s not too late to register and ask your questions/share your concerns with one of our local Members of Parliament.

We have two more leader breakfasts scheduled so far this fall. Acting Officer In Charge Insp. Darin Rappel of the Prince George RCMP will provide a law enforcement update on Sept. 24 and Mayor Simon Yu will be our keynote speaker on Oct. 24 as he marks the halfway point in his four-year term. Venues will be announced shortly.

Thank you to TC Energy, our corporate sponsor of the leadership breakfasts, for their ongoing support of your Chamber.

Nominations are pouring in for the 39^th Annual Business Excellence Awards, which will be presented at a gala dinner at the House of Ancestors on November 2. Nominate deserving businesses and the people that make them successful (including yourself) before Sept. 2, when nominations close. Three finalists in each category will be named in mid-September once judging is complete. We’ll also name the recipient of the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award for career service to the Prince George business community and the Chamber of Commerce. Please nominate the individual you think is most deserving of an honorary lifetime membership to your Chamber.

Lastly, keep an eye out for us on the last two Fridays of August (the 23^rd and 30^th to be exact) as we’ll be popping in for visits with Chamber members (and non-members) to check in on how it’s going and how your Chamber can better help you and your business. If those dates don’t work for you but you’d still like us to come by, just drop me a line and we’ll schedule an appointment.

All my best to your ongoing business success.

Neil

The Grant Writer Assistance Program is a one-year pilot delivered by the Prince George Community Foundation with support from the City of Prince George and Northern Development Initiative Trust.

The program intends to support a diverse cross-section of charitable organizations in grant readiness, identification of funding sources, reviewing and editing grant applications, and writing grant applications. The grant writer will support organizations in applying for a variety of local, provincial, and federal funding opportunities. 

Due to capacity limitations, charitable organizations must apply for assistance. Applications will be accepted on our website quarterly:

The Prince George Chamber of Commerce is reaching out to our members for donations to be used as door prizes at events, newsletter giveaways, and social media contests. This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your business while supporting your community and local Chamber.

We welcome any contributions, whether event tickets, gift cards, or other items. Every donation is greatly appreciated and will help make our events more exciting and engaging for everyone involved.

Donations can be dropped off at the Prince George Chamber office, located at 102-1584 7th Ave, Prince George. If you have any questions, please contact Natasha at admin@pgchamber.bc.ca.

Thank you for your generosity and support!

Last week, the Prince George Chamber of Commerce hosted an insightful Member Breakfast event in partnership with BC Hydro. We were honored to have Chris O’Riley, President and CEO of BC Hydro, engage directly with Chamber members, answering questions on key issues like energy rates, First Nations partnerships, and the drive to fully electrify our economy.

The discussion provided valuable insights, and we hope it significantly enriched the knowledge of all who attended. We extend our heartfelt thanks to BC Hydro for their partnership and to the Marriott for offering an outstanding venue and delicious breakfast. Your support was essential in making this event a success, and we look forward to more opportunities to collaborate in the future.