Issue # 1054 - December 2023

BEYOND BUSINESS NEWSLETTER

2023 Event Recap

Celebrating a Year of Milestones: A Recap of Our Events

This year has been nothing short of spectacular for the Prince George Chamber of Commerce as we hosted a series of impactful events that highlighted excellence in our business community.

Top Figures Under 40 Event: Recognizing 12 outstanding individuals who exemplify leadership, innovation, and dedication within their fields. These young leaders are the driving force of tomorrow's business landscape.

#TrueNorth2023 Research Development Forum: Two days packed with invaluable networking opportunities and enlightening discussions. Esteemed panels delved deep into crucial topics, providing insights that shaped perspectives and inspired innovation.

38th Annual Business Excellence Awards: A night to celebrate the backbone of our local economy. We honored and awarded 12 exceptional businesses for their remarkable contributions, innovation, and commitment to excellence.

From acknowledging remarkable individuals to fostering knowledge exchange and celebrating the success of local businesses, these events epitomize the spirit of growth, collaboration, and achievement within our vibrant business community.

Thank you to everyone who made these events a success!

Happy Holidays

Our office will be closed for the holidays from

Monday, December 18th until Wednesday, January 2nd.

We wish you all a Happy Holiday season!

PG Chamber at the Festival of Trees

The Prince George Chamber of Commerce extends its appreciation for the generous donation of a tree received from the Festival of Trees, hosted by the Spirit of the North Foundation. This charitable gesture has been a testament to the community's spirit of giving and support.

The collaborative efforts of our members have resulted in the collection of donations from 20 different contributors towards the creation of our tree, culminating in a total value of $5,500.

We wish to express our heartfelt thanks to all our sponsors who graciously contributed. Additionally, our profound gratitude extends to the Spirit of the North Foundation for their unwavering dedication to uplifting the community and making a meaningful impact on the lives of many.

It is through these collective acts of kindness and collaboration that we continue to strengthen the bonds within our community and work towards a brighter future together.

New Member Corner

Kaiten Mixed Martial Arts Academy Ltd.

Party Kings Co.

Wilson M Beck Insurance Services (Prince George) Inc

Canadian International Council - Prince George

What does foreign interference in Canada look like and what tools are available to spot it?

Starting in January 2024, the Prince George branch of the Canadian International Council is hosting a study group on foreign interference in Canada. During this three-seminar series, the study group will be looking at foreign interference at three levels: in politics, in business and in academia. The study group will feature insights from several sources including Sam Cooper, an investigative journalist on this topic and author of Wilful Blindess, and from Calvin Chrustie, former RCMP Senior Ops Officer for Transnational Organized Crime. The study group will also evaluate Australia’s experience with academic interference. At the conculsion of this study group participants will have developed a personalized tip sheet tailored to their situation.

Members of the Prince George Chamber of Commerce can join this study group free of charge. To sign up for this study group, please submit your contact information through this form and someone will get back to you shortly.

Securing Small Business Rebate

The Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development, and Innovation has introduced the $10.5 million Securing Small Business Rebate Program to aid small businesses in repairing eligible commercial property crimes and vandalism or implementing preventative measures. Administered by the BC Chamber of Commerce, this initiative will utilize its extensive provincial network, including 100 chambers of commerce, boards of trade, and industry partners like Business Improvement Areas. The program offers two types of rebates, retroactive from January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2024:

1. Reparative Rebate: Covers costs not included in insurance or insurance deductibles. Eligible for a one-time rebate of up to $2,000 for each of 2023 and 2024.
2. Preventative Rebate: Addresses expenses incurred for preventing damage to commercial property. Eligible for a one-time rebate of up to $1,000 for either 2023 or 2024.

The application portal is currently open and will accept submissions until January 31, 2025. This initiative aims to ensure businesses from all sectors and regions in the province are informed about and able to apply for these rebates.

Interested in becoming a member? Click here