Tuesday E-mail - May 18, 2010

What Is The Chamber Doing For You?


Business After Hours at The Ridge at Manitou

Join your host, The Ridge at Manitou at 160 Inn Road, McKellar on Wednesday, May 19 from 5:00 pm-6:00 pm to expand your business network. Beverages and snacks will be provided. Bring your business cards along to participate in a door prize draw and to ensure all of your new contacts know exactly how to reach you!

Please note there is a detour currently in place due to the construction on McKellar Centre Road, Middle River Bridge. Please follow the directional signs off of Highway 124 onto Hurdville road, proceed to McKellar Centre Road then to Camp Road. For more detailed detour directions Click Here
RSVP to info@parrysoundchamber.ca or call (705) 746-4213 to confirm your attendance for Business After Hours.


Business on the Bay

Join the Chamber of Commerce, Georgian Bay Country and the Georgian Bay Women’s Network for the Annual BUSINESS ON THE BAY networking cruise. This year’s event will be held Wednesday, June 16 from 5-6 pm onboard the Island Queen. This free 1 hour networking get together leaves the Town Dock in Parry Sound promptly at 5 pm, so don’t be left behind!

The cruise offers the opportunity for area businesses and their front line staff to get to know each other, share ideas and information about the upcoming summer season and to learn more about what others in the area have on the go. Get to know what’s happening with your fellow businesses and wow customers this summer with your knowledge of the area. Special thanks to the Island Queen for their generous support of this annual networking program.

Please RSVP to Anna Marie Harris at 705-378-5105 or annamarie@gbcountry.com to confirm your participation.


What’s Happening In Our Community?


Parry Sound Area Dragon’s Den

The Regional Economic Development Advisory Committee (REDAC) and partners are planning a Parry Sound Area “Dragon’s Den” on Friday October 15, 2010 at the Charles W. Stockey Centre. The Parry Sound Area Dragon’s Den will entertain applications from anyone who has a new business or expansion idea that needs private capital investment of $10,000 or more. Everyone is welcome whether you already have a business or just a brilliant idea!

In preparation for this exciting opportunity for economic growth, REDAC will be hosting an information session on June 24, 2010 at 6:30 pm at the Rosseau Memorial Community Hall, 2 Victoria Street in the Village of Rosseau. The information session will allow entrepreneurs (both private individuals and business owners) to gain an initial idea of what to expect when applying to present to the Parry Sound Area Dragons.

For more information or to RSVP (by June 20th) please contact:
Kirsten LeDrew
Area Economic Development Coordinator
kledrew@townofparrysound.com
705-746-2101 ext. 39
http://www.cityfree.ca/

This event is funded in part by the Parry Sound Area Community Business and Development Centre in support of economic development in West Parry Sound.


Connect to Innovate: the Business – University Collaboration Imperative

Looking to enhance an existing product?
Develop a new one?
Improve a process or productivity levels?
Not sure where to start?
LET’S TALK.

Ontario’s economy has been challenged over the past year. At the heart of global competitiveness is never-ending innovation and the rapid commercialization of new ideas. Now, more than ever, is the time for Ontario businesses to join with university to foster and sustain a robust climate for innovation. It’s critical to Ontario becoming an economic powerhouse once again.

The Ontario Economic Summit (OES) in partnership with the Council of Ontario Universities (COU), local chamber partners and universities will host three dynamic workshops for companies that are already working with university partners and those looking to start.

The sessions aim to:
• Provide a better understanding of the need for, and value of, university-business research partnerships
• Share best practices and discuss new ways of creating effective, results-driven, and sustainable partnerships
• Be honest about the challenges faced by university and business in securing funding and in successfully transferring applied research to the private sector including concerns about intellectual property rights. Quite simply, how could the current environment be better?

Join the following workshop:
• May 26, 2010 Sudbury (11:00 am – 1:00 pm) - $40 pp +GST (incl. lunch)

For the latest agenda and up to date information on the event please visit
http://occ-oes.com/connect-to-innovate.

These issues, and the results of the discussions held at the above workshops, will feature in the agenda of the 2010 Ontario Economic Summit, to be held November 1-3, 2010 in Niagara-on-the-Lake. For more information about the Summit, please visit http://www.occ-oes.com/.


The Power of Social Media for Small Business

Discover the true power behind social media and see how it can benefit your business with minimal cost thanks to a free webinar offered by TD Canada Trust on June 3, 2010.

This Webinar Workshop will show you:
• What social media is and how to use these tools to market your business
• Why social media sites are generating buzz and how you can profit from it
• That you don’t need to be tech-savvy to build an online presence and make it known
• Real examples of small businesses using social media as a cost-effective marketing tool

Host: Irene Law, Senior Manager Business Banking, TD Bank Financial Group

Guest Speakers:
• Erin Bury, Community Manager, Sprouter
• Amber MacArthur, New Media Journalist & Co-Founder, MGI Media
• Lyn Wilson, Online Marketing Consultant, 6s Marketing

Join the FREE Webinar Workshop on Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 12 pm ET, to learn how to boost your marketing efforts by leveraging the power of social media.

Click here to register


Breakfast Television Live from Muskoka Wharf

On Friday, May 21 from 6:00 am to 9:00 am, Breakfast Television will broadcast live from Muskoka Wharf. Kevin Frankish and Dina Pugliese, hosts of Breakfast Television, will be on the top deck of the Wenonah II that will be docked at the end of the Boston Pizza/Regatta dock. Coffee and muffins will be available on the Wenonah II, Regatta Patio and Boston Pizza Patio’s will be open for the public and will have coffee and treats available.

Breakfast Television have committed to 2 interviews that they have already scheduled, but they will also roam the crowds to talk to others. Michael Kuss, weather man with City News, will also do the weather during the evening news on Friday, May 21 between 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm live from the end of the dock at Regatta and Boston Pizza.

This show is open to everyone, so head on down and to help Muskoka and surrounding areas welcome Breakfast Television as they kick off the summer.


Workplace Violence & Harassment Requirements

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce has shared the following bulletin with the Chamber Network to inform everyone of the importance guidelines surrounding the introduction of Bill 168 (this Act amends the Occupational Health and Safety Act with respect to violence and harassment in the workplace and other matters).

The Ontario government has released a “HOW TO” TOOL KIT, which is a template guide to help businesses comply with new requirements relating to workplace violence and harassment. Starting June 15, businesses must: develop workplace violence and harassment policies and programs; assess risks of workplace violence including situations involving handling of cash, dealing with potentially violent clients, working alone, working in high-crime areas, protecting valuable goods and transporting people or goods; and, identify possible ways to control those risks for employees.

All workplaces must review these policies as often as necessary, but at least annually. They must prepare these policies, ensure they are in written form, and post them in a conspicuous place at work. (Businesses with 5 employees or less must prepare the policies in a written form, but don’t have to post them in a conspicuous place, unless otherwise ordered by a ministry inspector).

Employees must be informed and instructed on the policies and programs, and such policies must address risks, and provide measures to control them. Failure to do so may result in orders to comply, or provincial fines or criminal charges. Businesses, for instance, should be aware that among other regulations, employees can refuse to work or do particular work if they believe workplace violence is present. Employers must provide details on a workplace violence incident to their joint health & safety committee or rep within four days of it happening and inform the Ministry.

Employers should be aware that domestic violence may occur in the workplace, so they must take every precaution to protect a worker at risk of physical injury. In addition, they must tell employees about colleagues who may pose a physical risk to them.

MOL’s Tool Kit for Employers: Click Here

Workplace Violence & Harassment Act: Click Here

“Understanding this New Law”: Click Here

In brief , what you’ve got to do: Click Here

MOL’s Inquiry Line for Employers on the new requirements-Province-wide: 1-800-268-8013


Ride for Refuge

On June 5, Parry Sound will be the venue for the local Ride for Refuge. This event helps support refugeeserving organizations with programs including relief and humanitarian aid, settlement, housing, immigration advice, education and counselling.

For information on the Parry Sound RIDE, please visit
http://www.rideforrefuge.org/home.php?c=1&l=12


What Are Our Members Doing?


CAA’s Great Battery Roundup Starts this Week

Understanding the need to support green initiatives and encourage environmental awareness, CAA North & East Ontario (CAANEO) is “charged up” for their Eighth Annual Great Battery Roundup. The Roundup started Saturday, May 15th and runs until Friday, May 21st. This program allows residents of North & East Ontario to safely dispose of their used automotive batteries for recycling free of charge.

This year, as always, all proceeds will be going to “Scoutrees for Canada”, Scouts Canada’s tree planting program. Scoutrees has planted over 70 million seedlings since its inception in 1974, and CAA North & East Ontario is proud to support such an environmentally friendly cause. Last year’s Roundup helped raise $2234 for this valuable program, and CAANEO is excited to top that number this year.

The Great Battery Roundup is free to CAA Members as well as the general public. For drop off in Sudbury, Dryden, Timmins, Parry Sound, North Bay, Pembroke, Renfrew and Cornwall please visit www.caaneo.ca/gbr for locations, or see below.

Local Parry Sound Drop Off Location:
Constables Towing and Body Shop, 48 Hoddys Side Road, Parry Sound 705-746-7021

Congratulations to CAA on this great and environmentally conscious program!