Tuesday E-mail - September 21, 2010

What Is The Chamber Doing For You?

Accessibility Workshop - September 29th

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce and the Parry Sound Area Chamber of Commerce are hosting a workshop to help your business comply with Ontario’s new customer service standards under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

Join us on Wednesday September 29, 2010 at the West Parry Sound District Museum start time 8:30am to Noon for this important information session by speaker Louie DiPalma, Accessibility Works, Ontario Chamber of Commerce. We as chamber associations are determined to help businesses so that they can better serve the growing population of people with all types of disabilities.

Please RSVP to Jessie at the Chamber by September 24, 2010. (705) 746-4213 or jessie@parrysoundchamber.ca


Upcoming Business After Hours

Join your fellow Chamber members on September 29, 2010 at a business after hours hosted by Georgian Bay Airways and Bear Claw Tours at Georgian Bay Airways location on Bay Street. Come and enjoy coffee and ice cream while touring their great facility. Enter a draw for eight lucky attendees to go on a flight the following day (weather permitting).

Other upcoming Business After Hours:
October 13th - RBC & The Stockey Centre
November 17th - Hidden Bay Leadership Camp
Please RSVP to info@parrysoundchamber.ca or (705) 746-4213.


Golf Tournament

Please note the last blog post outlining our “Fall Classic” Golf Tournament which also recognizes our sponsors to date. Including a $10,000 Hole in One Contest sponsored by Canada Brokerlink. Sign up your team or as a individual today by contacting the Chamber (705) 746-4213.


Parry Sound Municipal Election All Candidates Meeting

Hosted by the Parry Sound Area Chamber of Commerce, the Parry Sound North Star, TV Cogeco and the Moose FM.
When: Monday, September 27, 2010
Time: 7:00pm (Doors open at 6:30pm)
Place: Charles W. Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts
Also broadcast on TV Cogeco
Cost: Free
- Have your say and ask your questions during the public question period.
- Hear what the Parry Sound Municipal candidates have to say on the issues that matter to you.
- Hear the Municipal candidates answer tough questions from a panel of select community representatives.
- Hear platforms from the Near North District School Board Board Trustee Candidates.


Chamber Happenings:


Poverty Reduction Committee:

The Chamber has recently joined this committee because as employers you’re aware of the effects of poverty on the workforce. This includes lack of transportation, lack of nutritious food and overall mental distress due to economic circumstances. All of these have a direct impact on the productivity of the worker and society and it’s very important to work with area associations to assist in solving this issue.


REDAC: (Regional Economic Development Advisory Committee)

The Township of Seguin, Municipality of McDougall and the Town of Parry Sound have been working in a partnership over the past 2 years in order to bring sustainable economic growth to our area. The Chamber and other associations belong to REDAC and have/will start to partner with the committee to bring workshops and seminars to the area and to evaluate the housing/emerging developments/communications and work on issues involving all municipalities. We recently attended the REDAC strategic seminar and look forward to assisting
with the implementation of the ideas proposed at the meeting for 2011.


Another wonderful waterfront season comes to a close

The Chamber of Commerce has been contracted since 1987 to operate the waterfront facilities to serve the transient boater’s needs and to act as a tourism information centre for the Parry Sound Area.

For the past 23 years, the operation has served well over 40,000 boaters with approximately 120,000 people on board (not to mention the hundreds of thousands attending the info booth) and financially boasted our local businesses and economy.

With the wonderful weather that was provided for us this season, we had a very busy summer at the waterfront.

Visitor Stats:
Town dock Location: Total # of paying visits: 117, up from 64 in 2009.
Average length of boat: 38.97’
Head count from info centre: approx. 1372

Big Sound Marina: Total # of paying visits: 952 up from 794 in 2009.
Average length: 33.79’

Through the generosity of our members, we received the following items:
• New BBQ from Ritchie Insurance
• Free propane, plus an additional 20lb tank from Canadian Tire (which were filled 5 times this year!).
• Free shuttle service to and from Parry Sound Sobeys
• Bigger, better and more powerful antennae for the wi-fi service donated and installed free of charge from Georgian Bay Software (enabled the boaters to receive the wi-fi from the docks instead of on our deck as in previous years.)
• Donation of computer and improved wireless equipment for the Town Dock information centre from Georgian Bay Software (to replace the computer stolen two summers ago).

Customer Service continues to be our number one priority and strength throughout the season. From their initial interview, to the first day of training and continuing throughout the summer, the staff is told and trained on the importance on going ‘above and beyond’ for the boaters and visitors to the area. We ensure that the staff is familiar with the local attractions, business and events to effectively promote the area. Local brochures, maps and other promotional items were always kept in stock to help achieve this.

We had an amazing and wonderful team this year and can’t say and brag enough about them!


Upcoming Business Workshops & Seminars:


Contact North and PARO workshops

Contact North and PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise have teamed up to offer workshops every Wednesday in September. The sessions are available free of charge and open to all Parry Sound and area residents though Contact North distance education delivery system. The Contact North Center is located at 60 James Street, suite 201. Please register by e-mailing : buildingbridges@paro.ca.

Bookkeeping I
September 29, 2010 - 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Christine Sikerbol, PARO Centre
• 3 Categories of essential business tasks
• Daily recording of transactions
• Cash Receipts (A/R)
• Cash Disbursements (A/P)
• Bank reconciliations

Labour Market Information
September 29, 2010 - 12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Adrienne Serreao, Service Canada
Job seekers, careers in transitions, or potential employers, this workshop will provide you with valuable resources
• What’s hot and what’s not in the local labour market
• What you can do to prepare
Please register to these seminars by e-mailing: buildingbridges@paro.ca.


Georgian Bay Women’s Network

Georgian Bay Women’s Network is offering a six week course on Simply Accounting - Level One. It will run on Wednesday evenings - for a total of 18 hours. Starting October 13th and running into November.

They will provide the teaching module of Simply, the textbooks, instructor and a copy of the software for each student. The cost to you is only the payment of the textbooks - $50.00, plus a $15.00 donation to the YMCA. Please note space is limited. Contact Susan at the Parry Sound Area Community Business & Development Centre today to sign up, (705) 746-4455 or susan@cbdc.parrysound.on.ca


What’s Happening With Our Members?

RISE Open House

Join RISE (Resource Centre for Independent Living) on September 28, 2010 as they open and celebrate their new location. Meet the staff and volunteers. Light refreshments will be served. 11am to 2pm, 70 Isabella Street Parry Sound. For more information contact RISE at (705) 746-6996.