Hi everyone

The Barrie Chamber of Commerce is holding it’s annual golf tournament at Tangle Creek Golf & Country Club on August 15th.

Would you like to contribute to gifts for golfers? Perhaps something that proudly displays your logo?

How about silent auction items?

This is a great opportunity to get your name out amongst the business folks in Barrie who look like they are taking time out to relax, but who are really doing business on the golf course!

You are also invited to attend. Get a foursome together and join the fun.

Check out the information at: http://barriechamber.chambermaster.com/events/details/golf-tournament-august-15-2017-2971

The Barrie Chamber of Commerce is seeking feedback on a submission to the Provincial Government on Bill 148: Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act. Because the government has a majority, it is anticipated the legislation will pass, and in that case, changes will take place with an initial raise of the minimum wage from $11.40 to $14.00 per hour on January 1, 2018. A further raise of $1.00 to $15.00 the following January. There are other aspects of the bill that you will want to be aware of.

Although hearings have been held in Northern Ontario, the Ottawa region and in the GTA, the Central Ontario region has not received approval for a hearing. The final hearing in the series will take place today (and you can watch it online – see below).

• Complete this short survey to help the Chamber with the submission we are making (if you are able to respond by noon today)
  http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07eee0nasij59xk9uy/start
• Send a letter to your local MPP: www.keepontarioworking.ca/send-a-letter
• Watch the proceedings live: ontla.on.ca

The Town of Innisfil has endorsed an Economic Development Community Improvement Plan (CIP), which allows the Town to provide financial incentives to new and expanding businesses.

There are start-up and renewal incentives that may be worth looking at if you are starting or growing a business.

Here is the link to the Innisfil Business page.

https://business.innisfil.ca/grow/financialincentives

Many “children” whose parents are aging (and who often have children of their own), face the dilemma of how to care for them if in the process of aging, they develop dementia or Alzheimer’s. As you are aware, dealing with folks who are experiencing memory loss, also means dealing with related issues of cognitive ability. In other words, their ability to reason things out is impaired – and puts these people at risk.

They are at risk of poor financial and self-care issues. But they may also wander and become lost.

On Monday June 26^th we will be hosting Minister of Senior Affairs Damerla, at 1pm at the Chamber Officer, where she will be making a formal announcement on an initiative for our aging community. As well – we will be unveiling Project Lifesaver, a collaborative initiative by the Barrie Chamber, Simcoe.com, the City of Barrie, Barrie Police, Georgian Bay Search & Rescue, County of Simcoe Paramedic Services, the City of Innisfil, the Innisfil Chamber and the South Simcoe police, as well as the Alzheimer’s Society who are working with us to get this initiative off the ground.

There are over 5,000 seniors living with dementia in Simcoe County and this project will help prevent another senior from going missing, in our community. For those interested, please register online at the Chamber site (http://barriechamber.com). You’ll hear more about our efforts on June 26^th with the group is looking for $25,000 in sponsorship to equip seniors at risk with transmitter bracelets.

Hi everyone

Just a reminder that the 3-year grace period for the CASL legislation ends July 1st.

Does this affect you?

CASL was put into place to eliminate spam emails. It has 3 major purposes…

1. To ensure that people who did not originally opt-into your email on an old email list (prior to July 1, 2014), have the opportunity to verify their interest in remaining on your list. You had 3 years to do this.
2. Going forward to ensure that you have consent for people to join your list (either they have given you written consent or have taken action to join your list)
3. That your electronic communications (aka email) contain elements like your address and contact information and a method that allows them to unsubscribe.
   • Including your address may be problematic for those with home offices… so please note that Suite Success, The Creative Space and of course UPS will collect and hold your mail for you – for an annual fee. That also allows you to have an address for Google Maps.
   • The recommended approach to collect email addresses is to use a double opt-in method (ie someone clicks on a link to give you their contact list – then an email is sent to them to verify their interest. This doesn’t mean that you cannot input email addresses manually – but please have permission to do so!

When you joined Grow Vantage, your permission to be contacted, and in fact to be marketed to others was requested. So we have not had to go back to our list. And if you have permission to email – you don’t have to either.

Any questions – or do you have a burning desire to see a pdf of the legislation? Email me at patricia@growvantage.com.

Thanks! (and btw, part of my email signature is below, as an example).

Patricia

Nominations Deadline: July 10 2017

Initiated in 2003 by the Barrie Chamber, the Barrie Business Awards program recognizes and celebrates the contribution of local businesses to the continued growth and success of our community.

SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATION:

http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07ee87ssywj3c0f4vn/start

Who is eligible? ALL businesses operating within the Greater Barrie Chamber of Commerce geographical boundaries and ALL Barrie Chamber Members.

Please think about which Barrie businesses inspire you and submit their names for the 2017 Barrie Business Awards. See categories below.

For more information on the categories:  http://barriechamber.com/member-blog/call-for-barrie-business-awards-nominations-deadline-july-10-2017-11-59pm

In this phase, companies are nominated. Once the nomination period is over, the nominated companies will be sent a package to complete, which will be submitted for review by a panel of judges. Finalists are announced in the Fall and winners are announced at the Gala to be held on November 8, 2017.

• Employer of the Year awarded by the Mayor of the City of Barrie
• Mid-Sized Business of the Year Award (11-50 employees)
• Small Business of the Year Award (1-10 employees)
• Pay It Forward Award
• New Business Award
• Going Global Award
• Innovation Award
• Marketing & Promotions Award
• Manufacturing Sector Business Excellence Award
• Hospitality & Tourism Business Excellence Award
• Service Business Excellence Award
• Not-For-Profit or Charitable Organization Award
• Arch Brown Entrepreneur Award of Excellence
• Young Professional of the Year Award

Please note: you can nominate yourself!

Good Luck!
Patricia Dent

Patricia Dent
Business Mentor
Grow Vantage
Suite Success at ESS Direct
Cell: 705-229-4969
patricia@growvantage.com

– See more at: http://barriechamber.chambermaster.com/events/details/xcelerate-summit-october-25-26-2017-2967#sthash.zEgM36U7.dpuf

Congratulations to Jeff Gulley (Group 42, Simcoe English Academy) and Niky on the birth of their daughter this week: Leah Irena Gulley who was born May 9th at 7:26 am.  Mom and baby are both doing very well, but being kept in the hospital for a few days

Just like Star Wars… (May the 4th be with you), we have a prequel to Grow Vantage!

Called the Fast-Track Roadmap for Business Start-ups, this three-hour class focuses on the 6 pillars of a successful start-up.

Choice of times: Next class is either May 10th (morning) or May 11th (evening)

What do you learn?

• Pillar 1 – Find your Customers
• Pillar 2 – Protect Your Future
• Pillar 3 – Measurement
• Pillar 4 – Plan (to Grow)
• Pillar 5 – Legal Protection
• Pillar 6 – Self Management Plan

What do you get?

A workbook to complete in class

A post-class bonus coaching session to help put the roadmap together!

And a second bonus…. if your someone decides to take their Grow Vantage program, their Fast-Track fee is completely applied to the Grow Vantage fee. For more information or to register, go to http://growvantage.com/fasttrack

Any questions?

Call Patricia at 705-229-4969 or email her at patricia@growvantage.com