Your Weekly Tune Up
Election Day is September 20
In Alberta, electors must vote at their assigned polling station from 7:30 am to 7:30 pm. To find out where to vote, electors can check their voter information card, visit elections.ca or call 1-800-463-6868.
New card-sized COVID-19 vaccination record
Starting on Sept. 19, Albertans will be able to print a copy of their card-sized COVID-19 proof of vaccination or show it on their phone or tablet. More information can be found at Immunization Records.
Alberta Adopts New Vaccine Booking Tool
The new provincewide Alberta Vaccine Booking System provides Albertans the ability to book into both first- and second-dose appointments, including outstanding COVID-19 vaccinations, at either an AHS clinic or pharmacy of their choice.
Canada Employment Insurance Commission sets the 2022 Employment Insurance Premium RateÂ
The rate is set at $1.58 per $100 of insurable earnings for employees and $2.21 for employers who pay 1.4 times the employee rate, which is unchanged from the 2020 and 2021 premium rate. Find out more.
Quick Check Up
New vaccine requirements and COVID-19 measures in Alberta
Alberta has declared a state of public health emergency. Measures in workplaces, indoor private gatherings, places of worship, schools and children's activities, as well as mandatory masking and physical distancing in all indoor public spaces started Sept. 16.
Restrictions on restaurants, indoor gatherings, weddings and funerals, retail, entertainment venues, and indoor sport and fitness are in effect on Sept. 20.
Starting September 20, discretionary businesses and events must follow one of these 2 options:
- Implement the Restrictions Exemption Program requiring proof of vaccination or negative test result to continue operating as usual, or
- Follow business capacity and operating restrictions.
View the Full public health actions and check out our video from September 16th
Fuelling Our Business Community
Re-Grand Opening - Veiner Centre
The Veiner Centre supports the well-being of older adults in Medicine Hat by serving as a central hub for connection, community programs, and essential information. It is now operated by Kerby Centre. "The Veiner Centre is a beautiful facility, and we are honoured to be part of expanding its programming and community role," says CEO Larry Mathieson.
This past Saturday, September 18th, Veiner Centre Hosted The Grand Parade walk which helped raise over $2,500 for local seniors in need. Thank you to all our walk participants and those who joined us for our grand reopening BBQ. We appreciate the support of our Medicine Hat community!
The Power of Community
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: September 30
This national day of recognition provides an opportunity to recognize and commemorate the legacy of residential schools. This may present itself as a day of quiet reflection or participation in a community event. What can you do on this day to show support?
- participate, volunteer, or attend a local Truth and Reconciliation activity or event
- attend a cultural event
- read a novel from an Indigenous Reading List; examples found here
Enriching Your Business
Secure Online POS. Affordable Payment Processing.
Auto-Star, based in Medicine Hat for over 35 years, is excited to announce the launch of ClearTEQ, an all-in-one point of sale and payment processing solution.
Designed for small and mid-size business, ClearTEQ is an online retail POS that is easy to use and includes all the essential POS, inventory, and reporting tools. ClearTEQ includes competitive payment processing rates and local technical support that's just a phone call away.
Learn more about how ClearTEQ is everything your business needs to run smoothly.
See all our Value Added Benefits!
Fill Up On Funding
Venture for Canada Intrapreneurship
Students across Canada are contributing to innovating small business by working on 7-week projects of up to 70 hours each (4-10 hours/week). Students work solo or in an interdisciplinary team of up to 5 students (up to 350 project hours per group). Employer commitment is 10-20 hours over 7 weeks. Venture for Canada foots the bill and provides each student with a stipend for their work with you. New projects accepted each month.
Advocacy in Action
Letter to Premier Kenney:Â Health order exemptions
On September 15, the Alberta Chambers of Commerce (ACC) sent a letter to Premier Jason Kenney and all UCP caucus members requesting the following:
1. The process, policy criteria, and timelines for businesses to receive exemptions to health orders;
2. A specific exemption from restrictions on liquor sales past 10 p.m. for business operators who choose to require proof of vaccination to provide service; and,
3. The cost-benefit analysis being applied to restrict liquor sales past 10 p.m.
The Alberta Perspectives market research was provided to Government from the survey on proof of vaccination and limiting restrictions on business.
The ACC also issued a media release on the same topic.
Following the Government of Alberta announcement on September 15, our Chamber starting receiving inquiries and questions about what this meant for business. We were pleased to have an opportunity to meet with Minister Schweitzer and his department that evening at 8:30 pm to ask some initial questions. You can view some of our initial questions that were answered that evening, along with some of the questions we submitted to Government for further follow-up. If you have a business-related question regarding restrictions and the new exemption program, please email us.
Engagement top priority for growing municipal partnerships
In a recent Alberta Chambers of Commerce (ACC) survey, business engagement topped the list of job creators' priorities for growing municipal partnerships. Ninety-six percent of respondents identified engagement with the business community as a priority, with more than 50 percent selecting this as their number one priority from a list of four. View the results and visit our Vote Prosperity webpage to learn more about the Chamber's priorities in the 2021 Municipal Election campaign.
Federal Election 2021
As Canadians head to the polls for the 2021 federal election, the Chamber network continues to focus on 'What It Takes to Grow: Priorities for Canada's Next Parliament', which outlines the key priorities our members need to see from the parties to grow our economy.
To know where the political parties stand, the Canadian Chamber asked the five main parties a simple question:
"How will your party support businesses as the engine for growth to move our country from recovery to strong and sustained economic growth?" Read the Responses
Next Level Events
MHC Employer Engagement
Building opportunities in education together
The world is changing. How we educate and prepare students for the future is changing with it.
Medicine Hat College is transforming how it connects and responds to the needs of the region. Our employers and industries are what drives the region forward. We want to be ready to support you by offering the education and skills needed. Opportunities are emerging around the growth of apprenticeship and work integrated learning in our province. We value your input and invite you to engage with us to:
- learn more about changes coming to advanced education, and
- share your thoughts on how we can partner in new ways.
The future is bright! Join us as we move forward together.
LIVE2LEAD - Why I Host Live2Lead - Letter from Darlene
Hey, I just want to tell you my story about why I'm passionate about the Live2Lead Leadership Event.
"Because of my own experience with an event like this".
I've been learning from John C. Maxwell for many years and I know first hand how the tried-and-true principles he shares has helped shape my leadership growth.
When I was a young leader; put into a position where I was responsible for 20 plus people, I realized I was in way over my head! I loved the work I did and I was good at my job, but leadership was a whole new playing field for me. I cared about the people I was leading and I wanted to serve them well, so I sought out becoming a better leader.
The practical principles I learned; at an event, from John Maxwell made it easy to start implementing the new practices and habits immediately. It was a game-changer for me and the people I was leading. It started me on a trajectory of leadership and thinking differently about my own habits and practices.
I grew to understand how to influence people, I became better equipped to make an impact in leading a team that enjoyed working together and the result was that; collaboratively, we accomplished some pretty amazing things. And it all started with a leadership event that created awareness for more potential, capacity and vision for leadership. It gave me the confidence and clarity I needed to lead people well and still today; 30 years later, I continue to learn from other thought-leaders and influencers - because I'm committed to growing as an influential leader - to inspire and instruct others to live their best quality of life!
Because people matter. Because purpose matters. And because leadership matters.
Imagine what could happen for you or your amazing team?
Now you understand why I'm committed to bringing this event to you, your team and our community.
Hope to see you there!
- Darlene
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