Your Weekly Tune Up
Shape your City - Medicine Hat
Have you checked out the City’s online engagement hub. You can learn more about current issues that the City is working on, stay up to date on projects, and share your ideas and feedback and get involved and help shape your city! Right now you can view information on the City’s Transportation Master Plan, the Community Well-Being Plan as well as the progress on the 2025-2026 Budget. Check it out at https://shapeyourcity.medicinehat.ca/
Amendments to Canada's Competition Act
There have been recent amendments to Canada's Competition Act that impact businesses across every industry. A number of these changes went into force on June 20th, 2024. Key Changes:
- Merger Control: Enhanced provisions for addressing anti-competitive mergers, including a presumption against mergers that significantly increase market concentration.
- Anti-Competitive Agreements: Strengthened civil provisions to prevent agreements that substantially lessen competition.
- Refusal to Deal: Updated rules prohibiting businesses from refusing to deal with others when it harms competition, among other conditions.
- False Advertising: Stronger measures against misleading marketing practices, including bogus discount claims, drip pricing and greenwashing.
It is crucial for businesses to understand these amendments to ensure compliance and avoid unwanted legal challenges. For an overview and guidance on these amendments, take a look at our guide & other helpful resources.
Building resiliency for Alberta beef farms
The governments of Alberta and Canada are supporting Alberta Beef Producers in expanding its food safety and certification program. As Canada’s largest cattle producing province, Alberta’s beef industry maintains the highest level of food safety, animal care, biosecurity and environmental stewardship, so that Alberta beef remains a premium product around the globe.
Learn more here: https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=906332E1BBE31-F5DD-E1C2-B256EC43EF00FB33
Helping Alberta small businesses reduce emissions
Small and medium businesses are the backbone of Alberta’s economy, but they often face financial, timing and other barriers to advancing and commercializing creative, transformative technologies that benefit their operations. Alberta’s government is investing $44 million to help small and medium businesses reduce emissions and lower energy costs. https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=906488A21DC41-C5B6-2DE8-EB857416F8858E91
Advocacy in Action
Behind the Chamber Scenes
We know that much of our advocacy work happens behind the scenes and that our business community isn't always aware of the day-to-day activities we're up to, but we wanted to highlight that since September, we've had 67 meetings with Government at all levels - from local, provincial to federal meetings on issues that concern our local business community.
Whether that's municipal finances and procurement, or looking to create a business-friendly regulatory environment, or safety of our businesses and community, in addition to discussion on future growth plans and opportunities, to priorities in agriculture. We cover off a wide-range of issues that impact our business community and hear the concerns of our members, taking action to elevate these concerns so that your voice is heard.
An investment in your local Chamber is an investment in your community because we're working hard for you even when you don't see us!
Next Level Events
Medicine Hat Stampede Parade
THIS Thursday, July 25th 2024 @ 9:00 AM
Come on down and support your local businesses, organizations, groups, and community as they showcase their skills, services, products, and MH Stampede energy!
The parade will start at the Medicine Hat Police station and turn onto Maple Ave SE before a left turn onto First Street. It will then turn left at City Hall and head down 6th Ave SE before turning onto Second Street and run until Macleod Trail SE where it will loop around and finish on River Road.
https://www.mhstampede.com/parade/ | https://medicinehatnews.com/news/local-news/2024/07/09/stampede-parade-to-follow-new-route-with-third-street-construction/
Medicine Hat Stampede: Wednesday to Saturday Events
Brooks-Newell Business to Business Networking Breakfast
The Brooks Newell Region is hosting a Business to Business networking event on July 25th at Hometime BBQ! The subject at this mixer will be about introducing local businesses to the support services and resources available. Doors open at 7:30 am, Breakfast is served at 8, wrapping up by 9.
To Register, click HERE
Business Brainstorming and Beers.
Thursday August 15, 2024, 4:00-5:00pm @ Paradise Valley Golf Course
Join the Chamber at Paradise Valley Golf Course on August 15th. Grab a drink and network with like minded people to discuss everything business. Whether it's business growth, workforce challenges, new business opportunities, regulatory hurdles, or anything else, we are all about finding solutions.
Enriching Your Business
There's a reason Chambers Plan is Canada's #1 plan.
Contact JoAnne Letkeman,
Exclusive Chamber Group Advisor,
403-504-2166 ext 1.
Fueling the Business Community
• NEW MEMBERS •
We would like to welcome Work N' Play, ReBark, and The Cosmo Collective to the Chamber Family!
We continually look forward to helping our members during their business journey and wish each the best in all future endeavors. We are extremely happy to have such amazing members, and are very glad that we can serve a part in that journey! Keep your eye out for more new member posts moving forward!
Fill Up On Funding
Canada-Alberta Job Grant
Helps to cover training expenses for existing employees and new hires. If you are hiring and training an unemployed Albertan, up to 100% of training costs could be covered, up to $15,000 per trainee.
https://www.alberta.ca/canada-alberta-job-grant
Government of Alberta- Culture and Status of Women Grants
Funding opportunities for projects in the areas of arts, culture, community, heritage, recreation, sport, and diversity and inclusion. For each grant, the list displays the grant type, the sector the grant is for, who may be eligible and where to go for more information.
Brooks-Newell Region News
New CAO for the City of Brooks
Welcome to the new City of Brooks CAO - Chris Parker who started his position with the City July 22, 2024. Chris was announced as the new CAO of Brooks, having served in past municipal roles as a councillor, town manager and CAO. Parker’s first CAO position was in High Prairie in 2011. He also served as the CAO for Beaverlodge, Peace River and Athabasca.
Read more here: https://www.brooks.ca/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=411
Engaging conversations at first Southeast Alberta Chamber Roundtable in Brooks
Thank you to SPEC Association for hosting our Coffee & Conversations Business Roundtable on July 17 - the discussions provide insight into focus areas for direction including streamlined communication and communication resources, such as our event calendar, job postings, volunteer opportunities, etc. We also had some great dialogue about how we align resources.
We look forward to seeing businesses at the Networking event on August 25th and a follow-up roundtable on September 24th. We'll try an evening session for our next roundtable in September recognizing that daytime events are a bit more difficult to attend for some of our entrepreneurs.
Don't forget to check the Brooks-Newell calendar for upcoming meetings and events in the region:
https://chamber.southeastalbertachamber.ca/brookseventcalendar and post any jobs or events you have coming up.
Thank you as well to Allied Distributors and JBS for meeting with us and sharing your insights. We also had the opportunity to chat with a few vendors at the Downtown Brooks street fair and took in the Brooks Hotel Bullapalooza - thank you Brooks for hosting some great events and making Southeast Alberta a vibrant place to live, work and play!
HALO Fundraiser & First Responders Appreciation Event
HALO Fundraiser & First Responders Appreciation Event happening Thursday, August 1, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Brooks Centennial Regional.
To donate contact Ashley Ferguson at fergusona@newellmail.ca.
Crossword Puzzle
Crossword Puzzle Answers
Did you figure it out? Here are the answers for the July 15th crossword puzzle.
Remember that subscribing to our weekly email gets you access to the crossword puzzle. Anyone who sends us their answers will get their name put into our quarterly draw.
The prize? Receive 5 promotional credits with us (for members) or credit towards a membership (for non-members)! Oh and bragging rights that you're a crossword master.
Other News
Government of Alberta- Culture and Status of Women Grants
City of Medicine Hat Annual Report
Labour Market Notes – Labour market conditions continue to ease
Labour Market InSight - Underlying strength in Albert's labour market
Not-profit learning centre: July Learning Opportunities
Other Events
June 15 - Sept. 7 | Block Party @ Towne Square | More Info
Support your community | Grand Openings Calendar
Useful Links
Find more updates on our social media
