May is Mining Month in BC! Join us for two special events- the Mining Luncheon (in partnership with the Mining Association of BC, sponsored by EVR and Finning) and the Mining BBQ 😊
Tickets for the luncheon are $15 for Members & $25 for non-Members. Please RSVP for the luncheon by May 11, and let us know if you’d like to participate in the BBQ 🍔

The Sparwood Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Information Centre now has summer student positions open! Please email your resume & cover letter to Kat at administrator@sparwoodchamber.ca or drop it off Monday-Friday from 9-4.

Shop Local Shop Sparwood Campaign Recap!
WOW — what an incredible show of support for our local businesses. Thank you to everyone who took part!

Here’s what we accomplished together:

• 24 local businesses joined the campaign
• 902 entries were submitted into the draws
• The top three most-visited participating stores saw 269 visits, 72 visits, and 60 visits
• 16 lucky winners took home over $1,000 in prizes — including amazing donations from local businesses

This movement was all about choosing local, and you all proved how strong our community spirit is. Every visit, every purchase, every entry helped keep dollars close to home.

A huge thank-you to Community Futures for their donation to help run this campaign, as well as the businesses who participated and donated prizes, and to everyone who shopped local during the month of November. Let’s keep that momentum going year-round!

Watch for information on our AGM as well as our Membership Drive- both events will be sometime in February 2026.

Keep your eyes peeled around Sparwood this holiday season for the Best Decorated businesses & houses! We’ve asked everyone in town to show us their most festive community spirit!

Calling All Local Businesses!

We are excited to announce our 8th Annual Scarecrow Contest, and we want YOU to be a part of the fun! This is a great opportunity to showcase your creativity, attract patrons, and engage with the community.
Let’s fill Sparwood with creative, spooky, and fun scarecrows for everyone to enjoy! Interested businesses can sign up by emailing the Entry Form to administator@sparwoodchamber.bc.ca or stop by the office.

Scarecrow Stake and Straw provided

Vendors are invited to apply to participate in the Sparwood Fall Harvest Vendor Fair. We’re on the lookout for handmade art/crafts, locally-produced food and drink and locally owned businesses/producers.

Applications will be considered based on the description of the wares for sale, provided photos, and the locality. No MLM’s please.

Email Nicole @ manager@sparwoodchamber.bc.ca for an application

We regret to announce that our 2025 Mine Tours have been cancelled due to operational changes at Elk Valley Resources (EVR). After a thorough review and collaboration with EVR, it has become clear that the route we traditionally use no longer meets our safety standards.

EVR has recently undergone significant operational adjustments that impact the accessibility and stability of the tour route. While these changes are part of their broader modernization efforts, they have resulted in conditions that pose safety challenges for guided visits.

At the Sparwood Chamber of Commerce, the safety and well-being of our visitors is our top priority. We are committed to offering memorable experiences that are both educational and secure. Unfortunately, until alternative safe routes are identified and approved, we cannot proceed with the tours.

We understand the disappointment this may cause for those who planned to visit, and we sincerely thank you for your understanding and continued support. Our team is actively exploring other tourism experiences in and around Sparwood to ensure your time in the Elk Valley remains unforgettable.

Please stay tuned for updates, and feel free to reach out to us with any questions.

Back in October 2024, we hit the streets with our Business Walk—connecting with over 100 local businesses to better understand your challenges, successes, and priorities. It’s taken some time to get our advocacy group organized and aligned on key areas of focus, but please know we’ve been actively working behind the scenes to represent and support the needs of our business community.

We’re now pleased to share a summary PowerPoint of the findings with you. While this may feel a little delayed, your input has not sat idle. The feedback we gathered has already started to guide our advocacy work and will continue to shape our conversations with local leaders, stakeholders, and partners.

A quick overview from the report:
The 2024 Sparwood Business Walk was a clear reminder of the strength, resilience, and innovation of our local business community. With over 100 businesses engaged, we’ve gained valuable insight into what’s working, what’s challenging, and—most importantly—how we can grow together.

To every business owner who opened their doors and shared their time: thank you. Your voice is making a difference.

We’ll be reaching out again soon with follow-up questions to keep this momentum going. Your continued feedback is critical in shaping our future efforts.

Sparwood Business Walk Summary Power Point

Please join us on February 19th at the Causeway Bay for Lunch and AGM! Seats are limited, so please RSVP by phoning Andrea @ 250-425-2423 or email administrator@sparwoochamber.bc.ca

Invoices for your 2025 Sparwood Chamber Membership went out this week! Be sure to pay early to get entered to win some prizes!