Chamber News
Read about what’s happening in and around Sparwood.
Sparwood Chamber Golf Tournament
Sparwood’s Business Retention and Expansion Report
The report describes findings from a business retention and expansion (BRE) survey conducted online via Survey Monkey by the EVEI for businesses operating in the Elk Valley. 119 of these business responses identified as operating in Sparwood and this report is focused exclusively on these businesses and was written in tandem with the Elk Valley BRE report which encompasses all business responses.
The key research findings in the report summarize the Sparwood business data, then the next steps and potential action items outline recommendations partner organizations could use to improve the business climate of Sparwood. The appendix section showcases the full quantitative data obtained from Sparwood businesses in the survey.
BRE is an effective economic development tool that encourages local businesses to stay and grow in the community through identifying and responding to their needs.
If you have any questions about the report, please do not hesitate to contact the Elk Valley Economic Recovery Advisor at taylor@theelkvalley.ca
Sparwood Chamber’s AGM
Join us for our Annual General Meeting happening via Zoom on February 24th from 12pm – 1 pm.
If you join, you get automatically entered to win a Haddad Financial Gift Basket!!
Sparwood Chamber of Commerce is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Sparwood Chamber AGM February 24th
Time: Feb 24, 2022 11:45 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82384905619?pwd=eGpXdEtXZHlGK2pHOEpBamRTcnp3dz09
Meeting ID: 823 8490 5619
Passcode: 862777
Sponsorship Opportunity
The Sparwood Chamber has a sponsorship opportunity for your business! Whether your business is big or small, there are opportunities for you! Please take a look at our Sponsorship Guide that is attached to see what tier your business would best fit.
If you think your company would like to take advantage of this opportunity, please let Bev or I know and we’ll be more than happy to help you and your business grow and prosper in The Elk Valley!
2022 Membership Drive
It’s time of year again! Get ready to sign up early for your 2022 Sparwood Chamber Membership to get entered to win one of these awesome prizes!
2nd Annual Midnight Madness!
Display of Lights
Join in on the fun on November 25th! Help us light up the Christmas Tree in Centennial Square. There will be hot chocolate and Santa!!
October is Business Month!
The Sparwood Chamber has decided to do things a bit different thing year! Instead of having our Business Awards, we are going to celebrate every business! We’ve all had to face difficult times and overcome numerous obstacles and challenges over the past year and we think everyone deserves to be celebrated for all their hard work!
We came up with this initiative to 1. Get customers more involved in the businesses success 2. Get the businesses free promotion and 3. To win come awesome prizes!
HR Strategy Toolkit: Recruit, Retain, Manage Webinar Series, Fall 2021
PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT IN THE WORKPLACE
Small Business BC is offering this free course on management in the workplace on August 5th from 11:00 am to 11:45 am
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Performance management helps employees realize their full potential and employers align individual performance to organizational goals.Implementing effective performance management is something all business owners should invest time in, but it can be a challenging process. Join us for this informative webinar session and understand how to streamline the process and support the continuous development of your staff. Presented by Thao Tran, Senior Advisor of Human Resource Business at ADP, this session covers best practices for consistent assessment and feedback. Upon completion of the 30-minute presentation, there will be a Q&A session where Thao will be happy to address your individual questions.
WHAT WILL I LEARN?
- Understand how performance management is an essential set of processes and systems to help employees and employers
- Recent trends such as the shift to a continuous developmental approach
- How to ensure consistent actionable feedback and coaching
- Strategic approaches to address performance issues
Register HERE
This webinar will take place via Zoom. Instructions to join our Zoom meeting will be sent to you two hours in advance. At Small Business BC, our number one priority will always be the health and safety of our clients, staff and service providers. As a result, we continue to deliver all our services online, or over the phone until further notice. View our resources for getting Back to Business, or connect directly with a business advisor through our COVID-19 Support Service. Please note: all webinar participants will also receive access to a recording for seven days after the live session.
Communicable disease prevention – A guide for employers
As of July 1st, employers should develop a communicable disease plan. An effective plan includes ongoing measures to reduce the risk of communicable disease and additional measures for when there’s an elevated risk of communicable disease.
Please see the below guide to develop a communicable disease plan. Or click here to download the file.
Sparwood Farmers Market
Join the Sparwood Farmers Market every Friday from 4 pm to 7 pm at the Titan Park! Starting June 25th, 2021 to September 7th, 2021.
Come and check out some of the awesome vendors they have! An updated list on who is joining this year will be posted June 24th on here and on their website, Sparwood Market
BC’s Restart Plan
BC’s Restart is a careful, four-step plan to help bring us back together again. Starting May 25th, we can gradually begin to restart some of our important social connections, businesses, and activities. This is in huge part thanks to everyone who followed public health guidance and the more than 2.7 million people who have already received dose 1 of the vaccine. Let’s continue to support our family, friends, and community to get vaccinated so we can keep moving forward, together. gov.bc.ca/restartBC
COVID Travel Restrictions as of April 23rd
Travel regions
The order combines B.C.’s five health authorities into three regions of the province. Travel into and out of the regions for non-essential reasons is not allowed and is now prohibited by law. The regions are:
- Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley (Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health)
- Northern/Interior (Northern Health and Interior Health, including Bella Coola Valley, the Central Coast and Hope)
- Residents from the Hope area can travel to Chilliwack for essential goods and supplies
- Residents from the Bella Coola Valley and Central Coast area can travel to Port Hardy for essential goods and supplies
- Vancouver Island (Vancouver Island Health)
Enforcement
The goal of the order is education and reminding people about travel restrictions. If the restrictions need to be enforced, police can issue a fine. At the discretion of police, people not obeying the travel restrictions may be subject to a $575 fine. Police will not be engaging in random checks. Periodic road checks may be set up at key travel corridors during times associated with leisure travel to remind travelers of the order. People from outside the province who are travelling to B.C. for non-essential reasons can be subject to the same enforcement measures.
Reasons for essential travel
Essential travel between regions is allowed. Essential reasons include:
- Returning to your principal residence, moving or helping someone move
- Work, both paid and unpaid (volunteer)
- Commercial transportation of goods
- Getting health care or social services or helping someone get those services
- Court appearance, complying with a court order or parole check-in
- Exercising parental responsibilities
- Child care services
- Attending classes at a post-secondary institution or school
- Responding to a critical incident, like search and rescue operations
- Providing care to a person because of a psychological, behavioral or health condition, or a physical, cognitive or mental impairment
- Visiting a resident (as an essential visitor) at long-term care or assisted living facility
- Attending a funeral
- Travelling under a PHO variance. For example, BCHL
Additional measures
Additional measures are in place to support the restriction on non-essential travel, including:
- Increased signage on highways and at border crossings reminding travellers of current restrictions
- Hotels and resorts eliminating or cancelling bookings from out-of-area guests
Do not go on long trips within your region. Now is not the time for overnight vacations away from your community. Stay close to home. Visit your local beach, hiking trail or park.
BC Parks reservations
If you have a camping reservation in another region, you can reschedule or cancel for free at any time and get a full refund.
Entering B.C.
From another province or territory
Road signs are up at the Alberta/B.C. border reminding travellers that all travel at this time should be essential. People from any province or territory are subject to the same travel restrictions as everyone in B.C.If you travel to B.C. for essential reasons from another province or territory, you do not need to self-quarantine when entering B.C.
- Review province-wide restrictions
From a United States border crossing
All non-essential travel at the Canada-U.S. border is restricted. Additional screening measures are in place at key points of entry.
- Learn about arriving in Canada at a land border crossing
From an international destination
To limit the further spread of COVID-19, travel restrictions are in place across all ports of entry. The Canadian border is closed to most international travellers. You are allowed to enter Canada if you are a:
- Canadian citizen
- Permanent resident of Canada
- Temporary resident of Canada
- Protected person (refugee status)
- Person registered under the Indian Act
- Foreign national with a non-discretionary (non-optional) reason to travel to Canada