Chamber Updates
Chamber Updates
February 2010

 

 

New chamber executive elected; preparations for business achievement awards underway

 

 

A full house presented at the Caledonia Regional Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting, held Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010.  Janice Renshaw, 2009 President, welcomed everyone to the meeting and said she was pleased with the turnout.

 

A treasurer's report and auditor Julie Henning's report for 2009 were received.  Reports were recieved from the following committees for 2009: Tourism/Garden Tour/ Travel Information Centre, Canada Day, Special Projects, Christmas Activities,  Business Achievement Awards Banquet, the Edinburgh Cup Golf Tournament, Economic Development, Caledonia Marketing Collective and Caledonia Connected.

 

Pam Aylan-Parker spoke on behalf of Welcome Wagon, which she has been a representative of for many years. Pam stated that because of strict freedom of information laws, she was unable to access her past sources for new homeowners. So, if you have a new neighbour, or if you have just moved to town, please call Pam Aylan-Parker with the Welcome Wagon at 905-765-6438. and she will call, make an apointment, and give gift certificates from local businesses as well as local information.

 

Outgoing president Janice Renshaw said she was at first uncertain about accepting the position of president, but the year had gone well, and her highlight had been participating in the new Citizenship Ceremony of Canada Day at Kinsmen Park and was moved by how important the day was to our new Canadian citizens.  In the Mayor's absence, Haldimand Councillor Craig Grice installed the new slate of officers for 2010:  President - Gary Nelson,  Scotiabank, Vice-President - Suzanne Athanasiou, State Farm Insurance; Treasurer - Jose Gonzales, Hald-Nor Credit Union; Secretary - Leila Thompson, Caledonia Senior Support; Past President - Janice Renshaw, Body Waves Fitness; as well as 12 directors were sworn in reporesenting various businesses in Caledonia.  President Gary Nelson took charge of the annual meeting and Julie Henning, CGA, was appointed as auditor for 2010. 

 

Councillor Craig Grice spoke regarding Streetscape and said that the "Big Move #4" in the streetscape plan should be removed.  This matter was put forward to the chamber meeting on Friday January 22, where it was addressed by a letter to Haldimand County Council from President Gary Nelson and approved by the Directors.  A letter has also been sent by the BIA and Nestle Purina Petcare concerning the placement of the proposed bump-outs. Mike Evers of the Evers Financial Group spoke, and said that if the new Caledonia bridge was down for two years, some businesses in town would not survive.  He stated the original bridge had taken only four months to build with none of today's knowledge.

 

The 2010 Caledonia Business Awards Dinner is Tuesday, February 9, with cocktails at 6:00 pm and dinner at 6:30 pm.  A record 19 nominations were received by the chamber.  Thanks to everyone who took the time to fill out a nomination. 

 

Over the holidays, someone walking by the Manger Scene at Edinburgh Square discovered that a prankster has put a  Santa suit on the baby Jesus, and Santa hats on Mary, Joseph and the Wisemen, and antlers on the camels, sheep and oxen.  It was reported and Special Projects removed the hats, etc. It is mind-boggling that someone took the money, time and energy to do this sort of thing to the Nativity scene. The money it cost could have been donated to a worthy cause, perhaps the Haiti Relief Fund.

 

The Caledonia Chamber of Commerce wishes to thank all of you who decided to Christmas shop locally this year and wishes you a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

 

  Submitted by Carol Ritchie, Director, Caledonia Regional Chamber of Commerce

 
January 1, 2010

 

 

Caledonia Chamber Happenings  

 

Grace United Church has certainly got everyone in the Christmas spirit with their 10th Along the Grand Christmas Tour of Homes and for hosting the Haldimand Choralairs Christmas Concert and sing.

 

There was a National Geographic documentary filmed earlier in the month at the Grand Trunk Station and another film scheduled in the new year.

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November 27, 2009

 

 

Light Up Night Coming Soon

 

On Friday, November 6, the Caledonia Regional Chamber of Commerce had the pleasure of welcoming to their directors' meeting Rachel Martin, business support officer of Two Rivers Community Development Centre, which is the equivalent on Six Nations/New Credit to the Grand Erie Business Centre.  Martin was welcomed to our meeting by Chamber president Janice Renshaw. Martin opened by stating that Two Rivers' purpose was to support local business, support economic development, do their local directory- which has increased from 30 businesses to 300, encourage shopping locally, have banners in the downtown core of Ohsweken, showing support for local businesses by shining the spotlight on two local businesses Thursdays and Fridays, from 11 am to 2 pm in November and December. They also promote a student youth grant of $500 for summer businesses and by doing challenges to show students how to run their own business and introduce the concept of entrepreneurship.  Two Rivers receives support from Industry Canada with $75,000 maximum grant - there is no funding available for smoke shops.   Their visitor numbers from the US are down in 2009.  They feel there is a need to put a joint marketing strategy in place, and a need for structure for businesses. The Six Nations Council is trying to set up a registry for Six Nations/New Credit businesses with a yearly fee of $120 and RAMA dollars are set aside in a trust fund.  At the moment, requests for the funding far exceed the available funds. It was a good and productive information meeting between neighbouring communities.

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