November 2010 - Timmins Chamber of Commerce

G’s
Carpet
Cleaning
& Services
• Carpet Cleaning • Upholstery Cleaning
• Strip & Wax Floors • Spring Clean-Up
“We don’t cut corners.
We clean them”
107 Fifth Ave. Timmins
Tel: 360-2027 • Page: 360-6710
inside
business
BI-MONTHLY
CAROL
SWEEZEY
(LAFRANCE)
Agente D’imm / Sales Rep
360-8123
pager
NOVEMBER 2010
Your Neighbourhood Realtor
264-5364
REALTY LTD.
Brokerage
www.crworks.com/carolsweezey
A TIMMINS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PUBLICATION
Celebrating 61st AGM
The Timmins Chamber of Commerce hosted its 61st
Annual General Meeting & Presidents’ Dinner
Wednesday evening at the historic McIntyre Arena
Ballroom. More than 175 members of the business community attended to celebrate the accomplishments of
the 2009-10 chamber year and to hear the latest news
on the “Ring of Fire” from keynote speaker Paul Semple,
COO of Noront Resources.
Semple described how Noront plans to overcome the
challenge of mining the swampy terrain of the “Ring of
Fire” through the use of underground facilities. These
facilities may be able to minimize the environmental
impact of the mine. Semple said that the “Ring of Fire”
has great potential for multi-metal mining; apart from
the area’s rich chromite deposits, the “Ring of Fire” also
contains deposits of gold, nickel and copper. Semple
concluded his address by expressing a willingness to
work with Northern Ontario communities and stakeholders.
The evening also featured the official swearing-in of
the Board of Directors and 2010-11 Chamber President
Gary Marriott by Mayor Tom Laughren. Immediate Past
President Fred Gibbons spoke of the many successes of
the past chamber year, which included successful reaccreditation, recognition from the Ontario Chamber of
Commerce for the Chamber’s innovative membership
kits and Manager Keitha Robson’s leadership excellence,
and record attendance at the popular Nova Awards.
Gibbons was presented with a painting and scrapbook
to commemorate his time as president.
Gary Marriott brought the evening to a close by sharing his vision for the upcoming year. Marriott’s
Chamber involvement extends back several years. He
has served as chair of the Economic & Business
Development Committee and co-chair of the Nova
Awards Committee. As president, Marriott is looking
forward to working with the board to promote growth
in the business community. He announced a new committee structure for the 2010-11 chamber year which
will see the formation of issue-specific task forces to
address various challenges facing business in Northern
Ontario.
Each year, the Timmins Chamber of Commerce recognizes individuals and businesses that have made significant contributions to the Chamber and the business
community each year at its general meeting. This year’s
award recipients are as follows:
Service Award
In one of his first official duties as president, Gary Marriott
(left) awarded local mining and prospecting legend John
Larche with honourary membership in the Timmins Chamber
of Commerce, an honour shared by only four other individuals.
Mr. Larche was formally recognized at the Chamber’s 60th
Annual General Meeting on September 29.
Alex Klimack Award
Recipient: Bruce Del Guidice — Past President (1982-1983)
The Alex Klimack Award is presented annually to an
outstanding Chamber volunteer in recognition of
his/her hard work and commitment to both the
Chamber and the business community as a whole.
Chamber launches online
swap shop for members
Timmins — Timmins Chamber of Commerce
members will now be able to buy, sell and barter
their business-related items online through a new
chamber swap shop. This program will allow members to make the most of the chamber network by
buying and selling used items to the public and to
fellow members.
“We received a number of inquiries from members looking for a specific way to sell or buy business-related items, like office furniture or electronics,” says 2010-2011 Chamber President Gary
Marriott.
“The swap shop idea lets them post ads for business items that are in good condition and could be
useful to another business or person. We feel it’s a
great value-added feature of Chamber membership.”
The new site lets members post items on the
chamber website free of charge. While it’s only
members that can post items for sale or items that
they are seeking to buy, all postings are visible to
the public — so businesses can reach a wider audience.
“This online member marketplace is just one
more benefit of membership”, says Steven Vachon,
Member Development and Events Specialist.
“It’s an online space dedicated specifically for
our members to sell items they no longer need at
their business or to acquire items from their fellow
chamber members.”
Members of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce
can post their items by visiting
www.timminschamber.on.ca and logging in as a
member. The swap shop can be viewed by the public at www.timminschamber.on.ca/swapShop.php.
President’s Award
Recipient: Lake Shore Gold Corp.
Presented to a member business/organization for their
support of the community and the opportunities they
provide the businesses of the Timmins Chamber of
Commerce.
Honourary Member
Recipient: John Larche
Recipient: Dan Charbonneau — Retiring board member
The Service Award is presented in appreciation to
Board members with more than five years of service.
Honourary memberships are awarded to individuals
in recognition of long-standing commitment and contributions to Timmins’ business community.
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Chartered Accountants
101 Cedar St. South
Timmins ON P4N 2G7
Tel: (705) 264-9484
Fax: (705) 264-0788
E-mail: inform@rosspope.com
“Helping You Achieve Your Goals In Your Business
Is Our Goal In Our Business”
“Your End-to-End Computer Solutions Provider”
101 Cedar St. South
Timmins ON P4N 2G7
Tel: (705) 264-9484
Fax: (705) 264-0788
E-mail: support@rosspope.com
ROSS POPE INC.
Consultants
inside business
2 - NOVEMBER 2010
Victor Mine receives prestigious award
Timmins — The De Beers
Canada Victor Mine received the
Desjardins Award for Large
Business at the 28th Annual
Ontario Business Achievement
Awards (OBAA) held Monday,
Sept. 20, in Toronto.
Ontario’s first and only diamond
mine was selected by a panel of
judges for its commitment to the
local business community and
industry best practices, highlighted
by its work in developing the
mine in a socially and environmentally responsible way.
The De Beers Canada Victor
Mine has supported the business
community since mine development began. The Chamber submitted the nomination and could not
be happier to see the Victor Mine
recognized for its sound business
practices.
“De Beers has been a valued
partner of the Chamber for several
years now,” says Chamber
President Gary Marriott.
“The organization has contributed significantly to the busi-
ness community and the
broader community also.
It is wonderful to see the
Victor Mine recognized by
receiving such a prestigious
award.”
This is the latest in a
series of awards garnered by
the De Beers Canada Victor
Mine. The Victor Mine also
received the Timmins
Chamber of Commerce
NOVA Awards for Business
of the Year (2009),
Marketing and Innovation
(2009) and the inaugural
President's Award (2010). In
2009, the Victor Mine was
named “Mine of the Year” by
the international trade publication Mining Magazine.
The 28th Ontario Business
Achievement Awards were held on
Monday, Sept. 20, at the Metro
Toronto Convention Centre. The
OBAAs are held each year by the
Ontario Chamber of Commerce to
celebrate business excellence in
Ontario.
From left to right: Chamber President
Gary Marriott, Mine General Manager
Rory Greyvensteyn, Mayor Tom Laughren
and Dave McGirr of the Timmins
Economic Development Corporation all
attended the OBAA awards in Toronto,
which saw De Beers Victor Mine win a
prestigious award from the Ontario
Chamber of Commerce.
Mine General Manager Rory Greyvensteyn (right) accepts the
Partnership Appreciation Award on behalf of the De Beers
Canada Victor Mine from outgoing Chamber President Fred
Gibbons (left) at the Chamber 61st Annual General Meeting &
Presidents’ Dinner. The De Beers Canada Victor Mine has been
the title sponsor of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce for the
past four years and will continue in this role for the 2010-2011
chamber year.
2010 Membership Survey Results
In light of 2010 being a municipal election year, the
Timmins Chamber of Commerce asked members, as
part of our annual survey, what they thought our city
and its municipal leaders should work towards.
More than 100 members participated in the
August/September survey (representing 13% of the
membership).
Which issue is most important to you and your business?
Jobs & Prosperity
40.0%
City Operational Spending
12.0%
City Capital Spending
28.4%
Minor Road Repair
9.0%
Other (please specify)
9.0%
Airport
2.0%
14.7%
Other (please specify)
Other (please specify)
Conducting core
services review
Arenas & Recreational Programming
11.6%
Deciding whether to develop
a new multiplex arena
10.5%
Decide after core services and efficiency review completed
Municipal Transit
Cut Wages
7.3%
6.3%
5.2%
4.2%
Scaling back on capital
expenditure planning
1.0%
Pursuing re-uploading of the highway
maintenance that were downloaded ...
1.0%
9.5%
6.3%
Snow Removal
22.9%
Reducing the number of buildings owned
and maintained by the municipal ...
11.6%
Garbage Pick Up
25.0%
Creating a long term vision for the City
31.6%
Municipal Transit
27.1%
Identifying & implementing efficiencies
to reduce municipal costs
Tourism & Tourism Promotion
11.0%
Residential Tax Rate
Investing more in business attraction
and economic development
If the City were faced with making cuts to the services it offers,
which services or service areas should be cut?
17.0%
Business
(Commercial/Industrial) Tax Rate
In your opinion, what should the TOP priority of the new city council be?
(Select only one)
5.3%
0
0
10
20
30
40
5
10
15
20
25
30
50
How important is it to you that the municipality be debt-free?
Moderately Important it would be nice
but most cities have
debt so ...
69.2%
Are you in favour of the City acquiring increased debt levels in order to replace
or maintain aging infrastructure?
Are you in favour of the City acquiring increased debt levels in order to develop
new infrastructure?
Very important - our city
should be debt-free
Yes
Not important - it does
not matter to me
50.0%
No
22.0%
Yes
8.8%
No
36.2%
0
Unsure
10
20
40
60
36.2%
80
Unsure
13.8%
0
52.1%
20
30
40
50
11.7%
0
10
20
30
40
50
inside business
NOVEMBER 2010 - 3
Website to help businesses with new customer service standard
On Sept. 22, The Ontario Chamber of
Commerce (OCC) launched the
Accessibility Works website and online
compliance toolkit to help Ontario businesses become aware of and comply with
Ontario’s new customer service standard.
The website, www.accessibilityworks.ca,
is comprised of two sections — an
overview of the customer service standard and its requirements and a self
assessment tool to analyze the users’
knowledge of the standard upon completion of the training module.
“We’re pleased to be working with the
Accessibility Directorate of Ontario and
local Chambers of Commerce to help
businesses in Ontario become aware of
and meet the requirements of the standard,” says Len Crispino, President and
CEO of the Ontario Chamber of
Commerce.
“The resources that have been developed will help businesses break down
barriers to better serve people with all
types of disabilities.”
Accessibility Works is a partnership
between the OCC and the Accessibility
Directorate of Ontario to help businesses
comply with the Accessibility Standards
for Customer Service (customer service
standard). The customer service standard
is one of five that will form part of the
Accessibility for Ontarians with
Disabilities Act (AODA).
Through an online training module
and facilitated workshops throughout the
province, Accessibility Works makes it
easier for business owners, their staff, volunteers and contractors to meet the
training and other requirements under
the new standard.
“Our goal is to make Ontario a
province that is accessible to everyone
who lives and visits here by 2025,” said
Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of
Community and Social Services and
Minister Responsible for Accessibility.
“The only way we’re going to reach that
New pres sworn in at AGM
Mayor Tom Laughren (right) swears in Gary Marriott as 2010-2011 Chamber
President at the Chamber’s 61st Annual General Meeting & Presidents’ Dinner.
of five that will form part of the AODA.
➤ These accessibility standards are the
rules that businesses and organizations in
Ontario must follow to identify, prevent
and remove barriers for people with disabilities.
➤ Ontario is developing accessibility
standards in areas such as:
• customer service;
• transportation;
• information and communications;
• employment;
• built environment.
goal is by working closely with Ontario
businesses to support them through this
transformation. That’s why we’re so
pleased to be teaming up with the
Ontario Chamber of Commerce to let
businesses across the province know
about the new Accessible Customer
Service Standard and what it will mean
for them.”
The OCC also hosted a Small Business
Week Accessibility Works workshop with
the Timmins Chamber of Commerce on
Thursday, Oct. 21. The workshop members to meet the requirements of the
standard with the help of facilitators to
disseminate the information.
DID YOU KNOW?
KEY FACTS
➤ Ontario passed the Accessibility for
Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) in
2005, becoming the first jurisdiction in
Canada to legally commit to breaking
down barriers by 2025.
➤ The customer service standard is one
➤ 1.85 million Ontarians have disabilities;
➤ Spending power of Canadians with
disabilities is approximately $25 billion;
➤ Embracing Accessibility in customer
service has proven to increase customer
loyalty.
For more information visit
www.accessibilityworks.ca.
Plans for the ‘Ring of Fire’
Chamber members learned about the “Ring
of Fire” and the opportunities it will present
locally at the Chamber’s 61st Annual General
Meeting & Presidents’ Dinner on Sept. 29. As
keynote speaker for the evening, COO Paul
Semple of Noront Resources was on hand to
answer questions and provide details on
Noront’s plans for its McFaulds Lake Project.
Located in the James Bay Lowlands, the
area known as the “Ring of Fire” has been
touted as the most significant discovery in
Ontario mining in years. According to
Semple, the area is not only rich in chromite,
but may contain considerable deposits of
nickel-copper and gold, as well. However,
despite the potential for multi-mineral mining, chromite remains one of Noront’s primary concerns.
A large-scale chromite deposit in Canada is
an unprecedented find. This sought-after
mineral is used to make ferrochrome, a valueadded product necessary for the manufacture
of stainless steel. Currently, there isn’t a single ferrochrome plant located in all of North
America, but Mayor Tom Laughren expressed
optimism later that evening that a ferrochrome plant can and should be built in
Timmins.
Semple told Chamber members that the
Blackbird chromite deposit at McFaulds Lake
may have a 20-25 year lifespan, but Noront is
still several years away from seeing production. The estimated start-up time for mining
the area’s nickel-copper reserves is not until
2016; it will take longer still before Noront
can begin mining chromite.
Getting the requisite infrastructure in place
to support a full-scale mining operation will
take time, especially given the area’s remote
location and difficult terrain. The wetlands
that cover the Ring of Fire render the area
largely unsuitable for surface facilities. For
Paul Semple, COO of Noront Resources, delivered
the keynote address at the Chamber’s 61st Annual
General Meeting & Presidents’ Dinner.
this reason, most of the mine’s facilities will
be built underground. According to Semple,
this arrangement has great potential to minimize environmental changes.
The challenging terrain may yield other
positive outcomes, as well. Semple says that
the McFaulds Lake Project will operate as a
fly-in camp, which will present opportunities
for Northern Ontario communities to supply
employees and services to the mine. He concluded his address by inviting potential partners to begin discussions with Noront.
“Let’s work this out now,” said Semple.
“Let’s get likeminded people together and
make it happen.”
4 - NOVEMBER 2010
inside business
Celebrating small businesses
Mayor Tom Laughren officially proclaimed October 17-23 Small Business
Week in Timmins.
Small Business Week has been celebrated nationally since 1981 to recognize the contributions of the Canadian
entrepreneur and enable entrepreneurs
to share success stories, exchange ideas
and learn ways to improve and grow
their businesses.
The Timmins Chamber of Commerce
and partner organizations hosted a
series of events throughout the week to
celebrate small businesses and furnish
local entrepreneurs with tools and
information for their continued success.
In Timmins, small businesses are a
big contributor to the local economy.
In the Chamber, businesses with less
than 10 employees represent approximately 74% of the membership. These
businesses make substantial economic
contributions in the form of job creation, investment, trade and innovation. In fact, nationally, small businesses collectively employ 5 million people,
which is equal to 48% of the private
sector labour force. Approximately
130,000 new small businesses are started each year.
“Small businesses are an important
part of every community,” says 2010-11
Chamber President Gary Marriott, “and
Small Business Week gives us the
opportunity to recognize the contributions of local entrepreneurs and sup-
port local business through education
and networking events to make their
business even better.”
Each year the Timmins Chamber of
Commerce hosts Small Business Week
in conjunction with the Business
Development Bank of Canada (BDC).
The following community partners also
supported Small Business Week 2010:
the Business Enterprise Centre, the City
of Timmins, De Beers Canada Victor
Mine, Ontario Power Generation,
Porcupine Gold Mines — Goldcorp
Canada Ltd., and The Venture
Centre/Le Centre de développement.
The launch event for Small Business
Week 2010 took place on Monday, Oct.
18, with Mayor Tom Laughren’s Annual
State of the City. The text of Mayor
Laughren’s speech can be found at
www.timminschamber.on.ca. Returning
as an annual event, the Chamber hosted its second annual Home Based
Business Trade Show on Tuesday, Oct.
19. The event included a learning expo
for owners of home based businesses
and was followed by a public trade
show in the McIntyre Auditorium.
Chamber President Gary Marriott (left) and BDC Account Manager Rick Briand (right) join Mayor
Tom Laughren as he signs the proclamation declaring October 17-23 Small Business Week in the
City of Timmins.
inside business
NOVEMBER 2010 - 5
Great credit!
GOOD
NEWS
Credit Counselling Services of
Cochrane District has a significant
achievement to report. The not-forprofit charitable organization has
successfully completed the accreditation review process with the Ontario
Association of Credit Counselling
Services. The Agency must complete
the accreditation process every five
years in order to remain in good
standing with the OACCS.
Congratulations to Executive
Director Mitch Gauthier, who works
tirelessly to ensure the stringent
standards of OACCS are continually
being met.
Commitment to Timmins
for sustained economic growth
On Thursday, Sept. 9, BESTECH and
BPR-Bechtel, two of Canada’s leading
engineering firms, announced a new
business relationship that will benefit
their clients, the City of Timmins and
ensure long-term economic growth.
Jo-Anne Boucher, Manager of
Engineering, Automation and Power
Systems for BESTECH announced that
BPR-Bechtel and BESTECH have entered
into a business agreement where BPRBechtel will maintain its presence in
Northern Ontario through BESTECH,
ensuring their clients will benefit from
BESTECH’s strong local expertise, innovation and BPR-Bechtel’s international
engineering skill set. BPR-Bechtel will
provide resources and support to
BESTECH for large-scale engineering projects and any specific technical requests
that may come from clients through
BESTECH.
BESTECH has established a new local
office in the space previously occupied
by BPR-Bechtel, at 690 Riverpark Road, in
order to service existing BPR-Bechtel
commitments in Timmins and continue
to grow its client base. This office space is
now the home of 10 technical resources
specialized in servicing the industries of
Northern Ontario.
BESTECH is one of Canada’s leading
firms in engineering, automation, software development and environmental
monitoring. The company has been serving businesses in Timmins for the past
twelve years and opened a Timmins’
office in 2009. Presently local clients
include Xstrata, Goldcorp, Dumas
Contracting, Northern College and many
others. BPR-Bechtel is one of the largest
engineering firms in North America providing services to both the mining and
oil and gas sectors.
“This is an exciting opportunity for
BESTECH and our clients,” said Boucher,
“We are planning for 100% growth in
our company over the next five years
which will allow us to service our clients
with turn-key solutions on large scale,
multi-disciplinary projects — we now
become the main single-source solutions
provider for many industries. Our
expanded team of professionals in
Timmins is focused on building trust
through the successful application of
engineering solutions relating to
increased client productivity, profitability
and worker safety. A complete suite of
mining industry products and services
are now available to our clients through
the BESTECH-BPR Bechtel partnership.”
BESTECH’s executives Marc Boudreau
and Denis Pitre founded the company in
1995. The company has strategically built
upon its strengths in automation, engineering and software development to
Pictured (L-R) are: Tucker Nadon, Ted Broome (The Co-operators Group Specialist), Councillor
Jack Slattery, Carter Nadon, Darren Nadon (The Co-operators Agent), Cody Nadon, Presley
Nadon and Jannah Nadon.
A grand re-opening
Jo-Anne Boucher (BESTECH, Engineering,
Automation and Power Systems Manager),
Mayor Tom Laughren (Timmins) and Jacques
Whittom (BPR-Bechtel Business Development
Manager) cut the ribbon at the official partnership announcement in Timmins.
now have locations in Toronto, Timmins
and two offices in Sudbury. The past economic challenges have not hindered the
company’s growth. Boudreau and Pitre’s
goals in 2009 were to keep the team
together, diversify to create new business
and come out of the recession even
stronger than before. Their plan was a
success and presently BESTECH has a
large base of international clientele and
an expanded North American market
serving clients in such diverse industries
as mining, forestry, pulp and paper, oil
and gas, insurance and municipalities.
BESTECH’s NRG1-ECO — the most recent
innovative mine-wide energy management and ventilation-on-demand solution is receiving world-wide attention for
its potential to improve mine air quality,
increase mining time at the face and its
ability to save mining companies millions
with respect to mine energy costs.
According to Jacques Whittom, BPRBechtel’s Business Development Manager,
“BPR-Bechtel has been and is still
involved and committed to the City of
Timmins. Our new business arrangement
with BESTECH will be beneficial to our
clientele and the region.”
Whittom commented that BPR-Bechtel
will provide resources and support to
BESTECH for large-scale engineering projects and any specific technical request
that may come from clients through
BESTECH. “We are pleased that our company and BESTECH have similar core values around providing high-level customer service and a strong commitment
to integrity and process. We are confident that BESTECH will offer its customers excellent service, innovative solutions and the best-in-class engineering
for projects of any size,” says Whittom.
On Wednesday, Sept. 29, The CoOperators (Agency of Darren Nadon) celebrated the grand re-opening of its new
location in The Park Road Square.
As an Independent Agency for The Cooperators, the largest Canadian-owned,
multi-product insurer, The Agency of
Darren Nadon offers insurance and
v
financial services. Darren provides quality insurance products at fair prices for
life, auto, home, farm and business, as
well as a wide range of wealth management products including segregated
funds.
After eight years at its previous
Algonquin Blvd. East location, the
agency of Darren Nadon relocated in
order to focus on become more active
with the business owners in the City of
Timmins.
Celebrating a
diamond anniversary
Congratulations to the Timmins Chamber
of Commerce on 60 years of oustanding
contributions to the success of its
members, and strengthening a community.
Thanks to committed partnerships like this,
we all benefit.
www.debeerscanada.com
inside business
6 - NOVEMBER 2010
Going that extra mile
Six years ago, Claudette
Chouinard decided to take a
chance — she went into business for herself and began selling animal feed to local farms.
It wasn’t long before
Claudette felt the need to
expand her services and offer
Timmins a different type of
retail experience. Despite the
challenges that inevitably
accompany business expansion,
the success of Little Bit Western
Feed and Supplies has proven
that change can be good.
When Claudette first opened
Little Bit Western under the
name CR Feed and Supplies, her
business consisted almost entirely of selling animal feed to local
farms. After two years in business, she saw a gap in the local
market. Equestrian enthusiasts
often had no choice but to shop
online for their equipment and
clothing.
“Timmins needed somewhere
to shop locally for western and
horse-riding apparel,” says
Claudette.
To remedy this problem
Claudette began stocking products for local riders. She also
began stocking western-themed
apparel and gift items — many
of which cannot be found anywhere else in town.
The expansion was well-
OF THE
ER
B
EM
M
ER
B
M
TE
EP
S
MONTH
Chamber President Gary Marriott (right) and Marketing Committee Chair
Art Pultz (centre) present Claudette Chouinard of Little Bit Western Feed
and Supplies as the September 2010 Member of the Month.
received, and two years later,
Claudette decided to change the
name of her business to better
reflect her product lines. Many
people did not realize that CR
Feed and Supplies sold clothing
and gift items in addition to animal feed, bird seed and bear
bait.
“In a business it’s all about the
name,” says Claudette.
She took a creative approach
to rebranding her business
and launched a contest
through local radio station
Q92. People submitted
names online and Claudette
awarded $500 to the entry
that inspired the name
“Little Bit Western Feed and
Supplies.”
In 2008, Claudette further expanded her services
to include pet grooming.
Claudette says she is
grateful for the many people that have supported
her and her business
through these transitions.
After all, interacting with
her customers is what she
enjoys most about running her business. As a
small business owner,
Claudette says that she is
able to build relationships with her clients and
provide service with a
personal touch. Claudette is
always willing to go the extra
mile for her customers and will
order specific products if she
does not stock them.
Claudette has worked hard to
overcome many challenges she
has faced as a small business
owner. Getting product to
Timmins can be difficult, but
Claudette is committed to meeting the needs of her customers
and does her best to procure the
products they require.
The store’s location has also
presented some challenges.
Little Bit Western is located outside of the main commercial districts and is therefore less visible
to potential customers.
Claudette has been working
hard to promote her business,
and with each passing year,
more consumers discover Little
Bit Western Feed and Supplies.
Undaunted by the challenges
she has faced, Claudette doesn’t
regret her decision to go into
business. In fact, she encourages
other people to consider doing
the same. Claudette says that the
element of risk involved deters
many people from becoming
small business owners, but it is a
risk well worth taking.
In the future, Claudette plans
to continue stocking items that
can be difficult to find in
Timmins. She believes it is
important for consumers to be
able to make their purchases
locally. She also has plans for
expansion, and will soon be
increasing her selection of animal feed.
So if you’re looking for something a little bit different, stop
by Little Bit Western Feed and
Supplies at 1533 Pine Street
South.
Keeping dreams alive
Entrepreneurs are a valuable
part of any community, but not
everyone with passion, determination and a great idea is able to
watch a dream of owning his or
her own business become a reality. Some first-time entrepreneurs can find it difficult to
obtain loans from financial
institutions, because they may
be considered to be ‘higher-risk’
borrowers.
For the past 16 years, The
Venture Centre/Le Centre
développement has been providing loans to higher risk borrowers and helping to keep their
dreams alive.
While The Venture Centre has
expanded its range of services
through the years, providing
business loans to higher risk
borrowers remains a fundamental aspect of the organization —
a function that Executive
Director Ellen Sinclair believes
to be very important.
“We need to encourage the
commercial sector,” says Ellen.
The Venture Centre has made
its mark in Timmins and other
Northern Ontario communities
within its service area. Since its
inception the centre has positively impacted more than 900
jobs by helping businesses maintain and/or increase their number of employees. The Venture
Centre has loaned more than
$10-million to entrepreneurs,
leveraging $19-million for a
total of $30-million injected
into Northern Ontario communities thus far.
Board member Noella McNair
attributes The Venture Centre’s
many successes to the talents of
the dedicated staff of five who
work tirelessly to improve the
economic climate in Timmins
and across the region.
“I’ve been impressed by a staff
that has shown interest in the
community and in professional
development opportunities that
allow them to serve their clients
better,” says Noella. “That’s been
an asset.”
Indeed, hard work has
brought The Venture Centre a
long way. When the centre first
opened its doors in 1994, it
could issue loans of up to
$75,000. Today, the centre is
able to provide loans of up to
$250,000. The Venture Centre is
able to allocate more funding to
community projects, as well.
In addition to increasing the
level of funding available, the
staff has also improved and
diversified their services. The
Venture Centre has worked at
expanding its Francophone services over the years and is now
equipped to serve the needs of
the region. The centre is also
inspiring the next generation of
entrepreneurs through businessoriented youth summer
camps.
In the years to come, The
Venture Centre will continue
to give higher risk businesses
the chance to succeed. Ellen
says that the centre is exploring new avenues for community economic development
in areas such as innovation,
alternative energies, and alternative forest products. The
Venture Centre will also be
exploring and promoting economic development opportunities within the retirement
community.
Ellen believes that forming
partnerships within the community is key part of bringing
these projects to fruition and
encouraging economic prosperity. Working with community
partners has played an integral
role in The Venture Centre’s
work thus far and will continue
to do so in the future.
“When we work together,”
says Ellen, “we create some synergies and successes in the business community.”
For more information on The
Venture Centre, visit
www.venturecentre.on.ca or call
360-5800.
OCTOBER
MEMBER OF THE MONTH
Chamber President Gary Marriott (front, left) and Chamber Marketing
Committee Chair Art Pultz (back, left) present the Member of the Month
banner to Executive Director Ellen Sinclair (front, right) and Board Member
Noella McNair of The Venture Centre/Le Centre de développement.
inside business
NOVEMBER 2010 - 7
Voters meet the candidates
Members of the public had
two opportunities to meet the
candidates in the 2010 municipal elections. Turnout for both
sessions was strong and many
participants took the opportunity to pose their questions to
the prospective councilors and
mayoral candidates.
As a nonpartisan business
advocacy organization, the
Chamber is continually
engaged in the political
process. Municipal, provincial
and federal debates are held
each election as a service to the
public on behalf of the business community. The sessions
are intended to help the public
make informed decisions on
election day and to identify
where the candidates stand
on business issues. Earlier
this year, the Chamber
offered an information session for prospective firsttime candidates.
“These debates allow the
voting public to get
answers to questions that
matter to them,” says
Chamber President Gary
Marriott.
“The Chamber is more
than happy to provide this
service to the public and
encourage more people to
become engaged in the
political process.”
The sessions took place on
Tuesday, Oct. 5, at
O’Gorman High School with
candidates from Wards 1 and 5
and on Tuesday, Oct. 12, at
Northern College’s Trades &
Technology Centre with candidates from Wards 2, 3 and 4.
Mayoral candidates participated in both events. The sessions
were in Timmins and South
Porcupine, respectively, to
accommodate the number of
candidates on the municipal
election ballot and to provide
access to residents throughout
the community.
To view the sessions online,
visit
www.timminschamber.on.ca or
www.yourplacetowatch.com.
The Timmins Chamber of Commerce hosted a second Meet the
Candidates session featuring candidates for wards 2,3 and 4, as well as
the mayoral candidates, on Tuesday Oct. 12, at Northern College.
The Timmins Chamber of Commerce hosted a Meet the Candidates
session featuring candidates for wards 1 and 5, as well as the mayoral
candidates, on Tuesday, Oct. 5, at O’Gorman High School.
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Phone: 268-4474 • Fax: 264-0011
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tel: (705) 267-5547
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inside business
8 - NOVEMBER 2010
Chamber’s 2010-11
advocacy priorities
Municipal Vision
Timmins has been the City with the
Heart of Gold for the past 100 years. But
what is our collective vision of what kind
of City we will be in the years to come?
In order to be a thriving city in the
future, we must develop the vision and
lay the groundwork today. A Municipal
Vision for our city would include set targets, planned development and growth
strategies that can be implemented at the
municipal level. In short, a municipal
vision will lay the foundation for who we
want to be as a city — and what we can
all do to help ourselves get there.
➤ Specific outcomes we are pursuing:
Commitment from Mayor, Council
and administration to develop a municipal growth and development plan within
an agreed-upon time frame.
Encourage new city council to conduct
a core-services review.
Advocate that the city evaluate assets
and plan accordingly for their sustainable
management.
Ring of Fire Development
The development of the Ring of Fire by
mining companies will be an integral
driver of growth in Northern Ontario. As
this metal-rich site develops, it will be
necessary for Timmins businesses to
leverage opportunities, specifically in the
mining supply and services sector.
However, development of the area will
undoubtedly be influenced by government policy related to mining development and the rights of First Nations. New
Mining Act Regulations, the Proposed
Growth Plan for Northern Ontario and
the Far North Act have the potential to
delay or derail development in the region
if they are not carried out effectively with
special attention given to business development and socio-economic considerations.
➤ Specific outcomes we are pursuing:
Develop position paper on the Far
North Act and advocate that position to
the provincial government.
Continue to advocate the position that
Timmins must not become a “have-not”
community as a result of the Proposed
Growth Plan for Northern Ontario.
Continue to advocate that the federal
and provincial governments unite their
environmental assessment processes so
that businesses are not faced with complex, delay-filled assessments when completing a resource-based project.
Advocate that Ontario Northland be
used as an economic development tool.
Forest Policy Issues
There are many provincial government
policies currently being developed or
implemented that have left the forestry
industry in a state of flux. The
Endangered Species Act, Forest Tenure
Review and Far North Act have serious
implications for how, how much, when
and for how long forestry companies
may access the wood that is so vital to
their operations. They also create serious
questions about the existing wood-harvesting rights of forestry companies.
➤ Specific outcomes we are pursuing:
Continue to advocate that the Ministry
of Northern Development, Mines and
Forestry put a moratorium on the Tenure
Reform process while it completes its
staged proposal process for the unused
wood in Ontario.
Develop position paper on Endangered
Species Act and advocate that position to
the provincial government.
Get clarification from the provincial
government regarding how these various
pieces of legislation will work with each
other and not have the unintended effect
of impeding development in Northern
Ontario.
Advocate the provincial government
not pass legislation and develop policies
affecting Northern Ontario resource
development without conducting thorough socio-economic impact assessments.
We profoundly believe that the road to
social stability will only be built when the
mindset of the government and citizens is
centred on jobs and the environment;
not jobs versus the environment.
Centre of Excellence
A Centre of Excellence is a place that
brings together academia, business,
industry and communities to drive marketable and exportable research, leading
to economic growth and development.
Centres of Excellence are often co-located
with colleges and universities and often
garner the financial support of provincial
and federal governments. The goal of a
Centre of Excellence: to be best-in-class
for conducting research and developing
new strategies and technologies that can
be brought to market. We feel Timmins’
business community, academia and residents would benefit immensely by the
development of a Centre of Excellence,
and that the chamber’s role is to serve as
a catalyst for this development.
➤ Specific outcomes we are pursuing:
Organize a meeting between Collège
Boréal, Northern College, Université de
Hearst, City of Timmins, Timmins
Economic Development Corporation and
other community organizations to
explore the development of a Centre of
Excellence.
Based on stakeholder input, develop a
position/concept paper on the type of
Centre of Excellence that would best
serve Timmins and vice versa.
Population Growth
One of the biggest challenges facing
Timmins is a low rate of population
growth.
➤ Specific outcomes we are pursuing:
Identify why contract workers do not
relocate to Timmins, but rather choose to
work Monday-Friday in temporary
accommodations and return to their base
communities on weekends.
Identify which community entity is
best positioned to develop an internal
and external marketing campaign promoting the benefits of Timmins-living,
the bilingual composition of our community and the job opportunities for skilled
professionals — and identify where the
chamber’s role lies within this campaign.
Other Issues:
Energy Rates — Continue to advocate
to the province that Ontario implement
energy rates competitive with those of its
neighboring and competing provinces,
Manitoba and Quebec.
What role does the chamber assume
should tourism management die at the
municipal level?
Continue to promote the Chamber’s 10
Point Plans for municipal infrastructure
and airport developments.
Provide a “Report Card” to local government, indicating how the business
community feels the municipality, as a
corporation, is performing with respect
to business interests.
Get involved in your chamber by joining an advocacy task force. Give your time to developing solutions.
Provide your knowledge & expertise to advance important business issues
Help guide chamber advocacy efforts by providing input to the board of directors
Contribute to the development of Chamber policy
Increase your awareness of community projects, new and proposed legislation and how it impacts your business
Have a say in how YOUR Chamber works!
To join a task force, email hchertow@timminschamber.on.ca
.
Municipal Vision Task Force Chair: Phil Barton
First meeting- Monday, October 25th at noon in the Chamber Boardroom
;
Ring of Fire Chair: Gary Marriott
First meeting- Monday, November 8th at noon in the Chamber Boardroom
Far North Act Task Force- Chair: Peter Murray
Next meeting- Tuesday, November 16th at noon in the Chamber Boardroom
Forestry Policy Task Force Co-chairs: Mike O Blenis/ Alan Thorne
First meeting- Thursday, October 28th at noon in the Chamber Boardroom
Centre of Excellence Task Force Chair: Fred Gibbons
First meeting- Wednesday, November 10th at 1:15 p.m. at Northern College Room H103
Population Growth Task Force Chair: Claude Gagnon
First meeting- Monday, November 1st at noon in the Chamber Boardroom
What you always wanted to know about
financial planning.
Join us as we discuss financial planning strategies
Our expert:
Tina Petroni, Branch Manager
Chartered Accountant-Certified Financial Planner
of
To register, contact:
Steven Vachon
Membership Development & Events Specialist
info@timminschamber.on.ca
360-1900
360-1193 (Fax)
www.timminschamber.on.ca
inside business
NOVEMBER 2010 - 9
New member profiles
CAA North & East Ontario
AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES
Enjoy CAA peace of mind with an
upfront new membership discount in
any eligible vehicle/motorcycle across
North America as owner, driver or passenger. Also take advantage of CAA Travel
and Home and Auto Insurance.
For more information, call 1-800-2678713 or visit www.caaneo.ca.
CHIM 102.3 FM Radio Network
MEDIA
The first CHIM station was started in
Timmins and was Canada’s first noncommercial Christian radio station!
Today CHIM has expanded into a network of stations across Canada. Our
vision is to see a Christian radio station
in every city or town across Canada. We
will go anywhere where there is enough
interest.
For more information, call 264-2150 or
visit www.chimfm.com.
Emond Harnden LLP
LEGAL SERVICES
At Emond Harnden, we are dedicated
to improving the quality of our clients’
workplaces by taking the time to learn
about our clients and understand their
objectives. Our firm has been profiled as
one of the top management-side labour
and employment law firms in Canada,
with 25 lawyers focused exclusively on
the specialized needs of organizations
across the country. Since our inception in
1987, we have offered all of our specialized services in both official languages.
We have extensive experience providing advice in the following areas: labour
arbitration, wrongful dismissal, employment standards, employment contracts,
collective bargaining, labour board proceedings, human rights, occupational
health and safety, workplace safety and
insurance, privacy compliance, pay and
employment equity, pension and benefit
plan administration, governance, alternative dispute resolution, and others.
Emond Harnden also offers comprehensive support services which includes
seminars and workshops tailored specifically for all levels within an organization
for both unionized and non-unionized
environments.
Chez Emond Harnden, nous sommes
engagés d’améliorer le milieu de travail
de nos clients avec une attention centrée
sur leurs objectifs uniques. Établi depuis
1987, le cabinet Emond Harnden est
maintenant l’étude juridique la plus
importante de l’est de l’Ontario avec 25
avocats qui se consacrent exclusivement
à aider les employeurs dans tous les
domaines des relations de travail et du
droit de l’emploi.
Notre cabinet offre à ses clients des
années d’expérience dans les domaines
suivants : arbitrage, congédiement sans
motif valable, normes d’emploi, contrats
de travail, négociations collectives,
instances devant les commissions de relations de travail, droits de la personne,
santé et sécurité au travail, accidents de
travail, conformité aux règles sur la protection de la vie privée, équité en matière
d’emploi et équité salariale, la gouvernance et règlement extrajudiciaire des
différends ainsi que d’autres.
Nos avocats offrent également des
séances de formation à l’intention de
tous les niveaux de gestions aux
employeurs syndiqués et non-syndiqués.
For more information, visit
www.emondharnden.com or call
613-563-7660.
Essential Helicopters
AIRLINES
Welcome to Essential Helicopters, an
approved Transport Canada and Private
Career College Flight Training School and
Charter company located in North Bay,
Ontario. Essential Helicopters offers a
variety of helicopter services that includes
flight training, charter, special events and
maintenance. Essential Helicopters is partnered with Canadore College to provide a
College Pilot Preparedness Certificate program in Commercial Helicopter Pilot
Training. If the college format does not
suit your needs we are also pleased to
offer the Transport Canada pilot training
programs. From Private Helicopter
Licence, to Commercial Helicopter
Licence, Recurrent Training, Type Ratings,
Night Ratings and Fixed to Rotor Wing
Conversion Licences, Essential
Helicopters’ trained professional
Instructors will have your best interest at
heart.
For more information, call
705-360-5147 or visit
www.essentialhelicopters.com.
Hygiene By Claire Quesnel
DENTAL SERVICES
Hygiene by Claire Quesnel is a new
business that opened its doors on Oct. 6,
2010. The business is owned and operat-
Making Water Work!
High Pressure Cleaning • Drainage • Infrastructure • Industrial
Vacuuming • Pipe Camera Video Inspection • Sandblasting •
Painting • Hydro-Excavating • Waste Transfer • Dust Suppression
• Steaming • Emergency Spill Response • Septic Hauling
Residential • Commercial • Industrial • Municipal
ed by Claire Quesnel. Claire has more
than 22 years of experience in dental
hygiene. She worked for 21 years in Dr.
Jim Davis’ practice until his office closed
in 2009. Her passion for her work and a
lack of employment opportunities in
dental offices led Claire to her decision to
work independently as a contractor in
another hygienist’s office. Eleven months
later she chose to venture off and practice her profession in her own establishment. Hygiene by Claire Quesnel offers
many dental services including cleanings,
pit and fissure sealants, athletic mouth
guards, desensitizing, teeth whitening
and oral hygiene education. Her main
focus is prevention, not only for oral
health but for overall good health.
Her office is in a prime location, is
accessible, and has plenty of parking.
Appointments are scheduled to accommodate each individual’s needs. Services
are bilingual and insurance benefits are
accepted. Hygiene by Claire Quesnel ...
Where a healthy smile is always in style!
Claire welcomes new and existing
clients to her new office at 11 Rea St. N.,
Suite 200 (upstairs from Benjamin Moore
Paints). For more information, call
267-2727 or e-mail claire@ifloss4u.com.
Lucid Networks Corporation
TELEPHONE SALES AND SERVICES
Lucid Networks is a high technology
networking company with a focus on
Voice Over IP telephony. Consider LN for
your network needs or if you are considering a new phone system. VOIP provides the newest technology in communications yet will save you money.
For more information, call 269-5555 or
visit www.lucidnet.ca.
The Party Place Timmins
RECREATION FACILITY
The Party Place Timmins is a new facility where we run kids’ themed birthday
parties, creature making workshops, and
art classes for both kids and adults. The
facility also houses the working art studio
for famed special F/X artist Alisa Brooks.
A “super fun experience” for kids! A “hassle-free experience” for parents! We specialize in: kids’ birthday parties — all
ages; “Dig” parties in our giant indoor
sand box; “Photo Shoot” parties; tea parties; dance parties; paper and clothmache creature making workshops; art
classes for kids and adults; “Fake Cake”
wedding cake rentals; and custom art
work for private and commercial uses.
For more information, call 465-0479 or
visit www.thepartyplacetimmins.com.
Timmins Chiropractic Clinic
CHIROPRACTORS
Timmins Chiropractic Clinic (TCC) is a
modern health clinic devoted to providing high-quality, evidence based health
care to the city of Timmins and surrounding communities. Dr. Popovic and
Dr. Fraser are both recent graduates from
Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College.
TCC’s interests lie in sports injury prevention, treatment and rehabilitation,
chronic pain management, workplace
related injuries, motor vehicle accidents,
geriatric care, and prenatal chiropractic
care. TCC provides a comprehensive
rehabilitation facility to our patients.
Our clinic is certified in Active Release
Technique® and Graston Technique® to
effectively treat soft tissue injuries,
including strains/sprains and tendonopathies. Dr. Popovic has received
advanced certification in Contemporary
Medical Acupuncture and has completed
the requirements to become a Certified
Strength and Conditioning Specialist
(CSCS)®. Timmins Chiropractic Clinic
also offers registered massage therapy.
Timmins Chiropractic Clinic is committed to providing optimal chiropractic
care. Dr. Popovic and Dr. Fraser hold certifications that complement each other
to provide a well-rounded practice that
will meet the needs of Timmins and surrounding communities. We welcome you
to our clinic!
For more information, drop by 36 Pine
Street South.
The voice of business
since 1949
Questions about a particular program? Interested in having a presentation
about membership benefits for your staff?
Contact Steven Vachon,
Member Development and Events Specialist at 360-1900.
Managing Editor: Keitha Robson
Published by:
(705) 360-1900
E-mail: krobson@timminschamber.on.ca
Timmins Chamber of Commerce
(705) 235-9274
cell: (705) 360-0551
fax: (705) 235-8959
moe.highpressure@gmail.com
P.O. Box 6, Timmins ON P4N 7C5
24 Hallnor Road
Porcupine, ON P0N 1C0
(corner of Hallnor Rd & hwy. 101 East)
P.O. Box 985, Timmins, Ontario, P4N 7H6
(705) 360-1900
Fax (705) 360-1193
Editor: Heather Chertow
www.timminschamber.on.ca
Advertising Opportunities: Steven Vachon
(705) 360-1900
E-mail: hchertow@timminschamber.on.ca
(705) 360-1900
E-mail: info@timminschamber.on.ca
Inside Business is an information package provided to members of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce and businesses at large. The positions expressed in by-lined columns are the opinion of the
subject editor and do not reflect the position of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce unless specifically stated. The Timmins Chamber of Commerce assumes no responsibility for statements or
claims made by advertisers. “Inside Business” is published 6 times per year by the Timmins Chamber of Commerce. Issue dates are January, March, May, July, September and November.
Closing date is the second Friday of the previous month. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the publisher’s written permission.
10 - NOVEMBER 2010
inside business
What NOT to do in business
with honesty and integrity will have a
positive effect on both your employees
and your customers.
One in five new businesses fail in their
first year of business, and 50% fail by
their third. Passion, determination, and a
great idea are not always enough to help
a new business survive beyond those first
few critical years. How do you avoid
becoming one of the statistics? You learn
from the mistakes of others.
Bonnie Foster, chartered accountant
with Ross, Pope & Company, helped
Chamber members do just that at an Ask
the Expert session last June. Members
learned which mistakes are often made
by new business owners and how to
avoid committing these same errors with
their own businesses.
Mistake No. 4: Lack of controls.
Know the details of how your business
operates. Make every effort to detect and
prevent potential problems in your business. This will help you, as a business
owner, protect your investment.
Mistake No. 5: Not hiring experts.
Although it may be more cost-efficient,
hiring a friend or family member may
not always be the best decision for your
business in the long run. Financial, legal,
and advertising advice should come from
professionals.
Mistake No. 1: Going into business
without enough money.
A business is a big investment. Relying
heavily on financial institutions to fund
your business may cause problems down
the road. Without a solid financial base it
becomes very difficult to deal with the
unexpected expenses that will inevitably
arise. Foster encourages new business
owners to grow their “war chest” by
resisting the temptation to give themselves a raise or take draws.
Mistake No. 2: Underestimating the
importance of a budget and/or
business plan.
A business plan is critical for every successful business — it outlines where your
business is going and how it is going to
get there. The business plan provides a
means of measuring your success as a
business owner in addition to helping
you get back on track when things go off
course. Business owners should make a
habit of comparing their business plan to
their budget and watch for emerging
trends.
Mistake No. 3: Lack of honesty.
Under-the-table deals are easily traceable and can have serious consequences.
Tax audits are expensive and time-consuming, and the penalties you incur may
be substantial. Running your business
Mistake No. 6: Choosing to work in
your business instead of
on your business.
Many business owners spend too much
time performing day-to-day tasks that
could easily be completed by an employee. Business owners must be good delegators who stay focused on the big picture.
It can be very difficult for a business to
move forward if long-term goals are
being neglected.
Mistake No. 7: Not having
processes in place.
It is important to implement processes
that allow the business to function without directly relying on the owner. Having
the correct processes in place eliminates
the need for employees to question the
owner about every situation that arises
and will help the business run more efficiently.
Mistake No. 8: Not being realistic.
Many business owners set unattainable
sales goals and underestimate their
expenses. The solution to this problem is
simple: do your research. Don’t estimate
how much you think something will cost
— find a definitive answer. Get quotes for
the products and services you require.
This will give you a more accurate picture
of where your business stands financially.
Mistake No. 9: Treating business as
a hobby.
Make sure you are going into business
for the right reasons and don’t assume
that a hobby can be turned into a successful business. Your hobbies and interests may not be the best type of business
for you to run.
Mistake No. 10: Lack of contracts.
Contracts provide clarity and are of
paramount importance. Agreements
made without contracts are more difficult
to enforce if conflict should arise.
Contracts clearly define the terms of the
agreement to all parties involved, thereby
reducing the likelihood of disputes.
320 Second Avenue
Timmins, ON
P4N 1A8
(705) 360-2623
extension 8537
Paid for by the Government of Ontario and your local Library
inside business
NOVEMBER 2010 - 11
Chamber offers new way
for your business to connect
The Timmins Chamber of Commerce hosted its first ever “Meet the
Purchasers” event on Sept. 15. The unique business-to-business event
helped to connect local businesses with purchasing agents from large
companies and government agencies in order to grow their businesses
by developing new leads and contacts — right in their own backyard.
The format of the event, which was attended by approximately 75
chamber members, allowed participating purchasers to provide an
overview of their respective organizations, which goods and services
are purchased locally, and what requirements a prospective vendor
must meet in order to sell the organization their goods.
Participating purchasers included:
➤ Goldcorp;
➤ Northeastern Catholic District School Board;
➤ De Beers Victor Mine;
➤ Leo Alarie & Sons Construction;
➤ the Corporation of the City of Timmins;
➤ Dumas Contracting Ltd.;
➤ Xstrata Copper.
Following the presentations, attendees had the opportunity to meet
one-one-one with the purchasers of their choice at a booth hosted by
each purchaser. The unique format for the event permitted members
to directly pursue business-to-business relationships by building
upon their chamber network.
“People often overlook the buying power that larger companies
and organizations have in our area. This event is an excellent venue
for local businesses to connect with these local purchasers and
expand their markets, without having to travel long distances or
spend preparation time creating leads,” says incoming 2010-2011
Chamber President Gary Marriott.
Due to the success of the event, the chamber is looking to host
another edition of the event, with purchasers representing different
sectors, in the spring.
Bill McMillan of GoldCorp chats with Jack Boileau of Comtec Computers at the Meet the Purchasers event hosted
by the Timmins Chamber of Commerce. Approximately 75 members participated in the event, which allowed businesses to meet one on one with the purchasing agents of large businesses.
Timmins Chamber of Commerce
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12 - NOVEMBER 2010
inside business
An inside look at businesses
and networking opportunities
Get to know your fellow Chamber members at our
Business After 5 networking events
September 15: Q92/EZ Rock
September 29: The Co-Operators
October 6: Porcupine United Way
October 18: Spa Grande Nature
November 17: Thunder Airlines
January 19: Timmins Family Health Team
February 2: On-Line Support (OLS)
February 16: cor consulting
March 23: Northern College
April 20: dB Hearing Clinic
May 18: Timmins Family YMCA
June 9: Georgian Residence
June 15: Member Appreciation BBQ @ the Chamber
a great way to build your business network while showcasing your
location, products and services in a friendly and casual environment. To find out
about available dates, contact the Chamber by phone at 360-1900, fax at 3601193 or e-mail at info@timminschamber.on.ca.
The Business After 5 schedule
for the 2010-11 Chamber year is
jam-packed. The schedule is
already full — with four events
taking place before Nov. 1.
BAF events provide an excellent opportunity for businesses
to introduce themselves to the
membership at large. For the
host, it’s a great way to build
your business network while
showcasing your location,
products and services in a
friendly and casual environment.
For the guests, it’s an
opportunity to network,
meet fellow members, enjoy
a casual reception and learn about a
member business.
A rockin’ anniversary
Q92/EZ Rock’s 25th Anniversary in
Timmins was cause for celebration on
Sept. 15. In addition to an anniversary
cake and refreshments, participants were
treated to a tour of the radio station by
an on-air personality. Pictured is
Q92/EZ Rock’s General
Manager Art Pultz, with
Mayor Tom Laughren as they
cut the cake.
United in support
Porcupine United Way
approached their Business
After 5 a little differently: They
invited all of their member
organizations to participate in
a trade-show-like format at the
Shania Twain
Centre. This allowed
everyone in attendance to meet representatives from, and
learn about a number
of different non-profit
and charitable organizations in the City of
Timmins. Participating
member organizations
included: Ontario
March of Dimes; Seizure
and Brain Injury Center;
Joseph Fortin
Foundation; AntiHunger coalition
Timmins; CNIB; Credit
Counselling Service; St.
John Ambulance;
Timmins Family Counselling and partners Metis Nation of Ontario,
Community Kitchen Program “Come
and Get It” and NextGen Committee
Leadership Development. The Porcupine
United Way provides funding and other
support to programs operating within
local agencies.
Pictured is Art
Pultz, Director of
the Timmins
Chamber of
Commerce, Fern
Tremblay, Cabinet
Chair, Personal
Division and
Teena and Glenn
Simpson, the Cochairs for the
2010 Campaign
Cabinet.