2018 has been a milestone year for the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce! In addition to some celebrations to mark the anniversary, the Chamber, as always, has endeavoured to advocate for the business community and to provide educational and networking opportunities for its members. Some highlights include:
Advocacy – City
- Meeting with City Council to discuss the City’s budget
- Letter expressing concern about the placement of Needle Drop Boxes and their impact on businesses
- Letter requesting a business’s expansion plans be allowed to proceed
- Letter requesting the Chamber be included in developing a “Master Plan” for the Gallagher Centre
Advocacy – Provincially
- Meeting with the Ministers of Rural & Remote Health and Government Affairs to discuss the effects of cuts to Grants-in-Lieu to the city budget and ultimately the business community
- Hosting the Sask Chamber’s AGM and CCES Spring Conference
Advocacy – Federally
- Discussing the Canadian Chamber’s document “10 Ways to Build a Canada that Wins 2018” with MP Cathay Wagantall and sharing with her those points most relevant to Yorkton and area
- Joining the Coalition to Keep Trade Free
- Letter sent requesting tax changes not harm small businesses
- Letter of support for the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion
Education for Members
- Hosting the Sask NDP Leadership Debate
- Hosting kijiji.ca founder Janet Bannister as the Guest Speaker at the Chamber’s 20th Business Dinner
- Hosting a Lunch with lawyer Mark Persick presenting information to employers about the upcoming legalization of cannabis
- Hosting a full day seminar about the Rights & Responsibilities of Employers and Employees regarding cannabis in the work place
- Hosting the Minister of Finance at a Lunch to share details of the Provincial Budget
- Hosting a Lunch for the CEO of the Sask Trade & Export Partnership to share the province’s good news export story
- Hosting a Lunch for our new Premier for him to meet the business community and to share his views on a variety of subjects
Other highlights include:
- Receiving the Accreditation designation from the Chamber Accreditation Council of Canada for achieving a standard of excellence
- Hosting a Past President’s Reception in celebration of the Chamber’s 120th
- Hosting a Chamber Coffee House
- Hosting a New Member Lunch
- Hosting the 13th Celebrate Success Business Awards
- Presenting 2 scholarships to students enrolled in the Business program at the Parkland College
- Meeting with the YBID Board to discuss ways to collaborate
- Over the course of the summer, Staff visited over 60 member businesses who shared why they
the Chamber. The businesses were then featured on the Chamber’s facebook page - Affinity programs (those which are available only to Chamber members) such as the Chamber Group Insurance Plan and First Data Merchant Services continue to provide value to members
the Chamber. The businesses were then featured on the Chamber’s facebook pageThe mission of the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce is “to promote and advance the interests and growth of members and businesses in Yorkton and District”. The Yorkton Chamber is governed by a 16 member Board of Directors. The Board discusses issues and opportunities facing the business community and how best to work on these. Currently, over 460 members invest in their businesses by belonging to the Chamber.