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Tourism Sarnia-Lambton is partnering with Ontario South West, the regional tourism office, in providing a workshop event designed to help deliver customized experiences to our visitors.

The event will take place on Wednesday, May 8, 2019 from noon to 3 p.m. at Stonepicker Brewing Company, located at 7134 Forest Rd., Plympton-Wyoming. A complimentary lunch will be provided.

Presenters for this event are Joanne Wolnik, Southwest Ontario Tourism Corp.; Cindy Walker, Chocolatea; Laura Soetemans, Stonepicker Brewing Company; and Beverley Horodyski, Tourism Sarnia-Lambton.

The workshop is limited to 25 participants and while there is no cost to participate, pre-registration is required. CLICK HERE.

Questions? Please contact Beverley at Tourism Sarnia-Lambton at (519) 336-3232, ext. 102

If the idea of getting some of the latest business equipment available anywhere from a company that’s family owned and operated for nearly 60 years appeals to you, there’s a great option right here in Sarnia-Lambton.

Add in the fact that this particular business—MC Business Solutions—is a longstanding member of the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce and it just gets better.

The firm, with a local store in downtown Sarnia that opened in 2010, started in Kent County, where it was originally established as Maple City Typewriter by brothers Keith and Ed Koke, classically in a garage. They now employ over 60 staff.

Their story, which is featured on their website (www.mcbs.ca), includes an acknowledgement that in the beginning there was “a limited vision of the future but a burning desire to be the BEST technology and service provider” in their region.

Those early days had the brothers installing cash registers, mechanical adding machines, “wet copiers,” and, as the firm’s first name would indicate, typewriters (those of you who remember what a typewriter was can explain it to your children and grandchildren).

In 1975, the firm became a Canon dealership, with gradual adoption of technology that came along, including facsimile machines, and toner-based copiers.

Expansion into Windsor (2005) included the MC Business Solutions re-branding and another another five years later the opening of the Sarnia location.

Jeff Dam, Ed Koke’s son-in-law, is a co-owner of the business, while Jacqueline Smith (pictured) manages the Sarnia location.

Today, the depth of their product offerings include digital copier/printers, scanners, software solutions, wide format plotters, mailing systems, shredders, interactive white boards, furniture, and supplies.

Then and now, the three pillars of “Service Excellence, Honesty, and Transparency” are what drives MC Business Solutions, a proud member of the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce.

It may seem like a long way away, but anyone who has a busy calendar will agree—Friday, October 18 will come sooner than we think.

It’s the Chamber’s 2019 Outstanding Business Achievement Awards—sponsored by Libro Credit Union—and plans are shaping up for this event to be another amazing one.

“We’ve already had our first meeting to map out what is already a great event,” said Shirley. “But every year our goal remains: taking steps to make the coming event even better than the year before.”

Stay tuned for details on deadlines for nominations in the next few weeks and start thinking about who should be on your list of nominees for the 2019 Outstanding Business Achievement Awards!

“WIN this Space,” an initiative of the Sarnia Lambton Business Development Corporation that’s now in its third year, is an opportunity to kickstart entrepreneurship for Lambton County and applications are now open through next Thursday, March 21 at 5 p.m.

The winner of this year’s contest will be able to choose both a one-year lease storefront and a one-year membership to the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce.

If you have a unique business idea, are willing to put in some hard work to complete a detailed business plan, attend mandatory business training sessions to help sharpen your business acumen, and present your idea to a judging panel in a LIVE finale, this contest is for you,

Those who are interested should visit the unique website for the initiative—www.winlambton.com.

All the details on what to expect, including rules and FAQs, will help guide you through the process.

And remember the deadline: Thursday, March 21 at 5 p.m.

Maintaining a visible presence on the area’s political landscape is just part of what those connected with the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce enjoy as part of their membership.

That was the case with the inaugural meeting of Sarnia City Council this past Monday, which was attended by Chamber staff.

Pictured from left are Monica Shepley, manager of Advocacy and Policy Development; David Boushy, re-elected as City/County Councillor; Shirley de Silva, president and CEO; and Mayor Mike Bradley.

With online and telephone voting in the City of Sarnia now taking place, an event held last Wednesday (the day before voting began) was a timely opportunity for candidates to put their best foot forward.

Sponsored by the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce, with support from Lambton Mall, the event took place during an extended “dinner hour” in space adjacent to the food court.

“We have a tradition of helping to encourage active involvement in the political process,” said Shirley de Silva, president and CEO of the Chamber. “This event was one way we were able to extend our reach and encourage one-on-one interaction with the candidates.”

This year’s municipal election has fielded a near-record number of candidates. Voting in Sarnia began October 11 and wraps up on October 22.

It’s that time of year—preparing for whatever Mother Nature decides to throw at us. And for the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce, being prepared means reaching out to interested members for quotes on snowplowing and salting services for the parking lot at 556 N. Christina St., Sarnia.

Interested? Reach out to Shirley de Silva, president and CEO, with a quote by FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12 at NOON. Please clearly mark your email message as being related to snowplowing.

And good luck.

The City of Sarnia is conducting a master planning session for the Sarnia Chris Hadfield Airport. with an industry-specific meeting scheduled for 1 p.m. on Tuesday, October 2 at Sarnia City Hall.

At this session, attendees will offer ideas on how the airport can be used to support local industry and further economic growth and development in the region.

Industry participant feedback will be used in future development planning at the airport.

For further details, or if you wish to attend electronically, please contact the City at airportparticipation@sarnia.ca.

An online survey that will help the City plan future airport improvements can be found HERE.

When it comes to being competitive, experts around the world say one of the best strategies is to look beyond the border, which is where Global Affairs Canada comes in to play.

This Canadian Government department, through its Trade Commissioner service, is offering a “Step by Step Guide to Exporting,” a resource that would be especially useful for members of the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce looking for new markets beyond our community.

The Guide, which can be accessed HERE, is a good jumping off point for business owners/operators who may not be sure of what is even possible when it comes to international trade.

Here are just a few of the ways the Guide can help interested businesses:

—Be more competitive. Apply proven export strategies.

—Sell to more customers. Target global buyers online.

—Close more deals. Secure sources of export financing.

—Enter more markets. Leverage the benefits of free trade.

—Save time & avoid risks. Learn the legal aspects of trade.

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) is presenting, for the second year, its Small Business Health & Safety Leadership Award program.

WSIB officials say they know that many small business owners work hard to keep the people who work for them healthy and safe.

With a goal of shining a light on small business leaders who make their workplaces healthier and safer—and who can inspire their peers by example—the Small Business Health and Safety Leadership Awards recognize outstanding health and safety programs in small businesses with fewer than 50 employees.

You can nominate your own business or one in your community or association. The WSIB is inviting you to tell them about your health and safety practices, how you do inspections, deal with hazards and support employees to return to work.

The top three businesses will receive a cash prize – $5,000 (gold), $3,000 (silver), $2,000 (bronze) – and be recognized at the WSIB Annual General Meeting. The first place winner will also be featured in a promotional video.

Read the Small Business Health and Safety Leadership Award Guidelines to find out if you qualify and to learn about the nomination process.