Representatives from the City of Sarnia will be at the Chamber offices on November 14 at noon for a pre-budget presentation.
There will be an opportunity for members to ask questions at this session.
Interested? Please RSVP to Monica Shepley, manager of Advocacy and Policy Development.
For the third year in a row, Sarnia-Lambton has been named among the Intelligent Community Forum’s (ICF) Smart21 Communities.
The class of 2018 announcement was made last week by the ICF in New York City. Sarnia-Lambton’s candidacy was selected from a large pool of communities worldwide. Over 400 municipalities from around the world competed for the honour of being in the ICF’s Smart21 Communities. Candidates are evaluated on their community’s access to broadband, their knowledge workforce, innovation, digital equality, sustainability, and advocacy. Smart21 Communities are now invited to apply to be named among ICF’s Top7 intelligent communities, which will be announced early in 2018.
To learn more about what makes Sarnia-Lambton a “smart community”, visit IntelligentSL.ca.
The City of Sarnia’s Planning and Building Department is holding a public information meeting on Wednesday, November 8, covering a variety of topics.
Chamber members are invited to attend the event, which will take place in Council Chambers at City Hall.
Officials will be presenting information on the role and functions of the department, including updates on projects that are currently underway.
The topics on the agenda include:
—The City’s Official Plan
—Zoning By-Law Review
—Land Development Process
—Building Permits
—Grant/Loan Programs
—By-laws (Tree, Fence, and Sign)
The event will take place at Council Chambers, Sarnia City Hall (255 Christina St. N.) and include an Open House/Reception from 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., followed by a presentation from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information please contact Jordan Fohkens of the Planning and Building Department at (519) 332-0330 ext. 3290 or email planning@sarnia.ca.
‘My name is Dante and I’m passionate about our environment. In my role at Terrapure, our team brings different
perspectives and approaches to waste disposal and reduction, while maximizing oil and water recovery from sludge;
significantly reducing our customers’ costs and environmental footprints.
Safety is another passion of mine and I’m proud to say that to date, our facility has surpassed 3,819 consecutive days worked without a lost time injury. Of course, our performance is based on strong leadership which has created cultures of safety and environmental stewardship; supported by talented people working as a team.
Keeping a cleaner planet reflects on the contributions and commitments our people have towards the Sarnia-Lambton Community. I’m proud to say that maintaining a safer, cleaner environment is what our people do every day; for our customers and our operations.’
Dante Cateni
Terrapure Environment
Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce member
Winner of the 2017 Outstanding Business Achievement Award in Innovation
Would you like to Share your Story? Connect with Kim at kim@slchamber.ca for details.
RK Fischer & Associates
Karen Fischer is new to Sarnia and is looking forward to serving the business community! Check out her website: www.rkfischer.com
Waste Management of Canada Corp
Not only does WM keep our communities clean, they are also advocates for a number of socially responsible initiatives. Check out their website: https://www.wmcanada.com/ca/en
Limn Social
Helping non-profits and small businesses succeed through planning, training, and new marketing techniques.
Check out their website: http://limnsocial.ca/
From all of us at the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce and behalf of our members, Welcome to the Chamber community!
Applications are now being accepted from members interested in taking an active role on the Board of Directors of the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce.
Past appointees are also invited to seek reappointment by renewing their applications. Application forms and additional information regarding the Board can be obtained by clicking here or by contacting Shirley de Silva, President & CEO.
To assist the Nomination Committee, please provide (in addition to your application) a resume outlining your background and how your experience would benefit the Chamber. Special consideration may be given to those who are members of underrepresented groups.
Interested members are invited to submit an application with attached resume by mail to the Chamber’s office at 556 N Christina St, Sarnia, ON N7T 5W6 or by email to Ana Dailey.
THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION IS 4:00 p.m., FRI., NOV. 17, 2017.
Charles Fisher
Chair, Nominations Committee
Your directory is one of the many benefits of being a chamber member but what you may not realize is that you can enhance your directory that can help your business stand out from the others.
Your membership directory enhancement includes:
Click here to maximize your listing or email kim@slchamber.ca for more info!
The Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce, alongside the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) and management-consulting firm, MNP, have released a comprehensive handbook (Steering Through Change) to help Ontario businesses navigate the new costs and regulations associated with Bill 148, the Fair Workplaces Better Jobs Act. The handbook provides a summary of the incoming changes, outlines the potential risks to business, and identifies strategies to help mitigate the impact.
From substantial increases to the minimum wage, new scheduling provisions, reforms to the collective bargaining process and dozens of other changes, Bill 148 will present many challenges for employers.
The handbook includes important insights into the legislation and offers practical solutions and strategies to support businesses through the initial changes. As the implementation dates draw closer, employers will be able to turn to this handbook to understand the legislation and navigate change.
MNP and the OCC will be hosting a webinar on Thursday, November 2 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. to discuss the handbook and go into further detail about the full slate of changes Bill 148 will implement. Join the webinar to learn more, click here to register!
The handbook provides a better understanding of how to manage and plan for Bill 148, should the legislation pass. However, there is still an opportunity to provide feedback on Bill 148 before it comes to a final vote. To date, the bill has passed the second reading and has now been referred to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. Business owners are strongly encouraged to send requests to deputize in front of the committee and send written submissions to the Standing Committee including your thoughts and concerns regarding Bill 148.
You can e-mail your submission to the following address:
Eric Rennie, Clerk, Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, 416-325-3506
erennie@ola.org cc: comm-financeaffairs@ola.org
Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS), the oldest and largest health and safety association in Ontario, is suggesting several “low- or no-cost” best practices that a small business owner can use to keep new and young workers safe.
—Getting on top of hazards that new and young workers may face before they start working. Check the processes and equipment these workers will be using for potential hazards, update safe work procedures, and tap into the experience of existing employees. Experienced workers often know of additional hazards and may have solutions to help control workplace risks.
—During orientation training, spend more time on how to do tasks safely, and less time on administration. “We encourage people to cover health and safety topics first, when employees’ attention is focused and they are best able to absorb new information,” said Kirsi Henry, a consultant with WSPS.
—Ensure everyone understands their health and safety rights and responsibilities. They’re the foundation of Ontario’s Internal Responsibility System, in which everyone in the workplace has a role to play in creating a safe and healthy workplace. A good first stop is the mandatory training for workers and supervisors, which is available online HERE. And it’s free.
—Use your time with new and young workers to integrate safety into the conversation. Reinforcing the value of safety during walk-throughs, coaching and staff meetings is a valuable and efficient way to help workers keep safety top of mind.
—Be a health and safety role model. “If you believe in health and safety and demonstrate it in everything that you do, employees will notice,” said Henry of the WSPS. “It’s human nature to mimic and model the culture in the workplace.”
The WSPS has a new website (www.wsps.ca/smallbusiness) that provides roadmaps for health and safety that are based on company size.
Overwhelming opposition by both businesses and households to a proposed tree bylaw has resulted in Sarnia City Council directing staff to withdraw the plan, at least for the time being.
The Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce was one of the more visible in those who voiced concerns over the plan when we reached out to our members. We feel that City Council took our members’ concerns seriously and made the right decision.
Here are links to two separate letters sent to Sarnia City Council:
On July 27, 2017, a letter sent from Shirley de Silva, CEO, and Michael John Kooy, Chair.
On October 17, 2017, a letter with summary of consultations.
City Council, which met on Monday, October 23, 2017, took staff advice to drop the tree by-law plan, which would have required businesses and homeowners to seek a permit if they wished to remove a tree. In its place is a directive for a staff report on a proposed urban forestry management system.
The Chamber will continue, on behalf of our entire community, to make sure the interests of business are taken into consideration.
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