Here Are The Opportunities and Events for the Week of
June 14th - June 18th

Getting Your Banker to Say: YES

Could you use some tips on how to get that additional funding needed to grow your business? Have you had trouble getting a 'Yes' from your banker?

We've got the inside advantage for you. Join Chamber Director Corrine Thompson, Sales Manager for RBC's Small Business for the South Vancouver Island Region, as she walks you through the role your financial statements play in your business credit application.

Learn about

financial statement ratios
the impact your net worth has on your credit application
the benefits of maintaining your business plan
strategies for utilizing new technology

Get all the information you need on June 24th at the Chamber office from 11am - 1pm.

There are a few seats left so call the Chamber and we'll sign you up for $35+tax (this includes your lunch).

Click here for the Poster.

Thank-you to those who attended the last Seminar -
"Is Your Business Prepared for Disaster."

WestShore Magazine Business Feature - Is Your Business Eligible?

Are you a new business that has started up within the last six months?

Are you an existing business but have recently brought in a new product or service that has significantly changed the face of your business?

If so, you could be eligible to be featured in the September edition of the WestShore Magazine’s “WestShore Business” feature. Please email Ingrid Vaughan at ivaughan@westshore.bc.ca if you’d like to talk about having your business included in this section.
WestShoreMagazine3 3

Remember – your business itself must be new, or you must have developed a significantly new component to your business to be considered.

Emails must be received by Thursday, June 24th.

Congratulations to Craig Pratt and Team CIBC!

The Chamber’s own Craig Pratt, Treasurer and board member, and his team from CIBC took home a coveted prize from the WestShore Rotary’s Chili Cookoff at Veterans Memorial Park last Saturday!

Craig bravely (and perhaps brazenly) set up a tent outside the CIBC branch at WestShore Town Centre the day before, and cooked his chili in front of passers-by and bank clients. Two first-place prizes are awarded at the event. The People’s Choice award goes to the chili that gets the most votes from the people who attended and tasted. The Judge’s Choice goes to the chili that a panel of judges deems to be the best.

Craig’s team won the People’s Choice award – which means they got a lot of votes from adults and kids alike. This annual family event raised $4,500 this year for the Goldstream Food Bank. Congratulations to all who participated. It was a picture perfect day and from our office windows, which look out over Veterans Memorial Park, it looked like everyone was having a great time.

Craig has set the bar high – who will challenge him in next year’s cook-off? chili 2

EmployMe BC Offers Employment Assistance to Small Business

The WestShore Chamber is pleased to support EmployMeBC as a benefit to our members and businesses throughout the region.

EmployMeBC is a free program that assists small businesses with their staffing needs. EmployMeBC is funded through the Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Agreement and is being delivered by the BC Chamber of Commerce in partnership with WCG International HR Solutions.

The program has professional Career Developers who match qualified, pre-screened job seekers with openings in your company.

Click here for more information.

Quicklinks

Save the Date

Mark your calendars for the next Chamber Mixer event: July 14th, 2010

Join other Chamber members at Craftsman Collision from 5-7pm to realize the benefits of networking and utilizing your neighbourhood businesses.

More Details

Could YOU Be Our Next Speaker Series Presenter?

We are looking for members to schedule into our fall slate of presenters for the Chamber’s Business Speaker Series. This has been a very popular event over the last six months, and the positive feedback and encouragement we’ve had from attendees is spurring us on to do it again in the fall. If you have a specific expertise that has a broad business application and enjoy teaching others, we’d love to hear from you! While this is not a “commercial” for your business, it does set you forward as an expert in your field, and is a great opportunity to generate business beyond the seminar.

Contact Ingrid or Charlotte at the Chamber office if you’re interested.

Our Annual Go2Guide is in progress. If your business contact information has changed at all in the last year, be sure to contact us so we can update it prior to printing.
Contact the Chamber

Get Involved with Your Chamber!

We want to use your expertise on a Chamber Committee! Currently, we are looking for members for our Events Committee. If you've got great ideas or experience with planning events, we'd love to hear from you.

Please contact committee chair Keray Stott at 250-478-4410 or keray@adamekfinancial.ca

2830 Aldwynd Road    P: 250.478.1130
Victoria, BC V9B 3S7                                          F: 250.478.1584
www.westshore.bc.ca                             chamber@westshore.bc.ca