Your Weekly Tune Up
Local Lawyer Named 103rd National President of Kin Canada
Medicine Hat lawyer, mediator, and notary public, Cameron Kemp, was named the 103rd National President of Kin Canada, one of Canada’s strictly Canadian service organizations which boasts 380 clubs and 4,600+ volunteer members across the country. Cameron, owner of Cameron J. Kemp Law Office, is well-known locally for his ongoing dedication to Medicine Hat and the surrounding communities through his volunteer and service contributions.
Cameron was honoured with the Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce Business Ethics Award in 2017, recognizing his business’ alignment with the Better Business Bureau’s eight standards of trust. In 2015, he received he Medicine Hat Public School Division Years of Service Award in appreciation for 10 years of contribution and dedication to the International Program. The Medicine Hat College and the Alberta Law Foundation presented Cameron with a Years of Service Award plaque in 2014 for 10 years of service to the Medicine Hat College’s Public Legal Education Program, as well as being named “Top 40 Under 40” by the Medicine Hat News in 2012. Read More.
New Prompt Payment Rules Come Into Effect Today
Formerly known as the Builder’s Lien Act, the Prompt Payment and Construction Lien Act is now in force. The new act creates rules for the timing of payments and sets out a streamlined adjudication process for disputes related to payment or work performed as an alternative to court.
Prompt payment is introduced by mandating owners to provide payment to their contractors within 28 days of receiving a proper invoice for construction services and requires that those contractors who receive payment from an owner subsequently pay their subcontractors within seven days.
The new act applies to all private construction contracts in Alberta created on or after Aug. 29, 2022. Current contracts that extend past two years must become compliant with the new rules by Aug. 29, 2024. See more details here.
Quarterly Tourism Snapshot Shows Tourism Demand on the Rise
Destination Canada's Quarterly Tourism Snapshot which provides an ongoing monitor of the performance of Canada’s tourism sector was published this week. Canada’s tourism industry is showing strong signs of recovery in the second quarter.
Below are some key findings from the report:
- Travel to Canada is in demand, with Google search from international markets exceeding 2019 levels.
- Buoyed by hotel occupancy in regions exceeding their 2019 levels and lifts in urban areas closing in on their pre-pandemic performance, average hotel occupancy in June 2022 for Canada stood 1% below its 2019 level.
- Tourism spend progressed to 72% of its 2019 level.
Fuelling Our Business Community
Methanex Community Day
As a Responsible Care company, Methanex is committed to providing opportunities for the public to learn more about its operations. This year, the Medicine Hat methanol manufacturing facility will be opening its doors to the public for a Community Day open house on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, from 10 AM to 3 PM. Everyone is welcome to attend.
“Community Day is an opportunity for the public to meet with our team and learn first-hand about our methanol production operation,” says Brad Apking, plant manager. “We frequently get questions about our facility, safety practices, charitable investments in the community, and methanol. This is a chance to ask our team any questions you may have.”
Visitors to the event can sign up for a guided bus tour of the plant, watch a demonstration by Methanex’s emergency-response team, and learn about the company’s health, safety, and environmental practices. Praxis Science Outreach Society and Safety City will have activities available for children. Enjoy a BBQ between 11 AM and 2 PM, with all proceeds going to the Praxis Society.
Attendees interested in touring the plant site must be 10 years or older and wearing closed-toed shoes.
“It’s sure to be a great day,” said Apking. “We hope to see you there.”
Please visit the Methanex Medicine Hat Facebook page, where additional information will be posted as available. Questions can be directed to Danielle Semrau-McLean, Stakeholder Relations advisor, at dsemrau-mclean@methanex.com.
The Power of Community
The Mentorship Award is sponsored by Pritchard & Co. Law Firm LLP
We are very proud to feature the Mentorship Award sponsor of the 2022 Business Awards - A New Era of Roaring Success: Pritchard & Co.
Pritchard & Co. are dedicated professionals who are committed to providing excellent client service through trust, excellence, and respect. Their involvement in the community and the standard of professionalism that the organization holds is a direct representation of a mentor. Fitting them perfectly in this sponsored category.
Interested in helping us celebrate a New Era of Success? Become a sponsor. Contact Us 403-527-5214
Enriching Your Business
See all our Value Added Benefits!
Fill Up On Funding
Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund
The Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund, a component of the Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP), is a partnership between the Government of Canada, Black-led business organizations and the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC). The loan fund is an investment of $160 million to support the success of Black entrepreneurs and business owners.
The loan fund includes a $30-million investment from the Government of Canada and $130 million from the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC). The fund provides loans of up to $250,000 to support Black business owners and entrepreneurs across Canada and lays a foundation for future success and long-term change. To see more details, click here.
Spring Activator launches Women-led Impact Investor Challenge to support the growth of women running impact-focused businesses
On a mission to promote gender diversity within the impact investor and startup ecosystem, Spring Activator and the TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good are launching their first Women-led Impact Investor Challenge. The challenge is set to run from September 15 to December 6, 2022 and seeks to facilitate connections between those looking for purpose-based investments with women founders working on solutions to local and global problems.
With the challenge running for 11 weeks, culminating in an investment of approximately $100,000 into a statistically under-funded market. Investors and women founders will learn hand-in-hand as they go through the investment process and take action while supported by a community of like-minded peers and mentors. Read more.
Advocacy in Action
Looking for Feedback: E-Permitting
The Medicine Hat Chamber of Commerce has been working on developing a policy that addresses some of the barriers to business development, and contributes to creating a more business-friendly regulatory environment within the City of Medicine Hat. Part of our process includes a more targeting approach to finding issues within the e-permitting platform.
We have heard that the e-permitting platform is not as effective as it could be, but we would like to gather more concrete examples of the types of issues businesses are facing with the e-permitting platform. If you can please provide any feedback you have on e-permitting here: https://forms.office.com/r/gdtdew41wN.
Please be as specific as possible with what you have experienced or any recommendations. The more specific, the easier it is to pinpoint the issues and help provide direction to the City to resolve those challenges.
Labour Force Survey for July 2022: Historic and unprecedented low unemployment remains, wage pressures continue to mount
"July’s Labour Force data is both unexpected and unprecedented, with Canada’s unemployment rate remaining at a multi-decade low of 4.9% for a second consecutive month. Wage growth also continued at June’s torrid pace, with average hourly wages up 5.2% year-over-year.
While good news for employees and job seekers, for businesses that are already navigating the pressures of inflation and increasing demand, rising compensation and competition for labour in a heated job market will continue to be a challenge." - Marwa Abdou, Senior Research Director, Business Data Lab
We will be focusing on our own local labour agenda this fall and we encourage businesses who are interested in contributing to this conversation, to contact us at industry@medicinehatchamber.com or call our office at 403-527-5214.
Next Level Events
2022 Business Awards – A New Era of Roaring Success
“A New Era of Roaring Success” was chosen as this year’s theme to signify the ‘Roaring 20’s’ of this century. Similarly, to the 1920’s, our 2020’s are the beginning of a united force in supporting and strengthening our local economic prosperity. As we navigate the ‘Roaring 20’s’ of this century we celebrate our businesses, past and present, that have weathered the challenges and have emerged with new ideas, innovative practices, and even stronger connections.
This year the Chamber will be hosting the Business Awards at the Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre, Friday, October 14th, 2022. The event will start around 5:30 pm where individuals can network, enjoy 1920’s Jazz, Cocktails, and Appetizers. Guests will then proceed to the Main Theatre room at 6:30 pm where the Award Ceremony will premier. Tickets are officially on sale; tickets will be priced at $97 per person (Membership discounts will be given via discount code). Save October 14th in your calendars and join us as we celebrate a New Era of Roaring Success within our businesses and the community.
Lunch & Learn - Google My Business & SEO Basics hosted by RAD Websites
RAD Websites is holding the first of their monthly Lunch & Learns, which will raise funds for local non-profits. This month, the recipient will be APARC (where they adopted their newest cat from!)
In this informal seminar, RAD Website's founder AJ Frey, and SEO Ninja, will go over the basics of Google My Business and SEO, so you can learn not only how these are important to your business, but also strategies you can implement today to get your further ahead online.
Anyone who signs up will receive a free SEO audit from the RAD Website team!
Other Events
Enchanted Story Time - August 28, 2022
4th Annual International Overdose Awareness Day - August 31, 2022
SOAR Digital Gathering of Indigenous Entrepreneurs - September 15, 2022
Useful Links
Find more updates on our social media
