Alberta Called: A New Campaign to Attract Skilled Talent to NW Alberta
WORK NW Alberta—a partnership between the Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce, City of Grande Prairie, County of Grande Prairie, MD of Greenview, and Northwestern Polytechnic—has launched a boldnewregionaltalentattractioncampaign:ALBERTACALLED.
Building on the momentum of the Government of Alberta’s award-winning Alberta is Calling initiative, this campaign speaks directly to job seekers in Alberta, BC, and Ontario, encouraging them to consider a move whereopportunitymeetsqualityoflifeinnorthwesternAlberta.
TheGrandePrairie–Greenviewregionoffersmorethanjustjobs.Itoffersstability,community,affordability,and access to outdoor adventure, cultural events, and modern services—making it an ideal place to build a career andalife.
CHAMBER MEMBERS HAVE ACCESS TO CANADA'S LARGEST EMPLOYEE BENEFITS PLAN TARGETED TO SMALL-TO-MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESS.
Operating since the early 1970s, Chambers Plan now provides coverage to over 30,000 firms like yours. Regardless of the size of your organization Chambers Plan can be customized to meet your needs,requestafreequotetodayandletusshowyouhowwecan customizeaplanforyou.
Established
Your firm's rates will remain stable regardless of claims history. Additionally, Chambers Plan Group Health Insurance is noncancelable due to any claims experienced by your firm. Your companywillneverbesingledoutforarateincrease,ever.
Local
Your business is unique, so your business needs unique coverage. That is why a local Chambers Plan advisor administers your employee health benefits plan. A Chambers Plan advisor is a member of your community. Whether you want to add dental coverage,changeorupdate,orsimplyaskaquestion,youradvisor isthereforyou.
Customizable
Coverage can be tailored to suit your needs. Customize your plan selecting from a wide range of coverage – life, health, dental, disability, critical illness and much more! As well, Chambers Plan membershaveaccesstomy-benefits®anonlinemanagementtool. Thistoolallowsyoutoadministeryourplananywhere,anytime.
Local Agent - Cam Neil
Neil & Associates 10715-102 Street Grande Prairie Website: https://neilandassociates. ca
AtNeil&Associates,webelieve you deserve the best when it comes to group insurance— personalized service from a team of advisors and support staff who live and work right hereinyourcommunity.Asyour local provider of the Chamber Plan, we offer affordable, flexible, and stable benefits designed specifically for small andmedium-sizedbusinesses.
Whether you’re looking for comprehensive coverage for your team or just starting to explore your options, our experts are here to guide you every step of the way. Get the best deal on insurance and peaceofmindforyourbusiness —contact Neil & Associates today!
BUSINESS SET-UP
Important Update: New U.S. Duty Rules Affecting All Canadian Shipments
subject to duties, taxes, and clearance fees- no matter the value.
As of now, CUSMA Exemptions Still Apply - If your products meet CUSMA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) rules of origin and you include a valid certificate; you may be exemptfromIEEPAduties(35%).
Example: A Canadian-made cardigan worth $57 will face a $19.95 dutyunderthenewrules.
To support small businesses, several carriers including Canada Post have adjusted their systems to handle duty collection and clearance.Werecommendcontactingyourshippingcarriernowto understand the specific steps and options available to your business.
Expanding skilled trades training in northern Alberta
Did you know that several resources on the OHS Resource PortalhaveaccompanyingtemplatesinMicrosoftWordformat? Work site parties can use these templates as a starting point to develop customized forms, checklists, policies, plans and other documents that can be used for occupational health and safety purposes.
If you’d like to see all the templates available on the portal, visit theTemplatescategory.
Free upcoming live webinars - Young Worker Safety
Youngworkersfacehigherrisksonthejobandaremorelikelytobeinjuredatwork.Inrecognitionofthis,AlbertaOHS and Employment Standards are hosting a free one-hour webinar covering essential health, safety, and employment standardsinformationforworkersunder25yearsofage,theirparentsorguardiansandtheiremployers.
WCB-Alberta representatives will discuss effective disability management practices and talk about resources that are availabletobuildstrongreturn-to-workplansforinjuredworkers.
Conveniently located off Highway 2, our West Western Plus West Edmonton hotel is just 3min from West Edmonton Mall and just minutes from local attraction. With comfortable and convenient amenities, our hotel is the perfect choice for business and leisure travellersalike.
10% off office furniture assembled or unassembled in our Grande PrairieShowroomorPeaceRiverStore
10% off unassembled furniture off our website, delivered to our ShowroominGP
Custom plans for stationary, office supply and janitorial. They can look at our website for options. For up to 20 of their most used SKU’s, we setup an account for them and offer the best price possible on those 20 items then full price after that. Great for schoolsaswell.
Please email gpsales@kitofficeplus.com or use in store/showroomcustomplanmustbeanemailtooksanam@kitofficeplus.com
ObsidianArts&Tattoo
GrandePrairiePhysiotherapy&Massage
AlbertaSpecialOlympics
PrairiePalsPlayCafe
“Behind every strong community is a network of resilient, passionate local businesses..”
Custom Safety Services Ltd
Joined:August14,2025
We’re excited to welcome Jillian Armstrong and Custom Safety Services Ltd to our Chamber network! Looking forward to seeing this great local business make an impact on ourcommunity.
Prostate Cancer Centre / The Man Van
Joined:August11,2025
We’re excited to welcome Keith and theProstateCancerCentre/TheMan VantoourChambernetwork!Welook forward to seeing the positive impact thisvitalinitiativecontinuestomakein ourcommunity.
Advancing Canada–Germany cooperation on transatlantic energy security
Canada is strengthening its partnership with Germany to enhance energy security, expand critical mineral supply chains,andacceleratecleanenergycollaboration.
The Alberta Chambers of Commerce has consistently advocated for policies that diversify markets, reduce regulatory barriers, and strengthen the long-term competitivenessofCanada’senergysector.
This announcement aligns with our policy, Ensuring the Future of Canadian Energy, underscoring the importance of positioning Alberta and Canada as global leaders in secure,sustainableenergy.
Learnmore
Competition Bureau to study financing competition for Canada’s SMEs
The Competition Bureau is launching a market study into competition in the lending sector for small and medium businesses. The Bureau is seeking feedback on its proposed terms of reference—and invites your input by October3,2025,tohelpshapehowthestudyisconducted.
Learnmore
Support for Prairie businesses facing trade challenges
The federal government has launched the Regional Tariff ResponseInitiative(RTRI),deliveredthroughPrairiesCan,to help businesses and non-profits in Alberta, Saskatchewan, andManitobasafeguardagainsttradedisruptions.
Thisinitiativeprovidesfundingtoboostproductivity,diversify markets, strengthen supply chains, and support domestic trade. Eligible organizations include businesses and not-forprofits directly affected by recent tariffs or supporting others toadapt.
Federal funding boosts water, transit, housing, and community projects across Alberta
Canada is investing more than $276 million through the Canada Community-Building Fund to upgrade local infrastructure across Alberta. Projects include improvements to water and wastewater systems, public transit,roads,housing,andrecreationalfacilities—helping municipalities meet today’s needs while preparing for futuregrowth.
Learnmore
For businesses seeking more insights and tools:
Carney Launches Industrial Strategy as U.S. Tariff Fight Escalates
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a multibillion-dollar strategy on FridayaimedathelpingCanadianbusinesseswithstandongoingU.S.tariff pressures. The plan includes a $5-billion Strategic Response Fund to support product development and market diversification, expanded tariff reliefforSMEs,extendedemploymentinsurancefordisplacedworkers,and a new “Buy Canadian” procurement policy requiring federal departments and Crown corporations to prioritize domestic suppliers. The government also paused the 2026 zero-emission vehicle mandate in response to auto sector concerns, while highlighting targeted support for agriculture, seafood,andresourceindustrieshitbyforeigntariffs.
TheannouncementcomesasOttawaremovedmostofitscounter-tariffson U.S.goodstore-energizestallednegotiationswithWashington.WhileU.S. tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, and copper remain in place, Treasury SecretaryScottBessentexpressedconfidencethattheSupremeCourtwill upholdPresidentTrump’suseofemergencypowerstomaintainthelevies andsignalledtheadministrationcouldturntoothertradetoolsifnecessary. With unions warning that Ottawa’s tariff rollback undermines Canadian leverage and the U.S. pushing ahead with exemptions for selected allies, Canadian businesses face a prolonged period of uncertainty in North Americantradethatwillrequirebothadaptationandresilience.
Labour Market Concerns on the Rise
Canada lost 66,000 jobs in August — the sharpest drop of 2025 — pushing unemploymentupto7.1%,itshighestsince2016outsidethepandemic.
As our economist Anupriya Gangopadhyay notes, job losses are no longer confined to trade-exposed industries. Professional services, tech, education andmanufacturingallsawdeclines,withcore-agedmenandyoungworkers hithardest.
Join us for Perfect Your Pitch, an interactive workshop led by Colin Christensen, a seasoned entrepreneur who has helpedraiseover$100Mandmentored2,000+foundersworldwide.
Aquatera is excited to host the 2026 Water|Earth|Innovation Conference taking place April 28 – May 1, 2026,
Thisconferencewillprovidelearningandtrainingopportunitiesto water and wastewater owners and operators in northern Alberta, whileexpandingourcourseofferingstoinclude:
WaterandWastewater
DistributionandCollection
TechnicalOperations
ProjectManagementandEngineering
Safety
SolidWaste
LeadershipAdministration
PersonalandProfessionalDevelopment
Attendees will have the opportunity to expand their knowledge, advance their education and earn Continuing Education Units (CEU),learnaboutinnovativeproductsandtechnology,andenjoy peernetworkingopportunities.Thereissomethingforeveryone!
Formoreinformationandtoregisterpleasevisit www.aquatera.ca/community/waterearthinnovation, and don’t forget to check out our Sponsorship and Tradeshow Exhibitoropportunities.
Adopting an acquisition strategy can help your business grow more quickly and lead to faster results without necessarily being riskier. Discover why this could be a smart strategy for your business.
