Small Business 2018 - Chamber Excellence Awards

Page A12 Thursday, October 18, 2018

Celebrating Small Business — The Free Press

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Celebrating Small Business Month

2018 Fernie Business Excellence Awards Friday, October 26th 6:00 - 8:00 pm Best Western Plus Fernie Mountain Lodge Come out and celebrate your community!

Seating is limited, reserve your spot today by calling the Fernie Chamber of Commerce at 250-423-6868 or emailing members@ferniechamber.com

Celebrating Small Business — The Free Press

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Thursday, October 18, 2018 Page A13

Chamber celebrates Small Business Month October is Small Business Month and the Fernie Chamber of Commerce is celebrating the vital role small businesses play in our local community.

“Small businesses represent the engine that powers our local economy in Fernie, and they play a critical role in creating jobs at home,” said Patty Vadnais, Executive Director of the Fernie Chamber. “Small Business Month is a great opportunity for our community to celebrate these hard-working businesses that bring great ideas and entrepreneurial spirit of Fernie.”

There are almost 1.1 million small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Canada, and 55% have fewer than 4 employees. While small, these businesses employ almost 70% of private sector workers. Industry Canada defines small business as those with fewer than 100 employees for good-producing businesses and less than 50 for service-based businesses.

The pattern of SMEs continues in Fernie. The Chamber interviewed 75 businesses in the 2016 Fernie Business Retention and Expansion Survey and 97%

of the businesses had fewer than 50 employees, 74% have fewer than 20 employees.

The hard work and excellence of local businesses will be celebrated at the Business Excellence Awards on October 26. Sixty-three of the 160 nominated businesses completed the award application. The independent judging panel of chamber managers from across the province scored the applications resulting in thirty finalists. The Chamber Legacy Award, Citizen of the Year, and Volunteer of the Year will also be announced at the Awards Social.

You can celebrate small business all month by shopping local. Shopping local is an investment in our city and provides local jobs. It keeps your dollars local. Those dollars come back to us in event sponsorships, taxes, and wages to name a few.

An Orthodontist has come to Fernie!

We are proud to announce that Dr. Darren Tkach has joined our team. Dr. Tkach is a BC Certified Specialist in Orthodontics and is the only Orthodontist in the Elk Valley.

Along with our team of ortho certified CDA’s, he is now accepting new patients from all over the East Kootenays. Call our office today to book your initial consultation.”

292 2nd Avenue, Fernie Ph: 250-423-6838 Fx: 250-423-6839 dentist@kahane.ca www.kahane.ca

Kootenay Signs, owned by Jim and Loretta Johnson offers a variety of signage options from stickers, decals & banners to aluminum signs, wide format printing and more. Always looking to add more options available to customers in the valley, Kootenay Signs now also has a laser engraver on site. There are so many more options that the engraver has created.

Engraving wood, glass, metal, acrylics and more. Julie Winter and Ryley Johnson offer graphic design services to create your company logo and brand. The number one priority at Kootenay Signs is customer satisfaction.

Ph. 250.423.7444 1542 A 10th Avenue, Fernie www.kootenaysigns.ca

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Brought to you in

Congratulations SPIRIT OF FERNIE - Sponsored by Telus

Spirit of Fernie is awarded to a not-for-profit recognized for its contribution to the economic, social and/or cultural well-being of Fernie, and for its high-level programming and or services to stakeholders, effective and efficient management.

•Fernie Fresh Food •Fernie Search and Rescue •Wapiti

COMMUNITY TOURISM ACHIEVEMENT - Sponsored by Tourism Fernie

This award recognizes an organization or individual(s) that has notably contributed to the success of Fernie’s

OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE

- Sponsored by Columbia Basin Trust

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

- Sponsored by Community Futures East Kootenay

Outstanding customer service as shown through online ranking from Expedia, Yelp, Trip Advisor, Google and Facebook.

Strong adherence to business ethics as demonstrated

For innovation of products or services to create a customer

through company policies and business practices.

experience. Additional consideration for participation in

Innovation and leadership as demonstrated through

Fernie Ambassador Program, percentage of staff through

marketing, product development, and/or customer service

course.

and active community involvement as demonstrated through organization memberships and/or community sponsorship.

•Barkside Pets •Big Bang Bagels •Cinch Homes

NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

- Sponsored by Fernie Alpine Resort

tourism industry within the areas of marketing, industry development/growth, product development, market

Recognizing a business in operation less than two years that

development/growth, innovation, entrepreneurship or

has shown strong support to the Fernie business community

strategic business growth.

and strong commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship.

•Fernie Lodging Company •Fernie Trails Alliance •Fernie Wilderness Adventures

•birr agency •Fernie Copperworks Inc. •Interior Envy

•Chopstick Truck •Happy Cow Ice Cream •Rooftop Coffee Roasters

TEAM OF THE YEAR AWARD

- Sponsored by EK Employment Nominated by companies to recognize a work team or department that has gone above and beyond in increasing sales, ensuring project success, or creating innovative business solutions

•Elk Valley Painting •Three Sisters Day Spa •White Ladder Painting

Winners announced at the Business Excellence Awards Social -

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partnership with:

to the Finalists EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR AWARD

- Sponsored by College of the Rockies

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

- Sponsored by Rockies Law Corporation

Exceptional commitment to its employees demonstrated

Voted on by the public. All nominees are entered into this

through job creation, training and support, recognition and

category and voting takes place online.

rewards, employee health and wellness and professional development.

•Giv’er Shirt Works •Spa 901 •The Guide’s Hut

FERNIE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR - Sponsored by North Coal and TruCut Ltd.

CHAMBER LEGACY AWARD

- Sponsored by Western Financial Group Recipient announced at the event The hall of fame of awards, this award recognizes an individual or business that has been part of the Fernie business community for more than 10 years. It recognizes long-lasting impact on the community, leadership, and

•Denham GM •The Vogue Theatre •Wild Wolves Design

volunteerism. It is selected by the Chamber Board of

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARD

- Sponsored by City of Fernie Recipient announced at the event

- Sponsored by Best Western Plus Fernie Mountain Lodge

Business recognized for its community impact through leadership, philanthropy, volunteerism, and vision. A member

Year-after-year growth and innovation, based on 3-year

of professional and business associations and an industry

history, in business for over 5 years.

leader.

•LWE •Lunchbox •Peacock Hospitality

•Fernie Brewing Company •Fernie Home Hardware Building Centre •Super 8 Fernie

Directors.

CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD A resident of two or more years that has provided leadership in multiple roles as demonstrated through business and/ or volunteer experience and has improved the quality of life in Fernie.

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD

- Sponsored by The Free Press Recipient announced at the event Commitment to volunteerism in Fernie and area demonstrated through volunteer hours demonstrated support to multiple organizations and activities.

October 26th, 6:00 - 9:30, Best Western Plus Fernie Mountain Lodge

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Celebrating Small Business — The Free Press

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Thank You to Event Sponsors

- Island Lake Lodge - Three Sisters Day Spa

- Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory - Claris Media

FER NIE 'S ICO NIC

#freshiescafe Freshies is under new ownership! Guylaine Gagnon and her husband Richard Girard took up the torch of Fernie’s iconic NG LIKE1st. How did this tea sommelier and mechanical & STRO M WAR , café on August RICH !— HIP FRIE NDS engineer from Calgary end up running Freshies? She was Hi, I am Mathieu Dolbec, the owner of Dolbec Does It Contracting Inc. I looking for a place to establish her “Tea Monde” speciality have been a heavy duty mechanic for 14 years, and specialize in repairing and overhauling snowcats. I also accept bookings for any heavy and tea brand, and he was looking for a way out of the big city. medium duty equipment.

Everything came together when the opportunity to purchase With 5 years experience as a mechanic at both Fernie Alpine Resort as well Freshies came up. Come to meet them and experience as Finning, I opened my shop in Fernie in July of 2018. Please give me a Freshies’ legendary hospitality! call, and let me put my experience to work for you!

Dolbec Does It 250-423-1710 Dolbecdoesit@gmail.com

Freshies Cafe Fernie Co. Ltd.

632 - 2 Ave, Fernie, BC

(250)-423-3833

https://www.freshiesfernie.com/

Celebrating Small Business — The Free Press

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Thursday, October 18, 2018 Page A17

Three important demographic trends for SMBs From October 14 to 20, 2018, the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) will be celebrating entrepreneurship during the 39th BDC Small Business Week. The event seeks to highlight the work of Canadian entrepreneurs, who have many challenges to face. Here are three demographic trends you’ll need to adjust for if you run a small or medium business.

1. The aging workforce The retirement of baby boomers and the low growth rate of the Canadian population are already causing labour shortages in many areas. To face the situation,

make efforts to attract young workers and retain your current staff members by offering favourable working conditions (flexible hours, pension plan, insurance, etc.).

2. The rise of the millennial generation According to Statistics Canada, millennials and generation Z will account for more than half of the Canadian workforce by 2030. To best tap into this generation’s talents, you should promote your business on social media. The BDC also suggests partnering with schools to facilitate the recruiting of young workers.

Explore I Expand I Excite Upcoming Courses:

AMBASSADOR PROGRAM

October 18, 8:30am - 12:30pm October 30, 12:30pm - 4:30pm November 6, 12:30pm - 4:30pm November 14, 12:30pm - 4:30pm November 29, 12:30pm - 4:30pm December 5, 8:30am - 12:30pm

To register: www.ferniechamber.com/ambassadorprogram

3. A more culturally diverse population If current trends are maintained, by 2032 up to 80 per cent of the country’s population growth will be attributable to immigration. Therefore, to counter the labour shortage, you should start hiring new Canadians right away. Adjust your training methods accordingly and reach out to different cultural communities.

To learn more about the trends that will transform the Canadian business landscape over the next few years, visit www.bdc.ca.

Elk Valley Gymnastics has been servicing the Elk Valley and the community of Fernie since March 2016.

We are so proud of the growth our club has gone through in those years. With the help of our membership we out grew our space in Max Turk and was able to move into our current space located at 902 6th ave. With our fantastic group of coaches Cristina Leighton, Brittany Vaughn, Ella Roberts and our two newest coaches Hailey Pratt and Julie Annis, we have expanded to our highest enrolment to date. We are currently offering Gymnastics and Parkour for all ages, preschool and parent and tot classes, as well as trampoline and drop in programs. This year our competitive team has grown to include 31 girls from all over the Elk Valley.

Our Winter registration begins Nov 15th.

We would like to thank the Elk Valley Community for all the support they have given us through the years.

Elk Valley Gymnastics

Email: info@elkvalleygymnastics.com Phone: 250 430 0010