Call for Nominations open for Gala & Awards
The call for nominations is now open for the BDC Business Person of the Year Award & the Business Excellence Award. Nominations will be received by the Chamber until April1st, 2022. Awards will be presented at the 2022 Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce Annual Gala & Awards taking place on April 21st at the Best Western Glengarry. The cost is $65 for members and $75 for future members. To reserve your seat, call (902) 895-6328, email [email protected] or visit the Events Calendar.
Nomination form for BDC Business Person of the Year Award
Nomination form for the Business Excellence Award
AGM announced for March
Join us as we welcome a new slate of officers, and to learn about Chamber activities.
March 9th
AGM at 11 am
Truro Legion - 42 Brunswick St, Truro
Luncheon at 12pm
$30 for Members and $35 for Non Members
Guest Speaker
Arnold Hagen
Owner of Harris Home Hardware (Truro & Bible Hill) and Truro Mall
Speaking on his Development Projects in the area
To register click HERE
Download our Health & Wellness Kit for Business today!
Health & Wellness Kit for Business
Health and Wellness programs support employee well-being
Designing and managing an employee wellness program is an important step in improving the health and productivity of employees and potentially improving the overall cost of employer-provided health care.
The Truro and Colchester Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the Truro and Area Community Health Board Wellness Funds program, and several local groups to support the business community in establishing health and wellness programs for their staff.
Within this Workplace Health & Wellness kit, we have provided local and global resources to build a workplace wellness program, a sample plan and activities to inspire you to try new things while also offering challenges with incentives to boost participation.
Download the Health & Wellness Kit for Business HERE
Download the Health & Wellness Activity Kit HERE
Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement Discussion
January 19, 2022
Last July the Nova Scotia government signed an affordable child care agreement with the federal government with the goal of providing $10 a day universal childcare, creating 9,500 new child-care spaces and providing higher salaries for child-care workers by 2026.
All of these efforts would benefit working parents. However, the agreement is providing limited options for privately owned child-care centres, which hold 57 per cent of child-care spaces in the province. These businesses, predominantly owned by women and staffed by women, cannot offer these subsidized fees for parents and higher wages for workers unless they join a new central organization being developed by the Department of Education.
We also are aware that at least two other provinces New Brunswick and Alberta are not taking this approach and are working with privately-owned centres on inclusion in the formula.
During a conference call last week, the provincial department gave private child-care centre owners their options. Many within the industry are calling it a "hostile take over" and are deeply concerned about the impacts on their business and the children who they care for on a daily basis.
Of the three options provided to the businesses, for-profit centre owners can choose to become an approved service provider under the new system, keeping their businesses but losing control over operations such as waitlists and payroll. Or they can transition to a non-profit model and give up their businesses to the new organization. Alternatively, if they chose to remain private they will lose all current funding.
Today, January 19, we heard from five of these locally owned business as they shared first-hand the choices and potential impacts they are facing.
Our participating panelists are:
Pat Roberts, Mount Pleasant Nursey School
Andrew Gilroy, Bible Hill / Salmon River Play to Learn
Paul Weatherbee, The Love, Laughter and Learning Centre
Alyse Brayley, Frona Allen – My Pride and Joy Learning Centre Inc
Ellen Butts, Making Friends Preschool
To view this discussion; https://youtu.be/pZwqVZ4MjEQ
Click here, for the Parent's Letter Template mentioned in the discussion.
Click here to download a template letter to show support from a local business
Click here, for a list of our Provincial MLA's, and their contact information.
CLICK HERE TO READ A LETTER SENT TO PREMIER HOUSTON Letter to Premier regarding childcare - 012022f
News release issued by Truro Chamber on Jan. 21 re childcare agreement
ACC sent a letter to the NS government expressing concern and requesting more information. A meeting was held on January 18 and the government did not retreat from the original announcement but provided assurances they would work closely with operators. Based on direction from the NS Provincial Advisory Committee (PAC), ACC drafted a further letter that was sent to the Federal government to convey a request that the federal-provincial agreement be amended to ensure funding of for profits as is the case in several other provinces. A copy of the letter will be posted on our policy submissions page shortly.
Letter to NS Government from Atlantic Chamber of Commerce
News release January 21, 2022
For immediate release
January 21, 2022
Chambers ask government to renegotiate terms for privately owned childcare centres
TRURO – Chambers are amplifying the voices of locally owned and operated childcare centres asking government to halt its role out of a new childcare agreement in an effort to renegotiate conditions with private operators.
A joint letter was sent to Premier Tim Houston’s office on Thursday, along with 16 MLAs and Ministers, and Colchester-Cumberland MP Stephen Ellis, on behalf of the members of the Truro and Colchester Chamber of Commerce, the Pictou County Chamber of Commerce, the Yarmouth and Area Chamber of Commerce, the Strait Area Chamber of Commerce and the Amherst Chamber of Commerce, collectively serving more 1,500 members that represent a diverse cross section of the local economy.
The Chambers expressed concerns they have heard from privately-owned childcare centres about the impact on their businesses by the proposed $605 million Canada-Wide Early Learning and Childcare agreement which aims to drop childcare fees to an average of $10 per day by 2026 under the deal.
“Many privately-owned childcare centres are viewing what the government is proposing in its three options for businesses to participate in this historic agreement as a ‘hostile takeover’,” said Matthew Mossman, President of the Truro and Colchester Chamber of Commerce. He said in recent weeks Chambers have had conversations with many childcare businesses, licensed privately-owned and not-for-profit, as well as unlicensed providers. The Chambers acknowledge the province has agreed to lift the looming March 18 decision deadline for privately-owned childcare centres and has committed to reassessing options, however, the Chambers stand firm that greater engagement and consideration of business is needed before finalizing the deal.
“All agree that there is an urgent need for better wages for Early Childhood Educators, increased availability of spaces for children in care centres and affordable rates for all families,” said Mossman. “The deep concern stems from the lack of detailed information, timelines and disregard for business government has shown toward these vitally important care providers and the release of a plan with vague details have caused confusion and fear for business owners, staff and parents.”
On January 19, the Truro and Colchester Chamber of Commerce hosted a discussion with five privately-owned childcare centres, now available for viewing on the Chamber’s YouTube Channel, (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZwqVZ4MjEQ) where they shared their views on the current rollout of the provincial-federal affordable childcare agreement.
“They clearly articulated the reasons why the government's proposed three options for private childcare centres are not acceptable and essentially leave them with no reasonable choices,” said the Chamber President.
“We ask that government immediately re-engage with childcare operators across the province in meaningful, constructive, considerate discussions to negotiate a sustainable plan that works for business, government, parents and most importantly, the children of this province.”
Mossman believes this agreement could be an opportunity to support and grow business in Nova Scotia rather than shut businesses, predominantly owned and staffed by women.
“We support efforts to provide affordable childcare to families so they may continue to participate in the workforce and help grow our province's economy,” said Mossman.
“However, we cannot support the government in forcing hard-working, dedicated business owners to give up their livelihoods, the majority of whom are women.”
He is calling on parents, local business owners and their staff to share their support for locally owned childcare centres. The Chamber has prepared resources and information to assist those wishing to send letters to their MLAs which can be accessed at www.trurocolchesterchamber.com.
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https://www.trurocolchesterchamber.com/canada-wide-early-learning-and-child-care-agreement-discussion/
Winter festival to include lightshow, night markets in Downtown Truro
Winter festival to include a light show, night markets in Downtown Truro
Downtown Truro will be glowing with community spirit next month when a light show transforms the Civic Square into a winter wonderland.
The light show is a new addition to the Truro Winter Long John Festival, made possible by funding from Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and a three-way partnership of the Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Truro and the Downtown Truro Partnership.
“We’re thrilled about this project that celebrates the winter season in Downtown Truro. There are lots of opportunities to participate and enjoy the festival,” said Rochelle Roberts, Executive Director of Downtown Truro Partnership. “It’s so important to find ways to continue to support our local businesses and stay active this winter while following public health restrictions.”
More than 25,000 lights will be installed in trees in and around the square to create a magical atmosphere to attract visitors to the Town throughout the winter months. The Town is set to launch its Winter Long John Festival on February 3, and the display will remain in place throughout the month into mid-March. In addition, a light show projection will run from Feb. 3 - March 12 in the evenings at the square projected on the historic Colchester East Hants Public Library building creating a stunning backdrop for skaters and visitors alike. The show will run every 15 minutes from 5 p.m. until 9:45 p.m.
“We are thrilled to add to the Winter Long John Festival in a way that promotes getting outside during the winter,” said Mayor Bill Mills, Town of Truro. “We hope it will encourage visitors to enjoy the outdoor activities Truro has to offer this time of year.”
Businesses are encouraged to be involved in the festival by hosting a booth at one of the night markets being held in collaboration with the Truro Farmers’ Market. Market nights will be accompanied by live entertainment. In addition, businesses in Truro and the area will have an opportunity to sponsor hot chocolate for visitors, apply for funding to assist them in hiring live performers at their locations or offer specials to join in on the festival fun.
“The local business community needs as much support as possible right now. It has been an incredibly tough couple of years as the pandemic continues to impact shopping and entertainment trends,” said Sherry Martell, Chamber Executive Director. “We are so pleased to be a part of this beautiful project that will bring joy to our local residents and attract people to the community while we celebrate an iconic Truro product, Stanfield’s Long Johns.”
The project will have a lasting impact on the community with lights and equipment purchased that will be used for other events and promotions in future years.
The partners have received $50,000 in funding from ACOA to host the winter light show in Truro, along with additional local funding and in-kind contributions.
More information about the Truro Winter Long John Festival, the light show, and Winter Night Markets, can be found at www.trurolongjohn.ca.
ATLANTIC CANADA OPPORTUNITIES AGENCY NEWS RELEASE:
Truro Winter Long John Festival Live Entertainment Fund
Live Entertainment Fund
Downtown Truro will be glowing with community spirit this winter when a light show transforms Civic Square into a winter wonderland. The light show is a new addition to the Truro Winter Long John Festival, made possible by funding from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and a three-way partnership between the Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Truro, and the Downtown Truro Partnership.
As part of the celebration, businesses can apply for the Live Entertainment Fund. The funding program is open to venues that provide live music as part of their customer attraction strategy. This may include bars, cafes, restaurants, and other types of business.
To apply for this funding or for more information, click here.
Workplace rapid test screening program PAUSED
Nova Scotia's Workplace testing program is currently paused for new entry and orders.
Nova Scotia is currently in the midst of a significant COVID-19 outbreak. The level of viral spread has necessitated a change in the province’s testing strategy. Part of this change will include the redeployment of rapid antigen tests, in order to augment the health systems testing capacity and to meet high priority needs. Doing this will ensure Nova Scotians who need rapid COVID tests continue to have access to them.
As a result of this change, the Workplace Screening Program will be paused ( Dec. 11, 2021). All orders placed on or after December 13th will not be fulfilled. Organizations that fall under the following high-priority streams will continue to be supported, they include:
- Long-term care facilities
- Shelters and transition homes
- DCS funded homes and day programs
- First Nations communities
- African Nova Scotian communities
We apologize for the frustration this announcement will likely cause. Like you, we are committed to this program and have been humbled by the +2000 businesses and organizations, more than 120 in Colchester County, who have enrolled in the screening program in an effort to protect their employees and broader communities. Please know that these decisions have not been made lightly. The Workplace Screening Program team will continue to provide updates as we receive them from Public Health and the Department of Health and Wellness.
For more information please see the province’s COVID-19 website: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/
The Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce has been a partner with the Department of Health and Wellness since June of 2021 to act as a depot for businesses to pick up tests ordered by local businesses and to provide information on how to sign up for the program. We do not stock tests onsite or facilitate entry into the program. We act as a safe point of contact for businesses to pick up shipments from the province once they have been ordered through the program.
We know there are many other businesses interested in getting into the program to access rapid tests to protect your staff. We continue to meet with Workplace testing co-ordinators and officials with the Department of Health and Wellness to advocate for the program to resume as soon as possible.
Updates will be shared here, on the chamber website, our social media and our weekly member newsletter.
COVID-19 Government Program Updates
COVID-19 Government Program Updates
NEW ATLANTIC IMMIGRATION PROGRAM
The new Atlantic Immigration Program will launch on January 1, 2022. The permanent program builds on the strengths of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program and retains the core objective of attracting skilled immigrants to Atlantic Canada to address demographic and economic needs, as well as to continue to increase retention in the region. Key features of the permanent program include:
• All employers designated under the pilot will be required to be re-designated under the permanent program.
• Under the permanent program, all designated employers are required to complete mandatory on-boarding training provided by the federal Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
• Mandatory inter-cultural competency training will also be required for all employers, prior to endorsement, unless the employer is deemed by the province to be exempt from the training.
Should you or any of your member businesses or organizations have questions about the new Atlantic Immigration Program and/or the use of other immigration programs to help meet labour needs, including the Nova Scotia Nominee Program, please reach out to our employer support team at [email protected].
Additional details about the AIP program are available at: Atlantic Immigration Program website.
ELIGIBILITY UPDATE TO THE SECTOR IMPACT SUPPORT PROGRAM
The Sector Impact Support Program will provide a one-time grant of up to $7,500 to help small business owners in industries such as restaurants, bars, gyms, live performing arts facilities and recreation facilities. Eligible applicants will now be able to choose a grant amount based on either the gross payroll cost or gross revenues of the business in November 2021.
The Program will open in early January 2022: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Sector Impact Support Program - Government of Nova Scotia, Canada
PAID SICK LEAVE RELAUNCHES TO SUPPORT NOVA SCOTIANS
Nova Scotians who have been impacted by the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic may qualify for up to four paid sick days with the relaunch of Nova Scotia's COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave Program.
For more details: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20211222003
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TEMPORARILY EXPANDING TWO BILL C-2 PROGRAMS
The federal government announced its intention to temporarily expand eligibility for the Local Lockdown Program and Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit. This will help to ensure Canadians are protected and workers and businesses get the help they need to sustain them through new and necessary public health restrictions.
For more details: Temporarily Expanding Eligibility for the Local Lockdown Program and the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit - Canada.ca
Chamber policy Addressing Workplace Mental Health receives national acclaim
For immediate release
October 29, 2021
Chamber policy Addressing Workplace Mental Health receives national acclaim
TRURO – The Truro and Colchester Chamber of Commerce’s lobby for more action by the federal government to address entrepreneur and workforce mental health recently received endorsement by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
The local Chamber worked with health care professionals, consultants and mental health stakeholders to put forward a policy, Addressing Workplace Mental Health, at the national Chamber AGM and policy debates, held in a virtual forum, on October 28. The policy’s three key recommendations received 95 per cent of the national vote and will now be submitted to the Liberal government for action.
“This policy speaks to the dire need to support the mental health of our entrepreneurs and their employees,” said Sherry Martell, Chamber Executive Director. “As the voice of business, we are speaking up for the half of our population that is now struggling with mental health related issues, which are deeply impacting our workforce, and for our hard-working, dedicated entrepreneurs that are statistically more likely to experience mental illness and five times more likely to contemplate suicide.”
Martell said COVID-19 has gravely impacted the mental health of Canadians showing an increase from an estimated one in five people experiencing mental health issues to now one in every two people. However, she said, it is a challenge to actively gage the mental health impact of the pandemic without a focused effort on pan-Canadian data collection.
She added that pre-pandemic data on the mental health of Canadians as a whole and those actively participating in the workforce is dated, fragmented and inconsistent province to province and territories.
The policy, was also supported by the Canadian Chamber’s National Workforce Policy Committee, the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce and four Nova Scotia Chambers.
The first key recommendation asks the federal government to work with provinces and territories, municipalities, First Nations, business, labour, academia, health care leaders and individual citizens to update a national strategy on mental health, including best practices of current programs in an effort to improve the management of mental health in the workplace. This would include collection of pan-Canadian and international statistics to compare benchmarks, proven examples of prevention, early action to combat stress and early identification of problems focused on increasing worker productivity, along with support for entrepreneurs and employees while highlighting the impact of mental illness on the economy.
It also outlines the need to ensure funding committed to health in federal budgets continues to provide dedicated amounts for provincial/territorial plans to address mental health challenges within their health care systems.
Thirdly, it asks for a review of government benefits and compensation programs for individuals with mental health issues to ensure they are relevant to today’s needs and do not disproportionately place the cost burden on employers.
The policy was one of 69 submitted for debate by the Canadian Chamber network. The Truro & Colchester Chamber is one of more than 450 chambers in the national network actively advocating on issues impacting the business community. For more information about the local chamber, visit www.trurocolchesterchamber.com
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Media contact:
Sherry Martell
Executive Director
Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce
902-895-6328
[email protected]
Live for Local Rally begins!
The Live for Local Rally was a contest aimed at promoting shopping local that ran until December 17th, 2021. You could upload a receipt from any business in Colchester County to earn an entry for our amazing prize giveaways. If you uploaded a receipt from one of our “Participating Businesses” you received two entries.
Congratulations to our winners!
| Weekly Prize Winners | |
| Name | Prize |
| Becky Cowrly | Coffee Lovers |
| Alison Wilson | Nintendo Switch |
| Julie Stone | Get in the Spirit |
| Rosalind Belland | Charm Diamond |
| Alyssa Moraze | Gas & Go |
| Sherri Webb | Winter Car Care |
| Miranda Rock | Kirk Saint |
| Deanna Lumax | Stay & Play |
| Deborah Lusby | Stay & Play |
| Elizabeth Spence | Hub Cycle Ski |
| Lindsay Mattinson | Self Care |
| Kathy Schedler | Masstown Market |
| Grand Prize Winners | |
| Penny Ferguson | Truro Mall |
| Yvonne Kerr | Downtown Truro |
| Chris Connolly | Home Makeover |
| Sue Murray | Inglis Jewellers |
| Nicholas Stokdijk | Berry’s |