Business Walk 2020 – Celebrating Small Business Week
Trail & District Chamber of Commerce Encourages Community to
#ThinkLocalFirst during Small Business Week
2020 Business Walk highlights adaptability as strength and challenge for local businesses
When the Charles Bailey Theatre had to cancel its spring/summer series due to COVID-19, it quickly poured its energy into a project supporting the local business community by creating and sharing video jingles.
Infinity Physio Centre in Rossland’s COVID Jingle “Let’s Get Physio,” inspired by Olivia Newton John’s “Let’s Get Physical,” announced their reopening. But this catchy tune did more than entertain; it encouraged people to #ThinkLocalFirst.
During Small Business Week, the Trail & District Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) acknowledges the contributions entrepreneurs and small business owners make to the economy. The organization applauds local businesses for their ability to adapt to changing environments and new safety protocols, all while innovating their services or products for their communities and considering what’s best for the bottom line.
Out of the approximately 120 businesses that participated in last month’s 2020 Business Walk, nearly 50% noted adaptability as their most significant achievement so far this year; conversely, a number of those surveyed (15%) considered it their greatest challenge. Meeting obstacles with success speaks to the strength of the South Kootenay business community, which is home to 900 small and medium-sized businesses; collectively this employs the majority of area professionals, outweighing any large employer in the region.
The Chamber conducts the Business Walk as a means to build closer relationships and connect with its network of professionals. With its regular Business After Business events paused indefinitely, the Chamber initially helped host virtual gatherings like the South Kootenay COVID-19 Business Roundtable. As businesses reopened, they recognized the benefit of knocking on members’ doors.
“For us it’s that personal connection—that’s what the Business Walk is about,” explains Executive Director Erika Krest. “Nothing replaces personal connection; when you can read peoples’ expressions and have that extra nuance behind words, it’s very important.”
The annual initiative is encouraged around the province as a tool to facilitate conversations between local leaders and business owners. What’s learned is examined and turned into actionable solutions.
Survey results, for example, uncovered that while large organizations and franchises have succession and emergency plans in place, many smaller businesses hadn’t yet made that a priority. As a result, the Chamber is collaboratively working toward a local solution for business professionals who see value in developing these plans.
Despite strange times, local businesses across the region remain nimble, strong, and dedicated to serving the community, even if it’s from behind plexiglass or masked and smiling with their eyes.
View and download Business Walk 2020 Summary
2020 Business Excellence Awards
Thank you to everyone who put forward their nominations for the 2020 Business Excellence Awards. We have a fantastic list of finalists and voting is now OPEN!
The 2020 award recipients will be selected from Chamber members in good standing. If you don’t see a name on the list they may not meet an eligibility requirement, but we will be contacting ALL nominees to congratulate them on their business excellence over the past year.
Hiring – Bookkeeping Service
The Trail and District Chamber of Commerce is looking for a bookkeeping service.
Proficient in manual bookkeeping, Simply Accounting, QuickBooks, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll, Prepare Year End, Assemble Tax Returns, Up-to-date computer literacy, including Excel and Word.
Thank you so much for your interest. Please send a resume and cover letter outlining your experience to info@trailchamber.bc.ca. Short listed candidates will be contacted for an interview by February 3, 2020.
The Trail and District Chamber of Commerce will always endeavour to solicit bids and quotes for services and products from members in good standing first before going to outside bids.
Your one stop shop to get informed about healthy living!
The event features exhibitors, expert speakers and demonstrations that promote holistic and western health practices, green initiatives, food sustainability, physical and emotional well-being, nutrition, and wellness. Attendees will have the opportunity to collect information, as well as purchase and experience products and services.
kootenayhealthylifestylesexpo.com
The Rustic Crust
The inspiration for Rustic Crust Pizza comes from the traditional Napolatena style pizzas that were made by the Italian families who emigrated to our small city of Trail, British Columbia, in the 1900’s. It didn’t take long for the Italian people to infuse our community with a number of Italian customs, among them a huge passion for traditional Italian pizza, especially those made in authentic wood-fired ovens that were found throughout Italy. For the last century, these local pizza-makers have been producing unique mouth-watering pizzas using the freshest most flavourful ingredients harvested from their own back yard gardens.
Like the best neighborhood restaurants you’ll find worldwide, Trail’s restaurant scene in the past was primarily owned and operated by close-knit families. Their products were more a labour of love than a quick money-making scheme. The resulting pizzas, though most were unaware at the time, were of a world class standard. Though not Italian by any known blood line, the Wiley family, who have called Trail home for four generations, feel they’ve acquired some cultura italiana by osmosis.
Cooking out of a wood-fired oven began for the Rustics at Mirror Lake where Papa Rich, with a little help from friends and family, built their first adobe oven with clay dug from the banks of nearby Kootenay Lake. After a few experiments with chicken, bread and some other goodies, pizza night quickly became the favorite of the family for a little friendly competition, good eats and good times. It was during these evenings that the hunt began for the best crust and toppings they could create, and shortly after they developed a desire to share it with others.
The Wiley’s felt what was missing in Trail’s current culinary scene is authentic Napolatena style pizza — hence, the Rustic Crust.
Canadian Cancer Society: West Kootenay
Canadians recently came together to celebrate the Tragically Hip: A National Celebration! Fans gathered for the love of the iconic band but also to raise critically needed funds for brain cancer research. Participating venues, including the Royal Theatre and the Arlington Bar & Grill in Trail, the Element Club Bar & Grill in Castlegar, the Civic Theatre and Mike’s Place Pub in Nelson and Clyde’s Pub in Grand Forks, broadcasted the concert that was live from the band’s hometown of Kingston, Ont., on Aug. 20th.
The Canadian Cancer Society was welcomed into participating venues across the country, to ask for voluntary donations to the newly established Brain Cancer Research Fund in Honour of Gord Downie. Together, West Kootenay Boundary communities raised desperately needed funds toward the national campaign, which is still being tallied across the country but was well received locally with $5,000 total raised. Alongside, a text to give push garnered $8,705 nationally in donations on Saturday night – the program since its inception July 1st has raised $12,055 and continues to be live until September 1st. Donors can still text the word FIGHT to 20222 and choose to donate $10, $20 or $25, or give via cancer.ca/brainresearch or by calling 1-800-268-8874.
Without the support of venues and also Canadians who gave, the Society’s effort would not have been possible, and the message to tens of thousands of people would not have been heard. Because of Gord Downie’s very public confession of Glioblastoma, a cruel and incurable brain cancer, it has become a national topic of conversation. The Hip campaign was an exciting opportunity for the Society and is just one example of the many revenue development initiatives managed and supported by the Society’s staff and amazing volunteers.
The Canadian Cancer Society is a volunteer organization that strives to eradicate cancer and support individuals in their fight against cancer. The office located in Trail serves the West Kootenay Boundary as a landing pad for connecting locals with services such as financial support for those traveling for treatment or wigs for those undergoing chemotherapy. The office also works to raise funds for such support services, cancer research, and prevention education through community events such as the Daffodil Dash and Relay For Life and other means of revenue development like the Daffodil campaign.
Here’s a look at support statistics for the Southern Interior for 2015/16:
– Cancer Information Service Inquiries: 775
– CancerConnection matches: 112
– Camp Goodtimes participants: 42
– Financial Support clients: 210 (Note: the CCS provides the most financial assistance to residents in the Southern Interior. The next highest is the North with 118 clients.)
– Lodge: 1,352 clients
The Canadian Cancer Society values the Trail and District Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber connects like-minded business professionals and organizations that share a common goal of serving its communities and providing a service to residents.
To follow the local office, check out its Facebook page.
Genelle Travel
Book your next vacation with Genelle Travel. They offer a variety of vacation packages, tours, river and ocean cruises and other unforgettable custom travel packages. Leave the details to the. Just sit back, relax and enjoy!
Your Full Service Local Travel Agency. Groups, Corporate Travel, Sun, Europe, Cruises, Fight Centre, Vacation Centre, Travel Insurance & Destination Weddings. Members of Travel Professionals International & Virtuoso Luxury Travel Specialists. CPBC Licence no. 65928
As part of Genelle B&B Guest House, they offer a 4hr fly fishing package by drift boat down the Columbia from Castlegar with experienced guide for $375.00 double occupancy
Call Gordon at 1-877-693-2189 or click here to visit the Genelle Travel website.
Birchbank Golf Course
Birchbank has developed into one of the finest golf courses in the Kootenays and is sure to provide an excellent golf experience for everyone. With spectacular views of the Selkirk and Monashee Mountains, this 18 hole Championship Course is a fully mature, tree-lined classic. Known for its large manicured greens and contoured fairways, this extremely well maintained, great walkers course offers an enjoyable experience for all golfers.
Since the opening of the Club in 1962, several upgrades have been made at the Birchbank Golf Course/Rossland Trail Country Club. These changes include the reconstruction of several greens, hole relocations, additional bunkers and tee boxes as well as a new irrigation system which includes the ponds situated along #12 and #15 fairways.
Birchbank includes an 18 hole golf course, driving range, practice green, Bistro lounge and dining room, CPGA pro and a full service pro shop.
July 30th & 31st is their two-day Mixed Open tournament with dinner, prizes and lots of fun! Click here for the registration form.
Visit their website for upcoming events or to book a tee time online.
Columbia Valley Counselling Centre Society
Did you know that stress in the workplace accounts for 19% of absenteeism? It also affects 40% of turnover costs, 30% of short and long term disability and 60% of workplace accidents. These numbers are significant to any workplace. If you want to decrease these numbers in your organization and save money in the long-term, you need to invest in professional support to assist employees. Early intervention helps employees stay at work longer or return to work sooner.
Who better to assist than Columbia Valley Counselling Centre Society. They are a local non-profit professional employee and family assistance counseling service located in Trail. The qualified professional counsellors are dedicated to improving the health of your employees. And of course, confidentiality is of utmost importance.
The full service counseling rate is $61 plus GST per full time employee per year. This includes spouses, dependents and retirees. If you are interested in improving your workplace by offering counseling services to your employees, contact CVCCS at 250-368-9118 or email cvccs@telus.net.
