One of the exciting parts of the transformation of the Calgary Chamber is the creation of a new space and programs delivered in a way that better meets the needs of our members.  Today I am excited to announce the next step in our journey.

The Chamber has worked with Allied Properties REIT to secure our new home in the historic Burns Building downtown.  We will be situated at 237 8th Ave SE, right across Macleod Trail from City Hall and facing onto Olympic Plaza.

Learn more about this great new space and how it will reflect our new direction.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Devry Institue of Technology – Room 201
2700 3rd Avenue SE

For networking to be effective, you need to meet the right type of people who will grow and connect your business.

That’s where Connect for Lunch comes in. The format for this event differs dramatically from other networking events. Before each event, attendees are encouraged to contact us to tell us about their business, their challenges, and the type of people they’d like to connect with to overcome these problems and grow their business. With this information, we get to work placing people at each attendees table who will meet their networking needs. This – quite simply – is focused business networking at its best! 

As an added bonus, event attendees will be treated to a talk from community engagement strategist Anila Lee Yuen on how to use Facebook to build their business network to find new clients and customers.

Only 36 spots are available. Hurry and book today.

Small Business Week, which runs from October 15 to 19, is quickly approaching and the go-to website for all activities is SmallBusinessWeekCalgary.com. This website will highlight all of the small business events, presentations and learning workshops that will be happening throughout the city.

If you or your organization is putting on an event during Small Business Week it’s time get the word out on what you are doing.

Post your event today to make sure it’s well attended.

Tuesday October 9, 2012
11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Hyatt Regency Calgary
700 Centre Street SE

Any economic or political development in the U.S. has the opportunity to greatly impact Alberta’s business community. 

Join us as Danielle Smith, leader of the Wildrose party, recaps her 21-day participation in the International Visitor Leadership Program hosted by the United States Embassy. This exchange program builds awareness on foreign policy perspectives between the U.S. and other nations through short-term visits to the U.S. with emerging foreign leaders.

Learn more about Smith’s observations on the U.S. economy and political climate and how it relates to two pillars of Alberta’s economy: energy and agriculture.

Life continues to get more stressful. We are working harder than ever, more hours than ever, and being faced with so many aspects of life converging to create stress and anxiety. Add to that a sputtering economy, global economic uncertainties and the rest of life’s challenges, and you have yourself one heck of a recipe for stress.

And stress can often lead to the sense of being overwhelmed, helpless and hopeless. That is when depression starts to kick in. And so it is no surprise to learn that 46 per cent of Albertans will be either directly or indirectly affected by depression at some point in their life.

Learn more about the link between business and depression and what next steps you should take.

Every week the Calgary Chamber’s chief economist Ben Brunnen examines a recent development in the economy in his Breaking it Down for Business video series, and explains what it means for business in our city.

This week, after receiving some viewer feedback regarding foreign investment in the Alberta oil industry, Ben breaks it down.

Learn more about just how much of the patch is owned and controlled by foreign money.

Thursday, October 4, 2012
7:30 am – 9:00 am
The Ranchmen’s Club
710 13th Avenue SW

Depression costs Canadian businesses an estimated $7.9 billion a year through diminished productivity brought on by a loss of an employee’s creativity, motivation and problem solving capabilities.

To help address this problem, the Calgary Chamber and the Calgary Counselling Centre are joining forces for the second year on National Depression Screening Day to create awareness and dispel the myths and stigmas associated with mental health issues. A keynote address by Mayor Naheed Nenshi will be accompanied by a panel discussion with leading experts who will share their own experiences and offer insights on how to effectively deal with depression – both in and outside of the workplace.

Find out what you can do to combat depression.

The Alberta Chambers of Commerce is pleased to host an MP Dinner in Calgary on Thursday, Oct. 11, at the Sheraton Cavalier Hotel.

During this evening function, members of Alberta’s federal  government caucus will join our guests for an hour-long reception, followed by dinner. After dinner, the leading member of caucus will speak and then moderate a candid question-and-answer session.

When registering, our guests are invited to let us know which MP they would like to join for dinner. Seating is based on a first-come, first-served basis.

ACC’s MP Dinner offers Alberta’s business community a wonderful opportunity to discuss issues of importance with key decision-makers in Ottawa.

Thursday November 1, 2012
8:00 am – 3:30 pm
TransAlta
110 12th Avenue SW

Understanding the Aboriginal community is critical to your organization’s success. It can help you avoid project delays by learning how to consult and accommodate Aboriginal communities, as well as develop a reputation for corporate social responsibility, foster workplace diversity and tap into new economic opportunities.

To provide businesses with this knowledge the Calgary Chamber and Cross Cultural Consulting are joining forces to present a one-day Aboriginal cultural sensitivity course with Neil McDonald, Canada’s most experienced diversity trainer. During this 30-year career, McDonald has trained tens of thousands public, private and volunteer sector personnel on cultural awareness.

Only 25 spots are available. Hurry up and get your ticket today.

Monday, October 22, 2012
9:00 am – 10:00 am
Self Connection Books
125, 4611 Bowness Road NW

Creating the conditions your business needs to grow in a quick and yet sustainable way is a delicate balance of product development, proper positioning in the marketplace and getting the word out to your target market.

Clifford L. Spyker knows this process all too well. For nearly 25 years, Spyker, an associate professor in accounting and entrepreneurship at Mount Royal University, has assisted more than over 2,500 men and women throughout Alberta start and grow their business ventures.

Learn how you can double your business in one year by identifying your unique expertise and positioning it properly in the market.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012
7:30 am - 2:30 pm
Marriott Calgary Hotel
110 9th Avenue SE

Canada’s economic success is tied to the ability of its cities to properly manage the challenges that comes with rapid growth. To pave the way for a brighter future, the Calgary Chamber and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce are joining forces to present Smart Cities of the Future, a one-day conference that will examine how Canada’s competitiveness can be improved by addressing the challenges facing its urban centres,  such as transportation, infrastructure, urban planning, governance, sustainability and energy.

A keynote address by Premier Alison Redford will accompany a number of leading experts who will be participating in panel discussions throughout the day.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to discover how cities can become prosperous centres that fuel sustainable economic development.

October 29, 2012
2:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Where else can you find…

• The maker of Spy vs. Spy, one of the bestselling mobile games of all time and a man that CNN Money has labelled a “CEO to watch?”
• The man that Alberta Venture magazine has called “one of the Top 100 Entrepreneurs of the Century?”
• The female head of a Calgary tech start-up which earlier this year won the title “the most innovative start-up on the planet” at the renowned Global Technology Symposium in Silicon Valley?

The answer to these questions is the iF series. This ground breaking speaker series brings together business savvy Calgarians whose own career success began by wondering “what if….” What if the old way of doing things isn’t the best way? What if there is a better way? And with that simple what if… question they went on to pursue an unconventional idea that lead to incredible things.

Hear their stories, learn their secrets and be inspired to pursue your own “what if…” idea.

Thursday October 18, 2012
5:30 pm – 10:00 pm
The Metropolitan Conference Centre
333 4 Avenue SW

Small Business Week, which runs from October 15 – 19, is dedicated to celebrating the contributions that small to mid-sized companies make to the economy. The two biggest events of this week are the Tradeshow Expo and the Small Business Week Awards presentation.

Tradeshow Expo
Presented by First Calgary Financial

This event gives businesses the opportunity to display their products or services, discover new businesses and network with other people in Calgary’s business community. The event typically attracts upwards of 300 attendees.

Booths sell out quickly for this event. Book yours today. 

Small Business Awards presentation
The pinnacle of Small Business Week is an awards presentation that reveals the emerging stars of the city’s small business scene. This year, awards will be given out to a number of high achievers in the business world.

A special keynote address will also be given by Zahra Al-Harazi; founder of Foundry Communications and one of Chatelaine Magazine's "Women of the Year."

Meet and learn from some small companies who are doing big things in the local economy.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012
11:30 am – 1:15 pm
The Calgary Petroleum Club
Devonian Room
319 5th Avenue SW

It’s been 24 months since this City Council was elected to serve Calgarians and steward a growing Calgary. As he enters the last year of this Council’s term, Mayor Naheed Nenshi is asking: how have we made Calgary better?

With its Fiscal Plan for Calgary, Council set out a path to make Calgary a great place in which to make a living and a life. Nenshi will share where we are along that path and where that path leads next—addressing some of the most important issues affecting the better Calgary of tomorrow. 

Join the Mayor as he discusses the future of Calgary.

• Guests feel the difference at Calgary Chamber gala
• B.C. leads be-your-own-boss race - Canadians are starting up businesses at an accelerated rate
• Private Alberta bullet train concept drawing private-sector interest
• Federal government moves to cut business red tape