Do you know a company or person who stands head and shoulders above their small business competitors? Maybe they’re a client of yours. Or perhaps they’ve worked with your business to make it more successful and profitable.

If you know a small business that’s doing amazing things, nominate them today for the Small Business Week Awards. Previous award winners have included such business standouts as Arlene Dickinson, TV host of CBC’s hit TV the show the Dragons’ Den and CEO of Venture Communications, as well as the founders of Spolumbo’s Fine Foods, Tony Spoletini, Mike Palumbo and Craig Watson.

Nominate someone for the Small Business Week Awards.

Every week Ben Brunnen, chief economist with the Calgary Chamber, breaks down an ongoing trend in the economy and explains what this development means for business in our city.

This week Brunnen provides a quarterly update into the state of the national and provincial economy, looking at the leading economic indicators as well as the growth expectations for the remainder of the year.

Find out what red flags you need to be aware of, which could put a damper on economic growth for the next quarter.

Friday September 28, 2012
11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Fairmont Palliser Hotel, Crystal Ballroom
133 9th Ave SW

Improvements to Alberta’s transportation system can help to boost business productivity and wealth generation through increased personal mobility and quality of life.

Join us as Ric McIver, Alberta’s transportation minister, outlines the government’s overall transportation strategy for the next four years, including such initiatives as the Alberta Traffic Safety Plan, the distracted driver law and the recently introduced stiffer penalties for impaired drivers.

Learn what the government has planned for Alberta’s transportation system.

Wednesday October 10, 2012
11:30 am – 1:15 pm
Simmons Building
618 Confluence Way SE

Earlier this year, Calgary lured renowned urbanist Rollin Stanley from the United States to lead the city’s planning department and put our city on a path towards smarter growth and development.

Stanley worked as a planner for 21 years in Toronto before rocketing to smart-growth notoriety as planning director in St. Louis and other U.S. cities. He is a staunch advocate of needing to build up and just not out, as well as clustering housing, jobs and stores around transit to cut down on the need to drive.

Join us as new city planner, Rollin Stanley gives a snapshot of his vision for city planning, and learn how these changes will affect both Calgary and the business community.

Alberta’s Treasury Board and Finance Minister Doug Horner paid a visit to the Calgary Chamber last week to listen to the concerns of the city’s business community as part of the government’s pre-budget consultation process with industry.

During the meeting, Horner asked a room full of Calgary business leaders what type of business environment do they currently work in, and what type of environment do they expect to work in the future? The feedback from both of these questions will be used by government to determine what it can do in the future to help industry.

Learn more about this meeting and how Chamber membership can help to have your voice heard by key policy makers.

Friday September 28, 2012
7:30 am – 9:00 am
Room 205, Calgary Chamber
100 6th Avenue SW

Three years ago, the Government of Alberta implemented a new lobbyist registry to oversee the activities of consultants and other organizational lobbyists in the province seeking to influence government decision makers.

What common problems have users of the registry encountered since its implementation? What can be done to avoid these pitfalls? What developments in other jurisdictions should lobbyist in Alberta be aware of? Get answers to all your questions from Brad Odsen, registrar for Alberta’s new Lobbyists Act and general counsel for the Office of the Ethics Commissioner.

Learn how to properly advance your message to government decision makers.

Wednesday September 19, 2012
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Self Connection Books
125, 4611 Bowness Road NW

Sometimes we can be our own worst enemy. Sure, we know what we want to achieve, and maybe we even how to achieve it, but for some strange reason we keep preventing ourselves from pulling the trigger on what needs to be done to make that happen.

Join us for the inaugural event in the Chamber’s Street Smarts for Business series to learn why we stand in the way of our own success as Hamish Knox, owner of a Sandler Training Centre, provides valuable insights that will help business owners and sales people propel their career, achieve their goals and increase their profits.

Stop holding yourself back and learn how to achieve your goals in life and business.

Friday September 14, 2012
6:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Telus SPARK Science Centre
220 St. George’s Drive NE

This is your last chance to get tickets for the award-winning Calgary Chamber gala.

Last year’s gala was recognized as one of the best corporate events in Canada by Canadian Special Events, and this year’s event is already being talked about as one of the most entertaining evenings yet to be staged in Calgary.

While we can’t reveal all the evening’s secrets, we can tell you that you’ll learn how to use positivity to improve your workplace performance, and have your mind blown by experiences such as molecular gastronomy and digital light painting.

Get your tickets before it’s too late.

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.

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