2017 Southern Alberta commercial tenant real estate forum

📅 March 14, 2017    🕒 7:30 am – 11:30 am    📍 St. Louis Hotel

The Calgary Chamber, Orange Group Commercial Real Estate, and McLeod Law have partnered to present this first-of-its-kind event aimed at helping businesses navigate the commercial real estate market in the current economic environment.

This jam-packed morning of expert advice takes a deep-dive approach into topics such as:

• Ways to profit from a weak economy
• Negotiating your lease renewal or finding new space
• Top landmines in almost every commercial lease
• Getting landlords to compete for your commercial business

Keeping your health and dental benefits tax-free

The Calgary Chamber has been advocating to keep employer-sponsored health and dental benefits tax-free and on February 1, 2017 the Prime Minister announced the federal government would not be taxing these employer benefits.

This is a big win for you.

In these tough times and with ever increasing cumulative costs burden on business, keeping employer health and dental benefits tax-free is real achievement for the Calgary business community. 

🚀 Ignite profile: Raven Bay

Last week, the Calgary Chamber launched its brand new Innovation Accelerator. The Accelerator – titled Ignite – is the first of its kind in the city, and designed to help local businesses accelerate their growth through rapid innovation.  

We sat down with Don O’Dwyer, CEO of Raven Bay, a program participant, to find out more why he chose to join the Ignite Innovation Accelerator, and his hopes for the program.

Trudeau and Trump talk positively about bilateral trade

From initial media reports, it appears that Trudeau and Trump’s first official meeting went well and both leaders seem enthusiastic about advancing our partnership. This is good news for Canadians, as we do approximately $2 billion worth of daily business with the U.S. and sell nearly 80 per cent of our exports in the United States.  

While yesterday’s meeting could be considered a success, there remains uncertainty regarding the future of NAFTA, America’s proposed border adjustment tax (blog coming soon), and the Unites States plans to address climate change. 

Celebrate the industry that feeds the world

By 2020, Canada is forecast to be one of only 7 net-food exporting nations.

This coming Thursday is Canada’s Agriculture Day. Join your fellow Chamber members in celebrating the businesses, entrepreneurs, scientists and innovators that make Alberta’s second-largest exports and feed the world in the process.

Here are 10 more great reasons to support Canadian Agriculture.

Business After Hours at Meticulon

📅 March 1, 2017    🕒 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm    📍 Meticulon

Social entrepreneurship isn't just about doing good, it's also about building a thriving business, one that disrupts industries and even has the potential to grow internationally. Meticulon has done that, and at our next Business After Hours they're going to teach you all about it.

Here you will network with some of Calgary's best and brightest professionals as you work together to complete the Meticulon Challenge, a 5-stage interactive sensory challenge where you learn first-hand about the Autism Advantage in action.

Come for the networking, and stay for the unique opportunity to learn how social entrepreneurship can revolutionize your business.

Tips to grow your business

Digital tip: How to prepare for the nightmare of losing a smartphone

Nowadays people rely on their smartphones more than ever; for phone calls, email, texts, web browsing, research, social media, entertainment, and storing important files. Smartphones can alleviate many burdens for us thanks to the conveniences they provide - which means if they are lost or damaged that can also place a hefty burden upon their owner.

With that in mind, here are some tips to help you reduce the burden of a lost smartphone as much as possible, both before and after the unthinkable occurs.

What we are reading...

• What to do when your boss says no
• Four secrets of people who finish their workweeks on Thursday
• Chamber launches business accelerator to help local companies launch new products or services
• Chamber of Commerce kicks off 'first of its kind' business accelerator for local companies
• What to expect from Artificial Intelligence

Community leaders