🆕 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 Autistm Advantage in action.

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

Supporting the businesses affected by the Symon's Valley Ranch fire

Many members have contacted us asking how they can help businesses affected by the Symon's Valley Ranch fire. Right now, one way you can support the affected businesses: visit the vendors at their other locations to continue to support them.

Your Calgary Chamber is actively focused on a number of additional recovery initiatives to assist these businesses and will report back to you, our members, as they develop.

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

Expanding your influence

Give your feedback on Alberta Budget 2017

A big part of the Chamber's work is that we're always advocating for your business. Our Policy Team is currently gathering member feedback to add to our official pre-budget submission, which will soon be sent to the Alberta Government.

In the meantime, if you want a direct line to the government, there is an opportunity to give your feedback. You can either participate in the Telephone Town Hall today, January 31, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm, or you can submit your comments through an online survey.

$45 million in tax relief: Our first big win for your business in 2017

Here's the skinny: 

• We've worked with the City and Calgary Economic Development to create $45 million in business property tax relief.
• If you saw a big increase in the assessed value of your property, it will be reduced to no more than 5% for 2017.
• If you feel your assessment is unfair or incorrect, you should still appeal it. 
• Try this property tax calculator.
• Your tax may still go up. We still need long-term tax reform in Calgary, which your Chamber is keenly focused on.

Tips to grow your business

Digital tip: Give your YouTube videos a boost with end screens, annotations and cards 

From gaining subscribers to selling online to getting users to watch other videos – there are many ways YouTube end screens, annotations and cards can help drive traffic, engagement, and grow your brand.

Watch this handy video from Entrepreneur to learn how to harness the potential of these three simple tools.

What we are reading (and listening to)...

• Canada eyes expanding trade to Far East
• Alibaba CEO Daniel Zhang’s top six leadership tips
• Planet Money podcast: Why did the job cross the road?
• The one skill Warren Buffett says will raise your value by 50%
• Could Canada become a leader in artificial intelligence?

Member insights

Chamber Member: City Wide Towing and Recovery

City Wide Towing and Recovery Service is a Canadian-owned and operated company that has been serving Calgary and Southern Alberta since 1963. With their extensive Heavy Duty Towing and Recovery division, there is no emergency or breakdown they can't handle.

As an industry leader, their professional personnel are committed to meeting every unique challenge with our state of the art equipment, industry-specific software and countless years of towing experience.

Members save more on fleet management with the exclusive Petro-Canada SuperPass

The Petro-Canada SuperPass fleet management program gives you the power to control expenses and puts valuable information at your fingertips. The kind of information that helps give you more control over the costs that impact your bottom line.

As a Calgary Chamber member, you save 2.0 cents/litre on gasoline & diesel and get a 20% discount on car washes at all Petro-Canada retail locations.

Community leaders