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 competiveness of its cities.

Over the next several years Canada’s growing population will become more urbanized, and Canadian cities will have to meet the challenges related to this growth. That means cities need to be innovative, strategic and efficient if they plan to continue to be hubs of economic activity.

To pave the way for a cleaner, better and brighter future, the Calgary Chamber and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce are joining forces to present Smart Cities of the Future, a conference that will examine how Canada’s competitiveness can be improved by addressing the core challenges facing its urban centres — issues such as transportation, infrastructure, urban planning, governance, sustainability and energy.

Join us as we discuss how cities can become innovative and prosperous centres that fuel sustainable economic development and a high quality of life.

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 looks at the tensions between B.C. and Alberta over the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline, which would transport oil from the oilsands through B.C. to markets in Asia. B.C.’s premier has said the project is dead in the water unless the province gets its “fair share” of the economic benefits from the project, while Alberta’s premier has said that’s not going to happen. 

Learn more about why B.C. wants its fair share, and how agreeing to these demands could open up a big can of worms.

Thursday August 23, 2012
8:30 am Shotgun Start
Springbank Links Golf Club
125 Hackamore Trail

Networking is the name of the game of this golf tournament.

Entrepreneurs and business professionals may come “fore” the golf but they leave with prospective clients, sales leads and business referrals that will help them grow and improve their business. 

Don’t miss out on this chance to link up with other business professionals from small to mid-sized companies.

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 then Montgomery County. 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 Stanley gives a snapshot of his vision for city planning, and learn how these changes will affect both Calgary and the business community.

Small Business week, which runs from October 15 to 19, is quickly approaching. That means it’s time to figure out what you’re doing and if you’re putting on a small business-related event.

Throughout the week, the Chamber will be the single largest touch point for all things relating to small business in Calgary with a website that will highlight all of the small business events, presentations and learning workshops that will be happening throughout out city.

In the weeks to come, we’ll be asking for info on your event so we can post it on our Small Business Week website, which we’ll be launching in September.  So, get those mental gears turning and start planning because before you know it – Small Business Week will be here.

Lecture   
Wednesday September 19, 2012
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Workshop
Wednesday September 26, 2012
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Self Connection Books
125, 4611 Bowness Road NW

Setting goals is a vital part in steering your company in the right direction. But getting there isn’t easy, as challenges can derail even the best laid plans.

Join us for a lunch event where Hamish Knox, owner of a Sandler Training Centre, will provide a refresher on the self-imposed obstacles that stand in the way of your success. Some of the things you'll learn include:

• How mental hurdles prevent people from setting goals and how to overcome them
• How to improve your company's performance by understanding the goals of your employees, and aligning those objectives with the direction of your business
• How to create a roadmap to hit your daily, short-term and long-term goals

Stop sabotaging your own success - sign up today.

Wednesday September 12, 2012
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Devry Institute of Technology
2700 3rd Avenue SW

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 groundbreaking 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.

As an added bonus, event attendees will be treated to a talk by Ranil Herath, president of the DeVry Institute of Technology, on how to use Linkedin for business networking.

Register for focused business networking at its best.

Running a business isn’t for the faint of heart. Competition is fierce and small to mid-sized businesses often find themselves competing with larger companies when it comes to attracting and retaining employees. Finding the right benefits to offer your employees is key if you want to hold on to your staff and stay competitive.

If you’re a Chamber member with three or more employees you can take advantage of the Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan, which lets you choose the coverage you want – from life and disability to health and dental – all at a price you can afford.

Learn more on about how you can find the perfect plan for your business.