2019 CHAMBER REPORT MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO an active participant in the city’s members for your ideas and Municipal Development plan input. process, ensuring the needs of our business community are Our community engagement being heard. We are proud to and events continue to expand. be part of the Villeneuve Airport We have an amazing team of Task force and look forward to dedicated staff and volunteers the development of business who work tirelessly to bring our and opportunities over the next members and residents events few years. that we can all be proud of. The Chamber is proud of the As we look towards 2020, work that we do during election we look forward to the years bringing the candidates opportunities that lie ahead. to our business members as We are extremely fortunate to well as facilitating and hosting have a very dedicated Board of the public election forums. This Directors who are committed year was no exception with to ensuring the Chamber the Provincial, Federal and a represents our business byelection in Sturgeon County community. The Board, along taking place. with our very active Government Through the enormous Affairs Committee will continue challenges this past year, we We continued with our to monitor changes that have been inspired by the information workshops could impact our businesses many businesses who have and roundtable discussions and will provide information continued to adapt and show throughout the year as we on emerging issues. Our resilience and perseverance. recognize the importance in Chamber network will continue We were thrilled to welcome facilitating opportunities for to advocate on behalf of our 170 new members this year, increased knowledge and business community, locally, most of which were new providing a platform for our provincially and federally. Our business ventures. We were also members to share their ideas entire team looks forward honoured to be able to help and concerns. Our MDP to working with all of you as business members celebrate 25, Roundtable in June and our Red we continue to ensure our 30 and even 40 years of business Tape Reduction Roundtable in community has a “Thriving in this community. October are just two examples Business Environment.” where the Chamber provided We continued to work on new the means for the business initiatives and collaborations community to speak directly with many partners throughout with our city and provincial the community. We are an leaders. As issues or educational external partner stakeholder in opportunities arise, we will Jennifer McCurdy many of the city’s Corporate continue to hold roundtables President & CEO and will be reaching out to our Message from the Chair Expo drew over 12,000 people and the Snowflake Festival attracted well over 15,000 to the Perron District. A Small It has been both a privilege Business Week celebration “It is truly a and honour to serve as the 2019 saw 72 amazing businesses volunteer Chair of the Chamber. nominated and recognized at rewarding experience I’ve witnessed the strength the awards night. and success of our Chamber and I’m proud to have firsthand. I’m proud that it is I thank our 2019 Chamber had this opportunity held in very high regard and board members for their a leader within St Albert as passion, dedication and hard to be part of this well as amongst the Alberta work serving our members and and Canadian Chambers of working to create a dynamic, community.” Commerce. strong and successful business community. This cannot be ~Mark Stoneleigh This past year continued to be a done without the amazing challenging and pivotal year for work the Chamber staff and 2019 Chair our businesses. The Chamber President & CEO, Jennifer has been in the forefront actively McCurdy, perform each advocating and addressing and every day. They are an concerns with stakeholders, awesome, passionate, and hard- educating businesses, hosting working team that deserve roundtables and workshops. many kudos and thanks! As Alberta underwent another provincial election, our Chamber I have learned so much and was highly involved in advocating met many great and passionate for the reduction of red tape, people over the past 9 years and interprovincial trade barriers and highly recommend that you get costs for businesses, improving involved in any way that you can business competitiveness and to ensure our Chamber remains addressing the skills gap. We a strong voice for business and were also highly involved in the active in the community. It is Municipal Utility Corp debate truly a rewarding experience providing businesses a voice. and I’m proud to have had this opportunity to be part of this I am very proud of the community. community involvement and events held by our Chamber. The Outdoor Farmers’ Market was recognized in 2019 by Chatelaine Mark Stoneleigh magazine as one of the top 11 2019 Volunteer Chair markets in Canada. The Lifestyle ABOUT THE CHAMBER CORE VALUES: The St. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce is a membership needs-driven Integrity organization dedicated to providing a range We act ethically of services and activities to fill the current with honesty and and emerging needs of the community and transparency and members we serve. professionalism. It’s not just about doing the right thing; it’s We provide a forum for the analysis about doing it the of issues, trends, opportunities and right way. accomplishments that impact our membership specifically and St. Albert’s business community in general. As a group, Passion our members are able to share information and insights for the benefit of the local We are enthusiastic about what we business community. consider, undertake, and promote. We are We interpret and report on changing invested in our projects government and economic conditions and take pride in our that affect the business environment. We accomplishments. Our work is important to us. represent the interests of our members in our dealings with legislators and government officials through active and constructive participation in the legislative Advocacy and administrative process. We champion the cause of others to the greater benefit of all. We facilitate real change through our work with many levels of chambers and government. We are dedicated to enhancing both the profile and image of our members. Vision Our community has a thriving business environment Creativity We explore better ways to serve our members and community. Potential MISSION and possibility drive us to ask ‘what if?’ The St. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce is a Collaboration champion of We use approaches that are open and ideas; leading, inclusive. Together we achieve more than we inspiring and ever could on our own. advocating for our We are a collection of driven individuals who community, want to see business facilitating change succeed. and growth while creating a fertile Relevance environment for We exist because our members see value in businesses, our work. We are an partnerships, and effective organization working on behalf of residents. members to provide services and solutions to their needs, and those of the broader community. “The Chamber is the ‘go to’ organization. Our members are inspiring community leaders, and we are proud to have them as part of our Chamber family.” STRATEGIC AREA OF FOCUS: The Chamber focuses on the development of a vibrant community in the Botanical Arts City. People choose our community because it is rich with experiences, opportunities, and activities. Our members want to build a business community as vibrant as they are. St. Albert is a shopping, educational, and professional destination. It is also a transportation hub offering road, air, rail, and future rapid transit accessibility. St. Albert is an ideal location for commercial, light industrial, and professional businesses. The St. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce is the ‘go to’ organization. Our members are inspiring community leaders. We are proud to have them as members of the Chamber family. SUPPORTING ACTIONS: CHAMBER EXPANSION Jodie McFadzen Past Chair Chamber membership grows as the community of St. Albert does. Dedication to providing valuable services The UPS Store #65 & and networking opportunities allows us to attract and sustain our membership. Penzen Limited BUSINESS EXPANSION We strive to cultivate the business environment in St. Albert by creating fertile economic ground to attract and sustain healthy business growth and prosperity. LEVERAGE OPPORTUNITIES We recognize and create opportunities to meet our goals and strategic objectives. PARTNERSHIPS We understand the critical importance of seeking partnership opportunities to achieve success in all that we do. ABOUT THE CHAMBER 2019 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mark Stoneleigh Chair ATB Financial Jodie McFadzen Margaret Mrazek, QC Curtis Crouse Kelvin Smith Past Chair 1st Vice Chair 2nd Vice Chair Treasurer Kelvin Smith The UPS Store #65 & Lawyer A-1 Heating and One Penzen Limited Hour Plumbing Professional Corp. Connie Clark Jillian Creech Doug Webster Garry Wetsch Mission Computers St. Albert Centre Staples Landrex Jill Bulmer Randy Denton Mel Garbe Angie Hampshire Cerulean Boutique The Co-operators - Lift Legal St. Albert Gazette Denton Agencies Ltd. CHAMBER STATISTICS Events Membership Over 35,000 people We had 170 new attended our major events members in 2019, (not including the Farmers’ and currently have Market) in the last year. 950 members who The Lifestyle Expo & Sale represent over 18,000 employees. and the Snowflake Festival are our best attended public events. Farmers’ Market The Farmers’ Market is the largest Outdoor Farmers’ Website Page Views Market in Western Canada 105,071 page views. A with 270 vendors and an page view is triggered average of 15,000 attendees when any page is loaded each weekend. by a visitor to the site. Volunteers M2M & B2B Over 100 volunteers gave 53 business members over 400 volunteer hours are part of the Member- to support Chamber’s to-Member (M2M) and special events.