Chamber talk

North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce
Bi-weekly news release

*************************

Chamber comments on recent issues:

Summer Samaritans

• In their third year of operation, Summer Samaritans are expanding their programming through volunteerism in the community. Operated by five university students, they will be applying for not-for-profit status this year. Summer Samaritans assist with events such as Summer in the Park, blood donor clinics, Canada Day, waterfront clean-up and “Swim to Survive” program. The program is directed at youth who need to do their volunteer hours to meet their community hours to graduate from high school. “This is an exciting program for youth to understand the importance of volunteering in the community. It is great to see this organization assisting other community groups and providing an avenue for high school students to complete their community hours in order to graduate.” - Glenn Cundari, President

Dionne Quints Museum open for the summer:

• The museum officially opens for another season today, Friday, May 16th, 2008. Operating hours are Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm and Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm. For July and August, hours are extended to 7 pm. Also, the two remaining Quints, Cecile and Annette will celebrate their 74th birthday on Wednesday, May 28th, 2008. To celebrate this day, the museum will be offering “free” admission to the museum on Sunday, May 25th and the Quints birthday, Wednesday, May 28th. Come celebrate with us and view an important piece of our history. “I hope many of the community will join us to help celebrate the birth of the Dionne Quintuplets. This miracle opened up opportunities for North Bay and area during the depression….this is how we got the highway paved and widened to two lanes from Toronto during the late 1930s. Over 3 million visitors came to the area during the summer months to view the Quints; tourism became popular and it is still one of our main industries to this day.” - Glenn Cundari, President

The Chamber and SAMSSA swap memberships

• The Sudbury Area Mining Supply and Service Association and the Chamber has joined each other’smemberships.

“This is a win-win for both organizations, as the Sudbury based association geared to mining would like more participation from our area members in the mining sector, and our area can benefit from high profile speakers and information that is of concern or interest to this booming industry. We look forward to working closely with SAMSSA to benefit our members, as well as theirs.” - Glenn Cundari, President


Meetings/Events:

• Please note, Chamber board meetings have now been moved to morning meetings for June, July and August beginning at 7:45 am. Board meetings are held the 2nd Thursday of every month.

• The members were represented at the following events recently: the CIM, mining week event, at Nipissing University, promoting employment opportunities in the mining sector to high school students.

• The members of the Chamber will be represented at some of the upcoming graduations for students at Nipissing University and CTS Canadian Career College.

• The Black Fly Golf Tournament, a 9-hole evening event, is set for Tuesday, May 27th at Osprey Links Golf Course. A great way to network with colleagues in a fun and casual setting. The annual 18-hole Chamber golf tournament is set for Tuesday, July 15th at Highview Golf Course.

• In partnership with LTAB, the Multi-Cultural Centre, the Province of Ontario, HRAPO and the City of North Bay, the Chamber is assisting in providing an Immigration Breakfast for Employers on Thursday, June 5th from 7:30 to 9:30 am. “The Chamber encourages our members to attend this breakfast to find out how and why they should be considering hiring immigrants to fill employment gaps that are occurring now and foreseen in the near future.” – Glenn Cundari, President.

• The mining sector and the members of CIM are coming together for an evening of fun aboard the Chief Commanda II, Friday, June 20th – a Blues Cruise featuring Jake and the Fundamentals. A great networking opportunity to meet the over 60 companies that supply the mining industry. The cruise leaves at 6:30 pm, tickets are $25 per person and there will be free bus transportation to 100 Georges to continue the night of fun and networking after the cruise.

• Business After Hours – Mini Trade Show is scheduled for Thursday, June 26th at Best Western – Lakeshore Drive. This is a great opportunity for members that don’t have the space at their locations to host a Business After Hours and allows them to network with other members and potential clients.

• Presentations and correspondence at last week’s board meeting included events such as: Celtfest – June 6th and 7th at Best Western – Lakeshore Drive; IODE nude calendar fundraiser will be out soon; Greater Nipissing Stewardship Council “adopt a Sturgeon” program; Red Friday Waterfront Walk – May 30th at noon from the Waterfront Band Shell supporting the troops and CFB North Bay 22 Wing.

For further information on what the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce is doing to support business in the region please visit www.northbaychamber.com

*************************