2013 Chamber Report

2

We are proud to present you with this “Chamber

Report”, which is designed to give our Chamber of Commerce members and the broader com-munity a greater understanding of the activity and growth of this organization.

Your Board of Directors for the Chamber of Commerce consists of business men and women who care about the community, and operate very strategically as a Board. Together with an amazing Chamber staff and a membership numbering close to 900, we are seeing excellence

in programs and practices, and a strong commitment to our advocacy role.

I would like to offer my most sincere thanks to this tremen-dous group of dedicated staff, our forward-looking Board of Directors, and our tireless volun-teers who work countless hours to achieve success.

I hope you will enjoy this Cham-ber Report, and that next year we will continue to bring news of further developments in our representation of the Business Community. As the Voice of

Business, we continue to inno-vate and collaborate as we work towards fulfilling our Vision: Our community has a thriving business environment.

Lynda MoffatPresident & CEOSt. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce

President & CEOLetter From the

“We are committed to providing great value to businesses, residents and visitors alike...”

3

At the St. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce, we

continually strive to be great role models for our community. We do this by providing leadership for both our members and com-munity. In all things we work with our values in mind:

Integrity, to act ethically with honesty and transparency; creativity, to explore better ways; passion, to be enthusiastic about what we are considering; collaboration, to use an approach that is open and inclu-sive; professionalism, to value courtesy, respect and dignity in

the conduct of our affairs; and advocacy, to champion the causes of others to the greater benefit of all.

It is important to acknowledge the efforts of the Chamber staff and the many volunteers, both on committees, and the Board. They have provided the vision that has shaped the St. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce into the thriving organization it is today. Just as important, we are grateful to the many sponsors, private and pub-lic, who have provided means to help us grow. And we are

thankful to the members, whose continued support is the reason the Chamber exists. We are com-mitted to providing great value to businesses, residents and visitors alike in our wonderful community.

Lynn CaroleiChairSt. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce

ChairLetter From the

“We continue to innovate and collaborate as we work towards fulfilling our Vision.”

4

I want to thank Lynn Carolei as incoming Chair and Charlene Zoltenko as my predecessor, for helping me out so much and stepping in for me when I could not attend a meeting or event. It truly is a team effort. The rest of the Ex-ecutive and the entire Board have made some tremendous contributions to help our community.

Lynda Moffat, President and CEO for our Chamber, deserves a special thank you. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Lynda over the last year. Her knowledge of Chamber activities, the best process for working with Regional Partners, her passion for the Chamber and her unbelievable energy are all appreciated so much.

Our 3 Strategic Focus areas that support our Chamber’s vision are to be: a Vibrant Community, a Regional Hub and a Role Model. Here are some of the issues we were working on in 2012 based on each of the 3 Strategic Focus Areas:

* LRT Expansion – your Chamber has supported LRT Expansion to the north end of St. Albert as soon as possible as it will help us be more vibrant and be a Regional Hub. We are pleased to see that studies are moving forward.

* Big Issue Roundtables - for some key issues, we invite our stake holders to attend, enabling all of us to hear the issue and gain the perspective from others and learn what is important to them. We believe we are acting as a Role Model in this initiative as we bring stakeholders in the district together to hear and debate the issues at the same time.

* Villeneuve Airport – the issue around supporting the development and expansion of the Villeneuve Airport is a great example of us tackling an issue that fits all 3 of our Strategic Focus Areas: role model, regional hub and vibrant community. We will continue to work towards maximizing the potential of this amazing asset in our region.

* Northwest Chamber Leaders – through Lynda’s leadership we are now hosting this important international confer-ence in the Greater Edmonton Area for 2013 and 2014. This gives us the opportunity to show off our City and definitely be a Role Model.

* Industrial Land Needs – we have continued to advocate for more Industrial Lands for development purposes. We recognize the need for neighbouring communities to collaborate and work together with the goal to lessen the tax burden of residents and create employment in our community.

I am positive that our Chamber is making a big difference in the communities that we touch. I have truly enjoyed the experience, have met so many great people along the way and hope in some small way I have made a positive difference for our community in my role working with some incredible people.

- Darel Baker (adapted from his outgoing speech at the 2012 Chamber Gala)

Past Chair - Darel BakerMessage from the

5

Mission

Our community has a thriving business environment.

Vision

1. Vibrant Community 2. Regional Hub 3. Role Model

Strategic Focus Areas

Supporting Action1. Chamber Expansion2. Business Expansion

3. Partnerships4. Leverage Opportunities

The Chamber is a champion of ideas; leading, inspiring and advocating for our community, facilitating change and growth while creating a fertile

environment for businesses, partnerships, and residents.

ValuesIntegrity - We act ethically with honesty and transparencyCreativity - We explore better waysPassion - We are enthusiastic about what we are consideringCollaboration - We use an approach that is open and inclusiveProfessionalism - We value courtesy, respect and dignity in the conduct of our affairsAdvocacy - We champion the causes of others to the greater benefit of all

6

2013 Executive Committee

Lynda MoffatPresident & CEO

St. Albert and DistrictChamber of Commerce

Lynn CaroleiSublime Swim & Sunwear

Chair

Paulette Godin-DonovanScotiabank - Citadel Village

Secretary

Paul QuantzQuantz Law Group

1st Vice Chair

Ken MacraeKen Macrae Chartered

AccountantTreasurer

Barry BaileyBailey Event Management

2nd Vice Chair

Darel BakerKeldar Leadership Solutions

Past Chair

7

2013 Board of Directors

Douglas LambServus Credit Union

Mark StoneleighATB Financial

Tudor Glen

Terry MahoneyThe Vineyard Wine Market

Margaret MrazekLawyer

Margaret GeallMargaret Geall

Mortgages

Jodie McFadzenPenzen Limited

Craig PilgrimRE/MAX Real

Estate

Kendell BousquetAllstate Insurance

Company of Canada

Julian RomankoInvestors Group

Brian BachynskiGreat West Newspapers

LP (Gazette)

Jillian CreechSt. Albert Centre -

Primaris Management Inc.

Mathew PotterSwift Media Group

8

Staff

Lynda MoffatPresident and CEO

Shawn RuncerExecutive Assistant/Finance Coordinator

Jennifer McCurdyMember Services

Director

Debbie GrantEvents Manager/

Farmers’ Market Manager

Roberta PawlukMember Services

Sales Associate

Alex ScuccatoCommunications

Coordinator

Erin CassidyAccount Executive Media Coordinator

Danielle GallantEvents Coordinator

Paula DuncanAdministrative Support

James LoFarmers’ Market Assistant

9

We Are the Voice of BusinessBusinesses have a strong voice at the municipal, provincial and federal level by being members of the Chamber of Com-merce. One of the biggest benefits of membership is that members, with time permitting, are able to get involved in local affairs and help creative positive change in their commu-nity. The Chamber, on behalf of its members, works with all levels of government to ensure that St. Albert and District is an attractive place to live and grow a business.

If you would like to get involved or have an issue you think needs to be

addressed, contact the Chamber office at 780-458-2833 or email cham-ber@stalbertchamber.com

Downtown Area Redevelopment PlanWe spoke in support of Council’s introduction of the Downtown Area Redevelopment Plan and hosted a Business Own-ers’ Information Session. It outlined the plan’s key objectives and vision of establishing downtown St. Albert as an exciting, vibrant place where resi-dents, visitors, businesses and government come together to shop, dine, celebrate our heritage, and enjoy events, enter-tainment, and the arts.

Light Industrial Land Needs StudyWe prepared two presen-tations to City Council regarding the issue of identification, mainte-nance and promotion of a suitable land base to support future develop-ment and employment growth in St. Albert. The Chamber anticipates that industrial lands will help grow St. Albert’s employ-ment base. We played an active role in the debate and supported the City’s motion identifying which lands will be used for development. At an earlier meeting, we spoke against an application for resi-dential development on potential Light Industrial lands.

Signage IssuesThis past year, your Chamber did a lot of work with the business community to identify views on the use of por-table signs, and examined the portable sign bylaws in place in other Canadi-an communities. We then prepared a comprehen-sive information package and submitted it to City Council for their use.

Our President and CEO, Lynda Moffat, as a mem-ber of the St. Albert Trail Committee, chaired a sub-committee on the use

of signage on the Trail, and the recommendations from that group will be presented to City Council this month. It is a fine line to balance the advertising needs of business and the cluttered appearance of our busiest traffic route through St. Albert.

Villeneuve AirportDoug Horner, President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Finance of Alberta, announced that the Villeneuve Airport will be the official backup site for medevac flights when the City Centre air-port closes. Construction for the multmillion dollar investment in airport up-grades started this spring and are projected to finish by the end of the year. Chamber President and CEO Lynda Moffat helped spearhead the Villeneuve Airport Joint Task Force and believes that an extended runway will have a huge economic impact on this region by drawing more planes and customers to the airport. After the Chamber formed the Villeneuve Airport Tastk Force, we hosted our first Big Issue Roundtables on this subject. Bringing together our Board of Directors and a number of commu-nity leaders to hear from

10

experts on the potential expansion, the event garnered plenty of feed-back and ideas. The Chamber supports this move because it is aligned with our three strategic focus areas of creating a vibrant com-munity, developing St. Albert and District as a regional hub, and acting as a role model for others.

LRT ExpansionContinuing on the theme of strategic focus areas, the St. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce strongly believes that the expansion of LRT service to North St. Albert would contribute greatly to these goals. Consequently we have actively encouraged

St. Albert City Council to embrace the opportunity to start the functional study needed to ensure that there is an orderly growth plan for St. Albert, based on the future positioning of the LRT service. This expansion will increase economic growth in our commu-nity, provide transporta-tion for business employ-ees, and allow families to freely move throughout the Capital Region.

Business Park ZoningOver the past year, our Chamber of Commerce was successful in working on behalf of the develop-ment and business com-munities to see broader options included in the zoning bylaws in Camp-

bell Business Park. This has resulted in significant sales of land, and a nearly full business park. We will continue to work on behalf of business to en-sure that we have growth in our capacity to locate businesses in our commu-nity, and zoning bylaws that will allow those who want to locate here to find a suitable site.

St. Albert Trail RevitalizationLynda Moffat was an active participant in the St. Albert Trail Commit-tee, along with several other business people located on the trail, and other businesses people who shared an interest of the area. This dedicated group of individuals have

already made great strides in cleaning up the trail. A sub-committee chaired by Lynda Moffat worked on the issue of signage clutter on the Trail, and several recommendations were submitted. There are also recommendations on sidewalks, lights, land-scape, and many other issues that affect the visual image and functionality of the St. Albert Trail.

St. Albert Brand Leadership TeamWe were pleased to ac-tively participate in the Brand Leadership Team over the past several years.  This was a dynamic group of individuals committed to planning the role-out of the ne-

Villeneuve Airport - St. Albert Gazette

11

brand for St. Albert as the Botanical Arts City. After plenty of discussion and work, the formal commit-tee has now been retired.  City administration will continue working on the brand in the future.

Non Residential Land DevelopmentOn Monday, January 21st, 2013, city council ap-proved amendments to its municipal development plan and intermunicipal development plan, zoning 617 acres for industrial, non-residential use. The Chamber has been a strong advocate for non-residential land develop-ment, as it is the key to attracting new business opportunities in St. Albert and district. Only by

expanding non-residen-tial land can St. Albert grow and lower the tax burden on our residents. Just some of the benefits for St. Albert and District include: more local em-ployment opportunities, more tax revenue, as well spinoff benefits such as businesses helping sports, charities, and non-profits.   Together with a new plan on incentives to attract businesses, the Chamber is confident that St. Albert will continue to grow its thriving business community.

Alberta Chambers of Commerce Annual General MeetingFrom May 31st to June 2nd, 2013, Chamber dele-

gates attended the Alberta Chambers of Commerce AGM (annual general meeting) in Drumheller. They were proud to attend as representa-tives for business in our community. Speaking to people from all over the province is enlightening because we can see what challenges and triumphs are experienced in other communities, and share ideas on how to enhance business environments throughout Alberta. At the policy session, Chambers got together to discuss issues affecting businesses and to debate Policy Resolutions to present to the provincial government for consid-eration. These issues ran the gamut from financial

policies about economic diversification in Alberta to the negative environ-mental effects of leak-ing seismic holes on the agricultural industry.

We were very proud to present a policy recom-mendation of our own this year regarding Nurse Practitioners. While not being a replacement or substitute for a family doctor, Nurse Practitio-ners can play an impor-tant role in alleviating pressures on the health care system due to physi-cian shortages. The policy resolution was put for-ward by Alex Scuccato, Policy Coordinator at our Chamber of Commerce, and was passed.  It will now go to the provincial government for consideration. 

Land Development - April Bartlett/St. Albert Gazette

12

Perron DistrictThe St. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce is a strong supporter and facilitator of the Perron District Business Group.  This Downtown Com-mittee meets monthly to discuss issues relating to the health and vitality of the Downtown Perron District. There are three distinct sub-committee groups that represent the efforts of Down-town Initiatives: Special Events, Marketing and Communications. They have made many positive strides have been made in bringing issues to the attention of downtown businesses, as well as the City of St. Albert. Some of these include: Downtown parking,  Communica-tions, DARP priorities, 

Pop-up patios,  Major events, and Collaboration.  As the downtown Perron District continues to grow and prosper, our efforts will continue to work as a group in achieving ever-increasing success for the business commu-nity located in the Perron District.

Regional, Provincial, Federal & International ParticipationYour Chamber of Com-merce is very active in participating with the Greater Edmonton Re-gional Chambers of Com-merce, the Alberta Cham-bers of Commerce, and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. The Board of Directors continues to value the culture that sees our Executive Committee

members fully engaged in promoting full par-ticipation at these levels. Our President and CEO, Lynda Moffat, continues to support the Chamber Executives profession at many levels. She is Past President of the Alberta Chamber Executives (2011), the Vice Presi-dent of the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Canada, and the President of the Northwest Cham-ber Leaders group.

Temporary Foreign WorkersAnother important issue that affects many local businesses is the Federal Government’s proposed changes to the Tempo-rary Foreign Workers Program. The proposed changes have caused a

great deal of concern with employers throughout Al-berta. The Alberta Cham-bers of Commerce quickly reacted and recommend-ed that all Chambers either participate or host roundtable discussions with their local MPs. We were quick to make arrangements with our local MP, Brent Rath-geber, to attend a ses-sion with local business owners and managers, hosted by the Chamber of Commerce. The round-table meeting was very enlightening and helped everyone understand the scope of the proposed changes. As a result, we were able to participate in a discussion in Drum-heller that brought about policy recommendations regarding the Temporary

St. Albert’s Perron District

13

Foreign Workers Program that will be taken to the Canadian Chamber for debate in September.

Election ForumPrior to elections, the Chamber hosts an All Candidates Election Fo-rum. This year’s civic elec-tion forum in St. Albert will be held in October. Don’t miss this oppor-tunity to hear first-hand about the local issues af-fecting St. Albertans. For more information, con-tact the chamber office.

Big Issue Roundtables Discussion Groups On April 25, 2012, the St. Albert & District Chamber of Commerce

hosted the first “Big Issue Roundtable” in St. Albert, with 40 community lead-ers and elected officials in attendance. The speakers dealt with two “Big Is-sues”: Villeneuve Airport Expansion and Off-site Levies or Developer Costs. The presentations were informative and helpful for the Chamber Board of Directors and others present in gaining a more complete under-standing of these signifi-cant issues that will affect the future growth and prosperity of St. Albert.The second Big Issue Roundtable took place on June 28th. The event included two speakers: Todd Wyman, Director

of the Growth Initiative Team, City of St. Albert, who spoke about devel-opment and offsite lev-ies; and Edmonton City Councillor Don Iveson, who gave his presentation “Think Transit, Think Re-gional, Think Big” which explored public transpor-tation and LRT expansion into St. Albert.

The third Big Issue Roundtables of the year took place on Septem-ber 27th at the St. Albert Inn & Suites. The event featured a three-person panel including St. Albert City Manager Patrick Draper, Mathew Best of Colliers International, and Jim Cox from the

Surrey City Development Corporation.

The first presenter was Jim Cox who spoke about Surrey’s recent develop-ments. The city’s goal was to become more than just a suburb of Vancouver. Therefore, it explored ways to expand its afford-able housing market and to offer more local em-ployment opportunities. With favorable market conditions, a clear vision, and an appetite for risk, the city was able to make bold moves to achieve its goal.

Mathew Best of Col-liers International then described St. Albert’s

Big Issue Roundtables - Sept. 27th, 2012

14

low industrial vacancy rates compared to the Northwest and Southeast regions of Edmonton. He also discussed the impact the Anthony Henday has had on St. Albert’s devel-opment and the new opportunities and chang-es in Campbell Business park. Patrick Draper detailed city council’s priorities: promoting economic growth, ensuring land is available for non-residen-tial growth, enhancing St. Albert Trail, revital-izing downtown, and reducing risk to develop-ers. He also explained how St. Albert needs

to focus on improving perceptions about the city, to raise St. Albert’s profile locally, provincially, and nationally, and to develop new investment attraction strategies.

Stay tuned for news about upcoming Big Issue Roundtables later this year. For more informa-tion, contact the Chamber office at 780-458-2833

Nurse Practitioner PolicyThe Chamber recently put forward a policy resolution to the Alberta Chambers of Commerce regarding nurse prac-titioners. Health care improvements are vital to

the success of the city and province and the Cham-ber identified one area where the province could help alleviate the strains on the medical system.

Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with advanced education, usu-ally a Ph.D or Masters, who are able to prescribe medication, order diag-nostic tests, treat chronic illness, and more. While they are not a replace-ment for physician, they can work in a team-based environment to help deliver primary care to Albertans. The Chamber presented its policy to delegates at the Alberta

Chambers of Commerce in Drumheller and we’re proud to say that it passed. It will now be presented to the Alberta government along with the other chambers’ policies.

Overall, we believe that by advocating on behalf of business, the Chamber helps create a thriving city to work and live in.

15

We Communicate with the World Around Us

Digital SignsThe Chamber is proud to provide two digital signs with a beautiful design that supports the City’s brand. These signs are at key locations at the far North and South entrances to the city on St. Albert Trail. Advertis-ing is exlusive to Cham-ber members and not-for- profits organizations. We have seen a stable growth in advertisers with the addition of a dedicated sales person. These signs are also used for imme-diate communication in “emergency alert” situations.

Print MediaThe Chamber continues to issue an annual edi-tion of the Perron District Visitor’s Guide, which features businesses and

activities taking place in St. Albert’s downtown. In addition, our comprehen-sive Membership Direc-tory is distributed to our members annually.

We continue to partner with the St. Albert Ga-zette to feature member profiles and our Chamber newsletter in their pub-lication on alternating months. We also continue to partner with the St. Albert Leader to fea-ture a bi-weekly feature page on the Chamber.

E-CommunicationsOur commitment to communications to both members and the com-munity continues through a number of venues. Our continuation of electronic communications through our MemberLink e-blasts

16

has allowed us to reach an audi-ence of over 1,450 members of the Chamber and broader business community on a weekly basis. Over 100 members have taken advantage of this benefit of mem-bership over the past 12 months.

Every second month, we publish Chamber Connections, a news-letter offering articles relevant to business, and providing links to information from both the Alberta Chambers and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber website generates an average of 2,000 page hits per day, reflecting a 150% increase from this time last year. There has been a significant traffic increase to our Member Directory pages (averag-ing 40,000 page hits per month), and our Member Job Posting pages (around 5,000 per month).

With the 30th Anniversary of the St. Albert Farmers’ Market in 2012, we launched our new look and logo with our new Farmers’ Market website. In addition, our Farmers’ Market Facebook page has become an integral part in communicating to the general public from both us and our vendors.

This summer we are launching our Perron District website which will list not only all of the businesses in the area, but their events. It will be directly linked to the Perron District Facebook page which is becoming a go-to place to find out what is happening in the Perron District.

The Chamber also utilizes several Twitter accounts for itself, the Farmers’ Market and the Lifestyle Expo, enabling our followers to keep up to date on all the Chamber’s activities.

Lastly, this year we launched our Shop St. Albert First! campaign with a blog on shopping in St. Al-bert over twelve months. This has been well received by the commu-nity at large and we have received additional exposure through local print media. This can be found at: http://blog.stalbertchamber.com

17

We Value Your MembershipThe St. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce is dedicat-ed to providing a range of services and activities to fill the current and emerging needs of our members.

Create AwarenessThe Chamber provides numerous promotional opportunities for your business. You can offer a discount with the M2M Program, sponsor an event, participate in our Life-style Expo, have a listing on our website and in our member direc-tory, display your business cards, post job openings, and advertise on our digital signs or in our Member-Link electronic newsletter.

Make ConnectionsWith a variety of networking events throughout the year, includ-ing our “Speed Networking” Busi-ness@Breakfasts and Business@Lunch general meetings, we facili-tate business to business, and busi-ness to government connections in St. Albert. Our Lifestyle Expo is a perfect opportunity to make connections with the St. Albert community.

Improve the Bottom LineThe Chamber offers many ways for you and your employees to save money with our exclusive member event rates, M2M Shop Chamber program, merchant VISA and Mastercard rates, Group Insurance Plan, payroll services and much more.

Get InvolvedWe encourage you to support the advocacy work of your Chamber in speaking on behalf of business, by volunteering for one of our committees, or by serving on the Board of Directors.

Support the Local EconomyOur M2M Shop Chamber! program encourages and rewards our members and their employees to shop at local Chamber businesses. Since its inception, we have increased the annual distribution of our M2M cards to over 15,500 member employees.

The Chamber’s policy is to make our purchases through business members whenever possible. We launched a Shop St. Albert First! campaign with a blog on shopping in St. Albert. We will be expanding on this initiative throughout 2013.

2012-2013 was a successful year in terms of membership. We strive to bring value to our members by developing new pro-grams. The Chamber focuses on retaining members and continuing to grow our membership. Since June 2012, we have welcomed 175 new member businesses to the Chamber.

18

MembershipStatistics

ATCO Gas 36BMO Bank of Montreal - Mission Hill 36City of St. Albert 36Drayden Insurance & Registries Ltd. 36FortisAlberta Inc. 36Grandin Bakery (1976) Ltd. 36LBH Building Centre 36Scotiabank - Grandin 36Servus Credit Union 36Shelemey Insurance & Financial Planning Ltd. 36St. Albert Inn & Suites 36Standard General Inc. 36Genstar Development Company 35St. Albert Dairy Queen Dream Team 35Farlie Worldwide Travel 34Grandin Agencies 34Grandin Park Plaza - Amacon Management Services 34Great West Newspapers LP (Gazette) 34Riverside Yamaha-Suzuki 34Canadian Tire 32Mission Ridge Animal Hospital 32St. Albert Centre - Primaris Management Inc. 32

ATB Financial - Tudor Glen 31SPT Drilling Ltd. 31TD Canada Trust 31Alberco Construction Ltd. 30Bermont Realty (1983) Ltd. 30Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools 30Meredith Lock and Key 30Ron Hodgson Chevrolet Buick GMC 30TD Canada Trust 30St. Albert Day Care Society 29St. Albert Funeral Home 29St. Albert Public Library 29St. Albert Public Schools 29City Ford 28Northern Lights Driver Training Ltd. 28The Bookstore on Perron 28Riverside Honda & Ski-Doo 27Socrates Restaurant 26St. Albert Dodge Chrysler Jeep 26Lehigh Hanson Materials Limited 25St. Albert Family Resource Centre 25Tirecraft Auto Centre 25

Longstanding Members of the Chamber by Years of Membership

19

1-2 Employees 40%

3-5 Employees 25%

6-9 Employees 8%

10-24 Employees 7.5%

25-49 Employees 3%

50-100 Employees 3%

101+ Employees 1.5%

Associate 3.5%

Lifetime 0.5%

Non Profit 8%

Home and Garden 6.0%Industrial Supplies and Services 1.0%Lodging and Travel 1.5%Maintenance and Cleaning 2.0%Manufacturing, Production and Wholesale 0.2%Not for Profit and Service Groups 4.0%Personal Services and Care 3.5%Real Estate and Services 6.0%Safety and Security 1.0%Shopping and Specialty Retail 6.0%Sports and Recreation 4.0%Transportation 1.0%Utilities and Environment 1.0%

Advertising, Photography and Media 2.5%Animals, Pets and Veterinary 1.5%Arts, Culture and Entertainment 2.0%Automotive and Marine 4.5%Business and Professional Services 11.0%Computers and Telecommunications 1.5%Construction and Trades 9.5%Events 2.0%Family and Education 3.5%Finance and Insurance 6.0%Food and Beverage 8.5%Government 1.0%Health and Wellness 9.5%

Membership by Sector

Membership by Number of Employees

20

Member Services CommitteeThe Member Services Committee meets to discuss items

relating to membership status, membership programs, mem-ber retention, communication, and networking events. The com-mittee focuses on analyzing and recommending various projects and

programs to provide optimal value to Chamber members.

Perron District Business GroupChaired by Paul Quantz, the committee meets

every month to facilitate work pertaining to the Perron District business community. The group is

composed of downtown business owners, Chamber representatives, and representatives from various

City of St. Albert departments. The 2012-2013 committee focused on increasing the prosperity of the downtown district by discussing topics such as

parking issues, special events taking place, branding and marketing.

Chamber Building CommitteeWith the St. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce continuously

expanding, we identified a need for a larger office space to accomodate our staff and member needs. The Building Committee met throughout 2012/2013 to work towards the construction of a “Center for Business Excellence” to house Chamber opera-tions and other business-focused organizations. With the

relocation of the city’s Business and Tourism office, we are currently renovating the building, which will meet the

Chamber’s needs until the new building is completed.

Member Committees

21

Business Development Event Committees:• Farmers’ Market Committee

• Lifestyle Expo and Sale Committee• Small Business Week Committee

• Snowflake Festival Committee• Business in Blue Jeans Committee

Membership Event Committees:• Chamber Gala Committee

• Golf Tournament Committee

Special Event CommitteesWe have a number of special event committees dedicated to planning our Business Development and Membership events. Each committee meets throughout the year to facilitate the planning of the event including sponsorship, activities, enter-tainment, and event promotions.

Policy CommitteeThe Policy Committee is a group that deals with initiating and

supporting policy resolutions at the provincial and federal level. The 2013 committee reviewed the Provincial Policy

Resolutions coming to the floor for debate and submitted a policy about Nurse Practitioners which was approved

and will be forwarded to the Provincial Government. The Chamber now has dedicated staff working on developing policies on a permanent basis.

Government Affairs CommitteeChaired by Paul Quantz, the Government Affairs Committee meets throughout the year to discuss advocacy issues dealing with civic government. The committee brought in speakers

for special initiatives, made recommendations to the Board of Directors, and discussed issues including LRT expansion, St. Albert’s Industrial Land

Needs, and the Portable Signage Issue.

22

The St. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce pride itself in providing our members with great opportunities to network and develop relationships with other members of the St. Albert and District business community. This past year, we hosted over 30 events with appear-ances from a number of prominent business leaders in the commu-nity including Mayor Nolan Crouse, Hon. Doug Horner, and Brent Rath-geber, QC, MP.

Northwest Chamber Leaders ConferenceFrom March 9th to 11th, the St. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce welcomed Chamber executives and staff from the United States and Canada for the Northwest Chamber Leaders Confer-ence. The goal of the con-ference was to learn from knowledgeable speakers, share best practices, and discuss economic devel-opment for the Northwest region.

Before the conference, a small group went on a tour of oil sands mining and in situ extraction sites in Fort McMurray. After the opening ceremonies, motivational speaker David Aaker kicked off the conference with his “Reach for the Stars” presentation, which focused on the principles of kindness, sharing and giving. Marketing strategist Kyle Sexton gave a talk directed at Chambers of Commerce and how they can more

efficiently serve their members. Richard Far-rell, President of Tangent Knowledge Systems, ran a workshop entitled: “Sell-ing Has Nothing to do with Selling.” His presen-tation showed how selling has evolved and that the Internet has fundamen-tally changed the relation-ship between the business and consumer. He fin-ished by giving advice on how to give value, to build trust with customers, and to find your unique niche.

We FacilitateConnections

Northwest Chamber Leaders Conference Panel

23

Outgoing President and CEO of Edmonton Chamber of Commerce and World Trade Centre, Martin Salloum, gave an educational and enter-taining speech reflecting on his years of work, and the valuable lessons he learned while making the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce one of the largest and most success-ful chambers in Canada.

Next, there was a panel discussion entitled: “How the Northwest is Poised to Lead Economic Growth in the Next Decade”

featuring speakers Matt Morrison, President and CEO of the Pacific North-west Economic Region; Mike Wo, formerly of Edmonton Economic De-velopment; Ruth Sol from the Western Transporta-tion Advisory Council; and Robert Fernandez from Alberta Economic Development.

The panel discussed issues such as energy devel-opments in the United States, the importance of infrastructure and trans-portation for primary industries, and ways the

Alberta government is addressing current skilled labor shortages.

On Monday, Darel Baker, President of Keldar Lead-ership Solutions, started the morning with a talk about “fostering a culture of engagment in your business.” The St. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce was then proud to welcome Alberta Premier Alison Redford as keynote speaker. Ms. Redford spoke about how it was important to main-tain strong ties with the Northwest provinces and

states and work together on common issues.After David Aaker’s second presentation focusing on customer service, the Chambers shared their best practices before the closing ceremonies.

Overall, the conference was a great success and was a unique opportunity to showcase our city to business leaders in Cana-da and the United States. The St. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce is proud to be hosting it again next year in 2014.

Alberta Premier Alison Redford - Northwest Chamber Leaders

24

Business@Breakfast

Business@Lunch

Held every second month from September to June, these informal gatherings allow members to network and connect with other business members, share ideas and information, and gain new leads and business strategies. There is a brief presentation that is geared towards assisting members in their business or personal life during the breakfast portion of the meeting. From there, the group moves into the “Speed Networking” component where the (approximate) 50 attendees make 20 connections over the next 40 minutes.

Hosted usually on the second Wednesday of the month, from September to June, these meetings are held at various member venues with over 1,400 attendees throughout the year. These luncheons provide members with the opportunity to hear first-hand about the Chamber’s activities, network with other businessess, and learn about issues related to business and St. Albert. Meeting themes include our Economic Outlook, State of the City Address, both Federal and Provincial reports, Small Business Celebrations, Chamber Report & Long Term Members and Christmas Festivities.

Festivals and Events

25

Business in Blue JeansEach year the Chamber encourages local businesses to show their support for the Rainmaker Rodeo by participating in “Business in Blue Jeans.” Busi-nesses have the opportunity to win prizes by decorating their stores in a Western theme and inviting their staff to dress the part. Judges grade busi-nesses on their originality, employee participation, decoration, and overall atmosphere. We had a record 19 businesses participate in 2013. Congratula-tions to Canadian Western Bank who won first place, KDM Management for second place, and X-Treme Creations Hair Company for third place.

Annual Golf TournamentThis event is a unique opportunity for members to network in a social and relaxed setting while enjoying a great day of golf. Businesses can sponsor holes and hold activities and attractions at their respective holes. Held at the Sandpiper Golf and Country Club, this year’s tournament was a sold out event, hosting over 37 teams. Congratulations to Canadian Western Bank who took home the first place prize. And a big congratulations to our first-ever hole-in-one winner Doug Kennedy from the Fraternal Order of Eagles who won a $10,000 GIC from ATB Financial.

St. Albert Farmers’ MarketHeld every Saturday from June to October, the St. Albert Farmers’ Market is the largest outdoor farmers’ market in Western Canada. Over 300 vendors sell everything from fresh fruit and fine woodworking to home baked goods and art pieces, attracting 15,000 to 20,000 people each weekend. We also hosted a number of special event days. 2012 marked the 30th anniversary of the market. This year, we look forward to the market being bigger and better than ever.

St. Albert Lifestyle ExpoThe 2013 St. Albert Lifestyle Expo and Sale saw an increase in the number of exhibitors and attendees. In fact, there was a line up each day as we welcomed nearly 10,000 people over the weekend. Our exhibitors, along with our volunteers, made our show the success by showcasing their great prod-ucts and services to the public. During the weekend, we hosted a variety of activities for all ages including the popular Baby Crawl, the Petting Zoo & Kid’s Korner, interactive Outdoor Lifestyle Workshops, and the St. Albert Idol competition.

26

Christmas MarketFor four weeks in November and December, the Perron District’s St. Albert Place opens its doors for the St. Albert Christmas Market. Shoppers have the opportunity to pick up gifts for loved ones and fresh or homemade items for the Christmas meal from nearly 100 different vendors. The St. Albert Christmas market is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season.

Small Business WeekWe celebrated business success in our community with the 2012 Business Awards of Distinction in October. Held at the Arden Theatre, seven awards were presented including: Small Business to Gemport, Young Entrepreneur to Troy Biever of Panago Pizza, Business to Business to Trace Associates Inc., Marketing to Tudor Glen Veterinary Hospital, Outstanding Customer Service to Farlie Worldwide Travel, Home Based Business to Get Organized Business Management Systems, Youth Work Experience to Leslie Cogswell of Maxim Truck & Trailer, and the Chair’s Award of Disinction to Crackmaster Distributors Ltd.

Snowflake FestivalHeld each winter in St. Albert’s scenic Perron District, the Snowflake Festival welcomes the Christmas season with the annual Christmas Tree Light Up. 2012’s event saw an increase in attendees who participated in activities downtown including visits with Santa, children’s crafts, carolers, shinny hockey, live reindeer, the always-popular horse and wagon ride and back again, the captivating flame performer.

Every January, the Chamber celebrates its new Chair and Vice Chair. This year’s event was an evening of masks and beads, fine dining and Dixieland jazz. With a Mardi Gras theme, the Enjoy Centre was transformed into a magical venue. Highlights of the event included the swearing-in, by Mayor Nolan Crouse, of the 2013 Chamber Chair Lynn Carolei and 1st Vice Chair Paul Quantz, the live creation of art by Lewis Lavoie, soulful sounds by the AC Dixie Band, a performance of pure elegance by the Firefly Aerialists, and the evening’s entertainment performed by the 5 AM band.

Chamber Gala

We Plan for the FutureThe next year promises to be exceptional as the Chamber is focused on increasing its members, advancing its communication with new media, advocating new policies on behalf of business and making exciting new ways for our members to connect with each other and the local community.

The Chamber will be hosting the Northwest Chamber Leaders Conference again in 2014, bringing together busi-ness leaders from not only Western Canada, but also several northwest American states. This is a great opportu-nity for us to represent St. Albert and district and showcase our strengths as a community.

And coming in April 8th, 2014, there will be an exciting new opportunity. We are working with Citslinc Inter-national to offer tours to China. Your hosts will be showcasing the country’s tourist attractions such as the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, and more, along with meetings with local business leaders. This once in a lifetime tour will be made available for you, your families and friends. Stay tuned for more details.

Along with these exciting new changes, we will continue to be a voice for business, to advocate for the St. Albert business community, and to build a strong and sustainable region. We will continue to strive to be a role model for other municipalities.

Our current and future actions will align with our values, vision, and mission of leading, inspiring and advocat-ing for our community. We will facilitate change and growth while creating a fertile environment for businesses, partnerships, and residents today and in the future.

If you have any questions, comments, or ideas, please contact the Chamber office at 780-458-2833 or email chamber@stalbertchamber.com.

(p): 780-458-2833 (f): 780-458-6515chamber@stalbertchamber.comwww.stalbertchamber.com71 St. Albert Trail, St. AlbertT8N 6L5

/stalbertchamber