Saint John Board of Trade launches 2008 Bare Necessities Campaign

Starting today, November 4, the members of the Saint John Board of Trade’s Women in Business Forum will be collecting toiletry items for their seventh annual “Bare Necessities” campaign. The goal of the campaign is to provide women’s shelters, food banks and other organizations packages containing the ‘little but necessary’ personal care items, just in time for the holiday season. 

Going on vacation or a business trip? The next time you find yourself in a hotel room, don’t forget to bring home the complimentary items available to you from every hotel – shampoo, soaps, lotions, etc.  

The campaign will run from November 4 to November 28. 

“There are many business men and women who frequently travel,” says Imelda Gilman, President of the Saint John Board of Trade. “We are asking them to pack the complimentary toiletries and drop them off at a ‘Bare Necessities’ location.” 

Drop off boxes are located at all CIBC and Royal Bank branches throughout Greater Saint John, and at the Saint John Board of Trade at 40 King Street.  

Even if you do not travel you can still participate.  Drugstores and shopping centers sell miniature size shampoos, conditioners, soaps, toothpaste too. Think Bare Necessities! 

For a list of items needed, click here.

The Saint John Board of Trade is dedicated to fostering an economic climate that enhances growth, prosperity, and an improved quality of life in the community.  With more than 1,000 members, representing 600 small, medium, and large businesses and organizations and therefore, the interests of more than 30,000 citizens, the Board is a dynamic advocate and the principal voice for the business community of Greater Saint John.  It offers a variety of programs, activities, services, and networking opportunities designed to enhance the business prospects of members and the overall business climate of the area. 

The Saint John Board of Trade’s Women in Business Forum brings together women in business and other interested members to exchange ideas and information and share their experience. Identifies and deals with issues and challenges impacting women in business. Develops policy or activity recommendations for consideration by the Board of Directors. Works to develop activities and initiatives of benefit and interest to women in business in Greater Saint John.

Saint John Board of Trade Announces Recipient of 2008 Chair's Award

October 29, 2008: Dr. Michael Barry, Chair of the Saint John Board of Trade is pleased to announce his choice for the 2008 “Chair’s Award” to be presented at the 24th annual Outstanding Business Achievement Awards dinner on Wednesday, November 26th at the Saint John Trade and Convention Centre.

 

The Chair’s Award was established in 1993 to recognize a company, or individual, who has demonstrated a particular excellence or achievement in a certain aspect of their business, having made either an immediate impact on or a substantial long-term contribution to the economic progress of our community.

 

“For his countless hours contributing to the development and leadership of the Saint John Board of Trade and his championing economic development initiatives such as Reaching Atlantica and the Benefits Blueprint, it is my pleasure to announce that the recipient of the 2008 Saint John Board of Trade’s Chair’s Award is Bob Manning” said Dr. Barry. “I congratulate Bob for all the time and effort he has devoted to the economic enhancement of Saint John.”

 

Since returning to Saint John a few short years ago, Bob Manning has volunteered with numerous community organizations in Saint John. Mr. Manning, currently the Chair of Enterprise Saint John, has been involved with the Saint John Board of Trade as a Past Chair 2006-2007 of the Board of Directors, Past Chair of the Government Affairs Committee and a Co-Chair of the First Reaching Atlantica Conference in 2006 held in Saint John. Mr. Manning is also a member of the Board for Saint John Energy, a member of the Board at Rothesay Netherwood School and a Director of the Regional Hospital Foundation. Most recently, Mr. Manning has Chaired the Benefits Blueprint initiative which is a broad-based community initiative designed to optimize economic growth and social benefits resulting from New Brunswick’s major capital projects.

 

The 24th annual Outstanding Business Achievement Awards dinner will be held at 6 p.m., Wednesday, November 26th at the Saint John Trade and Convention Centre. Tickets are available by contacting the Board of Trade office at 40 King Street, Saint John or by calling (506) 634-8111.

 

Past recipients of the Chair’s Award include: Mr. Philip Oland in 1993; Saint John Pro Sports Inc. in 1994; Mr. Malcolm Somerville in 1995; the Imperial Theatre Inc. in 1996; Mr. Patrick Darrah in 1997; Cruise Saint John’s “Meet & Greet” Committee and the Irving Companies in 1999; New Brunswick Community College-Saint John and the University of New Brunswick Saint John in 2000; Mr. Lino Celeste in 2001; The Greater Saint John Roundtable on Primary Healthcare in 2002; Mr. Stephen MacMackin in 2003; and Dr. Mary Eileen Travis in 2004. The five regional mayors were honoured as group in 2005 for their leadership in the region’s True Growth Strategy including Mayor Grace Losier, Mayor Ron Maloney, Mayor Bill Bishop, Mayor Jim Huttges and Mayor Norm McFarlane. The Atlantica Centre for Energy was the recipient in 2006 and the Business Community Anti-Poverty Initiative (BCAPI) was the recipient in 2007.  

 

24th Annual Outstanding Business Achievement Awards Finalists

The Saint John Board of Trade proudly announces the finalists for Greater Saint John’s Outstanding Business Achievement Awards. The awards dinner and presentations will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 26, 2008 at the Saint John Trade and Convention Centre.

The five-member judging panel has selected Bay Ferries/NB Museum, Cyber-Freight Systems Maritimes Inc., and Lorneville Mechanical Contractors as contenders for the Entrepreneurial Achievement award. The finalists for the Business Excellence honour include Jacques Whitford Limited and Loch Lomond Villa. The finalists for the Emerging Enterprise award include Strong and Free Emblem Inc. and Vision Coaching.

The recipient of this year’s Young Entrepreneur Award is Jenny Scott with Ambiance Day Spa.

Now in its 24^th year, the Outstanding Business Achievement Awards event recognizes businesses and business people in the community that have aided business development, entrepreneurship and increased economic progress in Greater Saint John.

The Entrepreneurial Achievement award is designed to recognize a company or individual that has started a business, considerably improved a company, or modified an existing enterprise.

The Business Excellence award focuses on established companies that have achieved highly in management quality, sales growth, community relations, marketing and leadership.

The Emerging Enterprise award recognizes new businesses just beginning to make their mark. To be eligible for this award, companies must have been in business less than five years.

The Young Entrepreneur Award recognizes young business leaders (30 years and under) just beginning to make their mark.

Previous winners of the awards, presented annually since 1985, have included: Lingley Printing Co. Ltd; Tabufile Atlantic Ltd; Pete’s Fruitique; Mother Nature’s Pita Bakery & Restaurant; Bourque Manufacturing Ltd; Eastern Technical Services Ltd; Fundy Computer Services Ltd; Moosehead Breweries Ltd; Hunter Marketing & Communications; Beattie Construction Services Ltd; Thirtysomething Enterprises Inc (The Body Shop); Gardner Electric Ltd; NBTel; Kelly Tire Services Ltd; Mitchell, McConnell, Daniels Insurance Brokers Ltd; PCL & Eastern Packaging Limited; Aquila Tours/Destination Marketing; Baxter Foods Limited; Brenan Group Ltd; DMR Consulting Group Inc; Maritime Aqua Service; New North Media; Delta Brunswick Hotel; Senior Watch Inc; Appleby’s Image Center; Discount Car & Truck Rentals; The Document Company Xerox; Impact Forensic Analysis Inc; CanSupply.com; Java Moose; Irving Oil, Refining Division; Funeral Directors’ Choice; Meridian Construction Inc; Media Planet; Eastern Collections Services Ltd; Cendant Canada Inc; Here Publishing Inc; CAA Maritimes; National Leasing, Rent-a-Chef Inc; H.E.L.P. Educational Services Ltd; Simply for Life; Cooke Aquaculture; Fundy Engineering & Consulting Ltd; ADI Limited; Brovada Technologies; Evolving Solutions; Mariner Partners; CentreBeam Inc; Canadian Cable Systems Alliance Inc; Maritime Rescue and Medical Inc; and East Point Inc.

Previous recipients of the Young Entrepreneur Award were Ji Li, Greg Hemmings, Tao Tao Liu, Marc Robichaud, and Leah Anderson.

This year’s winners will be announced at the awards dinner on November 26th. Tickets for the awards dinner may be obtained from the Saint John Board of Trade.

Saint John Board of Trade Awarded Accreditation with Distinction at Canadian Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting

Canadian Chambers Awarded Accreditation at Annual Chamber Meeting

Quebec City –  At the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Annual general Meeting held recently in Quebec City, 12 community chambers from across the country received their accreditation.

"We are proud to recognize these chambers as examples of effective, well-managed and stable organizations making a difference in communities across the country – keeping "the voice of business" loud and strong" said Perrin Beatty, Canadian Chamber President and CEO.

To achieve accreditation, a chamber must meet minimum standards in critical areas, including areas of governance, operations, membership programming, policy and advocacy and strategic planning.

Accreditation is aimed at continuous operational improvement and standards of local chambers of commerce and an elevation of their profile across the country as effective and well-managed organizations.

"Accreditation is the acknowledgment that member chambers have been successfully evaluated against rigorous national standards of policy, service and performance," said Roslyn Castleden, President of the Chamber Accreditation Council of Canada.

Developed by a team of chamber executives, in conjunction with provincial and territorial chambers and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the accreditation program is operated by an arms-length organization called the Chamber Accreditation Council of Canada (CACC). The CACC is composed of representatives from across the country. The Council meets twice per year to review applications for accreditation.

Accreditation is a means of reinforcing and clarifying to the community at large what activities are pivotal to a chamber’s functions and determines the chamber’s unique value proposition vis-à-vis other organizations in the marketplace.

Chambers of commerce and boards of trade that are successful in achieving the requirements for accreditation are recognized each year at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting.

The chambers of commerce and boards of trade that received accreditation at this year’s AGM in Quebec are:

Alberta Chambers of Commerce

The Brampton Board of Trade

Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce

Eastern Kings Chamber of Commerce

Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce

Saint John Board of Trade

Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce

Whitby Chamber of Commerce

La Chambre de commerce de Lévis

La Chambre de commerce de St-Georges

La Chambre de commerce et d'industries de Trois-Rivières

La Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Mirabel

La Chambre de commerce et d'industrie Les Maskoutains

For more information on accreditation, visit the Chamber Accreditation Council of Canada Web site.

Saint John Board of Trade extremely pleased with announcement on the completion of Twinning Highway 1

The Saint John Board of Trade is extremely pleased with yesterday’s joint announcement by the New Brunswick Provincial Government and the Canadian Federal Government committing to the completion of twinning Route 1 from Saint John to the border at St. Stephen by 2014.

"This news is fantastic; it couldn’t be better timed with the forecasted increase in Energy projects in Saint John, and the positive impact it will have on the Atlantic Gateway Project through the creation of an uninterrupted two lane highway from Halifax to the border at St. Stephen. This project also complements the proposed East/West Highway and Utilities Corridor in Maine slated for completion by 2014 which will enhance and strengthen the Atlantic Gateway Project" said Dr. Michael Barry, Chair of the Saint John Board of Trade. "But even more importantly, the twinning of this section of highway will improve the safety of truck traffic, tourist traffic and the residents in the communities along the present highway. We congratulate both the Federal and Provincial Governments for their commitment to the region’s development and safety."

The twinning of Route 1 highway between Saint John and the border at St. Stephen has been a top priority for the Saint John Board of Trade for several years and we have continuously lobbied for its completion. The Saint John Board of Trade congratulates both the Federal and Provincial Governments for working together to improve the safety and efficiency of New Brunswick’s Highways.

Saint John Board of Trade Excited to see Magnitude of Investment in the Waterfront

The Saint John Board of Trade supports the Saint John Port Authority in its endeavours to develop and diversify our working Port. The development of Long Wharf is significant to the continuing rejuvenation of the Saint John Waterfront and the economic development of the City of Saint John.  The MOU presented by the Saint John Port Authority and Irving Oil is great news for our working port.  An improved revenue stream from Long Wharf, not to mention the improvements proposed for the property, and the financial support required for the formation of a continuous strip of operational Port property at the southern tip of the peninsula will have a lasting positive impact.

The building of a new Irving Oil Headquarters on the site would add aesthetic value to the location as well as the financial benefit to the Port Authority through the equal value land transfer (the Port is actually gaining accessible waterfront) and the Uptown merchants in keeping the Irving Oil Limited employees in the Uptown area. The fact that the cruise ships will still be able to utilize the port side of Long Wharf only adds to the benefit of a redeveloped working port. The construction jobs associated with this new building and the addition to the City’s skyline will signify to other companies that Saint John is capable of housing the headquarters of a multinational company. 

“We are excited to see investment of this magnitude in the waterfront.  We know this building will set a powerful benchmark for other projects of this kind through its leading-edge architectural and environmental elements.  These, combined with the planned enhancement of Harbour Passage and Fort La Tour, make this development a clear win for the entire community” said Dr. Michael Barry, Chair of the Saint John Board of Trade.

“We are proud to be one of several groups that encouraged Irving Oil to look at the uptown for its new building location, Irving Oil, the Saint John Port Authority, and all other stakeholders should be commended for their efforts to make this project a reality”  continued Dr. Barry.  “It is great to see Irving Oil reaffirm its commitment to Saint John as its home base.” 

“The structure we saw enveiled today is nothing short of inspirational.  It is more than just a leasehold improvement to the Long Wharf site, it is something workers can be proud to construct and Saint Johners will be proud to incorporate into its skyline” said Dr. Michael Barry.

This is the first step of many required for this to happen" cautioned Dr. Barry.  "We think that the fact that this first step is being brought to the public for consultation is great and represents what the people of Saint John have been looking for - more public consultation in the development of their city."  The Saint John Board of Trade looks forward to the feedback from its members and the community in the upcoming weeks and months.

Saint John Board of Trade is Extremely Pleased with Decision on Locating Anglophone Medical Education Program in Saint John

The Saint John Board of Trade is pleased with the long awaited decision that was announced today regarding the location of the Anglophone Medical Education Program at UNBSJ. The Board of Trade commends Premier Shawn Graham, Minister Ed Doherty, Minister Michael Murphy, Pat Darrah, Chair of the Anglophone Medical Education Program, Saint John area MLAs, Dr. Harold Cook from Dalhousie University, and Dr. John MacLaughlin from the University of New Brunswick for their hard work and dedication in ensuring that UNBSJ has a building to house the Anglophone Medical Education Program and a start date of September 2010. 

“This is a great announcement that enables the Universities and the community to move ahead with the next stage of implementation. The choice of using the Saint John College building is a good one considering its proximity to the hospital and Ganong Hall, the sciences building. This, combined with the funding announcement of $622,000 from the Department of Post-Secondary Training and Labour, ensures the creation of the Anglophone Medical Program at UNBSJ” quoted Dr. Michael Barry, Chair of the Saint John Board of Trade. “We look forward to next Tuesday’s signing of the Agreement with Dalhousie University representatives as a historical signing for our community and the Province as we move towards self-sufficiency”.

The Saint John Board of Trade is dedicated to fostering an economic climate that enhances growth, prosperity, and an improved quality of life in the community.  With more than 1,000 members, representing 600 small, medium, and large businesses and organization and therefore, the interests of more than 30,000 citizens, the Board is a dynamic advocate and the principal voice for the business community of Greater Saint John.  It offers a variety of programs, activities, services, and networking opportunities designed to enhance the business prospects of members and the overall business climate of the area.