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Chamber of Commerce Week celebrated in Cranbrook
The Cranbrook and District Chamber of Commerce celebrated Chamber of Commerce Week in B.C. with two events Feb. 19.
The first, the chamber’s monthly members’ luncheon at the Prestige Inn, featured College of the Rockies president David Walls as guest speaker. The always popular luncheon was once again sold out as members gather to catch up and learn about the guest speaker’s organization and activities.
And the second event was a special gathering at the chamber of commerce office at 2279 Cranbrook Street North.
Attendees were invited to bring a non-chamber member business for a chance to win a free membership for 2014. In this case, e-KNOW publisher Carrie Schafer brought Black Door Tattoo owner Debbie Elliott, whose name was drawn for the free membership.
Attendees were also tasked with visiting the various offices contained within the recently renovated chamber office building, receive stamps from the business owner/operators within and submit for another prize.
Quick facts about chambers of commerce according to the BC government…
– The chamber network in B.C. is the largest, most broadly-based business organization in the province.
– There are more than 125 chambers in the BC Chamber of Commerce’s network alone and 36,000 represented businesses.
– Chambers exist in every corner of the province, from Prince Rupert to Fort Nelson and Elkford to Tofino.
– Small business makes up 98 per cent of all business in the province and employs over one million people.
– Small business provides nearly 55 per cent of all private-sector jobs in British Columbia, the highest rate in the country.
– In 2012, approximately 385,900 small businesses were operating in the province, 82 per cent of which had fewer than five employees.
– British Columbia ranks first in Canada for the number of small businesses per capita, with 83.5 businesses per 1,000 people.
– There are seven chambers of commerce in the East Kootenay (Columbia Valley, Cranbrook, Elkford, Fernie, Kimberley, Radium Hot Springs and Sparwood.)
Lead image: Left to right, Cranbrook and District Chamber of Commerce secretary Cathy Bauer, e-KNOW publisher Carrie Schafer, Black Door Tattoo owner Debbie Elliott and chamber administrative assistant Laura Kennedy.
Ian Cobb/e-KNOW
