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Learn more about Chamber Circles for Women and Entrepreneurs
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Small businesses are the cornerstone of Canada’s economy and communities.
Defined as businesses with fewer than 100 employees, small businesses make up about 98% of all businesses in Canada. This sector employs nearly 70% of the private workforce, highlighting its significance in providing employment opportunities to millions of Canadians.
Approximately 70% of the workforce in Cambridge is employed by small businesses with less than 10 employees, according to the City of Cambridge website. But the impact of small businesses extends beyond mere job creation. They contribute significantly to Canada’s GDP, generating more than 30% of the total economic output.
They also form the backbone of local communities, offering personalized services, creating local jobs, and supporting other local businesses by sourcing products and services from nearby suppliers. This interconnectedness strengthens local economies and builds a sense of community, as small business owners frequently engage in community events, sponsorships, and charitable activities.
Small businesses are community builders which is why in the October edition of our INSIGHT Magazine – coinciding with Small Business Month - we profile six local businesses and the people behind them, each of whom have followed different paths towards success. However, they do share one important characteristic necessary to become a successful entrepreneur and business owner: drive.
They are all driven by not only success, but the need to be an integral part of their community and a desire to see it continue to succeed and grow.
A snapshot of our profiles:
The Poop Valet – Pet Waste Removal Service – Rick & Sherry Couchman
What began as a ‘hobby’ born out of a serious need 18 months ago to find a sense of new purpose following years of dealing with mental health issues led Rich Couchman to create a niche company that continues to skyrocket towards success. With the assistance of his wife, Sherry, the couple have turned The Poop Valet into an award-winning enterprise that not only enhances the overall living conditions for pets and their owners, but also offers viable solutions for dog lovers facing physical challenges or senior pet owners living on their own and helps create a more environmentally healthier community. The Poop Valet now operates from the couple’s Hespeler home with two trucks and serves approximately 80 clients weekly or biweekly, as well many one-time service calls. Also, the company is now working with land property management companies to install and service pet waste stations and collects approximately a ton and half of dog waste a month, which in partnership with another local business is disposed of at a local landfill.
Roseview Global Incubator – Rob Douglas
As CEO of Roseview Global Incubator and one of its founding principals along with Mike Dearden and Melissa Durrell, Rob has the opportunity daily to make a difference thanks to the Cambridge company’s commitment to assisting international entrepreneurs pursue permanent residency in Canada through the Start-up Visa Program (SUV). Created in 2020, Roseview Global Incubator is the latest in a long list of ventures for Rob who since the late 1970s has owned and operated several small businesses since obtaining his accountant designation. He partnered with another local business leader, Carol Furtado, in 1998 to create Roseview Capital Consultants – the name ‘Roseview’ inspired by a street in which he once owned a house. Roseview Global Incubator’s approach relies on a self-paced, custom-tailored incubation and accelerator program that focuses on meeting the specific needs of each SUV applicant, as well as an extensive curriculum touching on topics that are important to new business operators in Canada, including tutelage on legal issues, budgeting, real estate, and government operations. As a result, Roseview has worked with a broad range of exciting entrepreneurs with businesses that extend from medtech to food import, to drone technology to education and everything in between.
Jackman Construction Ltd. – Eric Jackman
Jackman Construction Ltd. is the ideal example of how thinking big can help a small business to grow and prosper. What began as the brainchild of Eric Jackman in a Kitchener garage in 2011 as a small home-grown reno and drywall business has grown to become a leading firm that specializes in construction management, general contracting, renovation, and drywalI, now employing more than 60+ people that work collaboratively under multiple divisions. Innovation is important at Jackman Construction, which heavily relies on the expertise and experience of its staff to ensure excellent workmanship is provided to clients and their projects. Jackman Construction continues to undertake a wide variety of projects and clients. Building and maintaining relationships and being an active community supporter are key to creating business success and is something the company has continually put in motion. As well, Jackman Construction ensures it remains a good corporate citizen by supporting a variety of charitable endeavours, and causes, including the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region, plus holiday toy and food drives. Also, the annual Jackman Charity Golf Tournament has raised money for organizations throughout the community, including this year’s recipient, House of Friendship.
Valet Car Wash – Mike Black
Valet Car Wash owner Mike Black says a clean car was a must while he was growing up since his father was an executive at Chrysler Canada. However, transforming this passion into a viable business venture seemed like an almost insurmountable task when after five years of planning he opened Valet Car Wash in April of 1991 during a recession accompanied by sky-high interest rates. But he made it work. Located at the site of the former Sunset Drive-In, which closed in 1986, and encompassing 20,000 square feet, Valet Car Wash was the largest car wash facility in Canada when it opened. The business offered a wide range of services and prices using the latest technology which has continually been adapted thanks to new advancements. Being creative has been a top priority at Valet Car Wash in Cambridge and the implementation of its Standards of Excellence initiative is a prime example. This company-wide plan calls for employees to deliver exceptional customer service, and prioritizing hiring based on personality traits, character, and values which has created a supportive and welcoming workplace, one that celebrates its diverse workforce, valuing the opportunity to learn from each other's strengths and cultural perspectives.
Weber Immigration – Olena Weber
Starting a new life in another country can be a daunting experience. But Olena Weber, who left behind her family and friends in the Ukraine to study abroad in Canada and later created a successful business, it was something she fully embraced. Thirteen years have passed since she first arrived and Olena has transformed her experiences into Weber Immigration, a successful Canadian-based firm that specializes in economic and family immigration programs to assist those seeking a new life in this country. Olena credits her parents, now retired business owners, for inspiring her to become an entrepreneur. They had been in the fashion industry and owned several retail stores in Kyiv, which Olena says wasn’t easy due to the political situation. With a desire to take her business to another level, Olena became a registered immigration consultant in 2016. She was joined by her husband, Cory, who also became a licensed immigration consultant in 2021 after stepping away from his work in the aerospace manufacturing sector. Building strong connections with clients is important to Olena and her team at Weber Immigration, which on its website refers to itself as a ‘boutique immigration firm’.
Cambridge Ford – Kevin Zimic
As a teenager living in Welland, Kevin Zimic can clearly recall standing outside the local GM dealership with his then high school sweetheart – now wife – dreaming of what the future could bring. He made that dream a reality and credits his time growing up in Welland for instilling the fortitude he needed to become a successful entrepreneur as owner of Cambridge Ford and a community champion. His resilience proved invaluable during his time working for the Ford Motor Company where he held many positions in a 16-year period before deciding to leave the corporate world and follow a more entrepreneurial path. Taking that first step, says Kevin, is the toughest part of becoming an entrepreneur and his resulted in the creation of an event marketing company that ran alumni fantasy hockey camps and later he shifted gears by obtaining the Canadian rights to sell a polyurethane lining system under the banner of Rhino Linings. After buying into Ridgehill Ford (rebranded as Cambridge Ford following its move to a larger location on Eagle Street North at the end of the pandemic), Kevin strengthened ties to the community by serving as both the CMH Foundation Board Vice-Chair and as the co-chair of the very successful $10 million #WeCareCMH campaign when his family relocated here in 2014. |
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The Cambridge Chamber of Commerce has unveiled the nominees for its 2024 annual Cambridge & North Dumfries Community Awards.
The awards celebrate the successes and accomplishments made by the dedicated volunteers and staff of local not-for-profits and services clubs throughout the last year by recognizing the impact they’ve made in the community through collaboration and outstanding leadership.
This year, more than 50 nominees representing nearly 40 groups are being recognized by the Chamber in nine award categories. An additional award, the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, will be presented to one individual who during the past 15 years or more, has made significant contributions to the community and whose accomplishments have brought recognition to Waterloo Region.
“We created these awards as a way to acknowledge how much we appreciate and admire these organizations and individuals and what they do to make our community a great place to call home,” said Cambridge Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Greg Durocher. “These awards are an important way to show these dedicated individuals who operate in the non-profit community that their commitment has not gone unnoticed.”
The awards represent a wide spectrum of categories highlighting the great work undertaken by these individuals and organizations. These include the Community Leadership Award, which is given to an individual who stands out because of their exceptional professional and/or volunteer achievements in the community, as well as the Arts and Culture Award, recognizing an individual or organization that has contributed significantly to the local cultural scene in the past year.
Several hundred community leaders and guests will attend the awards event on Thursday, Nov. 14, at Hamilton Family Theatre Cambridge. The ceremony is one of the Chamber’s most popular events and has honoured the contributions and achievements of these community builders for more than a decade.
Learn more about the Cambridge & North Dumfries Community Awards.
The nominees and award categories include:
Community Collaboration Award
Community Leadership Award
Arts and Culture Award
Best Event of the Year Award
Volunteer of the Year Award
Organization of the Year - Under 10 Employees
Organization of the Year- 11 and Over Employees
Lifetime Achievement Award
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The following profile appeared in the spring edition of our Insight Magazine celebrating the Chamber’s 100th anniversary
Like many couples, Art and Deb Mosey share many similar interests.
But it was their mutual interest in promoting the success of the business community that would eventually bring the pair together many years ago when they found themselves enveloped by their work for the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce.
“It was essentially a retail operation then. I think it had a couple of hundred members in Galt,” says Art, describing how the Chamber’s membership looked when he first arrived in the area in the early 1970s.
“The downtown back then was really thriving,” says Deb, who had already been immersed in the Chamber world since her father, the late Don Faichney, became general manager of the former Galt Chamber of Commerce two years prior to the big amalgamation.
“The funny things my sister and I did for dad and the Chamber,” laughs Deb, recalling how they once dressed up as ‘Easter bunnies’ as teens to promote a raffle the organization was running.
She pursued a career in nursing before returning later as a Chamber volunteer after her mother, Betty, became general manager of the still relatively ‘young’ Cambridge Chamber of Commerce in 1975 after her father passed away.
A paid position developed for her in the early 1980s when the Chamber struck a deal with Bell Canada to temporarily house its payment office at its headquarters in Preston after the company closed its Cambridge office.
“The Chamber took that on as a contract so people could still come into the office and pay their bills,” says Deb, who was hired to spearhead this service. “They didn’t know who to hire for this position because nobody was really interested working a six-to-nine-month contract.”
That led to an administrative position at the Chamber overseeing its group benefits program, which was launched to coincide with the amalgamation of the former Galt and Preston Chambers of Commerce and Hespeler Retail Merchants Association on Jan. 1, 1973 – the same day the City of Cambridge was officially born.
Benefits package program a hit
“The benefits package certainly broadened the horizon of bringing in Chamber members who were in manufacturing, or were service or supply industries,” says Art. “It broadened the scope of the different types of members.”
To say he knew the power of the program, the first of its kind for Chambers in Canada, is an understatement since Art was its official ‘architect’ after arriving to Cambridge that year to work for Marshall Insurance Brokers Limited (now BGM Financial) to develop its Employee Benefit and Life Insurance business.
Art had connected with the local company while still working for a large Toronto brokerage and implemented this new local plan following a year of intense study, which included reaching out to Cambridge businesses.
“We were able to bring a lot of new members with that plan. Most of them were smaller industries, plus we had an upper-level tier for larger companies where they could participate and get discounts,” says Art. “It was unique in its formation and was copied by the national plan (Canadian Chamber of Commerce).”
Creating the plan also gave him valuable insight into what the Chamber did for businesses and after being elected to the board, found himself moving up the ranks to serve his first term as board president in 1978, followed by a second term in 1991-1992.
“I think the general public maybe has never really appreciated the scope of the Chamber and its relationship with provincial and national Chambers to have more clout and knowledge in certain government areas,” he says. “Chambers are a voice and a very powerful voice throughout the country.”
Closer to home, Art says the Chamber, particularly in the 1970s, kept a very close eye on local government and served on its Government Relations committee.
“I sat on that committee making sure the city didn’t screw up,” he jokes, adding how Chamber staff and board members often attended city council meetings and reported back to the board. Art jokes city staff often inundated the Chamber with pages of minutes from its meetings, making it nearly impossible to review them in time to present a report at board meetings.
“I think they purposely swamped us with paper,” he laughs. “We became the critics of municipal politics, and that’s not to say we also didn’t criticize provincial and federal politics as well.”
Chamber has always advocated for businesses
Deb says at the time, there was not much trust, especially in regional government, following Cambridge’s amalgamation.
“With the amalgamation, I think people were on edge because they thought they were losing their identity,” she says, noting the businesses in the Chamber were a very cohesive group following the amalgamation. “Trust was built over time.”
Art agrees.
“The Chamber was considered advocates for business in a big way and that was the role we played, but it became more harmonized as time went on and we realized we didn’t need to be such big critics when municipalities did something,” he says. “We could find areas of common ground where we could convey our side of the story without blasting opinions out in news articles.”
Deb left the Chamber in the late 1990s to work with Art at BGM, where they soon married. Art and Deb sold BGM in 2006 but stayed on an additional three years to manage the transfer of ownership.
“You can only carry on in business for so long,” he says, adding being part of the Chamber was, and remains, a great way to be part of the community. “You really get to know what’s going on in the city and its relationship to other communities.” |
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In the past year local businesses have faced many issues surrounding economic and labour concerns.
Despite these challenges, many have managed to prevail and overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles which is why the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce is encouraging local business leaders to recognize their success through a nomination at our annual Business Excellence Awards.
“The hard work of our business community is something we should all be very proud of and celebrate, especially during these current economic times,” said Cambridge Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Greg Durocher. “Our awards are an important way to show how much our business community means to all of us.”
The Business Excellence Awards is the Chamber’s premier event and has honoured the achievements and contributions of business leaders in the City of Cambridge and Township of North Dumfries since 2000.
It features 11 award categories, most of whom require nominations. These include Business of the Year, Spirit of Cambridge, and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award presented to the owner or director of a new or existing business that has achieved great success this past year.
“We have so many dynamic and innovative young business leaders in our community,” says Greg, referring to this award. “This is a great opportunity for them to be recognized for their work at building a successful business.”
Also included among the award categories are the prestigious Chair’s Award which is selected among from among the nominees and the Community Impact Award which is presented to an individual who has contributed, or continues to contribute, to the overall prosperity, economic growth, or vibrancy of the community.
“These awards really speak to the calibre of businesspeople we have in Cambridge,” says Greg, adding the awards are great way to let others know what local businesses have accomplished. “This is the time to share your story.”
The awards will be held May 29 at Tapestry Hall. Nominations close Feb. 23. Click here to submit a nomination.
Award Categories and Criteria:
Spirit of Cambridge Award – This award recognizes an outstanding effort and commitment to making Cambridge and/or Township of North Dumfries a better, more prosperous community through corporate leadership and social responsibility.
Business of the Year (1 – 10 employees) – This award is given to a good corporate citizen who exhibits a competitive edge through technological innovation in one or more of three following areas: customer service; workplace environment, products and services, growth in business, employee retention.
Business of the Year (11 – 49 employees) – Given to a good corporate citizen who exhibits a competitive edge through technological innovation in one or more of three following areas: customer service; workplace environment, products and services, growth in business, employee retention.
Business of the Year (More than 50 employees) – This award is given to a good corporate citizen who exhibits a competitive edge through technological innovation in one or more of three following areas: customer service; workplace environment; products and services; growth in business; employee retention.
New Venture of the Year Award – This award is presented to a new or existing business that through innovation of design and technology has significantly improved the esthetics and functionality of their operation.
Outstanding Workplace – Employer of the Year - The recipient of this award goes above and beyond to ensure it provides employees with the best overall workplace, with a strong focus on a happy and healthy work culture and environment.
Marketing Excellence – This award is presented to the business or organization that has best demonstrated excellence, innovation, and originality in traditional or new-media marketing.
Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award – The recipient of this award is presented to the director/owner aged 18-40 of a new or existing business who has achieved outstanding results by successfully building it up to a new level.
WOWCambridge.com Customer Service Award - Each month the Chamber has recognized an individual at a business who has gone above and beyond, providing extraordinary service in everyday situations. These individuals and the businesses they work for exemplify service excellence. This award is presented to one of those monthly winners as the Grand Award Winner.
Community Impact Award - This award recognizes an individual who has contributed, or continues to contribute, to the overall prosperity, economic growth, or vibrancy of our community through their business, volunteer or philanthropic endeavours, and exemplary overall service to assist others.
Chair's Award - The Chair's Award recognizes an outstanding organization or individual who makes an exceptional effort which goes above and beyond the call of duty in any area of business and/or community development. |
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Navigating the intricacies of entrepreneurship and professional growth in the business world can be a daunting journey filled with challenges, uncertainties, and a constant need for adaptability.
In this ever-evolving business environment, the mentor-mentee relationship can be a powerful and crucial catalyst for success and personal development, which is why our Chamber Circles program has been created.
The program – one for women and another for entrepreneurs - offers business leaders a platform to not only expand their network but explore potential partnerships with peers as they advance their own growth both professionally and personally.
The Chamber has enlisted a group of talented business mentors for each ‘Circle’ which consists of between four and five people who will discuss pre-selected topics once a month.
“Chamber Circles is a great way for business leaders to not only tap into our mentors’ knowledge and professional connections but can lead to networking opportunities with their peers as well as give participants the chance to cultivate their own skills and strengths,” says Cambridge Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Greg Durocher. “The monthly sessions will provide these business leaders with some added tools they need to enhance their businesses.”
He says the Chamber Circles for Women stream was created after the Chamber was approached by some female members requesting an opportunity to learn and collaborate with other women business leaders like themselves. The second stream, Chamber Circles for Entrepreneurs, is available to all business leaders.
“Having both streams provide a large cross-section of the business community the chance to thrive and succeed,” says Greg.
The program touches on a variety of topics, including bringing creativity into your work role, finding new ways to manage yourself and others, how to give and receive effective feedback, as well as a look at resiliency and the importance to continuously evolve.
“These are topics we feel are very relevant to operating a business in today’s economic climate and will give these leaders an even better foundation,” says Greg.
Click here to learn more about joining Chamber Circles.
A few reasons why joining Chamber Circles can assist your business: Guidance Through Experience By sharing their experiences, mentors provide invaluable insights that can help mentees avoid pitfalls and make informed decisions.
Accelerated Learning Curve Instead of relying solely on trial and error, mentees can leverage the wisdom of their mentors to gain a deeper understanding of industry intricacies, best practices, and strategies for success.
Building a Network Building a robust network is an invaluable asset, often leading to collaborations, partnerships, and a broader spectrum of career opportunities.
Confidence and Emotional Support Having a mentor provides a reliable source of emotional support and encouragement. This emotional support fosters confidence, helping mentees navigate uncertainties with a positive mindset.
Encouraging Innovation Mentors not only guide mentees within existing frameworks but also encourage innovative thinking. This dynamic approach to problem-solving is essential in an era where innovation is often the key differentiator between success and stagnation.
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A recent report released by the Conference Board of Canada indicates Waterloo Region’s economy will be slower this year but predicts it will outpace the provincial economy.
While the impact of a potential slowdown is a concern, one of the key issues for local businesses remains a shortage of workers.
The unemployment rate in our region hit 5.5% in 2022, compared to 6.5% in 2021 and 9.6% in 2020. This year, it’s expected to reach 5.8%.
Provincewide, the latest numbers from Statistics Canada showed there were 372,000 job vacancies during the third quarter of 2022, nearly double the average of vacancies (195,000) reported during the three years leading up to 2020.
In effort to provide local employers with another avenue to find talent, the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce recently launched its online job portal.
“Labour shortages continue to be an issue in so many sectors,” says Cambridge Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Greg Durocher. “By providing as many opportunities as possible for local employers to find the help they require is a benefit to our business community as a whole and we’re glad to be able to offer this service.”
The easy-to-use portal can be accessed by the public to search and apply for positions posted by Chamber Members in a variety of sectors.
Chamber Members can upload and manage their own posts, which includes contact information and job descriptions.
The system allows job seekers to search for positions in Waterloo Region and the surrounding area.
Current posts feature jobs in several sectors, including the financial, insurance, medical and automobile industries.
“It’s a very user-friendly system giving our Members the ability to post multiple job opportunities,” says Greg, noting the Chamber does not manage the posts itself.
Visit the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce job portal to learn more.
A few facts and figures:
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For the first time since March of 2020, the Chamber hosted its first in-person Business After Hours event on Dec. 13 at Four Fathers Brewing Co.
It was a great opportunity for our Members to meet safely and reconnect with old friends and new ones.
We also took this opportunity to ask a few our guests the following question:
What will you remember the most about the pandemic?
“Probably how well we can pivot. People can pivot and basically take a look at things and do things differently.” - Tony Rossel, Best Version Media
“I will remember missing community and just being able to meet with people and see faces and connect in-person,” - Heid Brouwer, Galt Osteopathy
“Endless Zoom meetings and learning how to facilitate meetings. It looks a lot easier than it really is. And that the number of kilometres I’ve driven has been cut in half. We’ve discovered some creative solutions and so much work is now being done at home.” - Murray Smith, Blue Canoe Consulting
“How poorly the government handled this. They contradicted themselves a lot initially with what you should do – wear a mask, don’t wear a mask, wear two masks, or get the AstraZeneca shot, or no you don’t need the AstraZeneca shot. They tried too hard without putting any thought into it and it just never seemed to work. I will remember that indecisiveness – everything’s fine, or no it’s not. They didn’t lead well, and I will always remember how poorly they led us through this.” - Rick Gallinger, Top-Notch Concierge
“I will remember how much I missed being around family and people. Sometimes it makes us realize how grateful we should be when everything is good because we take a lot of things for granted, and we really need to be more thankful and more aware and enjoy every moment that we can.” - Maggie Herrington, Top-North Concierge
“I just feel so fortunate that we were able to continue to stay open and look after our customers. I feel like we’ve been really lucky, - Laurie Herald, Cambridge Tirecraft
“The fact we couldn’t have in-person social events. For me, I miss that interaction and I’m so excited that we are slowly getting back to reality. But the worst part has been looking at your family and friends losing jobs and having to stay at home. I have two stepchildren and the virtual learning was really hard for them. I think it was struggle for them and the teacher so I’m happy they are back in the classroom.” - Stephanie Jane, Marketing Manager at Four Fathers Brewing Co.
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The Cambridge Chamber of Commerce is easing its way back into hosting traditional events.
After more than 20 months since the pandemic began, the Chamber is set to host its first in-person Business After Hours event on Dec. 13 at Four Fathers Brewing Co. in Hespeler.
Chamber President and CEO Greg Durocher says is an important step for the organization. “It’s a priority for the Chamber to start getting back to in-person events,” he says. “But whether they will be ‘normal’ as we all remember them, that probably won’t happen for some time.”
In fact, Greg expects future Chamber events will be of the ‘hybrid’ variation to a certain degree, providing Members the chance to attend in-person or remain in a virtual setting.
“That’s going to be for the benefit of everybody,” he says. “But we will certainly provide Members with value in regard to our content the best that we can.” He says having an in-person Business After Hours event is important to many Chamber Members.
“It’s important for people doing business in the community to have an opportunity to meet safely with others face-to-face,” says Greg, noting the importance of following strict safety protocols and restrictions set out in the Province’s Reopening Ontario Act.
As a result, participants will not only have to register in advance, but proof of vaccination is required as well as identification that matches that material. Just like restaurants, the provincial QR code will also be utilized at the event.
“Most of our events take place in other venues, such as conference centres, restaurants or meeting rooms that are not ours,” says Greg, noting regulations set out in the Act apply to these locations.
As well, the Cambridge Chamber Board of Directors recently passed a mandatory vaccination policy for the Chamber office for staff and visitors arriving for meetings or programs. Those with a valid COVID-19 vaccination exemption, or having valid documentation to present, will be required to take a rapid antigen screening test before entering. These tests will be provided by the Chamber at no cost.
“These are precautionary measures put in place on behalf of the staff because our staff want assurances they are working in a safe environment and we’re doing whatever we can do to make sure that happens,” says Greg, adding like many businesses, the Chamber office is also covered under the Reopening Ontario Act and is entitled to invoke a vaccination policy.
Creating a safe environment will also be key at the Business After Hours event which is why the Chamber will provide colour-coded lanyards to participants when they arrive.
“Each colour will indicate that person’s comfort level of contact,” says Greg, noting that physical distancing and masks remain important. “Some people are very anxious to get out and meet others in-person, and others are anxious to get out and meet but aren’t quite comfortable enough to do so.”
Business After Hours takes place from 5-6:30 p.m. For more, visit https://bit.ly/3pdiUVI |
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Cloudy morning skies gave way to afternoon sunshine which paved the way for a fun day at our recent Golf Classic.
The annual tournament, the first ‘official’ large golfing event held at the Galt Country Club since the pandemic began, brought out more than 80 participants July 12, many of whom couldn’t wait to hit the links again and reconnect with others outside of a virtual setting.
“It’s so nice to see camaraderie and nice to actually see people and faces,” said Energy+ CFO Sarah Hughes, after taking a swing mid-course during the day-long event.
She had already been golfing for a couple of weeks with her women’s league prior to our event but relished the chance to golf with members of her corporate team.
“One of the gentlemen is new to our team so this is a nice onboarding. And another gentlemen on my team I haven’t seen in-person in a year and half,” said Sarah. “It’s just so great to be able to see people.”
That same sentiment was shared by many of the participants as they made their way around the 18-hole course, and visited the sponsored holes spread throughout.
“I find it very energizing to see people and reconnect,” said Kristen Danson, Managing Partner at Mitographics Inc./Swift Components Corp., adding the tournament is a great way for operators of the businesses that sponsored holes to network. “It’s neat for them to have the chance to engage with Chamber Members. A virtual setting is hard for small businesses, and they really need to be here in-person talking to people.”
Networking and having the chance to meet people was something Anthony Gignac, an Associate at Racolta Jensen LLP Chartered Accountant, said he welcomed as a first-time participant at the Golf Classic.
“It’s great to have the chance to socialize and say hi to new people,” he said, while finishing his boxed lunch after a busy morning of golf.
Lunch and a take home dinner ‘kit’ created by the talented kitchen staff at Galt Country Club were provided to all the participants in keeping with Stage 2 safety protocols regarding indoor dining. (Waterloo Region was scheduled to move into Stage 3 of the province’s reopening plan on Friday, July 16).
In terms of the COVID-19 protocols, participants said they felt very safe.
“People are just so glad to be outside. I don’t think there’s as much apprehension or hesitation considering vaccination rates,” said John Tyrrell, Sales Manager at TD Commercial Banking.
Erica Tennenbaum, Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, agreed and said she felt comfortable with people’s mask etiquette.
“It’s just so nice and refreshing and heartwarming to see everybody,” she said. John echoed that same feeling.
Having the opportunity to not only reconnect with both familiar and new Members helped make the day a success said Cambridge Chamber CEO and President Greg Durocher.
“We’re thrilled we could provide our Members and their guests with the chance to not only meet safely but have a great time doing something that’s familiar and fun. We all can use it considering how tough the last year and half has been,” he said. “We also appreciate the support of our many sponsors for helping to create such a memorable event for everyone.”
Plans are in the works for our annual Fall Scramble, so please keep an eye on our Events calendar for more.
For a look at photos from our Golf Classic and a list of prize winners, please visit: https://bit.ly/3AEyTkB |
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Brian Rodnick 214 October 7, 2024 |
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Greg Durocher 41 July 28, 2023 |
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Canadian Chamber of Commerce 24 January 29, 2021 |
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Cambridge Chamber 2 March 27, 2020 |
“It’s just nice to be out of the office and see people’s faces again and golf is really the only thing you can do in a larger group setting, so it’s nice to see some familiar faces again,” he said.
750 Hespeler Road Cambridge, ON N3H 5L8
Phone: 519-622-2221
Fax: 519-622-0177
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