February 2010
Volume 2, Issue 2
BusinessMatters ENews

Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce

The Chamber Works For ALL!
The Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce works for ALL businesses in the community - members and non-members. This eNewsletter is made possible from the membership fees we receive from our members. We encourage you to be a member of the Chamber. Your investment ensures that we can continue to be here for YOU! Click here for details on how to join the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce.
 
Annual General Meeting
Mark your calendar! The Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting is scheduled for 5:30 pm on Tuesday, March 30th (location to be announced). There will be a dinner with a guest speaker. Cocktails at 6:00 pm with dinner at 6:30 pm.. More details to follow as we confirm the location and speaker. Visit the events calendar for updates.
The Challenge Is On!
Challenge Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce called upon the business community to gather a team and come out on March 3rd to NEB's Fun World for the 2nd Annual Challenge sponsored by Johnston Inc. This year's Challenge is sold out however there are still Bowling Lane Sponsorships available. This is a great opportunity to showcase your business! Events include Bowling, Go Karting and Air Tag. To register as a sponsor, contact the Chamber at 905-728-1683.
 
Attention Budding Entrepreneurs!
 
Dragon's Den Logo
Fresh off the highest-rated season yet, CBC Television's DRAGONS' DEN is embarking on an epic audition tour. Due to overwhelming demand, producers are expanding the search to over 40 stops including a stop at Oshawa on Thursday, March 18 from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm in the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce Boardroom. From the Great White North to the edges of every coast, DRAGONS' DEN is seeking Canadians with creative ideas and money-making savvy to make the case for cash. Successful candidates will make their way to the Den for a chance to appear in front of the Dragons in the new season. Click here for more details.
Chamber Group Health Plan 
Chamber Plan logoSince it was launched in January, the new website for the Chamber Group Health Plan has had over 1800 employers request a quotation directly through the site. The average size of a firm in the Chambers Plan is 4 lives, which reminds us how important the plan is for small businesses in our community. For more details visit www.buychambers.ca
 
An Introduction to Lean Principles 101
Friday, February 26, 2010
Chamber Boardroom,
44 Richmond Street W, Suite 100, Oshawa
8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

The Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce in partnership with High Performance Solutions is hosting a workshop for individuals seeking a clear foundation and understanding of lean principles. It is a one-day, highly interactive, hands-on workshop that makes "lean thinking" and manufacturing principles easy to understand and appealing to achieve. The workshop is presented by Richard Evans, Senior Consultant with High Performance Solutions Inc. Click here for further information and registration.
Business Of The Month - Pete's Open Kitchen
BOMFeb2010Pete's Open Kitchen,
located at 20 Simcoe Street South, Oshawa, has been open since January 2006. Peter is a third generation restaurant owner. On behalf of the Ambassador Committee and the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce, congratulations on being named Business of the Month for February.
Read more >>>


[Nominate a Deserving Business as "Business of the Month"]
This Month's Featured M2M Discounts

Buster Rhino's
- now 2 great locations to serve you - receive $1.00 off any combo.

BeCreative Communications - receive 20% off any editing and proofreading service.

For complete details on these discounts, and all others offered by the Member-to-Member [M2M] Special Offer Program, or to participate and offer exclusive discounts or special offers
click here. REMEMBER - discounts are for Chamber members only and their employees.
Member Discount on Marketing Program 
Constant Contact LogoAs a Chamber member, you can get some of the biggest discounts on Constant Contact's Email Marketing to help you stay in touch with your customers. Already a Constant Contact customer? No problem, you can still take advantage of the Chamber member discount. Click here for more details.
'Buy American' Agreement Is A Positive Step
The Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce commends the governments of Canada and the United States on reaching a productive and forward-looking agreement on 'Buy American' provisions on Friday February 5, 2010. The agreement represents an important step forward putting Canadian companies in a better position to benefit from remaining U.S. infrastructure stimulus funding and establishes a mechanism for negotiating further access to U.S. markets. This means Canada is now in a stronger position compared to the other countries that are members of the World Trade Organization's Government Procurement Agreement. Read more >>>
Oshawa To Post Growth Of 3.2% For 2010
Vancouver is expected to top the podium in terms of economic growth among Canadian cities this year, according to the Conference Board's Metropolitan Outlook - Winter 2010. "Only four Canadian cities posted economic growth of any kind in 2009 - Halifax, Saint John, Winnipeg and Regina," said Mario Lefebvre, Director, Centre for Municipal Studies. "Fortunately, Canadian cities are on the rebound in 2010, although the pace of recovery will vary markedly." This is the one annual Conference Board outlook where forecasts for all 27 CMAs covered in the Metropolitan Outlook are completed at the same time. Four CMAs - Oshawa and Ottawa-Gatineau in Ontario, and Edmonton and Saskatoon in the west - are forecast to post growth of 3.2 per cent in 2010. Read more >>>
GM's Oshawa Assembly Plant To Add Second Shift
Plans to add a second shift to the Oshawa Car Assembly Plant's state-of-the-art flexible manufacturing line were announced February 11, 2010 at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto. The shift will begin in the fourth quarter of 2010 in preparation for the North American production of the Buick Regal, which is slated to commence in the first quarter of 2011. Read more >>>
 
UOIT Awarded More Than $2.6-Million
Electric vehicle research at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) received a substantial financial boost on February 12, 2010, as Minister of Industry Tony Clement announced a $1.2-million investment to improve electric vehicles with extended range capabilities (EV) as part of the Automotive Partnership Canada initiative. This is the first research project to be announced under the APC umbrella. Read more >>>
 
2009 Business Directory 2010 Chamber Business Directory
Deadline: February 26, 2010. Chamber Members Only...Book your ad now in the Chamber Business Directory, published annually by the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce. Have your message reach over 5500 key business decision makers.

The Buyers' Guide will also be available on our website in a "click and flip" format. More for your advertising dollar at no additional cost!  Click here for more information and advertising rate sheet.
Chamber Welcomes New Members       
The Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome all new members, [click here for details], who have joined the Chamber since the Business Directory was published on April 1, 2009. We encourage you to Shop A Chamber Member First!
 
In This Issue
The Chamber Works
Annual General Meeting
The Challenge Is On!
Dragons' Den Auditions
Chamber Group Health Plan
An Introduction to Lean Principles 101
Business Of The Month
M2M Discount Program
New Discount Program
'Buy American'
Oshawa to Post Growth
GM To Add Shift
UOIT Awarded $2.6-Million
2010 Chamber Directory
New Members
 
Chamber Events


 

Introduction to Lean Principles 101 Workshop
Fri. Feb, 26/10 | 8:30

 
2nd Annual
Chamber Challenge
Wed. Mar, 3/10 | 4:00
 

MBA Info Session
Thu. Mar, 11/10 | 10:30


Dragons' Den Auditions
Thu. Mar, 18/10 | 11:00


Annual General Meeting
Tue. Mar, 30/10 | 5:30

 
Annual Golf Tournament
Thu. May, 27/10 | 12:00

 
Business Events

Durham Events
Various Dates
 

The United Empowerment Conference
Fri. Feb, 19/10 | 9:00
 
 
Ontario Brownfields
Regulation Seminar
Wed. Feb, 24/10 | 7:30
 
 
BPW Dinner Meeting
Wed. Feb, 24/10 | 6:00
 
 
International Leaders
Breakfast Club
Mon. Mar, 1/10 | 7:30


DSEA - How To Manage Intellectual Property
Fri. Mar, 5/10 | 7:45



 
Quick Links 
 
Canadian Chamber 
 
  
Ontario Chamber
 
 
Region of Durham
 


Please visit the
Chamber website often
as a resource and
Shop A Member First!
      
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Published by the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce
44 Richmond St. W., Ste 100, Oshawa, ON L1G 1C7 - Tel. 905-728-1683 - Fax 905-432-1259