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OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, October 15, 2009 · 18 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR Small Business Week is a celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit in our community. The very origins of Oakville are inextricably tied to commerce and the entrepreneurial spirit. One hundred and fifty years ago when William Chisholm founded the Town, he saw the site was linked to the key transportation routes of the day. Today, Oakville continues to benefit from its location. We are 30 minutes from downtown Toronto, 30 minutes from two international airports and 60 minutes from the US border. Our downtown district attracts people from all over the region. Oakville is currently home to 5000 businesses of all sizes and over 260 national and international corporate head offices. These great companies were all started by entrepreneurs. While it is abundantly clear that Oakville has a lot to offer the business community, we must work harder to create the environment that will attract entrepreneurs who, in turn, create employment opportunities and wealth which help to fund the outstanding lifestyle we enjoy. Since 1949, the Oakville Chamber of Commerce has been a pillar of the Oakville community. It has played a significant role in the economic and social development of the Town. We have a rich heritage behind us and a very exciting future ahead. We want you to know that all of us at the Oakville Chamber of Commerce will continue to work hard to maintain Oakville as one of the best places in Canada to do business. Together we can, and will, achieve great things. We invite you to join us in celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit. We all have a role to play in helping each other become even more successful and to help Oakville grow its local economy and bring more employment opportunities closer to home. Sonny Jelinek Chair of the Board Oakville Chamber of Commerce MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Small businesses are a vital component of the Canadian economy. Nearly half of the country's Gross Domestic Product is produced by small businesses. Of all the people employed in Canada, half of them work for small businesses. Perhaps the most relevant and important statistic is that over 62 percent or nearly two out of every three new jobs created in Canada today are created by small businesses. The Oakville Chamber of Commerce is proud to celebrate Small Business Week. We have organized a number of events designed to inform and inspire experienced and new entrepreneurs. The week will officially begin with a kick-off breakfast on Monday, October 19. Guest speaker Jim Treliving, Chairman & Founder, Boston Pizza Restaurant and star of CBC's Dragons' Den will discuss his experience as an entrepreneur. We have eight seminars with topics focused on the needs of entrepreneurs: Marketing, Web 2.0 and Social Media, Negotiation Skills, Dealing with Difficult Behaviour, Networking, Sales, PR/Communciations and Goal Setting. Two other events round out Small Business Week. On Wednesday, October 21, our popular Business After Hours event is combined with a Trade Show. On Thursday, October 22, a Business Advisory Round Table discussion will be taking place with a panel of experts available to answer your questions relating to sales, advertising, marketing and branding. The Chamber could not do the important work we do supporting the business community during Small Business Week without the very generous support of the Business Development Bank of Canada. We are grateful for the additional support offered by TD Canada Trust, Boston Pizza, The Incorporators/The Tax Advisory/The Business Advisory, Stoney Ridge Estate Winery, Boston Pizza, Cameron's Brewing Company, Ritorno and Ristorante Julia. With over 1100 member businesses, the Oakville Chamber of Commerce is the voice of the Oakville business community. Since 1949, we have provided member benefits, networking opportunities, business development and educational forums to help build and sustain a healthy economic environment for Oakville. As a special incentive, we are waiving the administration fee for new members if you join during Small Business Week. For further information regarding the Chamber or Small Business Week, please contact us at 905-845-6613 or visit our website at www.oakvillechamber.com John Sawyer President Oakville Chamber of Commerce MOLLY MAID Vanessa Anderson is carrying on a long tradition that was started by her late mother Cindy and husband Ray. Vanessa and Ray are now celebrating their family's 23rd anniversary with Molly Maid. Cindy joined the Molly Maid organization in 1984 as a Home Service Professional and when the opportunity presented itself, she and Ray purchased the Molly Maid franchise servicing Burlington and Oakville. For many homeowners the arrival of Spring means it's time for a thorough house cleaning. Call Molly Maid at 905 681-7484 to arrange for a free, no-obligation in-home estimate of your individual needs. You'll love coming home to a clean house! Oakville / Burlington · Phone 905-681-7484