Council walks for small business week

ocal government is hitting the streets Friday Oct. 23 to learn more about local business.

The speakers lineup for The Business Expo on Oct. 25 includes, back row (from left): Bill Collette, Deb Haggard, Jan Lavertu, Jennifer Norn, Cheryl Iwanowsky, Rebecca Palmer, Kevin Wright and Rob Anderson. Front row (from left): Sarah Jones, Anita Sutherland, Cheryl MacLean.

The speakers lineup for The Business Expo on Oct. 25 includes, back row (from left): Bill Collette, Deb Haggard, Jan Lavertu, Jennifer Norn, Cheryl Iwanowsky, Rebecca Palmer, Kevin Wright and Rob Anderson. Front row (from left): Sarah Jones, Anita Sutherland, Cheryl MacLean.

Local government is hitting the streets Friday Oct. 23 to learn more about local business. As part of Small Business Week, council members, city staff and others will be visiting local businesses with a short four-question survey. The initiative is taking place is several B.C. communities.

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Are you a business owner with little time or resources to train or network? A few hours on Sunday could change the way you do business.

The Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce and Community Futures Alberni-Clayoquot are teaming up this Sunday to help businesses succeed. The Business Expo takes place Sunday, Oct. 25 at Echo Centre from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The morning will include four sessions with successful local entrepreneurs and experts discussing topics that matter to your business including marketing, legal matters, and customer service. Find out what works and what doesn’t from those who have been there and succeeded.

After lunch, a business fair open to the public will take place.

The whole day, including lunch and childcare, is just $25. And, you get a voucher worth $25 for a chamber dinner in 2016.

To register call the chamber of commerce at 250-724-6535.

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Kudos to Alberni Valley businesses for their support this year of the Raise-A-reader program that benefits the work of Literacy Alberni in the community. The program raised more than $53,000 through business sponsorships and special events.

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Quality Foods brought home the hardware again this year from the Independent Grocer  Awards. Quality Foods Courtenay and Quality Foods Nanaimo each won national gold in the Master Merchandiser Awards program.

In addition, the Campbell River store received a Platinum Achievement Award for 10 consecutive years of various CFIG awards since they opened.

The Campbell River store also earned a spot in the Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year Hall of Fame. All 11 eligible QF stores received an Award of Merit from judges who visited all applicants across all Canadian provinces and territories.

The Independent Grocer of the Year Awards program recognizes excellence in grocery retailing among independents.

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The Brick is launching its second year as a partner of Children’s Miracle Network. Last year The Brick raised nearly $700,000 for children’s hospitals across Canada.

The Brick is introducing the second edition of Brickley Bear to help raise funds for the organization. Brickley Bear stuffed animals made by Gund are available at The Brick in Port Alberni and online. One hundred percent of the net proceeds from the sale of Brickley Bear go to Children’s Miracle Network and B.C. Children’s Hospital.

The Brick is also accepting donations to Children’s Miracle Network through the sale of Brickley Bear cut-outs to further support local children’s hospitals.

The Brick will be matching every dollar donated through from September 1, 2015 to February 29, 2016.

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Taylor Poulin has joined Chapel of Memories as an apprentice funeral director. Poulin is in the second year of her apprenticeship. She represents “the future of the industry and brings a modern approach to today’s funeral services,” says funeral director Margaret Vatamaniuck.

Teresa Bird is the Alberni Valley News publisher. If you have a business item to pass on, please e-mail her at publisher@albernivalleynews.com.

Alberni Valley News