The streets will be lined with volunteers as the inaugural Business Walk takes place in the District of 100 Mile House from 9 a.m. to noon on Oct. 19.
They will be asking business owners and senior managers what they want to see, what works for them and what doesn’t.
South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce (SCCC) executive director Shelly Morton says she and District planner Joanne Doddridge have been tossing the idea around for most of this year, and then Doddridge moved it forward and brought on the SCCC as partners to collaborate.
The 20 volunteers from various organizations in the municipality will be canvasing businesses in the downtown core as well as parts of the Horse Lake and Highway 97 business corridors as much as they can, Morton explains.
Businesses in these areas are asked to please ensure their owner or senior management is available on site during that morning.
“We ask a few conversational, structural questions that capture the pulse of the business community.
“Business Walks help identify successes and obstacles local businesses face in the South Cariboo, and then we can track that information over time.”
The project planning is also benefiting from the support of the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, and the framework it has now set up can be used again for Business Walks each October, she notes.
“Small Business Month is a great opportunity to celebrate these hardworking businesses that bring great ideas and entrepreneurial spirit to our town.”
If the volunteers don’t make it around to your business, and you have any input to share, they do want to hear about it and encourage you to provide your feedback by contacting Joanne at 250-395-2434 or Shelly at 250-395-6124.
