The International Chamber of Commerce and World Health Organization want to know how your business is doing! We are pleased to invite your company to participate in the first global survey conducted by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) ‒ a major step in the private sector’s global response to COVID-19. Complete the ICC-WHO survey now. It will take only 3 minutes to help the WHO in the…
Read More April 17, 2020 – Abbotsford, BC – Leaders in the Abbotsford business community are coming together to support local business and lay the groundwork for economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. The new Abbotsford Business Community Coalition (ABCC) has recently been launched in order to align and coordinate efforts both during and after the pandemic and associated social distancing measures. Augmenting government efforts, ABCC members are meeting regularly to develop and deploy fast-moving strategies to…
Read More The Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce is closely monitoring developments around the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) through regular updates from the World Health Organization, Public Health Agency of Canada, BC Centre for Disease Control, and Fraser Health. We encourage you to do the same as you conduct your business affairs and planning for the next several months. BUSINESS RESOURCES BC’s Restart Plan – lays out a series of steps that we will take together to protect people…
Read More March 20, 2020 – Abbotsford, BC Two New Words… If you have been following these messages or heard me speak at our Chamber events, you will likely know by now that there are two words I have been emphasizing during my term as Chamber President: relevancy and vibrancy. Topics and events should be relevant to our community’s and members’ needs, and we need an increased level of vibrancy demonstrated in our communication and engagement with…
Read More MESSAGE TO MEMBERS Tuesday, March 24, 2020 Dear Members, As you may know, yesterday the BC Government announced a COVID-19 Action Plan, which includes $5 billion allocated for programs that support businesses, workers, and economic recovery. This announcement was directly informed by the COVID-19 Business Impact Survey conducted by our BC chamber network and partners, which ran from March 13-18. Businesses said they need immediate relief and flexibility on tax remittance, specifically the EHT and…
Read More MESSAGE TO MEMBERS Wednesday, March 18, 2020 Dear Members, Federal Finance Minister, Bill Morneau, just unveiled the “first phase” of Canada’s “Economic Response Plan” – which includes $27B in direct support and aid to Canadians and $55B in tax deferrals. The federal package includes a number of desired-actions you flagged in our network-wide COVID-19 Business Impact Survey the results of which we shared with both the federal and provincial government, including: A payroll…
Read More Abbotsford, BC The Chamber is pleased with today’s government announcement on the completion of the Mt. Lehman Road 4-Laning Project that will facilitate the safe flow of traffic and cyclists. This supports much needed regional transportation capacity and enhanced connectivity to our thriving Abbotsford International Airport. The project included widening Mount Lehman Road from two lanes to four, adding new bike lanes and sidewalk, enhancing lighting and improving the Simpson Road, Marshall Road and…
Read More The Lower Mainland’s “other” land use issue Why fixing BC’s industrial land shortage is key to protecting our long term economic success By: Melinda Friesen, President, Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce If you live anywhere in the Lower Mainland, there is no doubt you are well aware of the region’s land affordability issue. But did you know, there is a lesser known land issue threatening our region? While it doesn’t make as many headlines, it is…
Read More May 24, 2019 (Burnaby, BC) – The Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce is extremley pleased to be participating again in the annual BC Chamber AGM & Policy Convention 2019 being held this year in Burnaby, BC. The Chamber’s delegation is comprised of President, Melinda Friesen, Board Director Kevin Mierau and Executive Director, Katerina Anastasiadis. Policies passed at this convention will form critical recommendations to government to voice buisness issues across the Chamber network and Province. The…
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