Small Business Week 2023 Newsletter

Small businesses are of great significance and play a vital role in the Canadian economy. They not only contribute substantially to employment but also have a positive impact on local communities.

Small Business Week serves as a valuable reminder of the immense worth that small businesses bring and encourages individuals to extend their support and patronage towards them. In Canada, Small Business Week is an occasion to commemorate, assist, and empower small businesses. It provides an opportunity to acknowledge their accomplishments, address their challenges, and foster an environment that promotes their growth.

Let us unite in celebrating Small Business Week and expressing our gratitude towards the entrepreneurs who actively contribute to the betterment of our communities!

On Tuesday October 10th, FSJ Chamber CEO, Kathleen Connolly spoke with City Council about Small Business.

"Mayor, Council, Staff and the Gallery,

Thank you for the opportunity today to speak. We also thank Treaty 8 and Metis Nation Region 7 for the opportunity to meet on their traditional territory, and recognize the significant economic impact Indigenous peoples have made to our social, cultural and economic opportunities and development over the ages. 

Small business is the backbone of British Columbia, and Canada as a whole. Ninety percent of all businesses in BC are small or medium sized businesses - they build storefronts, hire staff, support our not-for-profits and community culture. They lead our communities to economic stability and growth. Without business, there is no community. Without entrepreneurs, communities have no identity no vision for the future, and no foundation for growth.  

Business owners get up day in and day out and head to their passion project - the thing that lives in their brain and heart every day, all day. Their unwavering commitment to their vision, their staff, customers and partners, and to our communities, is nothing short of epic. 

Small Business Week celebrates those that are brave enough to start a business and who are determined to succeed. 

We also understand the challenges that business face today. Everything from supply chain issues to taxation and red tape, long waits for permits from all levels of government, rapidly changing policies implemented by governments that don't understand how economies work in northern, rural jurisdictions. And at the top of that list - labour shortage. 

The FSJ Chamber is proud to represent nearly 450 businesses in Fort St. John. We know their hearts and minds and are forever grateful for what they do every day to make our city as energetic as it truly is. 

I must also take a moment to thank those that support and work with our business community daily - the city of Fort St. John staff, Mayor and Council who join us when they can to celebrate the efforts of our entrepreneurs, and work to understand and advocate for needed change. 

We thank Community Futures, NENAS, PacifiCan, NDIT, Northern Lights College, Northern Health,  MLA  Dan Davies, and MP Bob Zimmer for their work to get our voices heard. Our partners and their work are key to supporting our business. 

Today, the Fort St. John Chamber thanks Mayor and Council and the City of Fort St. John for celebrating Small business in BC."

The City of Fort St. John has issued the following Proclamation:

2023 Small Business Week Summit, October 16-20!  

Save the date! October 16-20, 2023 – the BC Chamber of Commerce Small Business Week Summit is back! Join us as we celebrate small businesses like yours, which are the backbone of the provincial economy. The Summit is a unique opportunity for you to engage directly with subject matter experts and thought leaders, gain valuable insights and access to useful resources.  Join us over Zoom for a week of insightful virtual sessions that will equip you to conquer today's business challenges and harness opportunities. Click here to register for a session(s) - we look forward to seeing you there! 

Session 1 Oct. 16: Making Sense of Today’s Economy: How Businesses Can Navigate Uncertainty & Find Opportunity

Session 2 Oct. 18: Transform your Organization with AI

Session 3 Oct. 19: Business and Reconcili-ACTION

Session 4 Oct. 20: Business as an Engine for Good: Growth, Resilience, Impact

Statement for the FSJ Chamber of Commerce
Positive Impacts of Small Business in FSJ and Across the Province

MLA Dan Davies, Peace River North
October 3, 2023

Small businesses make up over 90% of all business in B.C. and they employ over one million people. Small businesses are the backbone of all of our communities and British Columbia as a whole. 55% of all private-sector jobs in British Columbia are provided by small businesses, the second highest rate in the country.

When a small business is established, it means local jobs are created and more people can stay in their community. A prospering small business environment will encourage people to stay, this maintains positive cash flow throughout the city.

Local businesses help create a thriving economy by supporting other businesses and our non-profits. This way, the money is kept in the community instead of corporate shareholders, and the economic cycle is enhanced because shoppers spend their money in town.

Small businesses are the heart and soul of each local community. If you own one, then you are instrumental in bringing people together, helping the local economy thrive, and building your local area’s overall character. Thank you for you hard work, dedication, and commitment to the city of Fort St John and all of its residents.

The Board of Directors and staff of the Fort St. John & District Chamber of Commerce, extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our small businesses. We appreciate each and every one of the small businesses we serve, and we wish you many more years of continued success!