Join the Blind River and District
Chamber of Commerce

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The Blind River Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization serving East Algoma from the Municipality of Huron Shores to the Town of Spanish.

Overview of what we do:

  • Provide numerous direct benefits to our members, including access to fuel discounts, Group Insurance Plan, first referrals, enhanced online listing, discounts on advertising through various initiatives, and much more;
  • Lead initiatives with regional municipalities and business organizations to develop and stimulate the local economy through economic development projects. We are currently working on a Business Retention & Expansion Project and other economic/business development initiatives.
  • We host a number of business events, information forums, seminars, and training sessions. In the recent past we held our 1st Annual Small Business Week Event in October 2005 that provided a number of business workshops and a professional guest speaker to address the implications to businesses of the recent Privacy Act.
  • We lobby government and others on your behalf. We have worked with regional partners to address onerous water regulations, comparatively high municipal tax rates, and businesses affected by hydro deregulation; We operate the North Shore Travel Information Centre year-round and secure funding to hire students to have extended hours from June to September and deal with the high traffic volume;
  • We keep members informed of business/ economic issues - email weekly Ontario Chamber of Commerce newsletter to members, produce a quarterly membership newsletter, partner with the Blind River Development Corporation on our For Business newsletter, keep members informed of our lobbying and consultation efforts, and discuss our activities at our Forums and Annual General Meeting.

We Promote Our Members

From the projects we implement to operating the travel information centre, our members are promoted:

  • Free brochure displaying at the Travel Centre, exposing members to over 12,000 visitors annually.;
  • Enhanced listing in our online database, accessed from brchamber.ca, and the Blind River, Township of the North Shore, Town of Spanish, and the Municipality of Huron Shores websites.
  • First referrals when inquiries are received at the Travel Centre and Chamber office;
  • Discounts on advertising through "Destination Blind River" tourist guide and other initiatives;
  • Free web pages or links to your existing website throughout our website.

Lobbying Partners

  • Ontario Chamber of Commerce - On Behalf of our members we purchase membership with the OCC. With 160 chambers part of their membership base, the OCC is an effective lobbying group to provincial and federal governments to make the voice of business heard. In the last few years we have submitted several position papers and requests to the OCC that have become part of their annual mandate.
  • Northeastern Ontario Chambers of Commerce - We are part of this recently formed Chamber organization to make our regional voice heard, and work with the OCC government and other organizations.

Recent Lobbying Efforts

  • In early 2005 we began working with the Town of Blind River to address comparatively high commercial education tax rates. These high rates hinder business activity and discourage business development. We have submitted a paper to the Ontario government and Ministry of Finance outlining our concerns and requesting an explanation for the differing rates between communities across Northern Ontario;

Consultation

  • Having input on program and policy development that affects business is important, and this is why our Chamber actively works with governments and various organizations:
  • In July 2004 we became involved in consultation with the Ministry of Finance on the Northern Ontario Grow Bonds Program. This program has been approved in the Ontario Legislature. In the near future Grow Bonds, similar in nature to Ontario Savings Bonds, will be available for Northern Ontario residents to purchase. Money raised will be invested in Northern Ontario business expansions & start-ups as part of the government's Northern Ontario Prosperity Plan. Visit the Ontario Government online for more information on this program;
  • In August 2004 we participated in a consultation & planning process on regional workforce development to have input on a report being compiled by Human Resources Skills Development Canada and the Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities.Ontario Chamber of Commerce - On Behalf of our members we purchase membership with the OCC. With 160 chambers part of their membership base, the OCC is an effective lobbying group to provincial and federal governments to make the voice of business heard. In the last few years we have submitted several position papers and requests to the OCC that have become part of their annual mandate. Northeastern Ontario Chambers of Commerce - We are part of this recently formed Chamber organization to make our regional voice heard, and work with the OCC government and other organizations.