The Williams Lake & District Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business in Williams Lake and area.
We promote the well being of business in Williams Lake & District; and foster a work-stay-and play-at-home atmosphere to all residents.
Welcome to our newest members: Blocks R’ Us and Creekside Studio Gallery.
The 17th Annual Business Excellence Awards will be held March 10. The volunteer committee has designed a fabulous night for recognition through nine awards. The nomination deadline is Feb. 10 and forms are online at www.williamslakechamber.com and at Community Futures Development Corporation, our Business of the Year Award sponsor. Forms are also available at Save-On Foods and the chamber office.
We have a number of benefits that will assist you in your business as well as your bottom line. Here is some of what we offer: fuel discount programs; Interac, 0.069 cents per transaction; low credit-card rates from 1.657 per cent; WorldHost training for your staff; and luncheon meetings offering high profile, interesting and informed guest speakers.
The new post-retirement benefit came into effect Jan. 1, so if you are under 65 and working while receiving your CPP retirement pensions, both you and your employers will have to make CPP contributions (these contributions will go toward the new post-retirement benefit, which will be added to your CPP retirement pensions). If you are at 65 but under 70 and working while receiving CPP retirement pensions, you will make CPP contributions that will go toward the post-retirement benefit unless you elect not to contribute. The monthly CPP retirement pension amount will increase by a larger percentage if taken after age 65 and decrease by a larger percentage if taken before age 65. The number of years of low or zero earnings that are automatically dropped from the calculation of the CPP retirement pension will increase. Changes to the CPP will continue to be introduced until 2016.
A reminder that your membership fees were due Dec. 1 and we sincerely thank you for your continued support. All member information will be updated on our website and our e-mail database will be adjusted accordingly. If members have not received an invitation by e-mail for our luncheon, please let us know so we can make any changes to our notifications. Our 16 volunteer board members recently spent the day reviewing and updating the strategic plan and identifying our priorities for the year. The draft will be ready for final proofing in February.
Feb. 20 marks the beginning of Chamber of Commerce Week, an opportunity for Chambers of Commerce across the province to demonstrate the outstanding value we provide to our communities. This value comes in the form of benefits and services to stimulate local economies, direct community promotion and support, and engaging in an important multi-level advocacy role which benefits the entire province. Chambers of Commerce are community leaders in action. Chamber of Commerce Week recognizes and applauds this important contribution, and brings further awareness about the chamber network’s influence and importance to members of the public and Chamber members alike. We are currently seeking partnerships with our members to celebrate success and achievements during this celebration week.
We invite members to attend our general meeting luncheon Thursday, Jan. 26, from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Signal Point Restaurant. Chamber meetings offer businesses the opportunity to meet other businesses. Please RSVP by Tuesday by calling 250-392-5025. Our Guest Speakers will be Donna Barnett, MLA for the Cariboo Chilcotin and Brian Battison, vice president of corporate affairs for Taseko Mines Ltd.
Members can enter the Chamber Chatter draw sponsored by the Williams Lake Tribune and you could win the business profile for the next Chamber Chatter.
January Chamber Chatter business profile: Digney & Co.
Digney & Co, CGA is “your key ingredient for … business health and success.”
It specializes in working with business owners in ways that manage cash flow, enhance value, and minimize tax. It does this by working toward becoming your trusted accounting service provider. Once it learns about your business and earns your trust, it works to solve your needs by accessing its toolbox of resources. Your needs are matched to one of its service packages or referred to one of its affiliated professional service providers.
Its services include CGA professional standard financial statements and tax returns. Its statements combined with its professional assistance and advice helps ensure you are in full compliance and your business value is properly stated. You can use its statements for annual corporate filings, buying and selling a business, financing applications and much more.
Proper corporate and business organization structures help you meet your goals while paying less tax. It works with all of its clients to ensure any re-structure opportunities are realized when appropriate. Your professionally planned business structure provides you confidence you are operating in the most efficient manner.
It also offers unique accounting department solutions. If you have a growing business and are not yet in a position to hire a multi-person, in-house accounting department, its affiliated company Ledgers — Cariboo Chilcotin develops service packages to meet your bookkeeping, financial reporting and budget needs. Digney & Co is located upstairs at #202-525 Borland St. It has been operating in Williams Lake since 2002. It’s hard to believe it has been serving the Cariboo for a decade! It has grown from a one person office to a team of five specialists.
— submitted by the Williams Lake & District Chamber of Commerce.