Chamber Blog
Celebrating the First World Franchise Day
Franchises: An Engine of Local Business and Economic Growth When we think of franchises, global names like McDonald’s or Tim Hortons may come to mind. But the real story of franchising is happening much closer to home. Franchises are an integral part of our local economy—offering jobs, services, and stability in communities like Whitby and Read More
Read MoreHow to honour multiple days of significance without missing the mark
By Matisse Hamel-Nelis, ADS, CPACC As business owners, there are times when you open your calendar and feel overwhelmed. As you scroll, you realize the upcoming month is filled with various days of significance, including overlapping week and month-long events. Days of significance are moments throughout the year that hold meaning personally, culturally, historically, or Read More
Read MoreCelebrating Diversity: Why Durham Businesses Should Support Drag Queen Storytime
Every year, libraries across Durham Region host Drag Queen Storytime, an event that has become a powerful symbol of inclusivity, literacy, and community engagement. The impact of Drag Queen Storytime, which Durham CAS funds, has not gone unnoticed. In January 2024, Durham Region Public Libraries and Durham CAS were honored with the Ontario Library Association’s Read More
Read MoreFinding Balance: 5 Practical Strategies for Business Owners to Manage Stress and Overcome Burnout
As a business owner, you’re no stranger to the relentless demands of entrepreneurship. You wear multiple hats, juggle competing priorities, and often feel like there’s never enough time in the day. But while building a thriving business is rewarding, it can also take a toll on your well-being—leading to stress, overwhelm, and eventually, burnout. Here’s Read More
Read MoreEntrepreneur Panel Inspires Durham College Business Students at Landmark Theatre
On April 4, 2025, business students from Durham College gathered at the Landmark Cinema in Whitby, Ontario, for an inspiring and insightful panel discussion. The event, tailored to provide guidance and foster networking opportunities for future business leaders, featured a diverse group of accomplished entrepreneurs. These experts shared their journeys, challenges and success stories, offering Read More
Read MoreTARIFF RESPONSE-April 2
TARIFF RESPONSE-April 2 On April 2, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the implementation of new “reciprocal tariffs,” aiming to address trade imbalances by imposing a baseline 10% tariff on all imports into the United States, effective April 5, 2025. Additionally, higher tariffs will be applied to specific countries with which the U.S. has significant Read More
Read MoreElection Protocols
Ensuring Fair & Informed Elections: The Whitby Chamber of Commerce Election Campaign Protocol Elections play a vital role in shaping the future of our communities, and at the Whitby Chamber of Commerce, we are committed to fostering an informed electorate while maintaining a non-partisan stance. Our Election Campaign Protocol is designed to ensure fairness, provide Read More
Read MoreKey Whitby Updates from the Address of Mayor Roy
At the Address of Mayor Roy, Mayor Elizabeth Roy shared her vision for a thriving, sustainable community. Addressing local business leaders and residents, she spoke about the town’s progress and challenges in housing, economic development, and community care. On housing, she highlighted Whitby’s efforts to meet Ontario’s mandate of 18,000 new units by 2031. In Read More
Read MoreEmbracing Neurodiversity: Unlocking Talent in the Workforce
Embracing Neurodiversity: Unlocking Talent in the Workforce Monday, March 17th, 2025 Neurodiversity Celebration Week is an opportunity to recognize the immense value that neurodivergent individuals bring to the workplace. Across Durham Region and beyond, businesses are discovering that fostering an inclusive workforce isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s a smart business strategy. The Strengths of Read More
Read MoreTariff Talks: What’s the Chamber Doing?
The Whitby Chamber of Commerce has been following developments and working with our chamber colleagues at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, related to the imposition of 25% across-the-board tariffs on Canadian imports to the U.S. It is extremely disappointing to see that these measures (and a lower but not insignificant 10% tariff on Read More
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