Chamber Blog

On August 14th the Federal government announced policy changes that may likely impact and support your business. Most notably, having heard from countless business communities across Canada, including our Chamber, the government is extending the term loan repayment and grant qualification deadline under the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) program. Businesses that repay their loan Read More

Recently, on behalf of the Whitby Chamber of Commerce I attended a roundtable on Durham Region’s economic development with federal leaders Honourable Minister Filomena Tassi and our own MP Ryan Turnbull. Minister Tassi highlighted that fundamentals like affordable housing, transit, and healthcare are needed to prepare the groundwork for economic growth and healthy vibrant communities. Read More

As PRIDE month draws to a close, it’s important to remember that allyship for our 2SLGBTQI+ community is something that should be actively demonstrated throughout the year.   We’ve taken great strides toward making our community safer and more inclusive for all, and this includes the ever-expanding list of events and programming that happen in our Read More

As I sat in my office today on my break, braiding my hair to get it tidy for the remainder of the day, I was reflecting on the past month, June 2023, National Indigenous History Month, National Indigenous People’s Day which was June 21. As I remove some of the tangles while sitting by an Read More

Growing crises Durham Region, along with cities and towns across the country, is experiencing  homelessness, mental health and addictions crises. In 2022, there were more than 14,000 emergency room visits to Lakeridge Health related to mental health and substance abuse, and a 67 per cent increase in people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Durham compared to Read More

The last few months have been active and exciting for the Chamber from an Advocacy perspective. After reporting on the federal and provincial budgets, and reviewing your responses to our 2023 Advocacy Survey, the Whitby Chamber of Commerce hosted our local elected officials for some invaluable discussions. At our Fireside Chat on April 25th, Trinda Read More

Advocacy Survey Results Thank you all of responding to our annual Advocacy Survey! This helps guide our efforts both within our chamber walls and regionally through the Durham Business Alliance.  Your voice matters and is appreciated. Our blog provides you with highlights: In our annual Advocacy Survey, respondents identified attracting new investments and creating incentives Read More

On March 5th, we (Peter Garett and Preeti Sangwan) represented the Whitby Chamber of Commerce (WCC) membership and our Advocacy Committee during Advocacy Day at Queen’s Park. Hosted by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC), the event allowed Chambers and Boards of Trades from across Ontario to connect, learn and advocate on key policy issues, Read More

On February 2nd, the Whitby Chamber of Commerce’s IDEA Committee (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) celebrated Black History Month with our annual BHM event, Creating Community. Our first speaker, Mr. Isaac Olowolafe Jr., Co-founder & General Partner of BKR Capital got right down to business. He walked the audience through practical stages and opportunities which Read More