June 2011

THE TIMES TUESDAY, JUNE 7, 2011
A11
TheChamberVoice
VOLUME 5, ISSUE 5
THE AWARD-WINNING NEWSPAPER OF THE ABBOTSFORD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
JUNE 2011
CANUCKS FROM POWER PLAYS TO PRETTY PROM DRESSES
– JEAN KONDA-WITTE/TIMES
Champagne & Lace owner Gerri Charles, right, and manager Robynn MacFarlane decked out the Abbotsford bridal salon with all things Canucks, including grad gowns in the team colours of blue and
green. See Champagne & Lace’s display for yourself at 33811 South Fraser Way, Abbotsford.
Grooming good business with the Chamber
Krista’s Dog Grooming Salon works to stay a cut above
CAM TUCKER
[email protected]
L
oving what you do for a living
is very important to Krista
Folk, the owner of Krista’s Dog
Grooming Salon in Abbotsford.
“I love my job. I love coming to
work everyday,” said Folk.
“Everyday is different, but I
always get to be around dogs.”
There aren’t many people who
can combine an outside passion
with their work. Dogs, which Folk
has always loved ever since she
was a child, have been her key to a
successful grooming business.
“I’ve always done something
with animals, and grooming was
a natural progression.”
Folk, who specifically loves poodles and is the owner of one-yearold Shyla, has been grooming dogs
professionally for more than 20
years, both in Nelson and here in
Abbotsford.
Being the owner of a poodle, it’s
a necessary skill, and not something that just anyone can do.
In fact, it takes up to six years of
training and education. Folk has
three certificates up on her wall
to prove it.
She’s a certified master groomer,
an achievement that included a
number of steps such as grooming
a poodle and having it critiqued – a
score less than 79 per cent and the
test counts as a fail.
“It’s very busy and a
wonderful business. You
get to be friends with
people and their dogs.”
– Krista Folk
Then those who pass the test
must apprentice before they can
be certified.
Folk’s hard work has paid off,
and her business continues its
steady stream of canine-friendly
clientele, which she said is in large
part because of her training.
“It’s very busy and a wonderful
business. You get to be friends with
people and their dogs,” she said.
“Most people who have pets are
kind and wonderful people. They
love their dogs. They bring them
in to have them groomed and they
want to take care of them.
“They want to see their pets are
well-loved by their groomer or
vet.”
Now Folk is hoping her reputation as a dog lover and certified groomer can mix with the
Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce, the local business networking organization she joined
recently.
“I have heard a lot of good things
about the Chamber,” she said.
“I was a member of the [Nelson
Chamber of Commerce] when I
lived up there 10 years ago.
“I do find it very informative and
that they do a lot for businesses.”
◗ For more information, check out
www.kristasdoggrooming.com, or
call 604-850-1213.
– CAM TUCKER/TIMES
Krista Folk owns Krista’s Dog Grooming Salon in Abbotsford and recently
joined the Chamber. Her poodle, Shyla, needs constant grooming.
A12 ❘ CHAMBER VOICE ❘ TUESDAY, JUNE 7, 2011 THE TIMES
HST: B.C. warming to
potential cost savings
Agriculture is Big Business
Bus Tour & Lunch
Date: Friday, June 17, 2011
Time: 7:45 am - 2:00 pm
Average family will save
$120 with ‘improved’ tax
Limited space, only 50 spots available
A
• Van Belle Nursery
ber of Commerce.
“These changes maintain the attributes of
the HST in creating jobs and business investment in B.C.”
new Ipsos-Reid poll commissioned
All of the benefits HST has for B.C.’s small
by Global BC sees British Columbians businesses remain, such as the reduced
coming around to the cost-saving and input and administrative costs. There will
job-creating benefits of the new HST.
be no tax increase for small businesses, and
“British Columbians realize what Fight HST the planned reduction in the small business
doesn’t, that the 10 per cent HST is cheaper income tax rate is still slated to go ahead
for B.C. families than a 12 per cent PST/GST,” when fiscal conditions permit.
Changes to the corposaid Mike Jagger, Smart Tax
Alliance co-chair.
rate tax rate underscore the
“The poll reflects a simple “The two keys for busigovernment’s commitment
referendum decision: do you
to returning BC to balanced
support a single HST at 10 per nesses are maintaining
budgets.
cent or a double PST/GST at the benefits of the HST
“Small businesses are the
12 per cent?”
real winners of these changThe mood of public opinion and establishing certainty es,” said Winter.
has changed; opposition to
“By keeping all of the benthe HST is half of what it was with the rate reductions.” efits of the HST and making
this time last year and suptheir product more affordable
port is growing.
to consumers, the govern“The HST is a job creat– John Winter BC Chamber CEO ment has assured that both
ing tax that will save British
the business community and
Columbians money at the
general public see the advannew 10 per cent rate,” added Jagger.
tages of harmonization.”
The BC Chamber of Commerce applauded
“Furthermore, by building on the momenthe B.C. Government’s plan to reduce the tum of rising business support for the HST
total HST rate to 10 percent from the current and the continual exposure of misinforma12 per cent.
tion about it, these changes further increase
“The two keys for businesses are maintain- the likelihood of retaining the HST in the
ing the benefits of the HST and establishing upcoming referendum.”
certainty with the rate reductions,” said John
Winter, president and CEO of the BC Cham– ABBOTSFORD CHAMBER
Tour Locationss:
• Ritchie Smith Foods
• Vedder Transportation Group
Sponsored by
Keynote Speaker: Richard Bullock, chair
of the Provincial Agriculture Land Commission
www.abbotsfordchamber.com
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B
.C.’s new $3-million Targeted Skills
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and Bowman Employment Services, Inc.
has been selected to exclusively deliver
the program in the Fraser Valley Region
including Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge,
Langley, Abbotsford, Mission and Chilliwack.
This pilot program is designed to help
low-skilled employees who lack postsecondary training or other credentials
gain new skills to improve productivity,
take on new responsibilities and advance
their careers.
The TSSP targets four high-growth sectors where the demand for skilled workers
over the next decade will be strong:
■ transportation and warehousing;
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■ professional, scientific and technical services.
The program focuses on assisting lowskilled workers within businesses or nonprofit organizations with less than 100
employees. Through the program, up to
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◗ For more information contact Susan Sambol with Bowman Employment Services at
604-466-1375 or [email protected].
Would your business
benefit from a little
additional exposure?
Are you continuously looking for
opportunities to get your business
name ‘out there’?
Date: Thursday, June 23, 2011
Time: 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Location: The Reach Gallery Museum
32388 Veterans Way Abbotsford
Event sponsors
www.abbotsfordchamber.com
IF THE
TOOTH FAIRY
WON’T PAY YOUR
DENTAL BILLS,
WE CAN!
See why over 25,000
business owners selected this plan!
This is your opportunity to make business
connections with other Chamber members.
Chamber Connection events will introduce
you to new clients and business people in an
informal atmosphere.
Enjoy complimentary appetizers &
beverages.
Dan Roberge Financial Services Inc.
“Your Only Authorized Chamber Plan Representatives”
201-3240 Mt Lehman Rd, Abbotsford, BC V4X 2M9
P: 604-855-1990 TF: 1-888-818-2942 F: 604-855-1090
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THE TIMES TUESDAY, JUNE 7, 2011 ❘
CHAMBER VOICE
❘ A13
Opportunity in the Middle Kingdom
Trip to China opens eyes
to economic possibilities
N
PRESIDENT’S
Report
ǐ hǎo!! Thanks to the Google translation application, I was able to
phonetically write “Hello” in Man-
darin.
I learned this plus about two other
words on our recent trip to Beijing
and Shanghai, while representing the
Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce as a
part of the Abbotsford trade mission trip
to China.
As all of us have heard, the growth of
this country is hard to fathom, and difficult to grasp or understand.
Believe me, nothing you have heard
can really prepare you for what you will
experience on the ground in this fascinating country.
From the towering skyscrapers that are
popping up everywhere on the outskirts
PATRICK GIESBRECHT
PRESIDENT
of Beijing to the endless string of barges
we watched moving down the river in
Shanghai, it is obvious that China is on
the move and we ignore it at our peril.
Of course there are many concerns
with how China is managing its growth;
from the smog in its cities to the many
new high rises that are seemingly empty.
However, the sheer size of their population and aggressive agenda of their one
party government pretty much guarantee
China is the next economic super power.
As always, change and risk also spell
Major AGM resolution
T
he BC Chamber of Commerce passed a major resolution at its AGM this week
calling for equitable police funding in British Columbia.
We were extremely pleased
with the support our resolution received on the floor.”
– Patrick Giesbrecht
The Abbotsford Chamber of
Commerce, as well as chambers
from Victoria and Nelson, submitted the resolution.
The resolution calls upon
senior levels of government to
develop a fair funding program
for all British Columbia municipalities, and to have governments provide the same cost
sharing to those communities
opportunity on the flip side of the coin,
They are essentially commoditizing
and opportunity abounds in China. The
their technical know-how, and by partquestions really are how to best take
nering with a Chinese company, can
advantage of this opportunity and how
profit from it in the growing agriculture
best to participate?
industries there. As well, they are able
Increasingly, the Chito benefit from the lower
nese are going to be
manufacturing costs in
positioning themselves
China to fill orders they
Believe me, nothing you
farther and farther up
have for the rest of the
the value chain.
world.
have heard can really preThe government is
This is the kind of credetermined to move
ative joint venture that
pare you for what you will
their economy away
seems to be required to
from being the manuexperience on the ground in successfully do business in
facturer of cheap, mass
China.
produced components,
The good news for our
the fascinating country.
and we will increasingly
members is, we now have
see better quality goods
relationships with business
and more sophisticated manufacturing
people on the ground in China who are
processes.
looking for good Canadian businesses to
One agricultural-based Abbotsford
joint venture with.
business accompanying us on the trip
Contact the Chamber office, or me
sees opportunity in participating in this
directly for more info on this. Xièxiè!!
economic shift.
(Use Google to translate.)
Briefly
using a municipal police force as
to those contracting the services
of the RCMP.
“We were extremely pleased
with the support our resolution received on the floor,” said
Abbotsford Chamber board
chair Patrick Giesbrecht.
The Chambers also called
upon Victoria not to sign a new
contract with the RCMP until
the inequity was addressed.
The Chamber feels there is
no acceptable rationalization
for vast discrepancies in policing costs for communities in
B.C., suggesting communities
utilizing the RCMP through the
provincial policing agreement
with less than 5,000 population
essentially do not pay for policing, while those over 5,000 up
to 15,000 pay 70 per cent of the
cost and the large communities
pay 90 per cent of cost. The 12
municipalities with their own
police force pay 100 per cent of
the costs.
New B.C. board announced
The BC Chamber of Commerce is
pleased to announce the following
board for 2011/2012.
Chair John Turner, Fort St John
Immediate Past Chair Mike Watson, North Vancouver
Directors
• James Barlow, Abbotsford
• James A. Belsheim, North Van.
• Rod Cox, Terrace
• Jackie Frederick, Penticton
• Brant Hasanen, Kamloops
• John Juricic, Victoria
• Maureen Kirkbride, Vancouver
• Milt Kruger, Langley
• Dan McLaren, Prince George
• Shana Najafi, Vancouver
• Jeanette Sissons, Cranbrook
President & CEO John Winter, BC
Chamber of Commerce, Vancouver
Legal Council Steve Saville, Vancouver
BC Chamber Executive Deb
McClelland, Kamloops.
Chamber member
celebrates 10 years
Milestone for MD Cosmetic & Laser Clinic
A
bbotsford Chamber member
MD Cosmetic & Laser Clinic
celebrated its 10 year anniversar y last week with an open
house complete with prizes,
specials and a fundraiser for
the Women’s Resource Society
of the Fraser Valley.
Since 2001, Dr. Haneef Alibhai and his team have treated
more than 8,000 patients and
have trained over 900 doctors
in aesthetic medicine. When
the clinic first opened it was the
only full service cosmetic clinic
in Abbotsford to offer procedures such as Botox Cosmetic,
injectable fillers like Juvederm
and laser skin treatments.
“We are so proud to be a part
of this community and have
found it so rewarding to provide
services to thousands of people
that truly make them feel better about themselves,” said Dr.
Alibhai. “We wanted to use our
anniversary as an opportunity
to celebrate, but also give back
to our community in a meaningful way.”
At the heart of the MD Cosmetic & Laser Clinic celebration was a fundraiser for the
Women’s Resource Society of
the Fraser Valley ( WRSFV ), an
organization that works for the
safety and security of women and children by providing
emergency shelter and transition houses.
Congratulations to MD Cosmetic & Laser Clinic.
TheChamberVoice
The Chamber of Commerce of Abbotsford • Published Monthly
The Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce, in a partnership with the Abbotsford Times, produces The Chamber Voice
once a month. The statements and opinions expressed in this monthly newspaper are not necessarily those of the publisher.
The Chamber, the city’s Voice of Business, intends on keeping its members, and prospective members, informed on important
messages, information and education. Advertising opportunities in this publication are exclusive to Chamber members. The
Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce is located at 207-32900 South Fraser Way, Abbotsford, B.C., V2S 5A1. You can call the office
at 604-859-9651, fax 604-850-6880, e-mail [email protected], or go to www.abbotsfordchamber.com.
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Event Coordinator
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Editor
Chamber Voice
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A14 ❘ CHAMBER VOICE ❘ TUESDAY, JUNE 7, 2011 THE TIMES
Recognize a job well done
T
he 16th Annual Business Excellence
Awards is open for nominations for
deserving organizations and businesses!
The Abbotsford Chamber is proud to
once again present the Business Excellence Awards to acknowledge the hard
work of Abbotsford businesses.
The awards recognize businesses that
are leaders in their industry with a commitment to customer service, a concern
for the community, and a passion for
innovation.
The collection of nominations will occur
until September 23rd , so don’t miss your
opportunity to acknowledge a business
or organization who has gone above and
beyond on your behalf.
See it.
The nomination process is simple, just
complete a one page nomination form
online at www.abbotsfordchamber.com.
Awards will be presented on Nov. 23 at a
dinner and awards celebration at Tradex,
sponsored by MacAdams Law Firm and
Relevention Marketing Solutions.
The evening will feature a special Business in Black dance, along with entertainment by Michael Harrison.
Don’t miss out. Be sure to nominate a
deserving business or organization and
acknowledge the hard work and dedication it takes to make Abbotsford a great
place to do business.
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Date: Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Time: 7:30 am - 9:00 am
Fees: Members $22. Non-members $32
Location: Sandman Hotel & Suites
Abbotsford
www.abbotsfordchamber.com
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