Advocacy
Homelessness & Community Impact
Hey members! We wanted to give you a quick rundown on the important work the Chamber has been doing to address the impacts of the homelessness situation, especially in Kentville.
We’ve been busy meeting with local service providers and officials, and we recently took part in a roundtable meeting with Minister Lohr and other regional organizations.
What’s next? We’ll keep pushing for smart, regional solutions and are hosting a Crime & Security Information Session in the coming weeks. This session will give you and your staff practical tips and tools to handle safety concerns. Stay tuned for more details.
Want all the details on the survey results from our downtown Kentville members and our next steps? Click here to read the full letter we shared with our Kentville members.
We want to hear from you! If you have feedback on how this situation is impacting your business or organization across the Annapolis Valley, please reach out Nyla at executivedirector@annapolisvalleychamber.ca
Policy Matters: Bridging Canada’s Growing Skills Gap Should Be an Economic Priority
To function at its peak and provide a better life for all Canadians, our economy needs to fill tens of thousands of critical positions in engineering, technical occupations (medical technologists, dental care occupations), higher-skill goods (mechanics, electrical trades), and other higher-skill services (nurses, teachers, social services, and therapy professionals). The worker shortage in these “clusters”, as categorized by the Conference Board of Canada in a recent report, is costing us a lot — around $2.6 billion this year already!
To put that in perspective, $2.6 billion is roughly the annual budget of the Canada Border Services Agency, which means we could have funded the agency for a whole year on the value lost because of the skills gap.
Read more…
Statement from the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce: Budget 2025
“The Government of Canada has made investments in needed sectors and has made commitments to red tape reduction that will improve innovation. The amendments to the Red Tape Reduction Act represent a forward-thinking step toward unleashing innovation for businesses, particularly through the introduction of regulatory sandboxes that allow ministers to exempt pioneering projects from outdated rules. These sandboxes create safe, flexible spaces for SMEs and startups to test technologies, like AI-driven supply chains and green manufacturing, without the burden of excessive compliance, accelerating market entry by up to 30% and fostering a culture of experimentation that could drive billions in new economic activity while safeguarding consumer protections. While the ACC is pleased with investments in these areas, execution is where we will turn our attention.”
Read more…
Events & Workshops
LAST CALL!
Teambuilding – Pizza, Puzzle & Pitcher Night! December 3, 6-8 PM, at Boston Pizza, New Minas IT’S BACK!! Businesses, it’s time to gather your crew and bring your A-game for some puzzle, pizza, & pitcher action! Can your team outwit, out-puzzle, and out-eat the competition? How it works: Teams of 4 will battle it out – the first team to finish their puzzle and polish off a large pizza wins the glory, prizes, and of course, eternal bragging rights. Cost:
- $20 per teammate for Chamber members
- $25 per teammate for potential members (Pitcher is not required to be finished to win. Pizza, puzzle, and a pitcher of your choice included in ticket price!)
It’s a friendly competition, but don’t be fooled – when pizza and puzzles are involved, things get serious fast! Register your team below.
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Who: Chamber Members Only (Brought to you by our Chamber Champion Members)
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What: Post-Federal Budget Round Table Discussion
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When: Tuesday, December 16th, 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
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Where: Location and registration details will be announced soon!
Valley Business Hub: Holiday Social December 18, 2025
Luckett Vineyards Winter Market
November 30th, 11 AM – 4 PM
Benjamin Bridge Holiday Market
November 30th 12 PM – 4 PM
From Our Members
Holiday Rentals at Planters Ridge Winery
Celebrate the season surrounded by vineyard sunsets
and twinkling holiday lights. From our ten-foot
windows, take in the snow-dusted Wellington Dyke
farmland stretching to Cape Blomidon and the
sparkling Minas Basin.
Our warm and welcoming tasting room is fully
wheelchair accessible and ideal for holiday gatherings.
Host up to 70 guests standing for festive mingling or
book a holiday luncheon or wine tour.
Holiday dates fill quickly. Reserve your holiday
celebration now and let our team take care of the
details.
Contact: info@plantersridge.ca to book.
The Stockings Were Hung Project is looking for folks to collect items for stocking stuffers, toys, grocery cards, donations for food, and stocking stuffers.
The projects mandate is to assist school-aged youth of all ages, including preschool children and college youth, with a generic Christmas stocking.
We also prepare Christmas packages with toys, gifts, grocery bags, or hampers for specific families in need.
Presentation Paul Rosen with Para PowerPlay
The Annapolis Valley Chamber was honoured to attend this meaningful event and witness the powerful message of determination and support.
Para PowerPlay were grateful for the opportunity to have Paralympic Gold Medalist Paul Rosen deliver an inspiring, deeply personal talk at the Zedex auditorium at CFB Greenwood, Nova Scotia. Rosen shared his life story, offering a powerful message about resilience, perseverance, and never giving up, leaving a lasting impact on everyone in attendance.
In the photo (left to right): Chief Warrant Officer Justin Harper, Para PowerPlay President Justin Gauthier, Paul Rosen, Melbourne Ice Head Ambassador and Head Coach Kerry Goulet, and Para PowerPlay Treasurer and military liaison Major Melissa Irvine.
Be sure to visit Para PowerPlay Associations page, and learn more about their mission to foster inclusion and respect in sports, while breaking down barriers and making athletic opportunities accessible to everyone in the community.
Photo credit: Para PowerPlay Association Facebook.
For Our Members
TODAY! HR Covered: MOL/Labour Board Inspection Nightmares: Compliance for Small Business Owners
Government inspections are rarely pleasant—and almost never end without some consequence. Most result in written orders, fines, or in severe cases, an immediate business shutdown. For small business owners, these penalties can threaten not only day-to-day operations but also the long-term viability of the organization. Join us for this important session to learn how to stay compliant, what to do if an inspector unexpectedly arrives, and proactive steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of an inspection in the first place. In this webinar, you’ll learn: · Why a Ministry of Labour (MoL) or workplace inspector might visit your business · Essential compliance fundamentals every employer must know · Practical steps to take when an inspector shows up—plus expert tips · Real-life stories of inspections gone wrong (and lessons learned) · The potential consequences of a failed workplace inspection.
2025 Dine Around program
Government inspections are rarely pleasant—and almost never end without some consequence. Most result in written orders, fines, or in severe cases, an immediate business shutdown. For small business owners, these penalties can threaten not only day-to-day operations but also the long-term viability of the organization. Join us for this important session to learn how to stay compliant, what to do if an inspector unexpectedly arrives, and proactive steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of an inspection in the first place. In this webinar, you’ll learn: · Why a Ministry of Labour (MoL) or workplace inspector might visit your business · Essential compliance fundamentals every employer must know · Practical steps to take when an inspector shows up—plus expert tips · Real-life stories of inspections gone wrong (and lessons learned) · The potential consequences of a failed workplace inspection.
Chamber Member Webinar
HR Covered recently hosted a webinar for Chamber Members to help them get the most out of the complementary resources we are providing to them. Please contact: coordinator@annapolisvalleychamber.ca for the link to the webinar.
New Members
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