"To promote and improve trade and commerce by providing a viable business climate while complementing the social and natural environment of Salt Spring Island"
YOUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Established in 1948, the Salt Spring Island Chamber of Commerce has effectively served the business community and residents of Salt Spring. We work to provide Islanders with a community where citizens can enjoy life while earning a living.
A membership in the Chamber of Commerce has great potential to be more than a piece of paper - it is your opportunity to reach out to others and achieve great things. For example:
- you don't buy a newspaper, you buy the news
- you don't buy eyeglasses, you buy vision
"WHAT CAN MY MEMBERSHIP 'DO' FOR ME?"
This is one of the most frequently asked questions we receive at the Chamber of Commerce.
The simple answer is.... Nothing. Yes, that's correct. On its own your membership is just a piece of paper with your company name and the Chamber of Commerce logo on it. It does not "DO" anything. However, when we start to look at the ways in which you can "USE" your Chamber of Commerce membership to benefit your company and our community, the opportunities become a lot more apparent.
So let's take that same question, and ask it just a little bit differently....
"How can I "USE" my Membership to access programs and services which will benefit my company and our community?"
There are five core activities that the Salt Spring Island Chamber of Commerce offer to its members:
ADVOCACY & SUPPORT - The Salt Spring Island Chamber of Commerce has teamed up with business associations and other Chambers of Commerce to work with local, provincial and federal government bodies to find solutions to issues that negatively affect business and/or our community. To be "THE VOICE" of business on Salt Spring, the Chamber needs businesses to join and give us "THE WORDS"!
BUSINESS PROMOTION - On average, over 43,000 people walk through the doors of the Salt Spring Visitor Information Centre each year. As a member of the Chamber of Commerce you can display your business brochure and/or business card at the centre to capture the attention of this consumer group! Many visitors to Salt Spring Island eventually become our community's new residents, and many of these folks use the Visitor Information Centre/Chamber of Commerce office as their first reference. Displaying your business brochure at the Information Centre can be beneficial even if your business is not directly dependent on the tourism industry.
ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES - Every year the Chamber of Commerce prints 60,000 copies of the "Star of the Gulf Islands", a brochure featuring local businesses, special attractions along with a detailed map of the Island. Throughout the year, the Chamber of Commerce also provides cooperative advertising opportunities in many publications, allowing our members advertising at significant discounted rates.
NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES - The Salt Salt Spring Chamber of Commerce hosts monthly Business Breakfast Club Meetings annually. The meetings allow members the opportunity to share ideas and business information and to connect with others. Typically, we host a guest speaker or provide a presentation that has an educational component to it. Business after business mixers also occur throughout the year.
BENEFIT PLAN DISCOUNTS - Your membership gives you access to over 13 different benefit plans via the British Columbia and Canadian Chambers of Commerce, including:
- Group Insurance Plan
- Merchant Services - Moneris Solutions (MasterCard) & TD Canada Trust (Visa)
- Cellular Phone Plan - Rogers AT&T
- Long Distance Phone Plans - Navigata
- Fuel Savings -Shell, Mohawk, Husky, Esso & Petro-Canada
- Payroll Services - Payworks
- Small Business Services - TVS (credit checks, etc.)
To join, complete download the application and return to the Chamber office at: