It’s not very often that you’re able to spend an afternoon with business colleagues, talking, thinking and focusing on business operations. It’s the best investment around.

Join us on Friday October 2nd 11:00am – 6:00 pm, at the Bayshore Community Centre, Owen Sound for the 7th Annual Bridges to Better Business Event and spend the afternoon working on your business. This year’s theme will be “Review, Renew and Revitalize…Your Business and You”.

Bridges to Better Business is not a business seminar, or training session where you listen to someone tell you things you already know. Bridges is an opportunity to learn and share with other business owners.

After a tremendous networking luncheon, the experienced panel take over, consisting of Jeff Sziklai of BellWyck Packaging, Neale Kemp of Aspin Kemp & Associates, Susan White of European Bakery Café, Brad Locking of Locking Business Furnishings, and Marsha Barrow of Butchart Estate Bed & Breakfast. The panel discussion will be followed by the chance to do some peer to peer sharing and learning.

This is followed by a mini trade showcase providing businesses with an opportunity to display their products and services. “Wined” down the day with a reception, where you have an opportunity to visit and network with other business owners and make terrific connections

Early bird registration ONLY $30 per person
Must be registered and paid by Friday September 18th for discount.
After September 18th cost is $35 per person

Tradeshow booths available on a first come basis for an additional $30. There are only a few booths left; register today!

To register, forward completed registration form (http://www.owensound.ca/business/enterprisecentre/businessevents.php) and payment, (cheque made payable to City of Owen Sound) to:

The Business Enterprise Centre – Owen Sound & Area
173 8th Street East, Owen Sound, N4K 1K9
Tel: 519-371-3232 Fax: 519-371-2060
Email: businesshelp@owensound.ca

More Fall back to Business events!

Wednesday September 23 -

Employee Regulations Seminar – Please register before Monday September 21st to ensure your space!

Specialists from Canada Revenue Agency will be presenting the following topics:

· Deducting, Remitting and Reporting Payroll

· Self Employed vs. Employee

· Electronic Services for Business

This FREE seminar will be held at the Owen Sound & North Grey Union Public Library from 9:30am-1:30pm.

Thursday October 8th -

2009 Ontario Budget: Comprehensive Tax Package-How it will Affect You and Your Business

Join representatives from the Ministry of Revenue for a review of the 2009 Ontario Budget’s proposed tax package and the impact on businesses and individuals. A major focus of this presentation will be the proposed single sales tax that would come into effect on July 1, 2010.

This FREE seminar will be held at the Owen Sound & North Grey Union Public Library from 9:00am-10:00am.

Thursday November 19th -

How to Really Start a Business

Discover the basic steps involved in starting a business, determining your market, rules and regulations and how to be successful.

This FREE seminar will be held at the Owen Sound & North Grey Union Public Library from 6:30pm-8:30pm.

Pre-Registration is required for all seminars.

We look forward to seeing you!

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590 packages of crayons
898 duotangs
1143 pens
1283 spiral notebooks
1413 binders
1690 erasers, pencils, rulers and backpacks

Total cost of all supplies: over $35 000
Smile on child’s face knowing they have what they need to start school… priceless

The United Way of Bruce Grey is thrilled (if not exhausted) to announce it will be sending 1690 children and youth back to school with basic school supplies.

The United Way would like to thank everyone who pitched in, hauled supplies, held fundraisers, celebrated milestones and included the program, all donors and the countless volunteers that assembled the backpacks.

The United Way would like to acknowledge the following sponsors and supporters:

Staples Business Depot – Owen Sound, the program’s media sponsor. In addition the entire staff worked to raise over $7 000 in cash donations as well as at least the same value in supplies donated through the “Stuff the Bus” event.

Bruce Power for donating $15 000 and truly making our achievement possible

Bayshore Broadcasting, specifically 98 The Beach for the Code Breakers promotion and the Mix 106 Morning Show for keeping us in the minds of the public throughout August

Kiwanis Owen Sound who sponsored the purchase of all the crayons

Peninsula Ford who put forth a challenge to have their donation matched

Blackburn Radio, specifically The One for the “Giving Back Promotion” and Zellers for sponsoring the promotion

Meridian Credit Union who took donations throughout the counties and promoted the program in their branches

Both Bruce and Grey counties for distributing the program information to their Ontario Works recipients as for allowing us to us the Early Years Centers as “depots” so parents don’t have to travel to pick up their backpacks

The United Way acknowledges the support of its volunteers, from board members to backpack stuffers, the agencies that assisted us with distribution and needs assessment.

The local media for telling the stories of the children in need, stories that needed to be told, and for creating community discussion around issues of education and poverty

The United Way acknowledges its staff and most especially our Backpack Co-ordinator Michael Hay, who rose to the challenge of a 30% increase in demand, organized an army of volunteers to stuff the backpacks as well as keeping on top of inventory and “the list”.

And most importantly, a thank you to the entire community for their continued support of the United Way and its programs: without you there would be no way.

For more information please contact the United Way at 519 376 1560

-30-

United Way of Bruce Grey
380 9th St. East
Owen Sound, Ontario, N4K 1P1
ph: 519-376-1560 fax: 519-376-5458
www.unitedwayofbrucegrey.com
www.informationbrucegrey.ca
www.volunteerconnection.ca
www.211brucecounty.ca
www.211greycounty.ca

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If you missed the fabulous Strawberry Social, here’s an invitation to what will no doubt be another sell-out at the Wiarton Market.

Come out and celebrate tomato season in Grey-Bruce at our Fresh Tomato Pasta Dinner at the Wiarton Farmers’ Market.

Join us this Friday, August 21st at the Farmers’ Market in Bluewater Park. Market runs from 1pm, dinner from 5 to 8pm. Live music! Kids activities! And a Natural Gardening Seminar by Harold Priebe, author of “Old is New Again”.

Dinner features local organic tomatoes with bocconcini cheese and fresh basil salad, pasta with seasonal vegetables, grilled sausage and bison meatballs, fresh baked italian bread, homemade peach pie, coffee and punch.

Meal $12, kids under 12 $6

Reserve your meal by calling (519) 534-2043
***Please pass this message along and post it to anyone who loves good food and local produce!***

Around the Sound is open Thursday and Friday from 10 until 7 and Saturday from 10 until 4
at 972 1st Avenue West, just a block north of the Library.
Please call 519-370-2333 if there’s anything you need.
www.aroundthesoundfood.com

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Nomination packages are available online at www.owensound.ca/culturalawards or may be picked up in person at the Service Owen Sound counter at City Hall, 808 2nd Avenue East. The package includes a detailed list of award categories, nomination criteria and procedures, and a nomination form. The deadline for applications is October 5, 2009.

The Cultural Awards are a high-priority action item from Owen Sound’s Cultural Master Plan. They are an initiative of the Cultural Advisory Committee, a committee of Owen Sound City Council. Its members include two City councillors, community volunteers, and representatives of the Tom Thomson Art Gallery, Owen Sound & North Grey Union Public Library and other cultural organizations.

The Owen Sound Cultural Awards will be presented at an Awards Ceremony and Celebration at the Roxy Theatre on October 15, 2009. Tickets for the event are now on sale at the Roxy Box Office. Phone (519) 371-2833 to book yours.

Thanks to Bruce R. Price, Your Personable Chartered Accountant, The Ginger Press, Investors Group Financial Services, and Community Foundation Grey-Bruce for your support and sponsorship of the Cultural Awards program.

Please contact me if you would like to receive a Nomination Poster or Package by return email.

Please forward this email far and wide! We hope to see many worthy candidates nominated in all categories.

Doug Cleverley
Event Facilitator
City of Owen Sound
Phone: (519) 376-4440
Please note my new extension 1251

Cultural Awards website:
www.owensound.ca/culturalawards

Cultural Master Plan:
www.e-owensound.com/communityservices/2007_Cultural_Master_Plan_Final.pdf

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Dear Mayor Lovell and Council,

Last night, I attended a portion of the Council Meeting after reading Christy Hempel’s column in the Sun Times. Unfortunately, I did not read the article until five minutes before my arrival at City Hall, too late to hear the presentation of Sydenham Holdings, citizens input or the debate. Thus if my remarks are redundant, I apologize.

Firstly I wish to acknowledge the very difficult job you are faced with in these difficult economic times and facing challenges of a magnitude such as climate change hitherto undreamed of, or should I say unnightmared of! Additionally, I want to say, knowing several of you personally, I am sure of your sincerity in desiring a sustainable future for the citizens of Owen Sound.

Having said that I wish to share some comments and concerns arising from the reading of Ms. Hempel’s article and subsequent attendance at the Council meeting.

Let me vigorously voice my support for the substance of Ms. Hempel’s column, specifically her call for development in accordance with Ontario’s “Smart Growth” policies. I would as vigorously support her suggestion that council “review the long-range vision for our commercial area on the east side”.

Last night I heard several councilors talk about the responsibility Owen Sound has as regional centre. Hear, hear. I also heard enthusiastic reference for the prospective increased tax revenues that would ensue as a result of this development proposal. One question this raises is this proposal part of a sustainable solution to the economic problems we face as a city?

In about 1965 Owen Sound in what certainly seemed a good decision gave, as in zero cost, a piece of land to PPG to build a plant. It can’t be argued that this did create both revenue from taxes and many jobs for over forty years. With the recent closure, by definition, this has to be deemed, by definition, a non sustainable initiative. Was there an alternative that could have been pursued that would have been sustainable? I don’t know. Could the council of the day been more perspicacious in their decision making? It is hard to imagine given the virtually consonant world view at time.

These same conditions do not maintain today. We have knowledge of climate change. We have knowledge of peak oil and natural gas. With the greatest of respect to LEED(Leadership in Environmental and Sustainable Design) Gold designation, to point to having a big box retail development, epitomizing urban sprawl, achieving a LEED Gold standard as an example of sustainable development is akin to applauding the attachment of flotation devices to deck chairs on the Titanic.

In conversation with local Engineer Jim Farmer today, he told me the cost gap between goods imported from China and those manufactured locally has narrowed to five percent from the previous 20-30 percent. What happens when the products contained in “Big Box” retail are not cheap because of the cost of shipping, regardless of manufacturing costs? What happens when people won’t drive distances to shop because the cost of fuel has doubled tripled or quadrupled in cost. These circumstances, according to lots of people way smarter than me are a when not an if proposition. Not to mention the morality of burning carbon in a climate change crisis world.

May I respectfully suggest that Owen Sound can take a real leadership role in developing a sustainable, region with a healthy economy by helping to develop a regional plan based on self sufficiency and vertical integration That is, we eat food and consume goods and services produce and process and manufactured here. I moved here because I saw in Grey-Bruce the possibility of a sustainable, self-sufficient bio region for my children and future grandchildren to live in.. And I am not saying 100 percent. I want my fair trade coffee too. But could we shoot for 80 percent self-sufficiency.

I would urge you; no beg you, on behalf of the future generations, to be the exception as political leaders and develop a long term vision that is truly sustainable, not just pay lip service to the notion and be complicit in “Greenwashing”.

After attending last night’s meeting I called a friend, a local business man deeply involved with local affairs who cares deeply about a sustainable future for our community. I asked where were the people who share these values at last night’s meeting. He said sadly, “people don’t believe that council will listen”. I am sure that is not true of all of the councilors all of the time, but for it to be said at all, for me, is a problem.

Prove him wrong, please.

Sincerely,
Kevin Best

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