Pattie Pavlov | Special to the 51暗网
October is all about Small Business honours, recognition, and celebration. Situation is, however, a great deal of work precedes the party. JPCC is excited and pleased to welcome the return of the Annual Ambassador and Business Awards, this year with a hybrid twist! Your input is vital to our success!
The pivot to a virtual event last year with daily streaming of nominees for each category featured over a week鈥檚 time on our Facebook page. The team was so very pleased to see the uptake and decided it was a good thing for this year as well. The twist? The return of an in-person event to announce the winners in over seven categories at a reception on Oct. 20, 2021!
What are the categories? Glad you asked! They include Non-Profit Organization of the Year, Disability Confident Employer sponsored by the Jasper Education and Employment Center as well as perennial favourite, the Customer Service Award, Award of Distinction, Corporate Citizen of the Year and, of course, the Business of the Year. As COVID seems to remain an issue for everyone, JPCC will once again award a deserving organization with the Best COVID Response award, commonly known as the 鈥淪urvival to Revival Response鈥�.
Without a doubt, every business in our community has struggled, met the challenge and looks forward to a 2022 season with a return to whatever normal may look like, regardless of the operation or sector.
So, what do you do? Also, glad you asked! Check out the nomination form and criteria on the Jasper Park Chamber of Commerce website (), fill it in and either drop it off at Robson House or email to Meg Markulin, operations manager ([email protected]). Remember, the more nominees, the more love we have to share!
Ever wonder why we have an annual award event? Easily answered everyone. October is recognized as an opportunity to stop, take stock and say thank you to small business, medium business or really, any business for opening their doors, especially during COVID-19 restrictions. JPCC acknowledges that for some keeping the doors open was more than just a challenge, it was wrenching.
To that end, JPCC continues to work each and every day with all levels of government, agencies, and partners toward a sustainable economic recovery plan. It comes as no surprise to anyone that one of the most significant challenges facing our community has always been housing for employees, access to services necessary to settle and integrate into our mountain town. JPCC Executive, Board and Administrative team(s) are pleased and proud to be an integral part of the economic response to COVID-19 with leading the proposal for extended patio and retail space(s), paid parking pilot project, having a seat at the JCHC table knowing the utilities installation for three parcels of land is now well underway. To know that service installation will literally pave the way to construction is welcome news toward lessening a decades-long struggle to house everyone who requires a place to call 鈥渉ome.鈥�
As the newly elected Executive and Board meet for the annual strategic planning conference, top of mind remains how to best serve the membership. Advocacy is a large part of our work. However, it鈥檚 not all we do and it鈥檚 important to mention constant contact with partners that have their own mandate to serve and ultimately collaborate on the best way to accomplish our goals.
For example, the regionalization of services generally and most efficiently provided by the Jasper Employment and Education Centre will see an end to the in-person assistance the working and employer community have become accustomed to receiving. Further, many of you may or may not be aware there is a movement afoot to remove RCMP services in the province and replace it with a policing body of its own. Regardless of your feeling in that regard, the question remains is it worth the exorbitant cost both in dollars and sense (pun intended)? Finally, and most importantly, JPCC encourages the membership and residents to educate themselves on the proposed referendum question concerning transfer payments from federal to provincial coffers.
Members, we will begin to feature hot button issues in our weekly e-newsletter so watch for those. Our Facebook page will also feature yes/no questions concerning federal and municipal election issues. Our intent here is to gain insight into thoughts in the community toward planning and advocating on various issues.
Till next month... Remember to vote and continue to fight COVID with a vaccination.
