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TOFINO – Happy Chamber of Commerce week February 15-19th! This week is a chance for Chambers of Commerce all over the province to celebrate – and showcase – what they do for their members and communities.
Chamber work to increase businesses’ profile, network and skills, while saving them money through discount programs and contributing to a positive business climate in their regions.
We offer our members various ways to connect with other businesses and the community of Tofino. Some of the Tofino Chamber’s popular events include Member Luncheons, the Mayor’s Breakfast and Green Breakfast events, as well as the new After 5 Professionals socials, and our upcoming 12@12 lunch sessions, where we will connect specific member sectors with speakers and government officials.
But the most successful program run by the Tofino Chamber by far is the Tofino Ambassador Program. This is a free training program offered to front line staff and the community as a whole. In partnership with the Raincoast Education Society, we offer three course – the Introductory course all about Tofino, the Nuu-chah-nulth Landscape course about local First Nations culture, and the West Coast Ecology course, which gives detailed information about Clayoquot Sound’s ecology.
This program is made possible through funding from Tourism Tofino and the District of Tofino, through the Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI). Last year we had over 300 people take the courses and we are looking forward to even more in 2016. This year we are adapting the Introductory course to include more of a World Host component, but of course we will retain the valuable information about Tofino and its many aspects. Those who take the free training learn about the region, its festivals and events, its business community, bylaws and community values, and much more. Participants in the program get an Ambassador Card upon completion that entitles them to various discounts around town. To find out more about the Tofino Ambassador Program, please visit www.raincoasteducation.org.
Thanks to partners at the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and the BC Economic Development Association, the Chamber and many other local groups were able to attend a Building Blocks Economic Development workshop January 28th at the Tin Wis Best Western conference centre. The day was a great opportunity to hear from experts, and also to connect with other local leaders around regional projects. Our workshopping led to many creative ideas!
With thanks to the Island Coastal Economic Trust, Tofino nearly has its first official Community Profile completed. Thanks as well to intern Calum Matthews for completing this research. Once complete, the profile link will be available on the Chamber website.
We are planning a number of member events this month, including our first Mayor’s Breakfast of 2016 with Mayor Josie Osborne, a Members Luncheon sponsored by Jamie’s Rainforest Inn, and a Financial 101 workshop with Geoff Greenall, a Vancouver-based financial advisor. Many thanks as always to the venues and guests that make our events so popular with our membership.
– Jen Dart is Executive Director of the Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at 250.725.3153. www.tofinochamber.org.