Winter festival to include lightshow, night markets in Downtown Truro
Winter festival to include a light show, night markets in Downtown Truro
Downtown Truro will be glowing with community spirit next month when a light show transforms the Civic Square into a winter wonderland.
The light show is a new addition to the Truro Winter Long John Festival, made possible by funding from Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and a three-way partnership of the Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Truro and the Downtown Truro Partnership.
“We’re thrilled about this project that celebrates the winter season in Downtown Truro. There are lots of opportunities to participate and enjoy the festival,” said Rochelle Roberts, Executive Director of Downtown Truro Partnership. “It’s so important to find ways to continue to support our local businesses and stay active this winter while following public health restrictions.”
More than 25,000 lights will be installed in trees in and around the square to create a magical atmosphere to attract visitors to the Town throughout the winter months. The Town is set to launch its Winter Long John Festival on February 3, and the display will remain in place throughout the month into mid-March. In addition, a light show projection will run from Feb. 3 - March 12 in the evenings at the square projected on the historic Colchester East Hants Public Library building creating a stunning backdrop for skaters and visitors alike. The show will run every 15 minutes from 5 p.m. until 9:45 p.m.
“We are thrilled to add to the Winter Long John Festival in a way that promotes getting outside during the winter,” said Mayor Bill Mills, Town of Truro. “We hope it will encourage visitors to enjoy the outdoor activities Truro has to offer this time of year.”
Businesses are encouraged to be involved in the festival by hosting a booth at one of the night markets being held in collaboration with the Truro Farmers’ Market. Market nights will be accompanied by live entertainment. In addition, businesses in Truro and the area will have an opportunity to sponsor hot chocolate for visitors, apply for funding to assist them in hiring live performers at their locations or offer specials to join in on the festival fun.
“The local business community needs as much support as possible right now. It has been an incredibly tough couple of years as the pandemic continues to impact shopping and entertainment trends,” said Sherry Martell, Chamber Executive Director. “We are so pleased to be a part of this beautiful project that will bring joy to our local residents and attract people to the community while we celebrate an iconic Truro product, Stanfield’s Long Johns.”
The project will have a lasting impact on the community with lights and equipment purchased that will be used for other events and promotions in future years.
The partners have received $50,000 in funding from ACOA to host the winter light show in Truro, along with additional local funding and in-kind contributions.
More information about the Truro Winter Long John Festival, the light show, and Winter Night Markets, can be found at www.trurolongjohn.ca.
ATLANTIC CANADA OPPORTUNITIES AGENCY NEWS RELEASE:
Truro Winter Long John Festival Live Entertainment Fund
Live Entertainment Fund
Downtown Truro will be glowing with community spirit this winter when a light show transforms Civic Square into a winter wonderland. The light show is a new addition to the Truro Winter Long John Festival, made possible by funding from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and a three-way partnership between the Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Truro, and the Downtown Truro Partnership.
As part of the celebration, businesses can apply for the Live Entertainment Fund. The funding program is open to venues that provide live music as part of their customer attraction strategy. This may include bars, cafes, restaurants, and other types of business.
To apply for this funding or for more information, click here.
Workplace rapid test screening program PAUSED
Nova Scotia's Workplace testing program is currently paused for new entry and orders.
Nova Scotia is currently in the midst of a significant COVID-19 outbreak. The level of viral spread has necessitated a change in the province’s testing strategy. Part of this change will include the redeployment of rapid antigen tests, in order to augment the health systems testing capacity and to meet high priority needs. Doing this will ensure Nova Scotians who need rapid COVID tests continue to have access to them.
As a result of this change, the Workplace Screening Program will be paused ( Dec. 11, 2021). All orders placed on or after December 13th will not be fulfilled. Organizations that fall under the following high-priority streams will continue to be supported, they include:
- Long-term care facilities
- Shelters and transition homes
- DCS funded homes and day programs
- First Nations communities
- African Nova Scotian communities
We apologize for the frustration this announcement will likely cause. Like you, we are committed to this program and have been humbled by the +2000 businesses and organizations, more than 120 in Colchester County, who have enrolled in the screening program in an effort to protect their employees and broader communities. Please know that these decisions have not been made lightly. The Workplace Screening Program team will continue to provide updates as we receive them from Public Health and the Department of Health and Wellness.
For more information please see the province’s COVID-19 website: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/
The Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce has been a partner with the Department of Health and Wellness since June of 2021 to act as a depot for businesses to pick up tests ordered by local businesses and to provide information on how to sign up for the program. We do not stock tests onsite or facilitate entry into the program. We act as a safe point of contact for businesses to pick up shipments from the province once they have been ordered through the program.
We know there are many other businesses interested in getting into the program to access rapid tests to protect your staff. We continue to meet with Workplace testing co-ordinators and officials with the Department of Health and Wellness to advocate for the program to resume as soon as possible.
Updates will be shared here, on the chamber website, our social media and our weekly member newsletter.
COVID-19 Government Program Updates
COVID-19 Government Program Updates
NEW ATLANTIC IMMIGRATION PROGRAM
The new Atlantic Immigration Program will launch on January 1, 2022. The permanent program builds on the strengths of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program and retains the core objective of attracting skilled immigrants to Atlantic Canada to address demographic and economic needs, as well as to continue to increase retention in the region. Key features of the permanent program include:
• All employers designated under the pilot will be required to be re-designated under the permanent program.
• Under the permanent program, all designated employers are required to complete mandatory on-boarding training provided by the federal Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
• Mandatory inter-cultural competency training will also be required for all employers, prior to endorsement, unless the employer is deemed by the province to be exempt from the training.
Should you or any of your member businesses or organizations have questions about the new Atlantic Immigration Program and/or the use of other immigration programs to help meet labour needs, including the Nova Scotia Nominee Program, please reach out to our employer support team at [email protected].
Additional details about the AIP program are available at: Atlantic Immigration Program website.
ELIGIBILITY UPDATE TO THE SECTOR IMPACT SUPPORT PROGRAM
The Sector Impact Support Program will provide a one-time grant of up to $7,500 to help small business owners in industries such as restaurants, bars, gyms, live performing arts facilities and recreation facilities. Eligible applicants will now be able to choose a grant amount based on either the gross payroll cost or gross revenues of the business in November 2021.
The Program will open in early January 2022: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Sector Impact Support Program - Government of Nova Scotia, Canada
PAID SICK LEAVE RELAUNCHES TO SUPPORT NOVA SCOTIANS
Nova Scotians who have been impacted by the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic may qualify for up to four paid sick days with the relaunch of Nova Scotia's COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave Program.
For more details: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20211222003
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TEMPORARILY EXPANDING TWO BILL C-2 PROGRAMS
The federal government announced its intention to temporarily expand eligibility for the Local Lockdown Program and Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit. This will help to ensure Canadians are protected and workers and businesses get the help they need to sustain them through new and necessary public health restrictions.
For more details: Temporarily Expanding Eligibility for the Local Lockdown Program and the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit - Canada.ca
Chamber policy Addressing Workplace Mental Health receives national acclaim
For immediate release
October 29, 2021
Chamber policy Addressing Workplace Mental Health receives national acclaim
TRURO – The Truro and Colchester Chamber of Commerce’s lobby for more action by the federal government to address entrepreneur and workforce mental health recently received endorsement by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
The local Chamber worked with health care professionals, consultants and mental health stakeholders to put forward a policy, Addressing Workplace Mental Health, at the national Chamber AGM and policy debates, held in a virtual forum, on October 28. The policy’s three key recommendations received 95 per cent of the national vote and will now be submitted to the Liberal government for action.
“This policy speaks to the dire need to support the mental health of our entrepreneurs and their employees,” said Sherry Martell, Chamber Executive Director. “As the voice of business, we are speaking up for the half of our population that is now struggling with mental health related issues, which are deeply impacting our workforce, and for our hard-working, dedicated entrepreneurs that are statistically more likely to experience mental illness and five times more likely to contemplate suicide.”
Martell said COVID-19 has gravely impacted the mental health of Canadians showing an increase from an estimated one in five people experiencing mental health issues to now one in every two people. However, she said, it is a challenge to actively gage the mental health impact of the pandemic without a focused effort on pan-Canadian data collection.
She added that pre-pandemic data on the mental health of Canadians as a whole and those actively participating in the workforce is dated, fragmented and inconsistent province to province and territories.
The policy, was also supported by the Canadian Chamber’s National Workforce Policy Committee, the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce and four Nova Scotia Chambers.
The first key recommendation asks the federal government to work with provinces and territories, municipalities, First Nations, business, labour, academia, health care leaders and individual citizens to update a national strategy on mental health, including best practices of current programs in an effort to improve the management of mental health in the workplace. This would include collection of pan-Canadian and international statistics to compare benchmarks, proven examples of prevention, early action to combat stress and early identification of problems focused on increasing worker productivity, along with support for entrepreneurs and employees while highlighting the impact of mental illness on the economy.
It also outlines the need to ensure funding committed to health in federal budgets continues to provide dedicated amounts for provincial/territorial plans to address mental health challenges within their health care systems.
Thirdly, it asks for a review of government benefits and compensation programs for individuals with mental health issues to ensure they are relevant to today’s needs and do not disproportionately place the cost burden on employers.
The policy was one of 69 submitted for debate by the Canadian Chamber network. The Truro & Colchester Chamber is one of more than 450 chambers in the national network actively advocating on issues impacting the business community. For more information about the local chamber, visit www.trurocolchesterchamber.com
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Media contact:
Sherry Martell
Executive Director
Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce
902-895-6328
[email protected]
Live for Local Rally begins!
The Live for Local Rally was a contest aimed at promoting shopping local that ran until December 17th, 2021. You could upload a receipt from any business in Colchester County to earn an entry for our amazing prize giveaways. If you uploaded a receipt from one of our “Participating Businesses” you received two entries.
Congratulations to our winners!
| Weekly Prize Winners | |
| Name | Prize |
| Becky Cowrly | Coffee Lovers |
| Alison Wilson | Nintendo Switch |
| Julie Stone | Get in the Spirit |
| Rosalind Belland | Charm Diamond |
| Alyssa Moraze | Gas & Go |
| Sherri Webb | Winter Car Care |
| Miranda Rock | Kirk Saint |
| Deanna Lumax | Stay & Play |
| Deborah Lusby | Stay & Play |
| Elizabeth Spence | Hub Cycle Ski |
| Lindsay Mattinson | Self Care |
| Kathy Schedler | Masstown Market |
| Grand Prize Winners | |
| Penny Ferguson | Truro Mall |
| Yvonne Kerr | Downtown Truro |
| Chris Connolly | Home Makeover |
| Sue Murray | Inglis Jewellers |
| Nicholas Stokdijk | Berry’s |
Women in Business Breakfast - Oct. 20
The Chamber will be hosting a Women in Business Breakfast on Oct. 20 at the Inn on Prince. There will only be 50 seats available, so please book early to avoid disappointment. This year’s special guest speaker will be Cynthia Kennedy, Axe to Grind foods founder and national champion axe thrower. h
Fall Celebration - Live for Local Kick off
Small Business Week 2021 will kick off on Oct. 18 with an event marking the Live for Local Rally launch, a regional contest designed to encourage local spending by offering prizes and incentives. The contest will be held from October to the end of December. The kick-off will be a social night featuring a taste of local experience with the Kilted Chef Alain Bossé at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre.
The cost is $40 per seat or a table of 6 for $200 plus HST
days prior to the event (or have a written medical exemption).
Nominations open for Chamber Small Business Awards
Award Applications
TRURO –
Click here to submit a nomination on the online form
Click here to download a PDF form and email it to [email protected] SBW award nomination form 2021
Click here to fill out the online application for a Rising Star Start-up Award
Click here to download a PDF of the form and email to [email protected] SBW Rising Star Award
Sept. 29, 2021
NEWS RELEASE
Chamber to present 2021 Small Business Week Awards
TRURO – The Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce is gearing up to celebrate the many outstanding businesses in this region in October with business-focused activities and award presentations.
Nominations are now open for the prestigious awards, paused in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions, and will be presented to recipients at a luncheon on Oct. 21 in Truro.
“Thank you to all businesses in Colchester County for your perseverance during these tough times. We are so fortunate and looking forward to being in person for our Small Business Week. Through these awards, recognizing the outstanding work being done to help grow our local economy,” said Chamber President Matthew Mossman.
“The tradition of these awards dates back many years. We felt it was so important to try and bring back everyone together in 2021, following public health guidelines, so we can celebrate the accomplishments of many in our business community.”
This year a new award is being added to the line up, the Newcomer Small Business Award, sponsored by the Truro-Colchester Partnership for Economic Prosperity (TCPEP) – Northern Connector Program.
“The Truro Colchester region has, over the last number of years, become a modern, vibrant community,” said David Phillips, Acting CEO/Business Development Officer of TCPEP. “And this is largely the result of new people coming with new ideas and new businesses. It just made sense to us to recognize the incredible contribution of new business leaders in our community.”
Along with the new Newcomer Business of the Year Award, the Chamber is now accepting nominations for the following small business awards: New Small Business of the Year, Small Business Achievement, Small Business Innovation, Excellence in Community Development Award, Agriculture/Agri Small Business Award, Small Business Growth Award, and Export Achievement Award. The awards are sponsored by Community Credit Union, Grant Thornton, RBC, Town of Truro, BDC and MNP LLP, respectively.
Along with these awards, the Chamber will also present its Fourth Annual Rising Star Start-Up Award -Investing in Entrepreneurs, provided in partnership with several of its members. The award includes a combination of $2,500, expertise in key business development areas, and products and services.
The award is designed to offer support to a budding local entrepreneur. Professional mentorship offered as part of the award is key in helping a new business build a strong foundation for success in the future.
A viable start-up located within Truro and Colchester region, a business that is just beginning to develop, will be identified through a submission selection process.
Details and criteria can be found on the Chamber’s website www.trurocolchesterchamber.com. The Chamber will accept nominations for the Small Business Week Awards until Oct. 8th, 2021.
The Awards Luncheon will take place on Oct. 21, at noon at the Inn on Prince. The cost per person is $30 plus HST for members and $40 plus HST for non-members.
The Chamber will also be hosting a Women in Business Breakfast on Oct. 20 at the Inn on Prince. There will only be 50 seats available, so please book early to avoid disappointment. This year’s special guest speaker will be Cynthia Kennedy, Axe to Grind foods founder and national champion axe thrower. To book your seat, visit www.trurocolchesterchamber.com and visit the events calendar.
Small Business Week 2021 will kick off on Oct. 18 with an event marking the Live for Local Rally launch, a regional contest designed to encourage local spending by offering prizes and incentives. The contest will be held from October to the end of December. The kick-off will be a social night featuring a taste of local experience with the Kilted Chef Alain Bossé at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre. For more details about the contest or event, visit our website.
Chamber events are open to members and future members. Join them in supporting the local business community. For more information about Chamber activities and events, visit www.trurocolchesterchamber.com or Truro Colchester Chamber Facebook page.
