Chamber spearheads new regional tourism initiative
Published by Saltwire media:
New website helps travellers and locals explore central Nova Scotia
Richard MacKenzie
Saltwire Media
TRURO, N.S. —
Groups coming together to maximize tourism opportunities in the region have a new tool in the toolbox through the website, Explore Central (explorecentral.ns).
“A landing site for anyone looking for information about what to see and do in our area,” explained Truro and Colchester Chamber of Commerce executive director Sherry Martell.
The chamber spearheaded the project in partnership with the Downtown Truro Partnership, the towns of Truro and Stewiacke, the Municipality of Colchester County and the Millbrook First Nation Heritage and Cultural Centre.
“We’ve included items from all over the Truro-Colchester region as well as those on the periphery,” Martell said. “When you’re talking about tourism, you can’t see boundaries. For instance, Ski Wentworth is in Cumberland County, but it’s important we promote that as a tourism driver here. Jost Vineyards is in Cumberland County, it’s a tourism driver. There are other places, such as Burntcoat Head Park, which is in East Hants. We have to promote those as reasons people may come to Truro and Colchester.”
Martell said it’s important to take advantage of one of Truro’s biggest advantages as a central location to the many attractions the province offers.
“People can stay here, as a home base per se,” she said. “If they were planning to stay a few days, within an hour or two-hour drive there is a multitude of activities they can take in. And it’s wide ranging."
Martell said there are many opportunities for adventure, for outdoor enthusiasts and family activities.
"We have a wide range of things people can see and do. Particularly during the pandemic time, people want to be outside, they want to be in nature and spend time with their families, enjoying all of that in a very comfortable way.”
She said the pandemic actually played a role in funding the new website.
“In the early months of the pandemic, Tourism Nova Scotia put out a call for applications to tap into a program for regional tourism marketing. It was a one-time program being funded through funds diverted from Destination Canada’s International Travel attraction program," she said.
“They took dollars they would have been using for international campaigns, trying to attract those travelers, and spread it among the provinces, who then reached out to the regional destination marketing organizations or other business organizations, which were supporting tourism, to assist with tourism in a really bad year.”
Martell said with this area having no formalized regional destination marketing organization, the chamber - as a business organization - asked its partners and other stakeholders to come together to apply for some of the funds to assist the local tourism sector.
“Within Truro and Colchester, we know, pre-COVID, there were more than 2,500 jobs directly tied to the tourism sector. And then there were thousands of jobs indirectly related to tourism. Tourism itself is a huge economic driver for this region and our chamber has always been a major player in trying to promote the region to tourists.”
Chamber hosting AGM March 24
The 131st Annual General Meeting of the Truro and Colchester Chamber of Commerce will be held virtually on Zoom on March 24th, at 12 p.m.
Join us to as we welcome a new slate of officers and to learn about the many initiatives and activities of the Chamber which are benefiting the business community.
To register for the meeting click HERE
Job losses will have significant impact on Truro and Colchester economy
Updated March 11, 2021
March 1, 2021
NEWS RELEASE
Job losses will have significant impact on Truro and Colchester economy
TRURO – The loss of more than 200 jobs related to federal contracts in Truro in recent weeks will have a major impact on the local economy says the head of the Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber President Ron Smith said he is extremely disappointed one of the area’s largest manufacturers was forced to lay off about 150 employees last week after it was unsuccessful in its bid for a federal contract to produce medical isolation gowns. This loss, combined with about 55 additional job losses in this region as the RCMP Communication Centre moved from Truro to Dartmouth, is making the Chamber question the federal government’s position on supporting rural communities.
“It is certainly disappointing when Stanfield’s Ltd. was there, the first at the door to offer help in a crisis when the country needed supplies immediately,” said Smith. “We understand government has procurement policies and selection procedures in place, however, we expect accountability from the federal government to immediately disclose who received contracts in the tender award that Stanfield’s Ltd. was shut out from participation.”
He added that throughout the pandemic the federal government took several opportunities to publicly praise Stanfield’s Ltd., a five-generation family-owned business, for its ability to quickly pivot operations early in the pandemic to provide Personal Protective Equipment to frontline health care workers in Canada and questions why they are holding back the names of the newly awarded contract recipients.
“Stanfield’s Ltd. invested more than $1.5 million in new equipment and were well-positioned with local material suppliers and human resources to continue to provide much-needed quality medical gowns and masks,” said Smith. “We need those jobs in this region to contribute to a strong economy.”
Smith is deeply concerned about the 150 people who have had their world turned upside down by this news. “These are not just employment statistics, these are moms and dads, families rooted in this community being impacted.”
“We expect our government to demonstrate leadership to support business proactively in ensuring our region and our province is an attractive place to start or grow a business,” said Smith. “Shutting Stanfield’s Ltd. out of this new contract after they have given so much back to their country during really tough times demonstrates a lack of understanding by the federal government on rural economies and the value those 150 jobs have in a small area such as Truro.”
Smith further said that it is unfortunate that the federal procurement decision will force 150 hard-working people, ready to support their country’s frontline workers, to apply for Employment Insurance benefits or CRB (Canada Recovery Benefits) to support their families.
“This is surely not the most efficient use of tax dollars or its intent when a portion of that contract would have helped keep them employed supporting our rural economy,” said Smith
The Chamber is also concerned about the potential of further job losses in the region as the supplier of some material used at the Stanfield’s Ltd. facility in the production of the medical gowns was also manufactured in Truro.
“We have reached out to management at Intertape Polymer in Truro in an effort to better understand the impact of the loss of the federal contract to that organization, if any, and we will be further educating politicians at all levels of government on the importance of support for rural economies and how their procurement policies should better consider that issue.”
The Chamber is urging Colchester-Cumberland MP Lenore Zann to provide answers to the actions of her government that has affected so many of her constituents.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for businesses in the Truro & Colchester region and across the province. As the recognized voice of business, the Chamber has provided ongoing support to the business community during these difficult times. Smith said the Chamber will continue its efforts to meet business needs as the pandemic stretches through 2021 and beyond.
-30-
About Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce
The Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce represents more than 450 members and has been the recognized voice of business in this region for 130 years on economic, political and social matters impacting business. Learn more at www.trurocolchesterchamber.com
MEDIA CONTACT
Sherry Martell
Executive Director
Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce
902-895-6328
TCPEP Winter Update newsletter
New location for Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce
January 19, 2021
NEWS RELEASE
New office location for Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce
Collaboration space available for business
TRURO – Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce is celebrating the New Year by opening its doors at a new location in downtown Truro in an effort to better serve the business community.
The Chamber, a business advocacy and support organization, has moved its offices to 105 Suite B, Walker Street, Truro, after 14 years at its previous location on Prince Street.
“While the concept of moving the office had been discussed by the board since the fall of 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic was a catalyst to creating a much-needed collaboration space for business as part of the relocation process,” said Chamber President Ron Smith. “During the pandemic many work locations were closed to the public and employees moved to remote locations. Our office has received numerous calls from business people now working remotely looking for a space where they could meet a client, conduct job interviews in a private environment or carry out training in small groups.”
In addition to staff headquarters, the newly renovated, bright location features a boardroom and private office with high-speed internet access. Smith is pleased to share that the use of the Chamber Collaboration Centre will be available to members at no charge in 2021 thanks to a sponsorship by Wilsons Heating.
“Wilsons Heating has always found it important to support the business community as they have always supported us through our many decades in business,” Doug MacInnis, Regional Sales Manager/ Truro Branch Manager, Wilsons Heating.
“This initiative is an excellent way for us to give back to the community and we are hopeful that business people will use the space that we have provided in partnership with the Chamber to benefit them.”
The room is dedicated in memory of Past President George Wilson (1948-1949) and Truro business man and Chamber director David Wilson.
Staff have completed training on best practices for cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing, a COVID-19 safety plan is in place and public health protocols are adhered to.
The Chamber received tremendous support to renovate its new location from the local community and is especially appreciative of support from Grant Thornton, Puroclean Restoration and the Pictou County Chamber of Commerce for their contributions of key furnishings.
Smith said the new office also provides increased workspace for staff to promote physical distancing and heightens the Chamber’s brand identity in the community.
“The Chamber offers many resources and benefits for business and the board felt a greater visual presence would guide people to our organization for assistance in finding the help they need to grow and thrive,” said the President.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for businesses in the Truro & Colchester region and across the province. As the recognized voice of business, the Chamber has provided ongoing support to the business community during these difficult times such as providing consistent safety signage and complimentary masks, working one-on-one with business to navigate government support, offering training and providing support for E-Commerce. Smith said the Chamber will continue its efforts to meet business needs as the pandemic stretches through 2021 and beyond.
For more information on booking the collaboration space, or details about Chamber programs and services, contact the Chamber office by phone, 902-895-6328, email [email protected] or visit their website www.trurocolchesterchamber.com
-30-
About Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce
The Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce represents more than 450 members and has been the recognized voice of business in this region for 130 years on economic, political and social matters impacting business. Learn more at www.trurocolchesterchamber.com
MEDIA CONTACT
Sherry Martell
Executive Director
Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce
902-895-6328
We're Moving!
We're Moving!
We have some very exciting news to share that we hope will benefit many of our members in the year to come.
After 14 years based at the Marigold Cultural Centre, the Chamber office is on the move!
We will be transitioning to our new location during the month of December. As of January 1, 2021, our new home will be 105 B Walker Street, Truro.
This move will enable us to offer a new opportunity to our entire membership. While the plan to relocate our office has been in the works for more than a year, the need for increased space to support social distancing for staff and patrons during COVID-19 has become a necessity.
One of the most popular requests we received in 2020, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, was from members asking if we could provide a safe space for them to use highspeed internet which they may not be able to access from their businesses or remote work spaces.
Our new location will include a spacious meeting room and private office for the use of our members at no cost (some restrictions apply) through a generous sponsorship of Wilsons Heating.
In January, any member wishing to use the meeting space for business purposes such as staff meetings, training, interviews, etc. can book it by emailing [email protected] (Depending on availability and public safety protocols.)
We look forward to meeting with you at our new location in the New Year!
Take care,
Sherry Martell
Executive Director
Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce
New Gift Local Newsletter
Happy Halloween from the Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce
Download your colouring page by clicking here:
Page 1 - witches
Page 2- Cat
Page 3- Cauldron
Page 4 - Pumpkin
Does your business need masks? We've got you covered!
Does your business need masks? We've got you covered!
Come to the Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce (605 Prince St, Truro) to pick up a FREE 20 pack of disposable masks! Call 902-895-6328, email [email protected] or message us to make arrangements for pick up. These masks are being made available through the generous support of the Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Truro, Municipality of the County of Colchester and the Truro Colchester Partnership for Economic Prosperity.