COMOX VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

April 24, 2008   E-Newsletter

Thank you to our Renewing Members:

Willow Daycare, 703-0125

Uniglobe Alliance Travel, www.uniglobealliancetravel.com

Anco Motel, www.ancomotelbc.com

Flooring Factory Outlet, www.flooringfactory.ca

Best Western Hotel, www.thewesterlyhotel.com

Comox Valley Therapeutic Riding, www.cvtrs.com

Courtenay River Vacation Homes, www.courtenayriver.com

Base Mini Storage, 339-0203

Excel Career College, www.excelcareercollege.com

Comox Golf Club, 339-7203

Ives Burger, Barristers & Solicitors, www.ivesburgerlaw.com          

Cumberland Museum & Archives, www.cumberlandmuseum.ca

North Island Telephone, www.biztel.bc.ca

The Old Church Theatre Society, www.island.net/~toct

Dishlevoy, Hagarty Architects, www.dh-a.ca

Salmon Point Resort, www.salmonpoint.com

New West Enterprise Property Group, www.nwe.ca

Little City Signs, 334-1645

Cumberland Sand & Gravel, www.cumberlandreadymix.ca

Cumberland Ready Mix, www.cumberlandreadymix.ca

Chamber Events:

Thursday April 24th – AGM & President’s Reception with speaker Andy Aicklen, Hewlett Packard. THERE ARE 4 SEATS LEFT! Register right now at 334-3234.  FMI: www.comoxvalleychamber.com/SiteEvents/cv-chamber-annual-general-meeting

Tuesday April 29 – Business Mixer at Silverwork Studio and Gallery. Enjoy wine & appetizers while celebrating the gallery's 1st anniversary. RSVP to Corae: 334-3234.

FMI: www.comoxvalleychamber.com/SiteEvents/silverwork-studio-hosts-a-business-mixer

Tuesday May 6th & Wednesday May 7th – SuperHost Customer Service Training Workshop. Learn the basics of providing excellent customer service. Topics covered include: First Impressions, Effective Communication, The Power of Listening, and Going the Extra Mile. This workshop is a must both for those new to the world of front-line customer service and those seasoned professionals looking to recharge their batteries.

FMI: www.comoxvalleychamber.com/events/superhost-customer-service-training-2

Chamber News:

Shelley Combs Fine Art & Clay - featured artist at the Potters Place -  runs till April 30th from 10am to 5pm at The Potters Place on 5th and Cliffe (in the Courtyard). Shelley used her computer, a laser printer, old photographs and new ideas to transfer images onto her tiles, plates and cups. She has dug into her own family’s photograph albums to find fascinating views of early days – her most touching are screen printed images of her grandfather and her sister, captured in a whimsical moment with an old umbrella. FMI 334-4613, www.shelleycombs.ca

Pearl Ellis Gallery - Monday Bunch Spring Show - April 23rd to May 12th from 1:00 to 4:00pm daily. This group of very enthusiastic painters has increased in memberships over the years bringing in new ideas and experience to share with the group.  The show will exhibit the varied media and style of the members.  The viewer will be treated to landscapes, seascapes, florals and animals in the media of watercolour, oil or acrylic.  Meeting once a week provides the opportunity to learn from on another, and be inspired by another member in addition to being fun and relaxing. FMI 339-5660, www.pearlellisgallery.com

Longlands Golf Course - Open House/Reception - TONIGHT from 4pm to 6:30pm.  Island Coastal Ventures Ltd. (new owners of Longlands) would like to invite all Chamber Members to a reception celebrating the opening of their new restaurant and clubhouse.  Refreshments will be served.  Stop by on your way to the Chamber's AGM.  FMI and to RSVP please call 339-6363.

Ablaze MetalArt & Design - at the Campbell River Home Expo 2008 - April 25, 26, 27 at Strathcona Gardens Arena.  Are you thinking of renovating this spring?  Purchasing metal art could give you a new look for a fraction of the cost.  Purchase or order distinctive art pieces for yourself or those special people in you life. Sandra & Walter Moses look forward to seeing you at this event.  FMI www.AblazeMetalArt.com or 338-2339.

Isand Pilates and Fitness - Free Studio Sampler - April 26th - starts at 11:30 - 303B  13th Street. This is your chance to try our classes for FREE!  This is also a great opportunity to meet our personable, qualified instructors and see for yourself how beneficial it is to workout in a professional studio setting.  Try all classes, or just one or two.  It's up to you!

11:30-noon Meet and Greet our instructors

12:00-12:30  Pilates Matwork

12:45-1:15  Bosu: Core & More

1:45 - 2:45 Bellyfit  (sorry guys, ladies only for this one!) Please bring clean runners for Bosu and Bellyfit.

Please call 703-2673 to hold your spot! www.islandpilates.ca

Comox Valley Airport - Community Celebration - April 26th from 2 to 3pm at the Comox Valley Airport. Don’t miss the 1 millionth passenger celebrations with balloons, music, cake and awesome draws. Parking will be free for this celebration. FMI contact Kathy at 890-0829.

Beyond the Kitchen Door- Book launch & signing - Saturday, April 26 - 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm - Karen Barnaby, executive chef at the highly acclaimed Fish House Restaurant in Stanley Park dishes up a sampling from her latest compilation, Shellfish: The Cookbook.  In Shellfish-oysters, clams, mussels, crabs, scallops, lobsters, shrimp and prawns are introduced in deliciously innovative ways; a diverse cross-section of recipes culls the best shellfish combination from a host of globally inspired influences. You’re sure to pull up a few tips from one of Vancouver’s best seafood chefs!  FMI 338-4404.

Comox Valley Home Based Business Association - General Meeting & Awards Night - May 1st from 6.30 to 9pm in the Silver Room at Crown Isle Resort. Doors open at 6.30pm for a mix and mingle and the meeting starts at 7pm.  The spotlight speaker will be Jessie Randall of Arbonne International. Everyone welcome. For more information call Jane at 898-3173 or visit our website at www.cvhbba.com

Inner Harmony Healing will be at the Holistic Health Fair on May 3 from 10am to 4 pm at Bowen Park auditorium, Nanaimo.  Sarah Brune of Inner Harmony Healing will be showcasing her business, and all Rescue Remedy will be on sale. The Fair gives patrons a chance to experience various natural health therapies and purchase products and supplements in an easy one-stop shopping atmosphere. For more information 890-7558 or www.bachflowerscanada.com.

St. John Ambulance  Annual General Meeting on May 5, 2008 from 5:00pm to 5:45pm at the St. John Training Centre.  It's time again for our AGM!  If you have a few hours a month to redirect or know someone that does, we would love to have you join our executive committee.  Please contact us for more information 897-1098.

St. John Ambulance Grand Opening - 125th Anniversary Celebration May 5, 2008 from 6:00pm to 8:30pm.  The Honorable Iona V. Campagnolo PC, CM, OBC, DStJ. and St. John Ambulance Comox Valley Branch Executive Committee requests the pleasure of your company To celebrate the 125th Anniversary of St. John Ambulance in Canada and the Opening of our home at the NEW LOCATION 107-1742 Cliffe Avenue. Her Honour will officially open the Branch At 6:00 pm on Monday May 5th, 2008 Refreshments to follow. Military: Full Dress and Medals.  Please R.S.V.P by Thursday May 1st, 2008 - PH: (250) 897-1098 or Email: CMcphee@bc.sja.ca.

Warrior's Realm Muay Thai & MMA Academy – Fight Girls - May 7th to June 25th - Wednesdays 7:30-8:30pm. Warrior's Realm is excited to announce that the next cycle of Fight Girls "kicks" off May 7th.  This all female course runs Wednesday evenings through to June 25th.  Ladies this is a great opportunity for you to relieve a little stress, get bikini ready and have a ton of fun, while learning to defend yourself.  Spots fill up quickly so call 703-0092 to reserve your spot today! www.warriorsrealm.ca

Comox Recreation Commission - Bike to Work Week - June 2nd to 8th. The Comox Valley Bike to Work Week committee hopes to encourage hundreds of cyclists to bike to and from work this week. “Celebration" stations will be located throughout the Valley during the week to help support and encourage riders. So Bike to Work for the fun of it, or for the fitness, for the prizes, for the environment or for lessening the gas bill. Whatever your reason, mark your calendar and get ready to ride. FMI 339-2255, www.biketowork.ca/comox_valley

BC Shellfish Growers Association presents the Comox Valley Shellfish Festival - June 14 &15, 2008 - at both Filberg Lodge and Comox Marina Park.  The second annual Comox Valley Shellfish Festival will be held June 14 & 15th.  Saturday night come to our shellfish gala dinner on the beautiful Filberg Lodge lawn to sample seafood dishes prepared by our valley's best chefs.  Sunday (Father's Day) bring dad down to the foreshore park for a fun day of shellfish farm tours, music, and all the shellfish he can eat!  See our website for updates and more information! FMI www.comoxvalleyshellfishfestival.ca

Downtown Courtenay Business Improvement Association (BIA) - 38th Annual Market Day ~ Local Colours Festival! - July 15 to 18th - downtown Courtenay. This popular event offers booth participants the opportunity to showcase and sell their products, giving businesses terrific exposure.  Adding to the people-pulling-power will be the fabulous Local Colours Festival, which expands and enhances the events listings of Market Day with talented musicians, artisans, performers and visual artists.  The 3rd Annual Local Colours Festival will feature artists & performers throughout Downtown Courtenay. FMI 337-2096, www.downtowncourtenay.com

Riding Fool Hostel - BC Bike Race - June 30th from Noon to 5pm - Downtown Cumberland and Village Park. The BC Bike Race is the ultimate single-track experience, presented by BC Ferries and Harbour Air, it is an epic 7 day mountain bike race from Victoria to Whistler that will be hosting over 400 international racers from June 28th to July 4th.  Grasby of Riding Fool Hostel is the course manager for this leg of the event & says that the racers will be in Cumberland, on June 30th & July 1st.   If you are interested in volunteering, hosting some entertainment for the racers, or just being a spectator check out www.bcbikerace.com or contact shawn@bcbikerace.com. FMI 1 778-846-5746

Very Exciting! Brenda Johima, of Creative Nudge Coaching and Consulting Services and JOHIMA Designs has been selected by the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation as the t-shirt designer/artist, for the 2008 CIBC Run for the Cure on October 5th, 2008. Brenda's art will be worn by over 170,000 people in over 55 cities and communities across Canada. You will be able to vote for your favorite 2 out of 6 designs live online in June 2008.

Member Tip of the Week:

Members can take advantage of very competitive rates for complete payroll services with Payworks Payroll.  This is an excellent and cost-effective process for those unfamiliar with payroll processes, or those who just don’t have the time.  Contact Corae for more details: membership@comoxvalleychamber.com, 334-323

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