COMOX VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

July 3, 2008   E-News

Welcome to our new members:

Harry’s Hideaway, 250-331-0332

Imago Creative, www.imagocreative.ca

Members - thank you for your renewal:

Blackfin Pub at the Marina, www.blackfinpub.com

Comox Bay Land Investments, www.comoxbayland.com

Comox Valley Folk Society (Music Fest), www.islandmusicfest.com

Comox Valley Transition Society, www.cvts.ca

The Great Escape, www.greatescape-cumberland.com

Laughing Oyster Bookshop, 250-334-2511

Lavers Holdings, 250-338-9570

Pearl Ellis Gallery of Fine Arts, www.pearlellisgallery.com

The Riding Fool Hostel, www.ridingfool.com

River Heights Motel, www.MotelRiverHeights.com

Silhouette Theatre & Dance Shop, www.silhouette-dance.com

ValleyLinks, www.valleylinks.net

Chamber Events:

Fri August 8th 10:00am to 4:00pm – Meet the Visitors Day – VIPs – you know who you are – book your spot for the 2008 Meet the Visitors Day and meet visitors from all over the world!

FMI: www.comoxvalleychamber.com/SiteEvents/attention-vip-s-meet-the-visitors-day

Fri September 12th 3:00 to 8:00pm – Annual Chamber Golf Tournament and Dinner at Glacier Greens.

FMI: www.comoxvalleychamber.com/SiteEvents/golf

Tues September 16th 12:00 to 1:30pm – Comox Military Family Resource Centre hosts a Chamber business mixer.

FMI: www.comoxvalleychamber.com/SiteEvents/comox-military-family-resource-centre-hosts-a-business-mixer

Chamber Member Events & News:

Comox Valley Art Gallery - Activate the Arts - July 3rd to Aug 23rd - 12pm-3pm Mondays through Saturdays at the Outdoor Plaza in front of CVAG on Duncan Avenue. CVAG’s summer Activate the Arts program seeks to engage the community (that’s you!) with creative people and in turn, the creative people would love to meet you and chat about their work, get your feedback, or have you join in and have some fun. The event is free and family friendly. Come by and enjoy your lunch on one of their lovely benches and take in some art, music & creativity! FMI contact Tree at 250.338.6211, drop by the gallery, or visit the website www.comoxvalleyartgallery.com

Locals-Food from the Heart of the Island a new restaurant that showcases producers & foods from the Comox Valley & Vancouver Island is now open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner, starting at 11:00. Chef Ronald St. Pierre is renowned for his creative cuisine, and has taken it to an even higher level at Locals.  Everything is fresh with an ever changing Market Sheet depending upon availability.  Wines have been selected to pair with the menu, providing a mix of locally produced wines. According to Chef St. Pierre, the Comox Valley is producing some beautiful wines. For reservations call 250-338-6493. www.localscomoxvalley.com

The Potters Place – “Artist of the Month" for July 2008: Laurie Davis - 180A  5th Street, Downtown Courtenay. You will see Laurie's pottery in her Japanese theme and some beautiful Raku Fired pieces that many of you have purchased in days past. The month of July brings many new works of Laurie's pottery to The Potters Place. You will find some new Soda Fired pottery done in a reduction atmosphere at the North Island College Pottery Studio.  You will find a great selection of mugs, bowls, sushi plates, rice bowls, small pitchers and vases. Come in and let us show you Laurie's display and also look around the Gallery while here. FMI 250-334-4613, www.thepottersplace.ca

Comox Valley Art Gallery - Mardi Gras! Market Day! Mask Making! July 4th, July 9th, July 11th and July 16th - Wednesdays & Fridays noon till 3pm, with the celebration on July 18th! A partnership has been formed between Comox Valley Art Gallery and Canada World Youth for a community Mardi Gras Mask-Making project. The free, family-friendly and interactive community art activity welcomes everyone to work on a paper mache mask. Mask makers are invited to meet up at CVAG to don their masks for a small jamboree on July 18, at 12:30 during Market Day event. FMI 338-6211, www.comoxvalleyartgallery.com

Joe Smith Fine Art - Art Show & Sale - July 5 & 6th from 10 am to 4 pm at the Filberg Heritage Lodge in Comox. A solo show and sale of original paintings, cards and prints by one of the Valley's better known artists. His realistic approach to capturing the west coast has become very recognizable and collectable. He is also available for commission work. Speak to him about his corporate offer for premiums and incentives. FMI 250-335-2578, www.joesmith.ca

Island Pilates and Fitness - Summer Fit Classes start soon! - July 7th to Aug 28th. Island Pilates and Fitness will offer it's Summer Fit session, beginning July 7th. Classes are for all levels, from beginner to advanced and take place mornings as well as evenings. Choose from Pilates Mat Class, Bellyfit, Bosu:Core & More or Early Morning Yoga. All classes are taught by our highly qualified, certified instructors to assure you get a safe, effective workout that will help you reach your fitness goals. For more info please go to www.islandpilates.ca or call Leanne at 250-703-2673

Comox Valley Art Gallery - Summer Art School - July 8th to August 14th from 10 to 12 and 1 to 3 at the Gallery. Summer has begun at the Comox Valley Art Gallery with exciting and educational workshops for children and teens.  Workshops are taught by local, professional artists and will be a fun experience for all participants.  There are 14 workshops to choose from, offering a vide variety in visual arts.  For more information call or visit the gallery and we will provide you with a  complete list of our summer courses. FMI 250-338-6211, www.comoxvalleyartgallery.com

Pearl Ellis Gallery - Member's People Choice Show & Sale – through to July 14th from 1:00 to 4:00pm. This will be the third offering of a People’s Choice award and we are looking forward to the participation of the public as well as the gallery membership.  The balloting will go on throughout the first part of the show and the votes will be tabulated on July 6th at 4:00 pm. This year we will announce the winner and the runners up a week before the end of the show on Monday, July 7th at 1:00pm.  FMI 250-339-5660, www.pearlellisgallery.com

I-Hos Gallery - Christmas in July Food Drive - July 15th from 1-3pm at the I-Hos Gallery Parking Lot. Help Us Help those in Need.  Kick off of the Food Bank Drive is July 15 and runs to July 26, 2008. Jet FM will be broadcasting live.  Safeway has pre-packed food for donating at $5.00 or $10.00 Purchase from Safeway or I-Hos Gallery and help fill the moving storage bin located by I-Hos Gallery.  A few organizations who assist those who need it will be on site for information only and sign up sheets available if you care to donate your time during the Christmas Season. Secret Santa (Coast Country Insurance), Christmas Hamper (Coast Realty) and Santa's Workshop are just a few. FMI 250-339-7702.

Job shop - Career Forum on Bookkeeping & Accounting - July 16th from  3 – 4:30 p.m. Bookkeeping and accounting are essential to the efficiency of any business or organization. If you are interested in one of these needed services as an occupation, Janice Thorburn from Lund Thorburn Certified General Accountants and Diane Stringfellow of Balanced Bookkeeping Systems will explain the differences between the two fields. Bring your questions! Register by calling 250-334-3119 or visit The Job Shop at 103–555 Fourth Street in Courtenay. Sign up soon because seating is limited. The Government of Canada has contributed funding to this initiative.

Comox Business in Action (BIA) - Comox Photo Fest Contest - August 6th to 10th - The Comox Centre Mall provides the Photo Fest Contest venue and is open to all photographers who meet the contest requirements.  Categories are:  Best in BC, A Moment in Comox, Best Portrait, Best Animal and Peoples Choice.  Studio One / Foto Source and photographic manufacturers are sponsoring the festival with some fantastic prizes. Entry deadline is July 18th.  For more information and application forms visit www.comoxbythesea.com under the event heading, or call 250-337-2096 or by email: info@comoxbythesea.com

Comox Business in Action (BIA) - Comox Photo Fest Show & Sale - August 9th and 10th - Call to Photographers, deadline July 12th. In downtown Comox for the third year, the number one stop of the festival is the Photo Show and Sale at the Royal Canadian Legion Comox branch; booths are available for the sale of fine art photography.  Applications for entry deadline: July 18th.  For more information and application forms visit our website under the event heading, or contact the BIA coordinator Kim Stubblefield at 250-337-2096 or by email: info@comoxbythesea.com

Martin Reader of Martin Reader Athletics is a professional beach volleyball player aspiring for the 2012 Olympic Games.  Martin is off to Europe for 2 weeks to represent Canada on the International Circuit.  Martin is the organizer of upcoming the Lighthouse Beach Bash happening July 26 & 27th at Standard Park on Cliffe Avenue.  Martin is seeking sponsors for this sure to be” action-packed event.  FMI check out the website at:  www.lighthousebeachbash.ca or drop by the Comox Valley Chamber office for a sponsorship information kit.  Good luck Martin!

Member Tip of the Week:

Did you know you can email us short “newsworthy” items?  These will be added to the Executive Director’s article in the Business Vancouver Island Magazine, as well as published on the home page of our web site under Member Highlights and published in the Beat newsletter that runs in the Echo each month.  Here are some examples of “newsworthy” items:

your business/organization has won an award or achieved an accreditation status,

your business/organization is celebrating 10, 15, 25 years in business,

your business/organization is expanding,

your business/organization is under new management or ownership,

your staff completed SuperHost training.