Banff Lake Louise Tourism would like our members input on this years Bike Fest. This is an event that was successful last year and is bigger and better this year. However it will mean street closures.
Therefore Banff Lake Louise Tourism invites you to attend an information session, today, on the Banff National Park Bike Fest being staged June 18 21. Find out what new and exciting components have been added to grow the event and learn about the changes to last years race courses that run within the Town of Banff.
When: April 29
Time: 2 pm 4 pm
Where: Banff Lake Louise Tourism Boardroom (3rd floor Cascade Plaza).
Also remember that this weekend is the Rocky Mountain Food and Wine Festival. This is an excellent event to attend. However even if you are not attending then it should bring much needed folk to your businesses.
Tips to keeping your work place productive, and healthy.
There is currently no reason for concern in Banff, but all business owners should do their part to reduce a risk of infection.
Both money and computer keyboards are very ‘dirty’ and ideal places for germs to breed.
Staff should be reminded that it is prudent to wash their hands frequently and especially before eating, drinking or smoking. This applies particularly to front line staff that handle money. Businesses that have regular customer contact with a work surface, such as a door handle, should clean the surface regularly with a normal cleaning product.
Symptoms of swine flu in humans apparently appear to be similar to those produced by standard, seasonal flu. These include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigue. Staff showing symptoms should go home and seek medical advice rather than risk the health of their colleagues.
I reiterate that these are only sensible precautions that we should be performing anyway. There is no immediate cause for concern.
The AGM of the Small Business Association of Banff was held on Wednesday, 22nd. Our AGM was well attended with three new Board members appointed. Director and Secretary Kees Van der lee has stepped down after his long term as a founding Director. Kees was thanked for his significant contributions to the SBAB. The 2009 membership remains healthy and continued positive growth is anticipated. We were also pleased that the guests included the Mayor, John Stutz. Town Manager, Robert Earl. Julie Canning, Stu Back and Anne Frick from Banff Lake Louise Tourism, Vicki Smith from the Banff Lake Louise Hotel Motel Association The text of the Chairman’s report to the AGM can be viewed online by clicking here.
There were a number of announcements. Of a time sensitive nature it was advised that:
- The Bike Fest has been approved, in a bigger and better form. If you have any comments regarding the route in town, please attend the Open House that Banff Lake Louise Tourism are holding on the on the 29th April between 2 and 4 pm, Cascade Plaza, 3rd Floor.
- The Town is considering making parking spots available on Bow Avenue. 40 spots on Bow Avenue were made available on a temporary basis during Banff Refreshing, the Town is considering making these spots permanent. If you have views or concerns upon this you should advise the Town immediately as the decision making process is underway.
The junction at Lynx and Wolf is undergoing construction works, this will involve some delays and diversion. The work is scheduled to be complete by July 1st.
The first quarter retail survey results have been revealed. The results are interesting but only available to members taking part. If you want to see how you are doing compared to the average you should take part. You can register with Anne Frick at anne@banfflakelouise.com. The figures go to an independent 3rd party and so your store or restaurant information remains confidential as only percentage of change information is shared.
Finally it was announced that the Town is helping to provide general indicators of economic activity in Banff. They are erecting semi permanent traffic counters to measure vehicular visitation. In addition they weigh the commercial waste that the town produces each day, the figures this year not suprisingly are down on last. The figures are available upon request (a new page will be added here in the future with ongoing available information).
The Board welcomes three new Directors, Dean Bailey, Lorraine Eckstrand and Jean Roberts. As ever contact details for the SBAB and Directors can be found at http://businessinbanff.org/about/.
Members are reminded that they can add their business to the Members links, for free, and can now add special offers they may have.
Visit http://businessinbanff.org/small-business-links/members-specials/ to see the current offers.
Don’t forget that the SBAB AGM and complimentary lunch is next Wednesday (22nd April) between 1 and 3pm at the Banff Park Lodge, with registration at 12.45pm. All members are invited, and encouraged, to attend.
(The menu for the complimentary lunch is at the foot of this post)
You can still register for the lunch, just let Sally, at sally_p@shaw.ca, know, today, that you will be attending. An application form for SBAB membership can be downloaded here.
Also you are reminded that members can advertise their business here at no cost. Just provide your web address or a contact number and a message to potential clients (no more than 30 words). As this becomes more used by members and more businesses can be found then it will feature more prominently in Google searches.
At the last Board meeting it was decided, among other things, to write to Janice Tarchuck regarding the change in minimum wage change. Though the decision may not be reversible it was felt we should request an amendment to help impacted businesses, such as restaurants that unofficially pay more than minimum wage after gratuities are taken into account. The intent is to ask for something they can work with rather than to reverse a decision that is likely not reversible.
We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday.
Lunch Buffet
Homemade Soup of the Day
Mixed Green Salad with Assorted Dressings
Assorted Sandwich Tray with European Cold Cuts, Black Forest Ham, Sliced Alberta Beef, Tuna Salad and Chicken Salad on Kaisers, French Baguette, Rye and Whole Wheat Breads
Pickles and Condiments
French Pastries and Fruit Salad
Coffee & Tea
The first automated email advice of our refreshed blog did not give you the option to opt out of receiving advice when the blog updates. The opt out should be found at the foot of this, and future, updates.
As the updates will be, on average, less than once a week but may contain important and time sensitive information pertaining to your business then we highly recommend that you stay in the update programme.
Welcome to the ‘refreshed’ blog for the operators of small business in Banff. Please browse both the blog and the supporting pages.
Briefly this is meant to be a two way communication device in that we will update you on what we are doing. The blog is open to be viewed by all. However only members of the SBAB, who we represent, can tell us what they think of our actions / discussions, or tell us what concerns them, or view the members only area of the site. They can do this by commenting on the blog or confidentially by contacting one of the board members.
Non members may sign up at any point in the year, the annual fee of $100 is minimal when one compares that cost to the benefits of membership.
The AGM of the SBAB is to take place on 22nd April between 1 and 3pm at the Banff Park Lodge, with registration at 12.45pm. All members are invited, and encouraged, to attend. This is both an important time to refocus the Association and a good time to network among peers in the small business community. (The menu for the complimentary lunch is at the foot of this post)
The Association has a healthy number of members but those currently not signed up for this year may bring a completed application form with them, to the complimentary lunch, so long as they have indicated by email to Sally at sally_p@shaw.ca that they intend to attend by Friday 17th. If not signed up for this year. Click here to check out the added value that membership provides.
We look forward to seeing you on the 22nd.
Lunch Buffet
Homemade Soup of the Day
Mixed Green Salad with Assorted Dressings
Assorted Sandwich Tray with European Cold Cuts, Black Forest Ham, Sliced Alberta Beef, Tuna Salad and Chicken Salad on Kaisers, French Baguette, Rye and Whole Wheat Breads
Pickles and Condiments
French Pastries and Fruit Salad
Coffee & Tea
The SBAB Blog has now moved to http://www.businessinbanff.org.
We plan to update on a more regular basis and include more items that we hope you will find interesting.
We intend to grow the site so that it has more relevance to you and provides you with both information and opportunity.
Please bookmark the page and check in regularly.