SBAB Blog.

We have a busy few weeks coming up.

This weekend is the Bike Fest special event, put on by Banff Lake Louise Tourism, which should bring quite a few folk to town and its Fathers Day, should my children have forgotten. So hopefully our members will do well.

July the 3rd is the start of the Calgary Stampede. The Small Business Association of Banff encourages businesses to participate in the “Dress Western” campaign to welcome the arrival of the Calgary Stampede. Starting June 28th until the end of Stampede businesses are encouraged to add some western flair to get in the spirit of Stampede. Decorate your window, get out your silver belt buckle and put on your cowboy boots; this is the time to show our guests our great western hospitality. There is no prize for best window or most enthusiastic staff - its just for fun. (Some cynical folk may think its to do with improving sales with a party atmosphere, but that is just an anticipated side effect.) It would be really neat if it was embraced by all the businesses so that even the plumber turns out to be dressed as a cowboy.

Further to our letter to Janis Tarchuck regarding the Alberta minimum wage we received her reply. The Hon. Hector Goudreau (Minister of Employment & Immigration) will be responding in more detail. We will advise of that response in due course.

Members are reminded that they just need to advise us if they want their details on the Members links on these pages.

The June SBAB directors meeting was held on Tuesday at the Banff Aspen Lodge, whom we thank for their hospitality. The minutes of the May meeting were approved and, as the writer has not had time to build the private members area, the minutes remain public for now. The Board welcomed David Toole as a new director.

Mayor John Stutz attended the meeting and conveyed to the board the gratitude of Council in providing the results of the recent surveys. Due to the number of responses the views revealed are felt to be highly representative of the Small Business community. It is likely that Council will use this medium to reach out to the business community and canvas your opinion on future issues.

It is rewarding to know your voice counts, the SBAB board thanks the respondees for their past participation and encourages all recipients to respond to future requests to participate. Being mindful of the value your time the board undertakes not to abuse your goodwill by conducting an inappropriate number of surveys.

The Mayor also talked about the economic benefit, to the business community, of upgrades to the plans for the Rec Center. On the issue of parking it was revealed that the demolition and provision of another parking lot on Beaver Street should occur by July 1st.

On another note there has been a Busking committee struck and SBAB (Ossi Jr.) has representation on it, the only non administrative representation.

This committee has drafted two DRAFT documents, the busker permit conditions and the poposed busking locations map

We have the opportunity to comment and make changes, suggestions etc. so please review. If you have comments please email Ossi Treutler at ossi@freyas.ca, the dead line for comments on the busking issue is June 10th as documents will be presented to Council for approval on June 22nd.

Those taking part in and receiving feedback in the retail and restaurant survey are reminded to submit this months figures. Those who are not are still welcome to start, please email Anne Frick at Anne@banfflakelouise.com

Finally, members and non members should be aware that there is a person in town using counterfeit US currency.

Non board members are welcome to attend the monthly meetings, the details of each next meeting are to be found on the calendar