Abbotsford News Friday, May 15, 2015
A21
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Terra Cotta Warriors
Tiananmen Square
Peter Mitchell, winner of The Abbotsford News’ 2014 Trip of a Lifetime Contest.
Abbotsford Chamber trip to China On April 11, a group of 31 travelers flew out of Vancouver to Beijing for what would be a memorable and educational adventure. The trip was hosted by the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce and was open to members, but also included a number of non-members and the winner of the Abbotsford News contest for a free trip to China. The first day was spent visiting the Temple of the Harvest, established in 1420 by Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty. Then it was a trip to the Ming Tombs, a jade factory and a cloisonné factory (an ancient technique used to decorate metalwork objects). Afterwards, the group went to the mountainous area of Badaling to climb the Great Wall. The trip’s itinerary was packed with full
days spent immersed in Chinese culture, sampling authentic Chinese cuisine and visiting historical areas, including touring the oldest part of Beijing before dining with a local family.
huge opportunity for local business, but there are significant differences, and you need to know how to do business there. Our Chamber trips are opening a window of understanding to this growing market.”
A number of the Chamber delegation met with local business officials to build contacts and create relationships for potential future business. According to Allan Asaph, Executive Director of the Abbotsford Chamber, the purpose of the trip was to introduce Chamber members to the people, history and culture of “old” China and the modern reality of “new” China.
At one point the group split in two, with 18 travelers flying back to Shanghai and 13 going to Xi’an.
“In addition, we looked to establish business contacts and develop relationships in China,” he said. “The pace at which China is moving forward is amazing. It represents
The Shanghai group took a bus tour through the local farming area to the city of Suzhou, where they visited the grounds of Tiger Hill and the “leaning tower” of China. Meanwhile, the Xi’an group visited the Banpo Museum, a 6,000-year-old preserved prehistoric caveman site, before heading to a factory producing authorized replicas of the Terra Cotta Warriors. The two groups eventually reunited to
spend the last full day in Shanghai before beginning their return trip on the Pudong Airport Mag-Lev Train. “This $1.2-billion electric train makes a one-way 30.5 kilometre trip in just over seven minutes, reaching a top speed of 431 kilometres per hour,” says Asaph. “When the two trains pass each other it is impossible to take a picture of the other train because of the speed.” On April 19, the group flew back to Vancouver. “It was fast-paced with a very full itinerary, and from the trip reviews, everyone enjoyed the people we met, the sights, the food and the companionship of our fellow travellers,” says Asaph. “We are currently exploring new destinations for next year’s trip.”
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A22 Abbotsford News Friday, May 15, 2015
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E N G AG I N G C O N S U M E R S • B U I L D I N G C O M M U N I T Y
abbotsfordchamber.com
2015
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
Joshua Bach PRESIDENT
Kenda Allen
VICE PRESIDENT
Brandon Kelley TREASURER
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Hilary Beard
Mark Dana
DIRECTOR
DIRECTOR
Sara Lawson DIRECTOR
David Sheach DIRECTOR
Parm Sidhu DIRECTOR
Dave Miller
BC Chamber: The upcoming event in our Chamber world is the Annual General Meeting for the BC Chamber of Commerce, being held in Prince George later in May. The delegates will vote on about 150 proposed Resolutions, covering agriculture, energy, finance, jobs, small business, transportation, and the like. Prior to the AGM, our Board will get together and discuss these proposed resolutions with our neighbouring Chamber Boards, allowing us to speak in a unified voice for the resolutions we all support. Our Chamber will be represented by our Executive Director, myself, our VP, and another Board member. Canadian Chamber: The Canadian Chamber of Commerce also holds an Annual General Meeting which we attend, in October. This year, the venue is Ottawa. Election Ridings: BC law requires that after every second election, the riding boundaries are reviewed and revised. The Electoral Boundaries Commission is recommending that parts of Aldergrove, Langley and Chilliwack be combined with parts of Abbotsford to form new ridings.
Your Chamber is opposed to the recommendations for the Fraser Valley - please see our separate article concerning this. Chamber Committees: On a different note, we’d be happy to see you at our various Committee meetings – Agriculture, Government & Industry Relations, Member Services, and Public Policy Committee. Every member is welcome. Dates and times are on our website - www. abbotsfordchamber.com/About Us/Committees. Upcoming Events: As always, check out our website for our Upcoming Events. We hold Chamber luncheons with interesting speakers throughout the year. Our Business After Business is an opportunity to see a business operation from the inside, while networking at the same time. And don’t forget to sign up for our ever-popular June Agriculture Bus Tour. Our farms and agri-business create over $1.8 billion for our City’s economy, and they generate over 11,300 jobs in Abbotsford. It’s always a great tour. Visit our website at www.abbotsfordchamber.com for details.
NEW BUSINESSES:
DIRECTOR
The Abbotsford Chamber would like to welcome the following businesses: Brad Friesen DIRECTOR
Stu McIntosh DIRECTOR
Mark Warkentin DIRECTOR
Melinda Friesen DIRECTOR
UPCOMING BUSINESS AFTER BUSINESS DATE:
Thursday, May 21
LOCATION: Habitat for Humanity Restore TIME:
4:30pm – 7:00pm
• • • • • • •
Tech Mist Spray Solutions...........................604-870-4920 Rick Barkwell .................................................604-996-0965 Sean Davis – RBC Dominion Securities ....604-870-7236 Paradise Building Maintenance ................604-596-7810 De Vry Custom Work Ltd. ............................604-794-3874 Infocus Leadership Solutions ....................604-866-0057 Tabor Village .................................................604-859-8715
Becoming a member of the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce provides substantial benefits to generate more business and reach the heart of your community.
CHAMBER EVENTS A G R I C U LT U R E B U S T O U R
BUSINESS AFTER BUSINESS
DATE: Friday, June 19 LOCATION: Stops on this year’s tour include Rockweld Farm, Lepp Farm Market, Onnink’s Blueberry Farm and Singletree Winery
DATE:
TIME:
8:15am – 3:00pm
Thursday, June 25
LOCATION: Business Development Bank of Canada TIME:
4:30pm – 7:00pm
Abbotsford News Friday, May 15, 2015
myBusiness E N G AG I N G C O N S U M E R S • B U I L D I N G C O M M U N I T Y
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How does it work? Plan participants enrolled on my-benefits® will find a Submit Claims tab in the menu, allowing them to electronically submit claims for the majority of their Health and Dental claims. (Prescription Drug and Travel Health claims will continue to require the use of their pay-direct card or a submission using traditional paper-based claim forms.) Individuals are required to be signed up for direct deposit of claim payments, and those users not signed up will be prompted towards the Direct Deposit tab to provide us their banking information. Claims are submitted in just a few simple steps and the Insureds will receive an email notice when their Explanation of Benefits has been prepared. They can view the status of any claim, at any time, under the Claims
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Your Chambers Plan’s Extended Health option may include a provision for eye exam coverage when performed by a qualified ophthalmologist or licensed optometrist. Adults are covered for one such exam in any 24 month period, while dependent children are covered once in any 12 month period. If your Health option includes this provision, effective April 1, 2015, the $50 per person maximum has increased to $75 per person for eligible expenses incurred after March 31, 2015, subject to any other maximums, co-insurance or limitations that may apply to your particular Health option. For more information regarding Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance contact: IGL Financial Solutions Inc. 604-855-1990 iglfin@shawcable.com
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A24 Abbotsford News Friday, May 15, 2015
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Monthly publication brought to you courtesy of our Media Partner:
E N G AG I N G C O N S U M E R S • B U I L D I N G C O M M U N I T Y
CHAMBER
Allan Asaph
La Vonne Bandsma
allan@abbotsfordchamber.com
Lavonne@ abbotsfordchamber.com
Carole Jorgensen
Duncan D’Mello
OFFICE MANAGER
EVENT COORDINATOR
MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT REP.
Carole@ abbotsfordchamber.com
Duncan@ abbotsfordchamber.com
ABBOTSFORD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 207 - 32900 South Fraser Way
Phone: 604-859-9651 Fax: 604-850-6880 lavonne@abbotsfordchamber.com
myBusiness B Published 10 times per year. For advertising in this special section please call 604-853-1144 or email n.jones@abbynews.com
Abbotsford farms and agri-business creates over $1.8 billion for our city’s economy and generates over 11,300 jobs in Abbotsford. Join us on this year’s Agricultural Bus Tour to find out why. In the morning, guests will load buses at the Sevenoaks Shopping Centre, and from there we will visit all the stops on the tour, enjoying snacks, lunch, and networking along the way. This year’s tour will be held on Friday, June 19th and will highlight Farm to Table practices from the following businesses: Rockweld Farm Tim and Flo Rempel are the owners of Rockweld Farm. They raise certified organic fed, BCSPCA Certified, chicken and eggs. They sell their eggs and chicken, whole or pieced, from their store right at their farm. They have many longtime local customers from all over the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland. Lepp Farm Market It began in 1995, with their non-GMO corn sold off the back of a trailer. Meanwhile, the dream for a year-round market simmered quietly in Rob and Charlotte’s mind. Then came the growing awareness and appeal of buying locally grown food and supporting the local agriculture industry. Lepp Farm Market
truly is a perfect merger of Rob’s love of farming and Charlotte’s passion for using fresh, local ingredients. Singletree Winery This small, family-operated vineyard is located in Mt. Lehman, in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley. With extensive farming experience, the Etsell family has developed a strong work ethic, sense of responsibility, and appreciation for our agriculture, that they aim to express with Singletree. Onnink’s Blueberry Farm A local cannon free, food safe, sustainable, environmentally-conscious farm they encourage nature to help keep their blueberry crop healthy and in good condition... with a very small footprint. The honey bees pollinate the blueberry buds, the ladybugs eat the pesky aphids, and the hawks protect the crop from any birds or harmful organisms that may want to eat the tasty blueberries. Sponsored by Farm Credit Canada, BC Chicken Marketing Board, RBC Royal Bank, KPMG, Fraser Valley Egg Producers Association and Community Futures South Fraser. Space is limited, so register now at www. abbotsfordchamber.com or contact the Chamber office at 604-859-9651. TITLE SPONSOR
2015
Discover What makes Abbotsford the Agriculture Capital of Canada
TEAM MEMBERS
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abbotsfordchamber.com
Bringing together the people and the funds to make business happen.
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Win a shot at $1,000,000!
At Fraserglen’s driving range, join golfers of all skill levels for the Million Dollar Hole-in-One Contest. This is the Rotary Club of Abbotsford’s biggest fundraising event of the year, with all proceeds in support of Abbotsford Hospice and Holmberg House. To enter, golfers can drop in and pay $10 for 12 balls, $20 for 30 balls or $50 for 100 balls. Each day a minimum of 12 golfers qualify for the finals, getting closer to win a shot at $1,000,000!*
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