Small businesses continue to play a vital role in Estevan and other communities in the country, and the Estevan Chamber of Commerce is using Small Business Week to celebrate the contributions of these businesses.
Small Business Week runs from Oct. 15 to 21. Jackie Wall, the executive director of the Estevan Chamber of Commerce, said small businesses represent one of the biggest employers in the country, and they employ a significant number of people in the city.
“It’s very important to not only acknowledge small businesses for the business that they have in our community, but also everything that they give back, through donations, through employment, through the products and services that they offer,” said Wall.
Entrepreneurs are called upon to do more than just run their business. Wall called them the “backbone” of the community.
A lot of small businesses will encourage their staff to donate their time and volunteer with different organizations, whether that be during business hours or during time after work. These businesses are also willing to step forward and support community groups with donations, whether it be prizes, sponsorships or cash.
“The business community gives back so much, whether it be the breakfast programs through schools or ... support for the hospital foundation,” said Wall. “It’s just endless the support that they give, and the encouragement for events that come to our city.”
Events such as the Western Canada Cup and the Saskatchewan Summer Games that happened in the city last year wouldn’t have been as successful without the business community, she said.
Wall believes Estevan is home to a healthy contingent of small businesses that provide a variety of products and services to the public.
“There are small businesses that have recently started up,” said Wall. “There are small businesses that have grown in the last two to three years. So it’s fantastic to see that entrepreneurs are stepping forward and not only starting businesses, but growing the ones they have.”
The community supports small businesses, she said, and that ongoing support has been seen in the public’s reaction to the federal government’s proposed small business tax changes.
“It doesn’t matter which province you’re in, small businesses are coming forward and saying, ‘This is going to directly impact my business,’” said Wall.
While the federal government stated these changes would only affect the upper tier of small businesses, Wall believes they would impact a large number of small businesses and farms, and make it harder to pass businesses on from generation to generation.
“I think the majority of the employment in Canada is due to the small businesses, and they are vital to communities,” said Wall.
The chamber will host one of its centerpiece events to wrap up Small Business Week. The fourth biennial Estevan Business Excellence (EBEX) Awards will be handed out on Oct. 20 at the Wylie-Mitchell Building. Wall views it as a great way to wrap up Small Business Week.
Wall admits it was a little coincidental that the awards ceremony fell during Small Business Week. The first three editions of the awards night were held in June. But the chamber wanted to find a different date due to the amount of activity in the community during that month.
“When we picked October 20, it was a good date as far as not overlapping with United Way (Estevan’s telethon) and Thanksgiving, but when we looked at it, we thought that was perfect, because it’s also at the end of Small Business Week,” said Wall.
She said the variety of businesses in the community is illustrated in the finalists for this year’s EBEX Awards, and the number of sponsors for the awards ceremony.
The chamber will also be sharing information with the community during Small Business Week to showcase the work of small business in the community.
The chamber works hard to advocate on behalf of businesses. It has built up strong ties with the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce, lobbies the provincial government and attends a lot of events that provide one-on-one access with provincial cabinet ministers and people in government.
A group insurance plan is also available.
“Some businesses have a difficult time getting insurance for themselves or their staff, and the chamber of commerce group insurance is there to support them,” said Wall.
The chamber provides information to members through luncheons, political forums for elections and other events.
Wall also attends city council meetings, and the chamber office is in the same building as the Rural Municipality of Estevan office, giving them access to the two local municipal governments.
The chamber is represented on the board for the city’s new economic development committee, and Wall said the chamber was instrumental in bringing all sides together.
Wall noted this week is also Co-op Week from Oct. 15 to 21, and Credit Union Day is Oct. 18. Those organizations also play an important role in the community, and have a lot of clients who are small business owners.
