The biggest agricultural consumer and trade show on the Island will be taking place in Cowichan on February 1st and 2nd. This annual Island Agriculture event attracts some 15 hundred attendees and participants, 148 conference delegates for 14 conference information sessions. It will be held at the Cowichan Exhibition Park. This year, it will be featuring agriculture here in the Alberni Valley. After coordinating an Alberni Valley booth last year, Economic Development Manager, Patrick Deakin was amazed at how few of the attendees realized that there was agriculture in the Alberni Valley.  This year, as the feature region, there will be a strong contingent of local agriculturists promoting our products and services. Besides the promotional booths, there will be a new program of conference speakers, stage activities and learning opportunities for youngsters. Lectures will cover such subjects as organic production, community renewal, coastal viticulture, social media marketing, food security, feed production and water management. The Alberni participants will host an on-site reception late Friday Feb 1st, featuring both our valley vineyards. Besides all this, it’s a great opportunity for farmers and service suppliers to network over the two days. We wish our agricultural sector good luck at the show and urge local folks to pay a visit. You may come away with a greener thumb! More information on this can be found at www.iashow.ca.
April 18th the chamber will celebrate local achievers by hosting the annual Community Excellence Awards Dinner. It will be held at the Best Western Barclay Hotel. We feel it is important to recognize businesses and individuals who contribute in a positive way to our business community. If you go to our website, www.avcoc.com , you can click on the awards icon and find the nomination form. The guidelines for the 10 categories are explained and you easily nominate someone or a business and submit it online. Or, you can stop by the Visitor Centre and get a hard copy. It’s a great night and we do it for a good reason – so plan on nominating and attending!
The next chamber Networking Luncheon is Wednesday February 13th – noon at the Barclay Hotel. This will be the official introduction of our incoming Executive Director, Bill Collette. Besides introducing himself, he will be speaking about the business retention survey he is currently conducting around town. The featured speaker will be Ken Watson, City Manager, talking about industrial, business and property taxes. Reserve your seat by calling our office: 724 6535.
Thought for the Week:
“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” A. Saint-Exupery
FROM THE MANAGER’S DESK
SUBMITTED BY MIKE CARTER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ALBERNI VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE