Chamber News

The York Sunbury Search and Rescue (YSSR) is a nonprofit registered charity community based organization comprised entirely of volunteers with no paid staff. They’ve been operating in the local area for over 40 years and have nearly 100 active members who are trained to do active searches for people who are lost as well as provide evidence search assistance to police authorities when requested. YSSR also offers training programs to students and youth groups on how to prevent themselves being lost in the woods and if they do get lost what to do in order to return home safely. YSSR is often asked to assist with crowd and traffic control at major public events, such as the Remembrance Day ceremonies, Santa Claus parades, and major marathons in the area. The group raises our own funds for operational costs, training, and necessary search equipment, and even a special search and rescue truck and command trailer used during their searches. We receive only a small grant from the government which is used to pay for liability insurance for all the members. One of the unique programs operated by YSSR is called Project Lifesaver. This program provides electronic tracking bracelets worn by youths who may have autism or intellectual disabilities or senior citizens with dementia who are at risk of wandering off without notice. Having the Project Lifesaver bracelets means that they can be traced through the individual radio frequency on their particular bracelet and found in a matter of a few minutes instead of having to send out a large group of people to conduct a search that could take several days and put the person at risk of exposure and even death. This is a great stress relief for the families who are registered in the program, which has been going for some years. YSSR would like to expand Project Lifesaver and add additional clients to the program, and therefore we are conducting a special fundraising campaign to help underwrite the cost of added tracking equipment, new bracelets, replacement batteries and additional spare wristbands for the bracelets that the clients wear. YSSR has set a target of $25,000 for this specific program fundraising effort. As a member of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce, we are hoping that there may be some member organizations that have available funding that they could help contribute to this very worthwhile project. Also any suggestions of other sources of funding would be appreciated. As a registered charity, YSSR will be happy to issue tax receipts for any contributions to achieving our goal. Please contact: Randy Dickinson, C.M.,O.N.B. Co-Chair Fundraising Committee York Sunbury Search and Rescue Tel: 506-461-9118 Email:  Randy. Dickinson@yssr.ca or dicker@nb.sympatico.ca

March 26, 2025 With recent reports of rising car insurance premiums in New Brunswick, you might be feeling concerned about how to manage these increases. While many insurers are raising their rates due to rising costs and claims, Stanley Mutual Insurance is committed to keeping your rates as affordable as possible, without compromising on coverage. Why Choose Stanley Mutual Insurance in a Challenging Market? 🔹 Competitive Local Pricing As a locally owned and operated company, we understand New Brunswick like no one else. Our competitive rates are designed to help you save while still providing the coverage you need. 🔹 Expert Knowledge of the New Brunswick Market From harsh winters to rural driving, we know the unique conditions of our province. Our deep understanding of local factors means you get tailored policies that are right for you, no matter what the road brings. 🔹 Personalized Service You Can Rely On At Stanley Mutual, you’re not just another number. Our team is dedicated to working closely with you to find the best coverage at the best price, and we’re always here to answer your questions. 🔹 Supporting Our Local Community When you choose Stanley Mutual, you’re supporting your neighbors and strengthening the local economy. We reinvest in New Brunswick by creating jobs and supporting community initiatives. 🔹 We’re Your Advocate If premiums rise, we’re here to help. We’ll work with you to minimize the impact and ensure you’re paying a fair price for your coverage. We’re always on your side. We’re Always Here for You “ We’re always here to ensure you’re properly covered with the exceptional service we’ve been known for over the years. Whether you’re new to the Stanley Mutual family or already familiar with our trusted service, we’re committed to providing you with the personalized coverage you deserve. If you’re interested in getting local insurance with a mutual where your dollar does the most good, in your community, give us a call today! If you were with Stanley Mutual before, we would love to welcome you back! Give us a call today and let us show you why we’ve been New Brunswick’s go-to insurance provider since 1937. We’re excited to have you with us again!” — Angele Palmer, Agent, Stanley Mutual Insurance Stanley Mutual Insurance is Your Trusted Local Insurance Company Since 1937 Together, we are stronger.

Can you tell me a bit about how your business began? We started Symplicity over 10 years ago with one goal: To help small business owners navigate their biggest challenges and evolve. We currently operate in Moncton, but our virtual capabilities have allowed us to work with over 500 businesses all over Canada and the world. Tell me about your business. What does your business do? What products and/or services do you offer? Symplicity is a true partner in strategic transformation. Our groundbreaking 12-month Levership program was born from a critical need we saw in our clients: a structured, consistent rhythm to nail the execution of their business strategy. We empower dedicated business owners, who tirelessly work in the trenches every day, to increase their profitability, streamline their workload, and foster customer success. Levership supercharges leaders’ understanding of their business’s complex financial engine, aligns their leadership team, and tackles operational problems in the right order at the right time. We deal in theory; we dive into the gritty application of practical systems that have propelled businesses from modest $1M revenues to impressive $155M milestones. Our program is crafted to lighten the load of busy entrepreneurs, creating space and driving execution, ensuring their efforts translate into sustained growth and profitability. Tell me a bit about your clientele, who are the people who use, buy or take advantage of your products and services? Our clients are often hands-on practitioners who find the business side overwhelming. They’re eager to elevate their business but don’t know how without driving every step themselves. Many have tried coaching or training before, only to find that while theories are useful, putting them into action is a whole different game. We turn that game into a winning strategy. How many staff do you employ? Full time or part time? We are a small business just like our clients, operating with 21 employees. We leverage a handful of contractors to ensure we are always capable of delivering excellence to our clients, without being overloaded by full-time employees when business lightens (a balance we typically help our clients with). Is your business involved in any community activities or organizations? Absolutely! We’re deeply embedded in the Atlantic Canada community, collaborating with countless local small businesses across various sectors. As one of the top 10% B Corps worldwide, we’re proud of our commitment to positive impact. We regularly participate in community events like fundraisers. Engaging with our community is at the heart of what we do, ensuring we contribute to regional growth and resilience. Can you tell me about one of the most rewarding experiences you’ve had while working for the business? Favourite customers? One of the most rewarding experiences comes from helping business owners achieve their personal goals in relation to their businesses. It’s incredibly fulfilling to hear from our clients that they can now spend more quality time with their families and experience significantly less stress in their daily lives. Our favorite customers are those who transform their work-life balance and witness firsthand how our support has positively impacted their lives. This is exactly why we do what we do – to make a real difference.   What are you most proud of in your business? At Symplicity, we are most proud of our tangible impact on the community and the businesses we support. Our business model is designed to dedicate time to social sector work and to counsel the smallest micro-businesses seeking help. Beyond our B Corporation certification, we prioritize the triple bottom line approach: people, planet, and profit. We take pride in our ongoing commitment to environmentally sustainable practices with our partners. It’s incredibly fulfilling to know that our efforts contribute to positive change and sustainability in all our endeavors. Has your business won any awards? Yes, Symplicity has been recognized with several prestigious awards. Our co-founder and CEO Matt Symes has received Atlantic Canada’s Top 50 CEO award for the past three years and was named Business Leader of the Year in 2020 by the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. Co-founder Mark Symes, was honored with the 2023 Canadian Forest Industries Top 20 under 40 award for his innovative contributions to the forest sector. Additionally, Symplicity has been awarded as one of the “Best Places to Work” in 2023 and 2024. What kind of challenges have you experienced in your business and how were you able to overcome them? Early on, we found ourselves stretched too thin, chasing multiple business goals at once. This lack of focus was a major hurdle. Recognizing the problem was the first step. We paused and took a hard look at our projects, prioritizing those critical to our long-term success. We revisited our financial models, engaged in deep conversations with ideal customers, and refined our pricing strategy. Through the triple C exercise—cut, control, and continuously improve—we zeroed in on our most profitable opportunities. By dedicating 90 days to a single focus area, we saw a significant boost in our bottom line. Ironically this challenge we faced at the start is a key area that we now focus on in our 12-month program. What sets you apart from your competition? What sets Symplicity and our Levership program apart is our commitment to being right there in the trenches with you. We don’t just offer advice; we roll up our sleeves and work alongside you to identify and overcome business obstacles. Our goal is to lift you out of challenges and set you on a path to sustainable success. With processes designed for quick, measurable results, 85% of our clients see a full return on their yearly investment within the first quarter. We’re here to empower you every step of the way. What is the biggest risk facing your business or your industry? The biggest risk facing businesses in any industry is keeping the main thing the main thing. It is so simple and so difficult all at the same time. Every day brings a flood of problems, challenges, and opportunities vying for attention.

Can you tell me a bit about how your business began?  Happy Hour Club began in 2018 as a simple idea of creating an event that would bring together women in our community to celebrate achievements, make connections, and support local businesses. At the time I was a new mom, living in a new city (I had moved to Fredericton less than a year ago from Halifax), and hadn’t found a sense of community quite yet. At the start of January 2018 I decided that maybe I could use my past event planning experience to organize an event that would bring together women like me – that perhaps wanted a sense of community. Our first event was held in June 2018 at Gahan Riverside (on their just opened patio space) and it was a sold out success! After that event the demand for the events in Fredericton kept growing so much that it expanded into other cities in New Brunswick in 2019 (Moncton and Saint John) and since the pandemic we have expanded to Halifax, NS and Charlottetown, PEI as well. Tell me about your business? What does your business do?  What products and/or services do you offer? Happy Hour Club is a social club for all women – in every industry, sector, profession and phase of their lives – to come together to celebrate achievements, make connections, strengthen their sense of community, and support / explore local businesses. We are the only organization of our kind in the Maritimes and we are not membership based. Since 2018 we have hosted 25 sold out events across the Maritimes. We aim to do 2 events in each city we’re in (one in the Spring and one in the Fall), plus our International Women’s Day event in March. Tell me a bit about your clientele, who are the people who use, buy or take advantage of your products and services? Our events are for all women – in every industry, sector, profession and phase of their lives; however, we have always (and will always) reinforce that our events are for any individual that feels this is where they want to be. We aim to be an inclusive space for all our guests to feel welcomed and safe. How many staff do you employ?  Happy Hour Club has been my passion project all along, so there are no paid employees (not even me!). The events are designed to be cost recovery. Is your business involved in any community activities or organizations? Happy Hour Club has been a proud supporter for several local not-for-profits – typically through donated event tickets to support silent auctions. Can you tell me about one of the most rewarding experiences you’ve had while working for the business? Favourite customers?    There is a lot to love about Happy Hour Club, our events and our amazing guests. For me I always feel great joy when we have a new guest (a first-time guest) that says they had heard about us but have never felt comfortable at networking events; and once they have come to our events they see that we are not a typical networking event at all – we are a social club – and everyone is genuinely so happy that they’re there. I also love that we change the location of our events in each city. Having the opportunity to showcase so many different venues – from art galleries to breweries to hotels to co-working spaces – it’s fantastic to bring people into spaces that they may never have had the chance to visit before. What are you most proud of in your business? The thing I am most proud about when it comes to Happy Hour Club is that my simple idea and desire to feel like I was part of my community has grown into an impressive network of communities which now includes 5 cities; and our events now provide that safe inclusive community for so many other women to belong to. Has your business won any awards? Yes. In May 2024 I received a ‘Top 20 Under 40’ award from the Moncton Chamber of Commerce and the impact that Happy Hour Club has had in our province was a huge part of that. What kind of challenges have you experienced in your business and how were you able to overcome them? The greatest challenge is doing Happy Hour Club in a cost recovery model. There are always new ideas and new elements we would love to add to our events but we work with a limited budget – and we keep ticket prices low to keep the event accessible (tickets are just $30 + fees). However, HHC will remain in this model because it protects the integrity of the community we have created and our guests trust us for that reason. What sets you apart from your competition? Happy Hour Club is quite unique in that we are a social club – we are not a networking or business association – we do not have anyone that is doing exactly what we do. Our goal is not to make money or promise business growth (although we many stories of how HHC has helped businesses launch and grow!!), it is to be a social club – a community – for women. What is next for your business? Any exciting projects you want to tell us about? Happy Hour Club has grown to now include 5 cities in the Maritimes which is very exciting! Our first event in Charlottetown is coming up on September 24 at PEI Brewing Co. and we are so happy that that event is almost here!   How do you feel about the economy and opportunities in NB? We have a unique position with our events because we bring together women from every industry and sector. Our events have CEOs, university students, small business owners, Etsy makers, Realtors, accountants, stay-at-home moms – everyone. And because we are not focused on “networking” we