Programs

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Shop the Battlefords:

Chamber Marks 100 Years! Join the Celebration! (2006)

The Battlefords Chamber of Commerce has reached a milestone in its history. In 2006 the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce is celebrating it's 100th Anniversary. The inaugural meeting of the North Battleford Board of Trade was December 29, 1905, when 38 business people forwarded the formal request for incorporation to Ottawa. The official certificate of formation was recorded January 26, 1906.

The theme for the Centennial celebrations is "100 Years for Business" with a colourful design and logo prepared for usage during the year. You will notice that our publications have a new look and design for 2006. The Battlefords Chamber of Commerce looks forward to highlighting the achievements of the business community which has supported the Chamber's efforts over the last 100 years.

Remember ... It Takes Two ... The Chamber and You!

To celebrate the 100th Anniversary, and to promote our business members we launched a spring/summer signage campaign that "paints the town red (blue and yellow)" for the busiest season in our communities. In May and June, the City of North Battleford and Town of Battleford placed 4' x 4' signage promoting local businesses and the centennial along the main corridors (100th Street, Railway Ave, Highway 4 North, 22nd Street) on the lamp standards. SaskPower also approved of the signage construction, material, and placement of the signage on their lamp standards. The signs will remain in place through the Labour Day long weekend, and perhaps as long as Thanksgiving, when Remembrance signage is put up for 2006.

Keeping business in the Battlefords is a priority for the Chamber of Commerce, and it is especially important during the holiday shopping season. (2005)

The Battlefords Chamber of Commerce sponsored a "Shop at Home" Holiday Radio Campaign which emphasized the importance of supporting hometown merchants. The campaign included eleven different 30 second messages, each highlighting how local businesses are vital to the community. Here is a sample radio spot:

"Remember your first real paying job? Chances are it was with a store right in your own neighbourhood.  Now it's your kids, hunting for their first job, a chance to earn some money on their own and no doubt they, too, will apply for a job at stores and shops close to home. It's great to have local businesses who are willing and able to hire our kids and give them a chance to learn and grow. Local merchants support the community and we need to support them too. This holiday season invest in you own future and do your shopping at home.

This message brought to you by the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce, and these proud hometown merchants - Business 1, Business 2 and Business 3

The radio ads played 4 times a day on both CJNB and Q98, from November 15 to December 15, 2005, for a total of 124 ads on each station.

The Great Ice Cube Melt (2003)

During the month of February in 2003, a 64 cubic foot Ice Cube was positioned high above the ground on Chamber of Commerce property, in view of Yellowhead Highway travellers. Customers were asked to guess the date that a red ball on top of the Ice Cube would fall through the structure.

The day on which the ball fell, each participating business turned over their draw drum of entry forms and Chamber Committee members drew forms until a correct date was found in the drum. One finalist from each business had their names entered into the final draw for $5,000 drawn live on CJNB's - the Dekker Breakfast Club with Harry Micheal Dekker.

 An "Ice Cam" was connected inside the Chamber building so residents and out of town shoppers could follow the progress of the melt by going to the Chamber of Commerce website and clicking on the Ice Cube icon.

This Shop Local promotion proved to be a very successful event and garnered numerous inquiries from travellers passing through the Battlefords. Inquiries about the giant "Ice Cube" came from as far away as points in British Columbia as well as from a post-secondary school in Quebec. The "Ice Cam" certainly provided an additional incentive to this program and internet inquiries were at an all-time high!