To our community:

My first few months at the Chamber have been highlighted by challenging, inspiring, and thought-provoking conversations with leaders in all industries, and in business, non-profit, and post-secondary sectors. While we’ve all faced major challenges over the past eighteen months, there’s one key theme that binds our community together: optimism.

Despite the very real challenges, I believe incredible opportunities are ahead for Calgary. The combination of an unparalleled pool of talent, our strong entrepreneurial spirit, our post-secondary education system and the growth in our tech and innovation community that is supporting sectors including energy and finance, logistics and agriculture - gives me confidence we can realize our full potential. The Chamber is committed to being both a convenor and a thought leader, bringing together bright minds to develop and advocate for the changes we need to ensure Calgary’s economy grows, diversifies and thrives.

This edition of Influence is one avenue for thought leadership. In this issue, we highlight the importance of small businesses to our economy. We sit down with Alex Sarian, CEO of Arts Commons, to discuss how Calgary’s arts community persevered and pivoted during the pandemic. We dive into global corporate tax changes, the evolution of the future of work, and how Alberta is leading the way on decarbonizing technologies.

As we emerge from a challenging time for us all – and with two elections on the horizon – now more than ever, we all need to believe in and realize our potential. I encourage you to get involved, check out the Chamber’s municipal and federal election platforms, and head to the polls to vote!

Sincerely,

Deborah Yedlin

President and CEO, Calgary Chamber of Commerce

From the CEO's Desk

Quarterly update from the CEO

In her first update since joining the Chamber, Deborah shares what she heard this summer, her vision for where we’re going and why we all need to be involved in civic issues this fall.

2 minute read

Essential reading

The big impact of small business

Small but mighty, small businesses make up 95% of all Calgary businesses and are the beating heart of our local and national economy. Ahead of the Calgary Chamber’s Small Business Week this October, learn more about Calgary’s small business landscape and its role in shaping our city.

3 minute read

The future of work

The gig that keeps on giving

How we work is changing, and the pandemic has only made us move faster. Learn more about how the rise and growth of the gig economy is changing work everywhere.

3 minute read

Expert insights

The art of surviving a pandemic: a conversation with Arts Commons’ Alex Sarian

We sat down (virtually) with Alex Sarian, President & CEO of Arts Commons, to discuss how Calgary’s arts community persevered and pivoted in the early days of the pandemic, and what’s next for the storytellers and artists that call Calgary home.

7 minute read

Dive deeper

Energizing our future: supercharging Alberta’s energy diversification

The way the world produces and uses energy is rapidly evolving and Alberta is at the epicenter of this change. Dive deeper into how Alberta is capturing our energy potential and charting our economic future.

4 minute read

Policy 101

Moving with the rate of change: the local impacts of a global corporate tax

Many of the world’s largest economies have agreed to change the rules on corporate tax. See what this change means for Calgary’s business community and where we’re headed in the weeks and months to come.

5 minute read

Influence

From the CEO's desk