This new program will allow drop-off of most small appliances for recycling, redirecting lots of items that would otherwise end up in BC landfills.

Visit the UnPluggedBC web site for more information on drop-off locations and accepted items.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION >>

Together, the Canadian and British Columbia governments have sponsored the Aspect Targeted Skills Shortage program. The initiative bestows up to $7,500 per employer to provide workplace-specific training to eligible employees, to a maximum of $1,500 per employee.

The program is a great chance for employers to support educational opportunities for staff members who have a high-school-or-lower level of education. To be eligible, participating companies must employ less than 100 people and do business within several different industrial sectors.

More information on the program and eligibility criteria can be found on the Aspect web site.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM >>

The NALH team was out in full force at the Vancouver Board of Trade’s “Business After Business” trade show on May 24th. The event was held at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel in downtown Vancouver and was a hit with exhibitors and attendees alike.

The Fairmont was a wonderful host, providing a lovely atmosphere, courteous staff and fantastic food for all to enjoy.

Members of the NALH team had the chance to mingle with fellow exhibitors and to greet members of the business community who came to meet the businesses represented at the show. We had a blast and are looking forward to attending other shows in the near future!

We also held a draw for a number of wonderful prizes sponsored by Deserving Thyme Life Spa, BOOST Design + Marketing and Dazzling Gourmet Gifts.

AND, THE WINNERS ARE…

Barbara Casson of Casson & Choi
www.cassonandchoi.com
Massage from Deserving Thyme Life Spa

Louise Boutin of ReMax Crest Realty Westside
www.vancouverhometeam.ca
Facial from Deserving Thyme Life Spa

Nadia Doucet of ReMax Crest Realty Westside
www.vancouverhometeam.ca
Body Butter from Deserving Thyme Life Spa

Ken Martin of National Bank Financial Group
www.nbc.ca
Little Book of Twitter from BOOST Design + Marketing

Tim Reyes of Canada Wide Media Limited
www.canadawide.com
Martini Olive Picks and Bookmark from Dazzling Gourmet Gifts

Ray Murrell of Dominic Systems
www.dominicsystems.com
Tea and Java Spoons from Dazzling Gourmet Gifts

Congratulations to all our winners!

The Small Business Accelerator is your gateway to freely available business information, education, and assistance that is both current and trustworthy.

You’ll find information resources and research strategies that will be critical to all aspects of your business planning – whether you’re just getting started or looking to grow or open a new a location.

CLICK HERE FOR INFO >>

SOHO ran an article in a recent newsletter about the best ways to make it past the virtual gatekeeper and get in touch with the right contact at your dream client’s company.

Want to learn more about how to get through to the right person without leaving message after message? Read the full article on the SOHO web site.

This article is an excerpt from the NALH e-Newsletter. Click here to read the current issue.

Missed an issue? You can also read all previous issues in our newsletter archive.  Want to join our subscribers list? Visit our site to subscribe to our newsletter.

Find out what you can do to maximize your performance and get the job done efficiently and effectively.

Visit the FMWalsh & Associates web site to read the full article.

This article is an excerpt from the NALH e-Newsletter. Click here to read the current issue.

Missed an issue? You can also read all previous issues in our newsletter archive.  Want to join our subscribers list? Visit our site to subscribe to our newsletter.

Toronto and Hamilton will follow closely behind with 3.7% and 3.3% growth respectively, according to the Conference Board of Canada’s Metropolitan Outlook Spring 2010 publication.

Read the full article on the Business in Vancouver web site.

Despite the economic downturn, net earnings rose to $50.3 million from $46.8 million on revenue of $75.1 million, which fell slightly from $75.6 million.

Much of the profit gains were made from corporate streamlining that led to a $17 million decline in its operating expenses for the year. One-time revenue also offset one-time expenses and one-time losses from its investments in asset-backed commercial paper and commercial real estate.

Read the full article on the Business in Vancouver web site.

Corporate profits rose to $60.1 billion, up from $55.7 billion in the third quarter last year, and 19.7% higher than the recent low of $50.2 billion in the second quarter.

Gains were widespread as 15 of 22 industries measured by Statistics Canada reported higher profits. Sectors realizing the largest gains included the financial industry, whose profits rose 19.7% to $15.2 billion. Energy sectors including oil and gas, petroleum and coal collectively reported an 8.6% increase in quarterly profit to $7 billion.

Read the full article at the Business in Vancouver web site.

Visit the BIV newsroom blog for up-to-date information.

That’s according to the BC Technology Industry Association’s third annual B.C. labour study released Tuesday.

The study suggested the province’s tech sector cut approximately 6% of its workforce last year. It predicted, however, that sector-wide employment would rise by a similar proportion by September 2010.

Read the full article on the Business in Vancouver web site.

The resort operator’s financial woes have put Vancouver Olympic organizers in a quandary, since the sale of the company would be an unwelcome disruption to the games, which open February 12.

Click here to read the full article on the Toronto Star web site.

Grant Clark thinks he’s the kind of business owner Ontario wasn’t thinking of when it developed plans for the new, harmonized sales tax.

Mr. Clark is president of Solutions for HR Inc., a small consulting shop he’s operated for the past 15 years. In this economy, potential customers are trying to minimize spending on outside expertise. He’s getting a lot of requests to cut his hourly rate or do some kind of deal.

So he’s not sure what’s going to happen in July when, as a service provider, he’ll need to begin charging clients a full 13 per cent HST, or harmonized sales tax. Previously, his services were exempt from Ontario’s provincial sales tax, and he had to add only the 5 per cent federal Goods and Services Tax, or GST, to his bills.

“My cost to clients is going up 8 per cent, as is anyone’s who sells professional services,” he said. “I can see the logic behind it – I understand the goal is to encourage investment by businesses in Ontario. It’s going to be beneficial overall, but there’s going to be an impact on any professional services firm, and I don’t think that was a major consideration by the provincial government.”

Click here to read the full article at the Globe and Mail web site.

Vancouver prices are expected to increase an average 7.2% in 2010 following a buoyant market recovery during the last few months of 2009. Detached bungalows in Vancouver sold for an average of $828,750 in the fourth quarter, up 11.4% in the same period in 2008. Standard condominium prices increased 11.8% to $452,750 and a standard two-storey home rose 9.6% to $917,500.

Click here to read the full article on the Business in Vancouver web site.

The business unit offers custom payment solutions and supports transactions from all major credit cards and private-label travel, entertainment and fleet cards.

Click here to read the full article on the Business in Vancouver web site.