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Small business is the backbone of Fort St. John and the Peace Region, which the City of Fort St. John and the Chamber of Commerce are celebrating during Small Business Week, from October 15 to 21.

Ninety per cent of all businesses in British Columbia are small or medium-sized businesses. These are the people who employ their fellow community members, and foster economic stability and growth, in communities throughout the province.

“Without business, there is no community. Without entrepreneurs, communities have no identity, no vision for the future and no foundation for growth,” Fort St. John and District Chamber of Commerce CEO Kathleen Connolly told city council at their October 10 meeting.

Everyday business owners get up and head out to their business, from retail, to industrial to small home-based ventures. Over 400 of these dedicated people who are following their passion, their dreams belong to the local Chamber of Commerce. Connolly, along with Chamber president Adam Reaburn, asked council to join in recognizing and celebrating that passion, vision, and dedication.

“Small Business Week celebrates those that are brave enough to start a business, and who are determined to succeed,” said Connolly. “The FSJ Chamber is proud to represent nearly 450 businesses in Fort St. John. We know their hearts and minds and are forever grateful for what they do every day to make our city as energetic as it truly is.”

In order to pursue their passions and foster growth in our community, business owners are facing a lot of challenges, just to keep their businesses operating. From supply chain issues to labour shortages, to taxation and red tape, business owners struggle daily. Oftentimes the red tape involves waiting for permits from government, governments which don’t understand how economies work in northern, rural, and remote regions of the province, such as the BC North Peace.

Changes in the world economy, also create challenges for small businesses. The rise of the digital marketplace and digital information systems, while convenient for some, can impact the small and local businesses in a negative way. The Alaska Highway News – which started out as a small local business in 1943, by a woman determined to keep her community informed – is closing its doors forever this week, after 80 years in our community. Margaret Murray exemplified the entrepreneurial spirit of Fort St John and the North Peace.

Entrepreneurs who “get up day in and day out and head to their passion project – their unwavering commitment to their vision, their staff, customers and partners, and to our communities is nothing short of epic,” Connolly said.

Connolly thanked all those who support and celebrate local business’ efforts, and advocate for needed change to continue those businesses, particularly those who make an effort to get the voices of small businesses in our region heard.

MLA Dan Davies is one those people. He recently said, “Local businesses help create a thriving economy by supporting other businesses and our non-profits. This way, the money is kept in the community instead of corporate shareholders, and the economic cycle is enhanced because shoppers spend their money in town.”

“Small businesses are the heart and soul of each local community. If you own one, then you are instrumental in bringing people together, helping the local economy thrive, and building your local area’s overall character,” Davies said.

As part of Small Business Week, and in the Chamber’s ongoing mission to provide tools to assist and grow local businesses, there are several webinars and workshops going on this week on a variety of topics, as part of the 2023 Small Business Week Summit. For more information and to register visit https://bcchamber.org/2023-small-business-week-summit. Topics include Making Sense of Today’s Economy (Oct 16); Transform your organization with AI (Oct 18); Transform your business with Reconcili-ACTION (Oct 19); and Business as an engine for good (Oct 20). You can also find links to these sessions at the Fort St. John and District Chamber of Commerce website https://www.fsjchamber.com/.