News
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Love Local: A Night to Sip, Savour, and Celebrate Local Business
St. John’s, NL — Local love was in the air this evening at the Delta Hotel, where we proudly launched our newest signature event, Love Local: Sip. Savour. Shop., presented by TD. The sold-out event brought together members of the business community as guests came out to experience, discover, and celebrate businesses and local makers driving our local economy. Conversations flowed as attendees sipped, sampled, and shopped their way through the evening, moving through a vibrant marketplace featuring some
Letter to Prime Minister Carney Re: Marine Atlantic Ferry Fees
May 30th, 2025 The Right Honourable Mark Carney Prime Minister of Canada Office of the Prime Minister, 80 Wellington Street Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2 Dear Prime Minister Carney, On behalf of the Board of Trade and the 800+ members across Newfoundland and Labrador we represent, congratulations on your election as Prime Minister of Canada. Your leadership comes at a pivotal time for our country and our province, as businesses, who are the backbone of our economy, face incredible challenges. During your
Support for Small Business: Board of Trade Announces Return of Wage Support Program
St. John’s, NL – The Board of Trade, in partnership with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, is pleased to announce that the Newfoundland and Labrador Wage Support Program has returned for 2025 and is now accepting applications. Eligibility requirements and the application form are now available at NLWageSupport.ca. This initiative is designed to support small-and medium-sized businesses as they navigate the challenges of rising operational costs—particularly in light of the recent minimum wage
Capital City Chambers Host Interprovincial Trade Roundtable
St. John’s NL – On Thursday April 3rd, 2025, the Chambers of Commerce representing the four Atlantic capital cities hosted the first roundtable discussion on Atlantic interprovincial trade: Halifax Chamber of CommerceFredericton Chamber of CommerceCharlottetown Chamber of CommerceThe Board of Trade (St. John’s) The virtual roundtable discussion brought together members and staff from each of the Chambers, including industry associations from each of their respected provinces representing sectors such as
Board of Trade Calls for Immediate Reversal of Immigration Allocation Cuts by Federal Immigration Minister
St. John’s, NL – The Board of Trade is calling for the federal government to immediately reverse recent cuts to immigration allocations and adopt a more flexible approach that reflects the unique needs of each province, warning that these reductions will have severe consequences for businesses and residents in Newfoundland and Labrador. “A 50% cut, without considering Newfoundland and Labrador's specific demographics, is a significant oversight,” said AnnMarie Boudreau, CEO of the Board of Trade.
Joint Letter of Concern - Request for Meeting to Discuss Urgent Concerns Surrounding Immigration Allocations for Newfoundland and Labrador
January 20, 2025The Honourable Marc Miller Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario, Canada cc: The Hon. Gudie Hutchings, MP Yvonne Jones, MP Ken McDonald, The Hon. Seamus O'Regan, MP Churence Rogers, MP Clifford Small, The Hon. Joanne Thompson Delivered via emailDear Minister Miller,On behalf of the Board of Trade and the Labrador North Chamber of Commerce, we are writing to formally request an immediate meeting with you in Ottawa to discuss the recent
The Board of Trade Calls for Increased Dialogue Between City of St. John’s and Business Community
St. John’s, NL – December 11th, 2024 – In light of the 2025 City of St. John’s Budget and the recent wave of business closures, the Board of Trade is calling for increased dialogue between the city and the business community to address the economic challenges affecting local businesses. “While we're pleased to see that taxes have not increased for businesses, the reality is, owning and operating a business right now has never been more challenging. The City of St. John’s has a responsibility to
Board of Trade Business Awards Gala: A Night of Recognition and Achievement - Announcing our 2024 Winners
St. John’s, NL, November 21st, 2024 – The 2024 Board of Trade Business Awards Gala highlighted the dreamers, the doers, and the difference makers who play a vital role in shaping our local economy and communities. This past year, our members have demonstrated, in all types of ways, creativity, adaptability, and a strong commitment to growth. There was no shortage of inspiration throughout the evening as we welcomed over 500 people and presented 10 awards to outstanding businesses of all sizes. These
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Letter of Concern Regarding Possible Air Canada Labour Disruption
The Honourable Chrystia Freeland Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance The Honourable Steven MacKinnon Minister of Labour and Seniors The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez Minister of Transport The Honourable Soraya Martinez Minister of Tourism The Honourable Gudie Hutchings Minister of Rural Economic Development The Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey Premier of Newfoundland and LabradorDelivered via email September 10, 2024 Dear Ministers and Premier Furey: I am writing on behalf of the St.
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St. John’s Board of Trade and NL Employers’ Council Announce Wage Support Program
St. John’s, NL – The St. John’s Board of Trade and the Newfoundland and Labrador Employers’ Council, in partnership with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, announced today a new wage support program to assist small and medium businesses in response to the April 1st minimum wage increase. The announcement was made today at Bannerman Brewing Co. in St. John’s. Over $2,000,000 is being provided by the Provincial Government through the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Market Development
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St. John’s Board of Trade and Newfoundland and Labrador Employers’ Council Working Towards Merger
St. John’s, NL – The St. John’s Board of Trade and the Newfoundland and Labrador Employers’ Council are working to bring their years of experience representing the provincial business community under one roof to be a stronger, more effective, member-focused organization. For years both organizations have been a trusted voice of business, ensuring that the perspectives and input of business owners and operators have been informing policy makers to create a province conducive to and competitive for business.
Board of Trade Concerned that City is Looking to Businesses & Residents to Ease Rising Costs
St. John’s, NL, December 14, 2023 – The St. John’s Board of Trade is concerned that the City of St. John’s is looking to taxpayers to ease inflationary pressures at a time when business and homeowners are already over-burdened. Inflation costs are impacting everyone, especially small and medium-sized business owners—now is not the time to increase taxes. The Board of Trade understands that residents of St. John’s have expectations for programming and service delivery, and just like every business in the
“Checking-in” with YYT: St. John’s Board of Trade CEO Chats with New St. John’s International Airport Authority CEO on Importance of Air Access to Business Community
St John’s, NL, June 19th, 2023 - Today, the St. John’s Board of Trade is hosting an event for their members and the wider business community. During the event, CEO of the St. John’s Board of Trade, AnnMarie Boudreau will sit down with the new CEO of the St. John's International Airport Authority, Dennis Hogan for a candid conversation centered around the airport's current & future priorities, the challenges and opportunities with air access and its impact to our economy. The Checking-in with YYT | A
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Encore! St. John’s Board of Trade Is Back with Its Second Year of Business Bootcamp – Two Days of Fast-Paced Business Learning Opportunities
St John’s, NL, May 3rd, 2023 - In just a few short weeks, the St. John’s Board of Trade will host their annual conference “Business Bootcamp” for its second year, welcoming hundreds of members to the Delta Hotel St. John's Conference Centre on May 16th & 17th. Unlike regular conferences, Business Bootcamp is designed for busy businesspeople who don’t have time to sit back, zone out, and take it all in. Through a variety of informative sessions, members are encouraged to take a more “roll-up your sleeves”
The St. John’s Board of Trade Celebrates Resilience at 2022 Gala Event
The business community celebrates 47 nominees and eight winners at annual Business Resilience Awards St. John’s, NL, November 24, 2022 Earlier this evening, the St. John’s Board of announced the eight winners of the 2022 Business Resilience Awards at a gala award show at the Delta St. John’s, proudly presented by RBC. Every year the St. John’s Board of Trade celebrates the best of the business community—it is an opportunity to share the stories of the incredible things businesses throughout our
St. John’s Board of Trade Launching the Stallmark Greeting Card Collection to Remind Consumers to Shop at Home
Getting ‘Dieppe’d’ is bad enough. But there’s nothing worse than when there’s a special occasion and your gift is stuck in the mail. The St. John’s Board of Trade is launching a collection of greeting cards, so you’ll never have to show up empty handed again. The Stallmark Collection is a line of greeting cards, designed by local artists. The cards feature fun local insights and illustrations, and each one includes a reminder to the gift giver that they should have bought from a local
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St. John’s Board of Trade hosts its first annual State of the Province Event
St. John’s Board of Trade hosts its first annual State of the Province Event with an address from the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador St John’s, NL, October 20, 2022 – The Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, spoke to members of the St. John’s Board of Trade at a sold-out lunch event yesterday. This new event for Newfoundland and Labrador, called State of the Province 2022, is the start of an annual checkup on the health of our province. The Honourable Dr. Andrew
Statement on Pay Transparency and Equal Pay Legislation in Newfoundland and Labrador
The St. John's Board of Trade's statement in reaction to the Government announcement regarding Pay Equity and Pay Transparency Legislation on October 17, 2022: As we shared in our position statement in July, the St. John’s Board of Trade is in full support of closing the gender wage gap. Research shows that Newfoundland and Labrador ranks second-to-last of the Canadian Provinces with an 11% gender wage gap. [1] Research also shows that how we close the gap is complex, and could include increases to
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Position on the Wage Gap and Equal Pay Legislation in Newfoundland and Labrador
The St. John’s Board of Trade’s Position on the Wage Gap and Equal Pay Legislation in Newfoundland and Labrador: The St. John’s Board of Trade is in full support of closing the gender wage gap. Research shows that Newfoundland and Labrador ranks second-to-last of the Canadian Provinces with an 11% gender wage gap. [1] This needs to be addressed, especially as we continue to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic. Research also shows that how we close the gap is complex, and could include increases to the
CEO Update: Encouraging Meeting with Premier Furey and Minister Coady
CEO Update | Encouraging Meeting with Premier Furey and Minister Coady Dear Members, Yesterday, Justin Ladha and I met with Premier Furey and Minister Coady to discuss the ongoing COVID-19 situation and the continued impact on businesses throughout our province. We were encouraged to hear that government is focused on swiftly reopening as soon as public health deems it is safe to do so. While nothing is certain, based on observations from other jurisdictions, we should be able to emerge from this
The St. John's Board of Trade gears up to celebrate 50 years of supporting its members in a year marked by continued resilience
The St. John’s Board of Trade gears up to celebrate 50 years of supporting its members in a year marked by continued business resilience St. John’s, NL, November 4, 2021 – The St. John’s Board of Trade announced a record number of nominees for the 2021 Business Resilience Awards at a private reception on Tuesday celebrating all 52 nominees and event partners. Every year the St. John’s Board of Trade celebrates the best of the business community at the Business Excellence Awards. However, given the
A New Chapter for the Board of Trade
Katrina Kum joins the St. John’s Board of Trade team at a pivotal time, as business is returning to ‘normal’ and the Board of Trade is focusing on member recovery, success, and growth. For Immediate Release St. John’s, NL, August 10, 2021 – The St. John’s Board of Trade is excited to welcome Katrina Kum to the team as Manager of Business Development and Member Success. Katrina brings over twenty years of experience in marketing, sales strategies, business development, corporate events, and more to
Post-Budget Conversation with Minister Omar Alghabra
Media Advisory Join the St. John’s Board of Trade for a post-budget conversation with the Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport. He will speak to the federal budget with themes of the environment, green recovery, and transportation. Following opening remarks, there will be a moderated Q&A with the Minister. When: Thursday, April 22, 2021 from 1:30-2:00 p.m. Where: Zoom Webinar – link to be sent the day of the event Registration: If you
St. John’s Board of Trade Calling on Public Health to Move to Alert Level 2
For immediate release St. John’s, NL, March 22, 2021 – St. John’s Board of Trade is calling on Public Health to move the entire province to Alert Level 2 without delay. The tireless work, dedication, and leadership of Public Health is to be commended and we thank them for it. We now need their leadership in reopening our economy as swiftly as possible. When the data shows the risks of COVID-19 in the community are low, we cannot afford to be overly cautious. The damage being done to our economy,
New Chair Offers Words of Encouragement to Business and Calls for Open-mindedness, Flexibility and Collaboration as we Tackle Economic Woes
For Immediate Release St. John’s, NL, February 16, 2021 – This past Friday, the St. John’s Board of Trade hosted the 51st, albeit first virtual, Annual General Meeting (AGM) followed by the Inauguration of new Board Chair, Justin Ladha, CEO of KMK Capital Inc. In keeping with long-standing tradition, St. John’s Mayor, Danny Breen, conducted the swearing in portion of the event. Typically, the Inauguration is a significant in-person celebration that the outgoing and incoming Board of Directors as
Board Commends Considerations for Business in this Year’s Budget and Requests Increased Prudence and Diligence in Coming Years
St. John’s, NL, December 7, 2020 – The St. John’s Board of Trade commends the consideration given to business in today’s budget. It has been an incredibly tough year for business owners and residents alike and an increase in taxes would make an extremely challenging year even worse. 2020 has thrown numerous overwhelming and unpredictable circumstances at the business community and the road to recovery is going to be long—it is helpful to know that an increased tax bill is not being thrown into the mix of
St. John's Board of Trade Celebrates Local Business at Resilience Awards
Sharing Stories of Resilience at Reimagined Annual Event St. John’s, NL, December 2, 2020 –The St. John’s Board of Trade announced today, in a virtual awards show, the five winners of the 2020 RBC Business Resilience Awards. Every year the St. John’s Board of Trade celebrates the best of the business community at the Business Excellence Awards. However, given the challenges of 2020, we knew we needed to celebrate business a little differently. This year, we recognized resilience in five new award
Celebrating Business A Little Differently This Year
Sharing Stories of Resilience at Reimagined Annual Business Awards For Immediate Release St. John’s, NL, October 15, 2020 – The St. John’s Board of Trade is inviting its members to share their stories of resilience to be celebrated at the upcoming RBC Business Resilience Awards on December 2, 2020. Every year the St. John’s Board of Trade celebrates the best of the business community at the Business Excellence Awards. However, given the challenges of 2020, we will be celebrating business a little
St. John’s Board of Trade Encouraged by Provincial Government’s Investment in Business
For immediate release The St. John’s Board of Trade has been successful in its pursuit of support for its members. St. John’s, NL, September 30, 2020 – The St. John’s Board of Trade is pleased with the investment that the provincial government is making in the business community. 2020 has been a devastating year for businesses and its encouraging to see our government recognize this and the value that small and medium sized businesses bring to our economy. “We recognize that our provincial
St. John’s Board of Trade Asking City Not to Depend on Taxpayers to Balance Budget
For immediate release The St. John’s Board of Trade Urges City of St. John’s to explore all feasible options possible to reduce the ballooning deficit St. John’s, NL, September 28, 2020 – It is no secret that the City of St. John’s is facing an extraordinary deficit. Unlike provincial and federal governments, municipalities are not able to borrow to balance the budget. The City of St. John’s must either increase revenue or reduce expenses. The St. John’s Board of Trade
AnnMarie Boudreau named CEO of the St. John’s Board of Trade
ST. JOHN’S, NL – The St. John’s Board of Trade is pleased to welcome AnnMarie Boudreau as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective July 3, 2020. “AnnMarie’s experience providing counsel and strategic advice to diverse companies throughout the region will be an outstanding asset to our membership and our team,” said Andrew Wadden, Board Chair, St. John’s Board of Trade. “Her passion for helping businesses succeed and making meaningful connections will position her to lead the St. John’s Board of Trade
