Business Licenses Expire December 31, 2022 | The Town of Okotoks would like to remind business owners that all annual Town business licenses, unless otherwise noted, expire December 31, 2022. 2023 business license renewal invoices were emailed December 1, 2022. Once you receive your invoice (which includes payment options), make the required payment and your 2023 business license certificates will be emailed shortly after payment is received. The deadline to renew business licenses is January 31, 2023. If you are no longer operating in Okotoks or have business license info changes, send written verification to ecdevokotoks@okotoks.ca. For information about business licenses, options for payment and more, visit www.okotoks.ca/business-licensing or call 403-938-8052. | | Social Media Marketing Ideas for December (that Small Business Can Do!) | Here are some social media marketing ideas for December to get you thinking! 1. Create gift guides for your audience that include your products, your favourite things and reach all of your audiences 2. Small business shoutouts - most people love the opportunity to purchase gifts from a small business! And encouraging others to shop small brings a “feel-good vibe” to your own page. 3. Post personal updates & ask your audience for the same. 4. Surprise & delight your customers by doing something unexpected such as offering free hot chocolate & cookies; send Christmas cards or give gifts/coupons to loyal customers; have in-store & social media giveaways 5.Showcase products with a Christmas spin Learn more | | New Business Listings The Town of Okotoks is thrilled to welcome the following businesses to Town: Homebased:
Clean Baby Clean
Sundara Beauty
Action Life Assurance
Broken Compass Tattoo
JD Beauty Lab by Butterfly Lashes & Beauty
This is Us - Family Creations
Suzie Christensen Massage Therapy
Big Rock Analytics Ltd.
Sew What?
Matt King's Massage
Adina Kuechler Speech Language Pathology
Foothills Fence Storefront:
Walking Tree Ranch
Alison Varga
Le Papillon Healing Centre
Benchmark Driving School The online business directory is a list of all Okotoks businesses that have chosen to be included. The Business Directory is another helpful resource for sourcing companies, products, services and expertise located in the Town of Okotoks. Check it out! Online business directory | Entrepreneurs Shaping our Community | New to Business Beat, we are focusing on home-based entrepreneurs. Home-based businesses are unique and so are their needs, they spring from local talent and local skills, spend money in the community, increase the diversity of business ownership, and thereby enhance community wealth and equity. We invite local home-based businesses to sign up for the Town of Okotoks Success Stories Program. This program is open to all businesses located in Okotoks who hold a valid business licence. Participate today! Learn more | | Charity Check Stop
Milligan Drive
Thursday, December 8
2-4:00pm Emergency services members will be on-location to conduct a “check stop” where donations will be accepted. The recipient organizations for this year’s Charity Check Stop will once again be the Okotoks Food Bank, Foothills Regional Victim Services and The Rowan House. Learn more
Skate with Santa
Piper Arena - Okotoks Recreation Centre
Sunday, December 8
12:15-1:45pm Come and Skate with Santa on Sunday, December 11! Candy canes and hot chocolate add to the free family fun! Learn more | Spirit of Christmas &
Tree of Warmth
Okotoks Art Gallery, 53 North Railway Street
Until Thursday, December 22, 2022 at 5:00pm Spirit of Christmas
The Okotoks Art Gallery will be transformed into the Spirit of Christmas, your best choice for holiday gift shopping, all crafted by local artisans. Tree of Warmth
Bring brand new, unopened gifts to the Okotoks Art Gallery to decorate our Tree of Warmth. Learn More Gingerbread Station
Check out the fantastic gingerbread creates at the gallery until December 17! 
Santa's Christmas Eve Parade
Milligan Drive
Saturday, Decmeber 24
5-8:00pm
Track Santa and follow the parade online in real-time with the Santa Tracker at santa.okotoks.ca. Share your experience and Santa’s whereabouts on the Town’s social media (@TownofOkotoks) via Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages using the hashtag #OkotoksSantaTracker. Learn more For all Town and community event information, visit www.okotoks.ca/events | An Old-Fashioned Christmas
Okotoks Museum & Archives, 49 North Railway Street
Until Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 5:00pm Discover what Christmas was like in Okotoks in the 1920s - from food to music to what was on people's wish list. | | 6th Annual Saskatoon Farm Christmas Market
#20 80181 338 Ave East
December 9, 10, 11 The event will take place both indoors and outdoors. Make memories with family and friends while warming up around roaring fire pits, or explore the market inside the sunny greenhouses around the farm. Get your fill of fresh baking, kettle corn, soft pretzels, cinnamon buns, hot cocoa and so much more! Learn more | | Procurement Opportunities | Please visit the Town’s website to see what opportunites are currently available for bidding. Bids & Tenders Questions? Email Economic Development to find out more information. | | Upcoming Business Webinars | Check out the following December webinars! Learn more | | Business Support Programs | There are numerous resources for small businesses to stimulate growth. Supports include loans, bursaries, financing, marketing, succession and other aids for small businesses. Connect with Okotoks Economic Development to speak to us and we would be happy to connect you with resources that meet your specific needs. Digital Economy Program Learn more
Growth Catalyst Program Learn more | | | | Join the Business Visitation Program Your Business Matters!! We would love to hear your unique story. Why did you choose Okotoks? How can we help you grow? Book a visit | | | | Local Business Success Stories Connect with Community Growth and Investment to participate in the Success Stories program. Let's collaborate to promote your business! Join today | | | | | Okotoks & District Chamber of Commerce
A not-for-profit organization, directed by a team of volunteers, dedicated to helping local businesses thrive in our community.
Learn more  Inclusion Foothills
Available for employers to train new or existing employees.
Learn more | | | | Community Futures Highwood
Financing, programming and free support for entrepreneurs.
Learn more | | | | MCG
Careers
Innovative Career Development, Training, and Human Resource services which enable individuals and companies to achieve their full potential.
Learn more | | | | Bow Valley
College
Bow Valley College is an innovative, world-class college with more than 600 faculty and staff who speak more than 50 languages. Campuses in Airdrie, Banff, Calgary, Cochrane Okotoks & Strathmore.
Learn more | | | More resource information is available by clicking the button below. Learn more | Small Business Energy Saving Tip | There a many ways to help small businesses save energy; here is the fifth tip in a series of 12! On average, laptop computers are more efficient and use 80 percent less energy than desktop computers. Laptops generally have a maximum draw of 60 watts, where common desktop computers can soar to 175 watts. To maximize savings with a laptop, put the AC adapter in a power strip that can be turned off (or will turn off automatically) as the transformer in the AC adapter draws power continuously, even when the laptop is not plugged into the adapter. | | Encourage a Friend to Subscribe | Connect with Us/Submit an Event | Enjoy the Economic Development Newsletter? Do you have ideas to make this newsletter more exciting or business-related topics you want to see? The Town would love to hear from you! Connect with us! Have a business event you would like to include? Click the button below to submit it! Submit your event | | | | | |
