August 5, 2022

In this Issue:

 

Town Events at a Glance

Town of Okotoks in-person events, festivals & more are back! Have a look at this list to plan the rest of the year! The 2023 event listing will be shared later this fall. 

AUGUST

  • Family Fun at the Theatre - August 13
  • Picnic at the Piano - August 24
  • Chilifest - August 27

SEPTEMBER

  • Alberta Culture Days - September 1 - 30
  • National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - September 30

OCTOBER

  • Mini Monster Bash (Rec Centre) - October 28 (to be confirmed)

NOVEMBER

  • Light up Okotoks - November 18

DECEMBER

  • Skate with Santa - December 11
  • Christmas Eve Parade - December 24
  • New Year's Eve Party (Rec Centre) - December 31

Learn more/submit event

 Business Success Highlight: Lineham House Galleries

A family business, owned by Cheryl Taylor and Owen Key, offers a full art gallery and gift shoppe in the historic home of the Lineham family who helped to found Okotoks at the turn of the last century.

Built in 1906, it was transformed five years ago into an art and artisan space featuring Alberta artists selling original art. Various rooms display curated paintings in a variety of media, local made by hand pottery, jewellery, sculpture, fibre work, photography and glass.

In the heart of Okotoks' downtown’s heritage district, it is located on beautiful tree-lined Elma Street among other boutique shoppes, cafes and services.

If you are looking for contemporary art and handmade gifts that “feel like Alberta” while you wander a gorgeous Alberta heritage status treasure, look no further than Okotoks' historic home art gallery in Lineham House Galleries.


Cheryl Taylor

Contact:
403-917-1445
info@linehamhousegalleries.ca

Learn More

To have your business featured as a Business Success Highlight, please submit to: ecdevokotoks@okotoks.ca

Learn more about the Town's Business Success Highlights, as part of our Red Carpet Initiatives, by visiting www.okotoks.ca/business-success.  

 Fall Opportunities

Businesses typically see more activity in the summer months with people vacationing, taking day trips and doing small home renovations.

August has historically been the month we transition from summer to fall at month’s end.

Known for new beginnings, fall is the time to seek new opportunities to rejuvenate your businesses, or for a fresh start, and plan for a successful remainder of 2022.

Look at ways to make your business exciting and new for fall. Redo your displays, have an end of summer sale, create new ways to engage with your customers or develop new products and programs.

Find the following webinars to help you with revamping this fall!

 Upcoming Business Link Webinars

Register to participate in these upcoming webinars hosted by Business Link!

Level Up Series: Metrics that Matter
Thursday, August 11, 1:00PM-2:00PM

Register

Building Your Marketing Plan: Actionable Strategies to Implement
Wednesday, August 17, 11:00AM-12:00PM

Register

Learn about Fulfillment by Amazon and Advertising
Wednesday, August 24, 1:00PM-2:00PM

Register

Level Up Series: Social Selling
Thursday, August 25, 1:00PM-2:00PM

Register

Building Your Marketing Plan: Actionable Strategies to Implement
Wednesday, August 31, 11:00AM-12:00PM

Register

Level Up Series: Websites that Work
Thursday, September 8, 1:00PM-2:00PM

Register

Small Business Energy Saving Tip

There a many ways to help small businesses save energy; here is the first tip in a series of 12!

Get an energy audit.
An energy audit can help determine your baseline energy use and offer a clear outline for ways to save energy at work. Many electric utility companies offer free audits. A professional will then come out to your business and do a full inspection of your location to check for air leaks, insulation issues, or opportunities to install energy-efficient lighting.

Pro tip: Make sure to contact your local utility company to inquire about a free audit, not your energy supplier. Check out our comparison of utilities vs energy suppliers here.

Did You Know? 

In 2021, the Town of Okotoks adopted a new Land Use Bylaw, which provides greater flexibility for businesses to locate in Okotoks. The previous 34 land use districts and 33 direct control districts have been replaced with 9 new more inclusive districts.

Fun Fact!

Okotoks’ median total income of families was $130,000 in the pandemic year of 2020, according to the 2021 Statistics Canada Census.

Okotoks was 4th in Canada for the highest median family income.

The top 15 municipalities ranked for the highest median family income are:

1. Wood Buffalo
2. Yellowknife
3. Whitehorse
4. Okotoks
5. Ottawa
6. Squamish
7. Canmore
8. Fort St. John
9. Ottawa - Gatineau
10. Estevan
11. Lloydminster (Alberta)
12. Calgary
13. Grande Prairie
14. Centre Wellington
15. Oshawa
New businesses in Town

New Business Listings

The Town of Okotoks is thrilled to welcome the following new businesses to Town:

Homebased: Ok!toks Food Inc.: Sweets made from Plant-based Protein
                       EM Marketing Solutions: Digial Marketing/Social Media Management                      

Storefront: Valerie Saucier Massage Therapy: Massage Therapy

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

Business Support Programs 

Inclusion Foothills – JOBz Centre

We would like to introduce you to the H.I.R.E (Having Inclusive Rewarding Employment) team here at our Okotoks JOBz Centre. The H.I.R.E. business coach is here to support all businesses and employers with their hiring needs; with an eye for inclusive employment for all. The H.I.R.E. career advisors work with potential employees in assessing, preparing, and matching them to the best fit job openings and provide ongoing support.

The program also has a wrap-around coach and tech coach providing additional supports and tools, filling in the gaps to create a recipe for success.

This team of professionals offers information on how you can hire people with barriers to employment confidently, while providing the supports to make it a success. Let us help you find a great fit for your business.

www.inclusionfoothills.org

HIRE@inclusionfoothills.org

403-603-3232

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

Business Resources



Learn more

 

Learn more
Click to see all events by the Okotoks & District Chamber of Commerce

Okotoks & District Chamber of Commerce
Learn more
Click to see all events by Community Futures Highwood

Community Futures Highwood

Learn more
Click to see all events by MCG Careers

MCG
Careers 

Learn more
Click to see all events by Business Link

Bow Valley
College

Learn more

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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!

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