A short note from your Executive Director

Lately, I’ve been having a lot of conversations with members that all circle around the same thing: what’s actually worth your time right now? It’s a valid question. But in this note, I want to gently shift the perspective—how can you show up in an impactful way for you, right where you’re at?

Instead of going to an event you’ve signed up for and standing around waiting for someone to start a conversation with you… how can you be the one who starts it?

Some of you might not know this, but one of the final pieces of my interview to become Executive Director at the Chamber was to attend our Mingle & Jingle as a representative of my business and just start talking to people. It was a subtle test—of how I would show up, lean into the room, and connect.

It was exciting and nerve-wracking. I knew absolutely no one—and I knew the test was happening—but it was also exhilarating.

I’ll never forget spotting Taylor at Cosmic Plants. We ended up working the room together, while Laura Petrunick (a past Chamber President) introduced me to Geet Chahil—who’s now on our Board. From there, it was just conversations—talking about my business, learning about others, recognizing a few familiar faces. And that experience stuck with me because it really is that simple.

When you come to a Business After 5—or any event—you’ve already made the decision to be there. Everyone in the room has. They’ve registered, carved out the time, and shown up.

This is the work.

It’s not always comfortable to walk up to someone you don’t know. But building relationships, having conversations, listening, connecting—that’s a huge part of doing business.

I like to think of our events as a place to practice that. To listen for what people need, see if your business meets that need, or connect them with someone who does.

If you walk into a room asking, "How can I help someone?"—and that doesn’t always mean selling—you’ll leave with a completely different experience.

Better conversations, stronger connections and you’ll be better remembered.

That’s a big part of why people say the Lincoln Chamber feels different.

We’re paying attention to those experiences and creating more intentional spaces. It’s not about how big the event is—it’s about the meaningful connections. And it’s actually pretty fun!

This month, I’m really looking forward to our May 14th Business After 5 at e-bike the Bench Wine Tours AND a morning event on May 12th with our newest Chamber member, Costco—exclusive access, no lines, and yes, free samples.

Our annual Chamber Cup Golf Tournament is also just around the corner (May 27). Registration closes in one week, and we’re looking for eight more foursomes—so grab a friend (or two) and join us. Every year, I hear the same thing: how fun and collaborative this event feels.

Yes, it supports the Chamber, the NCF, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Niagara—but it’s also about spending real time with people, on the course, in conversation, building relationships. We’re here to kick off the season with something that feels good to be part of.

If you were at State of the Town, you heard Katy Letourneau share that nominations for our Board of Directors are now open. Check out the application form and consider applying—if you have questions, I’ll be hosting an info session to walk through what that looks like (with a replay available).

As always, if you’re looking for ways to show up more intentionally—whether that’s attending an event, promoting your business, or getting involved—we’re here for that.

And if you take anything from this note, let it be this: Don’t wait for the room to come to you—walk in and be part of it.

Looking forward to seeing you out there.

Emilia Amaro
Executive Director, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce

🗳️ Candidate nominations and third-party advertiser registration opened May 1st. Individuals interested in running in the 2026 municipal and school board elections can file their nomination papers from May 1 to Aug. 21, 2026.

Nomination papers are available through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing website or at municipal Clerk’s Offices.

For more information about becoming a candidate, attending the candidate information session or registering as a third-party advertiser, please visit the Niagara Votes website.

💡 Ontario Launches New Program to Strengthen Electricity Grid and Reduce Costs for Consumers. New Peak Performance Program will incentivise businesses to lower electricity use during high demand periods, protecting grid reliability and keeping costs down. Read News Release

🤝 Province Welcomes Ontario Chamber of Commerce to Ontario Corps. Province building network of partners and volunteers to help protect communities during emergencies and natural disasters. Read News Release

NOW OPEN: 2026 Summer Term for the Talent Opportunities Program

The Lincoln Chamber is delighted to share this opportunity for businesses hiring post-secondary students. The Talent Opportunities Program (TOP) is accepting applications for the Summer 2026 term (April 1 to August 31, 2026).

TOP is an initiative led by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and supported by funding from the Government of Canada, that offers subsidized wages of up to $5,000 to eligible employers who employ postsecondary students on a student work placement program.

Funding for this program is limited and spots fill up quickly. To learn more or to apply, visit our website in the link below.

Apply Today

For any inquiries, please contact the Talent Opportunities Program team at top@occ.ca.

Join us on May 7, 2026, for The Future of Commerce: Data, AI, and the Rise of Autonomous Buyers.

Join the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, their Skills Bridge team, and leaders from Microsoft, Mastercard, Loblaw Digital, Interac Corp., and Datatel Inc. for a forward-looking discussion on how commerce is evolving beyond traditional e-commerce, and what this shift means for businesses today.

Attend in Person or Join Online

On Tuesday, June 2, the Ontario Chamber Network will hold its 11th annual Advocacy Day at Queen’s Park.

Advocacy Day is a forum to share ideas on how to foster economic growth and competitiveness across the province.

The registration deadline is Friday, May 15. Registration to this event is complimentary.

Learn More & Register

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) invites you to explore Skills Bridge, a program developed to help businesses upskill and reskill employees.

Powered by Magnet, Skills Bridge was created by the OCC in partnership with the Diversity Institute, and with funding from the Future Skills Centre and the Government of Canada, to address skills gaps in small- to medium-sized businesses.

Until May 31, 2026, you and up to 10 employees can access over 60 courses on the Skills Bridge learning platform at no cost.

Register Your Organization

Calling All Lincoln Businesses — Be Part of the Action!

The Town of Lincoln’s Meet the Fleet event is back, and this year we’re adding an exciting, interactive twist you won’t want to miss.

Held in celebration of Public Works Week, Meet the Fleet gives the community a behind-the-scenes look at the essential work that keeps Lincoln running. From maintaining roads and sidewalks to managing water and sewer systems, this is a chance for families to explore the vehicles, tools, and people that make it all happen, up close and in action.

New this year: a virtual reality experience! We’re thrilled to welcome IMVR, a local virtual reality simulation company, who will be bringing a fully immersive experience to the event. Participants, especially kids and families—will be able to virtually operate Public Works equipment while navigating a simulated version of King Street and Ontario Street.

And this is where you come in. We’re inviting Lincoln businesses to be part of this experience by having your storefront and logo featured within the virtual simulation. It’s a unique opportunity to showcase your business to local families in a fun, memorable way, at no cost, just a shared sense of community pride.

Not located within the simulation area? No problem, your business can still be highlighted on digital billboards and fencing throughout the virtual environment, ensuring great visibility.

Want to be included? Simply send your logo to Kathy Di Bartolomeo, Public Works Administrator, at kdibartolomeo@lincoln.ca by May 12.

Let’s come together to celebrate our community, highlight local businesses, and make this year’s Meet the Fleet the most engaging one yet.

Send Your Logo

Prudhomme's Supper Market

Silvergate Homes is launching something new this summer with its first-ever Supper Market, coming to Prudhomme’s Landing this June.

This exciting evening market will bring together a curated mix of local food vendors, artisans, and live music, creating a vibrant waterfront experience for residents and visitors alike.

Those interested in participating as a food vendor, artisan, or musician can apply today. Follow @prudhommes_suppermarket on Instagram for more details on how to get involved and be part of this new community event.

Vendor Application

May is Food For All month at Village of Hope Niagara. All Fund Donations MATCHED in MAY by an anonymous local donor.

More than ever, we need your help. Our food bank plays a crucial role in our community, providing essential support to those in need. Every month, we distribute over 9000kg of food, impacting over 2000 individuals who rely on our services to put food on their tables, including 375 children who rely on our snack program each month.

Please make a donation today to help us continue our mission of fighting hunger in our community. Together, we can make a difference and ensure that no one goes to bed hungry.

Donate Today

Welcome New Members! We're so excited to welcome new members to our community. Check out these entrepreneurs and organizations who've joined us at the Lincoln Chamber this past month.

The Great Grimsby Giveaway is back for a limited time.

Test drive any new or pre-owned vehicle at Grimsby Hyundai and enter to win two tickets to the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Toronto on June 12, 2026.*

Experience the excitement, energy, and passion of a FIFA World Cup game—live—courtesy of Grimsby Hyundai.

Learn More

Are you taking advantage of all your membership has to offer? 

View All Member Benefits

✨ Annual Gold Sponsors ✨

✨ Chamber Star Supporters ✨

Cla-Val Canada Corp.

Sooley's Safety Services

KIND WORDS FROM OUR MEMBERSHIP

“In short, we love being a member of the Chamber of Commerce. It really allows us to strengthen and nurture the bond we have with this community. We get to build great relationships with other local businesses so that we can collaborate and communicate on ways to better serve the community."

— Matt G., Founder, Bench Brewing Company​​​​​​​

We'd love to hear from you!

Your experiences inspire others and help us show the impact of membership with the Lincoln Chamber. Take a moment to submit a short testimonial about how the Lincoln Chamber has supported you and your business.​​​​​​​

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