2022 Small Business Week - Workforce Trends & Employment Recruiting and/or How a Living Wage can Improve your Small Business
2022-10-20 16:15 - 21:00 UTC | Family Connection Centre
For this series, tickets can be purchased for the entire day or separately for either the morning or afternoon session, with lunch included. Pricing is as follows:

Members: $40/session OR $65 for both sessions

Non-Members: $50/session OR $75 for both sessions

Prices are subject to GST

Morning Session (10:15am-11:45am) - Workforce Trends & Employment Recruiting
Join us in the morning for coffee/tea and muffins as Michael Smith of the Government of Alberta discusses current labour market trends, government grants for employers, and employment recruiting options. A light lunch is included and will follow this session.

Introduction

What is the Workforce Consultant role and how can we help

Current Labour Market Trends
Canada Alberta Job Grant (CAJG):

Who is eligible for the CAJG
What training is eligible
How CAJG works and what to consider

Alternative employment recruiting options:

Government funded Training and Employment Services
Other Training and Employment Services

If you have any specific questions you would like the Chamber to ask Michael Smith in advance of the presentation, please email Julie Demecillo at jdemecillo@gprchamber.ca.

Michael Smith - Biography

Michael Smith is a Workforce Consultant with the Government of Alberta through the Employer and Program Branch, Regional Employer Supports Unit. He obtained his Business Commerce Degree with a Management Major and started working with the Government of Alberta in March 2021 as a Grant Program Advisor for the Critical Worker Benefit and then Alberta Jobs Now Program. He has since transitioned to the Workforce Consultant role in June 2022 with his regional area including Downtown Edmonton, West Edmonton and Parkland County (Parkland County, Spruce Grove, Stony Plain and Wabamun).

Michael previously worked in the private industry starting as a Resource Manager and moving through various departments as an HR Manager, Operations Manager, and ultimately a Division Manager. He also worked for the City of Edmonton as a Program Administrator and later on a Methods Analyst.

Lunch 12:00pm-1:00pm
A light lunch is provided for attendees that register for either session, or both sessions.

Afternoon Session (1:00pm-3:00pm) - How a Living Wage can Improve your Small Business
Prior to this afternoon session, join us for a light lunch and network with individuals from the morning session! After lunch, participate in a special presentation on the Living Wage and Group Benefits that could support your small business and aid in staff retention. Learn what it is, why it is important, and how it can enhance your small business. This afternoon session will host a panel interview with three regional businesses and a round table session. Following this presentation, Chamber Plan representative Dean Chapman will discuss the benefits of group insurance plans and how they can improve your business' employee retention.

Special Panelists:

Sheri Ratsoy, Parkland Food Bank
Christopher Senger, Mow Town Edmonton
Sahen Bergdahl, Veolia

Dean Chapman, Chamber Plan Representative
