Greetings from your Chamber President

To All Members,

The summer is here and I am hoping that everyone is able to enjoy it. Our celebration of Newcastle, then and now was great. The weather tried to stop it, but it was a great success anyway... more

News & Events

Is Your Business Ready for Bill 168?

On June 15th, Bill 168, an amendment to the Occupational Health & Safety Act, will come into effect. This will create new obligations for Ontario employers to ensure workplaces are free of violence and harassment, along with significant penalties for non-compliance. Bill 168 will apply to all employers, even those with only one employee.

The Business Advisory Centre of Durham is hosting a free seminar on this bill to be held Thursday June 17th. For more information and to register visit their website.

"WHO - WHAT - WHY" Contest - Help Newcastle Village find its identity.

Create a tagline that describes Newcastle Village and you could win a gift certificate to shop in the village. A city tagline helps in marketing communities. It should be six words or less; true; catchy and inviting. Enter as often as you'd like. Drop off your entries at participating Newcastle businesses (look for the poster). Or e-mail entries to: tagline@newcastle.on.ca

Get the form and full details.

Deadline for entries is July 31st, 2010. Contest is open to anyone who lives, works, shops or visits Newcastle. Sponsored by Newcastle's Business Improvement Association and Chamber of Commerce.

What's Taxable Under the HST and What's Not?

Answering your questions about Ontario's Harmonized Sales Tax

Click here for examples of common products and services and how they will be affected by the HST.

Municipality of Clarington Sign By-Law

At our Chamber Executive meeting on March 1st there was some discussion on the by-law regarding signage in Clarington. This is something businesses may not be aware of and we thought it would be helpful to share some information regarding the by-law.

You can read the full by-law here: The Corporation of the Municipality of Clarington By-Law No. 2009-123

The application for a sign permit can be found on the Clarington site at: http://www.clarington.net/htdocs/documents/signapp.pdf

You can reach the Clarington planning department by phone at 905-623-3379 and speak with Mitch Morawetz, Robin Heathcote, or Isabel Little for further information.

Company Spotlight

Life in Clarington Magazine by Timeless Publications

Life in Clarington Magazine has been Clarington's neighbourhood magazine since 2007. Publishing with the seasons, each new issue is filled with a variety of interesting, entertaining and informative articles written by local residents and business owners.

As a Newcastle resident and Publisher of Life in Clarington, my vision for this community magazine is one of a warm, friendly, light read. The kind of publication you want to enjoy with a cup of tea in a comfy chair, or with a glass of wine on the deck.

Life in Clarington is honoured to help promote local charitable events and organizations like the MS Walk, the Crohn's & Colitis Charity BBQ, the Cancer Society Relay for Life, Autism Ontario and others, and to be a part of this community.

Life in Clarington distributes to homes in Courtice, Bowmanville, Newcastle, Orono, Newtonville, Tryone, Hampton and Wilmot Creek. In addition, Life in Clarington is also available as an online magazine. Check it out at www.lifeinclarington.com ! Be sure to enter the contests while you are there ~ the Summer issue boasts chances to win Free Golf for Two and a 5 lb Hershey's Chocolate Bar, both compliments of local Clarington businesses!

It has been our honour to bring you this community magazine. We hope you have enjoyed each issue and will continue to do so in years to come. Watch for your printed copy of the Summer issue on Thursday June 3^rd, or check it out online or email us to request a copy.

We want to hear from you! Tell us what you like about your neighbourhood magazine and what you would like to see in future issues! Become involved as a writer or photographer! Email me at susan@lifeinclarington.com

Happy Reading!

Susan Benedet & Staff