The Estevan Chamber of Commerce marked Small Business Week by hosting a business summit Thursday at the Southeast College’s Estevan campus.
More than 80 people registered for the summit, and spent the day learning about issues related to business in the community. Many of the presenters were from the Estevan area.
Nicole Davis from Daybreak Mill opened the event by discussing slow food values in a fast-paced world. Estevan MLA Lori Carr, who was named the minister of Highways and Infrastructure earlier in August, provided a political review.
Amy Groothuis discussed workplace impairment and the latest information for employers now that cannabis is legal. Her speech was timely since it came the day after recreational cannabis was legalized in Canada.
The first panel discussion of the day was held before lunch, and it featured insights from Trinda Jocelyn of Trinda Jocelyn Design, Brady Johnson from Encompass Fitness Studio, Josh LeBlanc from Coldwell Banker Choice Real Estate Service, Sheena Onrait from Southeast College and Jeff Pierson from the Days Inn.
Jasmine Gray from the Saskatchewan’s Centre for Entrepreneurship’s Square One program offered tips on starting a business, and Warren Jackson from the Business Development Bank of Canada provided an update on trends, transitions and technology.
The summit wrapped up with the second panel of the day. Nathan Wilhelm from Wilhelm Construction Services, Ray Frehlick from Prairie Mud Service, Dr. Sarah Sliva from South East Eyecare and Pete Sereggela from Eleven 24 Social House, the Tower Café and The Tap House offered their thoughts on the state of business in Estevan.
The quartet covered topics that ranged from their business backgrounds to the future of business in Estevan to perceptions of the city to the impact of the pending retirement of Units 4 and 5 at the Boundary Dam Power Station.
They also answered questions from the audience.
Next week’s edition of the Mercury will have more on this story.
