Chamber Updates & Local News

Words from the ED We are pleased to provide our tenth monthly labour market bulletin to the community. This edition outlines the potential impact that reductions of temporary foreign workers could have on our local labour market. Immigration levels and targets are determined and set by the federal government. Canada is set to tighten immigration…

The City of Kingston is many things: an educational hub; a health care and innovation centre; and a tourism destination with a stunning waterfront and vibrant festivals. Among the many elements that make Kingston Kingston, there is one defining feature that remains less widely recognized – yet stands as one of its greatest superpowers: Kingston…

Over the past several years in Kingston, I’ve had the opportunity to work across a wide range of industries and roles – from working with large corporations, to helping launch an advanced leadership program at Queen’s University, serving as the President of the Rotary Club, building my own startup, supporting the launch of an AI…

In a world increasingly shaped by emails and virtual meetings, the simple act of gathering in person has taken on renewed meaning. From community celebrations, professional meetings and large-scale conferences, events remain powerful engines for connection, creativity, and economic growth. More than just dates on a calendar, events bring people together, activate local businesses, and…

The promise of freelancing as an equalizer for women may be overstated By Alan Morantz | Oct 9, 2025 Text originally published at: Smith School of Business   The gig economy was supposed to be different. Without corporate hierarchies, traditional promotion processes or office politics, freelancing promised a level playing field where talent and results would speak louder than…

How to tell if you are geared up for change-or stuck in neutral By Alan Morantz | Apr 23, 2025 Text originally published at: Smith School of Business   COVID was a global tragedy, but also a revelation. The epic public health crisis revealed that organizations could be transformed by digital technology, and that it could happen sooner…

How everyday acts of appreciation can make bosses-and their teams-better and more fulfilled By Deborah Aarts | Dec 15, 2025 Text originally published at: Smith School of Business Neil Pasricha, BCom ’02, knows he has plenty to be thankful for. Yes, there’s the highlight-reel career stuff. He has 11 wildly popular books, including 2010’s smash The Book of…

Most professionals were never taught how emotions actually work, yet we’re expected to lead, communicate, and make high-stakes decisions under pressure every day. The truth is: emotions aren’t automatic reactions. They’re constructed. According to Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett’s Theory of Constructed Emotion, your brain builds emotions using four components: body cues, learned concepts, situational context,…

2025 marks the 20th anniversary of our business, BmDodo Strategic Design. Over the past two decades, we’ve seen first-hand that the organizations that thrive are not always the biggest or the loudest. They are the ones that know how to stand out. Time and again, one factor has proven decisive: using design as a strategic…

For more than a decade, my days were defined by spreadsheets, quarterly targets, and the familiar hum of the office cubicle. Finance gave me structure, stability, and experience-but it also left me restless. I craved a project that blended my passion for sports, community, and hospitality. That spark grew into a bold leap: leaving the…