Membership
Be seen. Be informed. Save money. Be supported while helping your community.
The Muskoka Lakes Chamber of Commerce is ready to welcome you and start promoting your business through its network of Chamber members and beyond. We’re all about supporting local business and helping our communities thrive. Discover the additional benefits of membership here.
Benefits
We highlight your business.
VIA NETWORKING
You’ll make great connections, earn valuable referrals and more by taking part in Chamber initiatives. We offer lots of networking opportunities with other Chamber members, business representatives and government officials. Make sure to save the date for our Business After Hours events.
VIA MARKETING
Your business will also be listed on our website with live links to your own business site and social media channels. And yes, we’re super social. We share your Twitter, Facebook and Instagram posts and your events through regular eblasts. Want your own eblast to hundreds of subscribers? We can arrange that, too, along with other advertising opportunities, such as our yearly Muskoka Lakes guide and directory (every member also gets a listing in our annual guide). You can also put your ad on our website. Plus, we partner with our local Regional Tourism Organization (RTO12) and Muskoka Tourism, among others, to promote you in digital content marketing campaigns.
VIA INFORMATION CENTRES
And there’s no better way to market than through word of mouth and direct referrals. People stop in our visitor information centres asking about everything from attractions to where to find a good roofer.
We give you group benefits.
The Chambers plan is the simple, stable and smart choice for your group health benefit program. No matter how big or small your organization, did you know that you can get group health and dental insurance for yourself and/or your employees? There’s even a seasonal option. A good benefits plan is a great way to attract and keep quality employees. Email the Chamber today to connect you with our benefits plan representative. Our plan is part of Canada’s largest group benefit program for small business, serving over 25,000 firms. To learn more, visit chamberplan.ca
Save BIG on Group Home and Auto Insurance. There’s Power in Numbers! Oracle RMS has partnered with Economical Select Insurance Company to bring members of Muskoka Lakes Chamber of Commerce, their spouses and their dependent children, a variety of Group Home and Auto Insurance products and savings at discounted rates. Click here to learn more >
Oracle RMS provides Personal Group Home and Auto Insurance programs for Canada’s largest employers, Professional Associations and Trade Groups in Canada. It offers member rates that cannot be found outside of a group program with extremely competitive rates for home, condo, tenant, automobile, watercraft, ATV, snowmobile, and trailer insurance offering member rates that cannot be found outside of a group program.
Call us today to take advantage of our Chamber group’s buying power and get a quick, no obligation quote for all your home and auto insurance needs. Call 1.855.884.6150, Email savings@oraclerms.com or visit www.oraclerms.com.
Whether driving to work or protecting your family home, having the right insurance coverage is key! We have partnered with CAA Insurance Company to offer our Chamber members preferred rates on home and auto insurance. And if you already are a CAA member, you can access even deeper savings. For more info, visit: http://www.chamber.ca/membership/CAA/
We save you money.
Get 40% off shipping. Know when your package is on the way – UPS My Choice™ | Visit and save at www.membersbenefitprogram.com/MLCC No minimum shipping requirements
Get up to 45% off shipping. The Chamber has negotiated highly favourable rates with Purolator for its members. Receive preferential pricing with discounts ranging from 25%-45% on Purolator Express and Purolator Ground suite of courier services. Sign up for exclusive savings now.
Use debit or credit card transactions with your business? You can save money on transaction fees and earn a $1,000 VISA gift card if First Data cannot beat your current payment processing fees. It takes very little effort to find out. To get started, all that’s needed is a copy of your present merchant statement. To learn more, contact our First Data Business Advisor, Bruce Averill at 705.772.2132 or bruce@k2kpos.com to be introduced to Bruce. Watch this video to discover what First Data has to offer Chamber members.
Your Chamber offers members reduction on fuel with every fill up. Get a 3.5% discount when you buy gas, no matter how much you buy. It’s a convenient and secure way to control and manage fuel expenses for your company vehicles, whether you have 1 or hundreds. To learn more about the Esso Chambers program, visit http://www.essobusinesscards.ca/a/index.php?org=chamber
Chamber members save up to 30% on Lenovo products. To learn more, visit www.lenovo.com/chambers
Member FCA Insurance has special group rates for Chamber members for Commercial and General Liability Insurance.
As a Muskoka Lakes Chamber member, you can take advantage of our Essential Business Services (EBS), a one-stop-shop of programs and services from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce designed to help grow your business and improve your bottom line. Learn more about this suite of services.
MEMBER to MEMBER DISCOUNTS
Can you provide a member to member discount? Talk to us as we grow savings for our members. For example, JMD Property and Tree Maintenance offers members a discount on tree pruning and other services.
EXPORT DOCUMENT CERTIFICATION
Did you know we have the certification stamp you need for exports in our office? Just call us to let us know when you want to come in for this service.
We keep you informed.
Whether it’s new rules for dock building, or local construction that might have an impact on your business, or information about what’s hot in local entertainment, we keep you in the know. We also give you and your staff opportunities to sharpen your skills and knowledge through regular workshops and with free business consultations in Bala and Port Carling.
We advocate for your interests.
A membership with the Muskoka Lakes Chamber of Commerce includes membership in the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, which advocate on a wide range of business interests. They stick up for the little guy – with campaigns such as Small business: Too big to ignore that your Chamber takes part in. We share information from these organizations regularly on social media and in member e-blasts.
We also have the municipality’s ear and support. We meet monthly with the members of the Township of Muskoka Lakes Council and staff to raise – and get action on – member concerns and advance mutual economic development interests.
Advertise
WEBSITE
We have space for leaderboard ads and box banner ads on our website, which is often a first stop for people interested in finding a business in Muskoka Lakes. Call us today about these opportunities.
DIRECTORY
Affordable and effective, the Muskoka Lakes directory and guide gets into the hands of 10,000 visitors and Chamber members to cross promote Chamber businesses serving Muskoka Lakes.
Every Chamber member is listed in this directory, which some members say is worth the price of membership on its own.
View the 2020 Muskoka Lakes Directory
(25MB PDF)
DIGITAL MARKETING CAMPAIGNS
Your Chamber works hard to get matching funding for digital campaigns to support events, such as the Muskoka Cranberry Route, Muskoka Lakes Maple Trail, and Shop Local campaigns. Pitch in to put a spotlight on your business.
E-BLASTS
Have an event coming up? Looking to hire? Or to build awareness of your products and services? Work our network by sending out an eblast with the information you need to share. Just $100 + HST. Please send jpg picture files and copy content to help us get your eblast out easily and most effectively.
WELCOME DOCK BOARD
There’s space at the busy Bala docks for your ad on our Chamber board.
Networking Events
September 2020 Virtual Business After Hours – Exploring the Winter 2020 Opportunity
Tuesday, September 15 Celebrating 30 Years of Brent Quarries Networking After 5 (Postponed until 2021)
Tuesday, June 23 (Postponed until 2021), Celebrating CNIB Building Renovation Networking After 5
Thursday, March 12, Grand Opening and Networking After 5 – Gordon Dalziel, RP, Port Carling Health Hub
Tuesday, February 11, 2020, 5-7pm, Business After Hours, Rosseau Retreat B&B sponsored by Chelsey Penrice with sampling by Trestle Brewing and hors d’ouevres – A joint Chamber networking event with Parry Sound Area Chamber
Thursday, January 16, 2020, 4:30pm-7pm Planning for SUCCESSion, a succession planning and business valuation seminar.
Tues, October 8 – Grant Writing Workshop – Network while learning how to navigate grants for your organization. More details soon
Thursday, September 12 Chamber Business After Hours and Grand Opening Celebration at Moose Feathers Gift Shop and Morgan Davis Printing Museum, 5-7pm – Ribbon cutting at 5.15 pm sharp – Be there to support this new venture.
June 5 – Multi Chamber Business After Hours aboard the Wenonah II out of the Gravenhurst Wharf (At Muskoka Steamships)
THURSDAY, April 25 BENEFITS AND SOLUTIONS Business After Hours, 5-7pm, at Sherwood Inn and Beginnings Spa. Learn about Chamber affinity programs, meet funders and network with fellow Chamber members.
TUESDAY, February 19 – Business After Hours at Port Carling Legion with co-host Hospice Muskoka – Andy’s House and special guest South Muskoka Hospital Foundation
MONDAY January 14, 2019 – Business After Hours at Tri Lakes Training in Minett, with co-sponsors Richwell’s
Questions about Business After Hours or how to host one? Please email info@muskokalakeschamber.ca
What is Business After Hours? The Business After Hours (BAH) is our premier monthly networking event. It gives you the chance to meet, exchange ideas, and build long-lasting relationships with other Chamber members in an easy-going setting. It gives the sponsor business an opportunity to showcase their workplace, services and to gain valuable exposure. Chamber members often gain business referrals by attending. Chamber members and their guests are invited to come out, share some nibbles and drinks, and get to know each other better. To sponsor a Business After Hours, you must be a Chamber member in good standing.
Ask us how you can host a Business After Hours.
Our most recent Business After Hours was December 4, 2018 at The Hudson Hair Salon and Spa in Port Carling.
Partner Resources
Beyond your Chamber, there are many local business resources we partner with to ensure you get the answers or support you need.
(does Walk in Tuesday private and free business consultations in Muskoka Lakes)
Chamber Events
Your Chamber operates or supports fun annual public events that aim to bring more visitors to our region all year round.
Muskoka Lakes Christmas Market, Port Carling
the first Saturday in November (except November 2020)
Showcase your business at this popular craft and gift fair, one of the first holiday shows in the region. The Annual Muskoka Lakes Christmas Market is a one day show on the first Saturday in November from 10am-4pm and happens in two buildings across the street from each other in Port Carling. In 2021, we plan to celebrate the 10th Annual Market. Please Email Us for an up to date Application Form.
Sample Muskoka Lakes Christmas Market Application Form (rates may differ)
Bala Santa Claus Parade – always the first Santa parade in Muskoka
For 2020, our 44th Annual Holiday Celebration will be different. Learn more at www.santavisits.ca
Join in the fun and bring joy to hundreds of people at our annual Bala Santa Claus Parade. Be sure to be seen in the parade!