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 and Affinity Programs

We highlight your business.

VIA CONNECTING EVENTS

You’ll make great connections, earn valuable referrals and more by taking part in Chamber projects and events. We offer lots of networking (which we prefer to call ‘Connecting’) opportunities with other Chamber Members, business representatives and government officials. Make sure to save the date for our Connecting After Hours (aka Business After Hours) events. Plus, count on us to help announce your arrival or next move with a Grand Opening ribbon cutting ceremony.

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.

As a Member of our Chamber, you can enroll in Chambers Shipping Program and save $ on shipping. IMPORTANT: Before you sign up with Freightcom, talk to us first so we can give you a Promo Code for special Chamber discount.

Freightcom is not only about lower shipping rates. Freightcom is a complete shipping solution saving you valuable time. Get consolidated invoices, shipping labels, full tracking and more.

Courier & Pallet Shipping: Unbelievably low; exclusively negotiated discounts from top-tier carriers.

Value-added eCommerce Solution: You get access to ClickShip by Freightcom, an easy-to-use and innovative eCommerce shipping solution that integrates with Shopify, Amazon, WooCommerce and other marketplaces.

Designated Account Team: Valued Chamber members are assigned a dedicated account team.

Premier-level Customer Support: A support team assigned exclusively to the Program will provide you with top-class support in a 24-hour turnaround time.

Enroll today! Ask us for our promo code for Muskoka Lakes Chamber Members.

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.

Accept payments in-store, online and on the go

Elavon is the Muskoka Lakes Chamber of Commerce’s preferred partner for secure and reliable payment processing.

Payment Solutions Built for You

Elavon offers a powerful suite of payment solutions and flexible partner programs to help empower your success and accelerate your revenue growth. We provide next-day funding so you can better manage cash flow and business operations.

We make it possible. You make it happen.

Are you ready to get started?

Connect with us by filling out the form or call 1.844.935.3621 to learn about the options available to meet your unique business needs and take advantage of your members-only discounted pricing.

We offer Chamber Members savings on fuel with every fill up. Get a 3.5% discount when you buy gas, no matter how much you buy at Esso or Mobil. 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 Mobil 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.

Connecting with Member Events

2023 Business After or Before Hours Dates: Please download our Full Calendar of Events here: 2023 Calendar of Events

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.

How Can I Host a Business After Hours?

To sponsor or host a Business After Hours, you must be a Chamber member in good standing. Email us to learn more about being the host of a Chamber Business After Hours. 

Past Events

Past Business After Hours Events

Partner Resources

Beyond your Chamber, there are many local business resources we partner with to ensure you get the answers or support you need.

MUSKOKA SMALL BUSINESS CENTRE

(does Walk in Tuesday private and free business consultations in Muskoka Lakes)

MUSKOKA FUTURES

JOB CENTRAL

AGILEC EMPLOYMENT CENTRE

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 – now happening at Member businesses across our region

We said goodbye to this popular craft and gift fair, one of the first holiday shows in the region, at the start of the pandemic. But don’t be sad! Other Chamber Members, such as Pratt’s Garden Centre, and Live Edge Forest, picked up where we left off, offering smaller Markets across Muskoka Lakes.

In 2021, the Chamber played host to its biggest ever, and 10th Annual Market with two locations at the Port Carling Community Centre and Port Carling Legion. We’re happy the Market tradition lives on and we’re pleased to connect vendors with Chamber Members presenting holiday markets.

Bala Santa Claus Parade – always the first Santa parade in Muskoka run by the community

Join in the fun and bring joy to hundreds of people at the annual Bala Santa Claus Parade. Be sure to be seen in the parade! It also takes volunteers to run this great parade. Volunteers can contact the Parade Committee via email. (There may be a delay in response).

Full information about volunteer positions and more can be found at SantaVisits.ca

Closer to November, watch for updates at www.santavisits.ca

Sample Parade Application Form

Bala Cranberry Festival – always the weekend after Thanksgiving

Port Carling Winterfest – first weekend in February

Muskoka Lakes Chamber Annual Meeting – Spring

We’re looking forward to welcoming you to the Muskoka Lakes Chamber of Commerce.

JOIN NOW