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Fair trade products gain recognition despite price premiums

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:10:00 GMT

October is Fair Trade Month, a period dedicated to spotlighting fair-trade products, even amid the backdrop of escalating food costs. This naturally raises the question: Why commemorate fair trade when many of its products bear a higher price tag, rendering them less budget-friendly for consumers wrestling with rising food expenses?Indeed, Fairtrade-certified products frequently bear price tags anywhere from 20 to 50 percent higher than their conventional counterparts. Nevertheless, it remains crucial for us to discuss fair trade, given our collective concerns regarding sustainability and social justice for farmers globally.While Fairtrade food products may not have yet attained widespread popularity, their recognition and credibility have undeniably surged. According to a recent survey by Globe Scan, over 57 percent of Canadians have encountered Fairtrade logos while grocery shopping. The primary products that receive certification include coffee, chocolate, tea, and bananas, with ...

Alberta Fire Training Conference this week in Lethbridge

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:10:00 GMT

By Heather CameronSunny South NewsLocal Journalism Initiative ReporterThe 18th Annual Alberta Fire Training Conference will take place from Oct. 19-21 at the Coast Lethbridge Hotel and Conference Centre.“It’s aimed at firefighters from all different levels, so right from chiefs to right down to the frontline guys that are on the hose line,” said Nathan Coté, President of the Fire Training Planning Committee and Regional Fire Chief at M.D. of Taber Regional Fire Services. “The idea is to bring good solid training and speakers to those guys, so they can learn and grow as firefighters and take that information back to their departments and hopefully everybody improves.”Coté says that the conference will include both training and speakers, with this year’s keynote speakers being John Ceriello, a Captain with New York City Fire Department (FDNY); Sean Gray, a Captain with Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services; and Derek Alkonis, Research Program Manager with UL’s Fire Safety Research I...

CFIB launches new contest in October

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:10:00 GMT

By Heather CameronSunny South NewsLocal Journalism Initiative ReporterThe Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFID) has launched a new the “Big Thank You” contest as part of the #SmallBusinessEveryDay campaign in 2023 to help promote the growth of small businesses.“The contest invites Canadians to take a moment to send a thank you note to their favourite small businesses, and CFIB (then) shares the messages with the businesses,” Andrew Sennyah, Alberta senior policy analyst, said. “The entrant and they thank are entered into draws to win amazing cash prizes and a Big Thank You box of small business goodies from every province and territory.”Sennyah said that business owners can get involved by encouraging their customers to take part in the contest using the free contest toolkit found at: https://www.cfib-fcei.ca/celebrate-small-business/toolkits and more information about the contest and enter here: https://www.smallbusinesseveryday.ca/big-thank-you-contest.According to ...

Low tax rate pays dividends for Alberta business

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:10:00 GMT

By Heather CameronSunny South NewsLocal Journalism Initiative ReporterAccording to a new report by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, Alberta currently has the lowest effective payroll tax rate in Canada.Andrew Sennyah, senior policy analyst with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), says the report examined the effective payroll tax rates based on a typical salary of $50,000 in a business with a payroll of $2.5 million. Sennyah says that payroll taxes included in this analysis are Canada Pension Plan/Quebec Pension Plan, Employment Insurance, and parental benefits, workers’ compensation, and provincial payroll taxes (when applicable).Taking the above-mentioned taxes into account, Alberta has the lowest effective payroll tax rate compared to other provinces. This means that an employer in Alberta pays 9.1 per cent ($4,538) on top of a $50,000 salary,” Sennyah said. “Nationally – the rate is 10.1 per cent or $5,067.”Sennyah says that businesses across ...

Butte’s Wildrose Essentials offers gifts, toys, and barber services

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:10:00 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsA locally-owned toy and gift shop is getting ready for the busy shopping season on Picture Butte’s Main Street.Regina and David Braun opened up a retail business in Picture Butte in January 2023.Wildrose Essentials sells high quality men’s care products, handmade soaps, candles, and body care, and children’s toys. David is also an experienced barber, and offers men’s haircuts on Saturdays in an designated barber space within the retail space.The Brauns opened Wildrose Essentials in January but are from just outside of Picture Butte.Regina explained the inspiration for opening the business stemmed, in part, from David wanting to open a barbershop one day., and said so far, things have been going well.“My husband’s been wanting to I have a barber shop for a long time. He’s been doing haircuts like just for friends and family for many years and we used to live in manitoba and he had wanted to Start of barber shop there already but it never worked out,” a...

Sinclair Plumbing Solutions

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:10:00 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsSinclair Plumbing Solutions is setting the standard for local small businesses in Coaldale and area.Based in Coaldale, owner, of Sinclair Plumbing Solutions, Kevin Sinclair opened less than a year ago in late 2022.As a one-man-show, Sinclair Plumbing Solutions offers services from leaks, boiler issues, and hot water heater replacements, to faucets, installations, and plumbing for major renovations, and drain cleaning, Sinclair said his principles as a small business owner are centred on honesty, integrity, and customer service.With a firm belief in fairness and pricing transparency, Sinclair said, “being a smaller outfit, a one-man-show, I am able to keep my fees reasonable,” adding there is no commission, and services are based on hourly rates.“I just try to be honest and transparent and reasonable. That’s kind of my thing.”Sinclair, who is a journeyman, red seal-endorsed plumber said, “I have always kind of I wanted to do my own thing for plumbing,”...

The Pet Corner prepares for launch on Main Street

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:10:00 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsA new pet store is making its way to main street in Coaldale.Caitlyn and Dylan Walsh, co-owners of the soon-to-launch “The Pet Corner” are working hard to soft launch their new retail space later this month.The couple said they were drawn to Coaldale’s small-town charm.“we moved to Coaldale because we really liked the community and we want to raise a family here,” and decided to open a businesses after a building on along 20th avenue was listed for sale on the market.Caitlin said, “I love that we can just go to Main Street and everything is right there. Everybody kind of knows everybody,” and added, “I just like how the kids in our neighbourhood literally have hockey nets out on the streets and everyone is running to each other’s neighbourhoods or houses.”Dylan comes from a military background and has worked for Rehoboth in Coaldale for the past few years in addition to volunteering with the local food bank, but said Dylan was seeking a change of pace...

Copperheads fall in overtime to Cochrane Generals

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:10:00 GMT

By Garrett SimmonsSunny South NewsIt was an exciting contest Saturday in Cochrane, as the Coaldale Copperheads dropped a heart stopping 5-4 overtime decision against the Generals.After a scoreless 20 minutes, Coaldale trailed early in the second period as the home side struck less than five minutes into the middle frame, before Peyton Twigg and Caden Heins scored to make it 2-1 Copperheads after 40. Nolan Price set up Twigg’s opening goal for the Copperheads. Twigg was the set-up man on the second goal.Early in the third, Cochrane tied the game at two before Drew Constant regained the Coaldale lead with a goal assisted by Nathan Verloop and Rylan Milo.But that the was just the start of the back-and-forth period, as Cochrane scored two straight goal to take a 4-3 lead with seven and a half minutes to play.The one-goal lead would not stand up, as Price scored for the Copperheads, on a play set up by Heins and Brogan Booth, to tie the game late in the third period.The Coaldale comeback...

Things to do in the North Country this weekend: Oct. 20-22

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:10:00 GMT

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - This weekend in the North Country, Halloween spooks come to new places, with a haunted house at the Aviation Mall. The spirit of the season is even coming to the world of sports, with a festive soccer tournament coming to Fort Ann's local sports complex. On Saturday, athletes unite for the New York Special Olympics' annual Fall Games. Here's what's happening in Glens Falls, Lake George, and more across the weekend of Oct. 20-22. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Fort AnnBooTown Halloween HauntEvery weekend in OctoberHaunted cemetery of scares and creepy clowns, with an interactive zombie huntBooTown, 11225 Route 149$20 per personCauldron CupSaturday, Oct. 217v7 soccer tournament for ages 7 to 14Golden Goal Sports Park, 495 Goodman RoadGlens FallsSpecial Olympics New York Fall GamesFriday-Saturday, Oct. 20-21Opening ceremonies Friday, with games Saturday across Glens Falls, Saratoga, QueensburyOpening ...

Tom Paxton and John McCutcheon to perform at 8th Step

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:10:00 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The 8th Step at Proctors Theatre announced they will be hosting a performance by folk artists Tom Paxton and John McCutcheon. The show is scheduled for October 27. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Paxton and McCutcheon have each released over 40 studio albums. Both singer-songwriters have also received multiple Grammy Awards nominations across their multi-decade careers. The show will commemorate the launch of Paxton and McCutcheon's collaboration album, titled "Together", which released on October 13. The concert is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. ‘Dancing with the Stars: Live!’ coming to Proctors Proctors Theatre is located at 432 State Street in Schenectady. You can buy tickets online by visiting the venue's website.