A Moment with the Mayor: Small businesses

We have the pleasure to celebrate our small businesses who serve us each and every day. Small businesses range from restaurants to automobile dealerships to specialty shops and beyond. 

Small businesses employ our friends and family. They are often the first places we look to for donations and support for our local charities, from hockey and sports team fundraising events that support both local and national events or to raise funds for research and support. Small businesses are often called on to provide something they may not have on the shelf or in inventory, to meet their customer’s needs. The attention to detail, after-hours of service, and knowing who to call are all examples of why small business is the backbone of Lloydminster. 

Our community has two industries that work around the clock: agriculture and energy. The industry that serves our farmers has service staff going every hour of the day to keep our harvesters in the field and equipment working as best as possible. The energy industry does not sleep either, and when equipment and trucks are broken down, potential lost production and money play a huge role in what can or cannot get accomplished. The small businesses that provide critical spare parts initiate repairs and recondition the broken equipment, which are essential to the whole process.

Small businesses vary in size from a single owner and proprietorship and to those with active and silent partners, with some businesses being located as home-based to others who have multiple locations to serve their growing clients. Many small businesses join the local chamber of commerce. The chamber offers a number of services for business, group insurance and health benefits to being a source for small businesses regarding issues with municipal, provincial and federal government, be it policy or regulations.

Small Business Week gives us the opportunity to gather and celebrate the successes and growth of the past year. This year, the Chamber of Commerce Awards Event will be held on October 19 with a supper and awards presentation. Details about the event and tickets are available from the Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce website. 

Another event that follows is the Economic Development Breakfast being hosted by the city on November 2, 2023. This event offers the opportunity to hear about exciting opportunities and developments in the Lloydminster area.

To close, I ask that you please join me in celebrating Small Business Week, and I encourage everyone to support local whenever possible.

Mayor Gerald S. Aalbers
City of Lloydminster