Hub Staff

It was a St. Patrick's Day themed evening at the Saugeen Shores Chamber of Commerce's Business After Hours (BAH) this month as the event, hosted by Miller insurance Brokers at their Southampton location, fell on March 17.

The event, which offers networking opportunities in a relaxed atmosphere, takes place at various chamber member locations throughout Saugeen Shores, with food, drink and door prizes.

Mark Rosner of Miller Insurance thanked everyone for attending the event, including Little Black Dog Creative Catering and Chef Services, a new business to Saugeen Shores who provided guests with tasty Irish themed appetizers.

Rosner then announced Miller Express. Complimentary to Miller Insurance services, Miller Express will be released next month and will allow clients immediate access to their policies on their desktop or mobile device. “It will allow you to manage your policy from your car, from your mobile phone. It's going to be a great product,” he said, adding that they are one of the first brokers in Ontario to offer the service.

Rosner also introduced Al Leach, Vice President of the Saugeen Valley Children's Safety Village, who was Miller Insurance's charity of choice for the evening. Over $300 was raised for the charity at the BAH event.

Leach explained that a miniature village on about three acres will be located south of Hanover at Sulphur Springs Conservation Area, designed to create a hands on safety training facility for children in the area of Bruce, Grey, North Huron, Perth and Wellington counties.

“We're going to have fire and police and EMS actually teaching safety programs,” he said, adding, “fire, bike, water, farm, road, internet safety” were among the topics to be covered. “The kids actually come by bus and we'll have this miniature town,” said Leach.

Some of the buildings will be interactive and some will be just facade. “We'll create a small village or town that kids can relate to. We want things that they're familiar with.”

The organization has been raising money to start the project for five or six years, raising $800,000 so far, and have just started work on the main building of the village. Leach said they hope to be offering programs by this Fall.

The Hanover based facility will be one of 12 in Ontario with the next nearest being in Waterloo.

Master of Ceremonies for the evening, Ann Veyvara-Divinski made mention of the Business Enterprise Centre's Bridges to Better Business event, The X-Factor, on March 24; the Saugeen Bluffs Maple Syrup Festival on April 2 and 3 and she also reminded businesses that nominations for The BRASS Awards close on March 31. You can nominate a local business by visiting the BRASS Awards nominations page.

Four new members to the Chamber of Commerce were announced: Great Lakes Dome Company, The Monkey Barrel, The Southampton Guest House and the new owners of the Colonial Motel.

Next month's Business After Hours event will be hosted by The Pea Pod in Southampton.