Thrifty Foods stores is currently running the Help out One Buck at a Time campaign; when customers in any of their stores by a four-pound bag of Buck Brand organic navel oranges, $1 is donated to 13 hospital foundations in Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland. The campaign began on February 13 and will continue until March 13. Thrifty Foods also holds similar fund raising campaigns such as their Pumpkins for Charity in October in which $1 from every pumpkin purchased at their stores is given to local hospital foundations.

The Children’s Swap Meet will be held at the North Delta Rec Centre on February 18 from 9 am-1 pm. Admission is free and refreshments will be available for sale.

The Delta Chamber of Commerce is presenting the seminar “Small business strategies for USA marketing” at the Coast Tsawwassen Inn on January 18, 2012 from 8-10:30 am. Registration fees are $30 for Chamber members and $40 for non-members.

The Hats off to Excellence gala of the Delta Chamber of Commerce was held on November 18 at the Coast Tsawwassen Inn. Six awards were handed out to Delta citizens and businesses who have exhibited excellence. Those in the running for the awards were nominated by the community.

Today, October 20, British Columbia will be conducting the first province-wide earthquake drill. The event, called the Great British Columbia ShakeOut will be observed in several municipalities in the province including Delta. The point of the ShakeOut is to teach residents how to protect themselves and their loved ones during an earthquake. We all witnessed the devastation of the Japanese earthquake and resulting tsunami several month ago and need to accept the reality that it could happen on the west coast of Canada just as easily. The key to survival is being prepared.

As many business people will attest, networking is one of the most important things a business owner can do to ensure the growth and success of his or her business. It is essential that a business owner attend at least one networking event each month where they can spread the word about the products and services they can provide. Local printing companies help with that goal; they will work with you to design and create important networking tools such as business cards and brochures.

The Delta Arts Council has been around since 1969, their mission is to "stimulate, develop, co-ordinate and promote all artistic and cultural activities" in the area. The Council covers visual, performing and literary arts. Printing companies can only gain from a population that is educated in the arts in terms of future employees and future customers.

The Tsawwassen Sun Festival will take place this weekend from July 30 – August 1. It is a popular annual festival in the South Delta area and it attracts thousands of visitors. Print companies in Delta have been busy providing printed schedules that are available at the Tsawwassen Legion and in area stores.