Calgary Chamber of Commerce

In November 2008, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the UK multinational pharmaceutical company approached the Calgary Chamber of Commerce with financial assistance to develop a pandemic planning toolkit for local businesses.  Recognizing the need for subject matter experts, the Chamber contacted Global Consulting to develop the necessary content and tools for the toolkit.

Following this initial contact, Global’s President, Dr. Allan Holmes, delivered a presentation to the Chamber of Commerce on the pandemic threat from the avian influenza H5N1 virus, the existing potential for a pandemic outbreak, and the projected social, psychological, and economical impacts that a severe influenza pandemic is expected to have.  The presentation brought the Chamber up to speed on the pandemic context and the potential benefits of the planning toolkit.  More importantly, this engagement helped Chamber members understand what they needed to do in order to be prepared.

Within several weeks, the first edition of the Pandemic Planning Toolkit for Businesses was published out of the collaborative efforts of Global Consulting, GSK, and the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.  The toolkit was then posted to the Chamber’s website for the Canadian business community to download and use.   

In early 2009, Global approached the Chamber with an offer to update the toolkit and was asked to begin development of the second edition.  The timing of the update was opportune as the emergence of the H1N1 (swine flu) virus was garnering substantial media attention and resulted in various questions from the business community.  Global included information about the novel H1N1 virus, such as definitions and an analysis insert from the World Health Organization (WHO), in the second edition of the toolkit.

Completed in May 2009, the latest version of the Pandemic Planning Toolkit for Businesses has since been distributed to Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade across Canada.  Copies are also available for downloading on the web sites of both Global Consulting and the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.