Yesterday, we featured arts and music events happening around the City of Cambridge. Today will be featuring even more events, this time having to do with business and economics.

Here are some seminars happening around town.

New Importer Seminar

Admission: Free

Happening on the 26^th of January, this seminar will offer a look into the import process. Speakers will cover topics like the import process, trade programs, determining work, and government departments involved in importing. The seminar, presented by the Canada Border Service Agency, will take place from 1 to 4 in the afternoon.

Everything You Need to Know About Websites

Admission: $25

The seminar will hold a comprehensive lecture on web hosting, web design, S.E.O., content management, and more topics regarding the internet. The seminar also includes a step-by-step guide on how to set-up your own online business, and improving your presence on the internet.

Income Tax for the Small Business Owner

Admission: $25

This seminar presents a detailed look into Canada’s income tax system. Those in attendance will learn the ins and outs of tax deductions on the different types of businesses, as well as how to claim those deductions.

Register now while you can! Seats are limited so grab the opportunity to do so now.

A few posts back we featured a number of events you can check out in the City of Cambridge. If you’re looking for even more activities this month, then you’re in luck, as we’re listing down even more events and happenings scattered across town on different dates. This time though, we’ll be focusing on music and the arts.

Arts and Culture
Having its last day on January 3 is Young Romance, an exhibit hosted by Cambridge Galleries Queen’s Square. Cambridge Galleries, this time its Preston arm, will also be hosting another exhibit, titled “Steve Mazza: Unnatural Selection”, which takes place until the 10th of January. And lastly, Cambridge Galleries, Design at Riverside will be having another exhibition titled “Snow, Rain, Light, Wind: Weathering Architecture”, which is having its final run today.

Cambridge Galleries are a part of the city’s public library system that hosts 23 exhibitions each year.

Music
Cambridge’s Blackshop Restaurant will be having a Jazz Trio to entertain guests tonight. Singer Jann Arden will be performing at Centre in the Square – which is a just a few minutes away from Cambridge. The concert will take place on the 24th of January, at 8 in the evening. Colin James will also be performing at the same venue on the 25th.

So there you have it. Like we always say, don’t forget to mark your calendars!

If you’re looking to start the New Year on a fun note, here are some events in the City of Cambridge you can check out. Mind you, there’s quite a number of them, so when in doubt, just check them all out!

January 2

Swim for a cause at the W.G. Johnson Centre’s Polar Bear Swim happening tomorrow from 1:30 to 2:30 in the afternoon only. You can also head to the Fire Hall Museum, which is open from 9:30 in the morning to 12:30 in the afternoon. The best part? Everyone gets in for free.

January 3

Head to Cambridge’s rare administration centre for Family Day at Rare; with activities the whole family will surely enjoy. Play on the snow or get busy inside the center for arts and crafts. Hot drinks and snacks will be served. The Galt Legion will also be having their Euchre on the same day at 1 in the afternoon.

January 4

The rare administration centre will be holding the Cape Farewell: The Arctic Comes to rare, which offers an in-depth look into climate change and the problem of human activity exacerbating the situation.

Of course, there’s more where that came from. Log-on to the city’s official website at www.cambridge.ca for details and additional information.

In spite of the December-chill brought about by the winter season, hundreds of people still flocked to the Cambridge City Hall grounds last Sunday to witness the passage of the Olympic torch through the city.

The City Hall’s Civic Square was the center of activity, as numerous groups and organizations set up entertainment and sports booths for the kids and young at heart. Food stands were also made available, with crowds gathering to sip hot chocolate to fight off the bitter cold. While waiting for the arrival of the torch, spectators marveled at the performances put up by form Olympian trampolinists.

And as the torch finally made its appearance, spectators quickly rushed to Dickson Street in hopes of catch a glimpse of the Olympic flame. Those at the front were not disappointed as they waved and screamed at the torchbearers.

Cambridge was one of the lucky cities chosen to host the passing of the Olympic Torch for the 2010 Winter Olympics to be held at Vancouver, British Columbia, on February 12 to 18. The event is part of the cross-country route that was announced before the fourth quarter of 2009. The 2010 Winter Olympics is expected to draw in thousands of people to the coastal city.

Local ballet dancers will be excited to know that world-renowned male dancer, Frank Augustyn, is dropping by the Cambridge Centre for the Arts to present dancers the chance to improve their skills and talents.

The Canadian dancer will be holding a workshop dubbed “Augustyn and Artists”, a ballet program that offers an informative seminar on the theatrical art, as well as the opportunity to perform with former major dancers from the National Ballet of Canada.

Augustyn’s workshop is already generating buzz among the city’s local crop of ballet dancers, with many eager to register for the program. Augustyn and Artists is set to take place on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, of January next year. Registration is now going on.

The workshop, which is being put together by Carolyn Zettel-Augustyn and Michele Hopkins (a local dance insctructor in Cambridge), will also feature accomplished and world-famous performers from across the country, among them international choreographer Peter Quanz – a man who’s done amazing work with National Ballet of Canada, and Trish Armstrong – a former dancer from the Danny Grossman Company.

And to make sure everyone has a great time without hurting themselves, a physiotherapist has been called on to be present during the activities.

While many folks are currently busy celebrating the holidays, the Canadian Blood Services office in Cambridge is asking residents to try and donate blood to save lives before 2009 ends.

The organization is holding a blood-drive cleverly called “One More Time In 2009”, with the aim of drawing in regular and new donors to give blood before ushering in the beginning of the New Year.

Curious on how to help? All you have to do is to book an appointment, and end the year with the knowledge that your blood is directly going to affect—even save—the lives of up to 3 people with just one donation.

And if you haven’t donated blood before, now is the perfect time to do so. “Newbies” are encouraged to head to clinics in Cambridge on the 30th of December.

Still need convincing? Here’s a heads-up. Statistics show that more than half of Canadians in the country have needed blood at some point in their lives. If you have a rare blood type, your donation will go a long way in saving the lives of those in need.

Donate blood and make it a part of your holiday gift plans. Head to your nearest donation center or clinic to help.

“Successful” would be an understatement in describing how Cambridge’s Unsilent Night went a few days ago on December 21.

Organizers of the event were overwhelmed at the turnout, which definitely trumped last year’s crowd.

According to Cambridge’s recreation coordinator, Colleen Lichti, over 1400 people from Cambridge and outside the city came to watch the lights festival

In 2008, over 800 spectators flocked to the streets to watch the show and join the festivities, making this year’s turnout a significant step—or leap—forward.

Lichti adds that Unsilent Night is such a great event because of the fact that the show is always different each year. People who come to witness the lights spectacle over and over again are guaranteed to see something new and unique each time.

This year, the event had a new route as well as the cooperation and help of more companies and organizations in the region. The procession kicked off at Cambridge’s civic square, then through Dickson Street, and towards the Living Levee via Water Street.

If you missed this year’s event, don’t worry. Unsilent Night is once again slated to take place in Cambridge next year, and Lichti promises to make the show event more special, with more surprises and more help from sponsors.

Festivities in the city of Cambridge are set to peak tonight, as it holds the second Unsilent Night.

Cambridge is one of the lucky cities in Canada that plays host to Phil Kline’s Unsilent Night, a spectacle which brought together friends and family last year. With amazing music, cutting edge technology and stunning architecture, last year’s Unsilent Night was undeniably a success.

Since its small beginnings almost 2 decades ago (1993 to be exact), Unsilent Night has evolved to a yearly attraction held all over the world, inviting families to the streets to witness the amazing lights display. In many cities, Unsilent Night has become the most anticipated holiday event.

Last year in Cambridge, close to 800 people came out to watch the spectacle. This year, the city expects that number to grow, and they’ve decided to add their own twist to the event by borrowing four huge Christie Digital projectors. Students from the University of Waterloo are also pitching in and have lately been busy creating light sculptures that are set to be placed strategically along the route.

The best part? Unsilent Night is an event that’s open to all. The show starts today at the Cambridge City Hall at 7 in the evening. For details and information one the route and Unsilent Night, log-on to www.christmasincambridge.ca.

The City of Cambridge’s Toys for Tickets program is all good to go and ready to make Christmas better for the needy families scattered across the city.

And Cambridge’s citizens definitely stepped up to the plate by making donations, with city firefighters amassing more than $3,000 worth of new toys from under the City Hall’s giant Christmas tree located at the atrium on Wednesday.

The massive collection of toys was then sent to Cambridge Firefighters’ Basket Fund campaign, which wrapped up a couple of days ago.

Toy’s for Tickets is a toy-raising campaign that gives people with parking tickets the chance to donate a toy to charity, instead of paying a fee.

According to the city’s manager of parking operations Dave Maidment, everyone who took part in the program was more than happy to do so. In fact, some folks from other municipalities were asking if they could pay their parking tickets here in Cambridge!

All in all, approximately 289 toys were amassed via the campaign. These toys are estimated to be equivalent to 210 tickets. Furthermore, the program received toys from non ticket holders – individuals who simply wanted to help out.

Looks like Christmas might be special this year for Cambridge’s less fortunate after all.

The Holidays may be a time to rest for some, but others see the end of the year as the best time to make preparations for the next.

Even though it’s still 2 months away, the local area’s Rotary Club of Cambridge Sunrise is already making preparations for the yearly Sunrise Bonanza Draw, which is set to take place on February 13, 2010.

Organizers are encouraging folks to take part in the raffle, and should they choose to sign up, fabulous prizes await them. Among the items to be raffled away is a fancy 14K Gold 2CT diamond tennis bracelet, an Acer Net Book, a Honda snow blower, a Home Depot home improvement package and gift certificates from The Blackshop & 20 different Hobson Street restaurants.

Tickets are priced at $5 each, three for $10 or eight for $20. Talk about a bargain! So what are you waiting for? Score your tickets while it’s still early!

The raffle draw is slated to take place together with the rotary organization’s big event titled Midwinter’s Night Gala, which is happening on the 13th of February, at exactly 11 in the evening, at the Cambridge Holiday Inn.

For more details and information on the raffle and draw date, log on to www.cambridgesunriserotary.com.