by Tom Thomson
The Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce hosted it Annual General Meeting and election of directors last month.
A cross section of the business community attended the event as the Chamber reviewed its business support activities from 2023 and outlined some of the activities expected through 2024.
President Karen Bennett spoke of the activities the board and staff have been working on.
Our membership is our strength, providing us with the resources and collective voice to make an impact not just in Nelson and area but at the provincial and federal level.
By investing in your Chamber membership, you’re not just investing in your business’s future, but in the future of our entire community.
The business community is certainly concerned about a provincial trend in street homelessness and illicit drug use in public places. It is not an issue that is easily solved. These are not just social issues; they’re business issues, too. They affect our community’s safety, our businesses’ front doors, and ultimately, our bottom line. We’ve taken these concerns to heart, advocating for not just band-aid solutions, but sustainable strategies that address the root causes of these problems.
Our approach has been two-pronged: advocating for increased support and resources at the provincial levels and partnering with local organizations to implement community-based initiatives. We believe in tackling these issues head-on, by being a part of community discussions and advocacy efforts with the provincial and federal government.
Advocacy for business is a key pillar of the Chamber of Commerce.
In our quest to support and champion the interests of our members and all businesses we’ve ramped up our consultations with various industry sectors within our community. From retail to hospitality, manufacturing to technology, we’re listening to your needs, challenges, and aspirations.
These consultations have been invaluable. They’ve helped us tailor our initiatives, advocacy efforts, and programs to better serve business. We’re committed to continuing these dialogues, ensuring every voice is heard, and every sector is represented.
Let’s remember that our strength lies in our unity and our shared commitment to our community’s prosperity. Let’s continue to support each other, advocate for meaningful change, and drive forward with the same spirit that has always defined us.
The following individuals were elected to two-year terms on the Chamber board:
Chris Drysdale, Cloudside Hotel
Rebeckah Hornung, Whitewater Resort
Bob Hall, Selkirk College
Rob Little, Adventure Hotel
Roger Quayle, CIBC
The board also welcomes Matt Hanlon of Kays Contracting and Trent Zoobkoff of SMT Lawyers.
Treasurer Paul Cowan reported out on the 2023 financial review and noted that the Chamber continues to demonstrate fiscal responsibility and stability, despite the challenges everyone faces with rising expenses from all sides and inflationary challenges. These challenges impacted all businesses and non-profits, the Chamber of Commerce included.
The Chamber management, staff and board of directors continued to manage revenues, investments, and operating expenses to the best of our abilities and by doing so, were able to provide ongoing benefits to our membership and to Greater Nelson Area businesses.
We thank long-time Nelson and area business people and valuable Chamber directors Michael Borch of Baker Street Menswear and Ed Olthof of Pacific West Builders whose terms expired. Both were past presidents and valuable members of the executive committee and board.
As a business-focused organization, the Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce advocates for policies that will reduce the cost of doing business in our province. For our provincial economy to grow and thrive, businesses must be profitable. Why? Businesses are job-creating machines that employ people in our communities and contribute to the provincial tax base that pays for the services we all depend on.
The Chamber looks forward to another great year, with some exciting learning opportunities and special projects designed with our member business community in mind.
Thanks to everyone, for your commitment to the Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce. Here’s to a year of growth, success, and community.
Tom Thomson is executive director for the Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce.