Submitted by the Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce
The Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce elected its new board via Zoom last week.
Re-elected to two-year terms were Michael Borch (Baker Street Menswear), Bob Hall (Selkirk College) and Rebeckah Hornung (Whitewater Resort).
New board members are Darren Davidson (Davidson Communications and Media), Chris Drysdale (Cloudside Hotel) and Sean Dooley (Hipperson’s Hardware).
Chamber president Tanya Finley spoke about the devastating impact of COVID-19 on many sectors of the community and the challenges that remain ahead.
She said the chamber will continue to work on behalf of the business community in the coming months to advocate for the assistance required to ensure businesses remain strong and viable within our region.
Treasurer Ed Olhtof noted the chamber board and staff continues to adapt and manage revenues, investments and expenses in order to provide ongoing benefits to our membership and to Nelson-area businesses.
Chamber executive director Tom Thomson said the chamber also plays a vital advocacy role for business through municipal and regional governments, and have been working closely with partners at the Canadian Chamber and BC Chamber.
“This year has been especially important in advocating directly to the premier, finance minister and Minister Michelle Mungall in developing support programs for business during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
The chamber worked in collaboration with the City of Nelson business outreach team and contacted all businesses with a license in the city to hear first-hand about their struggles.
Thomson also applauded the City of Nelson and the work council and staff did in developing a 25-point economic stimulus plan to assist in the COVID financial stress for local business. The city plan was also a point of Mayor John Dooley’s address to the chamber membership during the meeting.