The Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce will be focusing on helping local businesses get through the pandemic as they also adapt to some changes.
The chamber held their annual general meeting virtually on September 22nd. The meeting was originally scheduled to take place in March, but was postponed due to the pandemic.
The pandemic also had other effects on the chamber as newly sworn-in president Paul Melrose-Wyatt will be staying in the role for 18 months as opposed to the usual 12 months. Vice-president Jody Herbus was also sworn-in and he is expected to move in to the president role in 2022.
Outgoing president Corinne Kelly-Hyde says Melrose-Wyatt has been instrumental in advocating for better internet services in the community. Melrose-Wyatt has a background in IT and currently works for Bralin Technologies Solutions. She mentions one of their major successes of the year was the $13 million investment from Telus expanding their services in the region.
Tara Ferguson, Kevin Kraft, Mark Witzaney and Chris Ketchum resigned from the chamber board while Ashley Scott, Jody Herbus and Becky Schille joined.
Chamber members were given a look back at the 2019 finances and activities. Both revenues and expenditures increased from the previous year and the chamber came out with a net positive of $15,487.
Staff will continue working from home following the demolition of the Community Services Building. The chamber will begin considering a new office location in the new year.
Chamber staff are planning the Business Awards of Excellence, Economic Partnership Summit and Christmas Craft Fair and Chamber Expo for this year. The awards will be held in three restaurants across the city and will be livestreamed. The expo will be at the Lloydminster Agricultural Exhibition and will have following the Saskatchewan gathering limits. More details will be announced closer to the events.
The next AGM is scheduled for March 2021.