BONNYVILLE – During the Bonnyville and District Chamber of Commerce annual general meeting on Sept. 30, the organization outlined what it accomplished in 2019, welcomed a new president, and heard from Ken Kobly, president and CEO of the Alberta Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber president Robyn Ducharme outlined the "great successes" the organization accomplished in 2019.
“We hired a membership coordinator, we hosted the 2019 Oil and Gas Show, many workshops, events and speakers,” she detailed. “We donated over $11,600 to four local charities, partnered with so many different community members, hosted political forums during our provincial election, assisted with the development of policies surrounding red tape, minimum wage, and we advocated for the prosperity of the Alberta economy and pipelines through our partnership with the Alberta Chamber of Commerce.”
The chamber also hosted Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) for an information session. Ducharme, along with chamber executive director Serina Parsons, presented in front of the Senate on Bill C-69.
“We do consider 2019 to be a very successful year and we wouldn’t have been able to continue our community engagement and advocacy efforts if it wasn’t for you, our chamber members,” Ducharme stressed.
The Labour Market Partnership Grant allowed the local chamber to bring in guest speakers and to host a variety of different workshops for members to participate in.
As 2019 came to a close, no one could have predicted what 2020 had in store for us all.
“I remember everybody talking about ‘2020, a new decade, this is going to be awesome,’” recalled Ducharme. “That’s what we were talking about and the COVID-19 really did change the way that we all live, work, interact, and it’s affected our economy more than we ever could have imagined as well.”
The Bonnyville chamber joined other chambers from across the province to help influence policy to help everyone through the coronavirus crisis.
“The fact that we were here together was a testament to our dedication as a chamber and to our region,” Ducharme stated.
Parsons noted she was "honoured to have returned back to work during a time when the chamber has meant more than ever.”
“Advocacy is at the heart of what we do and its been vital over the last six months,” she continued.
A focus for the chamber was community events, such as the annual chili cook-off and the Business of the Year Awards (BOYAs), which Parsons noted weren’t as prominent as they normally are. The shutdown may have impacted some of the work, but lots has been going on in the background.
“While we haven’t seemed busy, we have been busy behind the scenes,” Parsons noted. “We’ve been busy reaching out to our members and advocating with our community groups behind the scenes for our community.”
Ducharme steps down as president
The meeting marked Ducharme’s last as chamber president, though she plans to remain on the board of directors.
Ducharme joined the chamber 10 years ago and she recalled that she didn’t have a goal when she did.
“I really just knew that I wanted to help and so I put my hand up and said ‘I’m willing to help.’”
It was during the planning of the Oil and Gas Show that Ducharme realized just how much the chamber relied on her and she wanted to ensure it could stand tall without her.
“I really realized that if I was going to lead the chamber in any way that I needed to create the ability for everybody and everything within the chamber to run if I was hit by a bus,” she said. “I really truly feel like this organization has this strong structure that it needs to continue on without me and I really feel that everybody here that I’ve spent so much time with over the last 10 years, I’ve watched everybody grow, learn, and take this organization and themselves to an amazing place,” she expressed. “I really do feel like this organization that I’m leaving it in a really good place for a lot of continued excellence and growth for decades to come.”
Parsons offered her appreciation to Ducharme and everything that she’s done for the chamber.
“I do want to thank you so much for the leadership that you have shown me over the last two year and the leadership that you have brought to the chamber. It has been invaluable and we really appreciate your insight, opinions, and you will be very missed.”
Lise Fielding will be stepping into the role as president.
