Richard Froese
Businesses are a vital part of any community. They create employment and economic stability and can attract new people to the community.
For decades, many communities have had a chamber of commerce. Some call it a board of trade.
As the Christmas season starts and people start to shop for gifts, many chambers of commerce host special events and promotions to highlight local businesses.
A chamber of commerce is the voice for businesses and an organization that promotes and supports local businesses while providing a link between business and government.
The mission statement of the Peace River and District Chamber of Commerce states the role of a chamber very well.
“Through promotion and advocacy for business, we contribute to the success and prosperity of our community and region.”
May that be the inspiration to chambers of commerce who struggle!
In small communities and in rural regions, chambers of commerce can often struggle. After not being officially active since March 2020, when the COVID pandemic began, the High Prairie and Area Chamber of Commerce could be back in business in the coming months. Plans are being made to revive the chamber and several interested business people have been meeting regularly to get the plans progressing.
Those people obviously value the chamber and working together as a chamber of commerce. A chamber – and any other organization, business or team – is only as strong as its members. If only a few people do all of the work, they soon burn out and the organization gradually loses its energy.
Strong positive leadership and teamwork is the foundation of any organization.
A chamber also needs to engage citizens in ways to build business and the community.
As a reporter for the Smoky River Express based in Falher, I served as the president of the Falher and Area Chamber of Commerce for two years, around 2005. Chamber leadership knew that many people were shopping outside the local region. So, the chamber conducted a survey to compile concerns and suggestions from residents to find out what led people to leave the region for business and what could be done to stop the “leakage”.
From what I recall, the survey didn’t get further than a report of results.
Chambers of commerce are often committed partners in many community events. One of my goals was to merge the Falher chamber and the McLennan and District Chamber of Commerce. Combining two organizations with the similar mandates in one region is stronger that two separate organizations.
After I left Falher in 2008, talks of merging were revived years later. The two amalgamated when the Smoky River Chamber of Commerce was formed on April 6, 2022.
Many small businesses have struggled since 2020. Challenges have been added with inflation, increasing prices and people shopping out of town at big-box stores in larger communities.
A chamber of commerce in a small community is an ideal way for businesses to work together to support each other during difficult times and discuss solutions.
It is also a perfect time for the High Prairie chamber to revive as the Town of High Prairie and Big Lakes County partner to launch steps to create a regional economic development strategic plan in early 2026.