Thursday, March 25, 2021
VOLUME 3 I ISSUE 39
MERIDIANSOURCE.CA
Chamber starts ‘business-led’ recovery GEOFF LEE
WRITER
.................................. It will still be business as unusual for the Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce as it begins another year of operations during COVID-19. The Chamber held its annual general meeting via Zoom on Tuesday, a year after the pandemic postponed the 2020 meeting to a fall virtual AGM. “I want to compliment the Chamber of Commerce on how they’ve pivoted this past year so well,” said Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers in his opening remarks. Aalbers cites the live streaming of the Chamber’s Business Excellence Awards, held at three different restaurants last fall, as an example of pivoting for the moment. “This was not a normal year to say the least,” added Chamber president Paul MelroseWyatt. “The COVID-19 pandemic has made this year especially challenging for everyone.
We are very proud of the work the Chamber of Commerce network has done for businesses across Canada.”
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The COVID-19 pandemic has made this year especially challenging for everyone. We are very proud of the work the Chamber of Commerce network has done for businesses across Canada.
He says locally, the Chamber has been busy advocating on bi-provincial issues, trying to ensure new COVIDrelated government programs meet the business needs of the Border City. Melrose-Wyatt said they are pleased the Government of Saskatchewan has allowed for its tourism and events grant to be eligible for all of Lloydminster.
However, it was noted Alberta’s Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant is only available for Alberta businesses in the city. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce, headed by Perrin Beatty, has been advocating for financial supports for business including wage and rent subsidies during the pandemic. “We know that businesses across Canada have been struggling amid this global pandemic,” said Beatty in a prepared video presentation for the AGM. “As the first quarter of 2020 nears an end, Canada still faces powerful headwinds.” He says COVID19 numbers are fluctuating, restrictions on our activities remain, a third wave is threatening and many small businesses have exhausted their resources. “Our job is to develop the business plan to conquer COVID-19,” said Beatty. He says the COVID-
1 9 R e cove r y Le ad e r ship Council of business leaders will help develop practical solutions to reduce and eliminate COVID-19 from Canada. Beatty says it will pave the way for a business-led economic recovery, noting the Lloydminster Chamber is already doing that by reviving the Think Lloyd First campaign. He says 12 partner organizations have joined in the movement and the community is embracing the shoplocal message this campaign brings. Beatty also says we won’t go back to the ways things were. “As an example, Canada has adopted nearly a decade’s worth of digital transformation in less than a year, drastically changing the way businesses work and react with their customers,” he said. Serena Sjodin, executive director of the Lloydminster Chamber, alerted members to an upcoming federal shop-local program
Chamber president Paul Melrose-Wyatt. Photo courtesy of Nicole Noyce Photography funded through provincial Chambers. “More information will be available on this program on April 1,” said Sjodin following her report on activities since the fall AGM. Looking ahead, she says they hope to hold their golf tournament in May or June while also resuming the search for a new office and hosting normal business awards and Christmas Craft Fair this fall. Melrose-Wyatt also voiced hope for a loosening of regulations as the vaccine rollout gains traction.
“The challenges ahead of us will be, what does recovery look like and how do we ensure our economy in Lloydminster is made a priority?” he said. The AGM also announced MelroseWyatt and vice-president Jody Herbus will extend their terms for another 12 months, joined by newly added second vice-president Blaine Stephan. Business leaders Jon Rokochy and Ma r i a K o k o na s w e r e appointed to the board bringing the membership to 12.