Though the Canora Chamber of Commerce has been in existence for only a couple of years, it was time for the organization to dissolve, said Steve Merriam, the president, following a meeting on November 23.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In the discussion that led up to that decision, it was noted that the chamber has virtually the same mandate as the economic development commission (EDC), he said. It didn鈥檛 make sense to charge membership dues to an organization doing the same work that a tax-funded committee is doing.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The chamber did some great things for the business community, but there was too large a workload put on the shoulders of too few for it to continue, Merriam said.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 When the annual general meeting was held on November 4, a number of executive members indicated that they would be stepping down and no one else stepped up to take the reigns, he said.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Chamber executive was comprised of: Merriam, president; Cory O鈥橠ell, vice-president; Shyla Yanoulis, secretary-treasurer; and directors Ken Lewchuk, Ernie Gazdewich, Jodie Kowalyshen and Jessica Kwas. Brandi Zavislak, the town鈥檚 community development officer, was a liaison member of the executive.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 There were 23 paid members in the chamber this year and there were 38 the previous year.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he two years were not wasted,鈥� said Merriam. 鈥淲e did do something for the business community.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 He pointed to a very successful trade show in June and a community-wide Christmas party before Christmas last year.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In dissolving the organization, it was decided to create two $500 scholarships for Canora Composite School students going into a career in business, Merriam said. The balance of the chamber鈥檚 funds, a little over $6,000, was handed over to the EDC with the intention that it be used for a town beautification project.
