Community News

WHO IS ON THIS YEAR'S CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS?

JONATHAN MULVIHILL jmulvihill@ metroland. com

Carol-Ann Adams and Jordan Mathers will return as president and vice-president of the Renfrew and Area Chamber of Commerce this year.

The board nominations were announced during the Renfrew chamber's annual general meeting held on March 14.

Laurie Wichers-Shreur rounds out the executive committee as treasurer/secretary. Past directors returning this year are Donnie Russett, Julie Villamere, Karen Lunn, Melanie Clemmer,

Christina Ouellet, Doug Humphries and Mayor Tom Sidney (a former chamber president). New directors include Kelly Thompson, Ryan Parachoniak, Keith Gourley and Jeff Levesque.

Adams opened the meeting by reflecting on the past year.

"Memberships were maintained throughout the year with the addition of new members at different levels, which was nice to see," she said. "Our board of directors continued to meet each month, eventually moving back in person."

Adams adds the chamber continued to distribute rapid antigen tests to small businesses.

"The cost of labour to distribute was covered by funding from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce," she said. "Now the program has ended but we still have a good supply of kits."

Adams says other successes throughout the year include

partnering with the parks and recreation department for a community information and nutrition event in September and the return of an in-person celebration of the chamber awards.

"It was held in October during Small Business Week and the theme was 'fall celebra

tion'," she said. "We had approximately 90 people in attendance which was great, since this was the first full celebration since COVID."

In the coming year, Adams says there is much to look forward to.

"We will be moving the chamber office to town hall as part of the business hub as of late April or mid-May," she said.

Adams adds other events throughout the year include the annual Home Garden and Leisure Show on May 5 and 6 and the annual awards ceremony on Oct. 19 (also during Small Business Week).

"We are planning to host several mixers and other events to help grow our membership," she said. "We have a big drive this year to increase memberships. We will continue to promote through social media and reaching out to local businesses and showcasing the advantages of being a chamber member."

Mayor Sidney also congratulated longtime chamber members Karen and Steve Maxwell (formerly of Renfrew Home Hardware Building Centre) on their recent retirement.

The 2022 end-of-year financials and the 2023 budget were also adopted during the meeting.

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