(Medicine Hat) The Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce hosted their 2023 Annual General Meeting (AGM), President’s Reception and Membership Appreciation on November 30^th, with the year's theme being ‘Take the Time to Reflect.’

‘The world is changing so much, so quickly, that we need to take the time to reflect on where we’ve been, where we’re at, and where we’re going in order to achieve the best ultimate outcomes for our members,’ stated Executive Director, Lisa Dressler.

Newly elected Chamber of Commerce Board President, Steve Heid, commented, ‘We know that the organizations that bring the most value to their members regularly reflect on the way they operate, with the intention of bettering the product and process based on what they are seeing and I’m optimistic and enthusiastic about what we are going to see coming from the Chamber over the next year.’

One of the major highlights of the 2023-2024 AGM was the approval of the Petition for a Change of Boundaries. With the dissolution of the Brooks & District Chamber of Commerce, the Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce has been invited to expand its service region. Following this resolution, the Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce will proceed with a filing under Section 4 of the Boards of Trade Act to the Federal Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development to broaden its boundaries to serve the Brooks and Newell County region, in addition to its existing service area of Medicine Hat, Cypress County, and Redcliff.

Following the change of boundaries vote, the members voted in favour of a Petition for a Name Change for the District Area. This will result in the Chamber proceeding with a filing under Section 39 of the Boards of Trade Act to change the name of the Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce. The new name proposed for submission to Corporations Canada is the Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce.

‘I couldn’t be more excited to be the Board President during such a groundbreaking time for our Chamber. We are looking forward to ensuring that the businesses in our expanded boundary are supported with as much care and attention as those in the Medicine Hat region,’ commented Board President, Steve Heid.

‘We know that all businesses in the Southeast Alberta region have different needs, but there are also many similarities amongst our regional businesses. Our team is taking the increased responsibility seriously, and we are going to continue to listen, adapt and respond to our member’s needs. We are looking forward to this transition, continuing to do everything we can to help our members,’ remarked Executive Director Lisa Dressler.

Additional highlights noted included the addition of 80 new members, over 150 vendors with more than 8,000 attendees to the 2023 Home & Leisure Tradeshow, 67 member exclusive deals, in addition to several policy successes. Specifically, the local policy Creating a Strong and Diverse Local Economy was renewed in the 2022-2023 fiscal year. Additionally, the Chamber sponsored a number of provincial policies including:

• Addressing the Truck Driver Shortage Through a Redesign of Class 1 Driver Training
• Ensuring the Reclamation of Renewable Energy Projects
• Striking a Balance Between a Healthy Economy and Low Carbon Emissions
• Extension of Hours at the Port of Wild Horse
• Grown-in-Canada Label: Marketing Alberta’s Agri-Food Industry
• Highlighting the Importance of Ag Education
• Investment Attraction for Industrial Zones
• Predictable, Fair, and Transparent Market Value Assessments
• Benefits of Twinning Highway 3
• Modernization of Alberta Registries

Federally our work this past year included policies on such issues as:

• Improving Risk Management for Agriculture Producers
• Promoting Canada’s Agriculture Industry

‘Over the next year, we will continue our reflection but we’re excited to start implementing some of the things we’ve heard from our members,’ said Heid, ‘Being aligned with the largest and most influential business organizations in Alberta and Canada respectively, the Chamber can work together to shape policy that will make a difference to businesses in our region.

The Chamber of Commercial Annual Report can be viewed online: https://www.medicinehatchamber.com/publications/

The resolution for the change of boundaries can also be viewed online.

Please direct all media inquiries to:
Steve Heid
2023-2024 Board of Directors President
(403) 527-5214 ext. 227
industry@medicinehatchamber.com

The Chamber of Commerce is a member-driven, volunteer-led organization, proudly representing the interests of businesses in our region, and working diligently to stimulate a strengthened and vibrant economy through our connections, support and influence. For more than 120 years, the Chamber has stood for promoting business, monitoring government and championing managed growth in the local economy. The Chamber represents over 800 businesses in our region and is aligned with both the Alberta Chambers of Commerce (ACC), which represents over 24,000 businesses, and the Canadian Chambers of Commerce (CCC), which represents over 200,000 businesses. With the largest and most influential business organizations locally, provincially, and federally, the Chamber network is the most unified, valued and influential business network in Canada and works together to shape policy and programs that will make a difference to businesses in our region.