The Chamber Accreditation Council of Canada has bestowed accreditation status on the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce.
In its letter notifying the Yorkton Chamber that it has achieved accreditation, the Accreditation Council offered its congratulations and said, “You are part of a group of elite chambers of commerce in Canada that can verify to the business community locally and nationally that your organization is run in a strategic and professional way, and has reached the standard in Chamber excellence.”
Brent Murdock, President of the Yorkton Chamber is in agreement. “I have some experience as a Director with other Chambers of Commerce and I find the Yorkton Chamber to be one that follows a solid governance model, engages its Directors and members and is very pro-active in advocating for the business community”, he said. “Accreditation acknowledges the great work this Chamber has undertaken over the years.”
In order to achieve accreditation, the Chamber had to supply documentation that demonstrates the Chamber understands the importance of 3 pillar areas: Organization/Governance; Policy & Advocacy; and Membership Programs/Services. Juanita Polegi, Executive Director of the Chamber was pleasantly surprised at how many of the sub pillars were already in place. “Most of the requirements for accreditation are in the Chamber’s governance structure or standard operating procedure,” she said. “It was a matter of bringing together all the documentation and tweaking a few areas.” While preparing the information for the application took a great deal of time during the summer months, it has enabled the staff to bring together all the information the Chamber needs to carry forward. “If anything should happen to any of the staff, their successors need only to read through the “Accreditation Binder” and the information they require will be readily accessible”.
The Chamber’s accreditation is valid for 3 years (2018 – 2020). At that time, the application for re-accreditation can be submitted digitally.
The Yorkton Chamber of Commerce was incorporated in 1898. Its mission statement is “to promote and advance the interests and growth of members and businesses in Yorkton and District”. As the “voice of business in Yorkton”, the Chamber currently represents over 480 members.
