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.
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’t make sense to charge membership dues to an organization doing the same work that a tax-funded committee is doing.
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.
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.
The Chamber executive was comprised of: Merriam, president; Cory O’Dell, vice-president; Shyla Yanoulis, secretary-treasurer; and directors Ken Lewchuk, Ernie Gazdewich, Jodie Kowalyshen and Jessica Kwas. Brandi Zavislak, the town’s community development officer, was a liaison member of the executive.
There were 23 paid members in the chamber this year and there were 38 the previous year.
“The two years were not wasted,” said Merriam. “We did do something for the business community.”
He pointed to a very successful trade show in June and a community-wide Christmas party before Christmas last year.
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’s funds, a little over $6,000, was handed over to the EDC with the intention that it be used for a town beautification project.
