It may have taken place a little behind schedule, but the gavel has been passed to a new president pf the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce.
Pat Smith accepted the gavel from outgoing president Scott Campbell at the 106th-annual President's Banquet, held at the Tropical Inn Tuesday.
Normally the passing of the gavel is a tradition at the Chamber's annual meeting, but with neither Campbell nor Smith able to attend that meeting Jan. 24, that ceremony was deferred to the banquet instead.
The highlight of the banquet was the traditional swearing-in of the new president, with Jeff Baldwin administering the oath of office to Smith.
Also sworn in for 2012 were chamber vice-presidents Sharon Mohagen and Rory Anderson.
Smith, the general manager of Battlefords and District Co-operative, made clear in his acceptance speech he planned to continue the initiatives of the Chamber that were already in place.
Smith told the audience he would continue to carry forward a commercial tax assessment review that had been set out by his predecessor, Campbell.
"Why should a business be penalized for investing in its facilities through increased taxes?" asked Smith, who said investing in assets brings in business and enhances a community.
"Isn't this what we want? Isn't this what everybody wants - to create a climate to attract individuals who are thinking of locating a business here?"
In speaking to the Regional Optimist Smith said he looked forward to working with the Chamber and the membership over the coming year.
"It's not about just me - it's about the whole group, the business community working together in order to be successful building a successful community. That's what this is all about."
He sees an active year ahead, including building on the relationships developed with the City and continuing to find better ways to communicate to members "to get them engaged in the whole process and feeling more part of this community as a whole and more particularly the Chamber."
For his part, Campbell looks back on a "great year" as president of the Chamber.
"Saskatchewan's in an upswing so it's easy to look good in a year like this," said Campbell.
Campbell told the Regional Optimist he has every confidence in Smith as his successor as president.
"Pat is a great guy who runs a big organization, very well organized, very level-headed, and he'll do a great job. I'm comforted to know he'll be following me."
