Lethbridge

 

The coming Chamber year promises to bring many changes and challenges, but will also present us with many opportunities to make a difference in our community. Only a year ago, who would have dreamed that our federal and provincial Governments would both bring down deficit budgets? Or that we would be concerned about high unemployment, after just experiencing labor shortages? What a difference a year makes!

 

The Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce has a very important role to play as our community goes forward through these changing times. The Chamber’s role is to be the voice of the business community, and a strong voice it is. We represent over 750 businesses in the Lethbridge area. I wish to thank all Chamber members for this opportunity to serve as your President for the next year. I am really looking forward to the experience. I extend my thanks to our outgoing President, Dennis Hatt for his great leadership and the many hours of hard work during the past year. I look forward to continuing to work with Dennis in his role as Past President and I am sure his experience and sage advice will serve us well in the future. Joining me on the Executive Committee are:

 

 

Kimberley Finn, Bruce Thurston, and Randy Tremel have also been appointed to the Executive Committee as Executive Directors.

 

Here are some of the more important issues we will be dealing with in the coming year:

 

 

We all know that a sustainable water supply is crucially important for Southern Alberta. The old saying “Whisky is for drinking, and water is for fighting over” rings very true in Southern Alberta. A sustainable water supply is fundamental to our social well being and economic development. The Lethbridge Chamber feels that it is time for a national water management strategy. This will be the main issue we will be bringing to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce at our annual general meeting in October in Victoria, B.C.

 

2.       Electrical Transmission Line Capacity

 

Insufficient electrical transmission lines is a major limitation to the development of a renewable energy source, being wind power in Southern Alberta. Wind Power is a major emerging business opportunity in this area and will continue to be so this year. Our members are saying that many wind projects have been placed on hold until sufficient electrical transmission capacity is brought on stream. The Chamber, through its committees and with our partners, are working hard on this issue.

 

3.       A Federal Election?

Of course, no one knows for sure when this will happen, but we may well have a federal election in the next year. In this event, the Chamber will once again organize a forum to make sure the issues important to the Lethbridge business community are front and center.

 

4.       Annual Alberta Chambers of Commerce Provincial Conference To Be Held in Lethbridge in May 2010

 

The annual Alberta Chambers of Commerce Provincial Policy Conference will be held in Lethbridge in May of 2010. We have not hosted this conference since 1999. We will have representatives from all of the other local Chambers in Alberta coming to Lethbridge to participate in this conference. They will also be eager to visit our fair City and experience Lethbridge hospitality. The theme of the conference is “Winds of Change and Innovation.” We are hoping to showcase the wind power industry and other alternative energy options at this conference. Planning is well underway, and we are looking for many volunteers who would like to be involved to help with this conference. Please consider how you would like to participate in this and let us know.

 

The Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce has all kinds of opportunities for its members, and I would urge you to consider taking advantage of them. If you enjoy a chance to give input on policy issues, you may wish to join a committee such as the Agricultural/Industrial/Transportation Affairs Committee (AITA) or the Governmental Affairs Committee. If you enjoy more hands on involvement, getting involved in a project such as the F.I.R.E. Awards project through the Tourism Connection Committee may be of interest to you, or you could participant in a Mix and Mingle, or Lunch and Learn. I am sure you will find your Chamber involvement very rewarding, in whatever area you choose. 

 

If there are any issues you feel the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce should be involved in, please get in touch with me.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Paul G. Pharo, Q.C.

2009-2010 President

Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce