Reading Time: 2 Minutes
NANAIMO – Your Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce plays the role of the voice of business in the Nanaimo region and acts as an advocate to all three levels of government. We lobby for opportunities for success in our changing and challenging economy. We seek your support to keep doing it. Here’s what been going on…
In 2015, we grew the number of special events profiling Chamber members and highlighting business sectors. Our FEASTIVAL event last September is a good example of this – in this case food and beverage or, as we called it ‘culinary culture’. Our new partnership with the BC Restaurant and Food Services Association (BCRFA) and our development of Nanaimo’s first ‘Dine About’ event in February and March 2016 is another example.
In addition to the partnership started with the BCRFA, we also created a unique marketing and strategic partnership with the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Association. They are Canada’s largest trade and industry association. We will represent CME regionally organizing networking and professional development events for manufacturers and exporters.
As I write this, we are finalizing plans to partner with ‘Smart Living’ who create mobile apps for communities around the province and are finalizing one for Nanaimo. Our Smart Living Nanaimo app will be a free download, and will feature events, activities, restaurant specials, retail offers, a directory of Nanaimo Chamber members, the member-to-member discount program and other special offers. Smart Living Nanaimo will include opportunities for advertising and sponsorship and draws attention to a focus of ours going into 2016, a return to one of any Chamber’s basic values – promoting local thinking, local foods, local buying. Watch for our campaign to roll out mid-year.
We’ll continue to offer our Spark Sessions in the New Year. These pro-d sessions connect Chamber members who are experts in their field with members looking to enhance their skill sets and source new contacts for business. It’s a great interchange of ideas and connections. Lightning Talks isn’t going away either, we’re moving its focus to our amazing community of international MBA students where it receives rave reviews.
On the social scene, Business Before and After Business carries on with diverse hosts lining up for the year. Monthly Luncheons will continue to attract 125 plus business friends each time with an increasingly interesting roster of Keynote Speakers — TBA soon for the coming year.
The fact we do walk-the-walk in our ‘Better Community through Better Business’ brand statement will be clearly seen in the actions of our Education Committee; our support of indigenous initiatives like Aboriginal Business Match in February, Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre, and relationship building with SFN; our participation in the Anti-Poverty Coalition; and our involvement in multiculturalism issues like immigrant investor programs and the soon-to-be-seen arrival of Syrian refugees. We see opportunities and, where significant challenges arise, we have the strength of our members to overcome them.
That strength is seen in our numbers. By being part of the Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce, your collaborative investment helps positively reinforce Nanaimo’s image as an evolving, progressive, productive and prosperous business community. Welcome to 2016 and beyond!
– Kim Smythe is CEO of the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce. He can be reached at ceo@nanaimochamber.bc.ca.
