The Cranbrook & District Chamber of Commerce leads the way provincially

The Cranbrook & District Chamber of Commerce wins the Chamber of the Year Award

Chamber manager Karin Penner and chamber member Connor Stewart discuss all the exciting news going on at the Cranbrook & District Chamber of Commerce. — Dan Williams photo

Many, many good things are happening at the Cranbrook & District Chamber of Commerce (CDCC).

Membership is growing, the chamber brand has been refreshed, there is a new website, committees are meeting, initiatives are being formulated and rolled out, education is taking a bigger role and there is a busy buzz of activity.

A crown with many jewels

The crowning achievement over the last year for the CDCC was winning the 2011 award for Chamber of the Year in the province of British Columbia. And there are quite a few jewels in that crown.

2010 saw the 100th anniversary of the chamber; to celebrate, it was able to burn the mortgage on the building that houses the organization.

The CDCC is growing and now boasts over 450 members on its membership roster, and these members come from different sectors of the business community. Several committees have been struck, with new and fresh ideas coming forth for keeping people, dollars and tourists in the community.

Strong advocacy and fresh initiatives

The retail committee has been taking a very close look at where and why consumers open their wallets, leading the way towards initiating and educating the market with the 10 Per Cent Shift philosophy. A tourism committee has just completed a draft of a tourism business plan. 

The chamber has also undergone a rebranding that now is directly linked to the City of Cranbrook’s Mountains of Opportunity slogan, which features the silhouette of an eagle. The chamber has adapted the eagle icon and incorporated it into its new website and all stationery, creating a uniform look and brand in partnership with the City.

Advocacy is a big part of the chamber’s role. Chambers throughout the province put forth yearly policies that are passed on to provincial governmental ministries. Travel on local highways, support of regional industry, and price discrepancies are among the types of policies put forward. Last year, Cranbrook had two policies accepted, as drafted by Connor Stewart, a chamber member and its past president.

“Connor is commended for his vision,” said Karin Penner, manager of the CDCC.

A very public and new initiative is Black Friday in Cranbrook. The idea was borrowed directly from the American retail holiday kickoff of the same name, and although it is a first time, there are high expectations for both retailers and consumers.

A passion for people and business

There is no doubt that the CDCC is undergoing both a proactive reinvestment in the community and laying the foundation for local initiatives that are being watched and examined by other chamber offices in the province.

Although the next strategy session for the new fiscal year doesn’t take place until early 2012, there is enthusiasm and cautious optimism going forward.

“I love my job because I work with a group of people who really have made a difference to the community,” said Penner, who has been the chamber manager for more than 20 years.

Stewart said he had planned on staying in Cranbrook for only a year, but it has turned out to be a few more. Stewart realized he had come to embrace the community and decided to get involved in a meaningful way.

“I like what the community is giving to me, so I wanted to find a way to give back,” he said.