SWCC hosts fireside chat

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Strathmore Wheatland Chamber of Commerce (SWCC) hosted an event which they referred to as a Fireside Chat at the Strathmore Civic Centre, May 14. 

Regarded as an evening of connection, conversation and collaboration, members of the chamber, as well as unaffiliated local business owners were invited to participate and provide input on the future of the chamber. 

“The chamber is looking to steer the organization in a new direction. It is public knowledge now that we did not sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Town of Strathmore for the events we host every year, because we really want to hone in and focus on our business advocacy in regards to just becoming an event planning company,” said Cody Holdaway, board secretary for the SWCC. “We were really looking forward to sitting down with business owners and figuring out what they want, what they need, what they want us to lobby and advocate for. We are just really excited to have the business community steer the chamber in this new direction.”

The event was geared to be an informal discussion, with light snacks and refreshments for those in attendance. Members of Strathmore town council, and both Strathmore and Wheatland County’s CAO’s were invited to be in attendance.

Holdaway described the chamber is looking for a type of “reset button” as an organization, reorienting to discover and address the needs of the local business community.

“The chamber decided not to resign our MoU with the Town of Strathmore which we have had since pre-COVID-19, where we planned four key events for the town every year,” he said. “We sat back and realized that maybe that is not what our business community wanted their chamber to be doing and not what our members wanted. At the end of the day, we do work for our members, so we are really just trying to sit down and see what our members want us to be doing.”

Over the past few years, the chamber has been making efforts to direct themselves in new directions. One such step included the unveiling of their updated logo and branding in February 2024. 

New board members were also recently signed on during the chambers’ annual general meeting in April.

“I think it will be great for the chamber. (We) are in the process of redoing a strategic plan, and it is key to figure out what our members actually want,” said Holdaway. “There are talks about doing a couple (events like this) throughout the year – potentially one in Wheatland County. Obviously this one was at the Civic Centre, but it is definitely, hopefully not a one-and-done.”

The chamber is open to feedback at any time from members, and unaffiliated businesses, and is able to be contacted through their website.