New chamber directors bring new perspectives

By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Strathmore Wheatland Chamber of Commerce (SWCC) has added new directors who will be working to help drive business, from Strathmore’s downtown to neighbouring communities throughout the county.

The chamber elected its directors during the chamber’s annual general meeting on April 29. Five new directors were elected: Michelle Boussard (associate, Chinook Financial), Heather Dougall (realtor, Royal LePage), Kyle Geeraert, (owner, Origins Brewery), B.J. Janzen (owner, Rosebud Country Inn) and Elisa Maxwell (owner, Hidden Secrets). They join three current directors: Berniece Bland, Rebecca Cummings and Markus Lehmann.

SWCC was strategic in selecting these new directors, said Hayley Poirier, who is now acting chair after having served as chair for the past two years. Three of the new directors – Geereart, Janzen and Dougall – are based in Wheatland County, so they were brought on board to strengthen the chamber’s connections to the county and its businesses.

“We really liked the idea of having three new directors who will be bringing to the table voices more in line with Wheatland County,” said Poirier.

The chamber is also developing relationships with county development officers and councillors, as well as representatives from area villages and hamlets, to further understand and drive business throughout the county, she explained.

The other two new directors, Boussard and Maxwell, are based in Strathmore’s central business district, and so will provide insights on what issues enterprises there are facing. “Downtown businesses always need each other,” she said.

Three new committees have been formed, each with a different focus. 

The commerce committee will focus on memberships and driving business, the events committee will be working to coordinate events and “getting the word out,” and the governance committee will focus on how the organization operates, explained Poirier.

SWCC hopes to build on work by other groups helping to develop agrotourism opportunities in Strathmore and Wheatland County. “There’s really so many things percolating right now in our area that just need to come together.”