Background
The Chamber is a not-for-profit membership based organization. We have a long and established history in the area, dating back to 1937. Many businesses in the community have taken advantage of the numerous resources we make available. This has been especially true through the pandemic. We support, advocate for, connect and promote our members and the overall local business community. We have organized and made available support local campaigns, business courses, in-person and virtual events, industry roundtables, community town halls, etc.. We will continue to be a reliable source of government updates on policies, grants and protocols through the Chamber e-notices and our social media channels.
Strength of the Chamber Network
The Chamber network has always had a very strong voice at the decision-making table at the municipal, provincial and federal levels. That has never been more true than through the pandemic. By being a member, businesses are connected to the biggest and broadest business network across the province and Canada. Our Chamber is an active member of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the BC Chamber of Commerce. These relationships connect local businesses to over 450 other Chambers and Boards of Trade and 200,000 businesses nationally. The Chamber network's advocacy has resulted in changes and adjustments to policies to better respond to the needs of businesses. The combined resources and buying power of the network also enables us to provide reduced rates on a myriad of benefits and services to our members, such as extended employee health benefits, merchant fees, etc. and we are constantly adding to our offerings. We welcome members to take an active role in the promotion of your business through the Chamber. Come down and get to know our helpful staff and get plugged in on what’s new!
Did you know the Chamber:
- Has been serving the community since 1937.
- Celebrated its 85th Anniversary in 2022
- Was recognized in the Canadian House of Commons for the valuable work we did to support local businesses through the pandemic
- Was recognized in the BC Legislature as a pillar in our community as part of 2023 Chamber Week
- Hosted over 100 virtual events during the pandemic, including Community Town Halls, business courses, networking and informational sessions, all-candidates forums, business excellence awards and more.
- Sent valuable and timely updates through the Chamber newsletter and social media on government policies, grant opportunities, and much more.
- Invested over $150,000 back directly to local businesses through the ‘Let’s Get Local’ campaign and marketing initiatives like promotional business videos, especially to the hardest hit sectors like restaurants, the fitness sector and the arts. The program also included a Winter Variety Arts Show, distribution of sustainable bags sourced from an indigenous company, special events bringing together the community to celebrate our diverse cultures, local sports teams and much more.
- Plays an integral advocacy role at each level of government and are connected to the strong provincial and national network of over 350 Chambers which represent over 200,000 businesses.
- Website received over 80,000+ search hits and 36,000+ page hits in 2022, 3x greater than the industry average.
- Is actively engaged on social media @sswrchamber on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter
Mission Statement
