Morinville & District Chamber of Commerce 2016-17 Board of Directors include Chef Phil Hughes of Premium Food Services, Estela Oates of Elysha’s Cleaning Services, Penny Modien of Scotiabank, Blair Shepherd of Drayden Insurance, Shaun Thompson of Morinville Sobeys, Vice President Samantha Olson of Putnam & Lawson and President Simon Boersma of Pleasant Homes. Absent: Steve Hammond-of Morinville Autobody, Matt Meunier of Morinville Shell, Jeff Lamarche of Sarbecnat Plumbing & Heating, and Leigh Newton of Champion Petfoods.
by Lucie Roy
The Morinville & District Chamber of Commerce held their Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday with less than 50 members in attendance.
The 2016-17 Board of Directors includes Simon Boersma serving another year as Chamber President, and Samantha Olson of Putnam & Lawson as the business group’s Vice President. Olson had previously served as a Director on the 2015-16 Board. Both positions were acclaimed.
Directors for the new year include returning members Phil Hughes, Penny Modien, Steve Hammond, Jeff Lamarche, and Matt Meunier. New Directors include Estela Oates, Blair Shepherd, Shaun Thompson and Leigh Newton.
Directors from the Town of Morinville and Sturgeon County will be appointed by their respective councils, and joining from Alexander First Nation is Marcel Arcand.
In his President’s Report, Boersma reflected on the Chamber’s successful year with the great Golf Tournament put on by Champion; the China trip put on by the Chamber staff, and the Explore the Wonders Trade Show put on by staff ad Chamber volunteers.
Boersma thanked Kym Moore of Servus Credit Union for five years of service to the Board. Administrator Dianne Mineault presented Moore with a bouquet of flowers as a parting gift.
“Morinville and its District has shown itself to be a strong community, and we should all be proud of those that have put up shop in our communities,” Boersma said. “To serve is to listen, and then to have the next step towards resolve and in the end see a continuum of business relationships grow. This Chamber has seen that through working with local businesses and its partners, be it land developers, builders, restaurateurs, farmers and other stakeholders such as our local magistrates.”
Boersma went on to say Chamber members within the community had stood strong throughout, and that he believed in the movement of the Chamber network in Alberta and Canada.
“The changes that we have fought for – be it small business taxes to local improvements issues – have made a difference,” Boersma said. “This could not be done without you the member. As a President of the organization in this district, I am proud that you stand with me.”
