Melanie Roberts is the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce's new chair for 2021. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

Support for business

Chamber inducts new chair, reports positive finances in 115th annual ceremony

Feb 9, 2021 | 5:29 PM

The Battlefords Chamber of Commerce went virtual for its annual general meeting and the chair’s induction Tuesday to abide by COVID-19 restrictions.

The organization reviewed the past year and discussed plans ahead during the 115th annual ceremony. The event also included guest speakers Meadow Lake MLA Jeremy Harrison, Minister of Trade and Export Development, and Immigration and Career Training, as well as Battlefords MLA Jeremy Cockrill.

Chamber chief operating officer Linda Machniak said the organization dedicated much of 2020 assisting businesses during a difficult period.

“It was a challenging year, but actually for the chamber it’s been a very busy year,” she said. “Advocacy of course is a key part of the work that we do, helping to guide and support businesses through the pandemic.”

The chamber inducted Melanie Roberts as its new chair for 2021, replacing outgoing chair Harris Sutherland. Roberts is the director of programs for North West College.

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Currently, the chamber has about 313 members, representing all active and courtesy members.

Machniak said while membership numbers are down slightly, revenue saw an increase in 2020.

“We may have had some businesses that are of larger size participate to compensate for that increase in revenue, even though the [membership] number is slightly down,” she said.

On the financial side for the chamber’s 2021 budget, the organization is anticipating revenues of $320,000 and expenses of $307,675 on the general operating account, for a projected surplus of $12,325, for expected initiatives and events the chamber plans to host this year.

Vantage Chartered Professional Accountants presented the financial statements in their report of the past year’s numbers.

In 2020, the chamber received $60,000 under the Government of Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA). A total of $20,000 of that amount is forgiven (recorded with revenue), while the $40,000 balance must be paid by the end of 2022, as a long-term loan. As well, the chamber received $43,010 in revenue under the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) last year.

In total for the 2020 fiscal year-end, the chamber had an operating surplus of $42,176 to what was budgeted. But because there was a deficit from the prior year going into 2020, the net assets at the end of the year was $24,517.

The Battlefords Business Excellence Awards (BBEX) and other programs have their own budgeted fund that are monitored by the chamber directors throughout the year.

Vantage partner Derek Sieben said the chamber had a good year overall financially in 2020, despite the challenges.

“It was a tough year for everyone obviously – all our community members, from kids to schools to businesses,” he said. “Notwithstanding, certainly the chamber showed action and resiliency and stewardship during that difficult year. That is similar to all businesses. I think in general when the times got tougher they just rolled up their sleeves and worked even harder in response to the challenges they were facing. People supported our local businesses and are continuing to do that. It’s all great that everyone is coming together.”

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW