Chamber highlights extraordinary year at Annual General Meeting

On March 26, the Whitby Chamber of Commerce’s (WCC) membership poured into The Village Taverna’s newly renovated event space for its Annual General Meeting. In addition to reviewing the WCC’s financial position and activities in 2018, the 2019/20 Board of Directors were sworn in with the help of Mayor Don Mitchell.

The 2019/20 WCC Board of Directors are:

• Dave Paterson, Royal Ashburn Golf Club, as President
• Corette Miller, new initiatives hr consulting inc., as Vice President
• Laura Wilson, Baker Tilly KDN LLP, as Treasurer
• Karey Anne Large, Downtown Whitby BIA, as Secretary
• Julie Armstrong Rennie, RE/MAX Jazz
• Tara Brodie, Durham College
• Charles D’Mello, CDAR Consulting Services
• Brion Hendry, BDO Canada LLP
• Matthew Mackenzie, Ontario Tech University
• Kyle Paterson, Bryson Insurance
• Shane Terry, Roughley Insurance Brokers

Incoming Board President, Dave Paterson from Royal Ashburn Golf Club, spoke passionately about the evolution of the Chamber over the past few years, the energy he’s experienced at recent events, and the long-term benefit of Chamber membership, “become a part of something bigger than yourself. The rest will follow.”

During the busy agenda, RBC Royal Bank’s Heather Dunn was recognized for her contributions to the Chamber with the Jim Lavelle Award. This award recipient is chosen unanimously by the WCC staff for their demonstration of the qualities Jim Lavelle, dedicated Chamber volunteer and past President, most admired in a Chamber member: commitment, determination, innovation and compassion. Sitting on multiple Chamber committees to help plan two of the WCC’s four signature events, Connect Women and the Peter Perry & Business Achievement Awards, as well as actively participating as one of the Chamber’s Ambassadors, Dunn is always willing to lend a hand and welcome fellow members at events throughout the year.

As part of the 2018 Year at a Glance, WCC CEO Natalie Prychitko gave an overview of the Advocacy Committee’s activities throughout the year, including but not limited to, successfully developing and negotiating a policy resolution at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce AGM: Tax Payer Charter of Rights; executing the Municipal Matters campaign, including the Municipal 101 event, Provincial Election Forum and the Mayoral Debate & Candidate Expo; and advocating on behalf of the membership at numerous roundtables and local leadership meetings.

The efforts of the Advocacy Committee are driven by membership responses to the Annual Advocacy Survey, which closes on Thursday, April 4.

The WCC also welcomed Manager of Economic Development, Sheila McGrory to give members an update on developments underway in the Town of Whitby.

“I’m thrilled to officially welcome our new Board and to thank them for taking on a significant leadership role in our community,” said Prychitko. “This Chamber is successful because of the dedication of its staff, sponsors, community partners, volunteers and membership, and together we’ll continue to grow our extraordinary business community.”