Substantial changes – including a merger – may be in the cards for the New Westminster Chamber of Commerce as the 141-year-old organization grapples with post-pandemic challenges.
Rich Patterson, a volunteer on the chamber’s board of directors, and Karima Jivraj, who was recently elected as the board’s vice-chair, updated city council about the chamber’s efforts in the past 18 to 24 months and challenges and opportunities it will be facing in the next year.
With “nothing happening” after the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Patterson said the chamber has spent the past 18 to 24 months focusing on getting people engaged and connected, boosting its inclusivity, and becoming a more welcoming and inclusive space.
“We have really grown our member base. It was down into the low 120s and we're now up in 240s,” he told council. “That was a ton of work, and something we're very proud to have done.”
Patterson said the New Westminster Chamber of Commerce has hosted many events, raised a lot of sponsorship dollars, and grown its membership, but said the organization will face some “opportunities and challenges” in the next six to 12 months.
Jivraj, who became the organization’s vice-chair at its recent annual general meeting, said the next 12 months are “super critical” for the chamber. She said members want more services, but the chamber is “kind of stuck” because it has limited funds as it is servicing a “substantial” COVID debt.
“How do we do everything that the members want? It's not as easy,” she said. “You've got to spend money to make money. But if you don't have money, you can't spend it. Pretty simple.”
Jivraj noted that chamber executive director Angie Whitfield has done a “stellar job” of bringing the organization back to the forefront in the community but is taking a job at the Burnaby Board of Trade. She said the chamber has put together a staffing contingency plan for the next 90 days.
“There is a hiring committee that has been put together to see where we go from here, what we need to do, and how we go about doing it. The reality is that we have large debt,” she said. “We're trying to balance the member needs. But we also need to understand that we can't pay a larger salary. So, we're going to have to work with a junior team member for now or junior team members for now until we figure out what's going to happen.”
A merger?
Jivraj said the board has been considering is a merger with a similar organization.
“We have started speaking with chambers of boards of trades from the Tri-Cities to Burnaby to White Rock and the Sunshine Coast,” she said. “All of these areas use a merged chamber model instead of a smaller organization; so, they've kind of sort of combined to become like a big body.”
Financial stability, long-range planning, strengthened member services and advocacy have been cited as benefits of being part of a larger organization.
“We're now in formal discussions with the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce, the Burnaby Board of Trade, and Tourism New Westminster. We're exploring opportunities,” Jivraj said. “It's still too early to predict which way it's going to go or if it will go.”
If the chamber does pursue a merger, Jivraj told council the chamber may seek financial support from the city “to make us look a little bit more stable and a little bit more inviting” to a potential partner.
“The next 90 days, the next 180 days, are critical,” she said. “Are we going to … step up and really work and get what we need? Or do we just throw in the towel, fold up and say bye-bye to a chamber that's been around for 141 years?”
While the chamber of commerce needs to change the way it does business, Jivraj stressed it has value for the city and for local businesses.
“It is key to bringing in businesses into the community,” she said. “If you don't have a vibrant chamber, chances are your businesses are not going to be welcomed into the city.”
Coun. Ruby Campbell acknowledged the work the chamber team has done during the last year, noting the pandemic was a challenge for the chamber. She said a merged model may result in gains for businesses in New Westminster.
Campbell said “collaborations” are happening in other communities. She noted the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce supports businesses in several cities, the Delta Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Delta recently amalgamated, and the South Surrey and White Rock Chamber of Commerce and the Surrey Board of Tade have joined together.
“There's probably a lot of other collaborations that are happening, so this isn't unique to New Westminster. I share that because I'm glad that you're looking at different options, and that's maybe the new normal for supporting businesses.”
Coun. Daniel Fontaine thanked the chamber for being so open and honest around the challenges it’s facing. He said it is “truly just inspirational” to learn the chamber has existed for 141 years.
“I don't want to be on a council that sees the demise of an organization as important and as impactful as your organization has been, on my watch,” he said. “So, I'll commit to you to do whatever I can to support the chamber.”
Fontaine said COVID was a factor that contributed to issues being faced by the chamber, but he does not think it was the only thing that contributed to the organization’s financial situation. He noted the for-lease signs and empty lots in the city aren’t generating jobs and are not filled with businesses that could be joining the chamber.
Mayor Patrick Johnstone acknowledged the chamber’s efforts in “really taking the bull by the horns” and being proactive and addressing the challenges it is facing. He said the “COVID hangover” is affecting the chamber of commerce and individual businesses, but it also demonstrates the value of business advocacy and in having an organization where businesses can work together to talk through their challenges, and to advocate together with a strong voice around the challenges they're facing.
“I think that not having a chamber being able to do that would make the situation much worse,” he said. “I know we have been supportive of you as you've gone through these transitions as a city, and we are obviously very interested in finding out what your board decides the next step is. Please let us know how we can help you when you do make some determinations on that next step.”
