By TERRY PUGH
The Prairie Sky Chamber of Commerce (PSCC) represents businesses not just in Warman and Martensville, but throughout the area north of Saskatoon, according to PSCC Executive Director Angela Steiert.
“Our members are located all across the region,” said Steiert in an interview on Thursday, November 7, the day after the organization’s annual general meeting in Martensville. “There’s a recognition now within the organization that ‘shopping local’ applies to many different communities in this area.”
The PSCC was formed in 2017 through the amalgamation of the Warman Chamber of Commerce and the Martensville Chamber of Commerce.
At the time of the amalgamation, traditional rivalries between the two communities still played a role in the makeup of the PSCC Board of Directors. The organization’s bylaws stated that a minimum of three of the organization’s 12 directors had to be from Warman, and a minimum of three had to be from Martensville.
That outdated rule, which had become pretty much a formality in the last few years, is now history. The PSCC amended its bylaws at the November 6 AGM to reflect the current reality.
“We’ve gone beyond that rivalry of the past,” said Steiert. “Our representation is no longer 50 per cent from the two biggest centres. It’s not a big change, but more of a recognition that we’re very much a regional body now.”
The PSCC AGM saw the election of some new directors and confirmation of current executive members who are midway through their two-year terms of office.
Directors terms are for two years, and a director can serve a maximum of three terms (six years) consecutively. The current board consists of directors who have served from one to five years.
The PSCC Executive Committee consists of Darla McLean of Discover Advertising, who will continue as PSCC Chair for another year.; Meagan Bortis, a lawyer with Little & Co. LLP, who serves as Vice-Chair; and Carmen Baker of Laskowski, Wright and Baker LLP, who is Treasurer.
The board consists of Travis Blanchard of Rave BBQ Rubs, Angela Farnell with the Wireless Age, Laura Balyski of Century 21 Fusion, Kim Schneider of MOBO Promotional Solutions, and Jaycee Turtle of Lakeview Insurance Brokers.
Two PSCC Directors who did not seek re-election were acknowledged at the AGM. They are Melissa Stevenson of Cora Breakfast & Lunch, who served for two terms (four years), and Richard Reimer of Boyes Group Realty, who completed his first two-year term.
Two PSCC Directors who left during the year are Kelsey Holmes and Colin Labreque of Save On Foods.
Four incoming directors were acclaimed to the four vacant positions on the board. They include: Nicole Wollman of eXp Realty, Bailey Giampa of Carters Counselling, Lana Wall of Aqua Temp, and Amber Deschner of Nova Physiotherapy.
The organization is in good financial shape and is looking forward to an exciting year, according to Steiert.
Among the 20 people attending the meeting were Warman Mayor Gary Philipchuk, Warman Economic Development Officer Ashley Goetz, and Martensville Economic Development Officer Dillon Shewchuk.