The South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce (SCCC) elected Sunrise Ford dealer principal Leon Chretien as chair at its annual board retreat on May 3.
Chretien says he is excited about taking on a leadership role at an important time for the local business organization.
“For the last couple of years, [we have been] trying to rebuild relationships and bring some value and worth to our members and to the South Cariboo community.
“Now, we feel we have got some groundwork laid and we are looking forward to some key actions being developed that are going to help recognize and promote the strong points [of] the South Cariboo.”
The SCCC recently created a model with a slogan he had come up with a couple of years ago, Our Life-Your Dream, Chretien says.
“People dream of having the life we have here, and we live it every day – the recreation, the lakefront, the acreages, and a life where you can enjoy nature.
“The only thing we ever fear missing is that economic opportunity to have our employment, our source of income, so we can live here.”
There will be some Facebook and other promotions for tourism to take advantage of the strong United States currency, he adds.
“We are expecting a lot more American dollars coming up this way and we want to be able to highlight our natural resources.”
Tourism video vignettes will be posted on various websites to recognize and promote the area’s 10 different waterfalls, area resorts, “hidden-gem” restaurants and other features, he explains.
The new board was sworn in by acting mayor Spence Henderson at the retreat, which was held at the SCCC offices in 100 Mile House this year.
The new 2105 executive was elected, and in addition to Chretien, it includes Carl Gimse as vice-chair and Ralph Myhill-Jones continuing as secretary, with the position of treasurer still to be determined.
Board directors at large are Rick Takagi, Rob Fry, Amanda Usher, Rainer Meyer, Nick Christianson, Craig Lee, Joanne Young, Keith Jackson and Marvin Declare.
