Happy Holidays!
There’s no sugar-coating that 2020 has been a difficult year, and we would like to take a moment to recognize everyone for meeting the challenges of COVID-19. The pandemic brought unbelievable difficulties for businesses and residents alike, and put tremendous pressure on our healthcare systems and our economy.
To our business owners and decision-makers: the persistence, resilience, strength, adaptability, and creativity you have shown while facing the unprecedented obstacles of COVID-19 is truly inspiring. We are very proud to support you!
Here at the Chamber, we shifted to virtual, as did so many other businesses and organizations. We stepped up our advocacy efforts, bringing your feedback, concerns, ideas, and stories to the Ontario and Canadian Chambers, so they could in turn advise all levels of government, and encourage the development of meaningful measures.
We launched a series of virtual events, to make sure our members could engage with each other and create new connections while staying safe. We connected our local F&B establishments with key staff at the Town of Grimsby, to start the conversations around restaurant patio expansions.
We partnered with our colleagues at the Lincoln and West Lincoln Chambers to bring relevant updates, news, and resources to our collective members. Together, the West Niagara Chambers hosted 4 joint events, including Virtual Town Halls with Finance Minister Rod Phillips and with the Niagara West Regional Councillors.
We spent countless hours on the phone and on Zoom calls, consulting with businesses, providing information and resources, and hearing your challenges. Thank you. Thank you to each of you, for having the courage and strength to push through and keep going. We have an incredible community here in Grimsby, and, as much as the pandemic has challenged us in unbelievable ways, it has also brought home how strong we are when we work together.
In the midst of figuring out how to move forward virtually, we settled into our newly revamped home, inside
Boone Dog Office Spaces. We're still at 33 Main St W, but our office looks a LOT different: we have new businesses as our neighbours on the second floor, and we could not be happier to be in a bustling, professional environment. Tremendous thanks to the Boone Dog Team who have gone out of their way to support the Chamber and make the transition seamless and stress-free.
We also held our very first virtual AGM, and welcomed new directors to our Board. The Board of Directors executive positions were elected earlier this month. Please join us in welcoming our executives:
The Directors:
Please note that our office is closed for the holidays; we will return on Monday, January 4, 2021. We look forward to connecting with you early in January! In the meantime, we wish each of you, your staff, and your families a safe and healthy holiday season.
We’re officially putting this very challenging year behind us and moving forward with hope, optimism, drive, and determination!
Stay well. Stay safe.
The Grimsby Chamber Team
