The Iqaluit Chamber of Commerce, resurrected in early 2017 after an inactive phase, is seeking to up its membership from 42 to 55 in 2019.

ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 a far cry from the 18 members SA国际影视传媒� eight of which were lifetime members SA国际影视传媒� in early 2017. There are roughly 300 businesses in Iqaluit.

Already the two-week membership drive has yielded three new members, with several pending payment of dues, said chamber president Ted Walker.

SA国际影视传媒淎s a long-term goal it would be very nice to have 100 per cent membership,SA国际影视传媒� said Walker.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e still developing our programming, activities and benefits weSA国际影视传媒檙e able to offer. As things progress, hopefully weSA国际影视传媒檒l be able to attract more and more members.SA国际影视传媒�

Currently, there are a variety of reasons why people would want to join, Walker adds. One of those is the monthly chamber breakfast meetings SA国际影视传媒� except in July and August SA国际影视传媒� featuring speakers and topics pertinent to the local business community.

SA国际影视传媒淭hose seem to be really popular. A lot of our membership really enjoy a lot of the topics and the discussions that happen at those events,SA国际影视传媒� said Walker.

Actual dates depend on the availability of the speaker, and MaySA国际影视传媒檚 has yet to be confirmed. But Walker is excited about the June breakfast meeting.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檒l be organizing a breakfast meeting with DeBeers, and asking them to talk to our membership about how they plan on integrating into the business community, and what kind of support the local companies might be able to provide,SA国际影视传媒� said Walker.

Currently, DeBeers Canada is preparing to submit its project scope for the Chidliak diamond project, 120 km from Iqaluit, to Nunavut regulators.

SA国际影视传媒淭he next milestones are, weSA国际影视传媒檙e going to put the team into the field in June and re-open the main camp around the CH-6 kimberlite,SA国际影视传媒� said head of external and corporate affairs for DeBeers Canada Tom Ormsby.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e going to do a drill program on that this summer to enhance some of the knowledge that we have around the kimberlite. That drill program will probably take place July through September. Also during the summer, weSA国际影视传媒檙e going to continue to enhance some of the collection of the environmental baseline data.SA国际影视传媒�

Ormsby says the company also plans on installing a wind measurement station.

SA国际影视传媒淭o try to understand whatSA国际影视传媒檚 the potential for wind power as a renewable energy supply,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Community engagement is ongoing, for example at the Nunavut Mining Symposium earlier this month, where Ormsby explained the companySA国际影视传媒檚 procurement process.

SA国际影视传媒淭hat engagement will continue,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Advocacy, Small Business Week, after-hours events and more

The chamber also plays an advocacy role.

SA国际影视传媒淎t every one of our board meetings, we have one person on our board who is dedicated to keeping up-to-date with the city, one person whoSA国际影视传媒檚 dedicated to the GN and one person whoSA国际影视传媒檚 dedicated to the feds. At every meeting we have a quick news report to the rest of the board,SA国际影视传媒� said Walker.

The board then discusses whether to take action, a stance, reach out or provide comments.

SA国际影视传媒淲e want to start making more efforts to take public stances on things as weSA国际影视传媒檙e getting going a little bit more on certain issues,SA国际影视传媒� said Walker, adding one issue the chamber was involved with was the City of IqaluitSA国际影视传媒檚 business bylaw revamp.

Walker says the chamber plans on regular quarterly after-hours business events.

SA国际影视传媒淭he opposite of the breakfast for people who have young kids, or something, and canSA国际影视传媒檛 always make it to a 7 a.m. breakfast meeting. These would be a little more casual, more of a networking event, but would feature one of our own members to give a casual introduction of themselves to the rest of the membership,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Small Business Week has been successful the past two years, and will continue. A Shop Local initiative will be repeated for the second time. Last yearSA国际影视传媒檚 was a bit of learning curve for the chamber, retailers and the public.

SA国际影视传媒淏ut by the end I think everyone understood what it was all about and was really well-received,SA国际影视传媒� said Walker.

As the chamber notes in its membership drive material: SA国际影视传媒淭o be an effective chamber of commerce, we need to understand the common issues that all our members experience. As such, communication with our members is the key to our success.SA国际影视传媒�