NOTE: The province of B.C. has once again declared a week in February as Chamber of Commerce Week. This year, it runs Feb. 12 to 16, and the Langley Advance Times, worked with the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce to put together a series of stories to inform people in Langley about the local business organization and what it does to bolster and advocate for companies in this community.
By Chris Drinovz/Special to Langley Advance Times
I assumed the role of board president this past fall, with a sense of optimism for the future of the Langley chamber. And, I continue to be excited for how we can continue to fulfill our role in the community and our mandate of giving voice to the local business community.
Chambers of commerce should serve as catalysts for prosperity and economic development, going far beyond their conventional role as networking hubs.
And that is what our organization will seek to do.
At the core of our mission, chambers are the ally of the local business community.
Local business needs someone in their corner, and in Langley that is the Langley chamber. And central to this are our efforts to passionately advocate for the needs and interests of businesses on multiple fronts.
In a time of increased partisanship and fracture, the chamber is uniquely positioned to bring together the breadth of the business community, and to work together to solve challenges and seize opportunities to make everyone more successful.
The chamber serves as a liaison between the business community and various levels of government, and we tirelessly champion policies, ideas, and recommendations that support growth and make it easier for local business to succeed.
Whether pushing back on tax increases, suggesting regulatory changes, or advocating for investments to help our community grow, the chamber can and does bring about positive changes that directly impact businesses.
As outlined throughout this feature, we give voice to the collective needs and challenges of the business community on a variety of issues, and we work every day to ensure that voice is heard and understood by decision makers.
I’m also excited that this ‘voice’ is only growing louder with the continued growth of the Langley chamber and our membership.
Now representing more than 1,030 distinct member businesses, the Langley chamber is Langley’s largest business association and one of the largest chambers of commerce or boards of trade in the province.
This member support and growth will only serve to bolster our message with government and help our efforts to support, promote, and strengthen Langley business.
With another new year well underway, I encourage every Langley business to connect and engage with the chamber, and to play a role in shaping the future of the chamber and of the broader business landscape here in Langley and beyond.
– Chris Drinovz is president of Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce and a lawyer with Kane Shannon Weiler LLP
RELATED: Meet the team of Langley Chamber of Commerce
and
RECENT: Move to 24-hour Aldergrove border crossing welcomed by businesses