While dozens of people from all over the Fraser Valley were on-hand at the Abbotsford Centre to witness the announcement of the Fraser Valley Business Coalition on Wednesday (March 6) there was only one problem – members of the Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce hadn’t yet arrived.
Highway issues caused the Chilliwack delegation to be a little late and it’s that type of regional issue that led to the creation of the FVBC.
The FVBC saw the unification of the Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Langley and Mission Chambers of Commerce to form a larger voice as an advocate for the entire region. The group will represent thousands of private sector members and work to tackle critical issues facing the business community across the Fraser Valley region.
Wednesday’s event at the AC saw politicians from all three sectors and business representatives attend the announcement. All four individual chambers spoke to those gathered and a new event was also revealed.
The first-ever Fraser Valley Economic Summit will occur at the University of the Fraser Valley’s Evered Hall in Abbotsford on April 16.
The summit will be a gathering of the region’s business leaders and key voices to discuss the future needs of the Fraser Valley, showcase local innovators and current projects, and announce a list of action items on behalf of the FVBC for B.C.’s next provincial government to take on.
Alex Mitchell, the CEO of the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce, said that the idea for all the chambers to come together came about over the summer when the province was looking to get feedback on, ironically enough, the future of Highway 1.
“That’s when we initially said we need to get together,” she said. “So all of that led to us saying, OK this is an opportunity for us to come together and talk about more than just Highway 1 but all of these bigger issues.”
Mitchell stated that the Fraser Valley region is key for the province and this will help unlock some of the area’s potential.
“Our economy, businesses and communities across the Fraser Valley are growing — the region’s economic success is key for all of British Columbia,” she added. “The Abbotsford Chamber is thrilled to be chairing this coalition to ensure that the voice of business in the Fraser Valley is heard in Victoria and across the region – it’s our time.”
“It’s clear: the Fraser Valley is the future. This is where the economic activity and population growth will be going forward, and as such, our region deserves the investment and support it needs to be successful,” stated Cory Redekop, CEO of the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce.
Key focus areas of the FVBC include: investing in critical infrastructure, enabling in economic development, removing barriers to more attainable housing, giving the Fraser Valley its fair share in health care and education, promoting innovation in agriculture and finding solutions to crime.
“The FVBC symbolizes a collective vision for growth, innovation, and sustainability within our region,” stated Leanna Kemp, the executive director of the Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce. “By uniting with our neighbouring chambers, the Chilliwack Chamber aims to leverage shared goals and resources to tackle the critical challenges that face our businesses and residents alike.”
“This coalition represents a pivotal moment for the Fraser Valley, one that the Mission Chamber is proud and grateful to be a part of,” said Miriam Bozman, executive director of the Mission Regional Chamber. “We look forward to uniting the diverse voices of our local businesses to speak with one strong voice on issues that matter.”
For more information on the upcoming summit, visit business.abbotsfordchamber.com/community-calendar/Details/economic-summit-1080563.