A new award from the BC Economic Development Association heralding economic resiliency went to Chilliwack Economic Partners Corporation (CEPCO) for spearheading the Chilliwack Economic Recovery Network (CERN).
The hugely collaborative Chilliwack effort won the 2o21 Economic Recovery and Resiliency Award from BCEDA, who teamed up with Fortis BC to hand out awards at the 2021 BC Economic Summit on March 11.
“Thank you to each and every one of you that have contributed to the work we are doing under the CERN umbrella,” wrote Netty Tam, CEPCO manager of business development, in a message March 12 sent to network reps.
CEPCO joined forces with a team of Chilliwack business leaders to launch the CERN in March 2020 – just as the global pandemic was starting to take hold.
“What we have learned is that partnerships and collaboration bring positive change, and we will continue to work together as a network to do great things for our community post COVID-19,” Tam added.
CERN has brought together representation from City of Chilliwack, Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce, Chilliwack Economic Partners Corporation (CEPCO), Community Futures South Fraser, Downtown Chilliwack Business Improvement Association, National Research Council – IRAP, Stó:lō Community Futures, and Tourism Chilliwack.
The recovery and resilience award category, which was new for the association in 2021, was created to honour programs, activities, and projects that mark a successful recovery from natural and man-made disasters, including COVID-19, as well as those with measures that can be replicated by others to promote long-term resiliency and/or sustainability from future disasters.
“As economic recovery has moved into the forefront, we couldn’t be more proud of the work done by B.C.’s economic developers,” said Dale Wheeldon, president and CEO of BCEDA. “It was one year ago yesterday, that the WHO declared COVID19 a global pandemic.
“It seems fitting that, in addition to our traditional award categories, we have added a new category dedicated to economic resiliency and recovery. We received a record number of nominations put forward by communities and economic development professionals showcasing the creativity and smart strategies that encourage economic recovery and resiliency in their regions.”
Winners (community more than 20,000 population): City of Surrey for Surrey Makes PPE, City of Langford for I AM Langford and Chilliwack Economic Partners Corporation for Chilliwack Economic Recovery Network (CERN)
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