With the goals of promoting area businesses and improving trade and commerce in the region, Bearspaw resident and businessman Omkar Nath Channan organized the new Rocky View Chamber of Commerce. The chamber held its first meeting at CrossIron Mills mall, and elected its new 11-member board and executive, March 24.
“It is worthwhile setting up now…this is the moment we can get large businesses coming to Rocky View, there is a great potential for that,” said Channan.
Former Rocky View Councillor Hopeton Louden was elected president of the chamber and Kelly McKinley was voted vice president.
About 20 people attended the executive meeting. Channan, a member of Rocky View’s subdivision appeal and assessment review boards, said he was motivated to start the chamber after an initial attempt to start a Bearspaw business association in 2009 was unsuccessful.
With experience in organizing trade missions and the founding president of the Calgary-Jaipur Development Foundation, Channan was convinced a chamber would help tap some of the unused business potential in the county.
“Rocky View is one of the best places to do businesses,” said Channan. “We have all the amenities available, all the resources available, a lot of professionals live in Rocky View and a lot of investments are now going on in the various parts of Rocky View.”
Channan said all business owners, farmers and professionals are welcome to become chamber members once regular meetings are underway, likely this summer.
“We are moving in the right direction,” said Channan. “We would like to encourage membership.”
Reeve Rolly Ashdown attended the first general meeting and made a speech to welcome the new organization.
“I would like to thank the Rocky View Chamber of Commerce in being an integral part of making the County a place that supports both small and large enterprises alike,” he said. “I would also like to encourage all Rocky View business owners to reach out to the chamber so that you can work together to map the way forward. Remember, we are all allies in the effort of building a community we can all be proud of.”
