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Unlike most board meetings, the annual Neepawa and District Chamber of Commerce AGM is always a special event for the town of Neepawa. While business certainly gets taken care of, including the treasurer’s report and election of directors, the Chamber uses the majority of the time to allow its guests and speakers to shine.

This year’s keynote speaker is Chuck Davidson, President and CEO of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, who gives a lively presentation on how Manitoba needs to learn how to tell its own story, highlighting the strengths and opportunities in the province. Davidson uses Manitoba’s sibling Prairie provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan for comparison purposes, and Manitoba comes up lacking not in its business sector where it is a leader in green energy and agribusiness but in its ability to market itself. While Saskatchewan has nine international trade offices, Manitoba has none. As a business leader, one of Davidson’s key focuses through the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce is to facilitate that trade growth and strengthen Manitoba’s competitiveness.

MC Amanda Naughton-Gale is also given an opportunity to give a short presentation on the value of volunteerism in the community, and gives attendees several avenues to involve themselves, their businesses and their staff members, in local volunteer projects. Many organisations that rely on volunteerism have been forced to close or step back in recent years, says Naughton-Gale, and business-driven volunteerism may be part of the solution.

The AGM also features the presentation of the Business of the Year award, which this year is present to It’s Time, a local clothing and lifestyle store that just transitioned ownership this year after 18 years under the direction of Ineke Mack. The nominator noted the business’s social media savvy and ability to stay on top of trends as one of their strengths that set them apart.