From left: executive director Jack Kyte and youth representative Crystal Crowell gather beside the chamber banner. (Goodwin photo)
Incoming Pictou County Chamber of Commerce president Rick Gallant says he wants to help the chamber and its members position themselves for new ideas and a bright future.
The chamber approved Gallant and the remaining executive members – treasurer Peter Murray and recording secretary Lindsay Shaw – while conducting a virtual annual general meeting on June 10.
“My goal is to bring an attitude of optimism and curiosity to our work here at the chamber, curiosity about the way things are and how they operate within the region as well as the optimism to try and improve on what we have in a way that benefits all stakeholders in our community,” he said.
Gallant said he wants to continue advocating for the chamber’s members and adding more value-added services to grow membership.
He said he also wants businesses ready to re-energize themselves as pandemic conditions improve.
“We want to make sure our business community is ready, willing and able to go back to business as usual,” he said. “We are not there yet, but we are getting closer every day and with every shot going into people’s arms.”
Gallant welcomed new chamber members and noted how its membership has grown younger and added more women. The new members include Janelle Clyke, Teri-Lynn Dempsey, Rachel Francis, Tim Bryant, Troy Greencorn and its first youth representative – Crystal Crowell.
“We are younger,” he said. “Two-thirds of our board members are women, we have an excellent mix of representatives from small and larger businesses, we have made progress in support of diversity, we have strong representation from the creative economy and we have our first youth representative.”
Gallant became president, succeeding Blair van Veld, who is among seven outgoing members. The others are Murray Hill, Kevin McKay, Tyler McLane, Diane Cameron, Barry Francis and Roxanne Heighton.