LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - A well-attended meeting is being used as the launching point for a revival of the Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce.

Peter Long, left, executive director of the NWT Chamber of Commerce and Kirby Groat, the past president of the Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce, discuss strategies for strengthening the local chamber during a meeting held in the village on Nov. 23. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Approximately 21 people, including representatives from nine small businesses, attended a meeting on Nov. 23 at the Ice Breaker Lounge in Fort Simpson. The gathering had the dual purpose of being part of a community tour by the NWT Chamber of Commerce and raising support for the town's chamber.

Although Kirby Groat, the past-president of the Fort Simpson Chamber, has kept the organization in good standing the chamber has done little over the past year and has no current members.

"Keeping the interest up is always a challenge with chambers," Groat said.

Groat told participants at the meeting that having a part-time staff member will be the key to the chamber's future. One-person businesses and over-worked volunteers don't have the time to complete the chamber's projects, he said.

Establishing a website is the chamber's primary goal. A website would fulfil the chamber's mandate of being a networking tool and communication centre where businesses can talk to each other, said Groat.

"It's a very important thing in the North," he said.

The chamber also works to advance initiatives its members support. For example, as a regional director with the NWT Chamber of Commerce Groat has been on an advisory panel to Bob McLeod, minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment., pushing for improvements to Highway 7.

Thirty tour buses a summer used to drive the highway and stop at Fort Simpson but this year there were none, he said.

"It's a significant impact on the whole NWT, not just Fort Simpson," he said.

Groat has also lobbied for the completion of the chipseal on Highway 1 to Checkpoint and for the construction of the Mackenzie Valley Highway. The Canadian Zinc Corporation and the advancement of Prairie Creek Mine have also been at the forefront for the chamber.

"I'm a firm believer that is the most important thing for the region," he said.

Based on the turnout at the meeting, Groat said he's very encouraged about the chamber's future. An annual general meeting is being planned for Jan. 26 and the chamber has hired a staff member to ready the organization for the event.

Groat is hoping more people will seek positions on the chamber's executive.

"It would be nice to get new blood in here," he said.

Peter Long, the executive director of the NWT Chamber of Commerce, said he was also encouraged by the turnout and engaging conversation at the meeting.

The attendance at the gathering in Fort Simpson was higher than it was in both Norman Wells and Inuvik, Long said. The NWT Chamber will be offering Fort Simpson assistance with projects and ideas for membership recruitment.

"Our strength comes from the strength of the community chambers," said Long.

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