THEBACHA/FORT SMITH
The chamber of commerce in Fort Smith has a new president and a new name.
Janie Hobart, former mayor of Fort Smith, is now president of the Thebacha Chamber of Commerce. - NNSL file photo |
Former mayor Janie Hobart was elected president at the chamber's annual general meeting on Feb. 20.
"I think that it is very important that, if Fort Smith is going to grow, it's going to have to be in the business sector," Hobart said, noting the town already has a fair bit of government.
"I feel that I have a number of things that I can offer towards growing the organization," she said of leading the chamber of commerce.
That organization will now be known as the Thebacha Chamber of Commerce.
"That way it includes the area around us. So if there were businesses in, say, Fort Fitzgerald or out Salt River way or what have you, we could include them," said Hobart, explaining Thebacha is the aboriginal name for Fort Smith.
The name of the organization had been the Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce 2012. The '2012' was to differentiate it from the previous Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce, which had been inactive for about three years when the new chamber was formed early last year.
"It was an interim name until we could get started, but this is a new chamber and we want to move forward with a number of the things that all chambers work on, and that is helping our business community grow," Hobart said.
The new president was elected in a vote with the other candidate being Dana Jackson, the former president who was instrumental in reviving the chamber.
Jackson was elected vice-president. The treasurer is Marie Swanson, the secretary is Brian Harrold and Craig Browne is a director.
Jackson, co-owner of Pelican Rapids Inn, is upbeat in assessing the new executive and the direction of the chamber of commerce.
"It's positive," she said. "We still have really good people who want to be involved and want to make it work."
Jackson noted the new chamber's first executive last year wasn't as strong, and most of the organizational work fell to her and Swanson.
The former president welcomes Hobart's involvement.
"She has a lot of experience and knowledge just from her experience as mayor. Maybe there are connections there that I wouldn't even have thought of that she can put together," Jackson said.
Hobart was mayor of Fort Smith for three years until she lost in her bid for re-election last October.
She is also known for her role in recreation and volunteer activities during her 30 years in Fort Smith, but may not be as well known for her involvement in the business sector.
"I have held a business licence in Fort Smith for over 20 years," she said.
"Originally, it was just a small home occupation business, but last year I purchased the old dental clinic. I'm currently renovating it for an apartment and a bed and breakfast. And I'm in the process of buying another building for rental purposes."
Her home occupation licence involved secretarial and bookkeeping work.
One of Hobart's goals as the chamber of commerce president is to increase membership, noting there were 43 members last year.
"We feel that we can definitely grow that number," she said.
Another goal is to have priority planning sessions for chamber members to set short-term and long-term objectives.
Hobart also wants to work towards growing sport tourism, noting Fort Smith has the facilities and knowledgeable volunteers that can make that happen.
"When you have people come in for any sporting event, it's brand-new
money coming into the community," she said.
Hobart is also hoping to develop a positive partnership with the Town of Fort Smith, noting she has a lot of knowledge about the municipality's various plans for future development.
