The Burnaby Board of Trade has been recognized for its strategies aimed at attracting and engaging its members.
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce announced last week that the Burnaby Board of Trade was one of three finalists in the national chamber’s annual competition. This year, boards and chambers were tasked with demonstrating how they’ve reinvented themselves in an age where information can be accessed for free online.
Membership in the age of Google – How our chamber is reinventing ourselves, asked chambers of commerce and boards of trade to explain what innovative ideas they’ve implemented to serve and grow its membership, according to a press release.
The Burnaby Board of Trade’s winning submission, Forward Thinking Chambers Offer Choice, described how the local business association is using niche programs to engage members. These programs include the Pledge for a Sustainable Community, Women’s Business Success Network, the Asia Pacific Gateway – High Tea Dim Sum, and the Access Student Career Development Program.
“We are delighted to be named finalists in this important competition. Increasingly businesses are recognizing the value of these initiatives. In the first half of this year, we have brought in more than double the amount of new members compared to this time last year and we believe member retention and attraction will continue to thrive by delivering innovative, diverse programming to our business community,” Burnaby Board of Trade president and CEO Paul Holden said in a press release.
The Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce and the Calgary Chamber of Commerce were also named as finalists. Gold, silver and bronze winners will be announced at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce annual general meeting in Regina, SK, on Sept. 17.
