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November 9, 2007
As usual, the Watson Lake Chamber of Commerce were the absolute epitome of what we know as “good Yukon hosts’” by helping us make the 22nd Yukon Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting and Awards Banquet a roaring success. Events were held at the Northern Lights Centre, the Watson Lake Ski Club and the Watson Lake Recreation Complex during the weekend of October 19th – 20th. Attendance numbers were down slightly from the previous year, but that did not dampen the enthusiasm of those who did attend.
To kick the weekend off, a reception was held at the Northern Lights Centre, followed by the delegates attending the Watson Lake Oktoberfest, which was sponsored and organized by the Watson Lake Rodeo Association.
With an agenda focused on “Leading The Way to Better Business”, a diverse array of presenters dealt with issues including the current labour market situation in the Yukon, how to better do business with the Government of Canada (the first bi-lingual presentation at an AGM), employer’s responsibilities to the Yukon Workers Compensation Health and Safety Board, the WCH&SB’s new “Return to Work Program”, an update on the Yukon Cold Climate Initiative and an overview of Policing Issues in Yukon Communities.
The Annual Business Meeting of the Chamber, which saw the following slate of officers elected:
CHAIR: Rob McIntyre, Access Consulting Group/Alexco Resource Corp.
1st – VICE CHAIR: Michael Brandt, Whitepass & Yukon Route Railway.
2nd – VICE CHAIR: Jerome Babyn, Yukon Electrical Co. Ltd.
VICE CHAIR AT LARGE: Christine Doke, Yukon Engineering Services Inc.
TREASURER: Wayne McLennan, First Nations Bank of Canada.
SECRETARY: Andy Stouffer, Northwestel Inc.
Following a full day of business in the spectacular setting of the Watson lake Ski Club, delegates and guests re-convened in the Morgan Chaddock Community Hall at the Recreation Complex for a spectacular dinner banquet and the Awards.
Not only was a good time had by all, the Chamber’s Annual Awards were presented to: Business Service of the Year: Holt Agencies, Mr. Jim Holt accepting.
Business Person of the Year: Thierry Oles of Whitehorse Motors; Body Shop Manager.
Unfortunately, Thierry could not make the awards to accept.
Exporter of the Year: Sherwood Copper Corporation (Minto Mine), Mr. Ian Berzins accepting.
In addition to the Yukon Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards, CHAIR Rob McIntyre announced and presented the inaugural Rob Harvey Lifetime Achievement Award. This new award, which will not necessarily be presented on an annual basis, was announced by the Chamber in memory of the late Rob Harvey, Rob a former CHAIR and a tireless worker for the Chamber. The award recognizes special individuals form the Yukon’s business community that have gone that “extra mile” to promote a positive economic environment and to enhance the climate for doing business in the Yukon. In honor of his tireless work for the Chamber, the inaugural award was presented posthumously to Rob Harvey, to Yukon Engineering Services Inc. and to his family. Christine Doke accepted the award.
The Chamber was pleased to welcome as our Keynote Speaker this year, Mr. Lewis A. Lukens, the United States Consul General. Mr. Lukens has served as US Consul General in Vancouver and as the senior US Government Representative in British Columbia and the Yukon since August of 2005. He reports directly to the US Ambassador in Ottawa and supervises sixty-two employees from seven US Government agencies in B.C. He has served with the US Diplomatic Corp. since 1989 with prior postings in Southern China, on the Ivory Coast of Africa, in Australia, Ireland and Iraq, as well as in the US State Department in Washington and in the Whitehouse. Mr. Lukens has a BA in History and a Master Degree in Public Policy, both from Princeton. He resides in Vancouver with his wife, two daughters and English springer spaniel.
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