At last week’s Altona & District Chamber of Commerce annual general meeting, chamber president Cal Smith painted a picture of 2024 as a year filled with challenges, but also significant progress.
Addressing a room full of business leaders, municipal representatives, and community members, Smith emphasized the chamber’s ongoing efforts to connect and support local businesses and navigate economic uncertainties.
He also highlighted the organization’s commitment to building connections through various events and initiatives, including Lunch and Learns, networking gatherings, and formal business programs.
“Our focus has been about getting people together,” he said. “Programming to support local businesses and the continued success of the Chamber Bucks program have all produced positive results and helped to ensure our membership is moving forward.”
The Chamber Bucks initiative, which encourages local spending by offering a gift certificate program redeemable at participating businesses, has been a particularly successful tool, Smith said.
Beyond networking and economic initiatives, Smith pointed out that both the business sector and municipal organizations have experienced some growth this year.
He acknowledged the role of local development agencies in driving this expansion, specifically noting the rebranding of SEED (Supporting Entrepreneurs through Economic Development) as ARED (Altona Rhineland Economic Development).
“I’d be remiss if I didn’t highlight their continued support,” he said.
Despite these positive developments, Smith did not shy away from addressing the concerns weighing on the minds of business owners.
“Uncertainty seems to be the word of the day,” he acknowledged. “Businesses are wondering what’s happening and what they can do to keep things moving forward. There are constant issues that keep business owners and managers awake at night, whether it’s new markets, supporting local programs, interest rates, tariffs, and the various costs that keep rising. Will this ever end? We really don’t know.”
He urged business owners to remain proactive and adaptable, emphasizing that a forward-thinking approach would be key to overcoming these hurdles.
“You just can’t focus on the problems,” he said. “We want to be proactive and keep vigilant on how we can improve. It’s an opportunity to sit back and figure out how to make things better for us and the business community.”
Smith stressed that the chamber plays a vital role in helping businesses navigate these uncertain times.
“That’s what the chamber is here for. To listen to your concerns. To see how we can assist and explore how the local network can support our business community.”
Financially, the chamber closed 2024 with $275,439 in revenue, though it faced a deficit of $5,158. While this shortfall was acknowledged, Smith assured members that strategic efforts were underway to strengthen financial sustainability in the coming year.
Keynote speaker addresses challenges and solutions
The event’s keynote speaker, Chuck Davidson, president and CEO of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, delivered an insightful address on the pressing challenges facing local businesses.
“We know businesses are facing real struggles right now, and our job is to listen, advocate, and find solutions,” he said.
Davidson presented findings from recent surveys, identifying workforce shortages, inflationary pressures, and the impact of tariffs as top concerns for business owners.
“Businesses are telling us they need help finding workers, managing rising costs, and navigating trade challenges. These aren’t just numbers on a report—they’re real issues affecting people’s livelihoods.”
One of the most pressing issues discussed was the labour shortage, particularly the difficulty in attracting and retaining skilled workers. Davidson stressed the need for workforce strategies that align with the needs of local businesses.
“We need to ensure our workforce strategies align with the needs of our employers so that businesses can grow and thrive,” he said.
He also underscored the importance of policies that encourage workforce participation and targeted immigration programs that bring in the right talent.
“If we can bring in the right talent and keep them here, everyone benefits.”
Addressing inflation, Davidson acknowledged the financial strain businesses face due to rising operational costs and supply chain disruptions.
“The reality is, businesses are feeling the squeeze from every direction,” he said.
Davidson outlined several initiatives they’re pursuing to provide financial planning resources and lobby for policies that support small and medium-sized enterprises.
“We are working to ensure decision-makers understand the impact of these rising costs and take action to provide some relief.”
The impact of tariffs on manufacturing and agriculture was another major topic of discussion. Davidson emphasized that the provincial organization is actively engaged in ongoing dialogues with policymakers to address inter-provincial trade barriers and push for fairer agreements.
“We continue to advocate for more predictable trade policies that allow our businesses to remain competitive on the global stage,” he noted. He reinforced the importance of maintaining strong relationships with both provincial and federal governments to ensure that business concerns are heard and acted upon. “We need policies that make it easier, not harder, for our businesses to succeed.”
