Slowly but surely, the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce is getting back on its feet after the disruptions of COVID-19.
The pandemic restrictions shut down chamber events throughout the spring and summer, including Chamber on Tap and their annual golf tournament.
But with the arrival of the fall and the relaxing of restrictions under the province’s Re-Open Saskatchewan plan, the chamber is once again able to schedule some live events — most notably including their own meetings.
On Tuesday the chamber held its monthly board of directors meeting at the Balych Mural Meeting Room. It was their first meeting held live and in person since the pandemic outbreak in March.
Chamber directors carried out meetings on the Zoom platform in April, May and June before their usual summer break. For their return to live meetings, there were notable changes as directors were spread out at tables throughout the meeting room to ensure there was enough social distancing.
The chamber is one of a number of organizations throughout the province to return to live meetings, or at least contemplate resuming them. Destination Battlefords had conducted its AGM in August after several months of postponement. Living Sky School Division had planned to return to live meetings this month with strict protocols, but their first meeting scheduled for Sept. 9 ended up being cancelled.
The City of North Battleford and Town of Battleford have both openly contemplated the possibility of opening up their meetings, but both have kept going with virtual online meetings for now.
As for the chamber, they are actively working towards resuming events in the fall that are in line with COVID-19 health protocols in place.
The biggest event already announced is “BBEX Goes to the Movies” to be held at the Capitol Annex movie theatre venue on Nov. 12.
The event this year will see different categories than usual, as the awards this year celebrate the resilience, community support and everyday heroes of the Battlefords business community.
The cinema venue for the annual business awards was seen as ideal for social distancing, with those attending spread out in multiple cinemas throughout the venue. They will also be entering and exiting through separate doors. A grand total of 162 people will be allowed in the building, which is a reduced number from past BBEX awards.
At the board meeting Tuesday, chief operating officer Linda Machniak reported they have received approval from health officials for the event to happen.
“They love the idea, they thought it was creative,” said Machniak, who added they were provided with some additional suggestions for protocols.
Another regular event that has resumed this fall is their networking event Chamber on Tap, with the first one on Sept. 3 at Porta Bella restaurant. The plan is to hold three more such events this fall on Oct 1, Nov. 5 and Dec. 3. The northwest region’s Medical Health Officer Dr. Mandiangu Nsungu has agreed to speak at the October event.
The chamber is also looking at holding election forums this fall, although it remains uncertain what format they will take due to pandemic restrictions.
The idea is to hold a provincial election forum with local provincial candidates, and two municipal election forums — one for North Battleford and one for Battleford.
The format remains under discussion, and there is a possibility they could be held without a live audience and presented video-only. More details are expectedly to be released closer to the elections. The provincial election is Oct. 26 and the municipal vote is Nov. 9.
The Chamber also intends to go ahead with its own director elections as usual. The plan is for the nomination committee to convene in October and for ballots to go out in December, with a return deadline of Dec. 31 and counting to happen during the first week of January, 2021.
