Yukon Chamber of Commerce closing shop, calling it a 'refresh'

The Yukon Chamber of Commerce is going out of business.
Members of the advocacy group unanimously voted at its annual general meeting on Wednesday to dissolve the 40-year-old organization.
However, the chamber's executive director Patti Balsillie characterizes it as a "refresh," suggesting that a new organization could be formed to take its place as the voice of Yukon's business community.
"Maybe this is the phoenix coming out of the ashes. But we needed to create a crisis perhaps, to instigate what could be a better formula," Balsillie said.
"The motion was, 'yes, let's dissolve,' and the ancillary was, 'and let's get back to the original intent.'"
Balsillie says the chamber as it is right now is "no longer financially sustainable," with less revenue coming in. She said the COVID-19 pandemic changed how many businesses spend their money, and the chamber suffered as a result. A significant portion of the chamber's money comes from its members.
She also described a changing landscape for non-profit business advocacy groups in the Yukon, with more and more of them doing similar work.
"The lane is very congested," Balsillie said.
"[The chamber's] relevancy was eroded by apathy, by people thinking somebody else will do the work, there are other volunteers that have my back — but no, you have to show up."
She said the organization will remain open at least through the summer, to sell assets, pay bills, and plan its formal dissolution.
Still, she described the end of the chamber as akin to a "pause," before something else forms to take its place. She believes there's still a role for an organization that represents businesses across the territory.
"To be a part of a conversation about the end of an era sucks," she said.
"More than ever, a voice for business in Yukon really needs to be represented. And the structure that we were doing it under is wasn't sustainable. So this is an opportunity to do a refresh."
Community chambers 'exploring collaboration'
In a news release on Thursday, three of the organization's members — the Whitehorse, Dawson City, and St. Elias (Haines Junction) chambers of commerce — say they are "saddened" by the Yukon chamber's dissolution, saying it "leaves a significant gap in territorial representation for Yukon's community Chambers and for businesses operating in Yukon communities."
The three community organizations also say they are "exploring collaboration across the territory," and will "provide updates as these discussions evolve."
Justine Hobbs, interim executive director of the Dawson chamber, said on Thursday that she believes there's now momentum "towards something new and exciting."
"So it's sort of a mixed feeling, you know, saddened, but also excited," she said. "We're really interested in building like, a new model that focuses on Yukon-wide advocacy, policy development and just effective communication."
Hobbs said there is a need for a group that represents businesses beyond their local communities. For example, she says, a Whitehorse-based business might operate in other communities and be affected by regulations or policies in those places.
"I think there's a bit of a worry from business members that if they link up with a community chamber, that they won't actually be represented in the right way," Hobbs said.

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