The presidential gavel for the Timmins Chamber of Commerce board of directors has been handed off.
With a few words of encouragement, outgoing president Jamie Clarke passed the reins to Nancy Mageau, a commercial account manager for RBC Royal Bank.
“Nancy, our up and coming president, I know she’ll do a super job. With her position that she has, she has the experience of dealing with people and she is a very dedicated person,” Clarke said.
Overall, he said the past year has been successful.
He said it was very rewarding to go one-on-one with politicians at Queen’s Park, and noted everyone has their fingers crossed for Noront.
He was quick to say that not everything has been achieved in the past year, though.
“But we’re sure working on it,” he said. “And that’s why the chamber has been in existence for as long as it’s been here in Timmins and will continue to also be. I really suggest to anyone that if you’re not a chamber member now, make sure you do so. Join and try to be as active as you can because just by sitting on the sidelines and not helping out it doesn’t help Timmins or our business community.”
As the incoming president, Mageau wants “to build on the momentum that the chamber has had over the years, to continue the great work for our membership, which ultimately benefits the community.”
Mageau started at the chamber on a committee and has progressed through the board of director ranks to president.
While it’s early in her term, she has an idea of what’s to come in the next year.
“This year we’re basically going to be working on partnerships, getting membership to kind of think outside the box, look at different ways we can partner to benefit them – not think of it as an obstacle when there’s a potential where they can partner together to assist each other or assist with the growth of the community,” she said.
The chamber’s board of directors has 21 members and provides direction and guidance on policy, advocacy and programs on behalf of the members.
In July, new board members were elected and will officially be sworn in at the chamber’s annual general meeting Wednesday, Sept. 12.
