beez

James Barlow - 2009/10 President

Hello and welcome to the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce website!  We are rather proud of it and I hope that our pride will become evident to you as you move on from this page.  Before you do though, I want to take the opportunity to welcome you here on behalf of my executive team, staff and Board of Directors.

We represent some 700 plus businesses and organizations in this community with an employee base of over 3000 people.  Our committees are Member Services, Transportation, Hospitality & Retail, Agriculture and Government Affairs.  Our meetings encourage member participation and provide opportunity to meet others you could network with the build your business, or to provide input in significant policy areas.  We are working to build a better business community with training, benefits, fun gatherings and significant advocacy at all levels of government - Federal, Provincial and Municipal.

We have built the Chamber into a strong and exciting organization representing the business community of Abbotsford.  We have taken issues which affect our businesses and represented them to those who have the power to make changes for the good of all.  Those changes will affect us today, but most importantly, they will have an impact on the generations to follow.  We are justifiably proud of our accomplishments, and although not all of our initiatives meet with success, many have succeeded with our vociferous support.  I would encourage you to share our thoughts with me and with my colleagues at the Chamber.  Get involved!  Perhaps your input can encourage a better Abbotsford too!

I believe that together we can build a better business community and a better Abbotsford: a place wher our grandchildren will be proud to live, work and play.  We are the voice of Abbotsford business.  Our agricultural base has allowed Abbotsford to be acknowledged as Canada's agriculture capital.  We are striving to be recognized in other sectors as well.  We are excited to welcome the World for the 2010 Olympics.  We want to be the best there is.  We have a good start.  Join us in winning this race and build a better business community!

Sincerely,

James Barlow