P.G. to host provincial Chamber AGM

For the second time in only fours years, Prince George will be the host city for the BC Chamber of Commerce annual general meeting.

This is a highly unusual move for the province's premier business association. It was announced on the floor of the current AGM that just wrapped up in Richmond. Prince George had not even applied to be the host city, but some behind-the-scenes discussions during the meetings brought the idea to fruition.

Hosting the Canada Winter Games leading into the city's centennial played a role in the provincial Chamber's thinking, as well as other key anniversaries clustered in the these next couple of years.

"It is a big deal," said Prince George Chamber of Commerce director of external relations Jennifer Brandle-McCall, who was the organization's CEO in 2011 when this city last played host. "Normally what happens is, there is usually a longer period before you host again but the P.G. Chamber was approached again because of all the things going on here in 2015 so there is a lot of buzz about Prince George and because P.G. did such a good job hosting last time."

There were more than 200 delegates who attended the 2011 event, but current Chamber CEO Christie Ray, who helped negotiate the encore along with Chamber president Ranjit Gill and vice-president Cindi Pohl, said they would be campaigning for more than 300 at the 2015 edition.

"We will wow them. Its a wonderful opportunity for us as a Chamber and for the city. These are some of the finest business people in the province, they debate and hold discussions on some of the most cutting edge issues facing the B.C. economy, so we are going to make the most of it."

The AGM will take place May 24 to 26, bringing a follow-up injection to the local economy shortly after the Canada Winter Games comes to a close. It was a comfort to the provincial body to know, with that experience so fresh in Prince George's mind, the hospitality industry would be more than ready for them.

"The BC Chamber knows that Prince George has what it takes to host this sort of event, where there are a lot of meetings, a lot of social engagements, some large sessions and small groups, all in one. There are 300 people who come, but you have to be set up for 600 because of the changeovers that take place, with the whole group going back and forth to things," said Ray. "Prince George can do that, but not a lot of other communities have that capability. And we've done it before so recently. They enjoyed that experience, so they turned to us."

The provincial Chamber is contemplating a change to a prescribed regional schedule to give the different parts of the province a chance to have the AGM. Piloting that program is another reason the organizers turned to Prince George.

Ray said it gives them a rare chance to build off of all these factors and perhaps foster some extra special features to give the BC Chamber an extraordinary AGM experience when they come here a year from now.