PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

As we begin the 2010-2011 Chamber year we can look back at 2009 and say not only did our Fredericton business community survive the harsh realities of the economy but in many cases our members thrived. This success can be attributed to the entrepreneurial spirit of our business community and the unique mix of public and private enterprise that exists. Fredericton has been blessed with stable employment and continues to lead Saint John and Moncton with the lowest unemployment rate. I believe there are many opportunities that lay ahead of us and a vibrant Chamber will contribute to the success of our fine city.

I am honoured to lead the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce into 2011. I look forward to the challenges of this position as well as meeting as many members as possible. I am continually amazed at the dedication of Chamber members. We have many active committees and the volunteer work, commitment and ideas generated by our volunteers’ leads to new and exciting initiatives. This is substantiated by two programs that came to fruition in the past two years; the Physician Recruitment initiative and the Business Immigrant Mentorship program. These are two highly visible programs that address the needs of business and the community at large.

Our incoming board is populated with experienced business people with diverse backgrounds and they will bring great value to the Chamber’s vision. We are just completing the last year of our current strategic plan. 2010 will be an exciting time to be part of the Chamber as we embark on a new plan and vision.

We will continue to sponsor high quality events while continuing to be the leading advocate for business in Fredericton. We will look for new opportunities to advance business in Fredericton and we will continue our collaboration with our friends and partners at Business Fredericton North, Enterprise Fredericton, City of Fredericton and the Fredericton International Airport Authority. We value our relationship with all of these agencies and the City of Fredericton.

I want to thank Dale Dunphy for his years of service to the Chamber. Dale is vacating the Past President chair and this position will be more than capably filled by Lee Winchester our outgoing President. Lee has demonstrated extraordinary leadership and dedication as president and I look forward to drawing on his experience over the coming year.

I would be remiss if I didn’t recognize and thank our former CEO Anthony Knight for the many hours he worked on behalf of our members. His dedication led our chamber to be one of the country’s leading Chamber of Commerce. I also look forward to working with Susan Holt our new CEO. Susan is highly skilled and enthusiastic and I know the Board is excited about working with Susan and the Chamber’s highly competent staff.

Finally I want to thank the countless volunteers who take time away from their busy schedules to contribute to the success of the Chamber. Without volunteers and their dedication and enthusiasm we could not accomplish the goals set out by the Board. Keep up the good work and remember the Chamber of Commerce is the “voice” of business in Fredericton.


Mike Toole
2010-2011 President
Fredericton Chamber of Commerce