The Burnaby Board of Trade and the New Westminster Chamber of Commerce are investigating the possibility of a merger after the New West chamber experienced “difficulties” and hemorrhaged membership after the pandemic.
“They found themselves in a position where they had some very difficult decisions to make, and expansion of another board, a friendly board that they felt was aligned, seemed to them the best to move forward.” “It’s really important to understand that the final decision belongs to our membership, not to our board,” said Skaper.Impact on Burnaby Coun. Sav Dhaliwal said the relationship between the city and BBOT is different than other cities, as the city financially supports the board, and the board works with staff on the city’s economic development strategy.
“You’ve raised one of the key concerns of our board, which is protecting and maintaining that strong relationship with Burnaby and ensuring that no expansion that we have creates any struggle for our ability to maintain and fulfill that obligation,” Skaper said.