NORTH BATTLEFORD — The Battlefords and District Chamber of Commerce is preparing to go ahead with hosting some long-awaited events in 2022.
Chief Operating Officer Linda Machniak outlined what is in the works for 2022 at a noon-hour Chamber directors meeting Tuesday.
One of the events for 2022 is the Chamber Business Golf Challenge, to be held this year at North Battleford Golf and Country Club. Machniak told the board she and staff met with Dana Johnson of North Battleford Golf and Country Club earlier on Tuesday, working on such items as sponsorships.
The event is on May 27, and Machniak confirmed that date is “not tentative — it’s booked.”
The Chamber is also looking to revive two events that have been on hold during the pandemic restrictions — the Post-Budget Luncheon and the Power Hour.
Machniak reported the Battlefords Chamber is working on securing the Post-Budget Luncheon again with the minister of Finance. This event had been a mainstay on the Chamber calendar for years until the pandemic hit in 2020, and had not been held locally the past two years. Last year Finance Minister Donna Harpauer hosted only a couple of virtual events with the Battlefords not selected for either of those.
Machniak said the chamber as well as MLA Jeremy Cockrill have talked to the Finance office and they are “in on their request list” for a Post-Budget Lunch event. Budget day is March 23 and Machniak indicated the event would likely be a week or two after that should it go ahead.
It's not clear yet if the event will be held live or be done virtually. Machniak indicated the hope from the ministry was that they could get out and do in-person meetings again.
Notices have also been sent out to the six guests who would attend the “Power Hour.” The first Power Hour was held right before the pandemic hit in 2020 and consisted of the MP, MLA, both mayors and tribal council chiefs attending and taking questions at a noon-hour luncheon.
Machniak said they hope to do the Power Hour again and a likely date would appear to be the Easter week in April, to accommodate provincial and federal legislative schedules. Four of the potential participants have indicated that week would work, Machniak said.
Machniak also reported plans are likely to change for the regular rapid antigen test distribution at the Chamber’s drive-thrus.
Machniak noted there will no longer be funding from the feds, but also the Battlefords North Stars players are unlikely to be available to help out with the distribution once playoffs start in March. The North Stars players have been volunteering their time to help with the distribution of the rapid test kits to people coming through the drive thru.
