King Township Chamber to work toward unification
By Bill Rea

King Township Deputy Mayor Bill Cober swore in the executive for the coming year of the King Township Chamber of Commerce last Wednesday night. The executive includes Maureen Richardson, president; Peter Calluori, vice-president; Cathy Webster, secretary; Don McKnight, treasurer; and directors Audrey de Souza Moraes, Paul Duckett, Tom Dobson, Cameron Fellman, Maria Ferrante, Bill Laceby, Jeff Laceby, Liina Peacock, Jack Rupke, Robert Silcox, Fr. Suren Nathan and Henry Verbruggen.

The potential unification of the two Chambers of Commerce in King Township into one body gained strength last Wednesday night.

Members of the King Township Chamber voted unanimously that a committee should be in place to work toward creating a unified body by January 2008, if not earlier, and that the two Chambers work jointly on mutually agreed projects over the coming year.

Members agreed to the motion at the King Township Chamber's annual general meeting after a minor word change, aimed at specifying the unified Chamber would be in King. Chamber President Maureen Richardson told the membership the Chamber executive had agreed unanimously with the resolution.

Chamber of Commerce President Maureen Richardson was flanked by Treasurer Don McKnight and Secretary Cathy Webster at last week's annual general meeting.

Discussions between the two bodies have been going on for some time. Earlier last month, the Nobleton Schomberg District Chamber of Commerce voted overwhelmingly (but not unanimously) "to explore these options further."

Barb Davis, president of the Nobleton Schomberg Chamber, was at last week's meeting in King City and explained some of the members had been concerned about losing their rural character. She added there will always be some people who don't agree.

Jamie Smyth, the Township's economic development officer, was at the meeting and favoured unification. "It has to be done for all the right reasons" for the Chambers to work together, he cautioned. Smyth added it's important for there to be a strong voice from the local business community.

He also pointed out there are nine municipalities in York Region, and 10 Chambers, so he observed that it might sometimes be hard for King to be taken seriously in that environment.

Regarding the rural feel, Smyth said there are some unique features that would have to be addressed, and that can be done while maintaining the strengths of local villages.

Chamber Director Henry Verbruggen observed there were three Chambers in King up until about a year ago, but those three bodies were able to set up an economic development committee.

"We have been working together," he declared.

"Everything will evolve and we'll just keep working away," Richardson remarked.