chambers in BC... . Chamber of Commerce Week m leadership in action ‘February 12-16, 2001 — : Just under 400 members Chamber working to build more com SHE MAY be telatively new on the job, but Ter- race and District Chamber of Commerce manager Linda Bell is rapidly im- mersing herself in the bu- siness community. Bell officially took over from long-time manager Bobbie Phillips last month, “It’s been a pretty busy time,” says Bell in listing a variety of on-going chamber projects. Membership now stands at just under 400 and has been at that level for the past three or four years. One plan of Bell's and of the chamber executive is to promote the benefits of membership. While larger businesses may have the financial ability to line up various kinds of services on their own, that might not be the case for smaller ones. So it’s here where Bell says the chamber can offer the most. muni Linda Bell Members can sign up for a low-cost long dis- tance telephone plan and get in on a credit card plan. Of great importance to the smailer-size members is the chamber package offering a goad variety of medical benefits which might otherwise be unaf- fordable. “We're working on ways to raise the profile of the chamber, not only in the business community but in the community as a whole,” said Bell. “We're working on a website now and that’s im- portant.” Bell said that it's vital for various sectors of the area to work on comple- menting each other. “The chamber is in- volved in so many aspects and levels of the commun- ity and that’s important for the benefit of the’ com- munity as a whole,” she said. Bell is, for example, on the board of the Terrace Economic Development Authority. In that capacity she’s going to a two-day work- shop down south aimed at how communities can make themselves ready for new businesses. ty connections There’s been much ac- tivity already underway for this year’s chamber-spon- sored trades fair at the arena, “We have only three beoth spaces left and that’s great,” said Bell of the 82 that are available. The chamber is also working on making space available in other parts of the arena for members of the local home-based busi- ness association, And chamber members can expect it to be active in assisting with two other events heré this year — the Minerals North conference and the Northwest Loggers conference. “There’s a real good feeling out there in the community,” said Bell. “As tough as things have happened, people are very resilient.” " Call the chamber at 635-2063 for membership details. ‘Revamped website, map to aid tourism effort A NEW area map and a revamped web site are occupying Maria McGowan’s time nowadays. As the Terrace Tourism Council’s sole employee, McGowan works to promote the area to taurists. She’s been recently pleasantly sur- prised by the amount of writers and ca- méra crews coming to check out Shames Mountain and the back coun- try for snowboarding because of good snow conditions compared to other places in the province. The re-done maps have been gone over by regional district and city em- ployees for accuracy and to make sure all new streets and avenues are inclu- ded. There’ll also be maps of Lakelse Lake, Old Remo, New Remo and Rosswood, says McGowan. “We're also working on our travel guide. The format’s been popular and we're secing it copied elsewhere,” says McGowan of the small size of the guide which makes it easy to carry and to use. ; As for the tourism council’s web- site, it’s been two years since it was first created and that's a long time in the fast-paced world of internet activ- ity. “Things change and we're going to be reflecting that,” McGown said. The website gives her the ability to track visitors. While it registers thou- sands of hits, McGowan’s most im- Pressed with the number of people each day who actually peruse its con- tents. . _ “We have 43 user sessions of this kind every day and each spends an average ¢ight minutes on the site,” she said. . “That’s more than we get walking in the door,” Visitors on the site either come dir- ectly into it or via links from other lo-' cations containing information on the area. Because tourism is more than a Terrace-based business opportunity, McGowan spends a lot of time Speak- ing to people from around the region. The expanding cruise ship industry in Prince Rupert will have an impact on Terrace by organizing tours of the area, she says. The council was also extremely happy with a trial offering of boat rides on the Skeena during Riverboat Days last year. It’s planning on doing the same this year and McGowan said there are local operators interested in offering such a service all summer. c ‘Westcoast Fishing @ Adventures Mtn, PRIMERICA J Amomber of citagroaup Peter Arcadi Regional Vice President Proud member of the Terrace Co-operative Association { ACKLANDS - GRAINGER” INDUSTRIAL - FLEET - SAFETY SUPPLY Proud member of the #201 - 46179 Lakelse Bus. (250) 635-7800 Gill & Justin Terrace, B.C, Fox {280} 635-2831 Chamber of Commerce for 23 years, Chamber of Commerce for 12 years. Your Guides to Tight Lines VEG IPP Toll Freett (800) 295-7676 YOUR ONE STOP PETROLEUM & Proud member of the Chamber of Proud member of the BUILDING MATERIALS CENTRE Commerce for 2 years. Chamber of Commerce for 5 years. CARDLOCK & HOMECENTRE 2809 Kalum Street, Terrace Phone (250) 635-5005 or (250) 638-0021 Licensed ta sell mutval funds through Pb.C250) 635-9595 Fax: (250) 635-4524 635-6226 Visit our Web Site: www.westcoast-fishing.com PFSL investments Canada Lid, Mulval Fund Dealer _ __ 1-800-848-6547 Best Western Terrace Inn AND CONFERENCE CENTER Pet Worl!lod No. 110A - 4741 Lakelse Ave. Terrace, B.C. V8G 4R9 aA PP PAPC Phone 638-1864 Proud member of the HEALTH SERVICE Chamber of Commerce roud member of the 2 for 11 years. SKEENA MALL Gg Chamber of Commerce for 10 years. lakelse Ave., Terrace 635-2546 12-4736 Lakelse Ave, Terrace Proud member of the . For Reservations Call Proud member of the . 7 6 Ep Chamber of Commerce for 5 years. & (250) 635-0083 Chamber of Commerce for 16 years. rok f — HOULDEN LOGGING LTD. Proud member of the Chamber of Commerce for 10 years. (jr eWest Proud member of the Chamber of Commerce for 23 years, PURIFIED BOTTLE TO YOUR DOOR Proud member of the "| Chamber of Commerce for 9 years. Proud member of the Chamber of Commerce for 9 years. 4602 Keith Ave., Terrace 5203 McConnell, Terrace 4620 Lakelse Ave,, Terrace . 4 4456 Greig Avenue, Terrace ’ 635-7383 __ 635-5123 638-8141 — 635-2341 a “Our family serving your cn) - ( H A i IR . family for aver 20 years” f ACADIA NORTHWEST MECHANICAL INC, . . LA l\/ ES Proud member of the RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL . oe FA ————— Chamber of Cornmerce Salon & Tanning for 19 years, THE PLUMERIG | (RAING PS ee ORE PROFESSIONALS Proud member of the 4648 Lakelse Ave. Proud member of the ST ENNOX Chamber of Commerce for 7 years. 638-8581 Chamber of Commerce for I 7 years. Faia 4660A Lakelse Avenue, Terrace Bus: ° 5 #230 - 4741 Lakelse Ave., Terrace Proud member of the For:638-1361 7% 635-6555 FAX: 635-6389 Chamber of Commerce for 17 years. 635-5727