Despite plummeting oil prices, a devalued dollar and gloomy reports from major banks and the conference board, the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce’s incoming president.
“I think the national media certainly plays up the fall in the oil prices and how it impacts our provincial budget and federal budget,” said Joel Martinuk, general manager of Key Chevrolet. “Locally, I think we still have a strong economy. Agriculture seems to be doing fine, the potash industry, which certainly supports Yorkton and area, seems to be doing fine, so I think a lot of our local drivers look good and I’m optimistic 2015 will be a positive year for our communities.”
He points out as well that since agriculture is still king in southeastern Saskatchewan that cheaper inputs for farmers in terms of fuel could actually turn out to be a net positive for the area.
The 16 members of the Chamber’s board of directors elected Martinuk January. They also elected the rest of the executive including Don Rae, past president; Corey Werner, vice president and co-chair of the business development committee; Melissa Honour, co-chair of the business development committee; Carol Yaholnitsky, chair of the events committee; Rob Bear, chair of the marketing and communications committee; and Susan Stewardson, chair of the policy committee.
Martinuk said he feels privileged to be president and is looking forward to working with what he believes is a dynamic team.
“I’ve got a really diverse group on the board with a lot of experience in different areas,” he said. “I think they’ll be very helpful. We’ve got some young business people and we’ve got some older folks with a lot of experience, so I think they’ll be a real help to me this year.”
He also had great praise for the paid staff of the Chamber.
“Our executive director Juanita Polegi is outstanding,” he said. “Sherry [MacDonald], our marketing director has been a wonderful person to work with. There’s great staff at the chamber and it’s been very good to work with them.”
Among Martinuk’s priorities for his term is working with government to improve business prospects.
“We want to work with our local city officials, with our local provincial and federal representatives to make sure business issues are at the forefront and that they understand where we’re coming from and that we can support them when they have policy that supports business and we can certainly keep them accountable when they do things that can hinder business,” he said.
In a press release announcing the executive, Polegi also named the expansion of the Yorkton Regional Airport as a top priority for the board.
“We believe that the airport is a local economic driver,” Martinuk said. “It’s great to have an asset like that in the community and we certainly feel strongly about its success and its future.”
