Attendees
Board Members in Attendance: Eric, Brendan, Nigel, Dave, Monica
Chamber Manager: Melinda
Guests: Tammi
Agenda
Approval of Agenda: Motion to approve Agenda brought by Brendan, second by Monica, approved.
Chamber Manager/Financial Report
Profit & Loss Statement to October 30 2025: Profit & Loss Statement January to November 30 2025
Approval of payment of Watersedge Business Services Invoice: Watersedge Invoice 10165 December 2025
Approval of payment of McMunny’s Invoice: McMunny's Invoice for Christmas Party 2025
2026 Membership Invoices:
Motion to approve 2. a., .b, c., and d. brought by Monica, second by Nigel, approved.
Approval of meeting minutes Erickson & District Chamber of Commerce Board Meeting Minutes:
- Erickson & District Chamber of Commerce December 2 2025 Board Meeting Minutes
Motion brought to approve the December 2, 2025 Meeting Minutes brought by Nigel, second by Monica, approved.
Approval of new members: none
Board Calendar Erickson & District Chamber of Commerce Calendar
Ongoing action item log: Action Log
Chamber Website: Nearly ready to launch.
Erickson Main Street Sidewalk Snowclearing Pilot (led by Chamber) The Chamber-led snow clearing pilot project for Main Street sidewalks from Railway to Centre Street is progressing well with Beatty's Construction performing the removal service. The team is still working through operational details regarding scheduling and determining when service will be triggered, but the quality of work has been excellent when completed. Snow clearing is being completed within a 24-hour timeframe, and Beatty's Construction will also clear a strip right at the curb. No invoicing has occurred yet as the Board agreed to work out any operational issues during the first month before beginning billing. Only positive comments have been received from businesses and community members. Brendan noted that while timing of service visits is still being determined, people seem to be happy with the service. The Board authorized Melinda to proceed with sending out invoices to participating businesses, as the pilot has demonstrated successful service delivery.
Annual Christmas Party 2025: The event was a success with approximately 93 tickets sold and financials close to break-even. Hosting at McMunny's made the event significantly easier to manage. For next year, the Board will reconsider venue size options and explore the possibility of partnering with local food service businesses to host a co-party dinner at two different locations, then bringing everyone together for the evening's main event.
Erickson & District Santa Claus Parade & Day: This combined effort between the Recreation Director and the Chamber was well-attended and successful. Nigel organized 14 floats with 15 participants, including Parks Canada, who joined an existing float. Following the parade, the community gathered at the arena for hot dogs, hot chocolate, and free skating, which were well-enjoyed by attendees.
Airport Area Development: Eric provided an update indicating the project is awaiting the next phase of information from Dillon Consulting, who have completed their Lidar scan prior to snowfall. Eric will report back once more details are available. Nigel emphasized the importance of maintaining focus on creating light industrial and commercial site options that are highway-accessible between Onanole and Erickson, noting significant demand exists as demonstrated by a previous project that had 4-5 committed tenants before being rejected access to Highway 10. The Flying Club held a meeting and signed their lease agreement. They will invoice $500 as a trade for managing the property.
2026 AGM initial discussions: Date: The Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 15th at the Sandy Lake Drop In Centre. Melinda will reach out to the venue to confirm availability and inquire about their catering services for coffee and snacks. Once confirmed, a Save the Date will be sent out and the event added to the calendar.
Dave questioned why the Chamber had not amalgamated with Wasagaming. Eric, as a member of both Chambers, shared his concerns about amalgamation, noting the two Chambers have very different interests and cultures. Instead, Eric suggested exploring cooperation with Clear Lake Country by offering an optional extended membership to Erickson & District Chamber members, which would provide access to Clear Lake Country benefits for an additional fee on top of regular dues. Eric emphasized the need for more cooperation between organizations while acknowledging the current small volunteer board lacks capacity to take on high-level political issues, suggesting the Chamber maintain a backseat role on political matters due to limited volunteer time and resources. He noted that partnering with a larger organization could allow the Chamber to accomplish more. The Board discussed potentially taking on a more active advocacy role in the future if membership grows. Recognizing the importance of this growth, the Board has decided to make membership expansion a priority. Once Melinda sends the list of existing members and the compiled list of potential members, Board members will review and make recommendations. The goal is to create a comprehensive prospect list and send out introductory letters outlining the benefits of Chamber membership.
In Camera