The Rotary Club was delighted to welcome Lisa Kowalchuk, Executive Director of the Medicine Hat Chamber of Commerce to our meeting today. Lisa was introduced by Mike Christie and joined us to talk about the COVID pandemic, it's impact on the local business community and how she perceives the business communities ability to bounce back from this trying year.
Lisa's presentation was titled "Economic Impacts, Outcomes and Opportunities for Southern Alberta in a Post COVID Economy". Lisa began by thanking the student who helped her assemble the survey and statistics for the presentation, Rebecca Weiler (who joined us as a guest). The report surveyed most of the Chambers members, talked about the impacts of the closures, and layoffs of the beginning of the pandemic and looked at the options that industries explored to maintain cashflow and employment.
The entire report is available at https://growthzonesitesprod.azureedge.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/1308/2021/04/Economic-Impacts-Report-Final-Copy.pdf and other information about the Medicine Hat and District Chamber of Commerce is available on the groups website https://www.medicinehatchamber.com .
Lisa spoke about the disruptions, and the various financial supports offered by each level of government. She stressed that recovering businesses need price and cost certainty going forward.
She asked and answered a number of questions, and was thanked by Acting President Melanie.