By: Korie Marshall

The Valemount and Area Chamber of Commerce was a little disappointed with the overall turnout at the Fall Trade Show over the weekend, but organizer and exhibitor Tammy VandeNobelen said she was impressed with how much was actually achieved. Exhibitors and the public who came to check out the booths, the food, the children’s activities and the speakers all enjoyed the event and got at least some good information out of it.

Cam Bell did a presentation on Love Valemount and how it may be able to connect and grow with Love McBride, due to launch by the end of December. His booth also showed off some of the local services and businesses in Valemount.
Susan Stearns from Community Futures, Fraser Fort George, presented a talk on what to think about before you start your marketing plan – like realizing that your market can never be everyone. Community Futures, who can help you start up or take over a business, shared a booth with the Basin Business Advisors Program, which can help you with all aspects of your business after start-up.

BC Hydro staff shared ideas about saving energy – did you know that an X-box left on standby uses the same amount of energy as two fridges?

Other exhibitors were Kinnickinnickers and the Lions Club, Tourism Valemount, Robson Valley Water Treatment, Valemount Community Forest, Rhonda Reiter’s home-based business MonaVie , Valemount Real Estate, Best Western, Whisper Creek Log Homes, Mica Mountain Transport, The Valley Sentinel, Simpcw First Nation, Scotia Bank, The McBride and District Chamber of Commerce, Royal Lepage, Horseshoe Lake Ventures, Campbell & Company, Discover Robson Valley Region, and Chamber of Commerce Insurance and the Valemount Chamber of Commerce.

Organizer Diane Fowler says the Chamber hopes to do it again next year, though they may consider having it in McBride next time.