A proposal to simplify the name of the Summerland Chamber of Economic Development and Tourism will not bring about any major restructuring of the organization.
“This is all about simplifying,” said Lisa Jaager, manager of the chamber.
The proposed name, to be considered at the chamber’s upcoming Annual General Meeting, is the Summerland Chamber of Commerce.
Jaager said the existing name, which came about in the late 1990s, is confusing.
At the time, the Chamber of Commerce, Business Improvement Association and Economic Development Commission merged and the name was selected to reflect that merger.
Since that time, economic development work was transferred to the municipality, leaving the economic development term meaningless.
While the municipality no longer has an economic development officer, Jaager said there is no need to mention the term in the chamber’s name.
“Everything we do is economic development,” she said.
The chamber represents more than 700 Summerland businesses.
Jaager said the reference to tourism can also be dropped, even though the chamber continues to operate a visitor centre with tourism information on Highway 97.
“Tourism is a business,” she said.
The name change will be discussed and voted on during the Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, March 13 at the Summerland Seniors’ Drop-in Centre on Brown Street.