By Eric Bourque
THE VANGUARD
NovaNewsNow.com
Some nasty late-winter weather didn’t keep the Yarmouth and Area Chamber of Commerce from holding its annual general meeting last Thursday, March 4.
The AGM included the traditional swearing in of the chamber’s new president. Gurdeep Brar succeeds Chris Atwood in that role.
Brar cited economic diversification as something the Yarmouth area should strive for, noting that change might not be easy but may be necessary.
In his remarks as outgoing president, Atwood noted the continuing dominance of transportation among the issues facing the chamber and he made a point of recognizing the efforts of those who have spent the winter trying to save the ferry service between Yarmouth and Maine.
The evening’s guest speaker – Halifax-based American consul general Anton Smith – also acknowledged the importance of the connection between Yarmouth and New England.
“While I’m not here to subsidize the ferry run,” he said, “we would be delighted to hear from you about any ideas or anything we might be able to do to facilitate re-establishment of what is a vital link.”
On a broader level, he noted the value of the trade that flows between Canada and the United States.
One of the consulate’s jobs, he said, is to try to ensure that this flow is not disrupted, “to head off challenges before they become real problems that are difficult to solve…We want the relationship, the friendly trading relationship that we have, to continue.”
This was Smith’s first visit to Yarmouth. He became U.S. consul general for the Atlantic provinces last November.
Consular officials welcome the opportunity to address chambers of commerce, he said, viewing it as a chance “to help us understand the environment that we work in and to help us help you.”
