BC Chamber of Commerce Wraps Successful Annual General Meeting and Conference
The BC Chamber of Commerce has wrapped up its 73rd AGM and Conference in Nanaimo, which ran June 3 – 5, 2025 and was attended by 171 delegates from across the province.
Over the course of the conference, delegates heard from a range of policy experts, industry representatives and thought leaders, who shared their insights on how businesses can best navigate the complexities of today’s business environment. Delegates also had the opportunity to engage with representatives from local, provincial and federal governments, as well as caucus members from the Conservative Party of BC and the BC Greens.
“The theme of this year’s conference was Stronger Together: Building the Future of Business through Collaboration, in recognition that collaboration is the key to unlocking growth in today’s interconnected world,” said Fiona Famulak, President and CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce. “Throughout the conference, we explored what makes successful collaborations possible and shared ways to strengthen partnerships and leverage collective expertise to create lasting impact.”
One of conference’s highlights each year is the provincial association’s annual policy sessions, where delegates debate and discuss issues of critical importance to members, which help define the organization’s advocacy priorities for the next year. This year, 40 policy resolutions, submitted by 16 Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade, were tabled, debated and voted upon; 38 policy resolutions were approved and will be included in the 2025-26 Policies & Positions Manual (the Manual) of the BC Chamber of Commerce.
The approved policies cover a broad spectrum of provincial and federal issues critical to the success and well-being of B.C.’s business community and reflect the issues many British Columbians are concerned about. 2025 policy resolutions make recommendations to both federal and provincial governments about ways to improve B.C.’s business environment. The resolution topics included: the need for regulatory reform, reducing interprovincial trade barriers, managing trade, support for small businesses, and diversification of markets. In addition, policies were discussed that address other challenges facing members that included: housing, health care, crime, labour and immigration. The Manual will be shared with senior levels of government for their consideration and response, and will be publicly available later in June.
During the Conference, the provincial association welcomed its new board chair, Chris Callanan of Campbell River. Mr. Callanan is the Regional Manager for North Island Employment and has a proven track record of success developing and implementing human resource strategies for a variety of public, private and not-for-profit organizations.
“Having served on the board of the BC Chamber of Commerce for the last three years, I am excited to take on the responsibility of Chair of the BC Chamber of Commerce for the coming year,” said Mr. Callanan. “This is an incredible honour and opportunity. I am eager to get to work to help the organization, our provincial network of local Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade, and the businesses we collectively represent to prosper to their full potential.”
“Having our people together to share ideas and discuss the ways we can collaborate most effectively was timely at this consequential moment in our history,” noted Famulak. “I want to thank all the sponsors, speakers, dignitaries and the attendees who joined us in Nanaimo. It’s through collaboration that we are going to best position B.C.’s businesses to grow and our communities to flourish.”
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About the BC Chamber of Commerce
The BC Chamber of Commerce is the largest and most broadly-based business organization in the province. Representing local Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade and over 32,000 businesses of every size and from every sector and region of the province, the BC Chamber of Commerce is uniquely positioned to “Know What’s on BC’s Mind.”
Media Contact
BC Chamber of Commerce Communications
Alex McMillan
604-367-8697