Emily Weeks’ departure as managing director of the Chemainus + District Chamber of Commerce has prompted changes to the office personnel at the Chamber and Chemainus Visitor Centre.
Weeks worked her final day Friday and has accepted a new position as operations coordinator at Vancouver Island University’s Milner Gardens in Qualicum Beach.
“I’ll be doing all the events, weddings and marketing,” she said.
“We’re definitely going to miss her,” said Chemainus Chamber president Stephanie Ballantyne.
The feeling was mutual from Weeks’ standpoint.
“I’m just grateful for everything I learned here,” she said. “I made a lot of connections in the community, for sure.”
Weeks started as a summer student in 2018 and became the Chemainus Visitor Centre manager in May of 2019 before completing her degree in the Vancouver Island University tourism management program.
Related story: The big day arrives for Weeks to join tourism management
She later became the managing director for the Chamber when her position was consolidated with the executive director’s job.
That was essential at the time, Ballantyne said, “as we navigated through the pandemic, restructuring allowed us to stabilize.”
The Chamber will again be splitting the duties into two, with Joanne Stokes assuming responsibility as Visitor Centre coordinator and Melody Smythies as the Chamber’s membership and events manager. They both spent time in the office during Weeks’ final week training and getting up to speed on the administration.
Stokes previously managed Saltspring Soapworks in Chemainus for several years. Smythies is well-known to the community and a 36-year resident of Saltair. Smythies has a solid background in event planning and prior experience as the Chamber’s coordinator of events and membership eight years ago.
It’s going to be an action-packed month, Ballantyne indicated, with lots of events and business on the horizon for the Chamber.
First and foremost is the annual general meeting on April 28 at 6 p.m. at Canteen on the Green, Mount Brenton Golf Course. Preparations are also underway for the return of the Wednesday markets on May 18, and among the other events back on the schedule for this summer after a long hiatus is the giant street market on July 9.
“Everyone is excited about what this summer will bring,” enthused Ballantyne.
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don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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