Town & Country

C M Y K 8 WINNIPEG FrEE PrESS, SATurDAY JuNE 21, 2014 L A C D U B O N N E T neW diRection Lac du Bonnet chamber turns corner OURSTAFFARE CERTIFIEDIN PET FIRST AID HiMyFam�y Hav�gag�eatt�e��ax�g ��dthep�d! L�etheacc�modati�! W�hy��reh�e! L�etheDOG �.go�gf�a��... Dog�Fam�y not��e��ey��e b�kb�kb�k • Personal indoor bunkhouse • Cozy Cots by Petz Paradize • Fresh water changed twice a day • Feeding as directed • Medication administered (including insulin) as needed & directed • All-day access to private outdoor run through a doggy door • 20 minutes of exercise time 4 times a day in beautifully maintained yards • Soothing background music • Soft nightlights • Unlimited cuddles & love Included in Their Stay A revitalized chamber of commerce is good for business and the community in the rM of Lac du Bonnet. recently installed Lac du Bonnet & District Chamber of Commerce president Marie Hiebert says the chamber is making a concerted effort to bring more services to members — and bring more members to the chamber. W e just had a planning session. The chamber hasn't done any real planning for years, not that anyone can remember around the table," Hiebert says. "One of the key focuses here is first of all to encourage new business — to support them any way that we can — and also to be a liaison between the government officials with the town and the rM of Lac du Bonnet, just to make sure that businesses have their opinions voiced." On the first front, the chamber kicked off the cottage season with a trade fair at the Lac du Bonnet Arena May 10-11. And on the second front, the executive is trying to minimize the impact on businesses while repairs are made on the Winnipeg river Bridge. Traffic has been reduced to one lane since structural issues on the bridge, originally built in 1930, were identified last year. And Hiebert says businesses will suffer if it's closed completely when repairs get underway next year. "If it was to be shut down we would have a serious problem, not only with the cottagers getting to and from their properties in a timely fashion, but for businesses that are on one side or the other," Hiebert says. "The chamber is advocating to have that bridge fixed in a timely fashion and hopefully not have it closed down." Chamber members were to meet with a planning consultant on June 18 and more public consultations are planned. Hiebert says a major portion of area businesses are chamber members now, but she believes the organization can do more to serve members and become more of a driving force in community development. "As I look at it, the more the chamber does, the more businesses will be apt to join us," she says. "I definitely think we have a better voice together than one person on their own." The chamber has undertaken a number of initiatives in the past, including improving signage and tourism services. It produces an area map each year and supports events such as an annual ice-fishing derby. Hiebert says the inaugural trade fair went well, attracting about 20 exhibitors on relatively short notice. And despite the fact it was competing with the first really warm weekend weather this spring, the event drew about 200 consumers. Exhibitors included Lee river Construction, rONA, Potsy's Landscaping, John Angus realty, Sunrise Heating & Cooling, Country Classics Furniture, Lac du Bonnet Masonry, the Lac du Bonnet Lions Club and more, with support from sponsors such as Carnation Corner, Waterside Wireless and Granite Hills Golf Club. Hiebert and her husband Eldon own Sunspace Sunrooms, and she says the trade fair provided an opportunity to show their display trailer to full advantage. "We take it all over the place to farmers' markets and trade fairs, but because we've never been able to just set it up in our hometown and leave it set up for a few days it was really nice, because we could decorate it the way you would decorate your sunroom. We had some plants and some furniture in it," she says. "We also carry a line of railings and awnings and decking so we could have everything that we carry displayed there." She says virtually every exhibitor she spoke with following the fair was happy with the event, and most plan to return next year, when the fair is expected to expand. ❙ " ONE OF ThE kEy FOCUSES hERE IS FIRST OF ALL TO ENCOURAGE NEW bUSINESS — TO SUPPORT ThEM ANy WAy ThAT WE CAN — AND ALSO TO bE A LIAISON bETWEEN ThE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WITh ThE TOWN AND ThE RM OF LAC DU bONNET, JUST TO MAkE SURE ThAT bUSINESSES hAVE ThEIR OPINIONS VOICED. " Businesses including Hiebert's Sunspace Sunrooms (right), showed their wares at a trade fair in May (left). Photos Supplied

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