Over 100 years of service to businesses and the community!

Since becoming established in 1900, as the Neepawa Board of Trade, followed by a change of name in 1949 to the Neepawa & District Chamber of Comerce, the business needs of Neepawa, RM's of Rosedale and Langford have been well served by this business organization. The Chamber of Commerce continues to be an active organization focusing its direction towards governmental affairs, community development, organizational issues and promotion of the community and event development.

Chamber plays an important role in governmental affairs. In partnership with the Neepawa Town Council, Chamber successfully lobbied the province in 1993 in opposition of plans to upgrade Mountain Avenue to include parallel parking with a central meridian similar to that in Minnedosa. Lobbying efforts were directed toward the Neepawa Health Services Board (pre Regional Health Autority) to maintain prescription drug service contracts with local pharmacies for the personal care home and hospital, which continued until it was taken over regionally in 1996. In 1994 Chamber was successful in eliminating the local business tax. Effective lobbying efforts showed how banding together can change political policy within all levels of government.

Involvement in the community continues to be the role of the organization. As a community project, the Chamber purchased a building from Onanole in 1989 and moved it to town property to establish a tourist booth owned, operated and maintained by the Chamber. Staffed through a provincial summer student grant and volunteers from other organizations, the tourist booth continued operation until 2004. The loan on the building was paid off through funding efforts over a five year period and later sold to the Town of Neepawa. As a community service the Chamber organized "Meet the Candidates Night" for municipal elections. In partnership with other groups, Chamber became part of the Communities in Bloom Neepawa  committee in 1998. Chamber hosted the "Welcome to Neepawa" receptions for new residents. In partnership with the province, Chamber continues to sponsor the Manitoba Youth Job Centre. Over the years Chamber has appointed members to the boards of the Neepawa Area DEvelopment Corporation, Margaret Laurence Home Committee, Yellowhead Highway Association and the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber created an annual Citizen of the Year and Volunteer of the Year Awards sponsored by local businesses which continued until 2005.

Chamber has been involved in many ways to promote the community and support the businesses. The NEEPEX Trade Show was a popular event running through the 60's and 70's then revitalized to run again from 1992 until 2005 including a brief stint as a Home and Garden Show. This along with a Looney Lotto 50/50 Draw were successful revenue generators for the organization. The Santa Parade grew to include Rudolph's Light the Way Christmas event, Moonlight Madness, a free movie at the Roxy Theatre, a Christmas Cheque Program, a residential Christmas Lighting Contest and a town-wide Christmas Stocking Draw. This later changed to the Christmas Lights Parade. Newspaper, radio and TV marketing packages were created for maximum exposure. Chamber partnered with the Beautiful Plains Ag Society to enhance the annual fair weekend with midway rides downtown and a Moonlight Shopping Madness evening. This continued until 1994. In partnership with NADCO and Community Futures, it introduced seminars and workshops on Be Your Own Boss, Fundraising for Non-profits, Trade Show Booths and Manitoba Best/Superhost Programs which continued until 1996. In 1994, Chamber hosted the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting.

The organization has experienced many challenges over the past several years such as maintaining membership, filling board requirements, succession planning, maintaining and creating valuable projects and accomplishing it all with limited resources. Direction has shifted toward self-sustainability and refocus direction on member issues (doing business versus tourism). With a strategic plan and focused direction, the Neepawa & District Chamber of Commerce will continue well into the next several decades to better the community of Neepawa and the surrounding area.

Presidents of the Neepawa & District Chamber:

1984 Christine Heywood

1985 Pat Angers

1986 Wayne Hollier

1987 John O'Halloran

1988 Rober Frith/Keith Porter

1990 - 1991 Bett Kozak

1992-1994 Dean Dietrich

1995-1996 Kerry Maxwell

1997 Ken Waddell

1998-2001 Nelson Jackson

2002-2003 Co-chairs John Harapiak & Giselle Clements

2004-2006 Monty Simon

2007-2009 Michelle Gerrard