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After several years handing out awards on behalf of the Kincardine and District Chamber of Commerce, Marie Wilson will be on the receiving end at tonight's gala.

The 54-year-old Tiverton resident will receive the Meridian Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions of outstanding significance to the chamber.

Former chamber president, Wilson says her work with the organization actually began years before when she was editor of the Kincardine News community newspaper.

"Even then, it was obvious how important it was to support the work of the chamber," says Wilson. "It is one of the few voices for small business in this area."

She attended her first chamber luncheon in 1986 at the Sutton Park Inn. It was packed, with about 150 people, and the chamber had huge influence.

"Then it began to diminish," says Wilson.

She gives credit to executive director Susan Novak for bringing the chamber back to life.

"Susan came to me and said she was interested in revamping the chamber's annual achievement awards," says Wilson. "She wanted to make it more prominent than it had been, add more awards with sponsorships, and turn it into more of a gala celebration."

It became a successful event and continues that way to this day.

Wilson was a director on the chamber of commerce before she left the newspaper business and joined the media communications desk at Ontario Power Generation's Western Waste Management Facility at the Bruce Nuclear site.

Since then, she has served as vice-president and then president.

"The chamber is one organization that small businesses can turn to for help," says Wilson. "You have to respect the small business people because they are generating their own income, they're at the mercy of the market and the consumer, and don't have a lot of the safety nets that larger companies have. They are the backbone of the community and the local economy."

For that reason, it's important that the chamber promote small businesses in the municipality.

That's where the gala comes into play, says Wilson. "It's a great way to recognize people in the community - volunteers, business people, and their achievements. It's a very positive event."

She says it's worth going to the gala just to hear Gary Ballagh MC the event and hear all of his jokes - good and bad!

Under current president Bob Simpson and the board, the chamber is now working on a strategic plan, says Wilson, and moving forward in a good direction.

"The chamber has stepped up to the plate so that the Fish Kincardine Derby continues this year," she says. "That's good for the community."

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Friday, March 25, 2011