ADVOCACY

2025 Annual General Meeting - Executive Director's Message
June 18, 2025

It is a privilege to present this report on behalf of the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce for the 2024–2025 year. This past year was about delivering tangible value. Over the past year, the Chamber focused on measurable outcomes through targeted services, trusted advocacy, and collaborative leadership. These efforts directly supported our mission to champion and empower member businesses and organizations, enhancing the economic and social fabric of Whitehorse.

Advocacy
We continued to be a strong and trusted voice on issues that matter most to our members— economic resilience and development, procurement reforms, workforce development, housing, public safety, crime prevention, and reduction of regulatory barriers and administrative red tape that hinder business operations. These priorities were shaped by direct member input through surveys, meetings, and sector roundtables.

Key advocacy successes this year included:

• Procurement Reform: We co-led the Joint Procurement Committee with the Yukon Chamber of Commerce and secured three shared policy priorities for 2025 to better support local businesses. Our efforts emphasized fair, transparent processes and clear definitions that prioritize Yukon suppliers.
• Crime Prevention and Safety: We launched the SafeBiz Whitehorse Community Safety Pilot Program with $100,000 in Yukon Government (YG) funding and secured a key stakeholder role in the City and YG jointly developed Community Safety and Well-Being Plan. We continue to collaborate with the RCMP, judicial representatives, and YG officials to strengthen community safety, especially for downtown businesses. These efforts include advocating for coordinated solutions and adding our voice to calls for bail reform to address the repeat-offender cycle impacting business confidence.
• Immigration and Workforce Development: We helped shape the relaunch of the Yukon Nominee Program for 2025 based on direct member feedback, and we are monitoring its implementation and advocating for updates to ensure it remains practical, responsive, and aligned with employer needs. We continue to promote complementary pathways, including the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot, and are working to reinvigorate the Yukon Partnership Immigration Committee.
• Economic Resilience: We launched the Economic Resilience and Development Committee (ERDC) to strengthen Yukon’s economic foundation and respond to emerging challenges. Grounded in our broader advocacy framework, the ERDC advances recommendations tied to four pillars: strategic action, effective communication, support for Yukon industries, and critical investment.
• Municipal Advocacy: The Chamber continues to maintain an active and ongoing dialogue with the City of Whitehorse on several key municipal priorities, including downtown safety and crime prevention, downtown vitality, alignment of strategic priorities with business needs, zoning amendments that support economic development, and community safety planning. In partnership with the Yukon Contractors Association, we also advocated for streamlining development processes and reducing red tape to improve the permitting environment and support timely project delivery. These efforts are grounded in regular engagement and formal submissions, with the shared goal of improving transparency and communication between the City and the business community.
• National Representation: Through our Canadian Chamber of Commerce membership, we elevated Yukon perspectives in national dialogues on interprovincial trade, labour mobility, immigration, workforce development, and economic resilience. We also engage directly with Yukon’s MP Brendan Hanley, to convey member priorities and advocate for federal policies that support economic growth, workforce development, and long-term competitiveness for Northern businesses.

Partnerships and Collaboration
Collaboration has been central to our impact this year. The Chamber worked across the business support ecosystem to align programming, reduce duplication, and expand opportunities for Yukon businesses. In partnership with organizations such as Yukonstruct, Yukon University I&E, Yukon Venture Angels, and Tech Yukon, we co-delivered Innovation Day and Small Business Week events, partnered on a new mentorship program, and collaborated on ecosystem activities that support entrepreneurship.

On the advocacy front, we partnered with key industry organizations—including the Yukon Chamber of Mines, Tourism Industry Association of Yukon, Yukon First Nations Chamber of Commerce, Yukon Contractors Association and Yukon Chamber of Commerce—to amplify a unified business voice and advance shared priorities with all levels of government. We remain committed to building strategic partnerships that enhance our impact, create efficiencies, and deliver lasting value to the business community.

Programs and Events
The Chamber delivered a wide range of impactful programs this year, each designed to address member priorities and produce tangible outcomes.

Our SME Training and Development Program supported over 120 business professionals through targeted workshops on marketing, financial management, customer service and project management. Participants reported increased confidence and practical application of new skills in their operations.

Through our SafeBiz Pilot Program—an initiative launched to strengthen business safety in response to growing downtown crime—we trained 86 individuals from 56 businesses, completed 17 security assessments, and delivered four sessions with 100% positive feedback. A modernized security checklist was also prepared for city-wide distribution. Phase II will launch with a rebate program for safety upgrades.

Our Buy Local Program strengthened both B2C and B2B engagement. The Yukoner Appreciation Week drew over 4,500 consumers and supported 150 storefronts through our digital passport campaign, Buy Local App, and promotional initiatives that drove local spending. The Small Business Week event focused on B2B engagement, connecting over 195 businesses through interactive events, workshops, and a business showcase designed to foster collaboration and visibility within the business community. The program also included the launch of the You Can in the Yukon video series, celebrating local entrepreneurship and promoting Yukon-made products and services.

We continued to expand the YuWIN Job Board, enhancing access to local hiring opportunities and supporting workforce development. We also maintained the Urban Visitor Signage and Planter Box Program, which offers valuable marketing exposure for over 150 businesses each year. In addition, we provided core member benefits such as the Chamber Plan, delivering health and dental coverage that supports employee retention and overall well-being.

We also delivered meaningful networking and promotional opportunities, hosting 12 Business After Hours events and hosted a reimagined Business Excellence Awards. The event drew over 150 nominations and celebrated 50 finalists—highlighting excellence across all sectors—and welcomed over 200 attendees who came together to celebrate local business achievement.

As an Innovation Ecosystem Partner, we contributed to Yukon Innovation Week through our SolveIt Sessions event, which connected entrepreneurs with experts in law, AI, bookkeeping, and marketing. These 1:1 consultations enabled immediate action and strengthened business capacity.

This year, we delivered strong results across advocacy, programming, and member services. Every win was made possible by you—our members—and the many partners who collaborate with us.

To our exceptional team, thank you for your unwavering professionalism, adaptability, and the care you bring to every fast-moving and complex file. To our Board of Directors, your strategic leadership, thoughtful oversight, and steady guidance have been invaluable. And to our volunteers, community partners, and event sponsors, your continued support and collaboration amplify our impact and make everything we do possible.

As we look ahead, our commitment remains strong to fostering business resilience, enhancing service delivery, and ensuring that the voice of Whitehorse’s business community continues to shape a vibrant and inclusive economic future for Yukon.

Sincerely,

Andrei Samson
Executive Director
Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce