GUEST SPEAKER: Nancy Shaw – Chief Executive Officer at The Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce Phone: (905) 728-1683 Ext. 222 ceo@oshawachamber.com
Vice President Linda Porritt introduced Nancy Shaw.
Nancy Shaw graduated from Durham College’s Nursing Assistant program in 1985 before having a short career as a Pharmacy Assistant. She is now the CEO of the Oshawa Chamber of Commerce. Prior to that she spent 19 years working in politics as the Executive Assistant to the late Honourable Jim Flaherty, M.P. and Minister of Finance for Canada. She also worked with the Durham Region Association of REALTORS®. Born and raised in Durham, Nancy has always maintained a close connection to the community. She was an active member of Whitby Sunrise Rotary, the Whitby Sports Hall of Fame, ProAction Cops & Kids, Tribute to our Troops and the Abilities Centre. Currently Nancy is the President of the Foundation Board for Parkwood National Historic Estate in Oshawa and is a director on the Police Appreciation Dinner and Awards Committee, Chair of the Whitby – Oshawa Lakeridge Health Community Panel, Director on the Oshawa Downtown BIA. She also sits on the Durham College President’s Panel. She is married to Ken and together they have seven children. Linda congratulated Nancy and Ken on their 24th annual Ken & Nancy Shaw Providence Golf Classic, held in 2017 at St George's Golf and Country Club, was one that will be remembered for years to come. First They raised a record $250,000 (net) to help Providence Healthcare continue the legacy of delivering extraordinary care for the patients.
Nancy started with the Chamber in March of 2016 .
The mission of the Chamber is to continuously support and promote the economic prosperity of our members and our community by being the informed voice of business for Greater Oshawa.
Their values are very similar to Rotary: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Innovation, Inclusivity and Education.
The goals of the Chamber are to maintain their accredited status with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, provide services that bring value to their member, increase the number and activity level of their members, create an environment that supports existing business and attracts new businesses, constructively influence governments in support of their members and business, encourage new entrepreneurs, and to provide support and mentorship to all members.
Nancy is always in the community, reaching out, and advocating for each of the Chamber members. There are 740 members and growing. Every three years they do an accreditation to ensure they are following the rules and regulations they have set up and are one of the only working Chambers in the Durham region to receive such Accreditation.The Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce was one of the first of 12 Chambers of Commerce in Canada to earn National Accreditation. They proudly operate under the Canadian Chamber Accreditation with Distinction – the highest quality standard awarded to Chambers in Canada. they have held this honour since 2005.
Nancy works with all of the Chambers in Durham Region. They meet quarterly and work together on many issues such as Bill 148 (the minimum wage and changes to the labour laws). The Greater Oshawa Chamber holds 50 events per year: from golf tournaments, to lunches, breakfasts and provide many opportunities for networking. She urges all of us to come out to these events and get involved. Our Rotary Club is a member.
Nancy is also a member of the executive of the Canadian and Ontario Chambers of Commerce, and the Downtown Oshawa Business Improvement Association. She is fully aware of the challenges that she is meeting, in the downtown and wants everyone to feel welcome in the downtown and is pleased that Garth Johns is its executive Director , who comes to the BIA with expertise in his former capacity with the Durham Region.
The Chamber also partners with the City of Oshawa's Tourism department and runs it with the City on a 50 – 50 basis. She meets with Mayor Henry every 3 months and they keep each other informed of all of the issues. And the Chamber works closely with the Oshawa and the Region Economic Development Services, always looking for new investment in Oshawa. She states emphatically that Oshawa needs light industry NOW to grow our economic base. This will help diversify our tax base in Oshawa away from housing and place more of the burden on industrial development.
Their Board consists of 12 elected and 6 appointed member with 2 staff. The Board is a cross-section of the businesses in Oshawa. She thanks our Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood for being a member of the Chamber of Commerce. She challenged that if we know of a new business in Oshawa to encourage them to join the Chamber, which will be 90 years old in 2018, with its first President as George W. McLaughlin.
She was asked about parking in downtown Oshawa versus the Oshawa Centre and with the parking garages close to being filled, it is a challenge. Whitby gives all of their Chamber member free parking. She will again address this issue with the Mayor.
She noted about various networking, and fun events coming up in December . Be sure to check out the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce website for more details.
Nancy was thanked by Presdient Ted Morrison.
Nancy Shaw was the last of our Community leaders series of speakers this Rotary Year which has allowed our Rotary Club members a better insight into what is happening and how we can better serve its citizens through Rotary.
We would like to thank them all . They included: Mayor of Oshawa (and Rotarian) John Henry, our Member of Parliament Dr. Colin Carrie, our Member of Provincial Parliament (and Rotarian) Lorne Coe, our Durham Region Chief of Police Paul Martin, of Oshawa Fire Chief Derrick Clark, Durham Regional Chair Roger Anderson, and the CEO of The Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce Nancy Shaw.
Meeting Adjourned by President Ted Morrison
IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT, MAKE UP : Go online at www.rotary.org go to the club locator and find a club or clubs near your destination. Or you can add the free App Rotary Club Locator to your phone for instant look up of any club in the world. Please mail or fax your make-ups to Secretary Robbie Larocque, or give your make-up card to the attendance/registration officer at the next club meeting.