The BC Chamber of Commerce will soon get new leadership after a year that saw a dozen local chambers withdraw their membership amid uncertainty over the organization’s financial viability.
Fiona Famulak, president and CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce, told BIV she tendered her resignation in February, ahead of her last annual general meeting scheduled to take place in early June in Nanaimo.
“I delivered the mandate that the board gave me back in 2021 — that was to make change and/or pave the way for change, and I’ve delivered on that. And now is the right time for me to step back and to pursue another career adventure,” said Famulak.
In 2022, Famulak said the board of the BC Chamber approved a deficit budget on account of dwindling revenue and administration of government- and private-funded programs compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last year Famulak said the BC Chamber reported net income of $23,500 following a deficit of roughly $330,000 in 2023.
Famulak said this was done while maintaining the chamber’s staff of four while “scaling back” contract work.
“So that’s how we wrapped up 2024. It’s a good news story, and I’m proud of what we accomplished.”
The BC Chamber presently operates independently of a network of 80 local chambers and boards of trade, who collectively represent more than 30,000 small, medium and large businesses.
Primary responsibilities of the BC Chamber include lobbying the provincial government on policies and supporting the network with communal benefits.
But last year, Famulak confirmed 12 local chambers had rescinded their membership, including the chambers in Kamloops and Kelowna plus 10 small chambers described as having limited or no staff.
Kamloops Chamber of Commerce president Sara Lawson told BIV the decision not to renew membership with the BC Chamber involved a long deliberation.
“We feel like we had not been getting value for our membership, for our members,” she said.
“In the last year with some of their financial troubles, and not being super transparent with any questions that we have had, we had to really look at the value of the membership.”
Kelowna Chamber of Commerce CEO George Greenwood declined an opportunity to explain his organization’s decision to leave the BC Chamber.
BIV understands several other local chambers considered leaving or are waiting to see what the next year brings.
Among them is the Salmon Arm Chamber of Commerce, according to its executive director Christine Jontz-Barber, who is the chamber’s sole staff member.
Jontz-Barber described stepping into the role 18 months ago and witnessing “turmoil” at the BC Chamber.
A primary concern of hers was the BC Chamber’s attempt last year to change the health benefits provider it offers to members.
As it stood, the provider pays local chambers referral fees, but under the BC Chamber’s proposal the new provider would not be doing so and referral fees would go to the BC Chamber instead. This, said Jontz-Barber, would have cost her chamber about $22,000 — a significant amount for a chamber of her size.
“The fact that that [proposal] was made without any consultation was disheartening,” said Jontz-Barber.
In the end members voted against the proposal.
Famulak explained that not all members had been promoting the existing plan, and the proposal provided members with options for a benefits provider.
“Unfortunately, even though we tried to introduce choice … we needed to cancel that plan,” Famulak said.
Though it decided to stay with the BC Chamber this year, Jontz-Barber said her board would be re-assessing its decision for 2026.
“Change in leadership sometimes can be positive moving forward — new ideas, fresh ideas — and the network as a whole is important,” said Jontz-Barber.
“The BC Chamber plays an important role when it comes to advocacy, when it comes to that support, and so we’re eager to see where the new CEO is going to take it and hopefully be able to correct some of these financial difficulties that have happened in the past.”
For her part Famulak said she never heard concerns from members about her leadership.
“I am a changemaker. I do challenge the status quo in a constructive manner. We have to remember not everyone is comfortable with change,” Famulak told BIV.
At next month’s AGM, Famulak said members will once again put forth policy proposals for government. Key issues will be the costs of doing business, including ensuring a stable workforce.
“We need to ensure our ports, rails, airports and roads are resilient and able to move forward,” said Famulak.
She added that the chamber also advocates for social policies around education, child care and public safety, in addition to business issues, such as taxation.
“These are a direct link back to how businesses can operate,” she said. “We’re working in uncertain times.”
