Business group considering name change to better represent region

Article content

The Campbellton Regional Chamber of Commerce might soon have a new name to better represent the wider region.

Members of the business group are being sent letters asking for their input on possibly changing the name to the Restigouche Chamber of Commerce. New executive director Michel Soucy said it will depend on membership whether the name change is made.

“Since the municipal reform, regions like ours are working together and are looking forward to have a trademark for the region,” he said. “Since the (Restigouche Regional) service commission and more and more organizations are heading that way, the board decided to follow the trend.”

The new name would reflect the business community served by the service commission.

“When I was hired, my first task was to produce a report to the board, a diagnosis of the situation,” Soucy said. “Secondly, I presented them with the advantages and disadvantages of changing the name and the territory and proposed a timeline for the process.”

The matter was most recently discussed at a chamber of commerce meeting on April 26.

The chamber of commerce was first started back on Nov. 26, 1904 as the Campbellton Board of Trades. It was then changed to the Campbellton Chamber of Commerce and most recently, about a decade ago, to the Campbellton Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Soucy said changing the name will take some time.

“It’s a long process. A letter will be sent to the members and according to our bylaws, they will have 45 days to reply with a ballot that will be in the envelope.”

The letter will ask members four questions. Soucy said at least 50 per cent of members need to reply in order to proceed and that two thirds of them need to be in favour of changing the name.

Soucy said that if all goes to plan, the new name could be made official by autumn.