Advocacy
Advocacy is one of the ways we support a strong, resilient business community. We listen to members’ concerns and help elevate issues that affect a meaningful portion of our membership, ensuring local businesses feel heard and supported at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels.
Our advocacy work focuses on issues that impact many businesses across our region, rather than individual business challenges. When an issue has broader relevance or the potential to affect the wider business community, we consider how the Chamber can play a constructive role, whether that’s by bringing businesses together, engaging decision-makers, or connecting members with the right support networks.
If you’re experiencing a challenge and aren’t sure whether it falls within our advocacy scope, we still encourage you to reach out. We’re here to listen and help identify next steps, whether that involves Chamber advocacy or connecting you with a more appropriate organization or resource.
Our Efforts
Supporting Labour & Immigration Policy
The Chamber is actively engaged in advocacy on issues that affect businesses across the Bow Valley. One key area has been Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) and foreign worker policies—matters that are vital to many local businesses. Through collaboration with national and federal partners, including the Commissioner for Employers, we are helping ensure local voices are heard in discussions that shape national labour and immigration policy.
Our contributions have helped inform federal-level communications and initiatives, reflecting the real-world challenges facing businesses in the Bow Valley. This includes input into documents and letters submitted to federal ministers, as well as participation in broader national efforts to “reimagine immigration” in Canada.
We continue to explore opportunities for local engagement, including upcoming visits and meetings with key decision-makers. These efforts aim to provide regional businesses a platform to share their experiences, highlight challenges, and influence policies that support economic growth in our community.
Resort Chambers of Commerce Coalition
In early 2026, the Bow Valley Chamber joined the Resort Chambers of Commerce Coalition (RCCC), a collaborative alliance of chambers from resort-based communities. The coalition was formed to strengthen advocacy and create opportunities for businesses to work together on shared priorities. Read the full press release here.
We’ve already reached out to our members to understand their advocacy priorities and shared these insights with the coalition. The RCCC is now identifying common challenges across communities and will begin collaborative work to address the areas that matter most to businesses in resort-based economies.