Bow Valley Chamber of Commerce
Board of Directors
The Bow Valley Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors are dedicated volunteers that are 100% focused on you and your business. The BVCC board of directors work on providing many initiatives to aid and support Bow Valley businesses. The BVCC continues to go above and beyond for Bow Valley businesses and we are committed to offering more valuable programs and services for BVCC members.
Jaime Birch (she/her)
President as of January, 2025 - 1st Term
Jaime is an entrepreneur and the owner/operator of a graphic design company, Jaime Birch Design.
As a long time Bow Valley resident, having resided in Canmore for over two decades, Birch has seen the Bow Valley business community grow and change over time. She loves the passion of the business owners in the valley and relishes the numerous opportunities she has to share in their passion as she helps to develop visual brand identity, marketing materials and product packaging for the businesses here. You can see many of her logo designs gracing the store fronts and workspaces of Bow Valley businesses.
As a solopreneur, engaging in the greater business community through networking, brainstorming and collaboration is incredibly important to Jaime. She really believes in the importance of the opportunities that the BVCC provides for this type of engagement and is excited to serve as a member of the board.
Austin Ward
Vice President - January 2025 - 1st Term
Austin is a lawyer at Field Law in Canmore helping local businesses in the areas of employment, intellectual property law, and dispute resolution. Advising clients on best practices and risk management gives Austin a unique perspective on how to best serve BVCC’s diverse membership. Austin is thrilled to be serving the local business community as a member of the BVCC Board of Directors.
Prior to attending law school in Calgary, Austin spent several years working as a server and bartender in Canmore. During this time, he developed a passion for the hospitality industry and the Bow Valley business community. Austin credits his time working in local restaurants and bars for his decision to pursue law. He views the practice of law as the ultimate service industry and is proud to be supporting clients in the Bow Valley and across Alberta and British Columbia. When Austin isn’t taking advantage of the incredible local restaurant scene, he enjoys travelling and exploring the West Coast and Rocky Mountains with his partner and Golden Retriever, Yuki.
Jonathan Welsh
Board Member - 2022 - 2nd Term
Originally from Lancashire UK, with a Bachelor of Science in Management & Systems from City University. Jonathan travelled to Banff to live the dream of working a ski season after graduation. When his student work visa ran out he returned to the UK to complete his immigration papers so he could get back to the Canadian Rockies.
Upon his return, Jonathan worked at Lake Louise Ski School for a further 5 years where he obtained his Level 3 Ski instructor certification. He then became a representative for a number of British ski wholesalers looking after their holiday needs during the winter and worked as a guide for local DMC companies in the summer. During this time he noticed an opportunity in the marketplace... no one was offering sightseeing tours during the winter! So he leased a 24 passenger bus, got a cell phone and a credit card machine. Jonathan's girlfriend, now wife, was the first guide and Discover Banff Tours was born, offering Banff Tours to guests of Banff. This was 1999.
During the next 20 years Jonathan and his wife grew Discover Banff Tours to Banff’s largest tour company. Over the years opportunities for expansion presented themselves and with partners they purchased Chinook Rafting, Banff Trail Riders, and started the audio guide tour company GyPSy Guide. More recently together with SunDog Tours in Jasper, Discover Banff Tours purchased Landsea Tours as well.
Jonathan lives in Banff, Alberta where he now resides with his wife and 2 children.
Tracy Little
Board Member - 2022 - 2nd Term
Tracy Little is an award winning Chef and budding entrepreneur in Canmore. Owner of Sauvage Restaurant and Canmore Uncorked, she found her niche in business that supports her community.
A Red Seal Chef and a registered Power Engineer, she strives to be the best in her field, but values the little things in life more than anything else. She moved to the Bow Valley 10 years ago, and has a deep sense of belonging to the area. She views her position on the Bow Valley Chamber of Commerce as an excellent opportunity to represent young entrepreneurs, and women, in the area.
Jade Ansley (she/her)
Board Member - 2022 - 2nd Term
Jade Ansley is the director and curator of Canmore-based atelier, PROJECT A, established in 2017. Her work there has supported the careers of hundreds of emerging visual artists. Born and raised in the Bow Valley, Jade has volunteered for many local organizations and events including The Canmore Rotary Club, artsPlace, The YWCA’s VINEart Gala, Pine Tree Players, and now as a board member for the Bow Valley Chamber of Commerce and Vice Chair for the Downtown Canmore Business Improvement Area (BIA) board of directors.
Gavin Harmacy (he/him)
Board Director as of January 2025
Gavin Harmacy is the cofounder of SkiUphill RunUphill in Canmore and Squamish with his partner Joël Desgreniers. After spending 8 years at Starbucks Coffee as a District Manager and 12 years at Apple, Inc as a Senior Manager opening stores in Canada, the US, China and Singapore, Gavin and his partner thought it was time to open their own business. Gavin brings a ton of experience in the best of the best of retail brands and incorporating technology into how businesses operate. The thread of people leadership and thoughtful approaches to team dynamics and people resources is where Gavin shines. After spending time at the University of Manitoba in Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry and Business, Gavin is enrolled in a Public Leadership Credential at Harvard Kennedy School of Government where he is learning insightful approaches to making a difference in local politics.
Outside of running a business Gavin loves to run, backcountry ski and climb. The Bow Valley has been home for the past 8 years and what a fantastic community that we can play, work and enjoy.
Peter Mejia
Board Member - 2024 - 1st Term
Peter Mejia is a trusted Realtor® specializing in Canmore, Banff, the Bow Valley and Cochrane.
Let Peter be your guide as you purchase your dream home or investment property in the heart of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains! He's a bilingual agent fluent in English and Spanish.
But Peter is no one-trick pony. Oh no, this man of many talents is the mastermind behind ROCKIES MAPS, a Canmore & Banff Visitor Map that guides you to the best local spots in the Bow Valley, and the visionary behind ROCKIES REAL ESTATE TOURS, where one can tour the Rockies while searching for their dream home. His immersive tours are designed to make your property search an unforgettable adventure!
Simon discovered Canmore in 2015 where he quickly decided to set roots here and start exploring the mountains either trail running, mountain biking, climbing, skiing or hiking. When not playing in the great outdoors, Simon is guiding small business owners who feels owned by their business and don’t know where their cash is going to take control of their cash flow and to build a business that supports their best life. All this without the stress of not understanding the accounting and financial jargon. His simple and clear method will get you to have a growing and profitable business.
Chelsea is the Co-President of Cudmore Group, a nationally recognized family retail business with deep roots in Prince Edward Island spanning over 110 years.
A graduate of the University of Prince Edward Island and Saint Mary’s University with a focus in Business and Marketing, Chelsea brings extensive experience in retail strategy, operations, and leadership. Having worked across various roles within her family’s business, she combines a deep respect for tradition with a passion for retail, innovation and sustainable growth.
Cudmore Group expanded its footprint nationwide with exponential growth over the last 10 years. Elevating the in-store experience to enhance guest satisfaction. Her commitment to excellence is evident in every aspect of the business, from maintaining the highest standards of quality to fostering a culture of integrity and customer-centricity has enhanced its guest experience while maintaining its commitment to quality and community values. In addition, she currently serves on the Banff Lake Louise Tourism Board and is a proud member of YPO (Young Presidents’ Organization), where she connects with fellow leaders to share ideas and drive positive impact.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Chelsea is deeply engaged in community initiatives and recognizing the importance of giving back to the communities that have supported Cudmore Group’s success. With a family business legacy spanning over 110 years, Chelsea is dedicated to preserving the family heritage while charting a course for continued success in an ever-evolving retail landscape. In her spare time, you'll find Chelsea adventuring in the mountains with her husband, Jon, young daughter and soon to be baby on the way!
BVCC Board Info:
* We are looking for a Banff business owner to join our board. Get in touch if you are interested.
- BVCC Board meetings are consistently held on the 2nd Monday of every month excluding July, August and December.
- The BVCC Board of Directors must have minimum of 5 and max of 9 board members.
- Board meeting attendance and minutes are available to the BVCC membership. Please contact us if you would like to attend or view minutes.
- At any meeting of the Board, 50% of the Directors plus one shall form a quorum for the transaction of business.
- BVCC board member term length is 2 years with an option to renew for another 2 years. After 4 consecutive years have been served the board member must step down for at least 1 year before joining the board again if they wish to do so.
- ALL BVCC board members must have a membership in good standing of the BVCC.