Wiper for president

The board now has registered by-laws, and together with the municipality they erected Chester signs on the 103 highway and had pavement and sidewalks built on Duke Street. LeBlanc ran three successful fundraisers each year: the Spring Dinner, Seaside Garden Tour, and the Annual General Meeting and Dinner. She ensured tourist brochures and advertisements were maintained, and worked with local government to finance the tourist bureau, making it one of the only in the province to be open on a yearround basis. In June of 2007 LeBlanc was presented by the Atlantic Provinces Chamber with the Harvey Webber award, in recognition of her contribution to the Chamber.

Despite her best efforts, LeBlanc says, as president, she "couldn't go to the next step," because of her demanding schedule. That is where Ben Wiper steps in. The twenty-nine year old Southern Ontario native and nerd for NERDS ON SITE is ready to breathe new life into the Chamber. "I'm passionate about bringing positive change to both business and community," he exclaimed during his acceptance speech. Wiper settled in Chester after discovering it was a central location, in between Bridgewater and Halifax, with a strong sense of community. Having served on the Chamber of Commerce board for the past two years, he says he saw a need for a leader who was eager to get things done instead of just talking about plans in the abstract. Wiper felt he was the man for the job. Focusing on the need for the younger generations of business owners and community members to get more involved, Wiper said he believed the group was a crossroads, noting the need to "make a pivotal decision regarding the Chamber and its direction for the future." He went on to detail his vision of an organization that functions not merely as a social and networking group, but as "a business and a force for positive and beneficial change."

Wiper listed four main goals in making that transition successful. First, he wants to get people excited. To raise momentum, he said, it is important for the members of the Chamber of Commerce to identify and accomplish goals together. His second aim is "to raise awareness of the importance of buying from those who buy from you, even when it costs a little more." The next goal is to coordinate efforts with other Chambers, tourist organizations, and business associations. Finally, he wants to find ways to streamline the Chamber operations, such as implementing technology, making things run more smoothly and efficiently. Long-term, Wiper says he would like to see Chester utilize its uniqueness to build a better future. "We have a strong artistic community, with world-class writers, artists, and really skilled people," he notes. "What we need is a meeting of the minds…with a little coordination, we could be a model to look up to."