September 16, 2026 — Ten years of connecting businesses, advocating for the region and turning partnerships into action were celebrated as more than 40 people gathered in Vassar to mark the 10th anniversary of the Piney Regional Chamber of Commerce (PRCC).
The September 10 celebration at the RM of Piney Municipal Office brought members past and present together with volunteers, businesses, sponsors, supporters, community partners and government representatives to recognize a decade of accomplishments and the people who made them possible.
“Ten years is an accomplishment worth celebrating, but the real story is what we have been able to accomplish by working together,” said Jason Ginter, PRCC President. “For our members, the Chamber creates opportunities to build relationships, learn from one another, access training and resources, and develop partnerships. Those connections make individual businesses stronger and give our entire region a stronger voice.”
Since its establishment in 2016, PRCC has advocated on issues affecting local businesses and communities, including health care, border and port-of-entry hours, internet and cellular service, housing and economic development. Monthly Chamber meetings have evolved into opportunities for networking and professional development, connecting members with entrepreneurs, businesses, government representatives and regional organizations.
That spirit of collaboration has also produced tangible results. Over its first decade, the Chamber generated more than $90,500 in grant funding, delivered approximately 150 Hello Neighbour Welcome Kits, donated $3,500 to local non-profits through shop-local campaigns, and supported regional initiatives ranging from Christmas hampers and Maker Space resources to assisted-living housing.
“We believed that if we worked together as a region, we could build something stronger than any one community could build by itself,” said Jonathon Prevost, one of PRCC’s founding members and its first president. “Ten years later, the Chamber has helped us see what was already here – a region filled with talented people, strong businesses and real opportunities – and given us a way to bring those strengths together.”
Creating opportunities for the next generation has become another important part of that work. The Chamber launched its first Career Symposium in 2018 with 18 exhibitors. By 2024, the Green Career Symposium connected 150 students and community members with 36 exhibitors, followed in 2025 by the first Youth Entrepreneur Challenge.
PRCC is now building on those successes with the Youth Futures Project, launching in 2027. Locally developed, the initiative will combine youth entrepreneurship, career development, mentorship and wellness to help young people build confidence, practical life and business skills, leadership, resilience and connections. Most importantly, it will help youth recognize that entrepreneurship, employment and meaningful career opportunities can exist right here within their own communities.
The Chamber is also creating a lasting record of its anniversary year. Members will be invited to contribute ideas and items for a 10th Anniversary Time Capsule, which will be sealed at the January 2027 Annual General Meeting and opened 10 years later at PRCC’s 20th anniversary AGM.
As PRCC enters its second decade, its focus remains rooted in the principle that inspired its creation: businesses and communities can accomplish more when they work together.
“Thank you for being part of the first ten years of the Piney Regional Chamber of Commerce,” said Ginter. “We look forward to building the next ten together.”
Read PRCC Accomplishments 2016-2026
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Media Contact:
Monique Chenier, Secretary
Piney Regional Chamber of Commerce
📧 info@pineyregionalchamber.ca
🌐 www.pineyregionalchamber.ca