The Dawson Trail Dispatch, written by Dan Guetre, October 2026
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More than 40 people gathered in Vassar Sept. 10 to celebrate a decade of the Piney Regional Chamber of Commerce (PRCC) and recognize the businesses, volunteers, sponsors, community partners and government representatives who have contributed to its work.
The 10th anniversary celebration was held at the RM of Piney Municipal Office, bringing together past and present Chamber members to reflect on the organization’s development since its establishment in 2016.
PRCC President Jason Ginter said the organization’s accomplishments have been driven by businesses and communities working together.
“Ten years is an accomplishment worth celebrating, but the real story is what we have been able to accomplish by working together,” Ginter said.
The Chamber has advocated on issues affecting businesses and communities throughout the region, including health care, border and port-of-entry hours, internet and cellular service, housing and economic development.
Monthly Chamber meetings have also developed into networking and professional development opportunities, connecting businesses and entrepreneurs with government representatives and regional organizations.
Over its first decade, PRCC generated more than $90,500 in grant funding, distributed approximately 150 Hello Neighbour Welcome Kits and donated $3,500 to local non-profits through shop-local campaigns.
The organization has also supported initiatives including Christmas hampers, Maker Space resources and assisted-living housing.
Jonathon Prevost, one of the Chamber’s founding members and its first president, said the organization was established around the belief that regional collaboration could accomplish more than individual communities working independently.
“We believed that if we worked together as a region, we could build something stronger than any one community could build by itself,” Prevost said.
The Chamber has also increasingly focused on creating opportunities for young people.
Its first Career Symposium was held in 2018 with 18 exhibitors. By 2024, the Green Career Symposium had grown to connect 150 students and community members with 36 exhibitors. In 2025, PRCC introduced its first Youth Entrepreneur Challenge.
Building on those programs, the Chamber is preparing to launch the Youth Futures Project in 2027.
The locally developed initiative will combine youth entrepreneurship, career development, mentorship and wellness. The program is intended to help young people develop confidence, practical life and business skills, leadership, resilience and connections while highlighting employment, entrepreneurship and career opportunities available within the region.
PRCC is also planning a 10th Anniversary Time Capsule. Members will be invited to contribute items and ideas reflecting the Chamber and the region in 2026. The capsule will be sealed at the Chamber’s January 2027 Annual General Meeting and scheduled to be opened at its 20th anniversary AGM in 2037.
As the organization begins its second decade, Ginter said the Chamber’s focus remains on the collaborative approach that has guided it since its formation.
“Thank you for being part of the first ten years of the Piney Regional Chamber of Commerce,” Ginter said. “We look forward to building the next ten together.”