(File photo/northeastNOW Staff)

By Aaron Schulze

Chamber Relocation

Nipawin chamber to relocate after town assumes tourism role

Apr 12, 2019 | 5:04 PM

Nipawin’s visitor information services will have a different home for the upcoming tourism season and beyond.

The Town of Nipawin informed the Nipawin and District Chamber of Commerce they would assume tourism responsibilities starting this year. The chamber ran visitor information services since 1987.

Mayor Rennie Harper told northeastNOW the Town of Nipawin and the Chamber agreed on the town assuming visitor information services duties for a few months, and the town administration planned to lead tourism in the community for the last three years.

“We have been engaged with the chamber in conversations over many months now,” Harper said. “To try and ensure we’re on the same page and we build a bit of a relationship, which hasn’t always been there for quite some time.

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“This allows the chamber, in their own words, to focus more on what they see is their role, and that is advocacy of businesses in our community and shopping local. They want to focus more on that and the town of Nipawin wants to focus more on the visitor centre and tourism.”

Harper mentioned chamber staff felt there was not sufficient funding provided by the town to run the visitor information services.

A release put out by the Town of Nipawin on April 11 said the process leading towards the change began back in 2012 with future development plans for Central Park.

The following is an excerpt of the release:

The chamber was informed by the town that its long-term lease of the town-owned chamber site would not be renewed, and that it would instead be replaced by an annual lease agreement. The chamber was informed at that time that this change was needed in order to accommodate future development plans that were being prepared for Central Park. These development plans have now been incorporated into the current Town of Nipawin Strategic Plan and work is progressing on incorporating new recreational services within the Central Park grounds… A portion of the council’s direction includes having the remainder of Central Park dedicated as a Municipal Reserve. This designation will ensure future developments and uses within this park are limited to those identified under the Planning and Development Act, 2007 as being for public purposes. These types of uses include public parks/recreation areas, school purposes, natural areas, agricultural/horticultural uses and public buildings.

The release said because the chamber’s operations aren’t deemed to be compatible with the approved uses within a Municipal Reserve, their operation is required to relocate.

Harper said this isn’t a takeover.

“This is something that we’re working on together,” Harper said. “When you work on stuff together you don’t always agree, but we’re moving forward and we’re doing it in continuous conversation.”

Nipawin’s visitor information services will be held in the town’s office.

A spokesperson from the Nipawin and District Chamber of Commerce wasn’t immediately available for comment.

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow