Scott Hayes | [email protected]
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Their names might be new to the Jasper Park Chamber of Commerce (JPCC), but their faces are undoubtedly very familiar to all in the local business community.
Troy Mills was acclaimed as the new president at the organization鈥檚 Sept. 27 annual general meeting.
Originally on the ballot as the only candidate for vice president, the golf pro at Jasper Park Lodge accepted his nomination from the floor before the vote, which required him to abandon his run for VP.
Prior to that, there were no names put forward for the president position. With no others from the floor, he advanced unhindered.
Mills replaces now past-president Justin Melnyk, general manager of the Jasper Brewing Co., whose maximum three years of service had been fulfilled.
In offering his outgoing speech, Melnyk joked about how long it took him to rise to the head of the table as opposed to his successor鈥檚 experience.
"I quickly ascended 鈥� not quite as quickly as Troy," he said, much to the amusement of the approximately 60 chamber members and representatives in attendance.
"Richard [Cooper - the previous past-president] had me as VP, and then I went up the ranks quite quickly from there."
He recapped his three consecutive one-year terms, noting the struggles of COVID and the Chetamon Wildfire, with the success of getting regulatory approvals for restaurant patios during the summer high seasons.
With that, he said that he won鈥檛 be too far away from the action as the new past-president.
"I definitely still want to be involved as the past-president. Troy and I go way back, so we鈥檙e not far from a quick phone call or text. I鈥檒l be there to support him and the new board."
Mills said that he鈥檚 looking forward to working with incoming vice president Paul Hardy and the rest of the newly elected board for the upcoming 2023-24 term.
"I鈥檓 just looking forward to be an advocate, listening to small business owners or big business owners,鈥� Mills said. 鈥淚鈥檓 really looking forward to giving back to the community."
Hardy, the manager of SunDog Tour Co., was also acclaimed as vice president after he accepted his nomination from the floor, becoming the only candidate in that category after the gap on the ballot left by Mills.
Hardy was not present during the meeting, but Richard Cooper confirmed his acceptance of it.聽 Chamber executive director Pattie Pavlov indicated that she was aware of Hardy鈥檚 stance on the matter before the meeting.
The rest of the elections saw incumbent Aman Gupta (of the Pursuit Collection) retaining his spot as Secretary/Treasurer.
The board of directors now consists of sole incumbent Matricia Bauer (of Warrior Women) being joined by Sandra Coombe (of the Jasper Home Accommodation Association), Violette Dalgleish (director of sales and marketing at Jasper Park Lodge), Tyler Kernick (station manager with Rocky Mountaineer) and Brett Newton (co-owner as well as lead group and event manager with Jasper Event Management).
