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The Chetwynd Chamber of Commerce
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Our History.........The Chetwynd Chamber of commerce has served the community since 1959.  The first Board of Directors and Executive were long time residents Frank Oberle, James Merchant, Joe Engelman, Ernie Pfanner, Norm Stirling, Eugene Embree, Emil Breitkreitz, Paul Anderson, Jim Ashdown, Alex Daniluck and Father Emile Jungbluth.
 
The first Chamber of Commerce achieved many notable successes, including the incorporaton of Chetwnd as a village in 1962.  The Chamber of Commerce was also instrumental in the establishment of a Water Works District and the first newspaper (the Chinook).  A fire department, hospital, airport and improved housing were among the many successful Chamber of Commerce projects during those early years.

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Chetwynd is working on new developments, currently there is established coal mines, Sulphur pelletizing plant, Gas Processing Facilities, Community forest, hotel development, local retail, eco-tourism, raw land and re-opening of apartment buildings, investments and redesign of existing buildings to name a few. 

 

The District of Chetwynd is located in the foothills of the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains.  It is British Columbia’s entrance to the mighty Peace River country.  Located at the junction of Highways 97 and 29 and on the CN Rail mainline, Chetwynd is the natural transportation hub of the Peace River area.

The Chetwynd area is rich in oil, gas, coal and timber.

 

Chetwynd has a population of about 3,000 with a trading area of about 7,000 people, and the population will continue to grow as businesses and industrial development come to fruition.  A study released by Smart Growth B.C., ranked Chetwynd as the most livable place in the province.

 

A stable economic base is provided by the four largest employers:  Tembec (pulp mill), Canadian Forest Products (Canfor – sawmill), Chetwynd Forest Industries (West Fraser – sawmill), and Spectra Energy (gas plant), other major employers are Enersul sulphur pelletizing plant, CN Rail, (CN Rail), Talisman Energy, Western Canadian Coal, ranching, tourism and the service sector round out Chetwynd’s diversified economy.

 

During May and June of 2007 over 600 additional workers arrived in Chetwynd for a planned turnaround (regularly scheduled maintenance) for the area oil and gas companies.  The business sector worked together to provide accommodation for the large number of people and it is now known that the community can accommodate any industrial activity or increase.  Chetwynd is Open for Business and is looking forward to the challenges. “Chetwynd needs this business, and to make it work we all need to support these workers, visitors and companies,” commented Mayor Evan Saugstad.

 

Recreation of all types is a part of lifestyle in the community of Chetwynd.  Summer activities such as the Chetwynd & District Leisure Pool, Pine Valley Exhibition Park, Rotary Park, camping, fishing, hunting, golf, hiking, biking, and canoeing, and much more.  Winter activities include speed skating, snowmobiling, downhill and cross-country skiing, ice fishing, hockey, curling and much more.

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