Just under 100 people showed up for the annual Prince Albert Chamber of Commerce Member Appreciation Barbecue on Monday. (Ian Gustafson/paNOW Staff)

By Ian Gustafson

Business Celebration

P.A. Chamber of Commerce holds member appreciation barbecue

Jul 27, 2021 | 9:00 AM

The Prince Albert and District Chamber of Commerce held their annual drive-thru tailgate member appreciation barbecue at the Art Hauser Centre parking lot on Monday.

After altering the barbecue last year to a drive-thru format to abide by COVID-19 restrictions, they went forward with the same format for the free lunch.

CEO of the P.A. and District Chamber of Commerce Elise Hildebrandt said just under a hundred members showed up.

“I really enjoy it and I think my board does as well,” Hildebrandt told paNOW. “It gives us the opportunity to talk to our members. When you’re at a networking event, like a big one, you just don’t get that opportunity and here, because we’re outside in a parking lot, you just get to go around and everyone’s relaxed.”

She explained the common trend among members at the barbecue is how nice it is to see everyone. However, the lifting of restrictions has made business owners a bit nervous, she said.

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“We’re pumped that we don’t have to wear a mask but also a little bit of nervousness of what’s going to happen when school restarts. Are we going to have to think about that,” she said. “It’s excitement but a little bit of nervousness. We’re seeing a number of businesses have requested their employees to keep their masks on.”

She would like to thank everyone for their support because without community support, she would not be where she is today.

Among the local business owners in attendance was Mark Poppen, who owns Funky Moose Records, an online vinyl record shop.

He explained when the pandemic began last year it turned out to be a positive for the business.

“Physical record stores shutdown mostly around the country and record collectors still want their records. So they came to our website and started ordering more and more,” he said.

He added most of their business has come out of the Toronto area because of the population. They noticed during the pandemic more people from Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area were visiting their site because he said they’re one of few local Canadian online record stores that were still operating during the lockdown.

“I mean you can still buy your records on Amazon and stuff like that, but people wanted to support local businesses,” Poppen said.

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Ian.Gustafson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @IanGustafson12