The Thomson Chamber of Commerce signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce yesterday. Oswald Sawh, President of the Thompson Chamber of Commerce explained the significance of the signing.

 

"The main thing is that it's a formal partnership between the Thompson Chamber of Commerce and the Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce.  We're both on the same page that we want to increase aboriginal participation in the Chamber movement."

 

The General Manager of the Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce, Gloria Spence told us more.

 

"It's going to mean an increase in our membership, but not only our membership, but Thompson's membership as well.   It's also going to strengthen the business relationship between the north and the south."

 

Sawh also talked about getting aboriginal youth involved.

 

"Businesses are the ones who drive the economies.  They're the ones who create the jobs and so on.  So we want to make sure that when we talk to young people we talk about what are the positive options for them if they do want to go into business for themselves.  What are the benefits of that."

 

The two chambers have been working on the partnership for over a year, and hope that it will benefit Thompson’s local economy.