Timmins Chamber of Commerce welcomes new president

The Timmins Chamber of Commerce installs Melanie Dufresne, former director of Collège Boréal's Timmins campus, as new president. Lydia Chubak reports.

The Timmins Chamber of Commerce has officially installed its president for the forthcoming year. Melanie Dufresne, who serves as the director of Collège Boréal’s Timmins Campus, assumed the leadership role during the organization’s 76th annual general meeting on Wednesday, held at the Centre Culturel La Ronde.

A focus on advocacy for member businesses

Dufresne, a chamber member for the past five years, brings a strong commitment to representing the interests of the organization’s 650 members. She outlined her focus on the evolving economic landscape, particularly cross-border issues affecting local enterprises.

“We’re looking at what’s happening across the border from us, with some of the changes and how that affects small business businesses as a whole,” Dufresne said. “That’s, of course, key to making sure that we’re present and we do everything possible to advocate for those changes that are happening around us.”

Passing the gavel to a new leader

The meeting featured the ceremonial passing of the gavel from outgoing president Tom Faught Jr. to Dufresne. In his remarks, Faught reflected on the local business climate, characterizing Timmins as a vibrant and prosperous community.

He pointed to visible signs of economic activity and the stability of a key local industry.

“There’s contractors everywhere, contracting trucks everywhere, gold is being produced and gold is obviously not going to be tariffed, so, at least that’s what we’re being told today,” Faught said.

Recognition and new board introduced

The annual gathering also served as an occasion to pause and honour individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the chamber over the past year.

Furthermore, the event introduced the chamber’s newly appointed board of directors, who will serve alongside President Dufresne for the 2023-2024 term.