Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Happy Anniversary Airdrie Chamber!

By Sara Chamberlain

What a great celebration at the Airdrie Chamber of Commerce luncheon today!

Chamber Board members and staff
dressing in 1973 fashions.
At the end of this month, the Chamber turns 40. What a milestone considering that back in 1973 when it all began Airdrie was just a village with 1,000 residents. What vision those 11 founding members had for this community! They dreamed of the year 2000 when Airdrie would have 5,000 residents... 

Flash forward 40 years to our city of 45,711 residents and a Chamber with membership of more than 500! 

More significant than the numbers is the energy that was in the room at the luncheon today (and, in fact, that you feel all across Airdrie).  From Chamber staff and members dressing in '70s fashion, to tables of people collaborating on the 1973 quiz, to President Mike Watkins reading "The Story of the Airdrie Chamber," the room was alive with laughter, camaraderie and enthusiasm. And, to me, that's what makes the Chamber and Airdrie such a great place to be.

Here's to 40 more years!

(To learn more about the Chamber and its history, read this great article in the Airdrie City View.)

Airdrie Economic Development's Kent Rupert
sporting a retro Chamber tee.
Chamber President Mike Watkins
reading the Airdrie Chamber story.