On Tuesday, June 2, 2026, our Executive Director, Rebecca Shelley, and Chair of the Board of Directors, Daniel Vandersteen, had the opportunity to participate in Advocacy Day in Ottawa alongside Chamber and Board of Trade leaders from across Ontario.

One of the most valuable parts of these conversations is the chance to step outside our own community and hear what businesses are experiencing in other corners of the province. While every community is unique, many of the challenges facing employers, entrepreneurs, and business owners are shared: workforce development, economic growth, housing, infrastructure, and creating the conditions businesses need to succeed.

Throughout the day, conversations focused on many of the same issues we hear from businesses here at home: attracting and retaining talent, supporting economic growth, ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with community needs, and creating a business environment where employers can invest and thrive.

Advocacy Day creates space for those conversations to happen directly with provincial decision-makers, while also allowing Chambers to learn from one another, exchange ideas, and bring new perspectives back to the communities we each serve.

For us here at the Grimsby & District Chamber of Commerce, advocacy is not only about speaking on behalf of business. It is also about listening, gathering insight, identifying common challenges, and ensuring local voices remain part of larger conversations that shape our future.

Thank you to the Ontario Chamber of Commerce for bringing together Chamber and Board of Trade representatives from across the province for a day of meaningful discussion, collaboration, and shared learning. It’s always great to step outside our own community for a day, learn from the experiences of others, and return with fresh ideas and perspectives that can help strengthen Grimsby’s business community.