Michel Cyrenne, the Estevan and District Board of Tourism, Trade and Commerce’s (TTC) community development manager, reflected on a busy 2009 during his annual state of the TTC address at the organization’s annual meeting Wednesday night.
Beautifying Estevan, advocating for the local business community, and working towards solutions for the housing and labour crunches in Estevan were among last year’s top priorities, Cyrenne said.
Beautification was addressed through the new tourism information booth at the west end of the city. The TTC is also working to improve the appearance of the area surrounding the tourism booth.
A 202-room ATCO Lodge work camp has been constructed east of the city to address short-term housing demands. And the TTC attended the National Job Fair in Toronto last spring to promote work and career opportunities in Estevan.
“We can’t necessarily gage how many new employees or residents this has generated, but the business community has said they have witnessed an increase in the number of applications and staff coming from Ontario in the last couple of years,” said Cyrenne.
The TTC has also worked hard to improve awareness and communication with the business community, said Cyrenne. They have new electronic newsletters that are sent out to the members.
Cyrenne said the TTC worked to help bring the expanded Energy Training Institute to Estevan, and the organization was excited when they found out it would be coming to the Energy City.
The TTC’s offices moved to a new location in the 300 block of Fourth Street, a building that they share with the RM of Estevan and the Saskatchewan South East Enterprise Region.
New “Welcome to Estevan” signs have been installed at the east and the west entrances.
Kevin D’Souza has been hired as their new marketing manager. And Twyla Exner is the new curator for the Souris Valley Museum.
Goals for the upcoming year include: enhancing community economic development, increasing tourism expenditures by 20 per cent before December 31, 2011; increasing TTC funding by 15 per cent by December 31, 2011; becoming a stronger lobbying organization; and continuing to improve the profile of the TTC in the community.
Financial statements were released during the meeting. The TTC suffered a $37,702 deficit in 2009, thanks largely to more than $54,000 in amortization, which is about $45,000 more than last year, and more than $37,000 in rent, which is about $25,500 more than last year.
The TTC’s new executive for 2010 was sworn-in during the meeting.