It was a big year in 2021 for the Weyburn Chamber of Commerce.

Executive Director Larry Heggs said that comparatively, things got better over the last year, and will continue to do so.

"Whether it be from supply chain issues, lockdowns, vaccine, passports, the business community as a whole has really been able to handle it, and deal with it," he commented. "They'll come out of this stronger than they were before. I have confidence."

Heggs noted many of the local business owners he has spoken with are also confident that by the end of 2022 there will be a full financial recovery from these past two years.

"We had a great year, lots of opportunities for our members, too, whether meet with politicians or or just meet with each other and you know have conversations that way and we had lots of growth within the Chamber this year, so that was good."

He noted they even welcomed Erin O'Toole to Weyburn

"We had the leader of the opposition here, so I had a conversation with him this summer, so that was, you know, a highlight."

Another highlight, he shared, was helping local businesses get a boost this year, through a new, bigger initiative for the Chamber.

The Meet Weyburn Campaign, said Heggs, was about creating awareness of just how much power shoppers truly have.

"It's an educational piece showing, among other things, local consumers, if they spent 10 per cent more in their annual spending in the Weyburn area, we could raise our GDP in Weyburn by $12.5 million, and better yet, create 275 more local jobs. That's a huge win for the area. If we could, you know, just simply by 10 per cent more of the spending. We're not asking for everything, we're just asking for 10 per cent."

Heggs noted they showcased a cross section of local businesses, 25 in all.

He added the Weyburn Chamber of Commerce has a great board of directors.