The Rocky Mountain House and District Chamber of Commerce has been named the 2024 Chamber of the Year by the Alberta Chambers of Commerce.

The honour, awarded during the organization’s annual general meeting on May 30 in Medicine Hat, recognized the Rocky Chamber in the membership category of 200 to 499.

Executive director Michelle Meatheringham said the recognition came largely due to the Chamber’s Community Transformation initiative, launched in partnership with the town and county in late 2024.

The Chamber partnered with Unstoppable Conversations, a group that specializes in transforming organizational thinking— shifting the community’s mindset “from ‘why bother?’ to ‘what’s possible?’”

“This initiative is filled with community spirit,” Meatheringham said in a statement. “It’s exciting to see the participation from individuals, businesses and organizations.”

The Community Transformation initiative began with a workshop in November 2024 and led to the creation of four regional “impact projects,” focused on municipal-business collaboration, youth engagement, housing, and nonprofit partnerships.

The $43,350 program was funded by the Chamber and local government, with the Town of Rocky Mountain House and Clearwater County each contributing $10,837.50 and the Chamber covering the remaining 50 per cent.

A media release from the Alberta Chambers praised the project as “proving the power of vision backed by action.”

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Meatheringham said the recognition was a first for the Rocky Chamber, to the best of her knowledge.

As part of the recognition, the chamber will be honoured with an official plaque, which is still en route to Rocky.

Later this year, the Chamber will host a celebration event in June and continue meeting with community groups through the summer, with plans to reconvene as a full group in the fall.

The Rocky Chamber was one of several chambers recognized at the Medicine Hat meeting. Others included the Consort and District Chamber of Commerce, Westlock and District Chamber of Commerce, Peace River and District Chamber of Commerce, and Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce (SEACC).

SEACC was recognized as Chamber of the Year in the 500-plus member category. Recent efforts include expanding its reach from three to eight municipalities and welcoming over 160 new members.

The Southeast Alberta Chamber also secured the bid to host the 2024 Alberta Chambers of Commerce AGM, bringing provincial attention to Southeast Alberta during its quasquicentennial year.

SEACC includes Brooks, Medicine Hat, Duchess, Rosemary, Bassano and Redcliff.

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Meatheringham said she expects to see more Chambers adopting similar transformation initiatives in the future.

“Chambers are incredibly collaborative, and I think it’s likely others move in that direction too,” she said.