File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Dylana Kneeshaw

BUSINESS ADVOCACY

‘Not receiving the value’; Kamloops Chamber cites cost-saving in decision to cut ties with BC Chamber

Jun 5, 2025 | 4:42 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops and District Chamber of Commerce says its decision to not renew its membership with the BC Chamber of Commerce isn’t related to ‘bad blood’, but simply boiled down to a matter of cost-effectiveness.

The Kamloops Chamber has more than 700 members and President Sara Lawson says this year, they felt the services and advocacy paid for by the $8,500 membership fee the BC Chamber administers wasn’t worth it.

“We were not receiving the value for our membership dollars and we are a member-based organization so we want to spend the money of our members productively and responsibly,” reiterates Lawson. “We’re looking to allocate our funds to do different things for our membership this year.”

Lawson says the local Chamber felt it was capable of handling the level of advocacy and provincial networking its members were looking for, instead of relying on the BC Chamber as much.

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“We don’t consider this a permanent move. They’re in the middle of restructuring some things right now, hiring a new CEO. We’re excited to see what the future holds for them and when we’ll be a part of it again,” she adds.

Kamloops and Kelowna are both among the nearly dozen other chambers who opted to not renew memberships with the BC Chamber of Commerce this year.