Working together

Choose Summerside encourages all to be catalysts for change

This past year, as part of our ongoing effort to increase business confidence and encourage more local purchasing decisions, the Greater Summerside Chamber of Commerce launched Choose Summerside. At the centre of Choose Summerside is a simple idea: we can all be catalysts for positive change simply by reimagining how we think about, talk about, celebrate and stand up for our community.

Choose Summerside fits within a broader narrative that is focused on building up our collective self-confidence so that we, together, can go about pulling up our own bootstraps, be proud of what and who is here, where we can go and what we can continue to achieve, together.

That was on full display at the Choose Summerside anchor event this past spring on the floor of the Credit Union Place. That day over 1,500 people and 75 businesses took part in an interactive celebration of what Chamber members have to offer the public and to each other. It was such a success that we have expanded the event for next year and will try to leave fewer businesses on the wait list!

There is lots to be proud of around here. That pride has been carried forward on the countless shoulders of those who have come before, particularly those who challenged convention, shared their vision and put in the hard work to get things done together. Change may come from the rising of ashes, global trends or government decisions, but here in Summerside working together is how we respond, because it is part of our fabric and it is what works.

In order to meet today’s challenges, many of which are not so abrupt or sudden as those in our past, we must find the right roads to travel that are new, innovative and made right here in Summerside. And take a look around, it is happening. With Choose Summerside together we are adding a bit of pop in a small step forward by reminding ourselves of how much we have to offer to each other, and to the world - and there is nothing wrong with reminding ourselves of that once in awhile.

The next step will require us to flex that pride and goodwill to show our kids, their kids and the rest of the world what is possible here. Let’s go.