Serving as executive director of the Lacombe and District Chamber of Commerce is a most fitting post for someone as community-minded as Wendy Buyar.
Having started last April, she hasn’t missed a beat with working hard to move the organization forward by exploring new opportunities for growth in a community she has long been passionate about.
That is clearly seen in the preparations for this year’s chamber awards gala, which also boasts a glamorous 1920s theme.
“We are very excited about it,” she said. The Lacombe and District Chamber Awards Gala runs Oct. 25 at the Lacombe Memorial Centre. For ticket information, check out www.lacombechamber.ca.
“We’ve got some really fantastic people that we have been working with to bring the gala together.”
On top of the hectic pace involved with finalizing gala plans, Buyar has been busy on other fronts, too.
The chamber has launched a very handy app that features all kinds of ways to get the most out of local services, businesses and not-for-profit organizations.
“I’m so excited about this,” said Buyar, adding how ideal it is for visitors to the city as well, such as during the Pan Continental Curling Championships which of course kick off this weekend as well.
The app is indeed a very user-friendly means of learning so much about what Lacombe and area has to offer, she said, adding it’s a must for those who aren’t sure what is fully available on the local front.
“I want to continue to get in contact with all of the different providers of all of these various resources, and say, if you would like to make your resources available even more, let’s put them in here!”
For Buyar, the project has been something of a labour of love.
“It’s been work, but it’s been a work of passion,” she said.
Passion is the word to describe what fuels Buyar’s commitment to community-building.
She has a long history of involvement that truly reflects her love of Lacombe.
For starters, she founded the Lacombe Community Market several years ago.
Today, she also manages the Bentley Farmers Market, and has been doing so for the past five years.
“I love the market - I love the vendors; they are my friends,” she said, adding all in all, being community-minded brings about many rewards.
“I have felt like I have needed to give back to the community that has given to my family, and that has loved us. Every time I turn around, I feel like I have been given as much as I give. And so it’s been a cycle that has constantly been there for me.
“I’m also not sure where it comes from, but I have found this niche in my heart that was like, I love to help people! There is something I get as well when I help a small business — I can help a mom, for example, be able to have enough to do something extra she couldn’t do if she is just getting by.
“Now, she might have money to send her kids on a field trip, for example, or to buy some extra stuff. Or to do something special for herself or her kids.
“It’s this overwhelming gratitude in my heart — I feel like I’ve been given a gift back when I see that happen,” she explained.
Meanwhile, when the opportunity surfaced to take on the executive director role for the chamber, she at first was a bit wary.
“And then someone said to me, you do realize you’ve been running ‘chambers’ for the last 10 years (via her market experience) — they are mini-chambers, but now you would be dealing with bigger businesses, and folks who have been running those larger businesses for perhaps a long time!”
As to the day-to-day, there’s plenty to keep Buyar busy, including chamber business breakfasts and the after-hours events, to name a few.
The community is responding in a fabulous way, too.
Buyar said the only piece of ‘negative’ feedback she got from the small business breakfast held last month, for example, was that the guests wanted the meeting to be longer so they could have more time to chat with the others.
It’s feedback like this that is so encouraging, and points to a strong future for the organization as it continues to grow and evolve in changing times.
“I also just genuinely love Lacombe - it’s home.”
