Outgoing chamber president predicts 2026 will be ‘great year for businesses’

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — 2025 has been a fantastic year for the Fort St. John and District Chamber of Commerce, according to its past president Vince van Wieringen. 

Energeticcity.ca got in touch with Wieringen as 2025 draws to a close and he finishes his term as president for the organization to ask about his reflections on the past year. 

Wieringen shared: “A lot has happened throughout the year, a lot of great things in the chamber as well as Rotary [club].”

He told Energeticcity.ca: “I’ve had a great year in community connectedness and building relationships with communities.

“I completed my real estate licence and our family has come a long way as well.” 

From a chamber side of things, Wieringen says there was a lot of engagement from the community. 

Wieringen said: “We built a lot of relevancy back after Covid, and so now I think we can continue to do that, and I look forward to 2026 because with the momentum… 

“We’re just going to continue to grow, and we’re going to continue to do great things for the community.” 

Wieringen predicted 2026 will be a great year. He said: “We’re looking at economic development, therefore leading into a great year for businesses and our local community.” 

Having been a Rotarian for over seven years, Wieringen will be moving back into its presidency for the 2027-28 year. 

Talking about being president, he said: “To be the president, your main goal is to direct and protect, to make sure that things are happening, to make sure that there’s engagement, to make sure the membership is happy and the community is happy, and that we continue on the path forward.” 

Talking about resolutions for the new year, he said: “I say my resolutions are to continue to do as much as I can for our community and to make sure that I set aside time for my family.

“They stand beside me all the time and I want to make sure that I’ve got the time to anchor them, bring up my daughters, make sure they get more engaged in the community, and see the values of being a good member of our community and help them out.”