A former city councillor and mayoralty candidate is back in the chair again, this time leading the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Chamber of Commerce.
Mike Morden was elected to the position Tuesday and will lead the business group for two years.
After serving two terms on Maple Ridge city council, Morden says he knows what their challenges are, “and what the opportunities are, as well.”
He wants to work with the city on implementing its commercial-industrial strategy.
“That’s a very important piece for us. We want land to be available for employment.”
As chamber president, he’ll also advocate for building the employment and tax base and “creating an environment that’s conducive to that.
“I am excited by the responsibility and privilege to guide a very capable and highly motivated board of directors,” Morden said in a release.
“Along with our dedicated staff, we will work hard to represent you. We all want what you do: a business friendly community, success and growth, a strong commercial and industrial tax base, more retail stores, and quality jobs for our citizens, now and for our future generations.”
Morden owns ASC Security and has been a chamber member for 24 years.
He served on Maple Ridge council from 2008 to 2014 and ran for mayor in the 2014 civic election.
He added that Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows will see “tremendous growth with population projections in excess of 150,000 by 2040.
“The majority of our residents leave our community to work somewhere else and that needs to change. Ideally, our two communities should be the place our citizens not only live and play, but work, too.
“We clearly have a lot of advocacy work to do with all levels of government to meet our communities needs and realize opportunity.”
Kevin Nosworthy was elected vice-president of the chamber.
Terry Becker is the past president.