Another year has passed, and here at the Lincoln Chamber, we’re taking time to reflect on the work, growth and progress that shaped the past fiscal year. This August, we welcomed our members to the 2026 Annual General Meeting, hosted at the beautiful Grand Oak Culinary Market.
A Look Back at the Year
The past year has been filled with opportunities to connect, advocate, support local businesses and bring our business community together.
From our networking events and signature programs to advocacy efforts and member initiatives, the Chamber continued working to create meaningful opportunities for our members and strengthen connections across the local business community.
Advocacy
The Lincoln Chamber strengthened its role as a trusted advocate and voice for local business, fulfilling our mission to represent, support, and connect the local business community.
- Strengthened relationships with local, provincial and federal decision-makers through roundtables, meetings, tours and Chamber events.
- Represented Lincoln’s business community at the Town of Lincoln through regular engagement with Council, budget discussions and business licensing reviews.
- Advocated on issues affecting local businesses, including construction impacts, accessibility, recycling changes and economic uncertainty.
- Participated in the Lincoln Tariff Response Team, connecting local manufacturers with industry, education and workforce development partners.
- Supported local businesses through economic change with industry roundtables, manufacturer engagement, workforce connections and Shop Local initiatives.
- Engaged in regional advocacy, collaborating with the Niagara Chamber Partnership and Niagara Businesses Alliance on municipal restructuring discussions and the 2026 municipal election.
- Connected members with funding opportunities through the Chamber’s new Grants Committee, including grants for accessibility, technology, marketing and business development.
- Represented Lincoln at provincial and national tables, within the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Ontario Chamber of Commerce organizations and at the Ontario Economic Summit.
- Participated in policy and advocacy discussions through Chamber networks, conferences, summits and Queen’s Park advocacy.
- Created opportunities for direct business–government dialogue through the Politicians’ Breakfast, the Mayor’s State of the Town, ministerial roundtables and other Chamber events.
Governance & Board Updates
- Held Regular Monthly Board Meetings
- Completed Staff Performance Reviews
- Approved 2026 Budget
- Completed 2025/2026 Financial Audit
- Held Annual General Meeting
The AGM also marked an important transition for our Board of Directors.
We heard final remarks from our now Past President, Katy Letourneau, as she concluded her term. We are incredibly grateful to Katy for her leadership, commitment and contributions to the Chamber and our business community throughout her term.
We also said thank you to four Board members who are concluding their service:
- Lynda O’Donnell, Community Care of West Niagara | Secretary | 9 Years of Service
- Ed Dam | I.S. Service | Director | 6 Years of Service
- Marites Diaz-Lee | Campden General Store | Director | 2 Years of Service
- Nick Chen, Meridian Credit Union | Treasurer | 1 Year of Service
Thank you for the time, expertise and perspective you have shared with the Chamber. Your contributions have helped shape the organization and the work we do on behalf of our members.
Welcoming New & Returning Board Members
We were pleased to welcome four new members to the Lincoln Chamber Board of Directors:
- Krista Burch | Partner, CPA, CA TEP, Bateman MacKay
- Nicole Campbell | Owner, The Solutionista
- Ethan Fahey | Communications Specialist, Niagara Peninsula Energy Inc.
- Paul Di Ianni | Director, Economic Development, Communications, Tourism & Culture, Town of Lincoln
We also welcomed our returning Board members:
- Sue Foster | Rotary Club of Lincoln
- Dave Peters | Owner, Absolute Change Management
- Jennifer Pratt | Co-Owner, Crush on Niagara Wine Tours
- Nour Hage | CEO, Civiconnect
We’re excited to have this group of dedicated local business leaders helping guide the Chamber into the year ahead.
Events & Promotions
We hosted and supported a variety of events and promotional initiatives designed to connect, celebrate, and grow our local business community. From networking opportunities to community celebrations, each event provided a platform for members to showcase their businesses, build relationships, and engage with the broader community. Our events and promotions included:
- Pride Installation: A joint effort with the Downtown Bench Beamsville BIA and sponsored by Custom Sign Lab
- Four Business Before 9 events hosted by: Revalee Brunch Cafe, Penny’s Kitchen, and The Watering Can (sponsored by Meridian Credit Union and Niagara Peninsula Energy Inc.)
- Six Business After 5 events hosted by: Dear Me Cosmetic Clinic, Second Chance Decor, Campden General Store / Brand You Promotional Products, PBI – Printing by Innovation, Brick & Beam Coffee Co., and eBike the Bench Wine Tours / Vineland Estates Winery
- One Business In Between event hosted by: The Yoga Vine, featuring London Born Wine and lunch from The Watering Can
- 2025 Annual General Meeting hosted by Albright Manor
- 2025 Annual Outstanding Business Achievement Awards hosted by Harbour Estates Winery
- Two CKTB Roundtable Roadtrips hosted by Penny’s Kitchen
- 2025 Mingle & Jingle hosted by Newark Brewing
- Five Read & Lead Chamber Book Club meetings with Chamber President Katy Letourneau
- Politicians Breakfast hosted by The Shore, attended by Mayor Sandra Easton, Dean Allison (MP), Sam Oosterhoff (MPP) and Regional Councillor Rob Foster.
- Mayor Easton’s State of the Town hosted by Calamus Estate Winery
- 2026 Annual Chamber Cup Golf Tournament at Twenty Valley Golf and Country Club
Thank you to our 2025-2026 Annual Sponsors:
Marketing
Over the past year, our digital presence had substantial growth. On Instagram, we reached 42.1k accounts, garnered 207.9K views, and saw 4.1k interactions. Facebook and LinkedIn engagement remained strong, our website activity greatly increased, and through Cyberimpact, our email campaigns achieved a 44% open rate and a 3.5% click rate.
Sponsorship & Advertising Opportunities
- Sponsor an Event: A great way to have your organization highlighted in front of a targeted audience in terms of advertising, signage and recognition.
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Purchase Ad Space: Purchase an advertisement online or in print; include a free post in our newsletter, or take advantage of one of the many other cost-effective ways to broaden your reach in our community.
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Chamber Newsletter: Get your latest news and promotions out into the inboxes of a large local audience! Members have the opportunity to submit flyers, promotions, events, or specific details of their products and services.
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Social Posts: An opportunity for online cross-promotion. Create and send us a post and be seen by more than 3,500 viewers each month.
Looking Forward to What’s to Come
With another successful AGM behind us, we’re looking forward to the year ahead and all that it will bring. We remain committed to creating opportunities for our members to engage, connect and grow, while continuing to advocate for and support the local business community.
Thank you to everyone who joined us at this year’s AGM, and to all of our members who continue to contribute to the strength and success of our Chamber.
Here’s to another year of progress, together.