With no meeting of the minds among its members on a potential name change, the Westbank and District Chamber of Commerce will keep the matter off its agenda at this year’s annual general meeting.

The notion of a name change for the chamber had been bandied about at the start of the year, after West Kelowna became the official name of the new municipality on Jan. 30.

In order for a name change to occur, it must be presented to the chamber for a vote at the annual general meeting or at a special membership meeting.

However, outgoing chamber president Broc Braconnier said that over the last 10 months, the membership has remained split on the idea of changing the organization’s name to match that of the municipality.

“There have been as many suggestions for a name change as there have been to retain the name,” said Braconnier.

With that in mind, the executive felt the Nov. 25 AGM could have been too soon an opportunity to deal with the matter, according to Braconnier.

“It has to be a slow process. Let dust continue to settle.”

The issue will now be one for the incoming executive to sort out in the new year, he added.

“The new board should respond if there is a real cry from the members. But, if members are not going to drive (change) don’t force it upon them.”

The name change issue is a tricky one for the chamber because not all of its members have businesses within West Kelowna’s boundaries, Braconnier added. Some run companies in Westbank First Nation, the Central Okanagan West rural electoral area and in Peachland.

Chamber executive director Leah Thordarson also noted, that while most chambers across the province have names reflecting the municipality they are located in, not all do.

Exceptions include the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce representing Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody and Kicking Horse Country Chamber of Commerce, representing the greater Golden area.

Numerous chambers also use multiple names to recognize joint jurisdictions such as Harrison/Agassiz, Armstrong/Spallumcheen and Duncan/Cowichan.

jluciw@kelownacapnews.com