The new president of the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce is feeling good about the future for businesses in the city even though much of that future is still up in the air.

Dan Carroll was asked on the NL Morning News, was asked what direction the city is headed and he jokingly said he wished he had a crystal ball.

“All we can do is read carefully, Dr. [Bonnie] Henry’s words, we’re getting positive signals from her that the vaccine roll out is coming, that they’re in good shape in respect to that and that as we get our more vulnerable populations vaccinated and safer that she’ll be able to loosen restrictions,” he said.

Carroll is hoping the reopening process will be expedited as vaccine roll outs increase. He says then it will then be up to the Chamber to react.

“We’re here to support our members, to support the businesses in Kamloops, we’re paying attention every day to what’s happening out there and the minute we see things that are of interest or value to our members we’ll roll them out,” Carroll added.

“We’re continuing to work with the mayor quite frankly, we work with other partners, with YKA Strong to do what we can to support the businesses in town,”

He is hoping things are able to open up quicker as the vaccine roll out ramps up in the months ahead. He says when that happens, the Chamber can take a better look at the big picture.

“I think we’re with everybody, with fingers crossed that come spring, come summer we’ll be at least through the restrictions and then that’s the rebuild,” Carroll said.

“That’s where we have to reach out and find out where people are sitting now that they’ve been through a year, year and a half of difficult times and what the need. So, member engagement for us is really important. We want to keep a constant communication with our members, find out what they need and do everything we can to support them.”

Carroll is replacing now past president Tyson Andrykew after his one year term came to an end this week.