They’ve admittedly had their disagreements over the years, but it appears the Bracebridge Chamber of Commerce and town council have buried the hatchet.

Last Wednesday, several members of the chamber executive paid a visit to the town office to help make council better acquainted with their operations in the community.

Bob Kerr, chamber president, said the group attended at the request of the chamber’s council liaison councillor Steve Clement.

He explained the chamber is a non-profit organization with over 390 members, whose basic function is to promote the interests of those members.

Kerr said the most common misconception regarding the chamber is that it is an extension of local government.

“For the record, the Bracebridge chamber is a stand-alone, self-contained organization, operating under federal legislation,” said Kerr.

The chamber keeps busy throughout the year facilitating many events, said Kerr, such as small business week, industry workshops and the annual business achievement awards.

The chamber also operates the visitor’s centre at Bird Mill Mews, with the help of an annual $40,000 grant from the town.

Kerr said one of the key goals for the chamber in 2008 is the creation of a strategic plan review.

“Once completed, we expect the document to guide us over the next several years,” he said. “With the town embarking on a community-based strategic plan, the timing couldn’t be better for collaboration.”

Since assisting with their first job fair in Huntsville last year, the chamber has helped with job fairs in both Bracebridge and Huntsville this year, and has plans to include Gravenhurst next year.

Mayor Don Coates commented that it had been some time since the chamber paid a visit to council, and he thanked them for the presentation.

Councillor Barry Young said the relationship between council and the chamber has come a long way in the past decade.

“I don’t think this would have been possible seven or eight years ago . . . the relationship just didn’t work,” he said. “It’s great to see it come full circle.”

Kerr said the executive members in attendance were evidence the chamber is greatly interested in working with the town.

“As far as I and the executive are concerned, the past is the past and it’s gone,” said Kerr.

Councillor Gerry Tryon said, as a new councillor, he was surprised to here about all of the chamber’s activities.

“I had no idea what you were all about. I’m truly amazed with all the things you’re involved in,” he said. “You should do this presentation for every council.”