Local lawyer new president for Steinbach Chamber of Commerce

The Steinbach Chamber of Commerce has appointed a new president.

Eugene Warwaruk was named the chamber’s president on Oct. 23, following the end of former president Tracy Gromniski’s term.

“I just really appreciate the chance to contribute to the growth and success of the chamber,” he told The Carillon. “I just want to continue the work that we have been working on for the last number of years and provide good value to our members.”

A practicing lawyer for Steinbach-based firm Loewen Henderson Banman Legault LLP, Warwaruk previously served as the chamber’s vice president and worked on the membership services committee.

He hopes to see the chamber continue grow in its advocacy role through its dedicated committee. The advocacy committee was established as part of the chamber’s bid for national accreditation.

On Oct.16, the chamber announced it was awarded accreditation by the Chamber Accreditation Council of Canada.

“Everyone always claims that Winnipeg has perimeter-itis, where people don’t know what’s going on outside the perimeter. So I wanted to do that in reverse,” he said. “I actually want to reach out beyond our borders and connect with other levels of government, other service providers and other chambers in our surrounding communities, and other leaders in our surrounding municipalities.”

Warwaruk said building and maintaining relationship with Steinbach’s neighbours and various level of government is crucial because it’s better working with others than operating in isolation.

Warwaruk views his time running an Osborne Street restaurant in Winnipeg as a crucial point in seeing value with chamber groups. In 1995, a 25-year-old Warwaruk opened the restaurant with his brothers and became members of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, taking full advantage of its programming for small businesses.

He decided to step away from the restaurant in 2007 and opted to pursue law. Warwaruk starting working as an articling student in Steinbach in 2013 and commuted daily from Winnipeg.

“I wanted to establish my law practice outside of Winnipeg. I just knew, coming from a farming background, that I wanted to be in a smaller community, and that was a good fit for Steinbach,” he said.

In 2016, he decide to make the move to Steinbach with his family.

Since then, Warwaruk has seen organic mentorship spring up, with established business offering guidance for new entrepreneurs. The variety of different industries, besides agriculture, has made Steinbach robust and “stand-out” compared to other Manitoba regions, Warwaruk said.

“I think that really makes us punch above our weight,” he said.