There was a change of leadership at the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce this morning as Robin Vinall takes over the role of chair from Don Newbury with both expressing optimism about the future of the area.

Newbury says the past year as chair showed him people in the area are able to react to poor economic conditions.

“We are a very resilient lot, I put that back to our agricultural roots, personally,” he says.

Newbury says the growth in the retail sector in the north part of Chatham, rebuilding downtown and improvements in infrastructure all bode well for the future.

Story by Simon Crouch, Blackburn News.