When I sat down with Megan Wakefield, Executive Director of the Bonnyville & District Chamber of Commerce, she didn’t pull out a binder or a stack of reports. She pulled out her phone.

“This,” she said, holding up the screen, “is how we make being a Chamber member actually feel valuable every single day.”

She was talking about the new Chamber Members Perks App — a tool built to answer a question Megan says she’s heard for years: We know membership matters… but what does it give us right now?

Here’s why her answer matters.

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A Chamber That Lives in Your Pocket

In Megan’s words, the goal was simple:
“We wanted an instant, tangible perk. Something members could use at the gas pump, in the office, or grabbing lunch on Main Street.”

The app gives members access to:

▪ Member-to-member discounts
▪ Exclusive perks from local businesses
▪ Partner promotions
▪ Instant access to Chamber updates, events, and resources
▪ A digital membership card — “No more digging in your glovebox,” Megan laughed.

What struck me most was how intentional this all is. This isn’t an app for the sake of an app. It’s Megan’s answer to a challenge she’s been listening to for years:
How do we help local businesses thrive right now?

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“It’s about keeping dollars in our community.”

Megan grounded the conversation in what really drives the Chamber.

“We’re a small business region. If we can make it easier for members to support each other, everyone wins. The app is about connection, convenience, and keeping dollars circulating in Bonnyville.”

She told me about early adopters already offering savings on printing services, wellness care, bulk supplies, oil changes — the everyday things that matter when you run a business.

“It adds up quickly. And it encourages members to try businesses they might not have thought of before.”

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Built for Busy Business Owners

The part of our conversation that stayed with me was Megan’s empathy for the people she serves.

“If it isn’t simple, no one will use it,” she said — and she’s right.

So the Chamber made the app:

▪ Easy to join
▪ Easy for businesses to add perks
▪ Clean and uncluttered
▪ Notification-ready
▪ Designed for people who don’t have time to fuss with tech

It’s built the way business owners actually operate.

Why This Matters for the Lakeland

As someone who spends my days talking with business owners across the region, I can tell you: this is the kind of leadership that moves the needle.

The Chamber’s Member Perks App isn’t just convenient — it’s a commitment. It’s the Chamber investing in real, day-to-day value and giving its members a reason to feel the impact of their membership instantly.

In Megan’s own words:
“It’s a way to say thank you. And it’s only the beginning.”

If this is the beginning, I’m excited to see what she builds next.