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PROFILES

community from a company perspective
and became part of the Chamber and the
Industrial Accident Prevention Association
because I was managing our factory at the
time,” he says. “That was really kind of the
beginning of my Chamber involvement.”
At that time the Chamber featured a variety
of committees and Sam served on its
Industrial Committee for several years.
“That was back when the Toyota plant was
just an infant,” he jokes.
Prior to becoming Chamber board president
in 1998, Sam served as second and first vice-
president, followed by a year as past board
president.
“At the time, it really was like a four-year
commitment,” he says, noting he served an
additional half a term as board president
a ter the 1997 president, Paul Beauchesne,
was transferred to another community by
his employer. “I basically had to step in and
finish his term even before mine started.”
Sam quickly realized there was much to
learn in the Chamber world and that a year-
long term as board president wasn’t enough.
Sam Purdy, a retired Cambridge businessman and former “I managed to convince the board that to
police officer, served as Chamber board president in the

late 1990s. be an effective president you really need
Sam Purdy witnessed

changing economy

which began in 1980 following a three- two years because you are just starting to
year stint in construction upon leaving learn and get some ideas going, and then
Sam Purdy may be living on the the Waterloo Regional Police Service. you’re leaving. So, we changed it to a two-
other side of the country, but He began as a police officer with the year term.”
his heart remains in Cambridge former Galt police department in 1971 Around the time he joined, Sam says the
where he not only made his before pursuing a new career six years membership consisted primarily of retail
mark in law enforcement and later when a friend offered him a new businesses and a few manufacturers but
the business community but opportunity to work in a small local began to shi t once the Chamber’s group
construction company.
left an indelible impact on benefits package was introduced and a ter
the Cambridge Chamber of “I had always puttered with construction it made the move from the large trailer it
operated on Coronation Boulevard – near
and woodworking and that kind of stuff,”
Commerce. says Sam. “It was one of those things. Cambridge Memorial Hospital – to the
“It was always a great group of people,” I hated to give up the security of the former Preston town offices on King Street
he says of his time with the Chamber, police department but on the other side East.
speaking from his home in Sooke, B.C., of the coin, I thought if I don’t do this, “The Chamber began to have a much higher
located approximately 25 km outside of 10 years from now I might regret that I profile then because it was now on a main
greater Victoria. didn’t do it.” street. I think that was a big step,” he says.
He and his wife, Gwyn, made the move That decision led to new opportunities “The next big step was the creation of the
west in 2016 to be closer to family a ter of becoming more involved with the Gateway office on Hespeler Road and
he le t the business world following long community and the Chamber. “In the quite frankly, the tipping point was the
and distinguished careers at Galt Wood mid to early 1980s, I felt it was time introduction of Greg (Durocher).
Tool and Ryobi Technologies Canada Inc. to get involved a little more with the

12 Spring 2024 www.cambridgechamber.com