Chamber College is an interactive webinar series that dives into the essential pillars of Chamber leadership– operations, governance, membership, programming, and advocacy, with a bonus session on earning non-dues revenue with Chambers Plan. 

The program includes 6 1-hour classes – part webinar, part peer-to-peer learning – and a final exam. Achieve a grade of 80% on the open book exam to graduate from Chamber College, receive a certificate of completion, and earn 5 points towards your Accredited Chamber Executive designation! 

This program is recommended for Chamber executives and staff who have been with their Chamber for less than 3 years, but everyone is welcome to participate!

Chamber College is offered twice a year in March and August. Registration is $250/person.

Summer 2026 Classes:

• Operations: Tuesday, August 18 at 2:00pm Atlantic
• Governance: Wednesday, August 19 at 2:00pm Atlantic
• Membership: Thursday, August 20 at 2:00pm Atlantic
• Programming: Tuesday, August 25 at 2:00pm Atlantic
• Advocacy: Wednesday, August 26 at 2:00pm Atlantic
• Chambers Plan: Thursday, August 27 at 2:00pm Atlantic

Course Curriculum 

Module 1: Operations

• What is a Chamber of Commerce?
• Common Values of the Chamber Network
• Benefits of CCEC
• Becoming Accredited through the Chamber Accreditation Council of Canada
• Key Roles & Responsibilities of the CEO
• Essential HR policies  
• Incorporation & Corporate Maintenance
• Annual General Meeting 
• Introduction to Financial Management

Module 2: Governance

• Key Roles & Responsibilities of the Board of Directors
• Fiduciary Duties
• Best Practices for Board Committees
• Nominations Procedures
• Best Practices for Board Orientation and Onboarding 
• Code of Conduct for the Board of Directors 
• Conflict of Interest Policies
• Bylaws
• Mission and Vision statements 

Module 3: Membership

• Defining your Chamber’s Value Proposition
• Membership Sales Cycle 
• Best Practices for Membership Benefits Packages
• Market Segmentation
• Calculating your Membership Retention Rate 
• CCEC’s Research on National Membership Trends

Module 4: Programming

• Common Chamber Events & Programs
• CCEC’s Research on Valuable and Profitable Chamber Programming
• Introduction to Event Planning 
• Best Practices for Sponsorships
• Evaluating Chamber Programming

Module 5: Advocacy

• Introduction to the Public Policy Landscape in Canada
• Public Policy vs. Advocacy
• Identifying and Evaluating Policy Issues
• Procedures for Advocacy Work
• Common Research Tactics & Strategies
• Best Practices for Rapid Response Procedures
• Monitoring Progress on Policy Issues

Module 6: Earning Non Dues Revenue with Chambers Plan

In this bonus module, the Chamber Relations team will provide an overview of Chambers Plan - the group insurance plan exclusively available through local Chambers of Commerce. With more than 750 Chambers endorsing Chambers Plan, the Chamber Relations team has seen it all! During this session, they'll share proven best practices and practical strategies to help you strengthen member value and maximize your non-dues revenue potential.