The chamber was founded in 1903, but only the Great Depression and the catastrophic flu pandemic of 1918 come to mind as contenders against COVID-19 for the title of most difficult era.

All of which reminds Aebig of the scene in Rocky V where the boxer’s long-time trainer, Mickey Goldmill, gives him a moving motivational speech.

“When Rocky wants to throw in the towel; Mickey says you have to pick yourself up,” Aebig said in an interview two weeks after moving into his new role. “We have to be Mickeys to other business owners. The challenges are severe, but they don’t have to feel alone.”

Aebig is seeking ways to generate support within the entrepreneurial community, psychologically as well as economically. He’s constantly asking himself how the chamber can provide forums where businesspeople can connect on a human level at a time when society is socially distant.

“You can’t just keep telling people it’s going to be okay.” He admits to feeling anxious and uncertain himself, “but that’s what our members are feeling.”

Indeed, these times are so strange and different, he sees the chamber as “a 117-year-old start-up. We’re confronting the same challenges our members are. Our role as convenor and supporter to the business community has never been so important . . . and the stakes have never been higher.

“For the most part businesspeople, as tough as they are, go through ups and downs in ordinary times (and these are) extraordinary times.

“We’re going to have to band together. I think it means buying and referring and networking between us like never before. I think our anchor businesses will have to connect with local suppliers . . . and those suppliers will have to meet those expectations.”

While Aebig is in a pitched fight against COVID’s effect on business, he does see many positive attributes in Saskatchewan’s and Saskatoon’s economy. The pandemic has been extremely hard on some segments of the business community, but others are doing well, including agriculture, home building and manufacturing.

“These are really tough times, but there’s an opportunity to dig ourselves out of this by using our leverage points,” he said.

Food, fuel and fertilizer are still in high demand, although there are supply chain issues. But he still sees Saskatchewan as being in “a very privileged position” compared to some other parts of the country, and that’s a good place to start.

On the advocacy side, Aebig plans to focus on four areas: measures to help business shore up revenues, such as rent and wage backstops; easing the regulatory burden and stop the layering of business taxes; explore solutions to the child care gap, which still particularly affects women in business; and improve access to affordable capital for Indigenous businesses.

Aebig, 45 and married with sons aged six and eight, comes to the chamber from his post as senior communications advisor for Nutrien. Previously, he was co-owner of Creative Fire, a public relations and advertising firm, which was recently sold.

He also has a long history of community service as former board chair for Saskatoon’s United Way, Remai Modern and the University of Saskatchewan (USask) Alumni Association. Currently, he sits on the board of governors for St. Thomas More College and serves as board chair for the Saskatchewan Arts Board. He also served as vice-chair of the chamber.

Asked why he wanted to take on the challenging position of CEO at this time, he said simply that Saskatoon is his hometown. He was born at St. Paul’s Hospital, was educated here including taking a degree at USask, and has lived here most of his life. He says it may sound ‘hokey,’ but there it is.

“I felt there was an opportunity to help,” he said. “It’s my intention here to help. When your community is going through something like this, it’s not the time to run for the hills.

“When this opportunity came up, I thought I had some skills I could apply. I feel like it’s the right time and the right place for me. I’m in it for all the right reasons and I do believe there’s an upturn at the end of the downturn.”

-Joanne Paulson