The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan (CCCJ) excels in bringing together businesspeople to network, share experiences, provide input to government; socialize and make a challenging business environment less-so.

I was on the CCCJ Board of Governors for five years from 1993 to 1997 and benefitted from my CCCJ involvement and membership in many ways.

A pivotal program run jointly by the CCCJ and other foreign chambers in Japan was, and still is, the Japan Market Expansion Competition (JMEC). Working with a group of five people, I completed the JMEC market study training program and then went on to complete a study for Vancouver Canterbury Coffee. I made some good friends and learned a helluva-lot about how to write a good market entry plan.

JMEC is a remarkable program that has been voluntarily run by the joint foreign chambers for about 30 years. See, we can all get along, cooperate and achieve positive results! However, the greatest win from my involvement with the CCCJ was wonderful, unexpected and life changing.

My first expat experience in Tokyo had me posted there in 1989 to open the first Japan office for Ontario auto-parts giant Magna International. After that I moved back to my hometown, Vancouver, where I promptly got a new job with the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, developing for-profit business training programs, at first targeting B.C. executives doing business in Japan.

With that job, I was back and forth on business trips to Tokyo. While there one evening, I decided to attend a CCCJ event that was part of a series called “Making It Work.” The series brought in Canadian businesspeople to share business challenges they faced and how they resolved them. By my good fortune, I attended a presentation by the talented and lovely Heather Mackay, a Dalhousie-educated corporate lawyer from Winnipeg working in-house for the Seiyu Group.

Post-event, I gave Ms. Mackay my business card and what I thought was some witty repartee. However, two days later I flew home to Vancouver and Ms. Mackay tossed my card into a ceramic bowl with many others. But fate had plans for me. A year or more later, I was back in Tokyo and invited by friends to a party with a purpose.

Remarkably, Ms. Mackay was a housemate of theirs and the two of us reconnected. Reconnected, dated, dated again, and to make a long story short… married!

Thank you CCCJ and “Making it Work.” I moved back to Japan on my second expat posting representing the Government of British Columbia in April 1993. That’s when I joined the CCCJ Board of Governors. And I came to greatly admire the Chamber for its events, programs and achievements. Among my CCCJ activities at that time was to write a White Paper that we sent to the Canadian government outlining the need to boost trade and investment ties with Japan.

As today that has never been more urgent I know the CCCJ will continue its leadership role in Making it Work.