The Burlington

Chamber of Commerce

 is the focus for business in Burlington.

 

The Burlington Chamber business network is large.  We have over 1,000 member companies and represent over 27,000 employees.

 

Burlington Chamber members have offices in Burlington, Oakville, Woodstock, Hamilton, Milton, Halton, Toronto, Mississauga, Flamborough and many other cities in Ontario.

 

 

 

 

 

  

The Burlington Chamber of Commerce is the most effective grassroots business association in the city.  The Chamber membership consists of 1,000 businesses in Burlington and the surrounding area.  We represent business at the local, regional, provincial and national levels and, with our members, have the common goal of making Burlington a better place to do business and a better place to live.

 

The Chamber is the Voice of Business in Burlington.

 

Much of what the Chamber does is "behind-the-scenes".  For this reason, the Chamber is often working on issues for months and even years before they become public knowledge.  We have an excellent working relationship with our elected officials and staff and, as a result, the Burlington Chamber proudly boasts that it is a proactive, not reactive organization. We help draft policy rather than simply criticize it.

 

Through the course of each year the Chamber runs many events for the benefit of our members.  These events range from networking events (like our Business Before 9s, and Business After 5s and Golf Tournament) to business education events (like our Seminars, Business Forums, Forecasting Panel and Mayor's State of the City Address) to recognition events (like our Awards Gala).

 

 

PURPOSE

 

Our goal is to make Burlington a better place to do business and a better place to live.

 

Burlington's economic well-being is directly related to the calibre of work that is done by the Chamber.  This is why the Chamber has a major impact on business, income and future growth of the area.

 

As a member-based business association, our Chamber has three main goals: to act as an advocate for local business, to create opportunities for member businesses to promote themselves and do business with one another, and to provide business education opportunities for our members.

 

 

The vision is simple: To be the focus for business in Burlington.

 

 

HISTORY

 

The first Chamber of Commerce was created in Marseilles, France in the early 1600s.  In Canada, Chambers pre-date Confederation with the Halifax Board of Trade opening its doors in 1750. The first American Chamber started in 1770 in New York City.

 

Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade are the most effective grassroots business association in the country. With 550 Chambers in Canada and 250 here in Ontario, every Federal and Provincial riding has a local Chamber of Commerce. That means all politicians, whether federal, provincial, regional or local, have a local Chamber to liaise with and answer to for business issues.

 

The Burlington Chamber of Commerce has been part of the community since 1947.  Our history of community and business involvement started that same year as we created the Burlington Teen Tour Band. The table below marks the highlights of the history of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce.

 

 

BURLINGTON CHAMBER CHRONOLOGY

Much of today's success is built upon the work and achievements of the past.  Here, in chronological order, are some of the Chamber highlights of the last sixty years.

 

FAST FORWARD 1947  1950s  1960s  1970s  1980s  1990s  2000s

 

 

 

* approximate date

Click on images for larger photos and/or details

1947

· Burlington Chamber is created by a group of local businessmen

· Former Mayor J. Gordon Blair is named as first President

· Chamber provides startup funding for Teen Tour Band (originally called the Burlington District Girls and Boys Community Band)

 

1948

· George Harris becomes President for two years

 

1949

 

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1950

· Cecil Millward becomes President

 
1951

· Ted Lucas becomes President for two years

 
1952

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1953

· F. E. Ellerbeck becomes President for two years

 
1954

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1955

· G. Doug Woolley becomes President

 
1956

· George Haswell becomes President

· Chamber expands to include Nelson and is incorporated under the Boards of Trade act as the Burlington-Nelson Chamber of Commerce

 
1957

· Denis Shrive becomes President

 
1958

· Cliff Biggs becomes President for two years

· Name changes to Burlington Chamber of Commerce

· Chamber presents Mayor John Lockhart with the official chain of office

 

1959

 

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1960

· George Grummett becomes President

 

 
1961

· W. A. Elliott becomes President

 
1962

· Doug Davidson becomes President

· Chamber publishes its own newspaper "Chamber News"

 
1963

· William Nieberg becomes President

 
1964

· Roy Nicholson becomes President for two years

 
1965

· Chamber membership hits 200

· Leo Podetz joins the Chamber as Secretary-Manager

· Chamber office has a staff of one

 
1966

· Vern Wright becomes President for two years

· Chamber office adds a second phone line

 
1967

· Chamber launches "Burlington Bulletin"

· *Chamber office is located at 672 Brant Street (the Brant Arts Building)

 
1968

· Jim Parker becomes President

 

1969

 

 

 

 

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· Don Green becomes President

· Snack Bar from Mountainside Park becomes seasonal Tourist Information Booth operated by the Chamber in Mohawk Canoe Club parking lot (now Spencer Smith Park)

 

 

 

1970

· Robert James becomes President

· Chamber office moves to 440 Elizabeth Street

 

 
1971

· William Kennedy becomes President

· Chamber (in cooperation with Town of Burlington) establishes Information Burlington

 
1972

· Bud Gordon becomes President

 
1973

· Fred Schwenger becomes President

· Ebbe Marquardsen joins as General Manager

 
1974

· Don Crossley becomes President

· Chamber updates mayor's chain of office to reflect new city status as the city is incorporated

 
1975

· Ed Pichora becomes President

· Chamber membership hits 455

· Chamber receives Ontario Chamber award for membership growth

 
1976

· Joseph Wallner becomes President

· Brent Hamre joins as Chamber Manager

 
1977

· Jim Bridle becomes President

· Chamber host the first Past President's Golf Tournament

· Chamber's 'double-B' logo appears for the first time on the membership directory

 
1978

· David Crisp becomes President

· Chamber begins publishing the REVIEW, the first magazine format publication

 

1979

 

 

 

 

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· Bill Stevens becomes President

· Prime Minster Joe Clark is a guest speaker at a Chamber event

· David Job joins as Chamber Manager

 

Joe Clark at Chamber Event

1980

· Rodger Cooper becomes President

· Chamber office moves to 1340 Lakeshore Road (Spencer Smith Park)

· Chamber staff increases to four

 

Chamber Office in Spencer Smith Park
1981

· Bob Barker becomes President

 
1982

· Don Enns becomes President

· Lydia Jones joins as General Manager

· Chamber membership hits 700 (Boart Canada is recognized as the 700th member)

 
1983

· Ron Pink becomes President

· Chamber launches Computer and Office Automation Show

· Chamber submits Pooling of C&I Assessment resolution to OCC

 

 Computer & Office Automation Show
1984

· Arnold Emmott becomes President

· Chamber launches Career Day at General Brock High School

 
1985

· Jamie Edwards becomes President

· Chamber office moves from Spencer Smith Park to Harvester Road

· Chamber submits Wrongful Dismissal resolution to OCC

 
1986

· Elaine Jones becomes first woman President

· Chamber presents first Export Merit Award

· *Chamber begins hosting cable TV program "Taking Care of Business"

· Chamber submits Taxation Policy resolution to CCC

· Chamber submits Environmental Protection Act resolution to OCC

· Chamber submits Rent Controls resolution to OCC

· Chamber staff increases to five

 
1987

· Bruce Magwood becomes President

· Chamber presents first Business Achievement Awards

· Chamber hosts first Burlington Corporate Challenge

· Chamber submits Corporations Tax Act resolution to OCC

· Chamber submits Pay Equity resolution to OCC

 
1988

· Dave Coons becomes President

· Chamber co-produces "Burlington: An Illustrated History"

· Chamber establishes Education Award for each Burlington high school

· Chamber hosts 'final' annual curling bonspiel (the bonspiel is later re-launched in 2006)

· Chamber hosts Ambassador Tour for invited consular and bank officials

· Chamber helps to found Halton Crimestoppers

· Chamber submits Education & Business resolution to OCC

· Chamber submits Separation of Garbage resolution to OCC

· Chamber submits Sunday Store Hours resolution to OCC

 

1989

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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· Cheryl Craig becomes President

· Chamber takes part in city twinning ceremony in Itabashi, Japan

· Minister of Finance, Michael Wilson, addresses Chamber semi-annual meeting

· Chamber submits Legislative Review Project resolution to OCC

· Chamber receives Ontario Chamber President's Award for its Ambassador tour (1988)

· Chamber works with other Halton Chambers and school boards to establish the Halton Industry Education Council

 

 

 

 

 

1990

· Gordon Germann becomes President

· Chamber holds first Financial Focus show

· Chamber submits Employers Health Tax resolution to OCC

· Chamber submits Fiscal Responsibility resolution to OCC

 

 
1991

· Patrick Cain becomes President

· Chamber submits Election Eligibility resolution to OCC

 
1992

· Scott McCammon becomes President

· Chamber submits Health Care Costs resolution to OCC

 
1993

· Rick Kington becomes President

· Scott McCammon joins as Executive Director

· Chamber hosts representatives from Itabashi Chamber of Commerce

· Chamber membership hits 900

· Chamber submits Free Trade resolution to CCC

 
1994

· Jim Barr becomes President

· Chamber moves within the Harvester Road office to expanded offices

· Chamber makes submission to Royal Commission on Learning

 
1995

· Randy Pickard becomes President

· Chamber launches Golf After 5 networking event

 
1996

· Stan Lang becomes President

· Chamber updates its vision statement to "Be the focus for business in Burlington"

 
1997

· Deb Tymstra becomes President

· Chamber celebrates 50th anniversary

· Chamber and Teen Tour Band jointly issue 50th anniversary coin

 
1998

· Carolyn Williamson becomes President

· Board of Directors reduced to 11 members from 15

· Executive Committee renamed Executive Council

· Business Before 9 launched as a quarterly networking event

· Business After 5 networking events increased to 12 times per year

· Chamber launches Business Forum series -- inaugural event has Mayor MacIsaac as the speaker

 

1999

 

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· John Watson becomes President

· Chamber launches CFO and Operations Roundtables

 

 

 

2000

· Doug Goodrow becomes President

· Chamber REVIEW magazine wins ACCE award

· Chamber membership hits 1,000 for the first time

· Chamber holds first Small Business Christmas Party

 

2001

· Bruce McDougall becomes President

· Chamber membership hits a then record of 1,027

 

2002

· Bill Willson becomes President

· Chamber hosts Ontario Chamber Convention

 

2003

· Diana Tuszynski becomes President

· Chamber becomes part of Team Burlington

· Chamber wins OCC Chair's Award for Team Burlington concept

· Chamber relocates from Harvester Road to 414 Locust Street

 

 Team Burlington Building

2004

· Penny MacKenzie becomes President

· Keith Hoey joins as Executive Director

· A record number of new members (204) join

· Chamber hosts final Corporate Challenge

· Bud Gordon and Carolyn Williamson become life members

· Chamber staff increases to six

 

2005

· Title of senior volunteer changes from President to Board Chair and Executive Director title changes to  President

· Richard Burgess becomes Board Chair

· Chamber establishes Endowment Fund to support Business Student Scholarship program

· Chamber receives a record 67 nominations for