Who We Are

The Burlington Chamber of Commerce is the most effective grassroots business association in the city. The Chamber membership consists of over 800 businesses in Burlington and the surrounding area, representing thousands of employees. We serve businesses 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 virtual networking 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.

Land Acknowledgment

The Burlington Chamber of Commerce would like to acknowledge the respect for the rich and vibrant culture of our Indigenous people. We wish to honour the original people of Turtle Island as we recognize their homelands as a sacred and spiritual place known since time immemorial. In the spirit of partnership and reconciliation, we acknowledge that our membership resides on a variety of territories and homelands.

Diversity Statement

The Burlington Chamber of Commerce is committed to ensure equity, diversity and inclusion are an integral part of all aspects of our operations and goals. We recognize that diverse perspectives are essential for responsible and representative decision-making and it enhances our organization’s ability to respond to our business community’s evolving needs with a changing demographic.

Accreditation

History of the Burlington Chamber

In 1914, the Village of Burlington became the Town of Burlington and change was occurring swiftly with local citizens heading off to war. When the War ended in 1918, there was much recovery to be made in the community.

For years, businessmen talked of forming a Chamber of Commerce and on May 14, 1923 the first version of the organization originated when a group of citizens banded together and held a banquet at the Estaminit Hotel to organize a Chamber of Commerce for the town. Its importance was cited at the time as “an urgent necessity if the town was to grow and prosper.” After this banquet, 107 applications were received of which 87 became paid members. A key member of this organizing committee was Hughes Cleaver, Burlington’s former Mayor; he, along with his fellow committee members, F.W. Taylor (who became the first President of the newly formed Chamber), and S.W. Fawcett, urged the Toronto Board of Trade to participate in the Banquet and bring valid justification to the Banquet attendees on the benefits of having a Chamber of Commerce in a community. In 1923, the Chamber established an office on Brant Street beside the office of one of it’s original founders, S.W. Fawcett Real Estate, Insurance and Loans. (see pic from 1925).

Regular meetings were held with elected officials and positions taken and advocated for improving the economy and growth of industry in the community. One such meeting yielded a comment in the Burlington Gazette that it was “very refreshing to feel that Burlington is at last awakening to the necessity of bringing industries into this town and supporting those that are worthy of support.”

Heading into the Great Depression, a global economic crisis, saw the Chamber wind down.

By 1938, interest increased once again to focus support on local businesses and a Business Men’s Association was formed. In 1945, to help increase the positive work they were doing, it was suggested to change the name to the Burlington Chamber of Commerce and affiliating with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Mayor J. Gordon Blair strongly endorsed this idea as it would bring more weight to the association, especially when bringing any proposal to Council. All agreed and officially the new (and current) version of the Chamber began. They began by organizing Retail, Industrial and Town Planning Committees to achieve uniting business owners, creating community spirit, advancing expertise into underdeveloped business segments (such as Industry) and promoting a ‘buy local’ mindset.

Some more highlights over the years:

• 1947 – Provided the initial funding for the Burlington Boys and Girls Band, which was later re-named the Burlington Teen Tour Band.

• June 21, 1956 – Chamber expanded to include Nelson and incorporated under the Board of Trade Act to become the Burlington-Nelson Chamber of Commerce.

• 1958 – Following the amalgamation of the greater Burlington area, the chamber reverted its name to the Burlington Chamber of Commerce; that same year, the Chamber purchased and presented Mayor John Lockhart with the Chain of Office.

• 1965 – Chamber hired its first staff person and membership hit 200 members for the first time.

• 1971 – Chamber, in cooperation with the Town of Burlington, established Information Burlington, a telephone advisory and referral service.

• 1974 – Chamber purchased a new medallion to add to the Chain of Office to reflect the new city status.

• 1975 – Chamber received the Ontario Chamber Award for the greatest membership growth in the province (625 members).

• 1979 – PM Joe Clark was a guest speaker at a Chamber event.

• 1987 – Chamber presented the first Business Excellence Achievement Awards.

• 1988 – Chamber helped to found Halton Crimestoppers; that same year established an Education Award for each Burlington High School.

• 2003 – Chamber relocated to 414 Locust Street and became a part of Team Burlington.

• 2010 – Chamber became an Accredited Chamber.

• 2014 – Took over the Burlington Entrepreneur Hall of Fame celebration and re-named it the Burlington Chamber Distinguished Entrepreneur.

The Chamber today:

• Just like the very early days, the Burlington Chamber represents the concerns that directly affect local businesses and continues its open and effective dialogue and non-partisan involvement with elected officials at the Municipal, Regional, Provincial and Federal Governments.

• Networking, networking, networking – The Chamber continues its longstanding practice to provide diverse opportunities for members to connect and build longstanding relationships.

• The Chamber continues to bring high calibre events to its membership, including influential speakers at events (including leaders of major organizations and high-level government officials).

• The Chamber continues to provide our membership with exceptional sponsorship, marketing, promotional and cost savings opportunities.

• We are continuing our efforts to be a positive influence and increase prosperity in our community!

Board Meeting in 1963