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About the Chamber

History

The history and development of the Guelph Chamber of Commerce: Over 175 Years in the local business community.

The Guelph Chamber of Commerce, in one form or another, has been part of the history of Guelph since it was founded in 1827. The growing community soon realized that an organization was needed to stimulate and encourage economic growth and to represent all Guelph business interests. Within four months of the founding of Guelph, the Board of Commerce was established. In 1866, it was renamed the Board of Trade, and the present Guelph Chamber of Commerce was named in 1919.

Over the years, the name of the organization has been modified, but the founding objectives continue to support the vision established by the founding members so many years ago - the betterment of Guelph through economic expansion. Today, the Guelph Chamber of Commerce is proud to celebrate over 175 years of partnership with the City and its business community.

The original Board of Commerce aimed to introduce the village people to each other and to find ways to encourage businesses to set up in the newly-founded village of Guelph. The founding Chamber recognized clearly that the development of a prosperous village was dependent upon the development of business.

Members of the Board of Trade represented the foundry, distillery, flour mill, coal oil refinery, woolen mill, auctioneers and lawyers. The Board of Trade concerned itself with everything from the establishment of new manufacturing enterprises, the building of a downtown railway station, the town council taxation policy and town beautification. Although the depressed economic situation (1866 to 1871) restricted industrial expansion and population growth, there was a significant increase in the number of new manufacturing firms, credited to the activities of the Board of Trade.

Guelph businesses were severely affected during the international depression (1877 to 1879) and many businesses turned to a revitalized Board of Trade for solutions. The Board responded with two main objectives - civic improvement to attract customers, and company subsidization.

The Board of Trade developed a close relationship with the City Council and many decisions were made together, including acquiring the Guelph Junction Railway (1886). From 1903 to 1906 the Board of Trade represented the business community in the forefront of the debate for what would later become the Power Commission of Ontario. Guelph believed that municipal ownership was the key to rapid economic growth, and the City soon became the owner of public utilities, railway, gas plant, electrical light plant and the water works.

"A Chamber of Commerce is a chamber of citizenship."(J.C.R. Foster, 1919.)

The Guelph Chamber of Commerce emerged from the Board of Trade. The Guelph Evening Mercury, (February 13, 1919) stated: "The reorganization of the City of Guelph can best be accomplished by the establishment of an entirely new community organization to succeed the Board of Trade." The new Chamber was expected to have a larger representation of the interests and the elements of the City and, at the same time, provide an agency for public service. The current Chamber was renamed on February 28, 1919 after a large-scale membership drive, intense canvassing and widespread advertising throughout the region.

1827

The village of Guelph is founded and Board of Commerce is established.

1866

The Board of Trade is established.

1868

On March 18th, the Guelph Board of Trade is incorporated by a Special Act of Provincial Parliament.

1919

Board of Trade becomes known as the Chamber of Commerce. February 26 - The Guelph Chamber of Commerce sets an objective of 400 new members. J.C.R. Foster is campaign manager. The roster for 1920 shows 390 members. March 5 - Guelph holds a City party at the Royal Canadian cafe to celebrate the formation of the Chamber of Commerce.

1922

June 19 - The Guelph Chamber of Commerce promotes a "Made in Guelph" exhibition and a "Shop in Guelph Week."

1945

The Guelph Chamber of Commerce publishes "The story of Guelph, Ontario's Royal City: Why We Chose Guelph", to increase population and business development in the City.

1946

April - The Guelph Chamber of Commerce becomes a founding member of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

1953

June 1 - The Guelph Chamber of Commerce becomes a founding member of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.

1967

May 13 - The Guelph industrial commissioner and a Chamber member, Robert MacPherson, receives an "Award of Excellence" for the brochure, All About Canada. May - Three publications from the Midwestern Organizational Development Association are presented with awards at the American Industrial Development Council conference held at St. Paul, Minnesota. The Chamber wins a "superior award" for Guide to Guelph.

1970/71

Mayor Ralph W. Smith proclaims April 19 to April 25 a "Chamber of Commerce Week" to give citizens an opportunity to see how teamwork pays in building a better community. The Chamber commences operating the Motor Vehicle License office in Guelph.

1988/89

The Chamber's School Workplace Apprenticeship Program (SWAP) provides first-hand employment information and experience for young people in the community.

1989/90

The Chamber hosts a fund-raising drive through the co-operative payroll deduction program for the redevelopment of local hospitals. A committee, including the Chamber, is set up to help raise $7.7 million for St. Joseph's Hospital and $5 million for the Guelph General Hospital.

1991/92

The Chamber initiates a members only buying group for the purchase of natural gas. 

1996/97

The Chamber’s new communications material and logo is introduced, an up-to-date business directory is published, and new education programs are launched. The Chamber, in partnership with The City of Guelph, initiated and developed the Guelph Quality Awards Program. A membership drive is initiated to increase membership from 650 to 1,000 businesses. A membership kit that summarizes the benefits of being a Chamber member is introduced.

1999/2000

The beginning of the new Millennium was the beginning of new partnerships for the Chamber. The Chamber and the City of Guelph combine forces to produce a joint comprehensive business directory, the 1999-2000 Guelph Business & Membership Directory. It was also the inaugural year of the Guelph Awards of Excellence. The Guelph Awards of Excellence honoured the winners of the most comprehensive business awards program in Guelph. The gala event included a four course dinner, keynote speaker Bobbie Gaunt, President and C.E.O. of the Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd., and the awards program, including awards presentations from Excellence partners: Guelph Chamber of Commerce, Corporation of The City of Guelph, Visitor and Convention Services, The Downtown Board of Management, and the Guelph Business Enterprise Centre.

2000/01

In 2001, the Chamber took a leadership role by establishing two very important programs, designed to provide on-going solutions for local issues of concern to business and community. Concerned about Guelph’s growing shortage of family physicians, the Chamber offered an interest free loan of $50,000 for the local Physician Recruitment & Retention Committee to attract new doctors to the city. Equally concerned about Guelph’s shortage of skilled labour, the Chamber established the “Millennium Scholarship Fund”, which offers a $500 bursary to a Guelph high school graduate entering a trade or technical program at Conestoga College of Applied Arts and Technology.

The Guelph Awards of Excellence, administered by the Chamber, welcomed Mayor Karen Farbridge as an awards partner, by including the Mayor’s Awards as part of the program of the second annual Awards of Excellence Gala. Also, the first annual Joint Business After 5 was held at Bingeman’s in partnership with the Cambridge and Greater Kitchener-Waterloo Chambers of Commerce.

2003/04

In 2003, the Chamber implemented a series of half day training seminars as a result of the responses to the Usage & Attitudes Survey carried out earlier with members. These training seminars offered members timely and useful topics of interest without going out of the City. In partnership with the Guelph Business Enterprise Centre, the first annual Tabletop Tradeshow was held in the Atrium in the OMAFRA building.

In partnership with the Centre Wellington Chamber, a Joint Membership Fee was introduced, allowing members of one Chamber to join the other at significantly reduced fees. In addition, new start-up businesses that utilized the Guelph Business Enterprise Centre program were offered a free six month membership in the Chamber. 

 2006/07

In 2006, the Chamber held the first annual Moving Business Forward conference on business leadership.  Every year, this event hosts the most remarkable lineup of speakers representing Canadian Business and Community leaders. These speakers share their personal stories about getting started, overcoming challenges, and they provide valuable insight. This conference is designed to provide the attendees with the inspiration to "Move Their Business Forward."

2007/08

January 2008 saw the departure of the Chamber's President and CAO, Ian Smith. Ian retired from the Chamber after 9 years of dedicated service and he will be missed. The Chamber extended a warm welcome to our new President and CAO, Lloyd Longfield. Lloyd has many exciting plans for the future.