1909-2009
Building up the business community
one decade at a time
by Lindsay Bishop (GDACC Intern)
For a century now, the Chamber of Commerce has become an important member of the Dufferin community. The Chamber has become the knot that ties the business community together.
Orangeville businessmen voiced the need for a board, which would allow the growing business community to come together. On September 30, 1909 the Board of Trade was born. Its goal was simple: to become a voice for the business community.
Members from businesses big and small worked together to enhance the local economy and form a network of support for local business members.
During February 1911, The Orangeville Board of Trade became a founding member of the Ontario Associate Board of Trade (The Ontario Chamber of Commerce). But the newly established Board of Trade soon faced challenges and during the first and second world wars, the board ceased to exist, focusing instead on the war effort.
The goal of local businessmen was not forgotten and in 1949 Mayor A.D. McKitrick re-established the Chamber.
He picked up the pieces from the former board and became president of the restored Chamber.
The celebrated local was heavily involved in community businesses and was both the publisher and editor of The Banner. McKitrick was joined by VP J.R. Gillespie, W.P. Burly, W.M. Green, W.G. Hyland, W.H. Lugsdin, R.H. Robinson and C.R. Wheelock.
A number of name changes took place over the years, including its first change from the Orangeville Board of Trade to the Orangeville & District Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 26, 1964. In 2002, to reflect the diversity of its members, the name changed again to the Greater Dufferin Area Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber started in the basement of the Wardlaw, Mullin, Carter and Thwaites building and then moved above ground to town hall. The next move brought the Chamber to the caboose at the bottom of Buena Vista Dr. donated by Harry Greene and remained home for 17 years. The caboose was updated and replaced by a trailer in 1994, and became shared quarters between the Headwaters Country Tourism Association and the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber left the trailer behind in 1999, and journeyed up the road to Mono plaza, where it remains today.
In the early years Orangeville was known as a market town, with wide streets to accommodate horses and wagons. The strong agricultural community was recognized by the Chamber with the establishment of the Farmer’s Market in downtown Orangeville, which supported local farmers. The Chamber also established the “Farmer of the Year” award in 1980, to recognize the importance of agriculture in the community.
The Home and Lifestyle Show, a premier event for local businesses held each October, began as Expo Orangeville in 1974. The Tony Rose Sports Complex hosted the first Expo sponsored by the Chamber (which later changed its name to the Home and Lifestyle show) and moved to the Agricultural Centre. The event grew steadily in popularity and has doubled in size.
The Chamber continues to host many other networking events, Dufferin Women in Business, Golf Tournaments, Career Pathways and Business Excellence Awards.
Although it was 1909 when The Board of Trade first started, past members shared the same goal as members today—to improve all aspects of life in the area, and to make the County a prosperous place for business.
