The Ontario Chamber of Commerce

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Celebrating 100 years 100 Years of Advocacy Old City Hall, Toronto: The site of the first Annual General Meeting of the The Associated Boards of Trade of Ontario Kingston Ciy Hall - site of early OCC AGM Canadian Chamber of Commerce King Edward Hotel Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King with a small group of men during a visit to Kitchener Margarine Ad Queen's Park Legislative Buildings Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce Ontario Business Achievement Awards were established A Message from the President and CEO Premier Dalton McGuinty and OCC President and CEO, Leo Crispino Export Market Access Global Experience @ Work Ontario Economic Summit
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1911-2011

100 Years

Our History

In 1911, The Associated Boards of Trade of Ontario was founded in Toronto by forty-five local boards of trade as a non-partisan voice for business in Ontario.

The Associated Boards of Trade of Ontario was founded specifically to lobby the Provincial Legislature to ensure that legislation and regulations passed by the Legislature fostered economic progress and supported business success.

“Made up as the organization is by representatives from local boards of trade from every section of the Province, leaving, I trust, your political tendencies behind, men with a full knowledge of the subjects under consideration, and seeking only the welfare and prosperity of the Province, as a whole, the recommendations and suggestions of such a deliberative assembly as this should have a far-reaching influence in shaping legislation and in helping forward every movement having for its object the betterment of present conditions in the Province.” W.J. Gage, February 21, 1911

It was members of  The Associated Boards of Trade of Ontario and other community organizations across Canada, who, viewing the successes of the then existent Provincial Federations of Chambers, joined together in 1925 to form The Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Following the 1914-1918 “Great War”, Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade representatives from around the world met in Geneva to form the International Chamber of Commerce.

Additionally, there are a number of Regional Chambers in Ontario offsetting various levels of Municipal Government, as well as some geographically specific federations such as the North Western Ontario Chamber of Commerce.

Learn more about the OCC and become a member of Ontario’s most prestigious business network.