Vancouver Board of Trade

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Vancouver Board of Trade
Type Advocacy group
Founded 1887
Headquarters World Trade Centre Vancouver, BC Canada
Area served Vancouver, Canada
Focus Business advocacy
Method Media attention, direct-appeal campaigns, political lobbying
Slogan Connecting for good...
Website Vancouver Board of Trade

The Vancouver Board of Trade is a non-profit organization which seeks to "promote, enhance and facilitate the development of the region as a Pacific centre for trade, commerce and travel."[1] It serves Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in a fashion similar to the Board of Trade or Chamber of Commerce.

Contents

[edit] History

The Vancouver Board of Trade was established on September 22, 1887, to help rebuild after the Great Vancouver Fire destroyed the city. 31 men - compromised of merchants, lumbermen, bankers and manufacturers - founded the Board of Trade to "protect the interests of merchants, traders and manufacturers, to advance the trade of the area and to promote the advancement and general prosperity of Vancouver." In addition to lower taxes, early lobbying efforts pushed for the construction of schools, a land registry office, a court house, a submarine communications cable to Australia (completed in 1902) and the establishment of mail delivery.[2]

By 1952, the Board had grown to ten bureaus and ten standing committees which worked on campaigns, exhibitions, luncheons, educational products, endorsements and representations to all levels of government on behalf of the business community.

In 1983, the Board became a member of the World Trade Centers Association and in 1986 moved into the Vancouver World Trade Centre[3] office complex at Canada Place. It hosted the General Assembly of the World Trade Centers Association the same year.

In 1990 the Board launched its Federal Debt Clock, a 1,500 lb (680 kg), 15 ft (4.6 m) by 10 ft (3.0 m) computerized calculator that tracked the rise in government debt.[4] At the time, Canada’s $363 billion debt was climbing at a rate of $53,300 per minute.[5] In 1998, Finance Minister Paul Martin hit the gong and stopped the clock at a special Board of Trade luncheon. The board’s debt clock stopped just shy of $600 billion.[5]

[edit] Initiatives

The Vancouver Board of Trade runs a variety of programs, including many symposiums, exclusive networking events and community fundraisers, in addition to programs like The Spirit of Vancouver, Leaders of Tomorrow and the Company of Young Professionals.

[edit] Spirit of Vancouver

Spirit of Vancouver seeks to promote Metro Vancouver as a great place to "live, work, play, invest, and visit". Founded during an economic down-turn in 2001, Spirit of Vancouver uses public relations efforts and public events to "celebrate quality events", "local success" and generally raise community morale.[6]

[edit] Leaders of Tomorrow

Leaders of Tomorrow is a mentorship program, created by The Vancouver Board of Trade.[7] The program selects 100 students in their final year at one of the 13 post-secondary institutions in BC[8] and assigns each a mentor from the Board of Trade's membership.

[edit] Company of Young Professionals

The Company of Young Professionals continues the 'Leaders of Tomorrow' program by providing mentorship for Vancouver's young professionals after they begin their careers.[9][10]

[edit] Miscellaneous Facts

  • Over 80% of the members of The Vancouver Board of Trade are small business owners.
  • The Vancouver Board of Trade has over 5,600 members.
  • The Vancouver Board of Trade hosts non-member networking round table events

[edit] References

  1. ^ Vancouver Board of Trade Website: "Our basic principles"
  2. ^ "History of the Vancouver Board of Trade"
  3. ^ World Trade Centre, Vancouver
  4. ^ The History of Metropolitan Vancouver
  5. ^ a b Debt Clock Facts
  6. ^ Spirit of Vancouver
  7. ^ Leaders of Tomorrow
  8. ^ An Overview of B.C.'s Public Post-secondary Institutions
  9. ^ Company of Young Professionals
  10. ^ The Company of Young Professionals

[edit] External links

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