# Greater Vancouver Board of Trade

The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade (GVBOT) is a non-profit organization. It serves Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in a fashion similar to the Board of Trade or Chamber of Commerce. The Board is the largest business association between Victoria and Toronto, participating in activities such as engaging in advocacy to impact public policy at all levels of government, facilitating networking opportunities, and providing professional development resources for its members.

## Role in Local Governance

The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade has been vested by federal and provincial governments with the power to select board members for a number of local governance bodies and institutions. The Board of Trade selects one of the five members of the Screening Panel that shortlists candidates for TransLink's Board of Directors and is also involved in selecting directors for Port Metro Vancouver and the Vancouver Airport Authority.

## History

In 1983, the Board became a member of the World Trade Centers Association and in 1986 moved into the Vancouver World Trade Centre 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. At the time, Canada's $363 billion debt was climbing at a rate of $53,300 per minute. 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.

## Milestones

| Year | Milestone |
| 1887 | Businessmen agreed to form a Board of Trade to rebuild Vancouver after the Great Fire of 1886. |
| 1888 | City mayor David Oppenheimer becomes president of The Vancouver Board of Trade. The organization sends a list of objectives to the provincial secretary, demanding facilities and services for Vancouver. |
| 1902 | An undersea cable was laid from Vancouver to Sydney after The Board of Trade lobbied for a communications link between Western Canada and Australia. Campaigns continued for a steamer service from Seattle to Alaska via Vancouver and a railway into the Kootenays. |
| 1914 | Membership rose to 1,000. The Board persuaded the federal government to dredge the First Narrows for shipping, lobbied for a new city hall and post office, and helped establish Daylight Saving Time. |
| 1926 | Established a Faculty of Commerce at the University of British Columbia. |
| 1926 | Grew to 10 "bureaus" and 10 standing committees to lobby all levels of government. Campaigned on freight rates, for the Trans-Canada Highway and for a large city airport. |
| 1935 | T.S. Dixon, then Board of Trade president, worked with the BC Medical Association and chaired the first meeting to found a cancer institute – the British Columbia Cancer Foundation. |
| 1960s | Predicted conventions and tourism would be a major industry in North America, campaigned for a metro transit authority and monitored regional transportation. |
| 1983 | Joined the World Trade Centers Association, linking to 300 trade centres across the globe. |
| 1986 | Moved into the World Trade Centre and hosted the General Assembly of the World Trade Centers Association. Proposed establishing Canada's first local airport authority. |
| 1990 | Wendy McDonald, CM, OBC launched the federal debt clock and became the first woman chair. Led a mission to Ottawa and Washington, DC, to lobby for fast border lanes resulting in B.C.'s PACE lanes followed by CANPASS. |
| 1992 | The Board and Volunteer Vancouver co-founded the Leadership Vancouver Society. Thanks to The Board, the federal cabinet approved the YVR Airport Authority. |
| 1998 | Then finance minister Paul Martin stopped The Board's Debt Clock with a balanced budget. |
| 1999 | Introduced the Leaders of Tomorrow Mentorship Program. |
| 2001 | Launched Spirit of Vancouver® to revitalize community spirit and save the fireworks. |
| 2002 | An Olympic Countdown Clock was lowered by helicopter in Canada Place to support the bid for the 2010 Winter Games. |
| 2003 | Released a Report on Property Crime in Vancouver and hosted workshops and forums promoting the 2010 Winter Olympics bid, which was won. |
| 2004 | Hosted the inaugural meeting of the Greater Vancouver Chambers Roundtable, for all surrounding chambers of commerce to introduce plan for the Olympic Games. The Board formed a coalition and successfully demanded a re-vote by the 2005 TransLink board to save the Richmond-Airport-Vancouver (RAV) rapid transit line, originally voted down. |
| 2005 | Construction started on the saved Richmond Airport-Vancouver (RAV) line. The Board hosted the inaugural B.C. Economic Forum and the 2,100-delegate Hong Kong-Guangdong Business Forum in Canada. |
| 2006 | As a founding member of the Fair Tax Coalition, The Board played a lead role in achieving a one-per-cent reduction in business property taxes, bringing the total tax reduction to 10.2 per cent. The Board released its landmark report, Reforming the Canadian Health Care System and launched the Company of Young Professionals (CYP) program. |
| 2007 | Won the best new membership recruitment category in the World Chambers Competition 2007 at the 5th World Chambers Congress in Istanbul, Turkey. Work with the Vancouver Fair Tax Coalition froze business property taxes at 2006 levels. |
| 2008 | City of Vancouver councillors approved a one-per-cent shift per year in property taxes for the next five years; initiated the Con Air program to return of out-of-province criminals; the provincial government eliminated capital tax on financial institutions and the Women's Leadership Circle® program was launched. |
| 2009 | An anti-crime mission met leading politicians in Ottawa and Statistics Canada recognized police-reported crime alone should not define "the national crime rate." The Metro Roundtable for municipalities was founded. The Board welcomed the first Canada Line train to Waterfront station and was officially thanked for saving it. The Rix Center for Corporate Citizenship & Engaged Leadership was founded by Chair Dr. Don Rix, CM, OBC and presented its inaugural engaged citizenship awards. The Board struck the Health, Wellness and Well-Being Task Force and hosted a Health Care Forum for 150 leaders. |
| 2010 | Another one-per-cent shift per year in Vancouver property tax reductions for businesses equated to an estimated $43 million savings per year for business. The Board released a follow-up Kids 'N Crime Economic Report and launched its redesigned website. |
| 2011 | The Board released reform recommendations in its report, The Joint Pursuit of Value and participated in an economic impact study on the Hornby St. separated bike lane to improve future consultation processes. The Board also joined the Smart Tax Alliance in support of retaining the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), and launched its first Aboriginal Opportunities Forum. In August, The Board of Trade announced the appointment of Iain Black as its new president and CEO. |
| 2012 | The Board released a landmark report entitled Psychologically Healthy Workplaces: Improving Bottom Line Results and Employee Psychological Well-Being at the Canadian Mental Health Association's Bottom Line Conference. The Board also hosted the second annual Aboriginal Opportunities Forum, an expert panel on the U.S. economy, and a luncheon event with Virgin Founder Sir Richard Branson, which drew more than 1,400 to the Vancouver Convention Centre. Chair Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia led an urban economic mission to London, England and Milan, Italy. Following a comprehensive multi-year review process, a refreshed set of bylaws were passed at The Board's 125th AGM, reflecting best practices in association governance. In addition, incoming chair Ken Martin announced the formation of a new policy council, which will support more policy initiatives and reinstate a strong voice for Vancouver's business community. |
| 2016 | On 3 March, the organization has adopted a new logo and name – the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade. |
| 2018 | The Board hosted A Moderated Conversation with Former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama, an event where Michelle Obama was the key speaker. |
| 2019 | Brigitte Anderson assumed the role of CEO and President of the organization, becoming first female CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade. |
| 2020 | The Board announced the Advisory Committee of the Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Council (DLC) which is an evolution of the Women's Leadership Council (WLC) and launched the Scale-Up Centre for SMEs. |

## Programs

The Greater 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.

### Leaders of Tomorrow

Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) is a mentorship program, created by the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade. The program selects 100 students in their final year from accredited Lower Mainland post-secondary educational institutions.

### Company of Young Professionals

The Company of Young Professionals (CYP) is a leadership development program designed for young professionals under the age of 32. Members can attend Board of Trade events at discounted rates and can be involved in the program for up to three years.

### Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Council

The Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Council (DLC), an evolution of the Women’s Leadership Council program, is an inclusive program that champions and advocates for leadership that best reflects the diversity of the Greater Vancouver region.

## Miscellaneous facts

* Over 80% of the Members of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade are small business owners.
* The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade has over 5,000 members.
* The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade publishes a monthly newspaper, Sounding Board, which reports on policy issues and membership news, and has an estimated total readership of 30,000.

## Current chair

The current chair of the Board of Directors is Brent Cameron, Managing Partner and Chair of the Board, Boyden Canada.

## Chairs

| Chair | Period |
| David Oppenheimer | 1887–88 |
| Ebenezer Vining Bodwell | 1889 |
| Richard Henry Alexander | 1889–90 |
| John Hendry | 1891 |
| G. E. Berteaux and William Ferriman Salsbury | 1892 |
| J. C. Keith | 1893 |
| G. R. Major | 1894 |
| Henry Ogle Bell-Irving | 1895–96 |
| William Godfrey | 1897–98 |
| Charles Edward Tisdall, MLA (Mayor) | 1899 |
| Frederick Buscombe (Mayor) | 1900 |
| F. F. Burns | 1901 |
| William Harold Malkin (Mayor) | 1902 |
| H. T. Lockyer | 1903 |
| H. McDowell | 1904 |
| A. B. Erskine | 1905 & 1912 |
| R. P. McLennan | 1906 |
| W. J. McMillan | 1907 |
| E. H. Heaps | 1908 |
| H. A. Stone | 1909 |
| Ewing Buchan | 1910 |
| A. G. McCandless | 1911 |
| Hon. Francis Lovett Carter-Cotton | 1913 |
| Jonathan Rogers | 1914–15 |
| Nicol Thompson | 1916 |
| B. W. Greer | 1917 |
| P. G. Shallcross | 1918 |
| Chris Spencer | 1919 |
| W. J. Blake Wilson | 1920 |
| P. D. Malkin | 1921 |
| R. Kerr Houlgate | 1922 |
| J. B. Thomson | 1923 |
| J. K. Macrea, QC | 1924 |
| Melville Dollar | 1925 |
| F. E. Burke | 1926 |
| Robert McKee | 1927 |
| T. S. Dixon | 1928 & 1935 |
| Hon. William Culham Woodward | 1929 |
| R. D. Williams | 1930 |
| Mayne D. Hamilton | 1931 |
| Harold Brown | 1932 |
| H. R. MacMillan | 1933 |
| George Kidd | 1934 |
| J. Y. McCarter | 1936 |
| Walter M. Carson | 1937 |
| John Whittle | 1938 |
| G. Lyall Fraser | 1939 |
| H. R. Cottingham | 1940 |
| C. E. Anstie | 1941 |
| B. O. Moxon | 1942 |
| Hon. S. S. McKeen | 1943 |
| T. C. Clarke | 1944 |
| Charles A. Cotterell | 1945 |
| W. J. Borrie | 1946 |
| Thos. Braidwood | 1947 |
| H. T. Mitchell | 1948 |
| T. G. Norris, QC | 1949 |
| Col. W. G. Swan | 1950 |
| Ralph D. Baker | 1951 |
| Hon. H. H. Stevens | 1952 |
| Ralph C. Pybus | 1953 |
| G. W. G. McConachie | 1954 |
| Howard N. Walters | 1955 |
| W. H. Raikes | 1956 |
| Brenton S. Brown | 1957 |
| David Kinnear | 1958 |
| A. H. Cater | 1959 |
| R. G. Miller | 1960 |
| E. L. Harrison | 1961 |
| D. T. Braidwood | 1962 |
| W. M. Anderson, CA | 1963 |
| Edward Benson | 1964 |
| Ralph T. Cunningham | 1965 |
| Sydney W. Welsh | 1966 |
| William G. Leithead | 1967 |
| J. N. Hyland | 1968 |
| G. R. Dawson | 1969 |
| Edward Disher | 1970 |
| Hon. W. M. Hamilton | 1971 |
| J. L. Dampier | 1972 |
| Alan F. Campney | 1973 |
| Hon. Henry Pybus Bell-Irving, OC, DSO, OBE, OBC, ED, CD | 1974 |
| D. G. McGill | 1975 |
| C. L. Goddard | 1976 |
| D. R. Fraser | 1977 |
| D. C. Selman | 1978 |
| A. H. Hart, QC | 1979–80 |
| W. R. Wyman | 1980–81 |
| M. E. Nesmith | 1982–83 |
| A. M. Fowlis | 1984–85 |
| Arthur S. Hara, OC | 1985–86 |
| G. P. Clarke | 1986–87 |
| R. E. Kadlec | 1987–88 |
| P. H. Hebb | 1988–89 |
| L. I. Bell, OBC | 1989–90 |
| W. B. McDonald, CM | 1990–91 |
| R. T. Stewart | 1991–92 |
| David G. McLean, OBC | 1992–93 |
| Iain J. Harris | 1993–94 |
| George F. Gaffney | 1994 |
| Jill Bodkin | 1994–95 |
| Wayne A. Nygren | 1995–96 |
| Brandt C. Louie | 1996–97 |
| Robert A. Fairweather | 1997–98 |
| A. Allan Skidmore | 1998–99 |
| T. Richard Turner | 1999–2000 |
| Harri Jansson | 2000–01 |
| Carole Taylor, OC | 2001–02 |
| Peter Legge | 2002–03 |
| Jeff Dowle | 2003–04 |
| Graeme A.G. Stamp | 2004–05 |
| Dan Muzyka | 2005–06 |
| Frank Borowicz, Q.C. | 2006–07 |
| Henry K.S. Lee | 2007–08 |
| D. B. Rix, CM, OBC | 2008–09 |
| Sue Paish, Q.C. | 2009–10 |
| Jason McLean | 2010–11 |
| Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia, O.B.C. | 2011–12 |
| Ken Martin | 2012–13 |
| Elio Luongo | 2013–14 |
| Janet Austin, O.B.C. | 2014–15 |
| Tim Manning, O.B.C. | 2015–16 |
| Robin Silvester, ICD.D | 2016–17 |
| Anne Giardini, O.C., Q.C. | 2017–18 |
| Lori Mathison | 2018–19 |
| Kari Yuers | 2019–20 |
| Brent Cameron | 2020–21 |