Toronto Region Board of Trade

The Toronto Region Board of Trade is one of the largest and most influential chambers of commerce. Its constant flow of ideas, people and introductions to city-builders and government officials firmly roots it as a connector for─and with─the business community. The Board acts as a catalyst for the region’s growth agenda, at home and on a global scale with its World Trade Centre Toronto franchise. Backed by more than 12,000 members, it advocates on their behalf for policy change that drives the growth and competitiveness of the Toronto region. It wants Toronto to be recognized as one of the most competitive and sought-after business regions in the world, and believes this reputation starts with members and their business.

A non-profit organization with a mandate to serve, represent and unite Toronto's business community, the Board offers business services, facilities, events, policy development and analysis, and advocacy to the city, provincial and federal governments. It develops and promotes policies and programs under the key strategic pillars of Trade, Transportation and Talent.

The Board operates at two locations across Toronto: the Downtown Centre in the heart of the city's financial district, another near Toronto Pearson International Airport. World Trade Centre Toronto (WTC-T) is the Board’s trade services arm. As a member of the World Trade Centre Association, WTC-T creates unparalleled global access for the Toronto region’s business community with its connection to 317 branded properties and trade services associations in 88 countries. WTC-T provides targeted international trade advisory services and expertise through comprehensive research, trade education, strategy building workshops, outbound and inbound trade missions and valuable connections to experts and networks.

History

The Board was founded 10 February 1845 by an act of the legislature of Canada:

“

To promote and/or support such measures as, upon due consideration, are deemed calculated to advance and render prosperous the lawful trade and commerce and to foster the economic and social welfare of the City of Toronto... To advance in all lawful ways the commercial interests of the members of the Corporation generally and to secure the advantages to be obtained by mutual co-operation. ...each and every person carrying on trade and commerce of any kind, or being a Cashier, Manager or Director of any Financial Institution, Railway or Insurance Company, shall be eligible to become a member of the said Corporation.

”

Its first president was George Percival Ridout, who served in that position until 1852 when he was elected to the legislature. It grew slowly, and had only acquired 60 members by 1856. Until the 1860s, most members were traders, specifically wholesalers.

In 1884, it was amalgamated with the Toronto Corn Exchange Association. The Old Toronto Board of Trade Building (1892–1958), which housed the board, was Toronto's first skyscraper at seven storeys. In 1932−33, the board's name was officially changed to "The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Toronto". In 2012, the board changed its name to "Toronto Region Board of Trade".

References

Official website
To serve the community: the story of Toronto's Board of Trade, Geoffrey Hunt Stanford, University of Toronto Press, 1974, ISBN 0-8020-3325-3.
Toronto, Board of Trade of the City of - Private Acts dealing with the Board, from the Statutes of Canada, Department of Justice (Canada)

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