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Chamber Milestones:

Key Dates

The Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce has a rich history of Building Business Community. In 1886, the founding members of the Chamber created the organization to function as a vehicle to be the voice of business community and to ensure a prosperous future for our community.

Key Dates	Milestone Achievement
1886	Incorporation of the Berlin Board of Trade
1890	Incorporation of the Waterloo Board of Trade
1929	Board's effort for an airport are realized with the building of the Kitchener-Waterloo Airport
1945	Name change to "Chamber of Commerce" (March)
1951	Group Insurance Plan for members established
1969	Kitchener Chamber is instrumental in the creation of the first K-W Oktoberfest
1987	Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge Chambers work together to develop a volunteer community, media and law enforcement partnership to combat crime based on the American Crime Stoppers community program. In January, Waterloo Regional Crime Stoppers was launched.
1990	In 1990, the Waterloo Chamber started the Waterloo's Buskers Carnival, which today draws thousands of people as a summer festival highlight.
1992	Charters of the former Kitchener and Waterloo Chambers of Commerce are officially dissolved and the creation of a new entity is launched with the incorporation of The Chamber of Commerce of Kitchener & Waterloo
1994	The Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kitchener & Waterloo purchases Dr. David Bean's old family residence and moves into it's new home at 80 Queen Street North, Kitchener
1997	Under Chamber Past Presidents Frank Varga's and Ron Carther's leadership and direction, the Chamber develops and releases a discussion paper entitled: "Securing our Future: A Proposal for a New Model for Economic Development in Canada's Technology Triangle". The paper put forward an organizational model and recommendations for a private-public sector partnership for regional economic development in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph. It was the Chamber vision and precursor to the current operational model of Canada's Technology Triangle. (One year later the Region passes a resolution for the creation of and Economic Development Corporation for CTT, including Guelph. The municipalities all agree to put forward funding as well).
1998	The Chamber launches its family physician recruitment initiative through the Physician Recruitment Task Force lead by Chair Glen Mathers to recruit 24 doctors to meet the needs of 40,000 residents without a family physician. Manulife takes the lead and is first in donating $50,000 toward fundraising campaign.
2000	Partnered with community foundations and regional chambers to found Leadership Waterloo Region.
2001	The memberships of the Chamber of Commerce of Kitchener & Waterloo merges and the Elmira - Woolwich Chamber of Commerce vote to merge creating the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce.
2003	Greater KW Chamber hosts the first annual Prosperity Forum in partnership with Cambridge Chamber, CTT and Communitech to challenge local employers to identify key directions to ensure future wealth creation, jobs and investment in the region. Co-chaired by John Doherty of Gowlings and John Bell of Polymer Technologies, the Forum brought together CEOs of major employers, entrepreneurs and other community leaders to articulate the business community's vision for the region. Prosperity Council is formed following the forum and they prepare a discussion paper.
2004	Greater KW Chamber and prosperity partners, announce they have formed a federation now known as the Prosperity Council and have developed the "Good to Great Agenda" as outlined in the Council's discussion paper entitled "Moving Our Economy from Good to Great."
2005	Chamber co-sponsors Immigrant Skills Summit - chamber is asked to consider hosting an immigrant employment network to help link talented new Canadians with employers as an important economic development initiative for our region. Achievements: Chamber named to top 10 Chambers in North America for membership development by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives Cambridge and Greater KW Chambers win national award for Best Community Leadership Project (Silver Award) for the co-creation of the Prosperity Council with Communitech and CTT Inc. Chamber named Best Networking Organization by Business Times
2006	Chamber Launches Health Care Recruitment Council, a new work group responsible for physician recruitment, with a comprehensive and future-focussed approach to recruiting health professionals. Chamber prepares to host Waterloo Region Immigrant Employment Network later in Spring 2006.
2009	Chamber receives Re-Accreditation from Chamber Accreditation Council of Canada.
2010	After extensive lobbying by Chamber, the Ontario Government revises the program for financial assistance for physicians relocating to underserviced areas. The new program places Kitchener Waterloo on a level playing field with other neighbouring municipalities in the attraction of healthcare professionals.