Strategic Priorities

Each year, our board of directors determines our organization’s direction through a number of strategic priorities. These maxims serve to guide the chamber in its operations throughout the year.

The 2012 strategic priorities are as follows:

NORTHERN RELATIONS

To build strong relationships with northern partners and stakeholders to create a business environment that facilitates efficient and responsible development in the resource rich northern Canadian region that includes: northern Alberta, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, northern British Columbia and northern Saskatchewan.

GREAT NORTHERN CITY

To enhance Edmonton’s role and image as a world-class city with a unique northern character and to encourage investments, actions and communications that personify and build a sense of pride about the Alberta capital, as a Great Northern City.

DEVELOPMENT OF OUR WORKFORCE

To create and enable opportunities for our members to have the labour supply needed to meet current demand and anticipated growth.

STRENGTHENING OUR REGION

To lead the implementation process of collaborative regional efforts designed to ensure cohesive economic growth and development of Greater Edmonton as a city-region of global significance.

EXPANDING OUR MARKETS

To be an influential leader, advocate and catalyst for diversifying the Edmonton economy through: new products; new industries; value added expansions of the existing resource base; and new markets with a focus on enhanced intra-regional, inter-regional and international trade.

DID YOU KNOW?

On February 27 of 1889, the Edmonton Board of Trade was established.

In 1899, the board of trade acquired a 55-acre parcel of land, which became the site of the city’s new public park and racetrack.

In June 1915, the Edmonton Board of Trade raised $8,098 for the purchase of armaments for the 49th and 51st Battalions.

In 1928 the Edmonton Board of Trade was reconstituted as the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce.

In November of 1933, the chamber helped to promote recovery by advocating public works projects such as the Jasper and Yellowhead Highways.

In 1942, the chamber created an advertising bureau to help Edmonton merchants adjust to the anticipated decline in business during WWII.

In November 1946, the chamber formed the Better Business Division modeled after the Better Business Bureaus of Winnipeg and Vancouver.

In 1948 the chamber opened the first public tourism office, forerunner to Edmonton Tourism’s visitor centres.

1948 also saw the beginning of the chamber’s annual northern tours with its Friendship Train trip up the new Alaska Highway.

In January of 1978, the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce moved into the Sun Life Building at 99 Street and 101a Avenue.

In 1985, the chamber continued to aid the diversification of the Edmonton economy promoting the Edmonton Research Park.

On January 26, 2000, the chamber stepped into the 21st century with edmontonchamber.com.

On July 8, 2004 the chamber moved to its current location on the 7th floor of the nearby World Trade Centre Edmonton.