MHS Centennial Organization: Winnipeg Board of Trade / Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce

Link to:
Founders | Presidents / Chairs | General Managers / Executive Directors / Presidents | Sources

The Chamber, the first in Western Canada, was incorporated on 8 March 1873 as the Winnipeg Board of Trade. Its founders included many of Manitoba’s early entrepreneurs. Little was accomplished during its first few years and the Board was reorganized on 24 January 1879 with A. G. B. Bannatyne as President.

Founders

James Henry Ashdown (1844-1924)

John Balsillie (1839-1906)

Andrew Graham Ballenden Bannatyne (1829-1889)

Victor Beaupré

Curtis James Bird (1838-1876)

Alfred Boyd (c1836-1908)

Pascal Bréland (1811-1896)

Alexander MacDougall “A. M.” Brown (1820-1895)

James Clouston

Robert Cunningham (1836-1874)

William Drever (1821-1887)

R. J. Dunstan

William Flett

Frank Gingras

Edward Henry George Gunter Hay (1840-1918)

John Higgins (1807-1884)

Thomas Howard (1845-1903)

Colin Inkster (1843-1934)

John Inkster

George Kennedy

William Kennedy (1813-1890)

Joseph Octave Lemay (1829-1892)

Alexander Logan (1841-1894)

William H. Lyon (c1833-1897)

William J. Macaulay

Alexander McArthur (1843-1887)

Andrew McDermot (1789-1881)

John McGregor

James McKay (1828-1879)

John Henry McTavish (1837-1888)

Onis Monchamp

Robert Morgan

Alexander “Sandy” Murray (1839-1913)

Robert Patterson

Joseph Royal (1837-1902)

J. G. Sonderman

Robert Tait (1830-1912)

Presidents / Chairs

In 1998, the title of President changed to Chair.

Period	President / Chair
1879	Andrew Graham Ballenden Bannatyne (1829-1889)
1880	Arthur F. Eden (c1852-?)
1881	William H. Lyon (c1833-1897)
1882	Joseph Mulholland
1883	Charles John Brydges (1827-1889)
1884-1886	Kenneth McKenzie
1887	James Henry Ashdown (1844-1924)
1888	George Frederick Galt (1855-1928)
1889	James Redmond (1853-1926)
1890	Robert Jones Whitla (1846-1905)
1891	Stephen Nairn (1838-1900)
1892	James Elder Steen (1846-1909)
1893	Frederick William Stobart (1859-1935)
1894	William Bain Scarth (1837-1902)
1895	Robert Thomas Riley (1851-1944)
1896	F. H. Mathewson
1897	David Wesley Bole (1856-1933)
1898	Augustus Meredith Nanton (1860-1925)
1899	Edward Lancaster Drewry (1851-1940)
1900	Dawson Kerr Elliott (1853-1945)
1901	William Georgeson (1859-?)
1902	John Russell (c1850-1905)
1903	George Reading Crowe (1852-1924)
1904	Hodgson Wilberforce Hutchinson (1862-1949)
1905	A. L. Johnson
1906	Andrew Strang (1849-1913)
1907	George Frederick Carruthers (1846-1918)
1907-1908	John Thomas Blandell Persse (1861-1927)
1908-1909	Henry Martyn Belcher (1856-1923)
1909-1910	Edward Daniel Martin (1856-1938)
1910-1911	Frederick William Drewry (1855-1927)
1911-1912	Henry Bruce Gordon (1855-1931)
1912-1913	Ezra Arthur Mott (1869-1951)
1913-1914	John Stovel (1858-1923)
1914-1915	Melbourne Francis Christie (1864-1944)
1915-1916	George Nelson Jackson (1861-1944)
1916-1917	Albert Livingstone Crossin (1868-1956)
1917-1918	Alvin Keyes Godfrey (1871-1951)
1918-1919	John Edward Alfred Wildman (1865-1963)
1919-1920	William Henry Carter (1874-1962)
1920-1921	Edward Parnell (1859-1922)
1921-1925	William Andrew Travers Sweatman (1879-1941)
1925-1927	Robert G. Persse (1879-1946)
1927-1928	F. Hedley Marsh
1928-1931	Duncan Cameron (1865-1948)
1931-1932	John McEachern (1867-1942)
1932-1935	Wesley McCurdy (1881-1961)
1935-1936	Frederick John Charles Cox (1860-1939)
1936-1938	Charles Ernest Stockdill (1881-1960)
1938-1940	E. C. Mackay
1940-1941	George J. Cameron
1941-1943	George Henry Stewart (1874-1947)
1943-1944	John Duncan McDonald (c1879-1965)
1944-1947	Milton Daniel Grant (1874-1956)
1947-1949	Ralph Dennistoun Baker (1895-1960)
1949-1951	Allan Harvey Watson (1891-1978)
1951-1952	Richard Henry Gardyne Bonnycastle (1903-1968)
1952-1953	A. E. Longstaffe
1953-1954	G. S. Thorvaldson
1954-1955	John Kerr
1955	Ronald F. Swaine
1955-1956	Alexander Robertson (1909-1985)
1956-1957	Ronald F. Swaine
1957-1958	R. S. Malone
1958-1959	William Scott Neal (1914-1993)
1959-1960	John Stuart “Jack” McMahon (1904-2000)
1960-1961	George Edward Sharpe (1908-1985)
1961-1962	George Richard “Dick” Hunter (1917-1995)
1962-1963	R. G. Barton
1963-1964	Douglas Cole “Doug” Groff (1912-1993)
1964-1965	Alexander Edson Boyd (1912-1998)
1965-1966	Clare E. Atchison
1966-1967	William Stanley “Bill” Dunlop (1912-1991)
1967-1968	Allan Randolph McPherson (1914-2000)
1968-1969	Arthur A. Elliott
1969-1970	David Rothstein (1914-1997)
1970-1971	William Leslie “Les” Wardrop (1915-2017)
1971-1972	William Arthur Johnston (1914-1997)
1972-1973	Lawrence Oliver “Lawrie” Pollard (1928-2019)
1973-1974	Graeme Thomson Haig (1923-1993)
1974-1976	Mel Peaslee Michener (1930-2017)
1976-1977	Norman Louis Coghlan (1927-2013)
1977-1978	Hugh Delaney
1978-1979	Paul Herriot
1979-1980	James “Jim” Cartlidge (1925-2016)
1980-1981	Gerald F. Reimer
1981-1982	John Raymond “Jack” Hignell (1930-2015)
1982-1984	Lloyd McGinnis
1984-1985	Keith Godden
1985-1986	Edward John “Ed” Martens (1941-2015)
1986-1987	John Doole
1987-1988	Dorothy Dobbie
1988-1989	E. Michael
1989	Mike Hill
1989-1990	Herb Middlestead (?-2010)
1990-1991	“Buddy” Brownstone
1991-1992	Steve Childerhouse
1992-1993	Sandy Hopkins
1993-1994	Terry Christall
1994-1995	John Granelli
1995-1996	Trevor Hayden
1996-1997	Dave Angus
1997-1998	Carol-Anne Borody
1998-1999	Joe Barnsley
1999-2000	Irene Merie
2000-2001	Murray Sigler
2001-2002	Walter Hill
2002-2003	Robert Kreis
2003-2004	Catherine Kloepfer
2004-2005	Philip Sheps
2005-2006	Larry McIntosh
2006-2007	Trevor Sprague
2007-2008	Ken Jones
2008-2009	Jeffrey Hartry
2009-2010	B. J. Reid
2010-2011	Judy Murphy
2011-2012	Brian Bowman
2012-2013	Brian Scharfstein
2013-2014	Jodi Moskal
2014-2015	Michael Legary
2015-2016	Priti Mehta-Shah
2016-2017	Wadood Ibrahim
2017-2018	Johanna Hurme
2018-2019	Scott Sissons

General Managers / Executive Directors / Presidents

In 1998, the title of Executive Director changed to President.

Period	General Manager / Executive Director / President
1952-1975	Evan McCormick (1909-1993)
1975-1995	William W. “Bill” Draper (1933-2005)
1995-2000	Shelley Morris
2000-2016	Dave Angus
2016-present	Loren Remillard

Sources:

“J. D. McDonald heads Winnipeg Trade Board,” Winnipeg Free Press, 23 January 1943, page 11.

“City warned on rail rate equalization,” Winnipeg Free Press, 6 February 1953, page 1.

“Stevenson may address city C of C,” Winnipeg Free Press, 28 October 1953, page 1.

“City seen great centre to blend nationalities,” Winnipeg Free Press, 5 June 1954, page 12.

“Greetings on your 25th,” Winnipeg Free Press, 9 April 1955, page 20.

“Robertson sees desire for Big Ex,” Winnipeg Free Press, 25 June 1956, page 3.

“Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce Annual Report - the 1957 Council,” Winnipeg Free Press, 20 May 1958, page 6.

“Mr. and Mrs. J. S. McMahon,” Winnipeg Free Press, 17 October 1959, page 10.

“Award,” Winnipeg Free Press, 27 December 1962, page 15.

“Groff heads Winnipeg C of C,” Winnipeg Free Press, 13 June 1963, page 15.

“Juba takes lead in ritual,” Winnipeg Free Press, 6 October 1964, page 3.

“Labour and management agree on single appeal,” Winnipeg Free Press, 16 October 1965, page 54.

“Businessmen greet northern development,” Winnipeg Free Press, 9 March 1966, page 17.

“Critics speak out on curb-cuts bylaw,” Winnipeg Free Press, 14 January 1967, page 3.

“Local businessmen back Raminsky’s inflation fears,” Winnipeg Free Press, 4 November 1967, page 11.

“Local C of C active in many spheres: Elliott,” Winnipeg Free Press, 16 October 1968, page 35.

“Jottings from the business world,” Winnipeg Free Press, 8 July 1969, page 9.

“Winnipeg C of C Executive Committee,” Winnipeg Free Press, 5 June 1970, page 2.

“Scrap community committees, Huband tells hearing,” Winnipeg Free Press, 17 July 1971, page 8.

“Business needs new input,” Winnipeg Free Press, 9 May 1973, page 35.

“C of C names new head,” Winnipeg Free Press, 14 May 1975, page 24.

“Manitoba business leaders back govt. in postal strike,” Winnipeg Free Press, 24 October 1975, page 21.

“No time for analysis,” Winnipeg Free Press, 5 August 1976, page 35.

“Ban on strikebreakers unfair: Paulley,” Winnipeg Free Press, 4 August 1977, page 4.

“Remedy for downtown ills urged,” Winnipeg Free Press, 17 November 1979, page 3.

“It’s your business at U of M,” Winnipeg Free Press, 29 August 1980, page 25.

“30¢ letter okay ‘if service is’,” Winnipeg Free Press, 22 December 1981, page 26.

“Pact with MGEA gets nod from business,” Winnipeg Free Press, 19 February 1983, page 7.

“Bankruptcy figures decrease in 1983,” Winnipeg Free Press, 29 December 1983, page 2.

“Volume of late mail ‘unbelievable,’ businessman claims,” Winnipeg Free Press, 14 May 1984, page 3.

“Business, municipal leaders blast bilingualism plan,” Winnipeg Free Press, 24 October 1985, page 8.

“Forget plan termed severe blow to seasonal workers,” Winnipeg Free Press, 4 December 1986, page 18.

“Important issue,” Winnipeg Free Press, 15 November 1988, page 8.

“Government-run manufacturing ventures out of favor,” Winnipeg Free Press, 3 February 1989, page 44.

“Hotel trade in danger as more liquor bought in US,” Winnipeg Free Press, 13 November 1989, page 4.

“One in four employers to cut staff,” Winnipeg Free Press, 12 September 1991, page 4.

“Airport privatization a Chamber priority,” Winnipeg Free Press, 30 September 1992, page 13.

“Young backs local Juno bid, prepared to perform in show,” Winnipeg Free Press, 23 November 1993, page A1.

“Do paved road lead to riches?,” Winnipeg Free Press, 4 December 1993, page A5.

“Chamber executive retiring,” Winnipeg Free Press, 26 August 1994, page 12.

“A ‘new era’ for the chamber,” Winnipeg Free Press, 14 October 1994, page 17.

“Local lingos worth mining,” Winnipeg Free Press, 19 March 1996, page A1.

“On the night table,” Winnipeg Free Press, 26 January 1997, page B5.

“Young people left out: Doer,” Winnipeg Free Press, 16 November 1997, page A2.

“Global turmoil doesn’t cloud outlook,” Winnipeg Free Press, 3 September 1998, page B9.

“Punch-dunk retails hail ‘Boxing week’,” Winnipeg Free Press, 28 December 1999, page A3.

“New chamber president has futuristic vision for Winnipeg,” Winnipeg Free Press, 28 September 2000, page B5.

“New award fosters Business-Education Partnerships,” Winnipeg Free Press, 23 October 2001, page C12.

“Small business finally getting respect,” Winnipeg Free Press, 30 September 2002, page B6.

“Biz booster has new man at helm,” Winnipeg Free Press, 1 October 2002, page 16.

“New chamber chairwoman seeks unified business voice,” Winnipeg Free Press, 25 September 2003, page 29.

“Manitoba’s population on rise,” Winnipeg Free Press, 26 September 2003, page A3.

“City’s growth,” Winnipeg Free Press, 29 September 2004, page A2.

“City needs ‘plan,’ new chamber chairman says,” Winnipeg Free Press, 1 October 2004, page 26.

“No vegging out for new chairman,” Winnipeg Free Press, 7 October 2005, page 26.

“The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce,” Winnipeg Free Press, 17 October 2005, page B7.

“Junior Chamber milestone,” Winnipeg Free Press, 10 December 2006, page A9.

“Gary Doer: travel guide,” Winnipeg Free Press, 22 October 2007, page A4.

“Doer opts for modest, reachable goals,” Winnipeg Free Press, 5 December 2008, page A15.

“Chamber set for new sales pitch to the world,” Winnipeg Free Press, 17 October 2009, page 24.

“Tories not laughing at Hydro humour,” Winnipeg Free Press, 11 December 2009, page A8.

“They may say Yes! to our city,” Winnipeg Free Press, 1 October 2010, page 28.

“Chamber CEO loves city’s new attitude,” Winnipeg Free Press, 9 October 2010 , page A6.

“Not with a bold, but a whimper,” Winnipeg Free Press, 1 October 2011, page J11.

“Angus chairs committee,” Winnipeg Free Press, 19 December 2012, page B7.

“Mayor keeps the sunny side up this year,” Winnipeg Free Press, 9 March 2013, page A13.

“No longer an old boys’ club: new chamber head,” Winnipeg Free Press, 9 October 2013, page 16.

“New chamber chief signals new guard,” Winnipeg Free Press, 3 October 2014, page 34.

“‘Inclusive’ chamber of commerce welcomes new chairwoman,” Winnipeg Free Press, 21 October 2015, page 16.

“New chairman loves his city,” Winnipeg Free Press, 5 October 2016, page 13.

“Chamber’s transition seamless,” Winnipeg Free Press, 7 October 2016, page 26.

We thank Dorothy Dobbie, Irene Merie, and Tim Wildman for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 9 March 2023