The Vermilion and District Chamber of Commerce had its beginning in 1906. Founded originally as Vermilion Board of Trade, it had as its president H.W. Brown who served in this capacity for four terms, 1906 to 1909.
Mr. Brown was then in partnership with Walter Gibson in the North-West Trading Company Store. A quote from the Vermilion Standard July 21, 1955 issue in its salute to their Golden Jubilee observance states: “The Vermilion Board of Trade in unique in its record of service. Since 1906, never has the promotional work which it was founded, been allowed to lapse throughout the first years’ history of Vermilion, the Board of Trade has always been the leader in projects contributing to the progress of the town and district, and to the welfare of the people.”
A few interesting facts include the youngest president, Gerald Stephens; and keeping up-to-date with our times, Maxine Sweeney was the first lady-president. The name “Board of Trade” was changed to “Chamber of Commerce” in 1931, then back to “Board of Trade” in 1933. In later years it was again changed to ” Chamber of Commerce” and has remained with that title to the present time.
The following has been said, “The Vermilion Board of Trade, a community organization dedicated to the progress of the town and district, was established in 1906, and is thus in a position to recognize the valuable contribution of the pioneers of Vermilion. They built better than they knew, for their hard work, foresight and initiative, followed by the progress of their successors, have placed Vermilion among the foremost towns in Alberta.”
