Vernon Chamber of Commerce History

In 1997 the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 100 years of commitment to business excellence and service to the community. The following is a list of the top business community leaders, pioneers and entrepreneurs who have been a vital part of the Chamber and the city’s growth. These Past Presidents will be recognized as the “pioneers” who gave Vernon its spirit - men and women whose ingenuity and dedication helped to make Vernon the great place it is to live and work.

Thank you to all of our Past Presidents who volunteered their time to contribute to the continued success of the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce!

2010-2011 Deb Leroux

2009-2010 Jonathan Jones

2008-2009 David Fletcher

2007-2008 Jay Hack

2006-2007 Bob Sattler

2005-2006 Ruth Hoyte

2004-2005 Malcom Dunn

2003-2004 Ruth Hoyte

2002-2003 Ian Hawes

2001-2002 Darren Bradley

2000-2001 Bruce Shepherd

1999-2000 Jim Leith

1998-1999 Sean Harvey

1997-1998 Liz MacArthur

1996-1997 David Schaefer

1995-1996 Dave Adams

1994-1995 Luby Pow

1993-1994 Rick Balfour

1992-1993 Sherry Price

1991-1992 Terry Quesnel

1990-1991 David Hodge

1989-1990 Morgan Thomas

1988-1989 Bob Papworth

1987-1988 Greg Schroeder

1986-1987 Brian Coburn

1985-1986 M. Fitzsimmons

1984-1985 Richard Hamilton

1983-1984 Claudette Everitt

1982-1983 Ed Burnett

1981-1982 Mike Kowaluk

1980-1981 Frank Estergaard

1979-1980 Gordon Clements

1978-1979 Norm Stevenson

1977-1978 Frank Estergaard

1976-1977 Brian Usher

1975-1976 Chris Brown

1974-1975 Don Branton

1973-1974 Don Firzzell

1972-1973 Jack Gordon

1971-1972 Joe Keenan

1970-1971 H.G. Powell

1969-1970 Lyall E Hanson

1968-1969 J. Passmore

1967-1968 G. Langford

1966-1967 Walt Nielson

1965-1966 William Malcolm

1964-1965 D.G. MacMillan

1963-1964 S.R. Muirhead

1962-1963 L.R. Mercier

1961-1962 P.D. Seaton

1960-1961 F.W. Oliver

1959-1960 S.J. Ladyman

1958-1959 A.J. Gilroy

1957-1958 J.B. McCallum

1956-1957 M.J. Conroy

1955-1956 ER. Harris

1954-1955 E.C. Brown

1953-1954 D. Howrie - A.E. Royce

1952-1953 W. Helmsing

1951-1952 A. Bemer

1950-1951 C. McDowell

1949-1950 H. Fosbrooke

1948-1949 N. Bartlett

1947-1948 E.R. Dicks

1946-1947 A.W. Howlett

1945-1946 M.H. Beaven

1943-1944 W. Bennett

1942-1943 W. Bennett - J.E. Montague

1941-1942 A. Browne

1939-1940 T.E. Clarke

1938-1939 H.W. Galbraith

1935-1937 R. Peters

1931-1932 G.O. Nesbitt

1929-1930 A.T. Howe

1927-1928 H. Pout - W. Kennedy

1926-1927 W.G. Ferris

1923-1925 Jas. Valiance

1922-1923 W.E.Taggart

1921-1922 K.W. Kinnard

1919-1920 F.B. Cossit

1916-1918 Jas. Valiance

1915-1916 M.J. O’Brien

1912-1914 G.A. Henderson

1911-1912 C.C. MacRae

1910-1911 M.J. O’Brien

1908-1909 Jas. Valiance

1905-1907 W.R. Megaw

1897-1904 G.A.Henderson

The Chamber, incorporated in 1897 as the Vernon Board of Trade, was established to meet the ever increasing demands for business and travel information that came with the arrival of the new railroad. The 44 charter members of Vernon’s senior business organization elected George A. Henderson as their first president.

The Vernon Board of Trade registered a name change in 1961 to the Vernon Chamber of Commerce when RD. Seaton was President. Later, the name was unofficially changed to the “Vernon & District Chamber of Commerce”. In 1990, application was made to change the name a third time to Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce, which better reflects the Chamber’s changing and expanding mandate as the "Influential Voice of Business” for the Greater Vernon area. Today the Chamber has over 720 individual and business members - comprising the very best that Greater Vernon has to offer.