Our History

The Kelowna Board of Trade, established on June 6, 1906, played a pivotal role in shaping Kelowna’s economic, civic, and cultural development. Its members were entrenched in the city’s early growth, from pioneering apple export and innovative packing methods at Stirling and Pitcairn (1900) to promoting the tobacco and dairy industries, including the British North American Tobacco Company (1913) and Kelowna Creamery (1916).

The Board advocated for infrastructure, such as reliable irrigation, continuous telephone service, postal facilities, and later, the airport (YLW), highways, and bridges. During both World Wars, it coordinated agricultural contributions, wartime initiatives, and civic mobilization, including sugar rationing and war savings campaigns. It also championed public health, sanitation, and forest management, as well as city promotion through advertising and tourism initiatives.

Over the decades, the organization, now known as the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, has influenced population growth, business development, and regional recognition. The Chamber has supported Kelowna’s transition from a small orchard town of 600 in 1905 to one of Canada’s fastest growing cities in the present day. Its continued advocacy in the 21st century, including support for UBC Okanagan, transportation infrastructure, and tourism, has solidified its legacy as a cornerstone of Kelowna’s civic and commercial life.