Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal

The Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal (until 2016: Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal) is an association of businesses and businesspeople in Greater Montreal. In its own words it serves to "act as the voice of Montréal's business community and to promote the prosperity of the city and its businesses". History For almost two centuries, the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal has played a key role in the economic, social, and cultural growth of Montreal. It was in 1822 that a group of about fifty merchants founded the committee of trade (Board of Trade) to promote the development of Montreal. In 1857, the organization set the wheels in motion to begin dredging the St. Lawrence River and build port facilities in Montreal able to handle ships with a large tonnage. In 1863 the Board of Trade founded the Port Warden's Office and the Corn Exchange. In 1887, 135 merchants founded a French-speaking trade association, the Chambre de commerce du district de Montréal, which began to push for improved railroad connections in the metropolitan area. Five years later, in 1892, the Chambre proposed the creation of the École des Hautes Études Commerciales, an internationally renowned institution that now welcomes 9,000 students from 60 countries. In 1940, the Chambre was also instrumental in promoting the complete restructuring of Montreal's municipal government.