Brampton Board of Trade

The organization has hosted many notable speakers, most recently hosting Party leaders prior to the 2022 Provincial election: Steven Del Duca (Ontario Liberals), Mike Schreiner (Green Party of Ontario) and Andrea Horwath (Ontario NDP).  Each February, the Board of Trade hosts the State of the City, where the Mayor of Brampton and Chair of the Board share their priorities for the year ahead. As part of the View from the Top series, Brampton Board of Trade CEO Todd Letts spoke with Dr. Mohamed Lachemi Professor, President and Vice-Chancellor at Ryerson University on October 21, 2021.  In April 2021, Todd Letts and Chair Michelle McCollum hosted Joe Jackman and Bob Peacock of Almag Aluminum to speak about succession planning and overcoming adversity and business challenges.  The Board also hosts Minister visits, hosting the Honourable Steve Clark Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, who was joined by the Honourable Prabmeet Sarkaria and MPP Amarjot Sandhu, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Infrastructure on October 27. 2021, prior to that they hosted the Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport on April 29, 2021. They have previously hosted federal Small Business Minister Tony Abbott,[6] Chrysler Canada CEO Reid Bigland,[7] Ontario Premier Bill Davis,[8][9][10] Canadian Alliance party leader Stockwell Day (who announced a timetable for merging with Progressive Conservative party),[11] Prime Minister Stephen Harper,[12] Ontario Premier Mike Harris,[13] Chrysler Canada president Yves Landry,[14] Reform Party leader Preston Manning,[15] Ontario Minister of Agriculture William "Bill" Newman,[16] Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion Mary Ng,[17] Ontario Premier David Peterson,[18][19][20] federal Agriculture Minister Eugene Whelan,[21] and Minister of Finance Michael Wilson.[22]

The Board supported the Charlottetown Accord (1992).[23]

The Brampton Board of Trade supports regional public transit infrastructure, including extending the Hazel McCallion (formerly Hurontario) Line north onto Main Street in Brampton and the full implementation of Two-Way, All Day GO (TWADG) Train service.[24]

The Brampton Board of Trade supports building the GTA West Transportation Corridor, better known as Highway 413.[25]

The Brampton Board of Trade supports increasing the footprint of the post-secondary sector in Brampton. This includes augmenting current offerings (such as those of Algoma University, Sheridan College and Toronto Metropolitan University) as well as pursuing new opportunities (such as the relocation of the University of Guelph-Humber campus).[26]

The Brampton Board of Trade supports efforts to increase uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, including on-site vaccination clinics at major industrial employers at the height of the pandemic.[27]

The Brampton Board of Trade supports the implementation of affordable childcare.[24]

The Brampton Board of Trade supports urgent solutions to the crisis in the housing market, including interventions such as ending exclusionary zoning to build the “missing middle” by increasing the supply of multi-unit complexes in areas not zoned for them.[24]

The Brampton Board of Trade supports an engaging municipal budget process that includes proactive stakeholder consultation, as well as disclosure of relevant documents related to capital expenditures and capital planning well in advance. The Board has also taken the position that longer-range capital forecasting will strengthen the city’s hand in competing for capital funding from senior orders of government.[28]

The Brampton Board of Trade supports the investment necessary to complete and fully unlock the potential of Riverwalk.[29]

The Brampton Board of Trade supports increasing the number of immigrants admitted under given categories based on workforce needs, and has called on government to work together to more quickly recognize international credentials in fields experiencing labour shortages in Ontario.[30]

The Brampton Board of Trade has called on the federal and provincial governments to work together to break down barriers to interprovincial trade, and has called on the federal government to redouble efforts to secure free trade agreements with emerging economies such as India. [30]

Brampton's Santa Claus parade stopped in the mid-1970s. In 1985, the Brampton Board of Trade started planning a Santa Claus parade for 1986; simultaneously, the Jaycees were intending to start a parade in 1987. With City co-operation, the Board's parade launched in 1986, with Jaycee assistance in marshalling.[31] That year's program was announced to include forty community entrants, sponsored by companies,[31] but ended up with 52 units.[32] In recent years, it has included over 100 units.[33] The parade moved to a "night parade" format in 1995.[34]

The parade route has expanded from Vodden to south of Wellington Street (1986)[31] to Sproule to south of Elgin Street.

The parade typically happens a week before the Toronto Santa Claus Parade.

The Board claims an in-person attendance of 160,000 (2012).[33] It claims to be the largest single-day event in the Regional Municipality of Peel, and the largest night parade in Canada.[33] The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has named the parade as the Best Community Lighted Parade in Canada.[33]

The program was broadcast on Rogers TV Brampton, which claimed viewership of over 250,000 between live and repeat broadcasts.[34]

The Board of Trade stopped hosting the parade in 2017, and it is now run by the Lions Club of Brampton.

From 1887 to 2011, Chairs were referred to as Presidents of the BBOT.

• Robert Bell
• J. Bruce Carruthers C.A.
• Keith Coulter
• Donald R. Crawford
• G.W. (Joe) Harley
• Harry Lockwood
• John Logan
• Ron Rider
• Peter Robertson
• Ruth Sharpe
• Gordon Smith