In 1965, the Lakehead Chamber of Commerce was founded by the merger of the Port Arthur Board of Trade (1885-1965) and the Fort William Chamber of Commerce (1891-1965.) The two entities voluntarily came together under the Board of Trade Act (1964). In 1970, the City of Thunder Bay was founded, amalgamating the City of Fort William and the City of Port Arthur. The Lakehead Chamber of Commerce likewise was renamed as the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber of Commerce is a membership organization, working to build and support a local business community.
The Fort William Chamber of Commerce was first founded as the Kaministikwia Club in 1879, out of tensions between the early communities of Prince Arthur's Landing and Fort William, particularly regarding rail infrastructure. They renamed as the Fort William Chamber of Commerce in 1930. The Port Arthur Board of Trade was founded in 1885 and was renamed the Port Arthur Board of Trade in 1922.
Sources
- Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce. About the Chamber. https://www.tbchamber.ca/about/
- Archeon. Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce fonds. https://www.archeion.ca/the-thunder-bay-chambers-of-commerce-fonds
The City of Thunder Bay was established in 1970, by the amalgamation of the Cities of Fort William and Port Arthur, the Township of Neebing, and the Township of McIntyre. Suggestions of amalgamation had been made for decades; the process began in the mid 1960s and culminated in a provincial Act.
The region's settlement by Europeans had begun during the fur trade in the late 17th century, and increased significantly in the 19th century, which also saw the establishment of Municipalities of Fort William and Port Arthur. The name "Thunder Bay" is the longstanding name of the bay on Lake Superior, framed by the Sleeping Giant Peninsula. The name "The Lakehead" also frequently used, refers to the location at the beginning of the Great Lakes shipping route.
Thunder Bay as a City has been shaped by industry: mining, forestry, and the shipment of grain from Western Canada through the St. Lawrence Seaway have all been key to the local economy.
Statistics Canada estimates that as of July 1, 2024, there were 133,063 people living in the Thunder Bay Census Metropolitan Area.
Sources
- Archeon. City of Thunder Bay fonds. https://www.archeion.ca/city-of-thunder-bay-fonds
- VIAF. Thunder Bay (ON.). https://viaf.org/en/viaf/151298533
- Wikipedia. Thunder Bay. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunder_Bay
- City of Thunder Bay: History of Amalgamation. https://www.thunderbay.ca/en/city-hall/history-of-amalgamation.aspx
The Canadian Association of University Teachers is an organization made up of academic staff associations at public universities and colleges in Canada. The Association supports the work of local academic staff organizations in their bargaining, grievance, and related work. The Association also works to bring awareness to issues facing the postsecondary education sector.
CAUT was founded in 1951. As of 2025, it represents staff at 130 universities and colleges, including Lakehead University.