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

Derek Burney was born in 1939 in Fort William, Canada, and graduated from Queen’s University with a BA and MA in Political Science. He was a Canadian diplomat and served in federal public service (1963-1993). Burney was a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. Burney’s first posting was in Japan. Returning to Ottawa from Japan, he served as senior departmental assistant to the Secretary of State for External Affairs. He served as an Ambassador to the Republic of South Korea (1978-1980). Returning to Ottawa from South Korea, he served as Assistant Undersecretary for Trade and Economic Policy. He served as Ambassador to the United States (1989-1993). Burney played an integral role during the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement (1989) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (signed 1992). Burney was Canada’s first Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Brian Mulroney (1987-1989).

Post Burney’s public service career, he worked for Bell Canada (1993-1999), deviated for a short period to federal government service for Stephen Harper’s team (2006), and then served as Chancellor of Lakehead University (2013-2017). As Chancellor of Lakehead University, Burney was an extreme fundraiser, which supported student scholarships and University economy. Burney, and his wife, Joan Burney, donate funds to Lakehead University to enrich new research. Their donations created the The Derek and Joan Burney Postdoctoral Fellowship.

• Government of Canada. Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement. https://www.international.gc.ca/trade-commerce/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/united_states-etats_unis/fta-ale/background-contexte.aspx?lang=eng
• Government of Canada. North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act. https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/n-23.8/FullText.html
• Wikidata. Derek Burney. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5261862
• Lakehead University. Derek Burney fonds. https://archives.lakeheadu.ca/index.php/derek-burney-fonds
• Lakehead University. Derek and Joan Burney's Lakehead Legacy. https://www.lakeheadu.ca/alumni/giving/donors/donor-stories-archive/node/6425

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 Thunder Bay Field Naturalists' Club was first established on January 26, 1933 as a chapter of the Federation of Ontario Naturalists. The club originally consisted of 32 members, with Colonel Lionel S. Dear as president. After holding several meetings in 1933 the club dissolved, primarily due to the effects of the Great Depression. The Field Naturalists restarted in 1937 with Claude E. Garton as president. By 1939 there were upwards of 50 active members. The Second World War brought most club activities to a halt, as many members were busy with the war effort. The club was once again revived in 1946 by Dr. Howard Quackenbush and Dr. Albert E. Allen, who was president from 1943-46 and from 1951-53. Since then, the club has gained steadily in membership and continues to be active in the Thunder Bay community.

The Thunder Bay Field Naturalists originally formed to promote the sharing of knowledge about natural history topics among its members. At first, the club concentrated on the specific interests of individual members on certain plants, birds, fish, rocks, etc, but as time progressed they began to focus more upon larger environmental issues. The current goals of the Field Naturalists are to: acquire, record, and disseminate knowledge of natural history; to promote the wise use of natural resources; to stimulate public interest in nature and its protection; and to promote the preservation of natural areas. Throughout their history the Field Naturalists have engaged in many activities to meet these goals. They have regularly held field trips to various parks in the region. Members have lectured on natural history topics. They have brought in guest speakers at their meetings from the Lakehead University Biology department, the Thunder Bay region, and other individuals from outside the region. The club has also actively supported conservation activities to protect wildlife, including supporting a ban on the harmful chemical DDT. They have participated in discussions on the management of provincial parks, Ontario Hydro projects, and other environmental concerns.

Dr. Albert E. Allen was a pathologist from Fort William. He was born in Hampton, Ontario. He graduated with a bachelors of biology from Victoria College in Toronto in 1929, and went on to obtain a doctoral degree in medicine from the University of Toronto in 1932. He worked at McGill University before accepting a position as Director of Pathology for the Ontario Health Regional Laboratory in Fort William in 1943. He was also the pathologist for St. Joseph’s Hospital until 1950, and for McKellar General Hospital until 1954.

Dr. Allen was known for his extensive knowledge of natural history. He was a contributor to many natural history publications, and was an avid outdoorsman. He was a founding member of the Toronto Ornithological Club; a trustee of the Ontario Waterfowl Research Federation; a member on the advisory board of the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority, a member of the Minnesota Ornithological Union; and was a president of the Thunder Bay Field Naturalists from 1943-47, and 1951-53. Dr. Allen was an avid bird watcher and regularly recorded notes of his observations. He also kept journals related to his activities on the study of nature, and of local events. Dr. Allen passed away in 1966 at the age of 60.