The city’s three chambers of commerce have agreed to create a single citywide business association.
On June 5, the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce and the West Ottawa Board of Trade agreed to a merger, followed by the Orléans Chamber of Commerce on Aug. 9.
The united Board of Trade has around 1,500 members, or approximately four per cent of Ottawa businesses.
Ian Sherman, the chair of the former Ottawa Chamber of Commerce and a tax practice leader at EY, will be chair of the new organization.
Two vice-chair positions will be held by representatives of the two regional organizations that merged with the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce: Mischa Kaplan, the former chair of the West Ottawa Board of Trade, and Joelle Hall, the former vice-chair of the Orléans Chamber of Commerce.
A permanent board of directors will be formed within the next year and a half, with representation based on factors including region, gender, sector and business size.