New Hamburg Board of Trade celebrates 75 years of community service
By Amanda Nelson
The New Hamburg Board of Trade celebrated its 75th anniversary last weekend with a 1950s-themed party at KLT Plaza in downtown New Hamburg.
Attendees enjoyed hamburgers and the “famous” fries served by the New Hamburg Optimist Club and could join two separate history walks around New Hamburg with local historian Kristen Hahn.
Behind the scenes, Lillian Dunstall, board of trade president, planned a special surprise for those in attendance. Following the live musical performance, students from OnStage Dance Studio performed a flash mob to several 1980s-themed songs.
Wilmot Mayor Natasha Salonen attended to congratulate Dunstall and the Board of Trade. She later presented a celebratory scroll on behalf of the Township of Wilmot to recognize the board’s 75 years of service.
“I’d like to congratulate the board of trade on an extraordinary 75 years of service to the community of New Hamburg. That’s a huge accomplishment for any organization.”
Salonen addressed attendees and spoke about the Board of Trade's history and background and what it has accomplished in New Hamburg, noting that its contributions have been vital to the community's continued success.
“Even before the board was formally incorporated, local business leaders were already helping to build our community,” she said. “When New Hamburg needed a new arena, after the previous one moved down, the board of trade helped lead the efforts to bring what we now have as the New Hamburg Arena downtown. And more than 75 years later, that building is still standing and even being used for another community event today.”
The board of trade was also instrumental in attracting doctors to the community when it began recruiting physicians to New Hamburg and helped operate the medical clinics in the 1970s.
The list continues. When New Hamburg needed housing for seniors, the board donated land that helped make Nith Terrace possible.
Then there is one of New Hamburg's most recognizable symbols today: the water wheel, originally built in 1990 through a partnership involving the township, the province, the community and the board of trade. The board of trade also helped revamp the water wheel only a few years ago.
The board of trade is also responsible for the flowers downtown in the summer, Christmas lights in the winter, the Canada Day celebration, the Santa Claus parade, cruise night, sidewalk sales, downtown beautification, tourism promotion, support following floods, community facilities, bringing businesses together, helping entrepreneurs get established and creating opportunities for growth throughout the community.
Most recently, the board of trade worked with the township on the Veterans Crosswalk, a specially marked pedestrian crossing created to honour and recognize veterans and their service.
“These things matter because they're part of what makes Wilmot an amazing place to be, and having a business community that cares so much beyond their own independent businesses and success really helps Wilmot succeed,” said Salonen.
To learn more about the New Hamburg Board of Trade, visit www.nhbot.ca.
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