The beginnings of the Lévis Chamber of Commerce

The Lévis Chamber of Commerce is one of the first to be created in Quebec after those of Quebec, Montreal and Sorel. Its founding in 1872 is no stranger to the economic effervescence that can be seen along the coast of the St. Lawrence River. In this sector at the bottom of the Lévis cliff, shipbuilding, the wood industry and the steel industry benefited from the harbor of Québec and rail transport in the second half of the 19th century.

Faced with the economic growth of the city of Lévis, created in 1861, the idea of ​​founding a chamber of commerce like the one in Quebec was timely. It was launched in August 1871 by Isidore-Noël Belleau (1847-1936), owner of the newspaper L’Écho de Lévis. It was taken over the following year by the mayor of Lévis Jacques Jobin.

On March 19, 1872, a meeting aimed at creating a chamber of commerce in Lévis brought together business people from various walks of life. It includes among others one of the owners of the foundry Carrier, Lainé et Compagnie, Charles-William Carrier (1839-1887), the owner of the largest sawmill on the coast, Samuel Bennett (1831-1896), and the journalist Louis-Honoré Frechette (1839-1908). The adoption of the law constituting the Chamber of Commerce of Lévis on June 14, 1872 follows this important meeting. The industrialist Samuel Bennett was then named the first president of the Chamber.

At that time, the Lévis Chamber of Commerce was concerned with transportation. She wants to improve the organization of the railroad, the maritime trade in the harbor of Quebec and wishes the establishment of a tram line. But it is having difficulty establishing itself in the business world. It ceased its activities from 1880 to 1889. When it was reorganized in 1889, it focused on promoting major projects related to the establishment of the manufacturing industry and the construction of a dry dock. in Lauzon for ship repairs. Note that Alphonse Desjardins, the father of the Desjardins movement, was secretary of the Chamber from 1880 to 1888.

After the construction of the Quebec Bridge, the Lévis economy experienced difficulties. Manufacturers and traders must adapt to a context of major socio-economic transformations. The Lévis Chamber of Commerce is quick to promote the industrial environment. In 1912, she published a brochure on the economic potential of the Lévis area.

Among the interventions of the Chamber during this period, let us recall its recommendation to the city of Lévis in 1924 to repeal the by-law on the prohibition of alcohol.985)

Economic diversification

Despite the climate of uncertainty that prevailed in the 1920s, the Lévis Chamber of Commerce reorganized itself and increased its influence. It took the name Chamber of Commerce of the District of Lévis in 1928. That year, it launched a 112-page album to promote the commercial and industrial sectors of Lévis.

Despite the economic crisis of the 1930s, the Chamber conveys a positive and modern image of the city of Lévis since the majority of its population lives in an urban environment.

During the 1950s, we witness the emergence of a major commercial area along Route 2 and the modernization of the road network. At the end of the 1950s, the Chamber supported a bridge-tunnel project between Lévis and Québec.

After the construction in 1951 of a major roundabout, the Lévis roundabout, the business and service sector experienced spectacular growth. In the early 1960s, seven car dealerships and five gasoline outlets gravitated around the roundabout in Lévis. In 1961, the Chamber of Commerce of Lévis studied jointly with the Chamber of Commerce of Lauzon a major lighting project for this roundabout. With the birth of the Cité Desjardins and the construction of the Lévis town hall near the Lévis golf course, this sector will experience great economic activity.

In order to meet the needs of its members, the Chamber set up a permanent secretariat in 1976. In the following years, its interventions were concentrated in the communications sectors (deep-water wharf, crossing sector, tunnel), municipal services and industry by encouraging the creation of a regional industrial commission in 1974. The construction of Highway 20 (Jean-Lesage) at the end of the 1960s had negative consequences in the roundabout sector. The Lévis Chamber of Commerce is involved in discussions surrounding the redevelopment of this commercial sector.

The influence of the Chamber of Commerce of the South Shore of Quebec

The year 1985 marks a turning point in the history of the Lévis Chamber of Commerce. It is expanding its territory to include the MRC des Chutes-de-la-Chaudière. Bringing together 15 municipalities in 1985, it took the name Chamber of Commerce of the South Shore of Quebec. The number of its members increased from 280 in 1984 to 800 members in 1997.

Over the years, the Chamber widened its field of political and social intervention. In 2001, she contributed to the creation of the honorary gala Les Pléiades by merging the Prix d’excellence de la Ville de Lévis. In 2004, she submitted a brief to the Culture Committee of the National Assembly on the planning of immigration rates for 2005-2007. Two years after the creation of the new city of Lévis, in 2004, it changed its name to the Chambre de commerce de Lévis.

At the heart of economic development

The year 2008 marks a turning point in the history of the Lévis Chamber of Commerce. Its offices, previously located on Boulevard de la Rive-Sud, moved to the JB Michaud building adjoining the Lévis Convention and Exhibition Center in the new Miscéo district. In collaboration with several community partners, it is setting up a Business Center that includes 18 shared-cost offices and the Caisse populaire Desjardins de Lévis multimedia conference room. The Chamber is taking the opportunity to thoroughly review its corporate image.

The involvement of the Lévis Chamber of Commerce in the business world is felt in various circles. This led to the creation in 2010 of the Youth Wing of the Lévis Chamber of Commerce (now called Relève de la Chambre de commerce de Lévis), a project initiated by members of the Student Entrepreneur Club of UQAR.

During the gala of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Quebec, the Chamber of Commerce of Lévis is named Chamber of Commerce of the Year 2010-2011. In 2012, it marks the 140th anniversary of its foundation. In 2014, as at the end of the 1950s, she made the public and elected officials aware of the importance of a tunnel between Quebec and Lévis.

Since its creation in 1872, the Lévis Chamber of Commerce has carefully followed the evolution of the Lévis community in its economic, demographic and urban dimensions.

The room seen by its former presidents

On March 14, 2012, the Lévis Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 140th anniversary with its former presidents and general managers. They have generously agreed to speak about the House during the time when they officiated there. To watch this short presentation of the Lévis Chamber of Commerce as seen by its former presidents and general managers.