(Medicine Hat) The Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the formal approval by Medicine Hat City Council to commemorate the Chamber's 125 years in business by assigning a secondary permanent commemorative name of “Commerce Way” to a portion of 6th Avenue SE from 1st Street SE to 5th Street SE. 

Steven Pudwell, Chamber of Commerce President, stated, "We are pleased with the support demonstrated by Council in recognizing the Chamber's history in our region. This commemoration celebrates the many people and businesses who have helped create a 'commerce way' of doing business in Medicine Hat to advance our community and economy; it highlights this remarkable moment in history over the past 125 years and will be a symbol to celebrate over the next century". 

In November 2023, the Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce, through their Legacy Task Force committee, submitted a request for the City to consider assigning a secondary commemorative name to a downtown street to coincide with the celebration of the Chamber’s 125 years in operation in 2025. The Municipal Names Committee considered the request at its February 27, 2024, meeting and determined that a portion of 6th Avenue SE would be appropriate. Since the early 1900s, commerce has remained a consistent theme as several banks, prominent businesses and other commerce-related organizations have been located on or adjacent to 6th Avenue SE. In May 2024, the Chamber confirmed its acceptance of the recommendation and requested that Council consider the naming request in early 2025.  

"The Chamber has been an integral part of the local business community going back more than a century and has helped business navigate everything from new imposing government legislation to economic downturns to local natural disasters," stated Chris Hellman, Legacy Task Force founding member and Chamber Past President (2014). "We wanted something that would commemorate the influence the Chamber has had over the years, so this has been in the works since the Chamber's Legacy Task Force was first created in 2018-2019. The Legacy Task Force came up with 14 different ideas to celebrate the Chamber's 125th Anniversary, with this commemorative naming being one of the top priorities to mark the significant achievements of the business community since 1900", further stated Hellman.

The Chamber intends to unveil the new name and street signs in conjunction with its anniversary date and the opening ceremonies of the Alberta Chambers of Commerce provincial conference, which will be held in Medicine Hat in May 2025. The Commerce Way name plate would be shown under the street signs as a secondary name, similar to 2nd Street SE (Main Street), 3rd Street SE (Toronto Street), and 4th Street SE (Montreal Street).

"As a Past President of the Southeast Alberta Chamber and the Alberta Chambers of Commerce, I am proud to be part of this celebration in 2025 to mark the Chamber's 125th Anniversary and my last term on the Alberta Chambers of Commerce Executive. This is truly a remarkable occasion for the Chamber, and we are pleased that this aligns not only with the Chamber's 125th Anniversary, but can be celebrated by Chambers across the province," concluded Aaron Fleming, Past President of the Alberta Chambers of Commerce and Past President (2017) of the Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce

More information:

March 3, 2025 City Council decision item

Historical context for 6th Ave - Commerce Way

View the Chamber's Legacy and share your story

Please direct all media inquiries to:

Steven Pudwell

Chamber of Commerce President, 2024-2025

Phone: (403) 527-5214 ext.225

The Chamber of Commerce is a member-driven, volunteer-led organization, proudly representing the interests of businesses in our region, and working diligently to stimulate a strengthened and vibrant economy through our connections, support and influence. For close to 125 years, the Chamber has stood for promoting business, monitoring government and championing managed growth in the local economy. The Chamber represents over 800 businesses in our region and is aligned with both the Alberta Chambers of Commerce (ACC), which represents over 24,000 businesses, and the Canadian Chambers of Commerce (CCC), which represents over 200,000 businesses. With the largest and most influential business organizations locally, provincially, and federally, the Chamber network is the most unified, valued and influential business network in Canada and works together to shape policy and programs that will make a difference to businesses in our region.