Bridging Old Calgary with New Calgary: How the Chamber is Championing Innovation in the Business Ecosystem

Calgary Innovation Coalition
Apr 28
4 min read

By Asha Sara

As Calgary’s tech sector continues to grow, the Calgary Chamber of Commerce is emerging as a key connector. Leveraging its 134-year history, the Chamber is uniquely positioned to blend tradition with transformation, guiding Calgary’s corporate legacy into a new era of innovation poised to strengthen the city's growing tech sector.

Melanie McDonald, Vice-President of Strategic Initiatives, Partnerships and Engagement at the Calgary Chamber, and a Board Director with the Calgary Innovation Coalition (CIC) offered valuable insights into how the Chamber is becoming more accessible, advocating for forward-thinking policy, and supporting startups in practical, tangible ways.

The Chamber at a Glance

Since 1891, the Calgary Chamber of Commerce has supported businesses through every phase of the city’s growth. Now, as Calgary embraces a more innovation-driven economy, the Chamber is focused on creating stronger ties between emerging sectors and long-standing industries. More than a business association, the Chamber’s broader goal is to serve as a community platform where companies of all sizes and stages can connect, collaborate, and grow.

While the tech sector continues to gain momentum, it can still feel disconnected from more traditional business communities. The Chamber works to close this gap, drawing on its deep-rooted legacy to foster meaningful connections across the ecosystem. As McDonald puts it, the Chamber is where “old Calgary has the chance to meet new Calgary.”

The Chamber has furthered their commitment to grow Calgary's various business communities by embracing organizations of all sizes. “Over 80% of our members are small and medium businesses,” McDonald noted. By welcoming entrepreneurs, startups, and community-driven businesses into its network, the Chamber has grown into a space that represents the full spectrum of Calgary’s economy. Whether it’s a solo founder or a multinational company, every member has access to benefits like group health insurance, programs and resources, government advocacy, cost savings and meaningful connections.

Evolving to Support Innovation

This commitment to accessibility has been backed by action. One of the most tangible changes has been the Chamber’s revamped membership model, which significantly lowered fees to ensure early-stage startups aren’t priced out of opportunity. “A few hundred dollars can be a real barrier when you’re just getting started,” McDonald noted. “We wanted to make sure our members, at any level, could get more than a full return on their investment if they fully utilized their benefits with us.”

Programs for Startups

The Chamber offers hands-on support to help early-stage companies access the resources they need to grow – from grant support to networking opportunities to shaping a business-friendly policy environment.

“We have someone in-house to support companies source and apply for grants,” McDonald shared, emphasizing how the Chamber supports businesses of all sizes in identifying the right funding opportunities and building stronger applications.

The Chamber also opens doors to potential customers through their vast member network, making connections that can help startups connect with customers, generating revenue and momentum without relying entirely on government funding.

With a diverse and growing community behind it, the Chamber gives startups the tools and relationships they need to build and grow their businesses.

Advocacy for a Better Business Landscape

“Over the past few years, we’ve had more working against us than the decade before,” McDonald said, reflecting on the growing challenges within Canada’s business landscape. She pointed to Canada’s slowing productivity, lack of competitiveness, limited access to capital, an aging workforce, post-secondary capacity issues, and rising costs as major concerns that have made it increasingly difficult for startups to scale and compete globally.

With a focus on advocacy at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels, the Calgary Chamber is working to offset these challenges by advocating for business-friendly policy improvements that support a stronger, more innovation-friendly economy. Operating as an independent, non-profit, and non-partisan organization fully funded by its members, the Chamber focuses solely on the needs of the business community.

What sets the Chamber apart is its inclusive approach to advocacy. “We’re not here to represent one company, we advocate for the broader business community,” McDonald explained. “Whether it’s helping navigate zoning and permits, pushing for streamlined regulatory processes, or improving access to talent and funding, the Chamber is focused on helping businesses of all sizes, across all sectors, grow and thrive in Calgary.”

What’s Next for the Chamber & CIC

Melanie McDonald recently stepped into a new role as a Board Director with the Calgary Innovation Coalition (CIC), an opportunity that aligns closely with the Chamber’s ongoing commitment to innovation and ecosystem building.

Looking ahead, both the Chamber and CIC are focused on building stronger bridges across Calgary’s innovation ecosystem. The goal is to ensure early-stage companies, community organizations, and established businesses can learn from one another, collaborate meaningfully, and grow together. The Chamber’s long-standing reputation, paired with its increasingly inclusive platform, positions it as a key player in helping shape the city’s future economy.

Calgary is in the midst of a transformation, where innovation, tech, and entrepreneurship are becoming central to the city’s identity. At the heart of that shift is the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, a legacy institution that’s evolving alongside the community it serves.

Through advocacy, accessibility, and meaningful connections, the Chamber is proving that tradition and transformation aren’t opposing forces, they’re partners in progress. Whether you’re a startup founder, a small business owner, or an established company, there’s space for you at the table.