About Us

From the president's desk

Thank you for visiting the CCA website. My fellow board members and I invite you to get involved in our association! Please review the Events page for upcoming opportunities to gather with fellow Canadians and friends of Canada here in Colorful Colorado!

There are thousands of Canadians living and working in Colorado and we are very fortunate to live and grow in such a wonderful state! Colorado is a beautiful state in which to live, socialize, raise our families, give back to our community, and expand our personal and professional opportunities. Colorado does billions of dollars in trade with Canada.  After all, the U.S. and Canada share the longest international border in the world and our bilateral relationship is one of the most extensive on the planet!  The CCA strives to connect Canadian and American Coloradans, friends of Canada in gathering into a community celebrating our cultural heritage through social, business, community and educational events.

Going into the coming year, the CCA plans to :

• expand activities into "micro-events" (smaller, regional, localized) 
• increase number of informative, business networking opportunities, and community involvment
• increase our social media presence so you can follow us on Instagram as well as Facebook
• increase the value, community and sense of belonging you enjoy as a member

The board members and I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming CCA event soon! 

Andrée LaRivière

President and Chair

History

In 1991, the Canadian Government had a Trade Office in Denver. A group of resident businessmen, prompted, encouraged and supported by the Canadian Consul and Trade Commissioner, Gib McEwen, decided to form an organization to promote, foster and enhance business relations between Colorado and Canada. In his Trade Office position, Gib had made numerous contacts with Canadian business people, residents, trading partners and interests. To determine what benefits might be available by creating another point of contact for Canadians, a notice was placed in the local newspapers for an introductory meeting. That meeting was held at the Denver Athletic Club in October 1991 and was attended by well over 50 people – thus began the history of the Canada Colorado Association.

Shortly thereafter, the Trade Office was closed and the group became the unofficial representative of Canada in Colorado. The early years focused on business-related activities such as seminars to discuss cross-border investment opportunities, tax implications, economic and trade issues. Several social events were also held; notably to celebrate Canada Day, Canadian Thanksgiving and the Grey Cup football playoff. Initially, the group was called Colorado Canada Business Association but in 1995 the name was changed to Canada Colorado Association. The founding Board was made up of Ian Barclay, Pat Cooper, Don Gendall, Ernie Hambrook, Peter McEwen and Jim Reis. The names of other Board members, supporters and volunteers who have so greatly influenced and helped sustain the Association over its 20-year history are far too numerous to list.

The first edition of The 49th Parallel was issued to members in 1994. This was a quarterly newsletter “to inform the members and other interested parties of upcoming events, to report on membership news and past events, and to acquaint everyone with what is going on up north.” Dee Arscott designed the masthead, general layout and named the paper. The masthead was the germination of what became the official logo for the Association (maple leaf and aspen leaf). In 2001 CCA member John Murphy designed and constructed a website for the Association:www.canadacolorado.com and, with several others contributing, continues to be our site.

In 1995 a special arrangement was made to tour the NORAD facilities in Cheyenne Mountain. NORAD also hosted a second tour of Cheyenne Mountain in 1999 and the close relationship between CCA and NORAD endures today. Board members are invited to join NORAD personnel at their Garden Party at the historic Penrose House in Colorado Springs each Canada Day and NORAD personnel are invited to CCA events.

Throughout its history, CCA lobbied extensively to get the Canadian Government to re-establish a Consular presence in Denver. As part of that effort, we spoke, met and corresponded with the Consul and Senior Trade Commissioner and Business Development Officer from Minneapolis and with local business connections. Several meetings were held with representatives of the Colorado Governor, Denver Mayor, World Trade Center, Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Canadian Consul General in Minneapolis. Meetings were also held with the British Consul in Denver, British American Business Council President, Mexican Consul in Denver, and the Alliance Française group in Denver.

Those efforts were successful when, in 2003, Canada re-established a full Consular office in Denver. A cooperative and supportive relationship between CCA and that office remains strong today. Consulate General of Canada in Denver.

Consulate General of Canada in Denver