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PROFILES

‘Chamber has always been “If we continue to depend on the

government for everything, where is
a voice for business’ people’s accountability and responsibility?
I think it’s good for the Chamber to have a
voice that’s a business voice.”
This was clearly evident with the creation Although a con lict of interest prevented
of the firm’s sister company Parkwood Peter from serving as a board member, he
Computer Services Inc. in 1969. has always appreciated the many programs
Peter says when he arrived at the firm, and networking opportunities the Chamber
he and his partners came up with a very continues to provide to businesses,
clear plan to further its success as the including Graham Mathew.
City of Cambridge amalgamation was “The Chamber has grown exponentially,
about to take effect on Jan. 1, 1973. and I think the proof of its success is in the
“John and I agreed that we needed to be pudding,” he says, referring to its current
the City of Cambridge auditors because location at 750 Hespeler Rd. which now also
1973 was approaching, and that we also provides a home to its new business hub
should be the auditors for the United TheLink. When he first became involved in
Way, as well as auditors for the Chamber the Chamber, the office was in a large trailer
of Commerce, because this would be on Coronation Boulevard across the road
great exposure for the firm,” he says, from the Galt Country Club.
noting at the time he and the other “I think of one of the greatest things that
partners already had experience as the happened to the Chamber was when Greg
financial auditors for the municipalities (Durocher) lost the mayoral race,” he jokes,
of Hespeler, Preston and Galt. referring to the 2000 municipal election
Retired business leader Peter Graham played a Peter can clearly recall making a in which the future Cambridge Chamber
key role in the Chamber for many years. presentation to Cambridge council, which President and CEO lost his bid for mayor to
at the time consisted of 14 councillors fellow city counciller Doug Craig.
Building strong relationships and Mayor Claudette Millar (Cambridge’s “I thought Greg would have been a
has always been a key first mayor), to win the contract. tremendous mayor, but as it turned out
component in business and is “There we were, making our pitch to get it was the best thing that could have ever
something that Peter Graham the audit along with reps from KMPG and happened to the Chamber,” says Peter,
has clearly mastered. Ernst & Young (now EY Canada); two big referring to Greg’s appointment to the
Since joining a small local accounting firm accounting firms against us little guys,” organization and the many positive changes
that have taken place since.
founded by the late John Pinchin in 1967, he laughs. “I can remember going on
he has not only played an integral part and on and finally Claudette Millar said, In terms of the local business community,
in the Cambridge business community ‘Peter, sit down before you blow it’. But we he says much has changed since he sold
but has been an avid supporter of the knew we could do it more economically his partnership in the business in 2009 but
Cambridge Chamber of Commerce for and efficiently compared to a national stayed on for several years before finally
nearly 60 years. accounting firm.” retiring for good in 2017. Graham Mathew
“I would say most of my life I’ve lived The firm was granted that contract, is now owned by his son, Nathan Graham,
along with his partners Mark Sims and Mike
here (Cambridge) which was definitely along with contracts for the United Arndt, sons of legacy partners Jack Sims and
good for our firm because I knew so Way (now United Way Waterloo Region Larry Arndt.
many people in the community,” says Communities) and the Chamber which
Peter, who grew up in Galt and Preston had been formed by the merger of the “There’s a lot of good things happening
and became a partner in the firm in 1972. former Galt and Preston Chambers in business today. It seems to me, that
The firm, eventually becoming Graham of Commerce, and Hespeler Retail businesses are quite busy and expanding,
but the problem now is finding people who
Merchants Association.
Mathew, grew organically as some of are willing and able to work,” says Peter. “I do
his colleagues le t a national chartered “I think the Chamber has always been a remain optimistic in our current economic
accountancy firm (a precursor of KMPG) voice for business in the wilderness,” says position and ability to expand not only in
to join John in a new venture that was Peter, describing the immediate affinity our city, but in Canada in the future.”
committed to client service, embracing he had for the organization and how it
new ideas as well as innovative isn’t afraid to shed light on government
technology. spending and taxation.

18 Spring 2024 www.cambridgechamber.com