The Board of Trade was established in 1914 to enhance trade, commerce, and the economic, civil, and social welfare of the region. In March 1917, it constructed and occupied its first building. By 1958, the was renamed the Fort Vermilion and Area Board of Trade, comprising directors each from Fort Vermilion, La Crete, and the North Peace Area. That same year, the board proposed settlement suitability report for the Buffalo Head Prairie area and issued a letter to AG expressing concerns about inadequate phone service, while advocating for the opening of land west Buffalo Head for settlement. After extensive consultations and correspondence, the board received confirmation in 1981 that a new hospital would be built. Today, the Fort Vermilion Board of Trade continues to uphold its original mission of promoting enhancing trade and commerce for the community.