A group of Ontario meat packers met in Toronto in August, 1919 to decide if an association was needed to represent the industry which underwent tremendous growth during and after World War I.
E. B. Roberts, a journalist by profession, was hired by the beginning of 1920 to take care of the Council's media and public relations.
It was not until Sam Todd retired in 1952 that the name was officially changed to Meat Packers Council of Canada.
In 1980, the association changed its name to the Canadian Meat Council (Conseil des Viandes du Canada) during the second Presidency of ALLAN K. BESWICK.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, which happened during the centennial year of the Council, more than 50 "regular members" had paid their dues, including a lamb trade group from New Zealand as well as Cargill, JBS Foods International and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Alberta.