The first annual ARVDA meeting was held in Fredericton, New Brunswick, on April 27, 1997. Derek Dobson was elected at this meeting to be the organization’s first President. Wayne Hambly was elected Vice President and Keith Reynolds was elected Secretary Treasurer. At this time, the ARVDA consisted of ten charter members.
From 1999 to 2003 Wayne Hambly held the position of President. During his term, he helped further develop the association, by assisting with the merger of Nova Scotia with the rest of the Atlantic Provinces. The ARVDA and the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association of Nova Scotia met in Amherst, Nova Scotia in June 2002 to merge the two associations officially. The first official meeting of the ARVDA took place in September 2002 in Mill River, Prince Edward Island.