About the Bear River Board of Trade

The Bear River Board of Trade was established by an act of Parliament in 1905.  Our membership of volunteers is drawn from local businesses, community volunteer groups, and individual community members.

Our volunteers represent the village to our municipal, provincial, and federal leaders (this in lieu of a local, village government).

Our activities in Bear River include:

  • liaise with the municipalities of Digby and Annapolis about infrastructure issues such as potable water and sewage treatment
  • liaise with the Provincial government about road, highway and waterfront maintenance as well as tourism
  • liaise with the Federal government to promote Canada Day events
  • liaise with all levels of government about economic development in Bear River
  • stewardship and ownership of the ‘Green Lantern’ building on the waterfront
  • stewardship and ownership of greenspace lands on the waterfront

Our meetings are public and are open to all interested persons. Please join us at the Bear River Firehall on the third Monday of each month at 7:30 pm for our meetings. Our minutes are posted online.

Board of Trade Directors, 2012

President: Larry Knox, larryknox.ns@gmail.com

Vice-President: Duff Wilson, info@plasticweld.ns.ca

Treasurer: Rick Jacques, valleytrails@eastlink.ca

Past President: Kelly Foxton,  spiritgetaways@yahoo.ca 

Recording Secretary:

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Rob Buckland-Nicks

Flora Doehler,  flora.doehler@gmail.com

Jane Kingston

Noreen Miller, theothernoreen@hotmail.com

Don Rice, riced@eastlink.ca

Peter Tomlin

Jonathan Welch, jon_welch@hotmail.com

Simone Wilson, simone@simonewilson.com

Committees

Fundraiser and Events Committee (sub-committees: Plant Sale, Canada Day Celebration)

Chair: Kelly Foxton
Members: Jane Kingston, Simone Wilson, Rob Buckland-Nicks, Duff Wilson, Larry Knox

Goal(s): To raise money for Board of Trade operations and projects. To promote events that attract visitors and help keep people in our village for longer periods of time.

Responsibilities:

  • fundraising for special and specific Board of Trade projects

Operations Committee

Chairs: Noreen Miller
Members: Simone Wilson, Kelly Foxton, Rick Jacques

Goal(s): To ensure that the Board of Trade properties are kept in the best possible condition.

Responsibilities:

  1. maintain the Green Lantern building
  2. perform monthly walk-throughs and delegate/perform all necessary upgrades and renovations


Public Relations Committee (sub-committee: website)

Chair: Flora Doehler

Members: Duff Wilson, Larry Knox, Simone Wilson, Kelly Foxton

Goal(s): To facilitate effective, professional communication between all Board of Trade members and directors, community groups and municipalities.

Responsibilities:

  1. Website creation and maintenance
  2. Communication amongst community groups

Waterfront and Greenspaces Committee

Co-Chairs: Duff Wilson and Jon Welch

Members: Rick Jacques, Jane Kingston, Rob Buckland-Nicks

Goal(s): To create an attractive and functional community, balanced in its land use. To make features accessible for public leisure and recreational use, while recognizing the importance of economic stimulus associated with these properties.
To address: recreational use, land, access, open space, natural and historic areas, boating facilities, angling, climate change, municipal infrastructure, and private properties.

Responsibilities:

  1. Meet with stakeholders to communicate vison and gather input: make recommendations to the BOT on projects, priorities, and initiatives regarding green space and waterfront development.
  2. Develop and review design concepts, tender documents and development proposals
  3. Develop engineering estimates and financial analysis on costs involved
  4. Address maintenance and sustainability issues

Transportation Committee

Co-Chairs: Larry Knox and Don Rice
Goal(s): To explore public transportation options for Bear River.

Bylaws Committee

Chair: Don Rice
Members:  Larry Knox, Peter Tomlin
Goal(s): To ensure that bylaws describe in clear language the procedures of the Bear River Board of Trade so that all members may conduct business in an orderly manner in keeping with the principles of the organization.

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The Board of Trade website is maintained by the Public Relations Committee of the Board of Trade. If you are interested in having a listing on the site, please contact Flora Doehler.