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:
- maintain and operate the Visitor Information Centre
- 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
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, 2011
President: Kelly Foxton, spiritgetaways@yahoo.ca
Vice President: Larry Knox, larryknox.ns@gmail.com
Treasurer: Rick Jacques, valleytrails@eastlink.ca
Recording Secretary: Flora Doehler, flora.doehler@gmail.com
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Rob Buckland-Nicks
Jane Kingston
Noreen Miller, theothernoreen@hotmail.com
Don Rice, riced@eastlink.ca
Peter Tomlin
Jonathan Welch, jon_welch@hotmail.com
Duff Wilson, info@plasticweld.ns.ca
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 properities are kept in the best possible condition.
Responsibilities:
- maintain the Green Lantern building
- arrange for and organize the Visitor Information Centre space.
- perform monthly walk-throughs and delegate/perform all necessary upgrades and renovations
- Human Resources Coordination for the summer Visitors’ Information Centre including hiring, writing grant proposals
Public Relations Committee (sub-committee: website)
Chair: Flora Doehler
Members: Duff Wilson, Larry Knox, Simone Wilson, Kelly Foxton
Responsibilities:
- Secretarial duties
- Website creation and maintenance
- Communication amongst community groups
- Community newsletter
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:
- 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.
- Develop and review design concepts, tender documents and development proposals
- Develop engineering estimates and financial analysis on costs involved
- Address maintenance and sustainability issues
Transportation Committee
Co-Chairs: Larry Knox and Don Rice
Goal(s):
Bylaws Committee
Chair: Don Rice
Members: Larry Knox, Peter Tomlin
Goal(s):
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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.









