News You Can Use – old

Future Planning Survey Results

The Annapolis Board of Trade is at a crossroads and we struck a Strategic Planning Committee to find out what its members think about its current operations and also, to make recommendations about the future of the Board of Trade. 70% of members completed the survey and 70 members of the public completed a general version of the survey. Download a PDF of the results.

VIC FUNDRAISER

Our former Vice President, Bill Monk, is on an epic journey thru-hiking the 2,190 miles of the Appalachian Trail from Springer Mountain, Georgia, to Mount Katahdin, Maine. He’s decided to use that experience to help our Visitor Information Centre become stronger this year with his “Pledge a Penny for the VIC” fundraising campaign! Find out how you can support this campaign…

NEW ABOT COUNCIL VOTED IN

Members attending the ABoT Annual General MeetingMarch 23, 2017, voted in the Board’s new Council.

Your Executive:
Beth Fairn, Vice President; Byron Mersereau, Treasurer

Council Members: Suzanne Doucette, Scotiabank; Mike Fearon, MJ Fearon; Susan Lane, CARP; Julia Redgrave; Worn Doorstep Gallery; Nathalie Sanfacon, Upper Clements Cottages; Wayne Smith, Annapolis Heritage Society; and Charles Stewart, Charles Stewart Electrical.

ABoT welcomes new Council members Beth, Byron, Nathalie and Suzanne.

We say goodbye with appreciation for all their hard work to Grace Butland, Secretary; Bill Monk, VP, Craig Fancy, chair of the Christmas Parade of Lights committee; Ray Tynski, Scotiabank; and Sandy MacDonald, RBC.

There being no nominations from the floor, the positions of President and Secretary were not filled. If you are interested in either of these positions, please contact Jane Nicholson.

WORK SMART NS WORK WAGE SUBSIDY PROGRAM

Work Smarts NS is a government funded wage subsidy program coordinated through the Sobey School Business Development Centre at Saint Mary’s University Halifax. It provides a wage subsidy to employers to hire a recent graduate from any post-secondary institution in Canada. It seeks to employ graduates in rural NS, with the long term goal of these individuals remaining in rural areas. If your business could benefit from receiving over $7,500 in funding to hire a recent graduate, you’ll find more information on this PDF about the wage subsidy program.

SOUTHWEST NS MUNICIPALITIES TO FORMALLY PURSUE HERITAGE FUNDING

It’s official. Nine municipal units in southwestern Nova Scotia have now properly been incorporated as the Canada Legacy Society (CLS), a not-for-profit municipal corporation created to develop a regional heritage and cultural funding strategy to mark Canada’s 150th birthday. Read the full press release for the Canada Legacy Society.

EXTRAORDINARY BUSINESS OFFER TO ABOT MEMBERS

We are pleased to tell you about an extraordinary opportunity for you to improve your business! ABoT member Lisa Larter is an author, speaker, business coach and strategist who helps all kinds of businesses navigate modern entrepreneurship so that they can increase sales and profits. And she has generously volunteered to facilitate an invaluable six-week pilot program for her fellow ABoT members! Read all the details and application instructions for the ABoT pilot program…

LAND USE BY-LAW REVIEW ANNOUNCED BY TOWN OF ANNAPOLIS ROYAL

The Town of Annapolis Royal has announced that it will be forming a working group that will review its Land Use By-Law and examine ways to reduce ‘red tape’ for its citizens and the business community. Council assures the public that involvement will be sought from citizens and business owners and opportunities will exist for all to engage in the process. Their goal is to make the process of interacting and working with Town Hall as easy and streamlined as possible. Read more about the Annapolis Royal Land Use By-law review on the Town’s website.

2015 RAFFLE WINNERS

The winners of the hand-painted Adirondack-style chair and table were Reverend Donald and Mrs. Sarah Neish of Granville Ferry! Read more about the draw and the 2015 raffle winners.

SPRING 2015 ABoT / MEDC LUNCHEON FOLLOW-UP

The collaborative Spring Luncheon for businesses, attractions and interested parties was well attend with 46 coming together for information and presentations by the Nova Scotia Tourism Agency (NSTA) and Bay Ferries. The NSTA power-point presentation is now available – download the Nova Scotia Tourism Agency Spring 2015 Luncheon presentation.

CANADA 2017 LEGACY PLANNING QUICKLY MOVING AHEAD IN SOUTHWEST NOVA SCOTIA

Planning for the Canada 150 Legacy initiative in southwestern Nova Scotia got a real boost this week with a major funding announcement in Annapolis Royal. On Tuesday Greg Kerr, Member of Parliament for West Nova, on behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada announced infrastructure investments totalling more than $3.2 million for Fort Anne and Port-Royal National Historic Sites. Read the 2017 Legacy Committee press release.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE GRADUATE OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM

Many of our members meet the employer eligibility requirements to take advantage of the Nova Scotia’s Graduate to Opportunity (GTO) program. The GTO encourages Nova Scotia employers to hire recent post-secondary graduates, giving them the opportunity to live and work in Nova Scotia. Get more information about Nova Scotia’s Graduate Opportunity Program.

HERITAGE MINISTER ENCOURAGES CANADA 2017 PARTICIPATION IN SOUTHWEST NOVA SCOTIA

The federal Government is commemorating and supporting significant heritage milestones of a broad national perspective through the “On the Road to 2017” plan; and the Hon. Shelley Glover, federal Minister for Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, toured the area from Clare to Kings County on Friday and Saturday, meeting with municipal representatives; heritage and cultural groups; and business associations to explain and promote the initiative. Read the 2017 Legacy Committee press release.

REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP APPROACH –
NSTA IN SOUTHWEST NOVA SCOTIA

Beginning in 2015, the Nova Scotia Tourism Association will move from an organization-based funding approach to a project-based, regional partnership funding approach in Southwest Nova Scotia. The NSTA is rolling out a criteria-based cooperative marketing program that is designed to motivate travel to Southwest Nova Scotia. Visit the NSTA’s website for more information about the regional partnership approach.

NICHE MARKETING KEY TO TOURISM: EXPERT

ABoT hosted Glenn Squires, Chairman of the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia (TIANS) at a special social meeting held on December 11th and his talk was covered by the Valley Harvester. Visit their website to read Lynn Moar’s piece, Niche Marketing Key To Tourism: Expert.