Halifax Chamber of Commerce

Nova Scotia

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Website:

http://www.halifaxchamber.com/

he Halifax Chamber of Commerce is a best-practice, business advocacy organization that continuously strives to make Halifax an even more attractive city in which to live, work and play. Together the almost 2,000 member businesses and their over 93,000 employees, act as a single powerful voice through the Chamber to promote local business interests. The Board of Directors, made up of volunteers from within the Chamber membership, oversees the operations of the Chamber. Volunteer committees and task forces, supported by 14 staff, drive the actions of the Chamber and carry out many of the initiatives and special projects on behalf of the membership.

With roots dating to 1750, the Halifax Chamber of Commerce is recognized as the first chamber established in North America. In 1999, the Chamber was certified to the ISO 9002 international quality standard, becoming the first Chamber in North America to receive this accreditation. In May 2002, this designation was upgraded to ISO 9001:2000. The Halifax Chamber was selected by the Canadian Medical Association to receive the 2004 CMA Award for Excellence in Health Promotion.

Charter Members

Scottish writer Iain Crichton Smith once warned that “Am fear a chailleas a chanain caillidh e a shaoghal.” Or, in English, “He who loses his language loses his world.” It’s easy to see the truth in that statement. When a language dies, it often takes with it other vital cultural elements: folk history, stories, music, and values, as well as a unique perspective on life, community, and the world as a whole. It is a loss to the people to whom that culture belonged, and to everyone who understands the importance of preserving and celebrating cultural diversity. For many Canadians with Scottish roots, Gaelic is no longer part of their lives the way it was for their ancestors. But in communities throughout Nova Scotia, the Gaelic way of life is being revived and revitalized for a new generation, through the work of the Gaelic Council of Nova Scotia.

Gaelic Council of Nova Scotia